
Member Reviews

The three women, Beverley, Elsie, and Margot, forge an unexpected friendship, which meets in California summer of 1966. They have one dark secret, which is that all were married to famous serial killers. Now they try to make lives of their own out of what the public contempt and the guilt of their husbands' actions entail. They are beginning to walk cautiously into self-discovery through reflection now that a wave of new murders is jolting the area.
The sacrifices and stringing of lives have the book as its centrepiece: Beverley is always critical and controlling, trying to whip her chaotic family into some sort of order and shielding her children from their past. Respect and independence are what Elsie wants; she is fighting for her place in a testosterone-driven newsroom. Margot is like some glamorously bold figures who receive equanimity on her courageous journey to self-definition from the shame that she absorbs. Therefore, what they live through together would provide a protective environment for them in vulnerable periods. These women's intense, funny, and real lives are overlaid by the influences of family, friends, and the community, while society's stereotypes add to the burden.
The book raises issues of confidence and betrayal, identity against image, and the consequences of public opinion. Arnott deals with guilt by that of the accused and that of society, which is implicated in it. The women's troubles with stigma correlate to current discussions on victimhood, mental health, and aid for the marginalized. It is set against a California of the 1960s, with all sunny waylaid by a darker underbelly, making for great tension between what seems and what is.
Arnott's writing is clear and engaging, but she doesn't romanticize. Instead, she balances the harsh realities of the crimes with intimate moments. The narrative shifts between the three women's perspectives, providing a textured understanding of their emotions and enhancing suspense and depth. The tone alternates skillfully between sadness and wit, reflecting the women's complex experience. The increasing tension provides a gripping reading experience.
On a personal level, the book captures the journey of living after horror without sensationalizing it, offering points of empathy for readers. These women's stories offer both heartbreak and a glimmer of hope, allowing readers to ponder how they find life and love in a culture that stigmatizes and excludes them.
Arnott has a way with creating 1960s California, presenting its action-packed moments with snippets of cheerier times. It depicts women struggling to heal, stressing how costly, complex, and hard it entails, while at the same time indicating the strength that comes from connecting and facing hard truths.
Ultimately, it is a story that makes you reflect on unforeseen consequences, the strength of female friendships, and finding one's voice in the hardest of times. Readers are challenged to consider societal judgments and how life goes on for those who survive the unthinkable.