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Contents ( 45)
  1. Prologue
  2. One
  3. Two
  4. Three
  5. Four
  6. Five
  7. Six
  8. Seven
  9. Eight
  10. Nine
  11. Ten
  12. Eleven
  13. Twelve
  14. Thirteen
  15. Fourteen
  16. Fifteen
  17. Sixteen
  18. Seventeen
  19. Eighteen
  20. Nineteen
  21. Twenty
  22. Twenty-One
  23. Twenty-Two
  24. Twenty-Three
  25. Twenty-Four
  26. Twenty-Five
  27. Twenty-Six
  28. Twenty-Seven
  29. Twenty-Eight
  30. Twenty-Nine
  31. Thirty
  32. Thirty-One
  33. Thirty-Two
  34. Thirty-Three
  35. Thirty-Four
  36. Thirty-Five
  37. Thirty-Six
  38. Thirty-Seven
  39. Thirty-Eight
  40. Thirty-Nine
  41. Forty
  42. Forty-One
  43. Forty-Two
  44. Four months later...
  45. Acknowledgments

A mention and hello to my local book group: Danielle, Jemma, Jo, Linda, Lindsay, Steph and Vicki.

A friend of mine, Sharon, wanted “to be in the book,” so her name features as part of the novel’s book club.

To all my friends who make me laugh and spread the word, too many to list individually, I want you to know that I appreciate it. I hope I tell you.

Thank you, of course, to my mum, dad and sister, my in-laws, and my wider extended family. Finally, thank you to my husband and sons, who have to live in the same house as me when I’m in my own thoughts and inhabiting a different world. Their love and pride in what I do mean everything.

The
LAST
WIFE

KAREN HAMILTON

Reader’s Guide

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Questions for Discussion

  1. What did you make of Marie? Hero, victim or villain? Or somewhere in between? Did you have sympathy for her? Why or why not?
  2. Marie and Nina both keep secrets from each other—with disastrous results. Think of a time you kept a secret from a friend. How did it impact your relationship?
  3. Many people have ambivalent feelings about family. Why do you think Marie feels so trapped by how her relationship with Stuart has unfolded?
  4. This novel takes place in a small village, and everyone seems to know everyone else’s business. What is the role of community in this novel?
  5. Think of a time you wanted something very badly. How did it make you feel, and how did it affect your life?
  6. Do you think that Nina was right to keep the truth about Charlie from Marie? Why or why not?
  7. Reflect on Marie’s career as a photographer. At the beginning of the story, she says, “The camera does lie.” What does this mean, and how does this sentiment play into the story?
  8. Marie is desperate for children of her own, and this desire drives her to extreme ends. Can you think of other stories in which the desire for children and/or family leads someone to disregard their own moral compass?
  9. What do you make of Camilla’s decision to return to the UK? Do you think she made the right decision? Why or why not?
  10. How does envy function in this story?

If you enjoyed this book, keep reading for a preview of The Ex-Husband, the next suspense novel from Karen Hamilton.

THEN

Eighteen Months Ago Barbados

A TIP-OFF. THAT COULD BE THE ONLY EXPLANATION.

Dreaded realization filtered through the rows of passengers and crew in the cruise terminal via mutters about delays intermingled with curiosity and general resignation at the inevitable holdup. Sickening dread roiled deep in my gut. Surreptitiously, I glanced back at the queue snaking behind me. Still no sign of Sam. Where was he?

The person in front of me took a step forward, pushing his backpack with a foot. Reluctantly, I followed.

Sam had only darted back to the ship to pick up his watch, carelessly left beside the basin in his cabin. It should have taken him fifteen minutes—twenty max. He had insisted that I save our place in the line to save time. Our f light to freedom was less than four hours away.