The Wife Before Me

by Laura Elliot

[zooloo1983]

I loved the way the book splits into the present day, to begin with, Elena meeting the mysterious and elusive Nicholas. A man who has been surrounded by scandal, as his first wife committed suicide by driving into a pier and drowning as she couldn’t swim. Instantly I was on edge, why would she kill her self when she has the perfect man? Elena too is intrigued and is portrayed as being “obsessed” with Amelia the first wife, trying to throw us the reader off.

Part two of the book was Amelia and her marriage to Nicholas providing an insight into what kind of man he was before Elena. Again, hold on to your hats for this one!

Finally part three, back to present day after a shocking confrontation in part one we continue with the lives of the Elena and Nicholas.

On a side note, I really had no time for Yvonne, Nicholas interfering mother. She was no good to Elena. Always thought she was right, subtle digs in the right places. I personally did not like her and would love to have jumped in the book and given her her marching orders!

This book was dark and intense due to the main storyline. I was screaming (quietly as everyone in the house asleep!) a lot at the into, wondering how these characters got themselves in the precarious positions. Making me take a step back and reevaluate how would anyone act. It’s very easy to say how you would act in the said situation when you aren’t in it. So it made it more heartbreaking watching events unfold knowing you couldn’t do anything to help.

I really did enjoy this book, it was intense yet heartbreaking and with a kick of retribution to boot!