The English Wife

This latest historical novel by Lauren Willig is set in New York during the 1890’s. During a Twelfth Night party given by her brother Bayard and sister-in -law Annabelle at their sumptuous home near Cold Spring, Janie is summoned outside by her cousin Anna and horrified to find Bay dying and Annabelle floating in the river. But the police arrive to find no trace of Bay’s wife and declare her missing. Rumors spread that it was she who killed her husband. Janie knows better and so, determined to find her brother’s killer, she teams up with a newspaper reporter to solve the mystery of what happened to the young couple, who have left three young children behind. Willig, author of the Pink Carnation series, weaves many twists and turns into the novel, as more of the characters’ traits are revealed. The unveiling of the murderer is quite a surprise, and fans of historical fiction will not be disappointed with this novel.