The Wives of Hawthorne Lane
A Novel
-
- $15.99
Publisher Description
In this twisty tale of domestic suspense, four neighbors become the prime suspects in a murder investigation that reveals the sinister underside of their picture-perfect community—from the bestselling author of The Guilty Husband.
Hawthorne Lane is the perfect place to live. Its tree-lined street and stately homes are the envy of the town. Every Halloween the residents of Hawthorne Lane come together to host their famous Fall Festival. But this year, someone won’t survive the night.
As a murder investigation ensues, it quickly becomes clear there’s more going on behind closed doors on Hawthorne Lane than meets the eye. And four women, each with secrets worth killing for, find themselves at the center of it all.
There’s Georgina, the perfectionist and reigning Queen Bee, who pays a high price for her elevated status. There’s Audrey, the bold and beautiful neighbor with the high-flying corporate career, but whose marriage is on the rocks. There’s Libby, the working mother who is struggling to come to terms with her recent divorce while parenting her teenage son. And finally, Hannah—the newcomer with a mysterious past that’s returning with a vengeance.
As the clock ticks down to Halloween, their lives will cross in the most unexpected ways. And soon only one question remains: Who will pay the ultimate price for the lies they all tried so hard to bury?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Murder stuns the suburbs in the sudsy latest from DeCarolis (The Perfect Sister). Upon leaving New York City for the quiet Upstate comforts of Hawthorne Lane, newlywed Hannah Wilson is immediately welcomed by her chipper neighbors—especially Georgina Pembrook, organizer of the neighborhood's popular fall festival. Secretly, though, Hannah fears that her husband, Mark, will discover unsavory details from her past. Behind the scenes, several of the other households on Hawthorne Lane are plagued by relationship troubles: Georgina's suave attorney husband, Colin, has a formidable temper; her friend, Libby Corbin, is trying to hide the fact that her marriage has ended; and beautiful magazine editor Audrey Warrington is carrying on an affair. When the fall festival finally rolls around, someone dies, leading police to question Hannah, Georgina, Libby, and Audrey, who forge new bonds in the process. DeCarolis maintains tension by teasing the murder early, then waiting to reveal who died, and she sketches the dreams and disappointments of her protagonists with aplomb. The plot, however, rarely rises above standard-issue domestic suspense, despite a few effective twists. It's a solid diversion, but not much more.
