Review: The Twilight Wife

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Twilight Wife by A.J. Banner
Published by Touchstone on December 27th 2016
Pages: 304
Format: Physical ARC
Source: Publisher
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From bestselling author A.J. Banner comes a dazzling new novel of psychological suspense in the vein of S.J. Watson’s Before I Go to Sleep and Mary Kubica’s The Good Girl that questions just how much we can trust the people around us.
Thirty-four-year-old marine biologist Kyra Winthrop remembers nothing about the diving accident that left her with a complex form of memory loss. With only brief flashes of the last few years of her life, her world has narrowed to a few close friendships on the island where she lives with her devoted husband, Jacob.
But all is not what it seems. Kyra begins to have visions—or are they memories?—of a rocky marriage, broken promises, and cryptic relationships with the island residents, whom she believes to be her friends.
As Kyra races to uncover her past, the truth becomes a terrifying nightmare. A twisty, immersive thriller, The Twilight Wife will keep readers enthralled through the final, shocking twist.

The Twilight Wife is a complex novel about secrets, married life and obsession.

The narrative develops an initially simplistic tale of a woman who survived a diving accident and suffers from amnesia, but the tale quickly begins to unfold deep complexities that alter Kyra’s understanding of who she is, what her life was like and slowly the edges of her idyllic relationship with her husband unravels. A wonderful tale of the complexities of married life and what makes us individuals; The Twilight Wife is an intense, haunting and enthralling read.

In addition to being a deliciously complex novel about personal secrets, The Twilight Wife is a novel complete with beautiful prose. The author has skill and ability to weave emotion and circumstance into the very fabric of Mystic Island; linking setting and emotion to create something profound. The Twilight Wife is a novel that masterfully develops mood and tone through the use of carefully and beautifully crafted descriptions of marine life, island living and the mundane of domestic life.

“I came down to the water’s edge today, to see if I could conjure a memory, but instead I found this rare, healthy sea star, untouched by the mysterious wasting disease ravaging sea stars along the west coast. Here is this bright orange miracle, all five arms intact. I suppose I’m a miracle, too, still alive and intact after fracturing my skull in a diving accident three months ago.” The Twilight Wife, excerpt from Simon&Schuster.

Utilizing imagery and sense, the story is about more than Kyra’s struggle for remembrance, but about her love for marine life which overrides every other memory. Sometimes, the things in life that keep us on our path are not the people who surround us or our convictions, but the things that bring passion into our lives. The Twilight Wife is deeply engrossing and leaves the reader thinking well after the completion of the novel. The strong emotional elements and the haunting narrative of Kyra’s struggle to reclaim who she was before her accident – or was that really who she was? – leaves the reader pondering personal identity and raises questions about trust when we are most vulnerable.

To be honest, upon completion of The Twilight Wife, I found the mystery to be outlandish and movie-esque. Upon reflection during the following week, I began to appreciate the complexity of the secrets Banner weaved into her narrative and appreciate the deeper message of humanity. We are more than just our memories: we are our passions and our connections to other human beings. In the end, Kyra unravels the mystery behind her accident and confronts the horrors of her past in order to return to her true self. The Twilight Wife is a novel about truth, perseverance and focuses on the strength of the human spirit in the face of..well..memory loss.

This novel will appeal to readers who enjoy novels about family drama, dark secrets and explosive endings. The Twilight Wife is reminiscent of Jodi Picoult with a flair for the poetic and an eye for captivating characters. A strong second novel for a new author that is truly a literary marvel with realistic characters, a dark mystery and masterful subtlety. The Twilight Wife is a treasure and requires a better review than what I can write. The Twilight Wife a rare novel that captures emotion, situation and nuance to create something thrilling and enthralling. Without a doubt, this is one of 2016’s best novels, and I cannot wait to see what is next for A.J. Banner.

“If I stand on the deck, I hear the rush of wind, the rhythm of the surf, the muted chirping of birds in the underbrush. There are no cars on this dead-and unspoken longing rising inside me—for what, I’m not sure.If I stand on the deck, I hear the rush of wind, the rhythm of the surf, the muted chirping of birds in the underbrush. There are no cars on this dead-end road, no television, no neighbors. Since we’ve been here, I have not even heard the drone of a distant airplane. At night, far. from the city lights, the stars crowd into a spectacular display in the inky dome of sky. The sheer wildness of this island leaves me breathless.” The Twilight Wife, excerpt from Simon&Schuster.