The First Wife

by Diana Diamond

A New York Times Bestselling Author Jane Warren swore she'd never marry again, but she just can't muster the cynicism to resist William Andrews - a debonair widower with two children of his own. Soon Jane is marching down the aisle and off to a life of luxury. But why is Andrew so obsessed with his dead wife? And why do the children seem to hate Jane so passionately? As she struggles to understand the hold Andrew's first wife still exerts over her family, Jane's life grows increasingly dangerous. Available only in Basic 6 & 7.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

560 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Laren · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book bills itself as a novel of suspense right in the title. However, it is primarily a romance, and a really dumb one at that. The blurb made it seem that the main character was already the new wife when strange things started happening to her. But in reality, the book takes us through the entire, ridiculously short, romance in all its' stupidity. She knows he's going to pop the question, and decides to say no, but then she doesn't. She has serious reservations about whether or not she should marry him, but she does anyway. And so soon after her previous failed marriage! I just wanted to scream at her to stop being such an idiot and stop the relationship from moving at such a breakneck speed.

Anyway, there was some suspense. Is someone trying to kill our main character repeatedly, or is she just imagining things? It gets resolved in the ridiculously perfect way that most non-thinking romances do, so if that's your thing, this is a good book for you. But if you prefer for your romances to go a little slower and with intelligence, or you prefer your suspense without all that messy romance stuff, then this book is not for you.

[Devon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that this book left me more than a little bit confused. The description they give this book is that it is about a woman who gets swept off her feet by one of the richest men in the world. The reader gets the impression that they have a whirlwind romance, fall madly in love and finally marry only to have the husbands past come back to haunt him in the form of his dead wife. However, in actually reading this book that did not seem to be the case, there was no whirlwind romance. In fact the romance part was very flat. Jane, the heroine of `THE FIRST WIFE', went out on a total of two and a half mediocre dates (on one of which she was almost killed) with the powerful William Andrews before she agreed to marry him. She clearly did not want to marry this man, even rehearsed her speech on how to let him down easily when all of a sudden she decided to say yes. She debated everyday whether or not she actually loved Andrews all the while keeping up an investigation into his first wife's murder (which she believed was at the hand of her betrothed) and having way too many suspicious brushes with death. Moreover, Jane finds evidence of an on going affair between William and another woman. Now my question is, who in their right mind would enter into this marriage and why? Had Jane been only after Andrews money this story would have been a bit more believable, however Diamond painted Jane to be a woman of high morality who despite all of these "obstacles" began to genuinely fall in love with her fiancé.

Diana Diamond is a pseudonym for a male mystery writer, which you can clearly tell in `THE FIRST WIFE'. I believe that a woman would have fleshed out the romance a bit and made the decision on whether or not to marry William Andrews a no-brainer for Jane and for the reader.

Also, it didn't seem as though Andrews was obsessed with the death of his first wife, as stated in the description. It was more Jane who seemed to be obsessed with investigating the details of the first wife's life and her death. Which, of course, only brought more trouble for her.

If you have read any of my other reviews of Diamonds books they have all, with the exception of `THE BABYSITTER' generated three stars. One may wonder, why do I keep reading her books if I only find them to be average? I read them because they are very easy to read, never boring and often times unintentionally funny. Definitely a break from some of the more serious mysteries.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this is one of the worst books I've ever read. The writing is stilted, the voices are robotic and the female lead is literally one of the dumbest characters I've ever read. Would not recommend.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is pretty good, but the writing quality not the same as other quality writers. And why do writers really wreck their books with the final sentence by a character that does nothing for the story.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of those books you wish you'd left at the library. Easy read, but why? Stupid romance. Figured out the murderer long before the book ended, but continued to read it. The ending (especially the last sentence) was horrible.

Diana Diamond is a male ghost writer whom does not due the characters' development in relationships enough.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This one keeps you on the edge of your seat up until the last chapter. I love how Diana Diamond constantly puts twists and intrigue throughout the book that had you guessing "who done it"! Once again a great book with a wonderful story line and great characters who keep things interesting.

[CAROL · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really pitiful pedestrian writing. I HAD to quit after reading 16 pages. Won't waste any more time on this book or future books by this so-called author. I got it from a remainder rack for $5.98. I learned a lesson there!

[Dawn Kania · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty alright. Which made up for the book I previously read by a different author. Does it keep you on the end of your seat throughout, not so much. However, it is entertaining enough that it did not take me long to get through it and overall I really did enjoy this book.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book if you are intrigued by how a First Wife effects the Second Wife even when the First Wife has died. The more you look at your Husband the less you think he might be involved in her death. Please read this book for lots of twists and turns.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't seem to get interested in the story

[NANCY WADE · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Wife suspense

Edge of your seat suspense as Jane Warren finds herself fighting for her life while investigating her new husband. Thrilling!

[MBenzz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one of the most exhausting books I've ever read. It's about tough journalist J.J.Warren who has to interview communications mogul William Andrews. Andrews is used to having people kiss his butt and do whatever he needs done, well, J.J.Warren doesn't, she tells him exactly what she thinks of him and the way he runs his company. They end up falling in love and quickly get married, then she begins investigating the horrible death of his first wife Kay Parker.

Kay was brutally shot in the head at the couples ski cabin by an intruder who was never found. The deeper Jane (J.J.) gets into the mystery, the more that starts going wrong. Someone is trying to silence her...but who? Honestly, once I got to the point in the book where you FINALLY find out what's going on, I didn't care anymore. I was sooooooo sick of the previous 250 of Jane second guessing EVERYTHING that was going on. Every little thing was analyzed 16 different ways, very trying on my patience.

Overall, I gave this book two stars because I actually finished it, and I did that because a small part of me was curious to find out what was going on...also the ending was a surprise, avid mystery readers might have spotted it earlier, but myself not being one, I was pleased with the ending. That said, I can't really say that I'd recommend this...I just didn't like the writing style and the story draaaggged on. Definitely find something else.

[Bronwyn Rykiert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting with an unexpected ending (except that I had read the last chapter. Jane Warren is a journalist and is sent to interview the new owner of the paper, William Andrews, she is working for, but he is so busy to get that interview Jane has to accompany him and his group to Paris. Something clicked between them while they were there and when they arrived back in the US they started dating and before lone they are married and Jane has moved into William's apartment.
William's first wife was murdered in unusual circumstances and Jane seems to think that the family are still really missing her, the children may be, but there is more to it for William.

I think the story was told interestingly enough.

[Laura Beasley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was good but not as good as the other books I have read by this author. I figured out very early the ending and there was only one very little surprise. Predictable story and drug some. Jane- a newspaper reporter-- meets Bill Andrews- a very wealthy business tycoon. His first wife was murdered and the circumstances about her death leave a lot to question. Jane and Bill have a very short courtship, marry and then attempts are made on Jane's life. Is she going to end up like the first wife and who is trying to kill her. Would still recommend reading this book to others who like mysteries.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short, and rather silly mystery novel. It’s entertaining enough to keep the pages turning, since there aren’t that many of them (only about 300 of them). It feels rather reminiscent of a Mary Higgins Clark book, but with a less plausible plot and more cursing and sex. The ending is perhaps its strongest aspect; the twist is well-handled, but a one word summary of the book would simply be: ridiculous. But, if you need a fast and fun book, to laugh about the ludicrous nature of the plot, then this may be just the thing!

[Brenda Klaassen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book came to me through my "Read-N-Swap" group. In the past I have really enjoyed the stories written by this author. This book was not her best work, but it still was readable. I had mostly figured out the plot by half-way through the book. This book did need the "happily-ever-after" ending or it would of been to dark. In the future I might give this author another try.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Warren, a financial writer for a newspaper interviews William Andrews the owner of a great media empire. The interview leads her to delve deeply into the murder of Andrews wife, Kay. A relationship occurs between the two and the story keep its suspense up quite well as to the mystery of the murder.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one really kept me interested...great mystery/romance!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

struggled to get into but by the middle of the book it was good and the ending was even better

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was good, although I found it not too believable and I guessed the basic ending midway through. BUT..it's worth the read, better than Mary Higgins Clark

[Christen · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was an annoying book. so contrite and predictable with cliches of women and them swooning over men.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great suspense book.

[Catherine Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very plausible.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read and so far good and suspenseful

[Jackie Simons]

Read 7/04

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably more like 2.5, not a very believable story or romantic romance.

[Barb Hall burd]

A suspense from the first chapter! Many twists along the way, which did it's best to keep me reading. Loved it and want to read more Diana Diamond books.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read - kept me guessing who the villains were until the end. I just couldn't figure out the mystery around Selina Royce until it was revealed at the end.

[Becky Axen · Rating 3 out of 5]

good