Title: The Younger Wife
Author: Sally Hepworth
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
When Stephen introduces his new, much younger fiancée, Heather, to his adult daughters, Tully and Rachel, he expects them to instantly greet her with open arms. However, in a twist of fate, he is still married to his first wife, who suffers from advanced dementia, and lives in a residential home. As such, the sisters are slow to warm to Heather, whilst newcomer Heather is guarding a secret of her own.
As the story gradually unfolds, this captivating (dysfunctional) family drama pulls the reader in chapter by chapter, as secrets are hinted at, then revealed, in an emotional (and unexpectedly intense) family drama, with a fair dosage of mystery and suspense woven into the plot.
I really enjoyed this book, as it contained everything that I could hope for in a novel: a clear, yet complex plot, with well-rounded characters, each with their own unique issues and life circumstances to contend with. Tully, the eldest sister, suffers from kleptomania, a condition that she battles with throughout the story, whilst her sister has problems surrounding her disordered relationship with food. There are, however, deeper issues at play here – such as domestic abuse, addiction, sexual abuse, etc.
The third person, alternating points of view works well in terms of plot structure, with each chapter being short and sweet. Tension is built up gradually, yet I found myself unable to put this book down. It is well paced, with a deep emphasis on character development.
All in all, I’ll be reading more of Sally Hepworth’s books in future. An excellent, addictive read, which I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a novel to cozy up with as the nights draw in!
The Introverted Bookworm 
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