How to Be A Good Wife

Marta is unhappy, and her husband Hector blames empty nest syndrome, boredom, and her vivid imagination. He tells her that if only she would take her pills, then everything would be okay. Although Marta smiles at her husband and pretends to comply, she spits the pills back out when he's not looking. As the novel progresses, we begin to understand Marta's suspicions - and when the medication wears off and her memories start to return, they are very nasty indeed. But how can she tell the difference between a true memory and paranoid imaginings? Is the enemy Marta's husband, or her own mind?

How to be a Good Wife is a fast, compelling read, and is best read in one sitting. At times it feels a little repetitive, and the reader often figures out what's happening before Marta does, which can be frustrating. Perhaps the novel could have had an even stronger impact as a short story or novella.

Despite this, How to be a Good Wife is hugely compelling, chilling and multi-layered. The clean, unfussy prose lets Marta's story take the spotlight, and the setting is beautifully evoked. Rather than providing easy answers, author Emma Chapman ultimately allows the reader to draw their own conclusions.