Beverley, Elsie, and Margot are not your average housewives. They are all wives of convicted killers. During the sun-drenched summer of 1966, the three women form an unlikely friendship after the discoveries of their husbands’ brutal crimes. With their exes—some of California’s most infamous serial killers—dead or behind bars, they are attempting to forge a new future for themselves.
Headstrong Beverley compulsively tries to maintain control of everything around her, all while raising two children. Bookish Elsie fights day in and day out for the chance to make a name for herself in the newsroom, working among men who sneer at her career goals. Glamorous Margot refuses to take anything seriously and devotes all her energy to upholding the appearance that everything is fine—anything to quell the shame from her husband’s deceit.
They know people look at them and think only one thing. How could they not have known, when their husbands were right under their noses, committing horrific crimes? How much guilt is theirs to carry? And yet when a string of killings hits the news, the three women—underestimated, overlooked, shrewd—decide to get to work. After all, who better to catch a killer than those who have shared their lives and homes with one? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)
This dynamic trio really packed a punch! In an era when women had to work doubly hard to make it, all three had to deal with the stigma of having former husbands who are convicted killers. I love how they bonded together to take down the latest serial killer, combining collective knowledge and wisdom that no one else can truly understand. They become the best detectives, discovering clues and tricks that seem to go over the authorities’ heads, all in an effort to right the wrongs they feel partially responsible for.
Each character brings her own special insight into the mix. My favorite is Elsie. She is the quiet, underestimated one, who feels lost in the shuffle while dealing with a profession that is mostly male-dominated. Yet, as the chapters progress, she grows more of a voice and viewpoint, taking less and less crap from everyone. Margot is the wild card, loud and brazen, never taking no for an answer. As hard-shelled as she appears to be, she doesn’t have nearly as thick skin as anyone could imagine, feeling a lot more wounded when she isn’t taken seriously. Beverly is a combination of the two, flitting back and forth between not knowing when she should have restraint, and when she should let go. She is often the voice of reason, even when reason doesn’t make sense.
Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, it felt like the ladies are on one gigantic crazy caper, collecting data while dodging potential death threats along the way. Interspersed with their viewpoints are the viewpoints from one potential victim, which really highlighted the dire need to find that person at all cost, before they become another tally on the death count. The last quarter of the book was an adrenaline rush, while the dynamic trio clicks all of the clues into place, and of course, it’s never who you suspected it might be–it never is, but that’s what makes it so much fun.
I enjoyed the period this book takes place in, along with seeing just how tough all three ladies are in their own unique ways. It was an engaging experience!
Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase it here.
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