The Man Who Fell in Love With His Wife - Book Review

The cover art of “The Man Who Fell In Love With His Wife” tantalizes the reader with a sexy woman’s dress juxtaposition with tools of the spy trade.  Patrick Oster, author of six additional cyber-thrillers, spy, and espionage novels, has created a story in a genre of its own by introducing a surprising, suspenseful romantic element into a crime story.

Duncan MacEwen is a freelance photographer who is often overseas on assignment. Returning home, he is shocked to learn that his beautiful wife was killed in an automobile accident. Going through her belongings, he discovers hidden, unexplainable items that shock his remorse into doubt. Why did she have multiple passports with her picture but in different names? A gun and ammunition and stacks of bound hundred-dollar bills? Who was this woman he had been married to for ten years? Had his wife been involved in covert espionage?  Was she a spy? A white hat or a black hat undercover agent? The book may cause the reader to start questioning the meaning of their spouse's behavior.

Duncan's mourning turns to investigation.  In his desperate search for her real or secret life, he's led into the underworld. As the innocent and naive, distraught husband, he becomes involved with cyber hackers, clandestine intelligence spies, and intricately interwoven backstories, he discovers that he is being followed. His house is broken into, his phone is compromised, and there is an assassination attempt. Duncan quietly searches for answers by making "to-do" lists as questions reveal more questions. 

Reconciled with a growing list of condemning facts, Duncan questions whether trust involves ignorance.  Duncan's journey to uncover his wife's secret life reveals more significant themes of trust and betrayal. As he uncovers more shocking revelations about her past, he questions whether their entire relationship was based on lies and deceit. This raises the question of how much we truly know about our loved ones and whether complete trust is possible in a relationship.

In today's world, where technology allows for easy deception and manipulation, it becomes increasingly difficult to trust someone entirely. The book explores these issues through Duncan's experiences as he navigates through a web of lies and hidden agendas.

The conclusion is surprising and empathetic. More than an entertaining story, this novel will have the reader questioning the past lives of associates and reevaluating the Trust Factor in relationships.