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The Dictator's Wife
'I know you would like to hate me. History is written by the victors, and these are always men...'
The wife of a toppled dictator stands trial for her husband's crimes.
The world will finally know the truth. But whose?
A darkly gripping and timely story, The Dictator's Wife will keep you turning the pages long into the night...
WOMAN
I learned early in life how to survive. A skill that became vital in my position.
WIFE
I was given no power, yet I was expected to hold my own with the most powerful man in the country.
MOTHER OF THE NATION
My people were my children. I stood between him and them.
I am not the person they say I am.
I am not my husband.
I am innocent.
Do you believe me?
Visceral and thought provoking, powerful and emotional, haunting and heartbreaking, The Dictator's Wife will hold you in its grip until its gut-wrenching conclusion.
The wife of a toppled dictator stands trial for her husband's crimes.
The world will finally know the truth. But whose?
A darkly gripping and timely story, The Dictator's Wife will keep you turning the pages long into the night...
WOMAN
I learned early in life how to survive. A skill that became vital in my position.
WIFE
I was given no power, yet I was expected to hold my own with the most powerful man in the country.
MOTHER OF THE NATION
My people were my children. I stood between him and them.
I am not the person they say I am.
I am not my husband.
I am innocent.
Do you believe me?
Visceral and thought provoking, powerful and emotional, haunting and heartbreaking, The Dictator's Wife will hold you in its grip until its gut-wrenching conclusion.
Hardcover
First published February 17, 2022
134 people are currently reading
2685 people want to read
About the author
Freya Berry
4 books82 followersFreya Berry always loved stories, but it took several years as a journalist to realise she loves the kind of truth that lies in fiction, not reality. (Or, to put it another way, making stuff up is more fun.)
Her second novel, The Birdcage Library, is out now: an adventuress discovers an old book containing clues about the disappearance of a woman who vanished 50 years before. Set between a Scottish castle in the 1930s and an exotic animal emporium in Gilded Age New York, it's a twisting Gothic tale of secrets, obsession and murder. Oh, and taxidermy.
Her first novel The Dictator's Wife, a high-stakes exploration of power, glamour and complicity, was shortlisted for the Authors' Club First Novel Award, a pick for the BBC's flagship book show Between The Covers, and The New European's 2022 novel of the year.
Freya lives in London and graduated with a double starred first in English from Cambridge. She spends more time reading smutty fantasy novels than she likes to admit.
Her second novel, The Birdcage Library, is out now: an adventuress discovers an old book containing clues about the disappearance of a woman who vanished 50 years before. Set between a Scottish castle in the 1930s and an exotic animal emporium in Gilded Age New York, it's a twisting Gothic tale of secrets, obsession and murder. Oh, and taxidermy.
Her first novel The Dictator's Wife, a high-stakes exploration of power, glamour and complicity, was shortlisted for the Authors' Club First Novel Award, a pick for the BBC's flagship book show Between The Covers, and The New European's 2022 novel of the year.
Freya lives in London and graduated with a double starred first in English from Cambridge. She spends more time reading smutty fantasy novels than she likes to admit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
February 2, 2022
Extremely dull, extremely slow, extremely predictable. The pace was too slow. A lot of the events could be condensed into less scenes. Too many poetic lines that made no sense. The failed attempts to turn the story into a fevered dream made this book instead a raging migraine.
Would not recommend 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼
Would not recommend 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼
February 25, 2022
*Shoutout to the author Freya Berry for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for review!*
I was not prepared for how sucked into this book I would get. It has such a magnetic energy to it, you can’t help but get sucked into this bizarre political web and stay enthralled until the very last page. I fell in love with it so quickly, and would highly recommend.
The writing was amazing, a perfect balance of cryptic yet easy to follow. The style of writing itself is just generally my cup of tea, I’d pretty much pick up any book this author writes now. I think the pacing was perfect and how the story unravelled in the end to be really satisfying, it keeps you engaged throughout.
My hands down favourite aspect of this book were the characters, they felt so three dimensional and were well done. The Dictator’s wife herself was such a compelling woman to read about, I felt as fascinated by her as the narrator. She had such an alluring energy to her, I was captivated by the way she held herself and the way she spoke. I think she was a great character to study. I’m a little bit obsessed with her, I’d literally love to read more about her in her own book to be honest.
Along with following the main storyline in the present day, I loved how connected the narrator's own past and home life was with her work life. It added another dimension to the story and gave it even more mystery. Especially towards the end when plot twists and coming forward left right and centre, it really made for a well rounded and satisfying ending to the novel in my opinion.
I don’t even know what else to say about this one. Read it and judge for yourself, but I’m pretty confident in my ability to say that you’ll enjoy this book. Even if some of the politics go slightly over your head, it’s easy to follow and understand the bigger picture. It was great.
I was not prepared for how sucked into this book I would get. It has such a magnetic energy to it, you can’t help but get sucked into this bizarre political web and stay enthralled until the very last page. I fell in love with it so quickly, and would highly recommend.
The writing was amazing, a perfect balance of cryptic yet easy to follow. The style of writing itself is just generally my cup of tea, I’d pretty much pick up any book this author writes now. I think the pacing was perfect and how the story unravelled in the end to be really satisfying, it keeps you engaged throughout.
My hands down favourite aspect of this book were the characters, they felt so three dimensional and were well done. The Dictator’s wife herself was such a compelling woman to read about, I felt as fascinated by her as the narrator. She had such an alluring energy to her, I was captivated by the way she held herself and the way she spoke. I think she was a great character to study. I’m a little bit obsessed with her, I’d literally love to read more about her in her own book to be honest.
Along with following the main storyline in the present day, I loved how connected the narrator's own past and home life was with her work life. It added another dimension to the story and gave it even more mystery. Especially towards the end when plot twists and coming forward left right and centre, it really made for a well rounded and satisfying ending to the novel in my opinion.
I don’t even know what else to say about this one. Read it and judge for yourself, but I’m pretty confident in my ability to say that you’ll enjoy this book. Even if some of the politics go slightly over your head, it’s easy to follow and understand the bigger picture. It was great.
March 13, 2022
The main idea of this book got immediately my attention and started to read right away. It's the story of a trial for crimes against humanity; the people of a small imaginary republic against Marija Popa, the dictator's wife. It's told from Laura's point of view, the youngest member of the lawyers team that will represent Marija. She will come back to her home country, after running away from it with her parents, when she was a kid.
The first chapter was a bit confusing but in line with the story, so I continued reading, hoping to find more details in the next pages.
The problem arrived with the following chapters. The present plot is mixed with a ton of memories from different times of Laura's life; insomuch, that differentiating between a memory and current action became a task. I had to re-read some pages several times to understand them, until I realized that there was no transition between those flashbacks.
I kept the rythm, waiting for the main character to appear. And the meeting with Marija Popa was disappointing. I expected an overly sweet cover for a tyrant lady; someone knowing that gaining her lawyers to her cause, will help her to show a maternal figure, incompatible with being the monster everyone thinks she is. But seeing an arrogant person, already playing the VIP to the team that can buy her freedom, broke the magic. So, I couldn't believe Laura's observation of being almost sad for someone like Marija, that had everything and lost it all.
I couldn't finish it
The first chapter was a bit confusing but in line with the story, so I continued reading, hoping to find more details in the next pages.
The problem arrived with the following chapters. The present plot is mixed with a ton of memories from different times of Laura's life; insomuch, that differentiating between a memory and current action became a task. I had to re-read some pages several times to understand them, until I realized that there was no transition between those flashbacks.
I kept the rythm, waiting for the main character to appear. And the meeting with Marija Popa was disappointing. I expected an overly sweet cover for a tyrant lady; someone knowing that gaining her lawyers to her cause, will help her to show a maternal figure, incompatible with being the monster everyone thinks she is. But seeing an arrogant person, already playing the VIP to the team that can buy her freedom, broke the magic. So, I couldn't believe Laura's observation of being almost sad for someone like Marija, that had everything and lost it all.
I couldn't finish it
December 16, 2021
When I read the synopsis for this I got Eva Peron vibes from it and I was totally in. I found this book gripping I couldnt put it down and when it ended I was both devastated that it had finished and immediately wanting to reread it. The writing was great, it was beautifully done, the characters were well developed and relatable- some more than others,
I have always had questions about the wives and children of world leaders and figures throughout history that have held distatorships but none more prominent in my mmind than how much did their wives really know and/or agree with their policies and reigns of terror and for that reason this book was so thought provoking and intrinsincly fascinating. There were moments that were truly heartwrenching and yet there were also moments of love.
At times the book was claustrophobic and gave the reader a truly dark restricted atmosphere that really added an extra layer of slightly experiencing the opression and horror of a dictator regime. It was both completely terrifying and captivating in equal measure.
I honestly couldnt put this book down and I think it would be a contender for best book I have read this year. I loved it
I have always had questions about the wives and children of world leaders and figures throughout history that have held distatorships but none more prominent in my mmind than how much did their wives really know and/or agree with their policies and reigns of terror and for that reason this book was so thought provoking and intrinsincly fascinating. There were moments that were truly heartwrenching and yet there were also moments of love.
At times the book was claustrophobic and gave the reader a truly dark restricted atmosphere that really added an extra layer of slightly experiencing the opression and horror of a dictator regime. It was both completely terrifying and captivating in equal measure.
I honestly couldnt put this book down and I think it would be a contender for best book I have read this year. I loved it
May 19, 2022
1.5 stars rounded up, DNF. I was really drawn to the premise of The Dictator's Wife and felt I should have enjoyed it: the story of a deceased dictator of a fallen Eastern European Communist regime being put on trial for his crimes. However the execution of the novel was so slow. I read about a third and absolutely nothing happens, there is just lots of to-ing and fro-ing between the wife and her legal team, with some half-hearted hints that the main lawyer (a younger woman originally from the regime) has less-than-noble intentions and is there to discover her heritage or avenge her family. Stopped reading about a third of the way through as it was so slow moving.
February 5, 2022
Thank you to Headline for sending me a proof copy of 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥'𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗙𝗘 by Freya Berry.
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𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲'𝗱 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱
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The Dictator's Wife is a fantastic debut, and is such a richly-woven novel.
The story follows Laura Lăzărescu, whose parents fled an oppressive regime in Yanussia when Laura was just a child. As an adult and a young lawyer, Laura is called back to Yanussia to defend Marija Popa, the wife of the recently deceased dictator Constantin Popa.
Marija stands accused of human rights abuses, money laundering, and as an accomplice to numerous crimes committed by Constantin, but was she complicit, and is she guilty?
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𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙙. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱, 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽, 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘄. 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿. 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜'𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱, 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱.
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Stories of corruption and the corrosive impact of power aren't new, but what stands out in Berry's book is the perspective. Very rarely do we hear a female perspective in these stories, but powerful and corrupt women do exist, and some of the worst crimes and atrocities are committed by women: and alternately they can be victims, but we rarely get to hear their side.
Here, the typical narrative is flipped on its head as we never get to hear from the dictator Constantin himself, as he has already died (under pretty gruesome circumstances).
Berry perfectly captures the role of the press and the tabloids in relation to figureheads and celebrities, and how the media can whip people up into a frenzy, regardless of whether what they print is true.
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𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝘀, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁. 𝗔 𝗳𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗶𝗿.
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Gender roles and stereotypes are a key theme throughout The Dictator's Wife, and the reader is challenged on their own views and beliefs about what limits exist around an individual's gender. To some degree, the reader has to decide what they believe to be true from the conflicting narratives that are presented to them.
Marija herself is assigned specific gendered titles by the press and the general public, including those of 'First Lady' and 'Little Mother'. The connotations drawn from these descriptions are clear, but some of these monikers originated from Marija herself, who seems to exploit her femininity, and use it to her advantage, rather than simply receding into the assigned bracket of the gentler sex.
Marija is clearly glamorous, powerful, and very charismatic, but throughout she refers to herself as 'only a woman'.
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'𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿?'
'𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁? 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗛𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘃𝗮. 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮.'
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Yanussia itself, while fabricated and imagined by Berry, could easily be referencing so many real countries. And there is an interesting dynamic in the general society there. Amidst the protests, surveys are conducted that reveal that the people in Yanussia don't feel things have improved since the overthrowing of Popa's regime.
To the broader world, dictators may appear clearly obvious. But local people in Colombia loved Pablo Escobar; some Russian people like Putin and believe he is doing the best for their country etc (maybe not right this second, but generally).
A person's relationship with their country can be complex, and we always feel a pull back to the places that we lived as a child.
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𝗬𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.
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Family, legacy, and secrecy are key themes throughout the book. Every character has secrets that they harbour, perhaps none more so than Laura's parents, and these secrets have torn the Lăzărescu family apart.
As is true with most families, her parents do what they think is best, and try to protect Laura, but in doing so they push her away and their whole family unit crumbles. It makes sense, therefore, that Laura would seek mother and father figures elsewhere.
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𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆, 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸? 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻, 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴?
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The tension is palpable throughout, and the pacing of the story is well executed. Laura is afraid, but it seems she isn't even sure what she is/should be afraid of, other than the obvious of losing the trial.
But would losing the trial be only that? Or are the other looming threats surrounding her real?
Will she ever find out the truth about her family secrets, and why her family never want her to return to Yanussia, and certainly don't want her to defend Marija Popa?
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𝗜'𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘄, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗵.
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I'd highly recommend The Dictator's Wife to any reader who likes slow-burn thrillers, and historical fiction, as it seems to transcend both genres for me.
I would definitely read more from Freya Berry in the future.
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𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲'𝗱 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱
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The Dictator's Wife is a fantastic debut, and is such a richly-woven novel.
The story follows Laura Lăzărescu, whose parents fled an oppressive regime in Yanussia when Laura was just a child. As an adult and a young lawyer, Laura is called back to Yanussia to defend Marija Popa, the wife of the recently deceased dictator Constantin Popa.
Marija stands accused of human rights abuses, money laundering, and as an accomplice to numerous crimes committed by Constantin, but was she complicit, and is she guilty?
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𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙙. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱, 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽, 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘄. 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿. 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜'𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱, 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱.
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Stories of corruption and the corrosive impact of power aren't new, but what stands out in Berry's book is the perspective. Very rarely do we hear a female perspective in these stories, but powerful and corrupt women do exist, and some of the worst crimes and atrocities are committed by women: and alternately they can be victims, but we rarely get to hear their side.
Here, the typical narrative is flipped on its head as we never get to hear from the dictator Constantin himself, as he has already died (under pretty gruesome circumstances).
Berry perfectly captures the role of the press and the tabloids in relation to figureheads and celebrities, and how the media can whip people up into a frenzy, regardless of whether what they print is true.
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𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝘀, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁. 𝗔 𝗳𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗶𝗿.
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Gender roles and stereotypes are a key theme throughout The Dictator's Wife, and the reader is challenged on their own views and beliefs about what limits exist around an individual's gender. To some degree, the reader has to decide what they believe to be true from the conflicting narratives that are presented to them.
Marija herself is assigned specific gendered titles by the press and the general public, including those of 'First Lady' and 'Little Mother'. The connotations drawn from these descriptions are clear, but some of these monikers originated from Marija herself, who seems to exploit her femininity, and use it to her advantage, rather than simply receding into the assigned bracket of the gentler sex.
Marija is clearly glamorous, powerful, and very charismatic, but throughout she refers to herself as 'only a woman'.
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'𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿?'
'𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁? 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗛𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘃𝗮. 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮.'
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Yanussia itself, while fabricated and imagined by Berry, could easily be referencing so many real countries. And there is an interesting dynamic in the general society there. Amidst the protests, surveys are conducted that reveal that the people in Yanussia don't feel things have improved since the overthrowing of Popa's regime.
To the broader world, dictators may appear clearly obvious. But local people in Colombia loved Pablo Escobar; some Russian people like Putin and believe he is doing the best for their country etc (maybe not right this second, but generally).
A person's relationship with their country can be complex, and we always feel a pull back to the places that we lived as a child.
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𝗬𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.
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Family, legacy, and secrecy are key themes throughout the book. Every character has secrets that they harbour, perhaps none more so than Laura's parents, and these secrets have torn the Lăzărescu family apart.
As is true with most families, her parents do what they think is best, and try to protect Laura, but in doing so they push her away and their whole family unit crumbles. It makes sense, therefore, that Laura would seek mother and father figures elsewhere.
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𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆, 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸? 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻, 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴?
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The tension is palpable throughout, and the pacing of the story is well executed. Laura is afraid, but it seems she isn't even sure what she is/should be afraid of, other than the obvious of losing the trial.
But would losing the trial be only that? Or are the other looming threats surrounding her real?
Will she ever find out the truth about her family secrets, and why her family never want her to return to Yanussia, and certainly don't want her to defend Marija Popa?
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𝗜'𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘄, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗵.
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I'd highly recommend The Dictator's Wife to any reader who likes slow-burn thrillers, and historical fiction, as it seems to transcend both genres for me.
I would definitely read more from Freya Berry in the future.
February 24, 2022
There was something about this book, from the very beginning, that put me off. It has all the bones of an excellent mystery/dystopian novel but is lacking in brevity.
For more reviews check me out @stephaniesbookclub on Instagram.
For more reviews check me out @stephaniesbookclub on Instagram.
August 5, 2023
Surpreendente. Um thriller psicológico é suposto ter esse efeito mas a narrativa nem sempre prima por uma escrita apurada e descritiva sem ser exaustiva. Um país fictício refém de um regime de terror com um ditador morto mas em que a viúva vai a julgamento por conta dos crimes que pode ou não ser também responsável. Inquieta por ser capaz de passar uma tensão e temor que perdura. A demagogia de uma hábil manipuladora era expectável. Uma aranha. Uma viúva negra. Bela capa. Adequada e chamativa.
400 páginas que pode parecer muito mais dada a baixa granulometria do papel. Não é apenas um thriller mas um romance com duas mulheres que se confrontam e admiram. Um enigma tortuoso. Bem construído para estreia que uma longa pesquisa exigiu. Um livro que não se lê de ânimo leve.
400 páginas que pode parecer muito mais dada a baixa granulometria do papel. Não é apenas um thriller mas um romance com duas mulheres que se confrontam e admiram. Um enigma tortuoso. Bem construído para estreia que uma longa pesquisa exigiu. Um livro que não se lê de ânimo leve.
April 11, 2022
With a title like that, with the blurb on the covers, the comments from the author herself, I was expecting a full on exposé of the lives of the wives of the appalling men who have caused so much damage and despair in our world over the past 100 years. Think Imelda Marcos, Elena Ceausescu, Eva Peron and others - how culpable are they in the crimes of their husbands, how much did they know, take part in, facilitate. But no, disappointingly it is not about that at all. The author has been a financial and political journalist for Reuters, and through her work has had the opportunities to observe the wives of the world's powerful leaders, and hence planting the seeds for this story. But this is not really about the wife.
In the fictional country of Yanussia - somewhere in the Romania/Balkans/Russia area of things, the dictator Constantin Popa has been toppled in a coup and died in the process. Because he is no longer able, it his widow Marija who is now on trial for many many crimes - theft, corruption, murder - all the usual stuff that comes out of the rotten woodwork. She has engaged a firm of lawyers in London to defend her. If she is found guilty she will be executed. The story is told in the first person from the point of view of a junior associate lawyer - Laura - who was born in Yanussia and with her parents fled for London when she was about 6 years old. The lead lawyer is another ex-Yanussian, who had been at Oxford with Marija.
What unfolds is more about the cult of personality that has been carefully crafted and controlled over the years by Marija. This doesn't necessarily mean she is guilty of any of the crimes she has been charged with, as finding proof of any crime is near on impossible. What a surprise. But Laura knows the shiny glib surface hides many many secrets, and she is determined to find out what tragedy or horror happened to her parents, particularly her mother that changed the essence of her small family. So this story is primarily about Laura, her motivations, her actions, her interactions with Marija. Much about Marija unfolds during the course of the story, but she is not the primary focus.
This may seem like quite a good plot, interesting and challenging characters and it is. But it just takes so long to get there, with what I felt was far too much time spent on the bewitching powers of Marija to control and manipulate by her sheer presence all those around her. It is obviously a climate of fear she has created as a means to rule, but with three top level London lawyers in the house, I just felt it didn't seem credible how they too were sucked into her vortex. I actually thought Laura was a bit of a flake.
But having said that, I have just watched the Netflix documentary about Jimmy Savile - here was a man who for 50 years got away with terrible crimes, fooled a nation, governments, the royal family, because he was clever enough, he calls himself tricky enough, to be seen to be giving all the time - the millions of pounds he raised in charity, the good works he did - all somehow absolving him from his crimes. It is much the same in this novel - the good works that Marija did somehow permitting her to the other stuff.
So some good questions are raised but the story as a whole was not a winner.
In the fictional country of Yanussia - somewhere in the Romania/Balkans/Russia area of things, the dictator Constantin Popa has been toppled in a coup and died in the process. Because he is no longer able, it his widow Marija who is now on trial for many many crimes - theft, corruption, murder - all the usual stuff that comes out of the rotten woodwork. She has engaged a firm of lawyers in London to defend her. If she is found guilty she will be executed. The story is told in the first person from the point of view of a junior associate lawyer - Laura - who was born in Yanussia and with her parents fled for London when she was about 6 years old. The lead lawyer is another ex-Yanussian, who had been at Oxford with Marija.
What unfolds is more about the cult of personality that has been carefully crafted and controlled over the years by Marija. This doesn't necessarily mean she is guilty of any of the crimes she has been charged with, as finding proof of any crime is near on impossible. What a surprise. But Laura knows the shiny glib surface hides many many secrets, and she is determined to find out what tragedy or horror happened to her parents, particularly her mother that changed the essence of her small family. So this story is primarily about Laura, her motivations, her actions, her interactions with Marija. Much about Marija unfolds during the course of the story, but she is not the primary focus.
This may seem like quite a good plot, interesting and challenging characters and it is. But it just takes so long to get there, with what I felt was far too much time spent on the bewitching powers of Marija to control and manipulate by her sheer presence all those around her. It is obviously a climate of fear she has created as a means to rule, but with three top level London lawyers in the house, I just felt it didn't seem credible how they too were sucked into her vortex. I actually thought Laura was a bit of a flake.
But having said that, I have just watched the Netflix documentary about Jimmy Savile - here was a man who for 50 years got away with terrible crimes, fooled a nation, governments, the royal family, because he was clever enough, he calls himself tricky enough, to be seen to be giving all the time - the millions of pounds he raised in charity, the good works he did - all somehow absolving him from his crimes. It is much the same in this novel - the good works that Marija did somehow permitting her to the other stuff.
So some good questions are raised but the story as a whole was not a winner.
March 14, 2022
That this is a debut novel is astounding. This is probably going to be one of those reviews that doesn’t quite do the novel justice because of my ardent love for it combined with my complete lack of objectivity. I did anticipate liking this novel, the place and time in which it is staged is one that holds a lot of appeal to me, but what I didn’t expect was the compulsive addiction I formed to reading it. So much so, I slowed right down and lingered, rereading passages, and taking my time in a way that is not usual for me.
‘She isn’t a person, she’s a puppeteer. She discovers what you are, what you can and cannot bear, and uses it.’
The author has created an imaginative Eastern European country, and has set the novel in the early 1990s, under the shadow of the fall of communism and the raising of the Iron Curtain. The fictious country of Yanussia was formerly a part of the USSR and now that the doors have been flung open, its populace are gunning for justice against the corruption of the past…or are they?
‘We choose who we allow to hurt us, in the end. The important thing is to let the right ones in.’
The legal defence team for the former First Lady, who is on trial for a myriad of corruption charges and faces the death penalty if found guilty, includes two Yanussian expats, both of whom have been selected for the case based upon their nationality – by the former First Lady. This is a complex story of displacement, both at the national and the personal level. It’s fraught with fear, of the sort that is unknown to those of us who have not lived under a communist rule. The author has recreated this sense of dark urgency, it descends over you while reading like a suffocation as you feel the terror of living with the secrets of the past, secrets that are still too dangerous to reveal.
This is a brilliant novel, in my opinion, and anyone who has an interest in reading novels about the Cold War, post Cold War, and life in Eastern Europe when it was part of the USSR, should seek this one out. The author may have used a fictious country as her setting, but the experiences and circumstances have been based on actual former Eastern Bloc countries and the people who lived there. Outstanding.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
‘She isn’t a person, she’s a puppeteer. She discovers what you are, what you can and cannot bear, and uses it.’
The author has created an imaginative Eastern European country, and has set the novel in the early 1990s, under the shadow of the fall of communism and the raising of the Iron Curtain. The fictious country of Yanussia was formerly a part of the USSR and now that the doors have been flung open, its populace are gunning for justice against the corruption of the past…or are they?
‘We choose who we allow to hurt us, in the end. The important thing is to let the right ones in.’
The legal defence team for the former First Lady, who is on trial for a myriad of corruption charges and faces the death penalty if found guilty, includes two Yanussian expats, both of whom have been selected for the case based upon their nationality – by the former First Lady. This is a complex story of displacement, both at the national and the personal level. It’s fraught with fear, of the sort that is unknown to those of us who have not lived under a communist rule. The author has recreated this sense of dark urgency, it descends over you while reading like a suffocation as you feel the terror of living with the secrets of the past, secrets that are still too dangerous to reveal.
This is a brilliant novel, in my opinion, and anyone who has an interest in reading novels about the Cold War, post Cold War, and life in Eastern Europe when it was part of the USSR, should seek this one out. The author may have used a fictious country as her setting, but the experiences and circumstances have been based on actual former Eastern Bloc countries and the people who lived there. Outstanding.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
January 12, 2023
Seems to be a marmite book. I loved the palpable tension, the poetic language, the enmeshed stories, the intriguing characters, but mostly the outrageous central character, Marija. Great first novel, looking forward to her next.
July 21, 2022
In 1989 Popa, the Dictator of a (fictional) communist country Yanussia is executed when the country has a revolution.
In 1993 A team of lawyers from England fly in to represent Popa's widow, Marija. The revolution has happened and the people want to know if she knew what her husband was doing for her to steal her wealth from the people. She's facing the death penalty. Laura (one of the lawyers) and her parents fled Yanussia so this is a personal case for her, once she gets to know Marija it becomes even more so...
I have so much to say about this book!! It's supremely clever with an intelligent writing style and perfect pacing but I loved the world building. Yanussia felt like a real country to me and I wonder if the author did research into once oppressed regimes. The everyday people the lawyers meet tell them how western things have arrived but nobody has the money for them. Before Popa told them how many kids to have and promoted child labour.
I loved Laura's connection to her birth country and we learn a lot about her. She's desperate to find out why her mum doesn't seem to love her and through retrospective memories we see Laura's tragic memories with her. She thinks the key is to find discover what happened in her past during her work for Marija but when she realises Marija might be the key they create a truly interesting and thrilling dynamic in their relationship.
Marija herself is one of the best characters I've ever discovered. She is unflappable, glamorous and an entire mystery of a woman. I was fascinated by her philosophy, how we create monsters on all sides and never have to worry what made them that way and so dehumanize them. Also it's interesting how she's related to being a woman "is she a woman who launders clothes or money?" Struck me hard. The best thing about this book was watching her shed layers and become more human.
In 1993 A team of lawyers from England fly in to represent Popa's widow, Marija. The revolution has happened and the people want to know if she knew what her husband was doing for her to steal her wealth from the people. She's facing the death penalty. Laura (one of the lawyers) and her parents fled Yanussia so this is a personal case for her, once she gets to know Marija it becomes even more so...
I have so much to say about this book!! It's supremely clever with an intelligent writing style and perfect pacing but I loved the world building. Yanussia felt like a real country to me and I wonder if the author did research into once oppressed regimes. The everyday people the lawyers meet tell them how western things have arrived but nobody has the money for them. Before Popa told them how many kids to have and promoted child labour.
I loved Laura's connection to her birth country and we learn a lot about her. She's desperate to find out why her mum doesn't seem to love her and through retrospective memories we see Laura's tragic memories with her. She thinks the key is to find discover what happened in her past during her work for Marija but when she realises Marija might be the key they create a truly interesting and thrilling dynamic in their relationship.
Marija herself is one of the best characters I've ever discovered. She is unflappable, glamorous and an entire mystery of a woman. I was fascinated by her philosophy, how we create monsters on all sides and never have to worry what made them that way and so dehumanize them. Also it's interesting how she's related to being a woman "is she a woman who launders clothes or money?" Struck me hard. The best thing about this book was watching her shed layers and become more human.
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March 7, 2022Set in the fictional country of Yanussia, Marija Popa, wife of the dead former leader, is set to stand trial. She is accused of being complicit in her husband’s actions but declares herself to be innocent of all the charges that are piling up against her. She seeks out a defence team from England comprised of two of her fellow Yanussians. Laura has not stepped foot in her native country since she was a child; her parents never speak of their time in Yanussia and Laura is desperate to find out what happened to them, and specifically to her mother, to make their relationship so strained when she became a teenager. Is Marija telling the truth? Is she as innocent as she proclaims to be?
The premise for The Dictator’s Wife immediately grabbed my attention so I was excited to see how Berry would bring this story to life on the page. I instantly thought of Eva Braun, Imelda Marcos and a more current comparison with Melania Trump. The idea of looking at the wife of a dictator rather than focusing a story on the leader himself was fascinating. Although the book is written beautifully and Berry clearly has a way with creating a very visceral reaction to a situation/event through her words, I found the book to be so slow-paced that it detracted from my enjoyment of the unfolding story. There are plenty of moments that deeply disturb both the characters and readers alike, but I felt that the pace just seemed to strangle the flow of the story. Berry loves to create stunning visual metaphors in this story which, although beautiful, went on at times for pages and again interrupted the flow and pace of the book.
I loved the main character of Marija. She is stunning; a glamorous woman who stands out among her peers and everything about her exudes confidence. Her dark side, which comes out more and more as the story progresses, will leave the reader feeling chilled to the bone. The dynamics of Marija and Laura’s relationship and its development throughout the book are fascinating and equally disturbing. All the other characters, with the exception of Marija’s sister, fall away in comparison and are really insignificant to the story when compared to the two female protagonists.
It’s a dark and chilling story with plenty of moments where you are left reeling from the revelations unfolding on the page. Putting yourself in the shoes of the wife of a sadistic and deranged dictator isn’t an easy thing to do, but Berry managed to reel her readers into the story.
The Dictator’s Wife is out now! Thank you to NetGalley and to Headline for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
The premise for The Dictator’s Wife immediately grabbed my attention so I was excited to see how Berry would bring this story to life on the page. I instantly thought of Eva Braun, Imelda Marcos and a more current comparison with Melania Trump. The idea of looking at the wife of a dictator rather than focusing a story on the leader himself was fascinating. Although the book is written beautifully and Berry clearly has a way with creating a very visceral reaction to a situation/event through her words, I found the book to be so slow-paced that it detracted from my enjoyment of the unfolding story. There are plenty of moments that deeply disturb both the characters and readers alike, but I felt that the pace just seemed to strangle the flow of the story. Berry loves to create stunning visual metaphors in this story which, although beautiful, went on at times for pages and again interrupted the flow and pace of the book.
I loved the main character of Marija. She is stunning; a glamorous woman who stands out among her peers and everything about her exudes confidence. Her dark side, which comes out more and more as the story progresses, will leave the reader feeling chilled to the bone. The dynamics of Marija and Laura’s relationship and its development throughout the book are fascinating and equally disturbing. All the other characters, with the exception of Marija’s sister, fall away in comparison and are really insignificant to the story when compared to the two female protagonists.
It’s a dark and chilling story with plenty of moments where you are left reeling from the revelations unfolding on the page. Putting yourself in the shoes of the wife of a sadistic and deranged dictator isn’t an easy thing to do, but Berry managed to reel her readers into the story.
The Dictator’s Wife is out now! Thank you to NetGalley and to Headline for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
June 9, 2025
As I feel like I’m writing a lot recently, this book left me feeling disappointed, which is a shame because the concept is really compelling and I feel like the setting had so much to offer.
I really liked the idea of telling the story of the fall of the Communist dictatorships through such an interesting lens, but the writing just didn’t match the setting or the story for me. At times it felt like every creative writing device was being thrown in to descriptive sequences when the aim was to convey how bleak the landscape was, which created a dichotomy for me as a reader.
Moreover, while I understood that the aim was to conflate the stories of Laura, Marija and Yanussia into the overall plot, I finished feeling like none of the narratives had been done justice by the end. Overall a disappointment in delivery, even if there are moments when the concept shines through with genuine emotion.
I really liked the idea of telling the story of the fall of the Communist dictatorships through such an interesting lens, but the writing just didn’t match the setting or the story for me. At times it felt like every creative writing device was being thrown in to descriptive sequences when the aim was to convey how bleak the landscape was, which created a dichotomy for me as a reader.
Moreover, while I understood that the aim was to conflate the stories of Laura, Marija and Yanussia into the overall plot, I finished feeling like none of the narratives had been done justice by the end. Overall a disappointment in delivery, even if there are moments when the concept shines through with genuine emotion.
January 22, 2022
"'Everybody has a choice.' He laughed. 'Spoken like somebody who's never truly had to make one. Two options are not the same as a choice.'"
The Dictator's Wife is an astounding piece of literature. The author's debut is a historical fiction focused on the small country of Yanussia going through a regime change and seeking to hold the previous leaders to account. I find it fascinating that the author found inspiration from Melania Trump.
"Strange how glamour enchants us, how it makes us forget. A fur coat insists on us ignoring the abattoir".
The book combined real world law terminology (and British law firms) to deliver an accurate and thought-provoking look into who society deems monsters and who we give free passes to. How we define history and how we allow it to shape our present and our future. How money and status enables access to creating an illusion of innocence. Are any of us innocent? How do we truly define innocence?
The plot twists were strong and the entire read felt like whirlwind. I can't lie, I did read in one sitting because I couldn't bare to put the book down. The emotional trauma of the protagonist, the manipulation of the accused and the deep-rooted betrayal could easily be taken out of the book and applied to so many external, real-world scenarios. I love a good historical fiction. I definitely recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc.
The Dictator's Wife is an astounding piece of literature. The author's debut is a historical fiction focused on the small country of Yanussia going through a regime change and seeking to hold the previous leaders to account. I find it fascinating that the author found inspiration from Melania Trump.
"Strange how glamour enchants us, how it makes us forget. A fur coat insists on us ignoring the abattoir".
The book combined real world law terminology (and British law firms) to deliver an accurate and thought-provoking look into who society deems monsters and who we give free passes to. How we define history and how we allow it to shape our present and our future. How money and status enables access to creating an illusion of innocence. Are any of us innocent? How do we truly define innocence?
The plot twists were strong and the entire read felt like whirlwind. I can't lie, I did read in one sitting because I couldn't bare to put the book down. The emotional trauma of the protagonist, the manipulation of the accused and the deep-rooted betrayal could easily be taken out of the book and applied to so many external, real-world scenarios. I love a good historical fiction. I definitely recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc.
February 12, 2022
I was gifted this proof from Headline Books.
The book was good overall, I was intrigued and it definitely was chilling, filled with secrets and complexities within the story. You are constantly debating what you think about the First Lady throughout the book which I think was established well. However, it was a bit too much of a slow burner for me and lacked depth of characterisation which I felt was needed based on the way the story was set up. I got a bit lost at points also. At the final 30 pages, I felt there was then so much action and that felt rushed compared to the rest of the book. Interesting story and concept, not quite for me
The book was good overall, I was intrigued and it definitely was chilling, filled with secrets and complexities within the story. You are constantly debating what you think about the First Lady throughout the book which I think was established well. However, it was a bit too much of a slow burner for me and lacked depth of characterisation which I felt was needed based on the way the story was set up. I got a bit lost at points also. At the final 30 pages, I felt there was then so much action and that felt rushed compared to the rest of the book. Interesting story and concept, not quite for me
July 12, 2022
I’m finally finished! 2.5 stars. I have not enjoyed reading this. It put me in a serious reading slump.
This was marketed as an exploration of power and complicity, proving at questions like how guilty is a wife/spouse for the other persons crimes, an idea which I found really intriguing! But it simply wasn’t this at all. The writing style I found immature and the place names, character names and settings unrealistic.
Marija was built up to be this morally ambiguous, powerful, influential figure, yet her presence on the page was barely noticeable, never mind intimidating. And our protagonist? At one point, she actually said ‘I would like to speak to the manager’ (which made me burst out laughing), and by the end of the book I was seriously doubting her mental sanity.
I would definitely not recommend. Unlike me, don’t be lured into reading this through the marketing, because it didn’t tick any of the boxes it was supposed to. For a debut novel, it wasn’t bad, and I would consider reading more by this author in the future, I just think she didn’t quite hit the mark with this one.
This was marketed as an exploration of power and complicity, proving at questions like how guilty is a wife/spouse for the other persons crimes, an idea which I found really intriguing! But it simply wasn’t this at all. The writing style I found immature and the place names, character names and settings unrealistic.
Marija was built up to be this morally ambiguous, powerful, influential figure, yet her presence on the page was barely noticeable, never mind intimidating. And our protagonist? At one point, she actually said ‘I would like to speak to the manager’ (which made me burst out laughing), and by the end of the book I was seriously doubting her mental sanity.
I would definitely not recommend. Unlike me, don’t be lured into reading this through the marketing, because it didn’t tick any of the boxes it was supposed to. For a debut novel, it wasn’t bad, and I would consider reading more by this author in the future, I just think she didn’t quite hit the mark with this one.
February 24, 2022
This was such a wonderful read.2018 and Laura a lawyer discovers that Marajh an east European dictators wife has died. At the funeral she meets her old boss Pavel and soon she's remembering 1993 when they were hired to defend Marajh. For Laura this is personal as her parents fled the country some years earlier and she's desperate to find out why. But it soon becomes clear that her parents' lives are entangled with those of the dictatorship. Can Laura really face the truth without selling her soul. Excellent read.
April 12, 2022
I tried to finish it, but had to give up on page 260 (of 403). Really promising idea and I thought I was going to like, but then as it went on it felt more and more strung out / repetitive. I started to care less rather than more about the characters. The egg yolk on p259 finally finished me.
November 22, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. Mysterious, dark, tense, emotional and shocking - right to the end.
February 17, 2023
3.5 star review rounded down
Laura Lăzărescu is a lawyer, a junior associate in a law firm that embarks on the biggest case of the century: defending infamous Marija Popa, the wife of the Yanussian dictator, Constantin Popa, accused of many crimes.
She’s orginially from Yanussia, however, her family emigrated when she was seven years old. Laura always felt that the move changed her family, especially her mother Gabriela, who back in Yanussia was always warm and loving. As soon as they left, Laura’s mother became cold and aloof, and Laura always blamed herself.
Laura travels to Yanussia accompanied by two senior associates, Cristian Pavel and Jude Greenwood. It soon transpires that it wasn’t a coincidence that Laura was sent there. It seems that Marija personally requested Laura’s presence.
Marija starts to spin her web of deceit and manipulations and Laura becomes entangled in it.
I loved the idea behind the book, however, I didn’t love its execution. I found the two main characters (especially Marija) very detached from everything and everyone. Marija exploited Laura’s weaknesses to her own advantage. Laura, on the other hand, was gullible and I found her actions very irksome, particularly when concerning her mother.
I found it extremely hard to warm to any of the characters in this story, hence my rating. It is my personal opinion only – you, on the other hand, might love this book!
Laura Lăzărescu is a lawyer, a junior associate in a law firm that embarks on the biggest case of the century: defending infamous Marija Popa, the wife of the Yanussian dictator, Constantin Popa, accused of many crimes.
She’s orginially from Yanussia, however, her family emigrated when she was seven years old. Laura always felt that the move changed her family, especially her mother Gabriela, who back in Yanussia was always warm and loving. As soon as they left, Laura’s mother became cold and aloof, and Laura always blamed herself.
Laura travels to Yanussia accompanied by two senior associates, Cristian Pavel and Jude Greenwood. It soon transpires that it wasn’t a coincidence that Laura was sent there. It seems that Marija personally requested Laura’s presence.
Marija starts to spin her web of deceit and manipulations and Laura becomes entangled in it.
I loved the idea behind the book, however, I didn’t love its execution. I found the two main characters (especially Marija) very detached from everything and everyone. Marija exploited Laura’s weaknesses to her own advantage. Laura, on the other hand, was gullible and I found her actions very irksome, particularly when concerning her mother.
I found it extremely hard to warm to any of the characters in this story, hence my rating. It is my personal opinion only – you, on the other hand, might love this book!
February 16, 2022
This is such a gripping and tense read. Everyone is under suspicion and surveillance - who is telling the truth? Laura is a great character - a flawed woman with a fractured relationship with her parents and her home - she is on the defence team for Marija, but at what cost?
I really enjoyed the female perspective of this story - so often it’s the male view of life in politics and power that we read about. This story tells of the strength and power of women and how their ‘femaleness’ is used to full advantage. But as you read on and get to know these women in more detail - what do you really know?
I really enjoyed the female perspective of this story - so often it’s the male view of life in politics and power that we read about. This story tells of the strength and power of women and how their ‘femaleness’ is used to full advantage. But as you read on and get to know these women in more detail - what do you really know?
January 25, 2025
Really enjoyed the central thread of a young lawyer being seduced by the eponymous character as they prepare for a trial in which she may actually be just another innocent victim of her "not Ceausescu" husband. There were maybe too many subplots, some of which went nowhere (literally, in the case of the door to the bricked up basement) and the tone got a little melodramatic by the climax, but I was still reading just one more chapter before I put it down.
December 29, 2022
6.7/10. Has the potential to be a good novel, but is let down by blunt metaphors and needlessly poetic language.
March 30, 2024
This was the most tedious book I have ever read. Not worth reading.
July 21, 2025
Wat een boek! Het had nog wel langer mogen zijn van mij. Ik las het in Sarajevo en zou zeker aanraden om het te lezen als je in Oost-Europa bent
November 21, 2023
Something something “The Devil Wears Pravda” something something
June 13, 2022
So slow. The first half is actually difficult to get through. But the last 1/3 is quite strong. Story did not feel coherent across the book but a few solid characters there.
May 4, 2024
This was quite good, though I felt there was a lot of telling instead of showing, and I reckon that it could have been a hundred pages shorter. I thought that Marija was a very charismatic character, power hungry and ruthless in her push to the top, her manipulation of the other characters was really interesting. If you are interested in satire, I would give it a go, though it does go by very slowly for a thriller.
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