A Circle of Wives

A Circle of Wives

by Alice LaPlante

Genre: Mystery?

 If you are going to read one book by LaPlante, read Turn of Mind (see my review below). It is much more original and shocking and suspenseful than A Circle of Wives. However, if you have already read Turn of Mind, go ahead and check out her latest novel, just don't compare the two.

Review: A Circle of Wives is a murder mystery, but not very suspenseful. A do-gooder plastic surgeon dies in a hotel room in Palo Alto, and his three wives, Deborah (the original suburban wife with empty nest syndrome gone awry), M.J. (paradoxical hippie/accountant), and Helen (pediatric oncologist, wife #3) meet at the funeral. Rookie detective Samantha is on the case but not great at solving real crimes. 

Each wife is a distinct character and I wanted to read until the end, but I was not desperately turning pages. The novel addresses the question: "How could she not have known?" and posits realistic answers.

My review of Turn of Mind.

Turn of Mind...

Turn of Mind

by Alice LaPlante

Genre: Adult Fiction, Literary


Review: The shocking tale of a mother with Alzheimer's, a former orthopedic surgeon specializing in hands who is accused of the murder of her best friend, Amanda, with whom she had a loving but contentious relationship. Her friend was found with several fingers excised from her hand. Did she comment the murder? Even she doesn't know.


 The story is told from the perspective of Dr. Jennifer White, in three parts, as her Alzheimer's worsens. The book is very humane, puzzling, and meaningful, but terrifying in a way as well, as only books about losing your memory, and its ramifications for identity and family/relationships, can be.  


Good Reads Author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/774591.Alice_LaPlante 


Song to Read by: "White Oleander" from the movie, composed by Thomas Newman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_iG4D9eOnw