Book Review: Dear Wife by Kimberly Belle

“Uncertainty leaves us open to doubt, yes, but it also opens us up to splendor and joy and wonderful surprise. To the beauty of hope. Nothing is certain, nothing is known, but it is in those moments of our greatest uncertainty that miracles happen.”

― Kimberly Belle, Dear Wife

In this gripping suspense thriller by the bestselling author of The Marriage Lie and Three Days Missing, a woman must choose how far she would go in her struggle for survival to get away from the man she once loved.

Synopsis 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 reaction to this novel...

I bought this book years ago when I was still working overseas. I had ordered it from Amazon to be sent to our home in the Philippines, so I wasn’t able to read it. So I was quite pleased to begin this novel because it was in my favorite genre, a psychological thriller. I was drawn into the plot right away. The author’s writing style initially struck me as being as easy as abc. For me, the pages turned smoothly. I felt like I was expecting a quick rush of shock, so I restrained myself from taking a step back since I was getting Gone Girl feelings.

I needed more time than usual to finish this novel. I liked the concept, but towards the middle I felt that I was losing interest. I waited a very long time to find out the twist they were referring to because it moved so slowly. I was thinking that this should be better. It ought to be darker. Even after 200+ pages, the tale is still dragging. I sped up my reading to check whether I was right because I was confident that I understood what was happening. I was correct, but the tale had a little more to it. I understand how the story’s major turn will play out. I have every hint the author provided. I didn’t experience the astonishment they were referring about. Perhaps because I became bored and thought there might be more, only to discover that I had already guessed it halfway through.

The tale just doesn’t seem to go together, as well, I noticed. There were points when I kept expecting surprising disclosures and secrets, thinking that perhaps some other characters may have played a significant part in making the plot dramatic, but they don’t. There were instances when Jeffrey’s point of view was there, but by the time the story was halfway through, his point of view vanished, leaving you with the impression that Jeffrey isn’t all that exceptional.

Whatever the case, I really appreciate the idea, but I didn’t have the same level of anxiousness and heart palpitations as I had when reading the other novels. I’ve read a number of thrillers like this one, and sadly, this one didn’t stand out. Although I appreciated the final twist, I thought there could have been more to keep me on the edge of my seat.

I wish to suggest this book to anybody who enjoy psychological suspense novels like Gone Girl. Even if the novel didn’t particularly impress me, the story is nonetheless interesting and should be shared.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐(3/5)

“Not every question has an answer. Not every problem has a solution.”

Sometimes we think we can fix everything, so when we can't fix the difficulties in front of us, we get discouraged and even depressed. Certain issues are not designed to be handled on our own; in these cases, we seek support from another person. We must always have confidence in God since He will guide us through the entire process.