The Second Wife – ARC Book Review

Quick Review:- an unputdownable, fast paced thriller that will keep you up all night.

Rating:- 4.5/5

The Fairchild family have it all. At least that’s what anyone watching the family of billionaires board the opulent Titan Pacifica would think.

But as Sydney Harbour Bridge starts to disappear in the rear-view window of the luxury liner, so too does any pretence that this is a happy family.

Unbeknownst to his children, CEO and patriarch Irving had planned to use the cruise to reveal his long-awaited succession plans. As glasses clink and elaborate dinners are served to the most notorious of Sydney’s elite, it will soon become all too clear that family loyalty can only take you so far.

And although six embark on the journey of a lifetime, not all of the group will make it back to dry land again . . .

Dripping with scandal, secrets, grandeur and greed, THE SECOND WIFE is an unputdownable thriller, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.

The Fairchild family, one of the richest families from Britain boards on ship Titan Pacifa and many people see them as a family that have all. But behind the closed doors is a whole different story. As the ship starts sailing through the Pacific Ocean, there is drama between the family members of the Fairchild family especially the patriarch of the Fairchild family, Irving was going to announce who was going to take over his business empire. Then on the night he announced his successor on the day of his 70th birthday celebration, Irving Fairchild was found dead in his cabin–someone has slashed his neck.

Ali Lowe is known to write fast-paced thrillers and this was no exception. We have the podcast that details about the cruise and of course about the Fairchild family. The story is told in multiple POVs–Mollie who works in the cruise and who has a secret agenda against the Fairchilds, Gen who is the second wife of Irving with her own plans to get rid of Irving and Celia Fairchild who would not let anyone to stop her husband Ridley from inheriting Fairchild wealth. Each women had their own agenda against Irving and one of them could have killed Irving. The story is packed with twists and turns from beginning to the end–with a possible love child that might prevent a certain Fairchild from inheriting, the fight for the inheritance and of course the gossip that seem to lurk around the cruise and among staff members. The story is well written and Ali managed to keep the reader at the edge of the seat with that type of writing!

Overall, I actually devoured this book and loved this book. I cannot wait to read next Ali Lowe’s thriller. Worth 4.5 stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and Hodder and Stoughton for invitation to review the book. The review is based on my honest opinion only.