The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives: A GMA Book Club Pick
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4.3 • 40 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK ∙ A LIBRARYREADS PICK ∙ A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026 FROM MARIE CLAIRE ∙ A BEST BOOK FOR BOOK CLUBS FROM GLAMOUR ∙ A SOUTHERN LIVING BOOK WE CAN'T WAIT TO READ THIS MARCH
A remarkable trio whose lives have been cracked wide open by their husbands’ crimes unite to catch a serial killer in this dazzlingly captivating novel.
Beverley, Elsie, and Margot are not your average housewives. They are all wives of convicted killers. During the sun-drenched summer of 1966, the three women form an unlikely friendship after the discoveries of their husbands’ brutal crimes. With their exes—some of California’s most infamous murderers—dead or behind bars, they are attempting to forge a new future for themselves.
Headstrong Beverley tries compulsively to maintain control of everything around her, all while raising two children. Bookish Elsie fights to make a name for herself in the newsroom, working among men who sneer at her career goals. Glamorous Margot prefers partying to homemaking and devotes all her energy to upholding the appearance that everything is fine—anything to quell the shame from her husband’s deceit.
They know people look at them and think only one thing: How could they not have known what their husbands were doing? How much are they to blame? And yet when a string of local killings hits the news, the three women—underestimated, overlooked, shrewd—decide to get to work. After all, who better to catch a killer than those who have shared their lives and homes with one?
At once a riveting portrayal of shattered trust and a story of gripping suspense, The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives is a testament to the intricacies of women’s lives and how the deep bonds of female friendship can empower, uplift, and lead us to endure.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
This clever, character-driven mystery centers three remarkable women in a story about second chances and unexpected courage. In sunny 1966 California, Beverley, Elsie, and Margot share a peculiar bond: Each was once married to a convicted killer. Now they’re trying to rebuild their lives under public scrutiny, carrying guilt, anger, and questions that never quite go away. When a new string of murders hits the headlines, the three friends realize their hard-earned understanding of deception and danger may be more useful than anyone expects. Author Elizabeth Arnott makes each woman in the trio feel real and distinct, from Beverley’s fierce protectiveness to Elsie’s newsroom ambitions and Margot’s carefully polished glamour. At the same time, the just-before-feminism 1960s setting grounds the story in groovy period kitsch. The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives is an engaging mystery with a refreshing take on female friendship.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The ex-wives of three different serial killers band together to stop a new one in this riveting crime novel from Arnott (Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge, written as Lizzie Pook). Set in Berryview, Calif., during the sweltering summer of 1966, the action centers on Beverley, a harried mother of two; Elsie, a shrewd office assistant at the town newspaper; and Margot, a beautiful party girl. The women are united in uneasy friendship by the fact that each was once married to a now convicted serial killer, earning them scorn and skepticism from their neighbors, who—like the women themselves—wonder how they could have missed what their husbands were up to. Though each woman has come to Berryview to escape the violence committed by their husbands, the bodies of attractive young women start turning up, all within an hour's distance from Berryview, and police announce that a serial killer might be operating in the area. In response, Beverly, Elsie, and Margot set out to find the perpetrator, hoping in part to atone for the sins of their husbands. Arnott plays scrupulously fair with readers, seeding the narrative with well-disguised clues, but the novel's real appeal lies in its convincing evocation of the '60s and its tender depiction of the bond between its leads. It's a winner.
Customer Reviews
Page Turner
Terrific, fast, engaging read. Pick it up and finish it quickly.
I knew inside of 100 pages into this…
That a movie will be filmed from this story - it would be a tragedy if someone didn’t try. I can already see the leads :
Emma Stone
Emily Blunt
Rachel McAdams