The First Wife's Secret

by Claire Amarti

Dinah Spencer is back in her childhood home for one stressful weekend. It’s the twenty-five-year anniversary of her father’s marriage to her stepmother. Those twenty-five years haven’t all been happy for middle child Dinah, but she’s getting ready to put the past behind her, keeping the bonds of family strong for her own daughter Josie’s sake - until her beloved dad collapses in the middle of his anniversary speech.

Youngest daughter Lottie Spencer struggles to keep her family afloat in the wake of her father’s cardiac arrest. There’s her mother to worry about: the ever-capable Mara, who suddenly seems shockingly fragile. There are Lottie's two older step-sisters, whose own private lives seem to be fraying at the seams. There's her niece, Josie, to protect. And then there’s that mysterious box in the attic, belonging to her father's first wife Bonnie. A box whose explosive secrets Lottie is only just starting to unravel...

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Book Club, Contemporary, Family, Mystery Thriller, Thriller

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 12, 2021

About the author

Hi there! I’m an author who writes suspense stories about ordinary women – women like the ones we all know and love – who find out that their ordinary lives may not be quite so ordinary after all! My hope is that you will root for them, fear for them, and find yourself holding your breath when the action starts to get a little hairy!

When I’m not writing, I can be found strolling the streets of Brooklyn, New York City, my adopted home, dodging pigeons and traffic. I moved here a little over eight years ago from Ireland, and never looked back. To me there’s nothing more wonderful than that feeling of finding – or making! – a new home, that mixture of excitement at finding a place in the world, and the comfort of being able to come back to it time and again. That’s what reading feels like for me… and for you too I suspect! And it's what I love about writing. A good book should be a home too: a place where you can trust that you’ll find a wonderful adventure, and then land safe and sound at the end of it all, ready to do it all again another day!

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting (and late into the night!). It centers on the Spencer family, who have grown apart in recent years due to various secrets and misunderstandings that have fractured their dynamic. When the patriarch of the family, George, suffers a heart attack while addressing the guests at his anniversary party, the rest of the family is left to pick up the pieces while they anxiously await the status of his condition. The chapters alternate between the POVs of Dinah, the middle sister, and Lottie, the youngest sister.

This is one of those books where there is a mystery to be revealed, but it's more of a finding oneself story than anything else. I saw the major twist coming from almost the beginning, but there were a couple other surprising secrets revealed that helped me understand the characters better. All of the characters were believable and human and I could empathize with each of them, even when they did frustrating things. Each family member had a secret and each secret chipped away at the barriers they had built between themselves for years. The end of the story ties up everything nicely and left me feeling good about how it all turned out, though some might think it was tied up a little too cleanly.

I would definitely recommend this book for those who like family dramas with a little bit of mystery thrown in. I plan on picking up Amarti's other book now that I have read this one. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good old fashioned story telling…I was hooked from page one. Intricate melding of characters and circumstance which kept me reading into the night. An intense mystery and family drama with effective and insightful writing. A great read with a feel good ending.

Looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Farida Yasser · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
OKAY, let me just tell you that this is a negative review...
I didn't like it at all, the storyline was so weak, the plot was so lame, in addition to that, you get a bunch of under developed characters.
Firstly, the story, it starts with George ( the father) having a cardiac arrest in his anniversary's party, and since the author described him as the person that kind of bonds them all together, everyone is trying to cope in his own way, and here's a list how:
1- Mara (the wife): she turn into a statue, she is weirdly calm and keeping up well.
2- Dinah (second daughter): she is really sad about her father, but at the same time, has a lot in her plate trying to take care of her little girl and navigating her relationship with her boyfriend and ex-husband.
3- Lottie (third daughter): after her father's cardiac arrest, she starts an obsession with her father's first wife, she is sure that his dead wife is trying to pull her father to her side of the world while he is in coma.
Secondly, the characters, they were written so bland, and without any character development even in the end of the book.
Lastly, the ending, i didn't like it, it was so underwhelming, the author keep teasing you about the secret throughout the book and when she finally reveals it, it was so... Weak, i was like, this couldn't be the end, it was so bad.
Overall, a really boring book.

[J.A. Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Amarti’s second novel, “The First Wife’s Secret,” is a family drama about three women (sisters or step sisters) who are forced to reexamine the long-held confusion and hurt that they’ve felt toward one another.

At the party celebrating George Spencer’s 25th wedding anniversary to his second wife Mara, he has a heart attack. Mara is the mother of Lottie, and step mother to Dina and Vaughn. All three daughters are devastated. But they’re also reminded how precious life is, and begin to struggle with what, exactly, created the unspoken tension in their family. As their father lays struggling for life in the hospital, they begin to rethink their relationship with each other and their loved ones. What went wrong? Mara and her daughter, Lottie, reveal their secrets to each other. Vaughn and Dinah, George’s daughters from his first marriage, still feel the pain of losing their mother, Bonnie, in a tragic car accident, but their father’s close call is a warning for them to reach out to the others.

This is a fantastic story. Sometimes family life is hard, but there is, ultimately, joy in the difficult job of reconnecting to face life’s battles together. Bonnie, the first wife, was far from perfect in ways that Vaughn and Dinah never knew. When the truth comes to light, they realize how different their lives could have been, and are stronger for it. At the heart of this story is the wonderful theme of second chances. I really enjoyed it, and will recommend it to friends. Five stars!

Thank you to Claire Amarti and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved it! This author is new to me and after reading this book, I’ll definitely be buying more of her works.
The story drew me in and wouldn’t let me go. I love books about families and their secrets, whether those secrets are good or bad. I certainly never guessed the ones revealed in this book. I just love when an author can surprise me.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** I received an advanced e-copy of the book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review

At George & Mara's twenty-fifth wedding celebration, George begins to make an announcement in front of all of their friends and family, and then collapses. He is rushed to the hospital, where he has to undergo emergency surgery on his heart. While he remains in critical condition, the family itself is put through all sorts of stressors that test the strength of their family and each member in it.
I have to say, I was a little disappointed in this one. It wasn't a bad book, I just didn't find it as wonderful as most of the other reviews I read on it. It immediately introduced all 3 daughters, the wife and a granddaughter, and I was probably halfway through the book before I was able to keep everyone straight. The story was somewhat interesting, but not the big shocker I thought it would turn out to be. This one just wasn't my cup of tea.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick airplane read. I enjoyed it fine, but wouldn’t recommend it out since it wasn’t amazing.

[Eirlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional rollercoaster

I liked reading this story about a family comprising of step _sisters , father, and stepmother. The family dynamics flare up as the father is taken ill. Old misunderstandings lead to the unearthing of family secrets. The characters were well crafted and had an authenticity that rang true.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspense and intrigue

This was a fun read. There was enough suspense to keep me
Reading way past my bedtime. I was a little disappointed in the ending- I thought a few things could have been the together better.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book, the characters were alive! But What an emotiona story . This story brings a joy to being a family that talks.

[SCSoftballMom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read. Definitely not the ending I was expecting!

[Alexandra Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally read this book in like 24 hours. My eyes were just rolling across each page so easily! Its not like its the greatest book ever but I really loved it ! Drives home how indispensable communication & family are <3

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened n one setting so that may have helped. But a precious family book.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Loved the characters and the plot. I look forward to reading more books in this series. Would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys stories about families.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire Amarti will have you examining the influence one small choice can have on the rest of your life. Her second novel, “The First Wife’s Secret,” is to be published February 28, 2021, and is a family drama about ordinary women who find out that their ordinary lives may not be so ordinary after all.

As the Spencer girls’ father is about to speak at his back yard 25th wedding anniversary party, he drops the microphone and falls to the ground. As he’s rushed for emergency surgery, the girls are reminded just how precious life is, and they begin to struggle with choices they’ve made that have contributed to the disconnected family. The longer the patriarch stays in the hospital, the longer the girls have to come to terms with their relationship with each other and their loved ones. At the heart of this novel is the theme of second chances. Mara, the second wife and mother to Lottie, unburdens her secret, which, in turn, gives Lottie freedom to reveal her secret, too. Vaughn and Dinah, George Spencer’s children from his first marriage, have already lost their mother, Bonnie, in a tragic car accident. Their father’s heart attack and close call is a warning for them to heal the rift and reach out to the others to create a stronger family. As the Spencers learn, second chances are rare, and it’s important to grab them when the opportunity presents itself.

You’ll love Amarti’s fantastic story. There’s a little of all of us in these ordinary women facing life’s difficulties. You’ll be reminded that we are all facing battles and if we take our eyes off ourselves for a moment, we can enlist others to help support us and return the offer once battle fatigue is over. We need each other. We weren’t designed to fight alone. Amarti’s story will challenge you to look at yourself in a different light. It’s when we have this ability, we realize that our strength comes in unity and doesn’t compromise our place within a family nor our individuality. Bonnie, the first wife, made a poor choice and it affected not only her life, but also loved ones close to her for decades to come. There’s a lesson in this for all of us; don’t make decisions lightly. We are all just one decision away from a completely different life.

Thank you to Claire Amarti, Books Go Social and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Goth Gone Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely turns of phrase, less believable storyline

When books extend titles with things like "a gripping, emotional page therewith a stunning twist," it's setting expectations high from the start. Few live up to that bar, from my limited experience.

The writing is sound, with bits that ring true with beauty as shown here:

"I look over at my sleeping daughter. At almost seven she’s already growing away from me, growing into her inner world of books and stories, the magic that goes on inside her head. I’m so proud that she has all that—I want her to have that deep core, to sustain her through life’s challenges when I can’t battle them for her—but she needs me less each day. Give it five years."

Yet the plot, rather than gripping and emotional, seems too convenient, too convoluted. It's a steady yet sedate pace, family secrets unfolding and tripping over the present as they do so. Within the space of a hospital stay for one character, all the rest resolve family conflict that's been brewing for decades.

The writing is lovely, but the suspension of disbelief at a fairly high level.

[Astrid Herhoffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her family drama The First Wife’s Secret Claire Amarti tells a fast-paced story that takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster. We meet the Spencer family as they get prepared to celebrate George’s and Mara’s anniversary in style, but even before the party gets under way, the reader is gripped by an uneasy feeling of foreboding and senses trouble ahead: ‘We are a family fraying at the seams. One good tug would tear the stitches right out.’

This is exactly what happens when George, the core and glue of the family, collapses and goes into cardiac arrest just as he raises his glass in celebration. His three daughters and his wife Mara have to come to terms with a new reality, which makes them question the one they have known up to now. Mainly narrated from the perspectives of two of his daughters, Dinah and Lottie, it turns out all family members have their secrets. As the story unfolds and these secrets surface, the family is pulled apart, only to be finally drawn together again in a most cathartic way.

This is a very enjoyable book with likeable characters who all have a story to tell, including the omnipresent but absent character of George’s first wife, to whom the book owes its title. The reader is invited to reflect on his or her own life choices and how they may affect their nearest and dearest, given that ‘all our human stories twist up in each other’s until no one can untangle one thread from another.’

Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Margaret Duke-Wyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Wife’s Secret by Claire Amarti

The opening of this books is set in the garden of George Spencer’s house where he is surrounded by friends and family as he and his second wife, Mara, celebrate their 25 wedding Anniversary. As he is poised to deliver his speech, with an announcement he collapses and is rushed to hospital with a heart attack. His three daughters, Vaughan, Dina (by his first wife Bonnie) and Lottie by his second wife, Mara, are left bewildered and concerned. Vaughan’s husband did not join the family on this trip, Dina is there with her daughter and Lottie lives with George and Mara.

Like many families there are different dynamics between the parties concerned although they are not discussed or analysed between the parties concerned. Why has George in contact with his lawyer; what was the announcement? If we think of the title, what was Bonnie’s secret?

You will note that my review has thrown quite a few names at you – so did the book and it was a little hard to separate out who was who, and who did what to whom and why. Clearly most books have a secret at the heart be it unrequited love, a crime, or whatever.

I did enjoy the book but was not bowled over by the uncovering of the secret. So, with apologies, somewhat less than a 5 star review. A good book but more a pleasant surprise than an explosion.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

[Amanda Varley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderfully compelling read! The First Wife's Secret is a clever and intriguing insight into a family facing potential tragedy, propelling them into exploring their relationships, conflicts, past decisions and future plans. I found the depiction of the family incredibly insightful and realistic - the impact of their shared history on their current interactions is intriguing from the outset. What has cased the distance between the sisters despite their previous closeness? Why is there awkwardness with their step-mother despite the decades of relationship that she has shared with their father? And how is the memory of their birth mother and their father's first wife still such a spectre over the family after so long?

As a wedding anniversary party is interrupted by a medical emergency, their reactions and responses drip-feed the reader with an understanding of why certain characters have the relationships they do. Despite the families apparent closeness, under the surface, they are all hiding their own secrets, insecurities and difficulties, and these are unraveled as the book progresses.

As past secrets are revealed, misunderstandings are resolved and new decisions are regretted, the family must overcome their differences and pull together in support, forgiveness and hope.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Wynter J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and the author’s writing style. The story is told through three POVs that flow together perfectly. The characters were authentic and realistic making this a story I could really connect with.

Brief Synopsis: George Spencer goes into cardiac arrest during his 25th wedding anniversary celebration surrounded by family and friends. This occurs minutes before he was planning to share some surprising news. Within the first few chapters you begin sensing some drama within this small town, working class family. In addition, it becomes apparent that each of the main characters have secrets to bare.

“We’re a family fraying at the seams. One good tug would tear the stitches right out.”

This was an excellently crafted book that I couldn’t wait to finish. It really put into perspective how life has to continue even amidst a family tragedy. During these trying times, you begin thinking about all the wrongs that need righted. It takes communication to earn a second chance, and you never know if you will receive one unless you try.

Thank you to the Claire Amarti, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for a copy of this novel. I will definitely be recommending this one!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

George and Mara Spencer are having a 25th anniversary celebration at their home and it is a hot day. They are the parents of Lottie and Mara is the stepmother to George’s daughters, Vaughan and Dinah whose mother died in a car crash many years ago.

Vaughan has a professional position and is married to an equally successful man. Dinah is the single mother to Josie whose father is not a part of their lives. However, she is newly engaged to Max, from a wealthy family in town. Lottie still lives at home.

Just as George is starting to make an announcement to the party attendees, he falls to the ground. At the hospital, the family is told that he did not just have a heart attack, his heart stopped. Intubated, the family watches and waits praying that he will live.

As the days go by waiting for their father’s recovery, many family secrets emerge and hard feelings are aired and put to rest. In addition, the sisters decide which path is right for them in marriage.

This is a good book that imparts a lot of wisdom about grown siblings and how they handle their grudges with one another. They also learn that forgiveness is key to keeping the family together.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Sonal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dinah, Lottie, and Vaughn are at their childhood home to celebrate the 25th wedding anniversary of their dad, George, and his wife, Mara. Dinah and Vaughn are George's daughters with his first wife, Bonnie, who died in a tragic accident when the girls were very young. Vaughn, the oldest, has a seemingly perfect life with her perfect husband. Dinah is a single mother raising her young daughter. Lottie is the youngest and is the only one still living at home.
Just as he is about to make an announcement, George suffers a severe heart attack. What was he going to announce? Why is there so much tension between Dinah and Mara? What caused Dinah and Lottie to become estranged? Is Vaughn's life really as perfect as it seems?
This book is about the bond between families, especially sisters and how misunderstandings can affect relationships. There's also a bit of mystery regarding Bonnie. I really enjoyed this book and all the characters, it was a quick, easy read and kept my interest throughout.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The First Wife's Secret is a story told from the perspective of like 5 different people. Three sisters deal with the aftermath and uncertainty after their father has a heart attack during an anniversary party. They are also forced to confront the past and decide what they actually want out of life.

I'm not really sure the time line of this book, if I had to guess I'd say the events happen over a 2-3 week period.

I enjoyed the book, it’s well written and each characters perspective was clearly defined. However reading from so many different perspectives is kind of jarring.

I think classing this as Mystery/Thriller is a bit of a stretch. The mystery is just something that the parents didn't deem it appropriate to tell their (t the time) young daughters about. Also, it's not clear whether Lottie ever tells her sisters what she learned.

(To each their own, but if my math is correct, the dad remarried and had a baby within a year of his first wife passing?????)

*Thank you to the publisher for this eARC

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty easy read, tho you have to keep track of 3 sisters, and more complicated-ly their husbands/boyfriends/others. The story is full of prior jumping to conclusions, which affected the daughters/sisters as they got older. And many mysteries about their dead mother (The First Wife) which no one seems very interested in, until..... And truly, the First Wife's secret, the big secret, is really the husband's secret (he is cleverly in a coma for most of the book.) And, this is the second book I've lately read (When We Believed in Mermaids) where there is A SECRET -- the secret hovers, the secret is then revealed in simple declarative sentences, and no one asks another question about the secret. Which seems ridiculous to me. I feel like the author wanted to get these characters on paper, but didn't have much for them to do, so made up this secret, and how they never talked to each other, and now (spoiler) they live happily ever after. This is a nice summer/beach read. Not going to teach you anything.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The First Wife's Secret by Claire Amarti is a unique family drama where relationships are not what they seem to have been all along. At a celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary, Dinah's father lifts a glass to her stepmother and says he has a big announcement to share...and then collapses to the ground. With her father in critical condition, Dinah must navigate her family relationships while figuring out the mystery of her mother's death when she was a young child As the middle child, she has always had a rocky relationship with her stepmother, which makes things all the more difficult.

An interesting novel, although I felt it dragged in certain spots. I really had to push to finish. Thank you to the author, Books Go Social and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I enjoyed this book very much and found myself reading way past my bedtime. Firstly, the relationships between the sisters was so relatable to me as I'm from a family of three sisters and while we're close in age I see similarities in how we engage with each other-i'm the middle and always felt like the odd one out (I'm 70 and still feel this way).

The story was terrific and grabbed me from the start. Dinah and her sisters deal with secrets about her and her oldest sister's mom and their younger sister who is the child of the dad's second wife. Too me this book is all about the women and how they find out the secret and how it makes them relate to the men in their lives. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about family dynamics. I want more about this family.

[Ghada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Claire Amarti for an ARC to review.
A family drama told by the Spencer family. On a hot day while celebrating his 25th anniversary, George has a sudden heart attack and gets rushed to ER.
During his unconscious time at the hospital, his three daughters, his second wife, his granddaughter and the memory of his first wife struggle through their past drawing a clearer view of how it truly happened paving the path for the future. Hope and uncertainty compete, both tugging at George trying to win him over their side.
I wouldn't categorise it as a thriller or a mystery, it's an emotional family drama where the mystery is untangling the past and surviving the truth that reveals.
I really liked it.

[Laurie Enos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about family relationships- secrets, misinterpretations, heartbreak, healing, closure, reconciliation. Dinah and Lottie are the main voices in this book. Dinah is the "rebellious" middle child, who is a single parent. Lottie is the youngest sister, the "half" sister. Dinah's mom, Bonnie, died when she was 4 years old, and her dad, George, married Mara.

Bonnie is idolized by the children and the house and furnishings are the same as when she was alive. Lottie uncovers clues which hint that Bonnie may not have been as perfect as everyone says.

This book was a quick read and I enjoyed it. I wish we were able to get to know the older sister more than the author allowed us. Overall, the book was fast paced and kept my interest.

[Angela Lawman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A party, with a family gathering within. Three sisters, all watching their dad give a speech. Just as he is building up to his big announcement, clutches his chest and falls to the floor....
Will he survive? What was the big secret? And his three daughters - why does Dinah see herself as the black sheep? What is going on with Vaughan’s marriage? And what has Lottie got planned for her future?

I loved how this book used Dinah and Lottie as narrators to tell the story of a family who are still struggling with the ghosts of the past whilst thinking about their futures....futures that are now on hold as they wait for news of their dad.

My first book by this author and I will looking for another!

[Jennifer Guindon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I was immediately immersed into the storyline and was very interested in learning about the secret. I was actually more interested in why Dinah & Lottie had stopped being close and was disappointed that it was over a misunderstanding about a guy. I do get how that can tear people apart, though, especially since Dinah was pregnant at the time, but it also shows me how we should face things at the moment to get them out in the open and not keep everything bottled up. I started out not liking the stepmom, from Dinah's view, but by the end I liked her so much more.

Another part of the book that I loved was that it went in the future to tell us what happened. Not a lot of books do that and keep us wondering.