I really enjoyed this. Willig's titles are already fun, but the tension was ratcheted up several notches in The English Wife.

When a married couple (Bay and Annabelle) is murdered, their family discovers their secrets. Did Bay kill his wife for having an affair? Did Annabelle kill her husband for having an affair? Or, was it someone else altogether? What secrets were they keeping from their family, and why? And what about their poor young twins (Sebastian and Viola) left behind? Who will care for them?

Set in the late 1890s, this story begins with Bay and Annabelle falling in love in England, honeymooning in Paris, and moving back to Bay's childhood home in New York City. This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I enjoyed it. It was a lightly suspenseful story and kept me guessing until the end when the murderer was finally revealed.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! All opinions are my own.

Something terrible happens on the night of Annabelle and Bayard (Bay) Van Duyvil’s Twelfth Night ball celebrating the completion of their new family home in Cold Spring, New York. Bay is found dead with a knife in his chest and Annabelle is missing, feared drowned. Janie, Bay’s sister finds herself trusting and teaming up with a reporter to seek the truth about what happened and why.

At first I thought this story moved a bit slowly, almost plodding along as it shifted immediately from the night of the ball to five years earlier when Bay and Annabelle first met in London. Without context, it was a little confusing. However, I trusted the author knew what she was doing and she did. It’s a slow build to developing these characters and that was brilliant because near halfway, that intimate knowledge of these two becomes vital to feeling their story, connecting with their emotions when so much more is revealed. From that point forward, I literally could not put this book down, finishing it in one day.

There are hosts of surprises, twists and subterfuge embedded in an historically authentic prose and background. The matriarch of the Van Duyvil family sets the tone from which everyone revolves, maddenly so. The intrigue is almost palpable through the stunning conclusion. It’s my first experience with this author and now I’ll read the other books of hers that are languishing on my shelf. This was not an easy read but well worth the journey. Loved it.

The English Wife is the perfect read for a cold, stormy winter evening. Lauren Willig effortlessly blends the elements of suspense, intrigue and romance throughout the novel. I enjoyed the characters, the references to Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and the author’s subtle commentary on the social standards of the day.
The first chapter in this mysterious, gothic drama draws the reader into the story immediately. The novel’s hero, Bay Van Duyvil, is murdered and his wife, Annabelle is presumed dead. The murders take place during a Twelfth Night masked ball at the couple’s home located on the banks of the Hudson River. Bay and Annabelle were murdered while their guests were dancing and drinking champagne.
The dual narrative technique enables the author to bring the characters of Bay and Annabelle Van Duyvil to life. Understanding the couple’s romance is important to the plot and each chapter devoted to them adds depth to the intriguing storyline. I adored Bay and Annabelle and their devotion to each other. Janie Van Duyvil’s desire for the truth about her brother’s murder moves the present day storyline forward.
Janie forges a secret alliance with reporter James Burke to see past the scandal and piece together what happened to her brother. This act of courage drew me into the story as the aristocracy did not socialize outside of their social class. I enjoyed that Janie remained steadfast in her pursuit of the truth despite the disapproval from her domineering mother. As Burke uncovers secrets from the past, Janie starts to unravel her brother and sister-in-law’s complicated history. Janie’s self -confidence grows during the novel and I love that she was able to finally stand up to her mother.
The pacing of The English Wife is superb. The last few chapters of this classic gothic whodunit are filled with suspense and intrigue as each character and their truth is unmasked. The tension in these plot driven chapters was heightened because the main characters were snowed in at Bay and Annabelle’s empty gothic style home during a blizzard. It’s freezing inside the home because there is no coal and the main characters—all of the murder suspects—are forced to spend time together in one small room. Burke arrives with surprising new information about one of the suspects….this information changes the course of the story. These chapters kept me guessing and reading past my bedtime! The conclusion is fabulous! I must admit I did not see the big reveal---I had someone else pegged as the murderer.
If you are looking for a suspenseful mystery with intriguing characters, you will love this page turner!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for my review. It has been awhile since I have read historical fiction, but this book was so well written that it makes me want to read more! Janie VanDuyvil comes across her brother' Bayards's body and hears his last words, "George." This puts our complicated story into motion. Janie is looking for answers to Bay's death, the disappearance of his wife, Annabelle and her growing attraction to a reporter that is willing to help her find answers to her questions as long as he gets the scoop. Of course nothing and no one is what they seem, and the more Janie uncovers, the more complicated things become.

This story is twisty and dark. The rules of society and class at the time of our story only added to the challenges the characters faced. It was a great story and I highly recommend it!

A late Victorian murder mystery with overtones of Agatha Christie that engages from start to finish. Jumps right in to a blossoming scandal with a fancy ball, a soon-to-be dead body and a missing wife, Scintillating! Very disciplined pacing built suspense until about two thirds in I confess to skimming a bit to know what happened next! Enough red herrings to keep you guessing until family secrets are revealed leading to a satisfying conclusion. Would love to see a Masterpiece Theater adaptation of this one!

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

Oh my, what was not to like. This book drew me right in and I could not put it down. The characters were so real with all their faults. A big, big story.

The English Wife begins with the apparent murder-suicide of Annabelle and Bayard Van Duyvil. It has been rumored she was having an affair with the architect of their new home, Illyria, that Bayard built to replicate Annabelle’s home in England and people are certain that Bayard killed her in a jealous rage and then stabbed himself. Othello on the Hudson.

But there’s is a different Shakespearean story, Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” the play Annabelle was acting in when she met Bayard. As in “Twelfth Night” they are playing roles, sometimes more than one. They both have secrets and in a way that is why they died.

Jane van Duyvil is certain her brother did not kill Annabelle. She doesn’t know what happened, but of that she is certain. While the press has invaded their mourning, she sees the opportunity for an alliance and seeks out reporter Burke to ask for his help in exchange for access and information.



I have mixed feelings about this mystery. Part of that is because after Annabelle and Bayard are murdered we get to know how they came to meet and marry in a way that makes us like them a lot. The more I liked them, the unhappier the book made me. They were more interesting than Jane and Burke–and they are dead from the beginning.

I think the characters were a bit flat, though. They seem more like stock characters than newly imagined. Jane is the shy wallflower with the rich interior mind made plucky by necessity. Burke is the strong, somewhat silent romantic lead. Bayard is a prince charming and Annabelle is the stuff of regency romance. So is their mother, Mrs. Van Duyvil, the ultimate social snob. Then there’s a Snidely Whiplash named Giles, someone so one-dimensional that when he does one thing out of character during a crisis, Jane comments on how out of character it is. They all fit their types too well.

The mystery is fair. We learn what Jane and Burke learn as they learn it. The killer is not some unknown person unheard of until the last minute. It makes sense psychologically and with the information we have. Still, it was unsatisfying in many ways. Bayard’s misapprehension about Annabelle was more wish fulfillment than a secret. He knew the truth and ignored it for a more pleasant falsehood.

I received an e-galley of The English Wife from the publisher through NetGalley.

The English Wife at St. Martins Press | Macmillan
Lauren Willig author site

This is absolutely one of the most beautifully written books I have read. Eloquent and delicious, like drinking a fine wine, it goes down very easily. Run and get your copy of this lovely book. Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the perusal. I absolutely LOVED this book...so much, that I may have to read it once again!!

An interesting book that seemed a bit scattered with where it was going until it got there and all of the pieces fell into place.

Janie Van Duyvil, age 26, is unmarried and beaten down by her mother. Janie’s cousin, Anne, lives with them but she isn’t intimidated by Mrs. Van Duyvil.

Janie’s brother, Bay, had been married to Annabelle, an English woman. In America where they lived in a fine home on the Hudson, Annabelle was thought to be arrogant. People loved to gossip about her. When Bay and Annabelle threw a lavish party, Bay was stabbed to death and it was thought that Annabelle drowned in the Hudson. However, her body was not recovered. The scandal that followed drew a lot of press. They left behind two boys who now live with Mrs. Van Duyvil.

Who was Annabelle? She was such a private person. Since her body was not found, it is not known if she is really dead or not.

This was such a difficult story to try to follow. It jumped all around from place to place and time to time with all kinds of characters thrown in. I became so confused and really don’t know what it was that I read. I realize the the author is very celebrated for her work, but for me, this book is a total disappointment.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Unfortunately this missed the mark for me. The description sounds enticing, but when I started the book, it seemed so slow at the beginning! Especially for a book starting with a mystery and murder! I found the characters mostly unlikable besides Janie. It took most of the book to pick up for me. The ending was definitely the best part of the book but even that felt sort of unresolved in one character's case.

I’m a sucker for the Gilded Age. The world was changing but society dragged its feet, creating this weird dichotomy where a rush of new wealth tried to insert itself into Old World morals with little success. Scandals were the bread and butter beneath all the gold and excess. It’s the perfect setting for this story.

The weaving of flashbacks and present-day is done masterfully as the murdered man’s sister and her trusty journalist try to uncover his killer. I loved Janie. Not only was she intriguing in her own right, she was the perfect fly-on-the-wall to see each of the characters in a unique light. I think she is the perfect character for this story, her simple and uncomplicated desire to find justice a contrast to all the scheming people around her.

The investigation is a page-turner and the mysteries behind both Annabelle and Bay make this historical work feel quickly paced and exciting. The descriptions of the setting, the clothes, even the weather, were as sumptuous as the time period itself and suited the story perfectly.

There’s romance and suspense, there’s familial secrets and social maneuvering. Everything’s just under the surface, hidden in dark places until you shine a light on them. I really enjoyed this story and its satisfying conclusion. I would definitely recommend it to historical fiction fans, especially those who enjoy murder mysteries.

I was sure this would be right up my alley, I mean 1899 NYC, YES PLEASE! Unfortunately I found myself bored for most of the book and while it did pick up for the second half I was already checked out and I found myself rushing just to finish.

I wont be recommending to my friends

This novel is about appearances and lies and greed during the Gilded Age in New York. The story begins in the present; a Twelfth Night Ball held by Bay and Annabelle Van Duyvil in 1899 and reveals the stabbing death of one and the disappearance of the other. The narrative switches back and forth between the recent past and the meeting and courtship of Bay and Annabelle and the present day and the efforts by Janie Van Duyvil, Bay's sister, to reveal the truth behind the events. The author skillfully weaves the story between past and present and slowly reveals the motive behind the murder. Add in a blizzard of historical portions, a bitter society matron, and a young journalist determined to learn the truth, and you have a mystery that you can't put down!

Many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

Lauren Willig is one of my go to authors for well written, entertaining, and page turning historical fiction. Willig always does a good job jumping between different time periods and leading ladies, effectively telling two stories in one.
The English Wife tells the story of the seemingly charmed couple of Annabelle and Bayard Van Duyvil. On the evening of a ball being held at their newly finished home on the Hudson, Bayard is found murdered and Annabelle missing, presumed to have drowned or fled. As rumours fly among New Yorks' elite families, Bayard's sister Janie joins forces with a reporter to find the truth of what happened. Janie's point of view is one of the narratives the story follows, the other is Annabelle. Who is she and what secrets does she hide from everyone who thought they knew her?
This is a story of hidden identities, romantic encounters, family drama, and secrets. The English Wife kept me reading late into the night, determined to solve the mystery right along side Janie. A great read for historical mystery fans.

The English Wife has everything a historical fiction fan could want. Set in Gilded Age New York and London, The English Wife is full of murder, romance, intrigue, family secrets and suspense.

Bay and Annabelle Van Duyvil are introducing their glorious new home Illyria to New York upper society by hosting a magnificent Twelfth Night ball. They certainly seem to be living the charmed life, until Bay's sister Janie finds Bay murdered and Annabelle missing. Did Annabelle murder him and then flee the scene, or did Bay toss his wife into the freezing waters and then turn the knife upon himself? The newspapers can't get enough of this scandalous situation and the Van Duyvil family name is quickly tarnished. In an unexpected turn of events, Janie solicits the assistance of reporter John Burke to help her uncover the truth, even if that truth is not pretty.

Through the course of the novel, we learn more about how Bay and Annabelle met and the secrets they both harbored. I really felt drawn to Janie's story and how she comes into her own during the book. Having lived in her brother's shadow most of her life and restrained by her mother's directives, Janie grows throughout the story and takes matters into her own hands. The English Wife was a compelling story and a solid four star read for me.

I received this book courtesy of St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There was a lot to like about this book. I loved the premise, the setting, and the period details. I appreciated the use of Gothic elements, particularly the doppelgangers, and I didn't find the characters hard to keep straight, as others have mentioned. The Shakespeare references were fun. However, the second half of the book really fell flat for me.

*spoilers

The murderer was really obvious -- in fact, so obvious that I assumed it had to be a red herring. Mrs. Van Duyvil was not a believable character at all; more like one of Disney's wicked stepmothers. Some characters (Pruyn) disappeared altogether, and others (Giles) got a redemption arc that was unsettling. Annabelle continued to be missing throughout the book, which I suppose is a shameless attempt at setting up a sequel. I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable, aside from Georgie, and her ending was really appalling. I guess this is supposed to be a tragedy, but her death felt meaningless to me. Janie didn't really bother me as a narrator, but nor was I very invested in her or her relationship with Burke, who was a sort of Byronic caricature.

Finally, the version I received (free via Netgalley in exchange for review) was riddled with grammatical and spelling errors, as well as at least one date at the beginning of the chapter that was incorrect to the storyline. I don't hold these against the book, since this was an advance copy and I assume/hope these were corrected.

Murder and family secrets in the Gilded Age make The English Wife an intriguing read. Bayard and Annabelle Van Duyvil seem to have it all, until Bay is found with a knife in his chest and Annabelle is missing. The book switches timelines from Bay’s sister Janie trying to discover the truth of what happened to her family in the present, to the past and how Bay and Annabelle arrived at this horrendous destination.

As a fan of Lauren Willig, I could not wait to read this novel. It combines intrigue and romance in the way that she does so well. I was completely surprised by the ending and thoroughly enjoyed this book.