The Wife Upstairs: An addictive psychological crime thriller with a twist - a New York Times bestseller!

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If you need a "spoiler free" recap of Jane Eyre...it begins with Jane Eyre, an orphan living with her Aunt, getting in trouble on a rainy day and being sent to Lowood School, to live until she becomes of age. It's a miserable place, and her one friend, Helen Burns, dies shortly after her arrival. Despite her childhood, and plain looks, Jane is smart and witty and obtains a post as a Governess to a young French girl, named Adele, ward of Edward Rochester, owner of Thornfield Hall. Remarkably, Edward falls for Jane but a secret comes to light, which could threaten their happy ending!

These perspective shifts also made the reveals seem very fast-paced and fun. The pace at which the story evolved was also really well done. Everyone should try to become goal diggers and not gold diggers. But what actually is happening is the other way around. Everyone wants to become millionaires overnight. It is one of the main reasons why lottery and gambling have become a flourishing business. The author shows us what will happen to us if we try to use others for our benefits Once Bea had decided Blanche needed to die as well, she started concocting her plan, inviting Tripp along for the purpose of framing him for it. Unfortunately, Eddie had showed up, which she had not anticipated.

Synopsis

She’s no dummy - she’s street smart Jane and I LIKE IT. This is aptly written, brightly paced, and keeps the reader in that perfect riveted-at-the-roots position. I enjoyed how Hawkins gave us alternating perspectives between Jane, in the present, and Bea, in the past. Rain has been pouring down all morning, making my drive from Center Point out here to Mountain Brook a nightmare, soaking the hem of my jeans as I get out of the car in the Reeds’ driveway, making my sneakers squelch on the marble floors of the foyer.

The next morning, Jane goes to Tripp’s house because he has asked her to organize some of his late wife’s things, which he has been unable to bring himself to do. Tripp is drunk and his house is covered in golf stuff and photos of Blanche. When Jane comments on a lamp that looks like it’s from Southern Manors, Tripp informs her that Bea never had original ideas, and instead she stole ideas from Blanche. Tripp says the two women grew up together, and that Bea’s real name is Bertha. But what Jane doesn't know is that Eddie is keeping a secret - a big secret. And when the truth comes out, the consequences are far more deadly than anyone could ever have imagined... In present day, as Jane talks, Bea realizes that Eddie kept her in the room because he still loves her. Then, a fire alarm goes off. Bea starts to head for the door, but she knows that Eddie must have intentionally set off a fire, knowing that the room would not open but that she would go let him out. Bea turns around and runs upstairs into the fire. Part XIII: Jane Hawkins’ writing is also incredibly engaging. She writes smoothly, with a style that gently flows and reads easily, skillfully drawing you almost immediately into the story. By the end of the first chapter, Hawkins had me baited – hook, line, and sinker.

Rachel Hawkins

Some recent mystery-thrillers that I would recommend over this one are The Guest List (slow build up, but worth it I think), Home Before Dark (if you like haunted house stories) and The Night Swim (if you like some courtroom drama mixed up in your mysteries).

Yet as Jane and Eddie become more enamored with one another, Jane finds herself unable to fully step out of the shadow of Bea’s legacy. And she wonders whether she and Eddie will truly find their own happiness together, as the ghost of Bea is always haunting. Always watching. The story begins with Jane, who walks dogs in a posh neighborhood, Thornfield Estates, where she meets Eddie Rochester who lost his wife in a tragic accident years ago. They have an engagement after a swift romance and Jane moves into Eddie’s massive mansion. She soon discovers that she is not the only one harboring secrets about the past. And the characters are just as engaging as the story. Which is surprising, since not a single one of them is wholly sympathetic. Not Jane. Not Eddie. Not Bea. But they all possess a certain charm – a flawed relatability, of sorts, that allows us to enjoy them despite their immoral ways. But not so fast, there are secrets here. Jane can’t get over the vibe in Eddie’s house, Bea’s presence is seen everywhere in the way she decorated the house. She created and launched a hugely successful business which is now worth millions. Jane can’t help but feel that this house may never feel like it belongs to her and Eddie, even after they are married. She also has the neighborhood wives to convince that she will be an accepted part of their group.She hopes that no one will notice that Jane isn’t her real name. And she hopes that no one will notice their missing valuables. P.S. For Jane Eyre fans or if you need a primer on the storyline of Jane Eyre before reading this, see Jane Eyes as told through Internet Memes.

Later that night, the police show up. The woman introduces herself as Detective Laurent. Jane initially assumes that she’s there for her, but it turns out she wants to question Eddie about Bea. Part IV: Bea Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this remarkable arc with me in exchange my honest opinions. No telling what Mrs. Reed was supporting last night, really, but that’s another thing I don’t actually care about. I read this book twice once July 2020 (Kindle e-copy) 4 stars and December 2020 (listening to the audiobook) 5 stars. I was really disappointed about the whole Jane's secret thing , it was really hyped up I didn't see the point in building it so much.For Jane, Eddie is an opportunity – an opportunity for both unimaginable wealth and protection from her past. Reading this book is like driving your car at full speed in a rainy day into a cliff as Lucifer Morningstar sits next to you, asking what you truly desire: yes, it’s both frightening, heart pounding, but also adrenaline pumping, exhilarating experience! Set in the deep south of America, Birmingham, Alabama, the intense heat of the setting skilfully adds to the intensity of the story. This is fresh, contemporary crime fiction with dark humour. For example I loved that Jane in The Wife Upstairs is now a dog walker and Adele a puppy. This is an entertaining novel full of twists – but at times I did feel that some of the twists were a tad unnecessary.