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The Wife Upstairs

By: Rachel Hawkins
Narrated by: Emily Shaffer, Kirby Heyborne, Lauren Fortgang
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Publisher's summary

Instant New York Times and USA Today Best Seller

“Compulsively readable...a gothic thriller laced with arsenic.” (EW)

One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2021: CNN • Newsweek • Vulture • PopSugar • Parade • BuzzFeed • E!Online • TimeOut • Woman's Day • Goodreads • She Reads • Good Housekeeping • CrimeReads • Frolic • Hello! • Mystery and Suspense

January 2021 Indie Next Pick and Number-One LibraryReads Pick

A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, The Wife Upstairs pairs Southern charm with atmospheric domestic suspense, perfect for fans of B.A. Paris and Megan Miranda.

Meet Jane. Newly arrived to Birmingham, Alabama, Jane is a broke dog-walker in Thornfield Estates—a gated community full of McMansions, shiny SUVs, and bored housewives. The kind of place where no one will notice if Jane lifts the discarded tchotchkes and jewelry off the side tables of her well-heeled clients. Where no one will think to ask if Jane is her real name.

But her luck changes when she meets Eddie Rochester. Recently widowed, Eddie is Thornfield Estates’ most mysterious resident. His wife, Bea, drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, their bodies lost to the deep. Jane can’t help but see an opportunity in Eddie—not only is he rich, brooding, and handsome, he could also offer her the kind of protection she’s always yearned for.

Yet as Jane and Eddie fall for each other, Jane is increasingly haunted by the legend of Bea, an ambitious beauty with a rags-to-riches origin story, who launched a wildly successful Southern lifestyle brand. How can she, plain Jane, ever measure up? And can she win Eddie’s heart before her past—or his—catches up to her?

With delicious suspense, incisive wit, and a fresh, feminist sensibility, The Wife Upstairs flips the script on a timeless tale of forbidden romance, ill-advised attraction, and a wife who just won’t stay buried. In this vivid reimagining of one of literature’s most twisted love triangles, which Mrs. Rochester will get her happy ending?

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press

©2021 Rachel Hawkins (P)2021 Macmillan Audio
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What listeners say about The Wife Upstairs

Average customer ratings
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Yin and Yang

Toxic to the most desirable point. If you’re familiar to dysfunction you will identify with at least one of the main characters. The desire to be better and survive is an irrevocable undertone. This book was a fantastic psychological thriller and I would recommend.
As it goes, there’s a little good and a little bad in us all and this book has been an intriguing way to explore both ideas. It keeps you questioning all the way to the end.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A page turner until the very end

wow! this book has surprises at every turn. just when I thought I knew what was happening I was wrong. loved it until the very last word! highly recommend!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The voices?

I thought the story was good, however, very drawn out. Still entertaining enough to want to know what was next.

I wasn't a fan of the performance. The characters voices coming through much louder than the story. I had to keep adjusting my volume between lines whenever driving.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great voice, good story!

The narrator is great and even though I found the ending to be a bit stereotypical, I enjoyed the story greatly.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

AMAZING!!!!

It will not end how you think!!!!
Amazing, creative story and even better narrators. I didn’t want it to end!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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What a cliffhanger!!

I loved this book but hope there is a part 2. Need to know what happens next.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Slow but overall not a bad story

This is definitely not a thriller or horror novel. It's a story about a girl getting thrown into something that has nothing to do with her and all of the juicy stuff happening in the background while she stays oblivious. I thought the ending was really good but the middle of the story was really slow for my liking, not very exciting. I did enjoy the book though so I'm not saying don't read it but definitely be ready for slow sailing.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting story & characters

the narrator was good, doing each character well, and convincingly - story took surprising detours

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not bad

But the man reading Eddie's parts was terrible. Dear God his voice was so horrid and slow it made the character seem mentally inefficient.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Decent story but hard to listen to

The storyline was decent, but the narration was hard to listen to.
Monotone and boring.

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