The Third Mrs. Durst

by Ann Aguirre

Overview

A twisted Cinderella story from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Ann Aguirre

Marlena Altizer Durst lives in her husband's shadow. He controls her every move—what she wears, the food she eats, and the friends she's allowed to make. If she disobeys, there are...consequences. And he has all the power.

To outsiders, it seems that she leads a fairy-tale life. But nobody ever wonders if Cinderella was happy after she married the prince. Marlena has traded freedom and safety for luxurious imprisonment, and most days, that seems like a bad bargain. Death may be the only exit she's allowed. Just like his first wife. And his second. Unless she flips the script.

Praise:

"The Third Mrs. Durst is a slow, dark burn that leads to a fantastic explosion of an ending."—Victoria Helen Stone, bestselling author of Jane Doe

Product Details

BN ID:	2940165693854
Publisher:	Ann Aguirre
Publication date:	07/30/2021
Sold by:	Draft2Digital
Format:	eBook
File size:	520 KB

About the Author

Ann Aguirre (Mexico) is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and RITA winner with a degree in English Literature. She writes all kinds of genre fiction for adults and teens, and has published forty-two novels and novellas with Penguin, Macmillan, Harlequin, and others.

Editorial Reviews

"Aguirre inserts twists and turns that keep the pages turning ... All of Aguirre's positive characters are beautiful, strong, and resilient."—New York Journal of Books

"The ultimate duel: a humming, intelligent woman versus a violent husband who believes that he is the strongest one in the relationship. This is one you must 'see' with your own eyes. It's an experience you won't forget."—Suspense Magazine

"The plot steadily builds suspense chapter by chapter, making for a gripping thriller anchored by a protagonist readers can really root for."—Mystery Scene

"The Third Mrs. Durst is a slow, dark burn that leads to a fantastic explosion of an ending."—Victoria Helen Stone, bestselling author of Jane Doe

"A quickly spun and lively thriller after the opening chapters, and has the feel of a Darkly Dreaming Dexter in a slinky dress."—Kingdom Books

From the Publisher

2019-05-13
A beautiful girl from the wrong side of the tracks marries into wealth—but is her husband the dream that he seems?

Marlena Altizer grew up just one of a dozen siblings with a deadbeat mom in middle-of-nowhere Kentucky. When she runs away at 16 and ends up working as an increasingly popular model, things seem to have turned her way. She catches the eye of Michael Durst, a wealthy man who is willing to give her everything, though he seems a bit controlling. Marrying into wealth has provided Marlena the security she always wanted, but this isn't the Cinderella story it seems. Michael's two previous wives both died, one from an accident and the other by suicide, and it's starting to seem these might not be the unexpected tragedies they appeared to be. Aguirre has deftly set the trap for Marlena, and each scene is a cat-and-mouse game as we wait to see which member of the couple will come out on top. The weakness of the book is that, though it's told from Marlena's perspective, halfway through it becomes clear that she knows things she never shared with the reader. Then there's a whole other undercurrent that seemingly appears out of nowhere, throwing the reader off pace. Earlier hints would have made the transition less awkward. The only fully realized character here is Marlena, and suddenly she's a question mark, as well. The mystery is well constructed but hard to follow. It just feels like something's missing.

A mystery becomes a tale of revenge, though it may lose the reader along the way.

Kirkus Reviews