The War of the Wives by Tamar Cohen

I read Tamar Cohen's first novel The Mistress's Revenge back in April 2011 (my review here), and loved every page of it.

I was delighted to receive a copy of her second book The War of the Wives to review.

The War of the Wives was published in July this year, by Doubleday at Transworld.

Tamar Cohen is a very accomplished author, she writes stories that do not shy away from controversy, featuring characters who are often very easy to dislike.

Her first book featured an adulterous affair, this one centres around the almost never talked about subject of bigamy.

Simon Busfield is dead, dragged from the river in a part of town that he had no business visiting.  His wife Selina has to cope with the shock of his sudden death, and so does his wife Lottie.

Yes, two wives, totally unaware of each other.  Selina and Simon have been married for the last 28 years.  Lottie and Simon have been married for the last 17 years.   Two very different women, one husband - the same husband.

Tamar Cohen

The story is narrated in turn by each wife.   Classy Selina; cool, calm, in control.  A beautiful house, the perfect family.  

Ditzy Lottie; bohemian, scatterbrained mother of one.  As the two women discover more and more about their shared husband and his secret life their own lives become connected.

Tamar Cohen portrays Selina and Lottie's struggle to come to terms with Simon's death wonderfully well, their feelings of betrayal and their anger and despair as they realise that their life has been a lie.

There is an underlying feeling of something dark and quite seedy running throughout the story, the mystery around how and why Simon died.

The suspense continues right up until the end of the story and had me gripped, and although the explanation and the ending of the book is maybe a little over the top, it is extremely well written.

I was very impressed with this second novel, I enjoyed it just as much as her first book.  The writing is quite unique in style and kept me engaged right up until the very last page.

Tamar Cohen has a Facebook page.  Transworld Books are also on Facebook, or you can follow them on Twitter

My thanks, as always to Lynsey at Transworld who always finds the perfect books to send for review.