Courtesy of William Morrow
I have reviewed a few suspenseful books here on Skyline Book Reviews, but they have all ended up being very different. There was Crooked River about two young girls whose father is accused of murder. Also, Big Little Lies about a death at a elementary school fundraiser in Australia. And Tina Seskis’ One Step Too Far told the story of Emily who leaves her old life behind only to be propelled back into it after a tragic death. Susan Crawford’s cerebral debut, The Pocket Wife, involves a murder in a suburb of Paterson, NJ and is no exception.
The siren is inside her ears, inside the car. It screams and pries inside her brain. She opens the car door and steps outside. She’s forgotten her shoes, but she can’t feel the pavement. She’s so light her feet are barely touching down. She looks out at the cars toward the Hudson, and it shimmers, it hums, it sings, eclipsing the sound of the siren with its lovely, lilting song.
5 Reasons to Read:
- Crawford’s main character, Dana Catrall, is captivating during her descent into a mental breakdown in the wake of the violent death of her neighbor.
- The detective investigating the murder, Jack Moss, is not typical law enforcement–his dedication to his job, his desire to help Dana, and the guilt motivating him to protect his son is very real and multi-faceted.
- Crawford’s lyrical and phenic writing delves into Dana’s psyche as she discovers clues that push her closer to the edge.
- Clues are pieced together while Detective Moss investigates and Dana racks her memory until ultimately the truth settles to the surface amidst a storm of lies.
- This murder mystery won’t disappoint when it comes to suspense and unexpected outcomes.
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