The Starter Wife

Eight years ago, 37 year old esteemed artist Colleen May was suspected of drowning in the harbor. Her car was found parked near the waterfront. But, her body has never been found. No evidence of foul play has been discovered. Colleen’s death was ruled a suicide. The police did, at one time, consider her husband a person of interest. So much about the case is still shrouded in mystery.

Her surviving spouse (Byron Westcott) is a college professor of English literature (without tenure). He could barely make ends meet, if it weren’t for his late wife, who was a famous painter.

Two years ago, he remarried. Claire Greene is 27. Byron is almost twice her age. They met at an open house at the college. He gave her a private tour of the campus, that day. Now, they live in Colleen’s house & live off of her sizable savings. Her paintings are all over the house.

Byron hires a firm to do a background check on Claire. The report he receives is shocking. Her real name is Tracy Belfour. The stories she told him about herself, her father & mother are fabrications; pure fiction, all lies. And, she has a sister she’s never mentioned. She’s a tormented & miserable person who thinks that he’s THE key to her happiness. She doesn’t really have a solid sense of self.

Tracy started pursuing Byron, when she was only 16. She stalked Colleen, spied on her, infiltrated her house & sabotaged her life. In the dramatic conclusion, we find out what really happened to Colleen.

The Starter Wife
“Laurin knows how to ratchet up the suspense.” –Publishers Weekly

So, Im sort of unsure on this book, if that makes any sense. I loved her last book and I think I really liked this book but then the ending kind of went way over my head and just seemed too much. I also really didnt like the ending, but it might be your cup of tea.

This book follows Claire and her husband Byron. She is living in the shadows of his ex wife, Colleen who seemingly disappeared years ago and her body was never recovered. Claire seems to struggle with living in Colleens old home with all of her belongings everywhere that Byron is not prepared to part with her. Then someone else is narrating, that sort of sounds like a psycho stalker. I started to put two and two together as the book progressed, and lets just say….that girl is not right in the head. I felt bad for Byron and for any female that Byron looked at.

I feel that this girl should of gotten help back in her teens and maybe that would of helped somewhat but those girls didnt not deserve their fates. I sort of hate her character with a fiery passion and I honestly wish revenge would of been served in the end. For the rage and anger I felt towards this character, I feel like the ending didnt sizzle! But I would like you to be the judge and give me some ideas on how any one who read this felt, of if Im alone in this review!!

A recommendation by author Robyn Harding from Bustle.com’s Summer 2019 Thriller List. Claire made me dizzy !!! She just kept going on and on til I couldn’t listen to her any more. With no likable characters and nothing happened, I was totally bored.

I did not care for this book, it was dull, not exciting , and disshovelled. The actual story was not worth reading until around the twenty seventh or nineth chapters. The character, Claire was sick, be it reason for her overthinking/over analyzing and immature behaviors. I was for most of the time, wondering what this tangent story was about. Sorry I would not recommend this book, but the authors next book about the sister and brother who sets fire to the house sounds more impactful/organized/suspenseful.

Very hard to read. Very disjointed and the characters were not very like able. Always finish a book but not this one. Disappointing.

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