Review: The Wife’s Secret by Kerry Wilkinson

Charley Willis was thirteen years old when her parents were killed in their family home and she was found hiding in a cupboard upstairs.

Fifteen years later, Charley is marrying Seth Chambers. It should be the happiest day of their lives, a chance for Charley to put her past behind her, but just hours after the ceremony, she is missing.

No one saw her leave. No one knows where she is.

One thing is for certain…Seth is about to discover he doesn’t really know the woman he just married. And his nightmare is only just beginning.

Review

I have read and enjoyed a couple of titles by Kerry Wilkinson. These include, Ten Birthdays, Two Sisters, The Girl Who Came Back, The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker and Last Night. Kerry has to be one of the most versatile authors. Whether its YA, paranormal mystery or psychological thrillers, each one of his books is marvelous. I am happy to report that The Wife’s Secret now joins my list of favorite books by this author.

Charley disappeared on her wedding day. She was lastly seen at the wedding reception before she went missing, leaving her new husband, Seth, with nothing but questions. This isn’t the first time that Charley has been in the limelight. Fifteen years before, someone killed her parents while little Charley was hiding in a cupboard upstairs.

Seth, Charley’s husband, is the main narrator in this story. It was easy to sympathize with him. His wedding day, which was supposed to be a happy occasion, has turned into a nightmare.  There are a number of other narrators in this story. A few chapters are also set in the past timeline depicting days before and after the death of Charley’s parents.

Kerry wrote this story in a way that each narration feels like a puzzle piece. Bit by bit, the pieces come together to reveal the big picture and I can assure you, Seth’s Wife was  keeping a massive secret.

Kerry’s writing as always is engaging, descriptive and utterly addictive. I couldn’t stop turning the pages of this thriller. I was desperate for answers and couldn’t wait until the puzzle was complete. Everything from the plot line, characters to the mystery was masterfully developed.

I also loved the themes. Money, fame, family drama and greed, definitely the perfect concoction for this riveting, heart-pounding thriller.