![]() Book name: The Missing Wife Author: Sheila O'Flanagan Genre: Fiction, Mystery Goodreads: <Link> Storygraph: <Link> While at first brush, the novel maybe dismissed as a typical 'airport novel' which has some typical tropes you would expect from such a novel in terms of a protagonist with a mysterious past set in an idyllic location with some potential romance thrown in the mix, 'The Missing Wife' by Sheila O'Flannagan touches on a non standard topic for such a novel. The content of the book was interesting in that it dealt with a toxic relationship between the protagonist; Imogen who at the opening of the novel is on the run from her abusive husband; Vince where the nature of the abuse was mental rather than physical and the book highlights that this can be as or even more dangerous as physical abuse. It was interesting to see how something that at first seems like reasonable or an endearing quirk such as being overly particular about being organized and methodical can when taken to an extreme become a form of abuse. The author seems to have done her research well in terms of the depiction of the mental abuse faced by the characters which feels very authentic and believable. The novel is also structured in a very engaging way as early on in the novel you are left guessing as to the real motives as to why Imogen has left and the mysterious past that she hints at. The author has made a good choice to present it from the perspective of a 3rd person narration which allows for there to be some uncertainty and mystery to the developments that are taking place while also offering some insights into the mindset of both Imogen and Vince. The novel is set in a picturesque part of France and is very atmospheric. This has complemented by a a really great ensemble of colourful characters that range from a hospital attendant who doubles up as the apartment handyman, a pair of helpful Australian twins and a flirtatious real estate manager as well as characters from Imogen's past just to name a few. There are also not just added for embellishment but places an active part in the plot development by becoming Imogen's allies which ties into the way Imogen is able to escape from the nature of the abuse she faced where she was being isolated by her abuser and made to depend solely on him. It was also funny how Vince in his attempts to find his missing wife was being thwarted by his own miserliness and need to exert control! It is also interesting that the novel also uses the cast of characters to presents a more healthier model of a similar type of relationship that is taking place between two characters Imogen encounters who while they have their own issues, the relationship they have is presented in a much more constructive manner. One slight weakness of the book might be that it is leaning very heavily into stereotypes such as the French being very romantic, Person working in life Insurance is being very methodical and conscious of money. But this might be because its playing into the more romance aspect of the novel which the novel is constantly teasing with its cast of characters. Given this, I felt the novel could have ended on a slightly different note or included a short epilogue to highlight the transformation Imogen has gone through over the course of the novel Overall was a surprisingly enjoyable book and would recommend it for a casual read.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorAvid reader of Historical fiction, High fantasy novels, Comics & Graphic Novels. Passionate about teaching & the future of education in general. Categories
All
Archives
December 2023
|