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The Author's Wife
Two women. Two betrayals. One storm that brings the truth to light.
The author’s wife, eighty-year-old former actress Ivy Montclaire, returns to the small Scottish island where her husband, Terence Nightingale, fell to his death in 1976. She and Terence adored each other. They were the picture-perfect celebrity couple of the 1970s, partying with the rich and famous at their friends’ house, Hollow Pines.
Now a hotel, Hollow Pines is the last place Ivy wants to be. But she is determined to confront the ghosts - and the guilt – that have haunted her for fifty years.
Meanwhile, Catrina, a young barista, is visiting the hotel for a weekend of wine-tasting with friends, meant to distract her from the disappearance of her fiancé. But when a raging storm cancels the ferry home, she finds herself trapped in the hotel’s library… with one of Terence Nightingale’s novels.
What she discovers changes everything.
As past and present collide, Ivy is forced to confront the truth she has avoided for half a century, and Catrina must decide whether some secrets should stay buried or be brought into the light. Both women will learn that grief can warp a life… but the truth can set it free.
Haunting, atmospheric, and ultimately hopeful, The Author’s Wife is a dual-timeline tale of betrayal, reconciliation, and the courage to begin again—at any age.
The author’s wife, eighty-year-old former actress Ivy Montclaire, returns to the small Scottish island where her husband, Terence Nightingale, fell to his death in 1976. She and Terence adored each other. They were the picture-perfect celebrity couple of the 1970s, partying with the rich and famous at their friends’ house, Hollow Pines.
Now a hotel, Hollow Pines is the last place Ivy wants to be. But she is determined to confront the ghosts - and the guilt – that have haunted her for fifty years.
Meanwhile, Catrina, a young barista, is visiting the hotel for a weekend of wine-tasting with friends, meant to distract her from the disappearance of her fiancé. But when a raging storm cancels the ferry home, she finds herself trapped in the hotel’s library… with one of Terence Nightingale’s novels.
What she discovers changes everything.
As past and present collide, Ivy is forced to confront the truth she has avoided for half a century, and Catrina must decide whether some secrets should stay buried or be brought into the light. Both women will learn that grief can warp a life… but the truth can set it free.
Haunting, atmospheric, and ultimately hopeful, The Author’s Wife is a dual-timeline tale of betrayal, reconciliation, and the courage to begin again—at any age.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2025
7 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 17, 2025
The Author’s Wife is the kind of novel that lingers long after the final page, gorgeously written and deeply human. From the first chapter, the reader is taken to a storm-lashed Scottish island where secrets echo through time and grief refuses to stay buried. The setting is moody, isolated, and I almost heard the wind rattling the windows!
Ivy Montclaire is an unforgettable heroine. At eighty years old, she returns to the place where her famous husband died, carrying a lifetime of love, guilt, and unanswered questions. The portrayal of an older woman reckoning with the past is moving and tender.
The dual timeline is skilfully done, weaving Ivy’s glamorous yet fractured past with Catrina’s present-day heartbreak. Catrina’s discovery of one of Terence Nightingale’s novels is a clever narrative, and what unfolds from there is page-turning as the two women’s stories collide.
This book is about the courage to face painful truths, to forgive, and to begin again. If you enjoy emotional, character-driven stories, The Author’s Wife is an absolute must-read. It’s another big fat five-star read from an author I greatly enjoy.
I received an ARC copy of this book.
Ivy Montclaire is an unforgettable heroine. At eighty years old, she returns to the place where her famous husband died, carrying a lifetime of love, guilt, and unanswered questions. The portrayal of an older woman reckoning with the past is moving and tender.
The dual timeline is skilfully done, weaving Ivy’s glamorous yet fractured past with Catrina’s present-day heartbreak. Catrina’s discovery of one of Terence Nightingale’s novels is a clever narrative, and what unfolds from there is page-turning as the two women’s stories collide.
This book is about the courage to face painful truths, to forgive, and to begin again. If you enjoy emotional, character-driven stories, The Author’s Wife is an absolute must-read. It’s another big fat five-star read from an author I greatly enjoy.
I received an ARC copy of this book.
February 8, 2026
Started off by really enjoying this book.
Good plot/story
But was very disappointed by the ending, no spoilers given but it seemed to end so abruptly with a few loose ends remaining to be tied up leaving me wondering.
Good plot/story
But was very disappointed by the ending, no spoilers given but it seemed to end so abruptly with a few loose ends remaining to be tied up leaving me wondering.
December 23, 2025
Heartwarming
I really enjoyed this novel. It was light and dealt with human emotions in a real.way. It felt like a perfect book to.read at this time of year.
I really enjoyed this novel. It was light and dealt with human emotions in a real.way. It felt like a perfect book to.read at this time of year.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews