I’m delighted to be sharing my thoughts on The Trophy Wife by Valerie Keogh, a smouldering intense psychological thriller.
Before I share my thoughts, here’s what the official blurb says:
His prized possession….his greatest mistake?
From the moment I saw Anne, I knew she was perfect for me.
Her beauty and her social connections would make my miserable life so much better. It didn’t matter that I didn’t love her. I would give her the lifestyle she craved, and she would give me the life I deserved…
But soon my marriage vows were a noose around my neck.
I longed to escape my beautiful, horrible wife.
And then I saw her and I knew there was only one way out…
My thoughts
Be careful what you wish for, is the message that this book left me for. Sometimes it serves us well to appreciate what we have and not to always think the grass is always greener on the other side!
Now anyone looking for a fast paced, wham bam kind of read, will be disappointed, this one is more of a read that slowly peels away layers of secrets, lies, toxicity and explores the impact of the lies we tell and the secrets we keep.
The main character, Jake, is not always the most likeable character but he was one of those characters who I felt sorry for while wanting to punch him hard in the mouth at the same time! He grew up with his parents as an only child, he had ambitions and dreams while his parents were they type of people who sneered at those who wanted to “rise above their station”. Jake decides to follow his dreams and heads off to Oxford on a scholarship and it is there that his life is transformed forever.
There were times in this story where my heart ached for him, his wealth, his success and all his material goods never seemed to fulfill him. Loneliness was a key theme here and it was a good reminder to be grateful for what we have. He only seems to have one friend, Adam, yet he risks it all in his desire to be something and someone that he isn’t.
He sets out to find love and to make a home, yet it wasn’t hard to see that what he really craved was what Adam had, even if he could never admit it. He finds love, or fair to say, he decides on a course of action to provide him with the final adornment required to make his life complete – the trophy wife and what follows is turbulence descending quickly into toxicity.
There were lots and twists and turns as the story developed and we watch open mouthed as Jake’s life slowly falls apart and it was a hard watch that’s for sure. Secrets are uncovered, decisions are made and a descent into madness begins.
A sad, chilling, thought provoking and intense read!
You can buy The Trophy Wife here
Scottish Crime Fiction Blogger and Author 