Book Review: The Wife Before

A contemporary retelling of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, The Wife Before is all about Samira, a second wife of a rich pro golfer, who gets down to investigate the tragedy that befell the first, who died under suspicious circumstances, leading to speculations that Roland, her husband, may have been responsible. To make matters worse, the more she learns about Melanie, Roland's first wife, the less sure Samira seems to be of who has gotten married to despite his claims that he is innocent. With a rift growing between them, Samira decides to take the matter into her own hands and discover the truth behind Melanie's death before it's too late. The obvious nod to the classic gothic tale aside, Shanora Williams crafts a less atmospheric take that offsets its lack of nuance with a set of flawed characters and a surprising twist towards the end.