The Wife by Alafair Burke ★★★★★

Angela Powell’s orderly and comfortable life is upended when her husband Jason, an NYU economics professor and best selling author, is accused of sexual harassment by a student. The situation escalates when another woman, Kerry Lynch, accuses him of rape.

I thought this was going to be another traditional story where the wife dutifully stands by her man to the bitter end until she’s wrenched into an alternate reality. This isn’t that story.

First of all, Angela has plenty of secrets, most notably an event from when she was a teenager that is slowly revealed throughout at well-placed moments. Jason is difficult to grasp as he’s a very layered character, a lot by his own creation. And then there’s Kerry who has accused him of an awful act and the lawyers begin to do their thing to undermine the character and motives of them both. In the meantime, we’re left to wade through it all as more details of the past are woven into the story. It’s a brilliant study in the midst of our current transformation of thinking and old paradigms about sexual harassment victims, perpetrators and accusers. I found my attitudes tested while trying to figure out truths and who to believe.

The ending. Wow. Did NOT see that coming. But, sort of should have. Even still. I’m still reeling. It was just perfect…in a way.

I know I’m being cryptic but once you listen to/read this story, you wouldn’t have me be any other way. I enjoyed Xe Sands performance, especially the second half of the story where she just didn’t get in the way, if that makes sense. In the first part, I wasn’t understanding her choice of delivery but it became clearer later on.

Run, don’t walk to the bookstore or your library or your online download site and get this book.

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(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)