The Spy's Wife

by Reginald Hill

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Fiction. Mystery. HTML:A "splendidly sharp . . . mix of espionage, wifely identity crisis, and unlikely romance" by the author of the Dalziel and Pascoe mysteries (Kirkus Reviews). Best known for his Dalziel and Pascoe novels, which were adapted into a hit BBC series, Reginald Hill proves himself to be a "master of . . . cerebral puzzle mysteries" in his stand-alone thrillers as well—now available as ebooks (The New York Times). Molly Keatley is a happy housewife living comfortably show more day-to-day in Westcliff-on-Sea. That changes in a heartbeat when her husband, Sam, grabs his suitcase, offers a hurried "I love you," sprints out the door, and disappears from her life. Then, a British agent invites himself in with shattering news: Sam is a Soviet spy and traitor. And his secrets don't end there. Though her dream life has been upended by an unforgivable betrayal, Molly won't be intimidated. Not by Sam's unstable mistress, not by British Intelligence, nor by Sam's colleagues, who are watching every move she makes. But when she receives a surreptitious invitation from Sam to join him in Bucharest, Molly's life will change once again as she discovers the nature of his lies, the consequences of deception, and the truth about her own desires. Reginald Hill has crafted a "terrific, suspenseful tale and an extraordinary heroine" (Cleveland Plain-Dealer). show less

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1 review
An audio review. This unabridged book was beautifully narrated, but the reader had plenty of good material to work with. She really brought to life the characters of Molly, her staid mother and father, her former boyfriend Trevor, the reporter who is trying to scoop the story of the spy who betrayed his country, and Aspinall and Monk, the British agents who are trying to track her husband down.

The story has plenty of twists and turns. I thought it was perhaps a bit dated, coming from a period when British writers were reflecting a national preoccupation with Cold War politics, spies, and double agents. Hill has focussed on this in some of his other books: Traitor's Blood (1983); DEATH OF A DORMOUSE (1987, writing as Patrick Ruell); and show more THERE ARE NO GHOSTS IN THE SOVIET UNION (a set of short stories published in 1987).

By mid way through the novel I had some inkling of how Molly's dilemma might resolve itself, but did not stop me from enjoying what was basically a good reading of a well plotted book.
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½

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Author Information

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84+ Works 18,495 Members
Reginald Hill has received Britain's most coveted mystery writers award, the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award, as well as the Golden Dagger, for his Dalziel/Pascoe series. (Publisher Provided) Reginald Hill was born in Hartlepool, England on April 3, 1936. He received an English degree from St. Catherine's College, Oxford University and worked as a show more teacher until 1980, when he retired to become a full-time writer. His first novel, A Clubbable Woman, was published in 1970. During his lifetime, he wrote over 50 books that range from historical novels to science fiction including Fell of Dark, No Man's Land, The Spy's Wife, and The Woodcutter. He was best known for the Dalziel and Pascoe series and the Joe Sixsmith series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms of Patrick Ruell, Dick Morland, and Charles Underhill. He received the 1990 Golden Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel of the Year for Bones and Silence and the 1995 Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for lifetime achievement. He died from a brain tumor on January 12, 2012 at the age of 75. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

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Awards

Common Knowledge

Canonical title
The Spy's Wife
Original publication date
1980
People/Characters
Molly Keatley; Sam Keatley; Mrs. Haddington; Mr. Monk; Ivor Haddington; Aspinall (show all 10); Wallace; Sally Ann Hibbert; Trevor Challenger; Jennifer Challenger
Important places
Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, UK; London, England, UK; Bucharest, Romania
First words
At nine o'clock on an early September day of mist and promise, Molly Keatley was washing the breakfast dishes when she heard the front door open.
Original language
English, UK

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, Mystery
DDC/MDS
823.914Literature & rhetoricEnglish & Old English literaturesEnglish fiction1900-1901-19991945-1999
LCC
PR6058 .I448 .S8Language and LiteratureEnglishEnglish Literature1961-2000
BISAC

Statistics

Members
151
Popularity
216,186
Reviews
1
Rating
½ (3.48)
Languages
Danish, English
Media
Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
17
ASINs
2