11/27/2017
Fans of romantic suspense will best appreciate this whodunit set in 1899 from bestseller Willig (The Ashford Affair). Janie Van Duyvil feels insignificant and out-of-place at a fancy Twelfth Night dinner party that her brother, Bay, and his wife, Annabelle, throw at the ancestral family home in Cold Spring, N.Y. Her self-pity is quickly superseded by horror after a cousin of hers stumbles on Bay lying on the ground outside the house, bleeding from a dagger wound. Bay utters the name George before expiring. Annabelle’s subsequent disappearance and a tabloid’s instant assertion that Bay murdered her before committing suicide heighten the tragedy of his death. Determined to exonerate her sibling, Janie turns investigator, finding passion and love along the way. Flashbacks to 1894 London introduce a woman known as Georgie and describe her initial encounter with Bay, interrupting the momentum of Janie’s story line, and awkward prose (“Fragments of poetry danced through her mind like crystal baubles”) is a minus. Agent: Alexandra Machinist, ICM. (Jan.)

"With a smooth Mezzo and immaculate intonations Barrie Kreinik’s narration is impeccable, perfectly portraying each and every character and adding special emotional touches where they’re really needed." -TheReadingFrenzy

"The English Wife is atmospheric, romantic and heart-breaking, and I’m glad I opted to listen to it. The enthralling story, coupled with Barrie Kreinik’s outstanding narration, makes it an audiobook I’d definitely recommend to anyone looking to enjoy an intricate, well-constructed and character-driven mystery." -AudioGals

"Willig's audiobook, set in Gilded Age New York and London, is a mix of romance, mystery, and murder. Narrator Barrie Kreinik is a perfect fit for the mix of British and American characters...Kreinik's reading is slow paced, allowing the tension to build as the story unfolds." -AudioFile

09/15/2017
It is 1899, and Bay and Annabelle are the golden couple of Gilded Age New York, enjoying a life of wealth and privilege. That is, until Bay is found murdered during a masquerade ball, and a missing Annabelle is accused of the crime. Bay's sister Janie defies her autocratic mother to investigate what really happened, with the help of an attractive journalist. Parallel to Janie's story is that of young singer Georgie, who struggles to make ends meet in 1894 London. But from whom is Georgie running, and what is her connection to Janie? Willig, best known for her best-selling "Pink Carnation" series, has a knack for creating sympathetic characters and fully fleshed settings, adding some juicy plot twists to this atmospheric period piece. VERDICT Fans of historical mystery series such as those by Victoria Thompson or Lawrence H. Levy will appreciate this stand-alone drama. [See Prepub Alert, 7/0/17.]—Laurel Bliss, San Diego State Univ. Lib.

Willig’s audiobook, set in Gilded Age New York and London, is a mix of romance, mystery, and murder. Narrator Barrie Kreinik is a perfect fit for the mix of British and American characters. Kreinik’s delivery ranges from Annabelle’s proper British accent to the deep tones of Bayard Van Duyvil, her American husband, and his family, including his younger sister, Janie. The story alternates between the events following Bay’s murder, and Bay and Annabelle’s story. Kreinik’s reading is slow paced, allowing the tension to build as the story unfolds. But it’s her portrayal of Janie that really develops throughout the story as Janie teams up with a reporter to find her brother’s killer, making her own choices and maybe even falling in love. E.N. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

2017-09-28
In the late 1800s, a woman investigates the mysterious circumstances behind her brother's death.Janie Van Duyvil has always felt like a wallflower, even among her own family. Her brother, Bayard, and her cousin Anne were best friends, leaving her out. Her imposing mother clearly favored Bay while expecting Janie to follow all her orders. When Bay takes a trip to London, he comes home with a mysterious new wife, Annabelle. No one seems to know much about Annabelle's past, especially not Janie. But when Janie and Anne find Bay dying during a lavish party at his house, a knife stuck in his chest, everything changes. Annabelle is nowhere to be found, and Janie is the only one who hears Bay's final word: "George." As people gossip and the papers invent stories about Bay and Annabelle, Janie wants to find out the truth. Rumors swirl: that Annabelle was having an affair, that Bay murdered her, and that Annabelle might actually have been an imposter. Together with a reporter named Burke (and against her mother's wishes), Janie begins to secretly investigate Bay's life and the circumstances behind his death. As she learns more, she starts to wonder whom she can trust. Is her own family hiding things from her? What about the man from Annabelle's past who claims to know who she really was? And does Burke really care about her, or is he just using her to get a story? The multitude of characters can be a bit confusing at first, but as the plot picks up, the novel turns into an engaging read. Willig (The Other Daughter, 2015, etc.) creates a story that is full of rich historical details about the Gilded Age in New York—the jewels, the luxurious fashions, the opulent homes, and the scandal that lurked behind the beautiful exteriors. The mystery is not easily solved, and readers will find themselves guessing until the very end. And though the story is primarily about the mystery behind Annabelle and Bay, it also features a satisfying romance between Janie and Burke.A dark, romantic mystery full of twists and turns.