Teen Review: The Last Wife

The novel The Last Wife by Karen Hamilton is a psychological thriller that I have mixed feelings towards. 

The novel is told through the voice and mind of the main character, Marie Langham, a woman with jealousy and envy as prominent personality traits, which sometimes get the best of her. When her best friend Nina passes away, Marie sees an opportunity to take on the roles and connections of her life, no matter the cost. 

Hamilton nailed the words put behind the main character, Marie’s, narrative voice throughout the novel. Her use of language, phrases, and dialogue was perfect in portraying Marie’s unreliable, manipulative, and “creepy” personality in the situation. This caused a constant eerie feeling towards myself as the reader when she spoke, always making me question Marie’s morals. However, a downside to the novel is that it wasn’t very suspenseful. I found that there was a lack of relatable characters; the novel just had a group of liars going in constant circles. I found the plot slow and depressing rather than engaging and exciting. 

I thought the book was overall not bad. Hamilton showed her skill through her use of language to convey the characters' true feelings behind their goals and morals throughout the novel. The plot was just not thrilling enough for me. I found it slow and depressing. It wasn’t like I was listening to a twisted thriller, but more of a family drama. I felt it could have had crazier moments that made me, as the reader, have a greater reaction of shock. I needed a bigger “wow” factor that was missing.  

 If you are someone who likes novels that are narrated by a character with a twisted perspective with ill intentions that come across as unsettling, or you like a more toned-down psychological thriller that feels more like a family drama, this book is one you should check out. This book isn’t for me. Based on what I mentioned before, I would give the book 3 out of 5 stars.