My Rating - 4/5
A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, Rachel Hawkins's 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?
I have only read Jane Eyre once but was sold on the idea of a retelling that modernized that piece of Gothic fiction. Rachel Hawkins did not disappoint with a fizzy, twisty, compulsively readable mystery.
Mystery novels always tend to read fast for me but this one felt even more so. Once the plot picked up speed I needed to know what happened. It kept the pages turning and I think this book was made to be read while on holiday.
Jane is one of those characters that has an edge to her. We know she has secrets almost immediately and she is unapologetically herself. Her voice felt distinct and made her seem like a more fully expanded character.
Eddie and Bea are complex and their dynamic was one of the most interesting elements of the novel. Everyone in this book is the hottest of hot messes and it made all of the characters more interesting. It made them all feel on equal footing with none of them being judged more than the others.
The atmosphere and mystery work with the characters to create a solid reading experience. The way the plot ramps up the mystery elements and uses it for a satisfying pay off also worked for me. The ending is perfect for a few reasons and served to tie this all together in a way that feels authentic to the story being told.
There is some satire within these pages that is delightfully fun. This book has something to say about a certain brand of upper middle class housewife. It provides some tongue in cheek humour that works against the mystery elements in a clever way.
There are definitely many overt nods to the inspiration to be found (including a take on its most famous line). I predict that there are also harder to spot ones that would be missed by the casual Jane Eyre reader. I have a hunch that those who have read it multiple times may pick up on smaller examples that I missed. This, however, will also be enjoyed by those who have not read Jane Eyre and are into the mystery element of the story.
If you are looking for a fun mystery read that has plenty of twists (and just as many swear words thrown in) I would recommend this one. I had a great time reading it and predict many of you will as well.
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