Dear Wife

Author: Kimberly Belle
Genre: Suspense
Type: Trade Paperback
Pages: 336
Source: Local Public Library
Publisher: Park Row Books
First Published: June 25, 2019
Opening Lines: "I hit my blinker and merge onto the Muskogee Turnpike, and for the first time in seven long years, I take a breath. A real, full-body breath that blows up my lungs like a beach ball. So much breat that it burns. It tastes like freedom."

Book Description from GoodReads: Beth Murphy is on the run...

For nearly a year, Beth has been planning for this day. A day some people might call any other Wednesday, but Beth prefers to see it as her new beginning--one with a new look, new name and new city. Beth has given her plan significant thought, because one small slip and her violent husband will find her.

Sabine Hardison is missing...

A couple hundred miles away, Jeffrey returns home from a work trip to find his wife, Sabine, is missing. Wherever she is, she's taken almost nothing with her. Her abandoned car is the only evidence the police have, and all signs point to foul play.

As the police search for leads, the case becomes more and more convoluted. Sabine's carefully laid plans for her future indicate trouble at home, and a husband who would be better off with her gone. The detective on the case will stop at nothing to find out what happened and bring this missing woman home. Where is Sabine? And who is Beth? The only thing that's certain is that someone is lying and the truth won't stay buried for long.

My Rating: 4 stars

My Review: I feel quite sheepish that Dear Wife was my first Kimberly Belle book. I knew of the author (obviously) but I blame my tardiness to the party that is Belle on 'too many books, not enough time'. Well, I can now say I'm one of the cool kids after reading Dear Wife - this book was quite the ride!

Dear Wife is a non-stop, twisty, compulsive page turner that uses three points of view to focus in on the topic of domestic abuse. The twists are clever, the pacing is fast, and readers will become engrossed in the story of two women - one missing and the other hoping never to be found.  Oooo, right?!  I was pretty close to guessing the big twists but didn't quite get there. Well played, Ms. Belle, well played.

Thanks go out to my bookish friend Dany for giving me a kick in the proverbial pants to pick up this fast-paced, edge-of-your seat, 'housework's gonna wait' kind of summer read. So, kick back, pour yourself a poolside bevvie and enjoy this thrilling summer read. You'll be glad you did.