Book Review: The Dead Wife by Sue Fortin

It’s been two years since the Sinclair case closed but when reporter Steph Durham receives a tipoff that could give her the scoop of the year, she’s drawn deeper and deeper into the secretive Sinclair family.

Elizabeth’s death wasn’t a tragic accident. And the truth will come at a deadly price…

After what started off as a bit of a slog for me, The Dead Wife really picked up and was a great read. When Steph, a young travel journalist, is invited to the Conmere Resort Centre to cover its grand re-opening, she receives a message from a woman desperate for answers. Elizabeth Sinclair died on the Conmere Estate two years ago; her death was ruled an accident, but her mother remains convinced of foul play and enlists Steph to go digging.

During her time at Conmere, Steph must blend in with the other journalists while at the the same time keeping an eye on Dominic, Harry, and Owen, the Sinclair brothers, and their mother, Pru, owners of the Conmere Estate. Dominic takes an instant dislike to Steph and is suspicious of her probing, but can she stay under the radar and get the information Elizabeth's mother needs to put together a case?

This book is full of suspense, and is something of a classic 'whodunnit'; it has all the elements of a traditional murder mystery but with a real contemporary feel.  The character development felt strong and the family dynamics between the Sinclairs was authentic; you could imagine a group of three brothers falling into those character traits and fitting those stereotypes. I felt Steph's character could've been developed a bit more; as the central character of the novel her voice felt a bit generic and I wasn't really sure of who she was as a person. However, there are elements within the story that I think a lot of people can relate to, like fraught relationships with siblings, bereavement, fighting for a parent's affection, forbidden love, and having to make difficult decisions, the ramifications of which could last a lifetime.

The ending felt ever so slightly rushed, but on the whole I very much enjoyed this and would definitely read more of Sue Fortin's work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.