Review: The Missing Wife

Title: The Missing Wife

Author: Shiela O'Flanagan

Publisher: 14 June 2016 by Hachette Australia Headline Review

Pages: 480 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: womens fiction, contemporary

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Have you ever wanted to disappear? 

When Imogen Naughton vanishes, everyone who knows her is shocked. She has a perfect marriage. Her handsome husband treats her like a princess. She's always said how lucky she is. So why has she left? And how will she survive without Vince?

What goes on behind closed doors is often a surprise, and Imogen surprises herself by taking the leap she knows she must. But as she begins her journey to find the woman she once was, Imogen's past is right behind her...

Will it catch up with her? And will she be ready to face it if it does?

My Thoughts

I was pleasantly surprised by this read - consumed it really quickly - always a good sign. So, Imogen goes missing. Instead of returning home to Ireland after a business trip to Paris, she took the opportunity to implement 'The Plan'. What is that? Her carefully crafted escape plan that will allow her to leave Vince, her husband of 5 years and to regain control of her life.

'What’s happened to me? she asked herself. Who am I? Why am I so afraid?'

Obviously it's not your typical chick lit, but also, not too heavy or depressing.  Its about a woman trying to escape from her obsessive and dominating husband. Some of the chapters are told by her husband, which is really insightful, not only on his crazy thoughts but also just  how controlling he is while all the while believing he is doing nothing wrong. The psychological abuse is so subtle it took Imogen a couple of years to recognise it for what it was. 

'And yet she knew that she was taking the line of least resistance over almost everything because it was easier to give in over something trivial than risk days of silent brooding.'

Imogen makes a plan to escape and run away when the opportunity presents itself. This is the story of her escape and how she learns to get by, and the ensuing search that you just know her husband will undertake with the inevitable final showdown.  I also enjoyed the supporting characters who learned about themselves through Imogen.

'Totally alone and uncontactable. Answering to nobody but herself. There was an intense freedom in it.'

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to be transported to the south of France with a compelling read about self discovery and making fresh starts, finding ultimate happiness.

‘I suppose we all have times when our defences are down,’ said Lucie. ‘That’s when we make mistakes. Realising it is the key thing. Not making them again is the result of learning.'

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release