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The Dictator's Wife

A mesmerising novel of deception and BBC 2 Between the Covers Book Club pick

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 'I am not my husband. I am innocent. Do you believe me?'

The beautiful, enigmatic wife of a feared dictator stands trial for her late husband's crimes against the people. The world will finally know the truth. But whose?

'A gripping, intelligent, utterly-of-the-moment thriller' EMMA STONEX, bestselling author of The Lamplighters
'A remarkable new talent' ANTHONY HOROWITZ, bestselling author of A Line to Kill
'This book is magnificent' CHARLOTTE PHILBY, bestselling author of A Double Life
__________

WOMAN
I learned early in life how to survive. A skill that became vital in my position.

WIFE
I was given no power, yet I was expected to hold my own with the most powerful man in the country.

MOTHER OF THE NATION
My people were my children. I stood between him and them.

I am not the person they say I am.
I am not my husband.
I am innocent.

Do you believe me?

Visceral and thought provoking, haunting and heartbreaking, The Dictator's Wife will hold you in its grip until its powerful conclusion and keep you turning the pages long into the night...
__________

'A captivating story of women's power, love and secrets. As timely and profound as it is unforgettable. The ending left me breathless' LARA PRESCOTT, New York Times bestselling author of The Secrets We Kept
'A gripping and moving debut from a talent to watch' HARLAN COBEN
'A fascinating exploration of absolute power, female agency and the complexities of complicity. Atmospheric, claustrophobic and so elegantly written' ELLERY LLOYD
'A darkly atmospheric, rich, compulsive and page-turning read' KATE HAMER
'One of the most original debuts I have read' DAISY GOODWIN
'Excellent... Horrifying and immersive with strong characterisation and atmosphere' HARRIET TYCE
'Engrossing, evocative, chillingly claustrophobic and wonderfully written' KAREN HAMILTON
'A thrilling novel' OLIVIA VINALL

(P)2022 Headline Publishing Group Limited©2022 Freya Berry Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Marriage Fiction Crime Thriller Law
All stars
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Unbelievably well crafted story with fleshed out characters that takes you on a journey filled with detail and twists and turns that you never cannot ever see coming. A book everyone should read and frankly ought to be required reading in schools. Freya Berry’s new book The Birdcage is as different in subject as you can get, but still full of the same wonderful characters, stories and those twists and turns. I cannot recommend her books enough and I am eagerly waiting for her third book…

Impossible to stop listening to!!

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I thoroughly enjoyed this look at a fictional state’s reverence for, and rejection of, their Leader’s wife. Mother, Dupe, Widow or Gangster. It’s set in Eastern Europe after a revolution which could see her hanged but the issues and questions are relevant the world over.
The plot revolves around a team of lawyers preparing the former First Lady’s defence against charges of stealing from her nation. She’s a slippery character but I have to confess I failed to see the charm she’s supposed to have worked on others. There’s a decidedly flabby bit in the middle where the heroine has sex then just sort of decides not to bother any more and the heroine’s father’s explanation of her relationship with her mother is unconvincing at best but those things aside, I really enjoyed the evidence discovery and historical elements. Perhaps it might have worked better for me as a thriller but that’s really for the author to choose!

Excellent debut

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Really dragged - especially the reader . Read the first hour several times over a long period as just couldn’t engage

The big reveal was a damp squib

The end was dull

Wasted hours

Most full book for a while

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Needed a better editor
Too many irrelevant characters and not enough compassion between the main players

Engaging if too long

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utterly incredible. must must must listen to or read. cannot heap higher praise on to this

wonderful

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