Perception Is Never Reality
When attorney Quinn Durand arrives in Türkiye to reunite with her husband, she’s told he’s dead—accused of espionage, with no body to prove it. Refusing to accept the truth, Quinn is pulled into a dangerous web of secrets, lies, and shifting loyalties. Now labelled an accomplice, she is forced into a high-stakes race to uncover what really happened. But in a world where nothing is as it seems, trusting the wrong person could cost her everything.
The Expedient Wife by R. S. Hampton opens like a suspenseful movie scene—and never lets up.
After reading the first two books in the Lee Danforth series, I expected Quinn to feel similar to Lee since they are both lawyers, but Hampton did a fantastic job making Quinn her own character. She is strong-willed, stubborn, and determined—sometimes to her own detriment—but that’s exactly what made her so compelling to follow.
The story is told through two POVs—Quinn in first person and Sedat in third—which worked really well. I’ve never been to Türkiye, but Hampton’s vivid writing made it feel like I was right there.
The cast of characters was great. I was fully invested in everything Quinn did—her decisions kept me on edge the entire time. Sedat was a bit frustrating at first, but once I got to know him, I appreciated him more. Arzu was a strong and interesting character, and I found myself holding my breath hoping she would make it. Maynard was immediately unlikeable (which just shows how well he was written)—I didn’t trust him for a second.
To be honest, I didn’t know who to trust or what to believe. Hampton did a brilliant job keeping me in the dark and fully engaged until the very end.
This book would translate incredibly well to film. With the right cast, it could easily be something special—maybe even Oscar-worthy.
Thank you to R.S. Hampton for the ARC. As always, it’s a privilege to read your books in advance.
The Expedient Wife publishes May 1, 2026.