The Spy's Wife [Paperback]

Reginald Hill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1990

Molly Keatly has a wonderful home in a London suburb, friends and money--and Sam, her loving journalist husband. Then one morning Sam disappears and Molly learns that her husband of eight years is a spy and a traitor. Suddenly Molly is caught in a nightmare, hurtling toward a rendezvous with terror.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A terrific, suspenseful tale and an extraordinary heroine” – Cleveland Plain Dealer --Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Hill is probably one of the finest British mystery writers at work today” – Publishers Weekly --Publishers Weekly

“Quite out of the ordinary, enormously skillful, and absolutely alive” – Library Journal --Library Journal --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From AudioFile

The author of the Dalziel and Pascoe procedurals and the Felony and Mayhem mysteries creates a witty and crafty character in this stand-alone title. When Molly's husband abruptly disappears, she's shocked to learn from the British government that he was a Soviet spy and that their marriage was a cover. The only thing that could surprise her more is her discovery that's she's pregnant. Narrator Julia Barrie is simply splendid as she portrays a traditional woman who is catapulted into a most unusual situation. Soon British intelligence approaches Molly with a request to help them. Unwilling to be pushed around by her husband's former boss, Molly must develop some spunk, which Barrie delivers in spades. Barrie's portrayal of the boss is hilarious, especially when he continually calls Molly "Mrs." Further, Barrie's skill in depicting Molly's parents makes them even more appealing. An old-fashioned romance adds to the fun and enhances the mystery. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books (May 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446359858
• ISBN-13: 978-0446359856
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,431,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Reginald Hill has been widely published both in England and the United States. He received Britain's most coveted mystery writers award, the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award, as well as the Golden Dagger for his Dalziel/Pascoe series. He lives with his wife in Cumbria, England.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced plot + emotional character development -- This book does it all!, July 14, 2006

By 

S. Ford (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spy's Wife (Paperback)

This book was so much richer than I expected! I'm a big fan of the Pascoe and Dalziel series, which is also by Reginald Hill, and I really loved "Death in the Garden," which was also published by Felony & Mayhem Press. Since this book was by an author I knew I liked, and came from a publisher that had published I book I loved, I thought I'd take a chance. I am SO glad I did!

One of the oldest rules of writing is that you should start a scene at the last possible moment - you don't want to waste readers' time slogging through background stuff that isn't critical to the scene at hand. This is a lesson that Reginald Hill knows very well; the first scene of this book starts about ten minutes before A) Molly's husband rushes home from work in the middle of the day and disappears, and B) two men show up and tell her that her husband is a Russian (Soviet) spy. Suddenly, everything in Molly's life is turned upside down. It's as though she's been thrown out of an airplane and is in freefall. There are plenty of people - the British secret service, the Soviets, the press - who are happy to offer a parachute and say "Here, let me guide you to MY IDEA of a good landing." But the book is about Molly's finding her own wind-currents, finding her OWN way to HER idea of a safe landing. In that way, it has a lot in common with the wonderful "Death in the Garden," and it makes perfect sense that the same publisher is responsible for both of these good books.

This isn't to say that "The Spy's Wife" is just about a woman's emotional development: There is plenty of fast-paced plot, and plenty of hurdles for Molly to get over and mazes that she has to find a way out of. I loved this book.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Spy's Wife, March 24, 2007

By 

Rowland Griffith "Mysterious Reader" (Issaquah, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spy's Wife (Paperback)

I just rebought and reread this book and enjoyed it even more the second time in some years. Reginald Hill is a fine writer and this is great English suspense as opposed to the other mystery's blood and gore.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly satisfying yarn, August 14, 2007

By 

Blue in Washington "Barry Ballow" (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Spy's Wife (Paperback)

"The Spy's Wife" is ostensibly a mystery story, but it turns out to be more of a character study--with the subject of the title front and center throughout. This turns the piece into something more than a typical Cold War espionage potboiler. The novel's focus is on Molly Keatley, the badly betrayed wife of an alleged British turncoat, who evolves from a relatively passive soul at the moment of her betrayal into an angry, anything-but-passive woman by the end of the book. The story moves to a surprising and highly creative ending.

There is much humor and wisdom in this very enjoyable book. Highly recommended.