The Wife Upstairs: Book Review


Title: The Wife Upstairs

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Genre: Thriller/Gothic Fiction 

 

Reading ‘The Wife Upstairs’ feels like revisiting Charlotte Bronte’s 'Jane Eyre' in many ways. This Gothic thriller offers some interesting twists and delves deep into the complexity of each character. 

 

Our protagonist is Jane who is a dog walker in Thornfield estates-an affluent community with flashy cars and stylish housewives. A perfect place for the newly arrived Jane to escape from her past. Things change when she meets the Eddie Rochestor. Eddie is a wealthy and handsome widower whose wife Bea and her friend died in a mysterious boat accident. When Jane and Eddie fall in love, Jane is constantly haunted by Bea’s accomplishments-a sophisticated owner of a lifestyle brand. It makes matters worse when Jane begins to hear thumping sounds inside Eddie’s mansion. The narrative unravels some skeletons in the closet. This includes the traumatic past lives of the characters and their dynamics with one another. 

 

The setting is atmospheric and gothic, reminding one of Rebecca. The characters are unlikable and are constantly seen battling their inner demons. The suspense keeps you hooked to the pages as you are waiting for the answers to these questions. Who is Jane? What makes her run away from her past? Was Bea’s death an accident or murder? Is Eddie hiding something?  


Narrated from different points of view, the reader tends to get entangled inside each of the characters’ head. It almost feels like visiting a spider’s web. The narrative is fast paced and definitely a page turner. There are times when you find yourself questioning the motives of the characters or the ending. Nevertheless, this domestic fiction keeps you engaged throughout and can be read in one sitting. 

 

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