The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress

A Novel

By: Ariel Lawhon

Narrated by: Ann Marie Lee

Length: 12 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

A tantalizing reimagining of a scandalous mystery that rocked the nation in 1930 - Justice Joseph Crater's infamous disappearance - as seen through the eyes of the three women who knew him best.

They say behind every great man, there's a woman. In this case, there are three. Stella Crater, the judge's wife, is the picture of propriety draped in long pearls and the latest Chanel. Ritzi, a leggy showgirl with Broadway aspirations, thinks moonlighting in the judge's bed is the quickest way off the chorus line. Maria Simon, the dutiful maid, has the judge to thank for her husband's recent promotion to detective in the NYPD. Meanwhile, Crater is equally indebted to Tammany Hall leaders and the city's most notorious gangster, Owney "The Killer" Madden.

On a sultry summer night, as rumors circulate about the judge's involvement in wide-scale political corruption, the Honorable Joseph Crater steps into a cab and disappears without a trace. Or does he?

©2014 Ariel Lawhon (P)2014 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Lee's consistent and distinct vocalizations, complete with a variety of accents and dialects, guide listeners through this absorbing story.... Lee's careful use of emphasis and drama leaves it up to listeners to decide whom to trust." ( AudioFile)

It’s ok

I tried to follow story and started to like it but am confused with the ending and feel I’m left hanging. The narration was ok - her voice is beautiful but had a hard time figuring out which characters were talking as not much different.

The surprise is unexpected

I thought the reader was quite good at the women’s voices but struggled with the men’s. That is, except for Owney Madden. Quite Liverpudlian. I was surprised so far into the story the details were still coming out. I loved the ending. It was fitting. Enjoy!!

The end will blow your mind!

Loved this book from start to finish. Ariel, please bring us more like this. Incredible story with a great twist at the end.

Entertaining Listen for NYC History Fans

Two caveats for anyone considering this audio book:

1) If you don't have a particular interest in New York City history and/or the Jazz Age/Prohibition era, the story alone might not be enough to keep your interest. For me, much of the pleasure from this book was derived from the setting and the notorious cast of real-life characters.

2) The story is told out of chronological sequence, so you'll need to pay attention to the month and day at the beginning of each chapter. (I wish I'd realized this from the start--it's easy to miss at first when listening instead of seeing the chapter headings in print.)

Overall, Ariel Lawhon weaves a nice narrative and Ann Marie Lee does a masterful job of bringing the characters to life, especially Stella Crater and Sally Lou Ritz. (The transition from the cut-glass elegance of Stella to the street-smart showgirl of Sally is truly impressive!)
The time-shifting narrative is a little hokey and clunky at times but on the whole I think it was effective in making the progression of the story more interesting.
And Lawhon's final reveal, while highly improbable, is still satisfying enough for me to hope it's actually true!

Great characters and twists!

I had a hard time putting this book down, well written and good attention to details. Loved the use of flash backs and present tense.

Fabulous Story!

Murder, intrigue, romance depicting 1930s America in New York City. I had a hard time walking away from the book. A must read.

What an Incredible Novel!

Lawhon delivers a dazzling story of the politically powerful elite, the lifestyles of Broadway showgirls, and gangsters that controlled both in the 1930s. This fascinating novel will hold you in its grips long after you read the last page.

Excellent novel

This is a fascinating twisty turvy story about a true scandal in history in the new government / gangster time of the 1930s , well written and executed/ performed extremely well. I highly recommend the book

Real life soap opera

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes, this book kept my interest .

What other book might you compare The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress to and why?

Great gatsby...mainly because of the time period and scandal.

Have you listened to any of Ann Marie Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

loved the women!

Had a good story, that kept you going the whole time, not like many where you're marking time to get to the part you knew all along was coming.