The Third Wife [Mass Market Paperback]

Jasmine Cresswell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002

On her wedding night, seventeen-year-old Anna Langtry stole her husband's car and fled into the darkness, racing toward freedom. She felt only desperation to escape the nightmare of her Colorado home -- an isolated rural community that condoned her forced polygamous marriage to become one man's third wife.Fifteen years later, Anna is working as a federal probation officer in Denver. A fighter for the underdog, even she cannot escape the cynicism of her profession. She doesn't expect much from her newest parolee, just the usual sob story about being innocent and misunderstood. But Joe Mackenzie is different.

A white-collar criminal convicted of embezzlement, Joe is tough, quiet, determined . . . and innocent. Now he's looking for justice. And he's about to pull Anna into his world, one that will lead her back to the past she'd left behind -- one that will reach out to ensnare them both in its dangerous secrets and deadly schemes, where the passion between them is threatened by the grim reach of murder.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Mira (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551669315
• ISBN-13: 978-1551669311
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #807,208 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Memorable romantic suspense -- Highly recommended, October 24, 2002

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Third Wife (Mass Market Paperback)

Seventeen-year-old Anna Langtry steals her groom's car on their wedding night, fleeing southwestern Colorado forever. She was Caleb Welks' third wife, in a small town of Alana Springs where members of True Life Later Day saints practice polygamy. The marriage was arranged by her step-father with her mother's approval, and no one in her small community would have supported her flight. With only $420 and a determination to survive she heads toward death or freedom.

Fifteen years later Anna has become a parole officer, maintaining her optimistic nature even while dealing with the dregs of society. On a morning already gone woefully wrong, Joe Mackenzie offends Anna from the moment he enters her office. She suspects his attitude has nothing to do with fear or humiliation, but with learning how to hid every trace of emotion in a bid for survival. He had been paroled after serving four years of his six year sentence for embezzlement. Anna expects the usual story of being misunderstood and innocent. She does not expect to come to believe it. Moreover, she never expects Joe to lead her life full circle, back to the world she left behind.

Author Jasmine Cresswell weaves a stunning tale of betrayal and subterfuge in THE THIRD WIFE. Anna's background will prove fascinating to readers, and Cresswell's explanation for the motivation for women to remain within such a restrictive environment is surprisingly gentle. Anna comes to accept that some women choose that lifestyle, even though her own rebelliousness could never tolerate such a choice. Joe's enigmatic personality teases the readers as we long for the explanation we know is coming. And even as readers become suspicious of the connections that bind Anna and Joe, the marvelous details and subtle plot twists result in a stunning denouncement. Some readers may feel that the pacing is a bit slow initially, but those readers who enjoy the subtle weaving of a master craftsman will savor the building tension. A remarkable read that remain long after the last page is turned, THE THIRD WIFE comes highly recommended.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How many stars?, June 15, 2005

By 

Jorge Frid (Mexico City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Third Wife (Mass Market Paperback)

1 Since you open this book you will be in the plot not knowing whom to believe, Anna or Joe.

2 You'll ask yourself about polygamy, pros and cons (pros if you're a man, cons if you're a woman).

3 You'll think twice before confide your secrets to your very best friend.

4 You'll be torn between ending the book or savoring a little bit more not wanting to end it.

5 You'll have no clue, not even an inkling of who are the bad guys until the last page.

6 You'll have a great time reading this excellent book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sloooow start; BIG finish, April 10, 2007

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Third Wife (Mass Market Paperback)

Teen Anna Langtry fled her much older polygamist husband (and step-uncle) Caleb, hoping never to return to the family who betrayed her. Fast forward 15 years, and Anna is now a federal probation officer based in Denver. She has seen it all and yet despite her cynicism and belief that her new charge, confessed embezzler Joe MacKenzie will give her yet another sob story, she finds that she actually believes him and wants to help prove his innocence. But it means returning to the home town she fled, and facing unwanted secrets that'll inevitably come to the surface.

Creswell knows how to weave a good mystery and this one is no exception. Though it initially starts out slow laying the groundwork and setting up the plot, the story is soon running at a breakneck speed, building plenty of tension with a stunning and cathartic ending. Joe is a stunning hero, with Caleb as a stunning (and very scary) nemesis.