A compelling interpretation of a decades-old mystery, this novel is based on the true story of the disappearance of Judge Joseph Crater, once dubbed ‘the missingest man in New York’.
Lawhon blends historical fact with creative license and a flair for intrigue to craft a beautifully written story. The narrative centres on three women connected to the judge: his wife, Stella, the image of propriety; their maid, Maria; and Ritzi, a showgirl and occasional lover of the judge. Maria also happens to be married to Jude Simon, the lead detective assigned to investigate Crater’s disappearance.
Set in 1930s New York, the novel captures a world of showgirls, speakeasies and political scandal. One night Judge Crater vanishes without a trace. Stella becomes a suspect, despite staying at the couple’s property in Maine on the night he disappears.
Maria feels indebted to the judge for helping her husband secure a police promotion – something she has never told Jude. When she discovers the judge and Ritzi in bed together, she is threatened with exposure unless she keeps silent.
Ritzi, who was with the judge on the night he vanished, has secrets of her own. That evening she, the judge and his friend William Klein share drinks at Club Abbey. Later, she witnesses the judge being taken away. Ritzi and Klein then stay together in a hotel near Coney Island, largely to provide each other with alibis.
As the investigation unfolds, long-buried truths emerge, leading to revelations and surprises that keep the reader guessing until the final page. The Wife, The Maid and the Mistress was thoroughly engaging read.
Reviewed by Sue Stanbridge
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ariel Lawhon is a critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction. Her novels include: The Frozen River, I Was Anastasia, Code Name Helene, and The Wife, the Maid and the Mistress. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have been Good Morning America Book Club, Library Reads, One Book One County, Indie Next, Costco, Amazon Spotlight, and Book of the Month Club selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and four sons. She splits her time between the grocery store and the baseball field.
Visit Ariel Lawhon’s author website here.
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