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The Pocket Wife
"It isn't the big things Peter does that makes Dana want to leave him; it's more the smaller things, like sticking her inside his pocket in the middle of a thought - these demeaning, shrinking things he does that make her feel as trivial as a sneeze."
"EXCEPTIONAL."
-CHEVY STEVENS, New York Times bestselling author
Dana Catrell leads a quiet life in a suburb a stone's throw from Manhattan. She spends her days tidying, reading, missing her son who's away at college, and wondering what went wrong in her marriage to her husband, Peter, who comes home late most nights and makes her feel as unimportant as a pocketful of loose change.
Then on one horrific day, Celia - Dana's friend and neighbor - is found murdered... and Dana's life suddenly begins to spiral out of control as she feels herself sliding toward the brink of insanity. Dana suffers from bipolar disorder, and she can't account for the troubling gaps in her memory on the afternoon of Celia's death. Even more terrifying, Dana was the last person to see her friend alive on that deadly day when Celia revealed a disturbing secret.
Is murder on Dana's mind - or is it all in her head? And is there a killer lurking inside her... or is there one out there in the shadows of reality, waiting to strike again?
"EXCEPTIONAL."
-CHEVY STEVENS, New York Times bestselling author
Dana Catrell leads a quiet life in a suburb a stone's throw from Manhattan. She spends her days tidying, reading, missing her son who's away at college, and wondering what went wrong in her marriage to her husband, Peter, who comes home late most nights and makes her feel as unimportant as a pocketful of loose change.
Then on one horrific day, Celia - Dana's friend and neighbor - is found murdered... and Dana's life suddenly begins to spiral out of control as she feels herself sliding toward the brink of insanity. Dana suffers from bipolar disorder, and she can't account for the troubling gaps in her memory on the afternoon of Celia's death. Even more terrifying, Dana was the last person to see her friend alive on that deadly day when Celia revealed a disturbing secret.
Is murder on Dana's mind - or is it all in her head? And is there a killer lurking inside her... or is there one out there in the shadows of reality, waiting to strike again?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2015
517 people are currently reading
11227 people want to read
About the author
Susan H. Crawford
3 books378 followersSusan grew up in Miami, Florida. She later moved to New York City and then to Boston before settling in Atlanta to raise three amazing daughters and to teach in various adult education settings. A member of The Atlanta Writers Club and The Village Writers, Susan works for the Department of Technical and Adult Education and is a member of her local planning commission. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and a trio of rescue cats, where she enjoys reading books, writing books, rainy days, and spending time with the people she loves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,123 reviews
March 29, 2015
There are a lot of four and five star reviews for this one...not from me, though. I wish I liked this more than I did. Perhaps I read this too soon after The Girl On The Train. Here is another collection of unlikeable characters, depressing relationships, a narrator that isn't sure of her involvement in the crime and a pretty unrealistic ending. We know from the summary that the narrator has struggled with mental illness yet the tone of the story felt as if something was missing. The story feels confusing and frenetic but for me it was not compelling and some of the things that occurred seemed random. I also wanted to know more about the person complicit in all of this (who seemed to just fade out of the story), as well as a few other major players. I wanted more character development. Sadly, this one just didn't work for me. 2.5 stars
July 26, 2016
This was a bit of a funny one for me. I went into it knowing most of my trusted friends rated this very much in the middle of the road. I liked the characters, disliked some and was happy with the story line. Which of course is, normal, and good.
The story just did not grab me enough, at every step of the way. I enjoyed the writing style, the themes we saw here – mental illness, fractured families and the like. I just was not drawn in enough by the pacing. It wasn’t exciting enough, and I guess the best way to describe my feelings about this is it left me feeling ‘lacking’.
I could see the mystery being solved but it was screaming out for excitement, but none came. Much the same as my experience – I wanted it to happen but it didn’t. Even as the whodunnit part resolved itself, there was no fight put up by the perp, this seemed odd to me, and I wonder if others read it feel the same?
I really enjoyed the storyline between Dana and Moss, also his son Kyle, and abhorred the nasty man called Peter. Again, as with some of my prior reads, liked, not loved, this one.
The story just did not grab me enough, at every step of the way. I enjoyed the writing style, the themes we saw here – mental illness, fractured families and the like. I just was not drawn in enough by the pacing. It wasn’t exciting enough, and I guess the best way to describe my feelings about this is it left me feeling ‘lacking’.
I could see the mystery being solved but it was screaming out for excitement, but none came. Much the same as my experience – I wanted it to happen but it didn’t. Even as the whodunnit part resolved itself, there was no fight put up by the perp, this seemed odd to me, and I wonder if others read it feel the same?
I really enjoyed the storyline between Dana and Moss, also his son Kyle, and abhorred the nasty man called Peter. Again, as with some of my prior reads, liked, not loved, this one.
March 18, 2015
Dana, can't remember much of the last afternoon she spent with her friend. Much can be blamed on the drinking they both did, but to make it even more difficult, Dana is bi-polar, off her meds and slightly manic. Yet, her friend is dead and she remembers only bits and pieces. Could she possibly have killed her?
Can't say this was the most suspenseful read but it was different and I sympathized with Dana's struggles. Not only is her husband cheating on her, but as she tries to stay ahead of her mania to find out what actually happened to her friend, she finds herself in a defensive position with the police. Now that was my favorite character, Jack the detective assigned to this case. He has personal problems of his own but he is dogged and sympathetic, regretting past mistakes and trying to do the right thing.
The ending, not too sure of, don't think it could have played that way, someone in that particular line of work wouldn't be that naïve. Can't say more because I don't want to spoil it for future readers. A good read, less mystery than character study, but an interesting one.
ARC from publisher.
Can't say this was the most suspenseful read but it was different and I sympathized with Dana's struggles. Not only is her husband cheating on her, but as she tries to stay ahead of her mania to find out what actually happened to her friend, she finds herself in a defensive position with the police. Now that was my favorite character, Jack the detective assigned to this case. He has personal problems of his own but he is dogged and sympathetic, regretting past mistakes and trying to do the right thing.
The ending, not too sure of, don't think it could have played that way, someone in that particular line of work wouldn't be that naïve. Can't say more because I don't want to spoil it for future readers. A good read, less mystery than character study, but an interesting one.
ARC from publisher.
January 23, 2016
This was a surprisingly good read. I know some have compared it to Girl on the Train. Although there are some comparatives here, I don't think I can relate it to that book. This was far more than man vs. woman and everything in between.
Susan H. Crawford does a fine job with getting into the head of the main character Dana. I felt like the marbles were rolling around inside my own head as well as I read about the actions and reactions of Dana. Dana suspects her husband, Peter, of machine-gun style cheating, but she has a difficult time sorting through what is real and what is not. Our girl, Dana, has had a previous breakdown, and well, you know, that kinda puts a damper on whether her memories and recall are factual.
When Dana's neighbor is murdered, Dana even suspects herself and the possibility that it may have been her who did the evil deed. Then we're introduced to the police detective, Jack Moss, who has a whole gamut of backlogged personal issues. He brings a human element to the story as he sifts through the mounting clues. This case may touch him personally.
But here's what most of us agree on......it's the writing....really good writing. I'm looking forward to the next book by Susan H. Crawford. She can write nursery rhymes and I'm in.
Susan H. Crawford does a fine job with getting into the head of the main character Dana. I felt like the marbles were rolling around inside my own head as well as I read about the actions and reactions of Dana. Dana suspects her husband, Peter, of machine-gun style cheating, but she has a difficult time sorting through what is real and what is not. Our girl, Dana, has had a previous breakdown, and well, you know, that kinda puts a damper on whether her memories and recall are factual.
When Dana's neighbor is murdered, Dana even suspects herself and the possibility that it may have been her who did the evil deed. Then we're introduced to the police detective, Jack Moss, who has a whole gamut of backlogged personal issues. He brings a human element to the story as he sifts through the mounting clues. This case may touch him personally.
But here's what most of us agree on......it's the writing....really good writing. I'm looking forward to the next book by Susan H. Crawford. She can write nursery rhymes and I'm in.
December 18, 2015
THE POCKET WIFE by Susan H. Crawford, an absorbing psychological thriller debut-an exploration into the mind of a troubled woman, as she questions her actions of reality versus fiction.
Top 50 Books of 2015. "2015 Best Eye-Catching Cover. Best psycho- contemporary debut (Bipolar)."
Dana Cantrell, is a pocket wife, meaning her husband, Peter is too busy for her. On occasion, when she calls, he has a nasty habit of placing the cell phone in his pocket, until he can excuse himself to speak in private. She feels he can store her away in his pocket, pretending she does not exist; at times emotionally absent. Everyone and everything comes first—he is also very secretive with his own private cell phone conversations, running to another room; Dana suspects he is up to no good and suspects he may be having an affair—she does not trust him.
Dana also has a history of mental illness, mania, bi-polar, and most of the time she is not on her meds; instead in a fog of Xanax and alcohol. However, she is better now, right? Her marriage is not what it was in the early stages, but she feels she is stable, and sees a psychologist, always reassuring.
As the novel opens her neighbor, Celia also her garage sale buddy, has invited her over with some exciting news. Over lots of wine, and talking, Dana is unsure the events of the afternoon. All seems to be a blur the drunker they become. The only thing she recalls is Celia’s interest in showing her a blurry cell phone picture. Was it her husband or possibly Celia’s husband?
Now, she finds out her neighbor, Celia has been murdered. Dana is so upset, not being able to recall the events of the day. Could she have killed her? After all, she has a key to her house. Could she have gone back later? Something having to do with the cell phone picture must have led to more tragic events, or possibly she had nothing to do with the murder. However, she was most likely the last one to see her alive.
An investigation soon begins. She has to put her detective hat on and even hosts a brunch in order to dig into clues in order to put the pieces of the day together. She begins to suspect everyone around her leading to an intense mystery. She is obsessed to solve the mystery. Her husband, Celia’s husband, a lover, perhaps? If she could only recall the events through her haze of confusion. . . . She begins questioning reality versus fiction…is she crazy, and is she a cold-hearted killer? What if something drove her to commit murder?
Detective Jack Moss is investigating the case, and readers learn about his past and personal life. His second wife has left him and Kyle, his son from his first marriage is always in trouble with the law, and they have an estranged relationship. When prints show up, and they turn out to be Kyles, he has to dig deeper, as surely his son did not kill this woman. How are these two connected? In the meantime, Jack’s suspect list grows longer as he is unsure who is lying.
Dana becomes paranoid, second guessing herself, suspecting everyone, scrutinizing their every move. As she cooperates with Jack, the suspense and intensity builds for a powerful and emotional mystery of whodunit.
From the stylish front cover "promiscuous tart", the title, to the well-developed characters-- a perfectly paced, complex crime suspense mystery of betrayal, marriage, murder, madness, bi-polar, and intrigue. A mix of bunny boiler, suburban desperate housewives, and garage sale buddies!
Cassandra Campbell delivers an outstanding performance, perfectly matched for all voices, for an intense page-turner, keeping you on the edge-of-your-seat, from beginning to end.
I enjoyed THE POCKET WIFE, more than Girl on the Train, The Silent Wife, and Gone Girl, as Crawford creates her main protagonist likable, smart, intuitive, and someone you can relate to, a character driven mystery. You sympathize with her, as Crawford interjects humor, versus whinny and totally wacky, as most psychological thrillers—holding your interest with a nice pace, twists and turns, and some surprises.
You will want to read this one in one sitting, a page-turner. Set aside the time—settle in for hours of entertainment; highly recommend the audio version. If this is a debut, I am looking forward to see what comes next –delighted to discover another talented Atlanta author!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
Top 50 Books of 2015. "2015 Best Eye-Catching Cover. Best psycho- contemporary debut (Bipolar)."
Dana Cantrell, is a pocket wife, meaning her husband, Peter is too busy for her. On occasion, when she calls, he has a nasty habit of placing the cell phone in his pocket, until he can excuse himself to speak in private. She feels he can store her away in his pocket, pretending she does not exist; at times emotionally absent. Everyone and everything comes first—he is also very secretive with his own private cell phone conversations, running to another room; Dana suspects he is up to no good and suspects he may be having an affair—she does not trust him.
Dana also has a history of mental illness, mania, bi-polar, and most of the time she is not on her meds; instead in a fog of Xanax and alcohol. However, she is better now, right? Her marriage is not what it was in the early stages, but she feels she is stable, and sees a psychologist, always reassuring.
As the novel opens her neighbor, Celia also her garage sale buddy, has invited her over with some exciting news. Over lots of wine, and talking, Dana is unsure the events of the afternoon. All seems to be a blur the drunker they become. The only thing she recalls is Celia’s interest in showing her a blurry cell phone picture. Was it her husband or possibly Celia’s husband?
Now, she finds out her neighbor, Celia has been murdered. Dana is so upset, not being able to recall the events of the day. Could she have killed her? After all, she has a key to her house. Could she have gone back later? Something having to do with the cell phone picture must have led to more tragic events, or possibly she had nothing to do with the murder. However, she was most likely the last one to see her alive.
An investigation soon begins. She has to put her detective hat on and even hosts a brunch in order to dig into clues in order to put the pieces of the day together. She begins to suspect everyone around her leading to an intense mystery. She is obsessed to solve the mystery. Her husband, Celia’s husband, a lover, perhaps? If she could only recall the events through her haze of confusion. . . . She begins questioning reality versus fiction…is she crazy, and is she a cold-hearted killer? What if something drove her to commit murder?
Detective Jack Moss is investigating the case, and readers learn about his past and personal life. His second wife has left him and Kyle, his son from his first marriage is always in trouble with the law, and they have an estranged relationship. When prints show up, and they turn out to be Kyles, he has to dig deeper, as surely his son did not kill this woman. How are these two connected? In the meantime, Jack’s suspect list grows longer as he is unsure who is lying.
Dana becomes paranoid, second guessing herself, suspecting everyone, scrutinizing their every move. As she cooperates with Jack, the suspense and intensity builds for a powerful and emotional mystery of whodunit.
From the stylish front cover "promiscuous tart", the title, to the well-developed characters-- a perfectly paced, complex crime suspense mystery of betrayal, marriage, murder, madness, bi-polar, and intrigue. A mix of bunny boiler, suburban desperate housewives, and garage sale buddies!
Cassandra Campbell delivers an outstanding performance, perfectly matched for all voices, for an intense page-turner, keeping you on the edge-of-your-seat, from beginning to end.
I enjoyed THE POCKET WIFE, more than Girl on the Train, The Silent Wife, and Gone Girl, as Crawford creates her main protagonist likable, smart, intuitive, and someone you can relate to, a character driven mystery. You sympathize with her, as Crawford interjects humor, versus whinny and totally wacky, as most psychological thrillers—holding your interest with a nice pace, twists and turns, and some surprises.
You will want to read this one in one sitting, a page-turner. Set aside the time—settle in for hours of entertainment; highly recommend the audio version. If this is a debut, I am looking forward to see what comes next –delighted to discover another talented Atlanta author!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
August 28, 2017
Cannot finish this, unfortunately. I am so uninvolved, it's just a waste for me:-(
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
March 30, 2015
I haven't really been that hooked on any "psychological thrillers" since Gone Girl and the Silent Wife. So, I really wanted to like this. But, I found the writing went into too much detail about the physical surroundings and not enough on character development. At one point, it was raining every day in the protagonist's hometown, as if the reader didn't get the message that the weather represented the woman's mental state of mind.
I also didn't really connect with any of the characters, not even the detective who was written to be likeable. There was no empathy built for the victim as she remained a two-dimensional character throughout the book. Right before the climax, I already knew who the killer was and I scanned the rest of the book after that point. Overall, I think I'm done with this emerging genre of psychological thrillers as they all seem to be following the same cliches. Unstable housewife. Cheating jerk of a husband. Veteran detective. May be time to broaden my horizon when it comes to books.
I also didn't really connect with any of the characters, not even the detective who was written to be likeable. There was no empathy built for the victim as she remained a two-dimensional character throughout the book. Right before the climax, I already knew who the killer was and I scanned the rest of the book after that point. Overall, I think I'm done with this emerging genre of psychological thrillers as they all seem to be following the same cliches. Unstable housewife. Cheating jerk of a husband. Veteran detective. May be time to broaden my horizon when it comes to books.
March 30, 2015
The Pocket Wife is a standalone, psychological thriller/mystery novel written by Susan H. Crawford. This is her debut novel...and what a debut!! Throughout my reading experience, I remained invested in this story and its characters. My favorite elements of this book were the complexity of the characters's lives and the various relationship dynamics going on. It was sad but also immensely engaging!
The main character, Dana suffers from mental illness and the parts of this story that were shared through her perspective were frighteningly fascinating! Her manic episodes result in memory problems, reality distortion, and paranoia for poor Dana. It doesn't take much to get her to a breaking point when she just doesn't know what’s real and what’s not. But she knows she was very likely the last one to see her friend alive and now she just has to explore the potholes of her memory for a clue as to what really happened. While she struggles through the daily fog in her mind, the detective assigned to the case, Jack, has his own stressors that are shared through his individual perspective. Both Dana and Jack are likable characters, but with their combined stress in this book, the reader is sure to be at risk for going a bit crazy themselves as everybody involved becomes an easy suspect. As the end neared, I did figure out who the killer was (and btw, the fact I was right surprised me to no end because I am usually embarrassingly blindsided). I typically stay in the dark during these types of books but maybe it’s a good sign I finally figured it out for once...or maybe it was just a lucky guess - the latter being the most probable haha. Although now having experienced a mystery novel both ways, I have to admit I enjoy the surprise factor much better!
Overall, I thought The Pocket Wife was a great book and I would recommend it to fans of the genres listed. Experiencing this story via audio was enjoyable and the level of suspense was enough to keep my earphones in during every available moment. Give it a try!
My favorite quote:
"The colors, the conversations, everything is much more vibrant and inclusive, as if opening a book releases genies trapped inside. The scenes and people between their covers sometimes seem more vivid than real life, with their sunny, pearl-toothed characters, the witty conversation, the handsome stranger squeezed into a subway car or knocking about on the street. Sometimes, when she finishes a book at record speed, Dana feels a slight letdown, as if a good friend has hung up the phone in the middle of a conversation."
I just love that quote, don't you?
The main character, Dana suffers from mental illness and the parts of this story that were shared through her perspective were frighteningly fascinating! Her manic episodes result in memory problems, reality distortion, and paranoia for poor Dana. It doesn't take much to get her to a breaking point when she just doesn't know what’s real and what’s not. But she knows she was very likely the last one to see her friend alive and now she just has to explore the potholes of her memory for a clue as to what really happened. While she struggles through the daily fog in her mind, the detective assigned to the case, Jack, has his own stressors that are shared through his individual perspective. Both Dana and Jack are likable characters, but with their combined stress in this book, the reader is sure to be at risk for going a bit crazy themselves as everybody involved becomes an easy suspect. As the end neared, I did figure out who the killer was (and btw, the fact I was right surprised me to no end because I am usually embarrassingly blindsided). I typically stay in the dark during these types of books but maybe it’s a good sign I finally figured it out for once...or maybe it was just a lucky guess - the latter being the most probable haha. Although now having experienced a mystery novel both ways, I have to admit I enjoy the surprise factor much better!
Overall, I thought The Pocket Wife was a great book and I would recommend it to fans of the genres listed. Experiencing this story via audio was enjoyable and the level of suspense was enough to keep my earphones in during every available moment. Give it a try!
My favorite quote:
"The colors, the conversations, everything is much more vibrant and inclusive, as if opening a book releases genies trapped inside. The scenes and people between their covers sometimes seem more vivid than real life, with their sunny, pearl-toothed characters, the witty conversation, the handsome stranger squeezed into a subway car or knocking about on the street. Sometimes, when she finishes a book at record speed, Dana feels a slight letdown, as if a good friend has hung up the phone in the middle of a conversation."
I just love that quote, don't you?
May 9, 2018
Deciding to put down a book part way through is like taking off those shoes that don't fit – the relief is wonderful. What is it about page 161? This is now the second or third book that, having got this far, I have said “NO, I cannot go on!”.
The premise of this novel is quite good – Dana and her friend Celia have spent the afternoon drinking in Celia's house - as you do – or, to be more accurate, as they do. Dana totters home and passes out. She awakes some time later, disturbed by a pounding hangover and the sight and sound of an ambulance down the street. She discovers her friend Celia has been murdered. Did she do it?
Dana is a middle-aged, middle class privileged woman married to a successful lawyer, who seemingly pays her the attention she seeks. She has holes in her memory and is often muddled and confused, apparently due to bi-polar illness. To me she just comes across as a whiny, needy, erratic woman with too much time on her hands.
The words “psychological thriller” have usually been enough to justify my reading a book but no more; I'm learning to take this description with a hefty helping of salt. “Haunting, gripping and lyrical” are also used to describe this - I've news for you – this is about as gripping as an eel. With not even the lyricism of a limerick. As for “haunting”? Nah.....Roal Dahl is more haunting than this. The themes of murder, mental illness and marital infidelity are a complete mish-mash.. If the author's intention was to make readers understand bi-polar illness by using her own personal experiences as a springboard, she has not conveyed it convincingly. Our heroine is a whiny, wimp of a woman who puts herself into the most improbably situations – breaking into a hotel room to ransack it? Oh please! She is an unsympathetic character who refuses to do anything about her mental problems but instead embarks on a little do-it-yourself sleuthing. Tosh
Oh – and let's not forget the Detective With Personal Problems, one Jack Moss, a stereotypical character if ever there was one....give me strength.
I do sometimes wonder of I've read the same book as those readers who rate it highly; it has me wondering if I'm missing something – then I turn to Ellen Feldman, Lionel Shriver or Ann Enright and I know that it's not Me. I am getting to the point where my Did-Not-Finish-Shelf is in danger of collapse from the weight of books....charity shop here I come.
The premise of this novel is quite good – Dana and her friend Celia have spent the afternoon drinking in Celia's house - as you do – or, to be more accurate, as they do. Dana totters home and passes out. She awakes some time later, disturbed by a pounding hangover and the sight and sound of an ambulance down the street. She discovers her friend Celia has been murdered. Did she do it?
Dana is a middle-aged, middle class privileged woman married to a successful lawyer, who seemingly pays her the attention she seeks. She has holes in her memory and is often muddled and confused, apparently due to bi-polar illness. To me she just comes across as a whiny, needy, erratic woman with too much time on her hands.
The words “psychological thriller” have usually been enough to justify my reading a book but no more; I'm learning to take this description with a hefty helping of salt. “Haunting, gripping and lyrical” are also used to describe this - I've news for you – this is about as gripping as an eel. With not even the lyricism of a limerick. As for “haunting”? Nah.....Roal Dahl is more haunting than this. The themes of murder, mental illness and marital infidelity are a complete mish-mash.. If the author's intention was to make readers understand bi-polar illness by using her own personal experiences as a springboard, she has not conveyed it convincingly. Our heroine is a whiny, wimp of a woman who puts herself into the most improbably situations – breaking into a hotel room to ransack it? Oh please! She is an unsympathetic character who refuses to do anything about her mental problems but instead embarks on a little do-it-yourself sleuthing. Tosh
Oh – and let's not forget the Detective With Personal Problems, one Jack Moss, a stereotypical character if ever there was one....give me strength.
I do sometimes wonder of I've read the same book as those readers who rate it highly; it has me wondering if I'm missing something – then I turn to Ellen Feldman, Lionel Shriver or Ann Enright and I know that it's not Me. I am getting to the point where my Did-Not-Finish-Shelf is in danger of collapse from the weight of books....charity shop here I come.
December 21, 2014
Brilliant family drama/psychological thriller. Loved it,terrific writing and an excellent protagonist or two. Full review to follow.
April 5, 2015
Debut novelist Susan Crawford comes from a pedigree of award-winning short fiction and poetry. THE POCKET WIFE has received comparison to BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP, TURN OF THE MIND and THE SILENT WIFE.
To begin with, let me just say that this novel is nowhere near those three I mentioned. Especially, BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP which is one of the best thrillers of the past ten years. THE POCKET WIFE has an interesting but familiar premise. A woman who is battling bi-polar disorder wakes up to commotion across the street from her home.
While she was in 'black-out' mode the only close friend she has was bludgeoned to death in her living room. The last thing she remembers is arguing with her now deceased friend. The woman in question is Dana Catrell and her neighbor Celia's death unsettles her in more ways than one.
This is not the only problem Dana is dealing with. She has an odd relationship with her husband and feels he is having an affair. She also has no close relationships with anyone else and Celia's husband, Ronald, acts unusually strange around her --- even more than a man who just lost his wife would behave.
The problem I had with THE POCKET WIFE is that none of the characters were well drawn out and the writing/details were quite stilted. Yes, I get that Crawford was attempting to put us in the mind of a woman with bi-polar disorder, but I still could not connect. The fact that much of what you were reading may or may not have even happened was that much more frustrating for me.
It is a big leap to move from short stories and poetry to full length thrillers and I applaud Susan Crawford for trying. Hopefully, her next effort can cut through the malaise and just concentrate on the suspense and thrills that make this genre readable and memorable.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for New Mystery Reader
To begin with, let me just say that this novel is nowhere near those three I mentioned. Especially, BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP which is one of the best thrillers of the past ten years. THE POCKET WIFE has an interesting but familiar premise. A woman who is battling bi-polar disorder wakes up to commotion across the street from her home.
While she was in 'black-out' mode the only close friend she has was bludgeoned to death in her living room. The last thing she remembers is arguing with her now deceased friend. The woman in question is Dana Catrell and her neighbor Celia's death unsettles her in more ways than one.
This is not the only problem Dana is dealing with. She has an odd relationship with her husband and feels he is having an affair. She also has no close relationships with anyone else and Celia's husband, Ronald, acts unusually strange around her --- even more than a man who just lost his wife would behave.
The problem I had with THE POCKET WIFE is that none of the characters were well drawn out and the writing/details were quite stilted. Yes, I get that Crawford was attempting to put us in the mind of a woman with bi-polar disorder, but I still could not connect. The fact that much of what you were reading may or may not have even happened was that much more frustrating for me.
It is a big leap to move from short stories and poetry to full length thrillers and I applaud Susan Crawford for trying. Hopefully, her next effort can cut through the malaise and just concentrate on the suspense and thrills that make this genre readable and memorable.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for New Mystery Reader
May 21, 2015
Dana Catrell woke with a blinding hangover – she couldn’t remember a lot of the afternoon but she knew she had been with her neighbour Celia Steinhauser and they had both consumed a large amount of alcohol. She also felt they'd had a dreadful argument – but she couldn’t remember anything else…
Dana’s shock when she discovered Celia had been bashed to death was numbing – and the realization that she was the last person to see her alive was even more shattering. Dana suffered from a bipolar disorder which made her paranoid and jumpy; she also found depression and mania were her constant companions. Was it possible that she had killed her friend and didn’t remember it?
Peter Catrell, Dana’s husband was acting in a suspicious manner – so was Ronald, Celia’s husband. Detective Jack Moss was lead investigator and although he had little evidence at the early stages, his thoughts were leaning toward Dana as the murderer. But he also had his own problems – would he be able to keep his personal life and this intriguing case separate?
As Dana slowly tipped toward the edge, she was desperate to find the evidence to clear her name. Unable to sleep, paranoia was a constant in her mind – was she a murderer or was someone out to get her as well?
The Pocket Wife is the debut psychological thriller for author Susan Crawford – filled with intrigue, suspense and mystery I found the first half of the story kept me enthralled. But it became quite rambling; shambolic and lost me a little. The ending was strange – it seemed unfinished even though there was an arrest. The character most developed was, to me, the detective. All in all The Pocket Wife held great potential but fell a little short. But I would still recommend it to lovers of this genre.
With thanks to the Goodreads First Reads program and Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.
Dana’s shock when she discovered Celia had been bashed to death was numbing – and the realization that she was the last person to see her alive was even more shattering. Dana suffered from a bipolar disorder which made her paranoid and jumpy; she also found depression and mania were her constant companions. Was it possible that she had killed her friend and didn’t remember it?
Peter Catrell, Dana’s husband was acting in a suspicious manner – so was Ronald, Celia’s husband. Detective Jack Moss was lead investigator and although he had little evidence at the early stages, his thoughts were leaning toward Dana as the murderer. But he also had his own problems – would he be able to keep his personal life and this intriguing case separate?
As Dana slowly tipped toward the edge, she was desperate to find the evidence to clear her name. Unable to sleep, paranoia was a constant in her mind – was she a murderer or was someone out to get her as well?
The Pocket Wife is the debut psychological thriller for author Susan Crawford – filled with intrigue, suspense and mystery I found the first half of the story kept me enthralled. But it became quite rambling; shambolic and lost me a little. The ending was strange – it seemed unfinished even though there was an arrest. The character most developed was, to me, the detective. All in all The Pocket Wife held great potential but fell a little short. But I would still recommend it to lovers of this genre.
With thanks to the Goodreads First Reads program and Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.
November 8, 2022
https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
When Celia Steinhauser is found murdered in her own home it sends friend and neighbour Dana Catrell into a frenzied spiral of paranoia and hallucination. She was the last person to see Celia alive but all she can remember is the few too many drinks they had and then passing out at home...... and the blurry photo Celia showed her of her husband with another woman.
Jack Moss is called out on a murder case, he's due home for his and his wife's anniversary dinner but the murdered woman's name sounds familiar. He is sure it's one of his son's teachers. He can't not take the case.
The story is told through the dual narrative of Dana Catrell and Jack Moss and is a fast paced frenetic read. Dana's thoughts are all over the place. She has flashes here and there, some from the present and some from her past. Everything clashes and swirls around. Her turmoil is so well portrayed!
I don't know anything about mental illness but I felt that Susan Crawford got all the aspects right with Dana's flashes, paranoia, hallucinations, ups and downs. It was crazy just trying to keep up with her!
Jack Moss was an interesting character, his second wife had just left him. He came across as a bit vague and muddled but he could read people well and had an instinct for liars. His thoughts kept wandering off to his wife and his first marriage.
I couldn't get enough of this story as the number of prospective perpetrators rose and Dana's mind reeled out of control. I had no idea if she or even one of the other suspects murdered Celia. Everyone had something to hide and all were lying or lying by omission.
The mystery component of the story was compelling. I wouldn't say it was a thriller but it was definitely a page-turning mystery.
When Celia Steinhauser is found murdered in her own home it sends friend and neighbour Dana Catrell into a frenzied spiral of paranoia and hallucination. She was the last person to see Celia alive but all she can remember is the few too many drinks they had and then passing out at home...... and the blurry photo Celia showed her of her husband with another woman.
Jack Moss is called out on a murder case, he's due home for his and his wife's anniversary dinner but the murdered woman's name sounds familiar. He is sure it's one of his son's teachers. He can't not take the case.
The story is told through the dual narrative of Dana Catrell and Jack Moss and is a fast paced frenetic read. Dana's thoughts are all over the place. She has flashes here and there, some from the present and some from her past. Everything clashes and swirls around. Her turmoil is so well portrayed!
I don't know anything about mental illness but I felt that Susan Crawford got all the aspects right with Dana's flashes, paranoia, hallucinations, ups and downs. It was crazy just trying to keep up with her!
Jack Moss was an interesting character, his second wife had just left him. He came across as a bit vague and muddled but he could read people well and had an instinct for liars. His thoughts kept wandering off to his wife and his first marriage.
I couldn't get enough of this story as the number of prospective perpetrators rose and Dana's mind reeled out of control. I had no idea if she or even one of the other suspects murdered Celia. Everyone had something to hide and all were lying or lying by omission.
The mystery component of the story was compelling. I wouldn't say it was a thriller but it was definitely a page-turning mystery.
April 17, 2015
I think I read this one too soon after reading The Girl on the Train. I'm weary of these types of books of late; Gone Girl, Girl on a Train, The Pocket Wife. They all put women into these roles of destruction and manipulation, and honestly, it's wearing on me. The men are misogynistic, apathetic adulterers who (granted that the women have severe mental illnesses) manage to manipulate all of these other women into despising each other for the sake of a pig's heart. There is no solidarity among these women, they each seek to hurt each other, use each other, or belittle one another. It's so frustrating to read and seems to have started some kind of popular trend. I'm over it.
March 22, 2015
The Pocket Wife is an debut novel by Susan Crawford that has all the perfect ingredients for a phenomenal psychological thriller with plenty of murder and suspense....
The main character, Dana Catrell, is thrown into a murder mystery when her next door neighbor is murdered and she is the last one to have seen the victim. Dana suffers from a mental illness called Bi-Polar disorder and usually deals with the manic side more than often. This causes her to have short term memory loss and she has issues with remembering pieces of time.
"She shakes her head to clear it, fighting the confusion, the helplessness of not remembering exactly what happened earlier that day. Surely Peter will notice; he is a lawyer after all. "I saw her right before she died."
The Pocket Wife is full of very complex characters and the plot is a perfect combination of innocence and doubt...There are so many questions throughout the entire story...What is real? What is in her mind? Is she having flashbacks or just thoughts?
The Pocket Wife is told in several different points of view so that the reader can determine the truth for themselves. It shows Dana's side as well as the detectives side...so that the reader can weigh all the truths...
I really enjoyed The Pocket Wife and how they expressed the difficulty of living with mental illness and how greatly it can affect not only a person's life but their loved ones as well.
Who is guilty? Did Dana really kill her neighbor? Who had motive? Why would they kill her? So many questions....and all will be answered after reading The Pocket Wife!!!
http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.bl...
The main character, Dana Catrell, is thrown into a murder mystery when her next door neighbor is murdered and she is the last one to have seen the victim. Dana suffers from a mental illness called Bi-Polar disorder and usually deals with the manic side more than often. This causes her to have short term memory loss and she has issues with remembering pieces of time.
"She shakes her head to clear it, fighting the confusion, the helplessness of not remembering exactly what happened earlier that day. Surely Peter will notice; he is a lawyer after all. "I saw her right before she died."
The Pocket Wife is full of very complex characters and the plot is a perfect combination of innocence and doubt...There are so many questions throughout the entire story...What is real? What is in her mind? Is she having flashbacks or just thoughts?
The Pocket Wife is told in several different points of view so that the reader can determine the truth for themselves. It shows Dana's side as well as the detectives side...so that the reader can weigh all the truths...
I really enjoyed The Pocket Wife and how they expressed the difficulty of living with mental illness and how greatly it can affect not only a person's life but their loved ones as well.
Who is guilty? Did Dana really kill her neighbor? Who had motive? Why would they kill her? So many questions....and all will be answered after reading The Pocket Wife!!!
http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.bl...
March 2, 2017
A neighbour that Dana has been having drinks with is found murdered shortly after Dana's visit to her house, but she can't remember her entire visit or if she's responsible for the murder. Who can you trust if you can't even trust yourself?
I have to admit that the first few chapters didn't grab me, they felt a bit farcical and melodramatic, but perhaps the tone of the book was echoing the narrator's bipolar disorder and the mania of the phase she was in.
There are a cast of deplorable characters and a few lovely ones, fragile Dana and Detective Moss in particular.
I did figure out 'whodunnit' but it wasn't too obvious and there were enough twists and turns to keep the plot riveting.
One particular bugbear of mine though, can we please stop calling books 'The ... wife' or 'the girl who...' it just seems a little reductive. Not to mention that calling women in the 30's or 40's a girl is ridiculous. I can't imagine a book about a 35 year old man would be call 'The pocket Husand' or the 'The boy on the train.' I know that 'Gone Woman' or 'Gone Lady' doesn't roll off the tongue, but if a book about a middle aged man going missing is titled 'Gone Boy,' then I'll eat my hat. Just stop it.
I have to admit that the first few chapters didn't grab me, they felt a bit farcical and melodramatic, but perhaps the tone of the book was echoing the narrator's bipolar disorder and the mania of the phase she was in.
There are a cast of deplorable characters and a few lovely ones, fragile Dana and Detective Moss in particular.
I did figure out 'whodunnit' but it wasn't too obvious and there were enough twists and turns to keep the plot riveting.
One particular bugbear of mine though, can we please stop calling books 'The ... wife' or 'the girl who...' it just seems a little reductive. Not to mention that calling women in the 30's or 40's a girl is ridiculous. I can't imagine a book about a 35 year old man would be call 'The pocket Husand' or the 'The boy on the train.' I know that 'Gone Woman' or 'Gone Lady' doesn't roll off the tongue, but if a book about a middle aged man going missing is titled 'Gone Boy,' then I'll eat my hat. Just stop it.
May 9, 2018
Mmmmm ...confusing , busy and rushed. Didn’t feel the characters evolved , I really just didn’t care enough and skimmed to the end
March 23, 2023
Pues no me ha terminado de gustar mucho y no se porqué la verdad, la historia no tenía mala pinta, pero no me he metido en la historia, puede que sea por como esta escrito.
Había veces que daba demasiadas vueltas a las cosas, no sé.
Valoración: 5.5/10
Sinopsis: Una excepcional novela de suspense psicologico que situa a una mujer con trastorno bipolar ante la terrorifica posibilidad de haberse convertido en asesina. Realmente se ha cometido un asesinato o es todo producto de su mente? Alguien se esconde entre las sombras que proyecta la realidad. Dana Catrell se queda pasmada cuando descubre que su vecina y amiga Celia ha sido asesinada brutalmente. Ella es, ademas, la ultima persona que la vio con vida. Toda la situación se ve agravada por la condición mental de Dana: sufre de un trastorno bipolar agravado por mania persecutoria que empeora por momentos y no recuerda que es lo que sucedió aquella tarde en que Celia murió. Todos los indicios empiezan a señalarla como sospechosa y Dana debe ir a contrarreloj para demostrar su inocencia antes de que la demencia se apodere de ella por completo. A no ser, claro esta, que en realidad sea ella la asesina. ¿Que es lo que pudo llevarla al asesinato? ¿Es capaz de un acto tan abominable? ¿Como puede ser que alguien olvide algo tan atroz?
# 13. El libro que menos te llame la atención de tu estantería. Reto Literario lecturas pendientes 2023
Había veces que daba demasiadas vueltas a las cosas, no sé.
Valoración: 5.5/10
Sinopsis: Una excepcional novela de suspense psicologico que situa a una mujer con trastorno bipolar ante la terrorifica posibilidad de haberse convertido en asesina. Realmente se ha cometido un asesinato o es todo producto de su mente? Alguien se esconde entre las sombras que proyecta la realidad. Dana Catrell se queda pasmada cuando descubre que su vecina y amiga Celia ha sido asesinada brutalmente. Ella es, ademas, la ultima persona que la vio con vida. Toda la situación se ve agravada por la condición mental de Dana: sufre de un trastorno bipolar agravado por mania persecutoria que empeora por momentos y no recuerda que es lo que sucedió aquella tarde en que Celia murió. Todos los indicios empiezan a señalarla como sospechosa y Dana debe ir a contrarreloj para demostrar su inocencia antes de que la demencia se apodere de ella por completo. A no ser, claro esta, que en realidad sea ella la asesina. ¿Que es lo que pudo llevarla al asesinato? ¿Es capaz de un acto tan abominable? ¿Como puede ser que alguien olvide algo tan atroz?
# 13. El libro que menos te llame la atención de tu estantería. Reto Literario lecturas pendientes 2023
April 15, 2015
This book had such an intriguing premise - a woman struggling with bipolar disorder isn't sure whether or not she murdered her neighbor - but... that was pretty much it. The writing, dialogue, character development, and ensuing plot (and conclusion) all felt lacking and definitely didn't meet my expectations of a strong and compelling psychological thriller. I was hoping for more of a Gone Girl-style page-turner, but instead was only hurrying through just to get it done. Not a memorable read for me, nor one I'd recommend.
December 19, 2015
5 de 5 estrellas ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Sublime, increíble)
Un thriller de los que te dejan sin aliento, de los que se convierten en obsesión, de los que no te olvidas y le das mil vueltas cada vez que cierras un capítulo.
Personajes bien logrados, una trama magistral y una pluma de categoría. 100% recomendable.
Un thriller de los que te dejan sin aliento, de los que se convierten en obsesión, de los que no te olvidas y le das mil vueltas cada vez que cierras un capítulo.
Personajes bien logrados, una trama magistral y una pluma de categoría. 100% recomendable.
May 10, 2015
Started out with such promise and intensity and then ... I don’t know ... kind of coasted to the end in a sea of superficial insipidness. Two stars might be too harsh but three stars feels like a stretch. I’ll be back with details after I work through my sense of disappointment.
Sunday May 10, 2015
3 Stars (begrudgingly!)
This book began with such promise and intrigue. The story’s differentiating plot twist from a basic, garden variety murder mystery is the wild vacillations of the manic depressive illness of protagonist Dana Catrell, and her tangential association with the murder of her neighbor Celia Steinhauser. During the first third of the book the author so skillfully described and articulated Dana’s view of the world through the prism of her mania that I felt I was living inside Dana’s head. I was hooked!
"She slings her bag onto the seat and glances at St. Christopher, staring down at her from the visor. He winks. He nods toward her lap."
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“What?” she says, and he nods again. Winks again. “There’s nothing there,” she says and turns the key. She can feel him nodding as she backs out into the street. She can feel his eyes in the dark car, and she pushes in an old CD, pats her pocket with her left hand. It makes a crinkling sound, and she reaches inside for the scrap of paper that drifted out of Peter’s pants. “This?” she says, and even in the darkness of the front seat she can see St. Christopher nod.
“It’s only a bill,” she starts to say, but she reads in anyway. “Days Inn, room 156,” it says. “August 23. One king. Nonsmoking. $189.99.”
Dana’s manic depression first presented itself during her student days at NYU when she was discovered on the roof wearing just a slip, squatting at the edge, the night Jesus told her she could fly, the night she tossed hundreds of her handwritten manuscript pages into the sky over Avenue D. After her stay at Bellevue Hospital her days at NYU were a blur, her scholarships lost, the blame her mother piled on The Poet. But Dana knew it wasn’t The Poet or anyone else, it was her madness, sewn into the fabric of her body, her mind.
When Dana was hired at the law firm where Peter worked, the girl who tried to fly was in remission. Peter said he loved Dana’s fragility, her beauty, although Dana never shared the experience of the flying girl with Peter. Their relationship blossomed from dating to love and lust to a full blown traditional wedding. The flying NYU girl returned after their son Jamie was born. Pregnancy related hormonal imbalance and fluctuations, they said, stimulated the manic episode. Several months of lithium sent the NYU girl away but her relationship with Peter was irreparably changed after her breakdown. He marginalized her, diminished and dismissed her, treated her with indifference and triviality. Who is Peter talking to at all hours of the day and night on his cell?
Dana has stopped taking her medication; her sleep is fitful and fleeting. She plows through novels at breakneck speed. Celia is insistent Dana come over to her house. It’s a matter of life and death she says with enough volume the next door neighbor overhears. After far too much Sangria Celia shows Dana a cell phone photo she took of Peter with The Tart. They argue, Dana stumbles home drunk and disorientated, the alcohol exacerbating her latest descent into the madness. She recalls little of that afternoon with Celia. That evening Celia’s husband Ronald returns home from work and discovers Celia dead in the foyer, head smashed with the vase Celia and Dana purchased at one of their many yard sale adventures. Dana is the last person to see Celia alive and she cannot remember much about that afternoon. Did she do it? She can’t recall. Terrified, Dana calls her husband for advice and Peter does what he always does, puts her on hold and drops the cell in his pocket. Dana has become the pocket wife!
A murder, possibly an affair, a lapse in memory, a mental breakdown! Oh my goodness, I think as I reposition myself in my favorite reading chair, anxious for the next twist, the next surprise. Oh the anticipation! This is where the story ramps up another notch or two or ten to tingling, pins and needles, anxiety invoking levels. NOPE. It felt like the author went on autopilot the rest of the way or maybe just became tired. The rest of the story felt like plain vanilla.
Detective Jack Moss investigates the murder and interviews the usual suspects – Celia's husband Ronald, a few of the neighbors, and Dana of course. Even Peter is implicated. People very close to Jack get drawn into the investigation.
In the end, without much fanfare or detailed exploration, an arrest is made, husbands simply fade into the sunset and we never hear anything about Ronald Steinhauser even though Jack knew he was lying during the investigation.
In my view the author relied far too heavily on the trials and tribulations of Dana’s mental illness and how it influenced her actions and the outcome of the criminal investigation to drive this story and paid precious little attention to more in-depth character development of Jack Moss and his troubled marriages, the Steinhauser marital situation and Peter Catrell’s relationship with his wife. Dana is portrayed as a two dimensional character – her life when she’s in the bowels of a manic episode and her life fearing the next bout with her madness. It felt as if Manic Depression was the main character, not Dana Catrell. I empathized with her but I never got to truly know and understand her.
Perhaps that is why this story fell short for me. The artful treatment of the manic depressive mind of Dana Catrell initially had me guessing, uncertain how much of the events were real and how much was just in her head. This novel grabbed me by the throat and held me tight at the open but quickly lost its grip as my sense of fulfillment and engagement became less and less.
According to the Goodreads rating scale, 2 = it was OK and 3 = I liked it. I liked a lot of the story but much of it was just OK. Since this is Crawford’s debut effort I’ll cut her some slack and settle on 3 Stars.
____________________________________________
Sunday May 10, 2015
3 Stars (begrudgingly!)
This book began with such promise and intrigue. The story’s differentiating plot twist from a basic, garden variety murder mystery is the wild vacillations of the manic depressive illness of protagonist Dana Catrell, and her tangential association with the murder of her neighbor Celia Steinhauser. During the first third of the book the author so skillfully described and articulated Dana’s view of the world through the prism of her mania that I felt I was living inside Dana’s head. I was hooked!
"She slings her bag onto the seat and glances at St. Christopher, staring down at her from the visor. He winks. He nods toward her lap."
“What?” she says, and he nods again. Winks again. “There’s nothing there,” she says and turns the key. She can feel him nodding as she backs out into the street. She can feel his eyes in the dark car, and she pushes in an old CD, pats her pocket with her left hand. It makes a crinkling sound, and she reaches inside for the scrap of paper that drifted out of Peter’s pants. “This?” she says, and even in the darkness of the front seat she can see St. Christopher nod.
“It’s only a bill,” she starts to say, but she reads in anyway. “Days Inn, room 156,” it says. “August 23. One king. Nonsmoking. $189.99.”
Dana’s manic depression first presented itself during her student days at NYU when she was discovered on the roof wearing just a slip, squatting at the edge, the night Jesus told her she could fly, the night she tossed hundreds of her handwritten manuscript pages into the sky over Avenue D. After her stay at Bellevue Hospital her days at NYU were a blur, her scholarships lost, the blame her mother piled on The Poet. But Dana knew it wasn’t The Poet or anyone else, it was her madness, sewn into the fabric of her body, her mind.
When Dana was hired at the law firm where Peter worked, the girl who tried to fly was in remission. Peter said he loved Dana’s fragility, her beauty, although Dana never shared the experience of the flying girl with Peter. Their relationship blossomed from dating to love and lust to a full blown traditional wedding. The flying NYU girl returned after their son Jamie was born. Pregnancy related hormonal imbalance and fluctuations, they said, stimulated the manic episode. Several months of lithium sent the NYU girl away but her relationship with Peter was irreparably changed after her breakdown. He marginalized her, diminished and dismissed her, treated her with indifference and triviality. Who is Peter talking to at all hours of the day and night on his cell?
Dana has stopped taking her medication; her sleep is fitful and fleeting. She plows through novels at breakneck speed. Celia is insistent Dana come over to her house. It’s a matter of life and death she says with enough volume the next door neighbor overhears. After far too much Sangria Celia shows Dana a cell phone photo she took of Peter with The Tart. They argue, Dana stumbles home drunk and disorientated, the alcohol exacerbating her latest descent into the madness. She recalls little of that afternoon with Celia. That evening Celia’s husband Ronald returns home from work and discovers Celia dead in the foyer, head smashed with the vase Celia and Dana purchased at one of their many yard sale adventures. Dana is the last person to see Celia alive and she cannot remember much about that afternoon. Did she do it? She can’t recall. Terrified, Dana calls her husband for advice and Peter does what he always does, puts her on hold and drops the cell in his pocket. Dana has become the pocket wife!
A murder, possibly an affair, a lapse in memory, a mental breakdown! Oh my goodness, I think as I reposition myself in my favorite reading chair, anxious for the next twist, the next surprise. Oh the anticipation! This is where the story ramps up another notch or two or ten to tingling, pins and needles, anxiety invoking levels. NOPE. It felt like the author went on autopilot the rest of the way or maybe just became tired. The rest of the story felt like plain vanilla.
Detective Jack Moss investigates the murder and interviews the usual suspects – Celia's husband Ronald, a few of the neighbors, and Dana of course. Even Peter is implicated. People very close to Jack get drawn into the investigation.
In the end, without much fanfare or detailed exploration, an arrest is made, husbands simply fade into the sunset and we never hear anything about Ronald Steinhauser even though Jack knew he was lying during the investigation.
In my view the author relied far too heavily on the trials and tribulations of Dana’s mental illness and how it influenced her actions and the outcome of the criminal investigation to drive this story and paid precious little attention to more in-depth character development of Jack Moss and his troubled marriages, the Steinhauser marital situation and Peter Catrell’s relationship with his wife. Dana is portrayed as a two dimensional character – her life when she’s in the bowels of a manic episode and her life fearing the next bout with her madness. It felt as if Manic Depression was the main character, not Dana Catrell. I empathized with her but I never got to truly know and understand her.
Perhaps that is why this story fell short for me. The artful treatment of the manic depressive mind of Dana Catrell initially had me guessing, uncertain how much of the events were real and how much was just in her head. This novel grabbed me by the throat and held me tight at the open but quickly lost its grip as my sense of fulfillment and engagement became less and less.
According to the Goodreads rating scale, 2 = it was OK and 3 = I liked it. I liked a lot of the story but much of it was just OK. Since this is Crawford’s debut effort I’ll cut her some slack and settle on 3 Stars.
November 29, 2014
I picked up this book because one it sounded good and two because this book was compared to The Silent Wife and Before I Go to Sleep. Two books that I have read. I did not care for The Silent Wife but I really liked Before I Go to Sleep. If this is Susan's debut novel then I can't wait to see what her second one will be like. She writes like a professional with years of experience under her belt. This book does mess with your mind a little. While I would not say there are any really big surprises involved in the solving of the murder. It was the way that the truth was revealed that got me. I was with Dana on her side but than I even had a brief period of my doubts about her. Especially when the story was progressing and it did seem like Dana had imagined the whole truth about what happened. It was almost really easy to imagine that she was capable of killing someone. When you suffer from a mental disease it is hard to tell the real world of your own. I brought this book along for a road trip and had it finished in a matter of a few hours. The Pocket Wife is one of going to be one of the hottest books to keep an eye on for 2015. A roller coaster ride of murder, mayhem, and an all out fun psychological thriller to read!
November 19, 2014
The Pocket Wife by Susan Crawford will be released in March 2015 and is an absolute must read for those who enjoy a deeply intense psychological thriller. Dana Catrell’s neighbor is murdered and Dana was the last person to see Celia alive, but could she have murdered her friend? Dana suffers from Bi-Polar Disorder and tends towards mania, which unfortunately has left holes in her memory, and she cannot clearly recall what happened that day. As Dana struggles internally, she also must deal with trying to clear her name, if she is indeed innocent, which she is not even certain of, as with most things currently happening in her life. The Pocket Wife is filled with intriguingly complex characters, the right combination of clarity and doubt, expertly crafted with just the right amount plot twist to keep the reader up long into the night. I would not hesitate to recommend The Pocket Wife to anyone looking for an extremely well written psychological thriller.
January 13, 2018
Won this book and the author attended my book club meeting. Lots of fun and great chance to meet her. I enjoyed the book and it held my interest. Thought she did a very good job for her first outing. Everyone in the book club enjoyed the read also.
April 1, 2015
Here's another great read for those who love psychological fiction - The Pocket Wife by Susan Crawford.
Dana's neighbour Celia has been found murdered - and Dana was apparently the last person to see her. Apparently - because Dana can't remember much of their visit. Sure, they were drinking, but....
But, Dana is also bi-polar and off her meds. And she's scared - because what if she's the one who killed Celia? But her husband is acting oddly as well. And so is Celia's husband. What about the nosy neighbour?
Oh yes, we have got ourselves a wonderfully unreliable narrator! Which of Dana's memories are the truth? What is imagined? Who is the actual murderer? Crawford captures Dana's fractured thinking extremely well. I love this type of narrator - there is no way to predict which way the story is going to go. I enjoy watching for subtle clues in behavior or dialogue that would perhaps point the way to the truth.
Celia's death is at the heart of the novel, but Crawford also explores a marriage in trouble, mental illness and familial relationships in The Pocket Wife - all to great effect. Detective Jack Moss is investigating Celia's death, but he has a rich personal storyline of his own and his own narrative, rife with doubts as well.
But I have no doubt you're going to enjoy The Pocket Wife. Definitely recommended. I'll be watching for the next book from this author!
Dana's neighbour Celia has been found murdered - and Dana was apparently the last person to see her. Apparently - because Dana can't remember much of their visit. Sure, they were drinking, but....
But, Dana is also bi-polar and off her meds. And she's scared - because what if she's the one who killed Celia? But her husband is acting oddly as well. And so is Celia's husband. What about the nosy neighbour?
Oh yes, we have got ourselves a wonderfully unreliable narrator! Which of Dana's memories are the truth? What is imagined? Who is the actual murderer? Crawford captures Dana's fractured thinking extremely well. I love this type of narrator - there is no way to predict which way the story is going to go. I enjoy watching for subtle clues in behavior or dialogue that would perhaps point the way to the truth.
Celia's death is at the heart of the novel, but Crawford also explores a marriage in trouble, mental illness and familial relationships in The Pocket Wife - all to great effect. Detective Jack Moss is investigating Celia's death, but he has a rich personal storyline of his own and his own narrative, rife with doubts as well.
But I have no doubt you're going to enjoy The Pocket Wife. Definitely recommended. I'll be watching for the next book from this author!
March 9, 2015
“Dana is a ‘pocket wife’ because her lawyer husband barely gives her the time of day. One afternoon, she drunkenly argues with her neighbor Celia, takes a nap, then wakes to find Celia dead. Could she have murdered Celia? Dana, suffering from manic episodes, tries to solve her friend’s murder before she loses all self-control. Highly recommended for fans of Gone Girl.”
Katelyn Boyer, Fergus Falls Public Library, Fergus Falls, MN
Katelyn Boyer, Fergus Falls Public Library, Fergus Falls, MN
November 16, 2014
When Dana Catrell wakes up one evening with a monster hangover and sirens blaring down the street from her house, she is scared. When she realizes her friend and neighbor Celia has been murdered, Dana is terrified. She's terrified because she was the last person to see Celia alive and she cannot remember what happened. And, Dana does not trust her present sense of reality, as she has not been taking the meds she needs to control her bipolar disorder. This manic phase she is in, the one that allows her mind to race and refuses to let her body sleep, is clouding her judgment and forcing her to accept that she might have murdered her friend. And to make things worse, Dana questions what would even drive her to murder Celia?
This well-written debut novel tells the story in a third person present tense narrative. This compelling device prevails upon the reader to experience the thoughts in Dana's head as they unfold. Her perceptions, or misperceptions, and actions are that much more powerful, or crazed, to the reader. Did Dana really see someone in the backyard? Is her husband really cheating on her? Why can't anyone else find that incriminating photo she swears she saw on Celia's phone? Did she kill Celia? These questions plague her as she circles the drain into madness. Even when she finds threatening notes she cannot even be sure that she was not the author. And her husband, Peter, a man who prefers to keep Dana out of his way, on a shelf or in his pocket, ignores her and her apparent anguish.
It's an excellent mystery novel that is advantageously complicated by the main character's inability to trust her thoughts. Even the reader will begin to have doubts concerning the reality of what they are reading and question if this is all in Dana's mind. The author did a brilliant job capturing Dana's fractured mental state with her thoughts racing and ricocheting through her mind. The strength, and likability, of the main character makes up for the one-dimensional husband who is nothing more than a jerk. There are also a few coincidences that are a bit of a stretch but do not detract from the story.
I hope the author continues to write because I enjoyed this book and would gladly read her future work. Highly recommended for mystery readers.
This well-written debut novel tells the story in a third person present tense narrative. This compelling device prevails upon the reader to experience the thoughts in Dana's head as they unfold. Her perceptions, or misperceptions, and actions are that much more powerful, or crazed, to the reader. Did Dana really see someone in the backyard? Is her husband really cheating on her? Why can't anyone else find that incriminating photo she swears she saw on Celia's phone? Did she kill Celia? These questions plague her as she circles the drain into madness. Even when she finds threatening notes she cannot even be sure that she was not the author. And her husband, Peter, a man who prefers to keep Dana out of his way, on a shelf or in his pocket, ignores her and her apparent anguish.
It's an excellent mystery novel that is advantageously complicated by the main character's inability to trust her thoughts. Even the reader will begin to have doubts concerning the reality of what they are reading and question if this is all in Dana's mind. The author did a brilliant job capturing Dana's fractured mental state with her thoughts racing and ricocheting through her mind. The strength, and likability, of the main character makes up for the one-dimensional husband who is nothing more than a jerk. There are also a few coincidences that are a bit of a stretch but do not detract from the story.
I hope the author continues to write because I enjoyed this book and would gladly read her future work. Highly recommended for mystery readers.
September 12, 2017
For many years, ever since her college days, Dana Catrell has had ups and downs. Her manic episodes and her depressions, all part of the diagnosed bipolar disorder, take over her life, especially when she is off her medications.
There are times when she can maintain, can control the ups and downs.
But the day that her neighbor Celia Steinhauser was bludgeoned to death in her home was not one of those days. That day, she felt very much out-of-control. And she was drunk. Her memory has blank spots, and for a while, she has an eerie feeling that she might have killed her friend. After all, she was presumably the last one to see her alive.
Her husband Peter, a lawyer, is not helping. Everything he does seems to increase her manic episodes, her feelings that she is going crazy, and his dismissive attitude makes her feel insignificant. As if she is something one could stuff in a pocket and forget about.
"The Pocket Wife: A Novel" takes the reader on the scary ride that is Dana's life, with her mind teetering on the edge, as someone, including her husband, seems bent on making her feel crazier. And perhaps guilty.
But Detective Jack Moss, assigned to the case, is not so sure Dana is guilty. As he investigates, interviews persons of interest, and gathers evidence, the signs seem to point to more going on than what might seem obvious.
Who else had the most to gain by Celia's death? Who is the woman in the photo with Peter, the one Celia showed Dana that day? What, if anything, does she have to do with what is happening now? And is Jack's son, damaged by his parents' divorce years before, somehow connected to the events of that day?
I did not figure out who had actually killed Celia until the story was nearing its conclusion. I had my suspicions about the person who was charged with the murder, but the denouement was definitely stunning. And worth the wait.
Peter was a slimy character, and so was Celia's husband Ronald. There were a number of people who were unlikeable, but despite her flaws and her mental instability, and despite her unreliability as a narrator, Dana was someone I was rooting for throughout the story. I had high hopes that one of the sleazy characters would be guilty. Recommended for those who enjoy psychological thrillers. 5 stars.
There are times when she can maintain, can control the ups and downs.
But the day that her neighbor Celia Steinhauser was bludgeoned to death in her home was not one of those days. That day, she felt very much out-of-control. And she was drunk. Her memory has blank spots, and for a while, she has an eerie feeling that she might have killed her friend. After all, she was presumably the last one to see her alive.
Her husband Peter, a lawyer, is not helping. Everything he does seems to increase her manic episodes, her feelings that she is going crazy, and his dismissive attitude makes her feel insignificant. As if she is something one could stuff in a pocket and forget about.
"The Pocket Wife: A Novel" takes the reader on the scary ride that is Dana's life, with her mind teetering on the edge, as someone, including her husband, seems bent on making her feel crazier. And perhaps guilty.
But Detective Jack Moss, assigned to the case, is not so sure Dana is guilty. As he investigates, interviews persons of interest, and gathers evidence, the signs seem to point to more going on than what might seem obvious.
Who else had the most to gain by Celia's death? Who is the woman in the photo with Peter, the one Celia showed Dana that day? What, if anything, does she have to do with what is happening now? And is Jack's son, damaged by his parents' divorce years before, somehow connected to the events of that day?
I did not figure out who had actually killed Celia until the story was nearing its conclusion. I had my suspicions about the person who was charged with the murder, but the denouement was definitely stunning. And worth the wait.
Peter was a slimy character, and so was Celia's husband Ronald. There were a number of people who were unlikeable, but despite her flaws and her mental instability, and despite her unreliability as a narrator, Dana was someone I was rooting for throughout the story. I had high hopes that one of the sleazy characters would be guilty. Recommended for those who enjoy psychological thrillers. 5 stars.
March 17, 2015
What a wonderful example of the current trend for the "unreliable narrator" novels that we have seen recently. This has been compared to Before I go to Sleep and The Silent Wife both of which I adored and led me to this book. I would also say that there is a similarity to Emma Chapman's How to be a Good Wife so if you enjoyed that then you will also be happy to read this.
Dana awakes with a slight hangover-she has been at her neighbours during the afternoon and they have been drinking sangria. When she goes to her car to get her handbag containing painkillers, she notices an ambulance at her neighbours house. Running over she finds out that Celia has been murdered. Memories of the afternoon are hazy so what happened? Did Dana murder her neighbour? Detective Jack Moss is determined to find out.
The emotional fragility of Dana is beautifully portrayed here. Her struggle with her mental illness is readily laid out for us to see but she is a character that I did feel drawn to which sometimes didn't happen in other books with a similar premise. I loved Jack and the way he steadfastly and calmly handled everything including his own family troubles. The more this book went on the more I loved it. For a debut I thought it was wonderful and I really can't wait to see how she follows it.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an honest review.
Dana awakes with a slight hangover-she has been at her neighbours during the afternoon and they have been drinking sangria. When she goes to her car to get her handbag containing painkillers, she notices an ambulance at her neighbours house. Running over she finds out that Celia has been murdered. Memories of the afternoon are hazy so what happened? Did Dana murder her neighbour? Detective Jack Moss is determined to find out.
The emotional fragility of Dana is beautifully portrayed here. Her struggle with her mental illness is readily laid out for us to see but she is a character that I did feel drawn to which sometimes didn't happen in other books with a similar premise. I loved Jack and the way he steadfastly and calmly handled everything including his own family troubles. The more this book went on the more I loved it. For a debut I thought it was wonderful and I really can't wait to see how she follows it.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an honest review.
March 17, 2015
A dead neighbor, the last one to see her alive, and Dana can't remember anything about that afternoon she spent with Celia.
Did she handle the heavy vase that killed Celia the day she died or does she remember that from when they bought it at a garage sale? Was Celia alive when she left that afternoon? Could she have killed her neighbor?
Dana keeps questioning herself about what happened that afternoon and has herself convinced that she did kill Celia. Dana wishes she could remember. If this wasn't worry enough with her fragile state and her former mental problems, Dana had to worry about her husband who she knew was having an affair.
The writing style of Susan Crawford is exquisitely descriptive and takes you right into Dana's mind making you wonder along with her just what actually did happen.
For me Dana wasn't likeable. Peter, Dana's husband, is a sneak. Celia even in death is mysterious. Celia's husband, Ronald, seems guilty. So many suspects to choose from. You will go back and forth and be stumped until the end. Jack the policeman seems to be the only honest and likeable one.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers, a range of unlikeable, but interesting characters, and a book you don't want to put down, THE POCKET WIFE fits the bill. The ending is great. 4/5
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