The Second Wife

By: Kishan Paul

Narrated by: Shiromi Arserio

Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

Twenty-eight-year-old psychologist Alisha Dimarchi is abducted by an obsessed client and imprisoned in his Pakistani compound for over two years. Forced to change her name and live as his second wife, her life is filled with trauma and heartbreak. Thrust into a world of violence and oppression, Ally must fight not only to keep herself alive, but to protect the lives of the people she now considers family. At night, she retreats into her memories of the only man she has ever loved - a man she believes no longer loves her.

Thirty-four-year-old handsome surgeon David Dimarchi has spent the last two years mourning the disappearance of his wife. After a painful and isolated existence, he begins the process of healing. It is then he is visited by a stranger, who informs him that Ally is very much alive and needs his help. In a desperate attempt to save her, David enlists the help of a mercenary. Together they find themselves in the center of more than just a rescue mission. Will he be able to reach her in time, and, if he does, will she still want him?

©2015 Kishan Paul (P)2017 Tantor

Hold on to your seat this a heart winching ride

I read this book back in 2015 when it was first released, my thoughts on it hasn’t changed much at all. I will be redoing my review to incorporate my thoughts on the audio. I do have to add that this story is so different from the writing I am used to from this author it really delivers quite a push in so many ways. As the book takes off you will be going on an adventure with many twist and turns that will hold you on the edge making you want to cry, hold your breath and do a little cursing of your own. It is a wild ride of deceit, abuse, anger, hurt, pain, lose and adduction that will stay with you long after you put the audio/book down. I have only had one other audio affect me in the same way it too was just like The Second Wife both hold you spellbound giving you a listen you can’t put down.

I have never listened to any of Ms. Arserio’s work but was very delighted to find that I own a few of the books she narrator and can get the audio at a discount. What Ms. Arserio brings to the table is a delightful audio that holds you as spellbound as the author does. Her voice blends very well in this story really bring it to life making you feel you right in the room watching it happen and taking the fallout just as Alisha/Sarah is. There were not any background noises, no repeating of wording, if any breaks were taken I could not tell. I loved her accents that really make the story more believable. Her character voices are very smooth, interesting and really great. Her male voices really fit the characters as well as her female ones. You have no trouble knowing who is talking and just what they are feeling. I found myself pulling back as Ally went through her trials trying to hold on to anything that will help her get through to the next day. Have no doubts that this narrator really bring this story to life making it come alive in your mind. There are no words to tell you just how much her narration affected me making me feel just as if I was there looking in as the evil man takes his pleasure on a women he had no right to hold. I am totally blown away with her performance.

What the author brings to the table is an outstanding read of survival, getting even, taking back your life, facing your fears as you face your past which you have lost and learning to start over again when you do not know which way to turn. In my first review I said I can’t even image what Ally went through but after listening to the audio I felt every rape, hit etc she did. Not many things brings me to tears but as I write this I have tears in my eyes. I really didn’t know how much it affected me until I try to put in words my thoughts. What this audio does is put you in another’s person shoes living day to day in a country you do not knowing the language not having any friends to talk to, having people hate you for no other reason than you being there, you only a doctor you’re not sure of and a husband who isn't your husband that does cruel unspeakable things to you but at the same time believing you are there for his pleasure and you are happy about it, that your all lives are wonderful. Than to be taken, raped and beaten over and over again for little or no reason is just more than your mind can handle. Day after day watching an evil man using whatever he can to keep you in control letting him do what he wants, not trying to escape for fear of what he will do the ones you love.

Alisha is a sweet wonderful caring lady that gives so much of herself to everyone. She has/had a wonderful husband who adores her. A loving family that bring a smile to her face with their love. She has the best and everything any women could want until the day she walked outside and someone took her to a new country, killed people in front of her and became her worse nightmare. She prays for someone to come get her and take her home. She prays for the love of her life until the day she sees a picture and knows her life is over. She has nowhere to go, no one to love and no reason to live until the day she built her new family from those around her that are going through the same things she is. Will this nightmare ever end? Will she ever find a way out and a place to call hers?

David remembers it like it was yesterday even through it has been two years since the love of his life came up missing. He has turned over every stone, she is nowhere but in his dreams. Those wonderful dreams at night when he is asleep she comes to him he reaches out and touches her only to wake and find she is gone. After two long painful years he has found someone who can make him smile again. If she could only make him forget.....until the day a man came to him and said your wife is alive and is the second wife of another man. He leaves no stone unturned as he finds away to get to her and bring her home but will it be too late?

What made this such an outstanding listen/read for me is the plot and the writing style of this author and the way the narrator delivers each scene in her almost cold tones it makes chills rundown you spine. The audio adds so much really grabbing your attention and not letting it go until the last page. You will not want this story to end you will want to know what happens next, do they make it, will they be able to bring their selves out of the darkest time in their life or will the darkness pull them under?

This is a very believable plot with some wonderful caring characters. Some you will love and others you will want to kill yourself. If I could have gotten in the story I would have gladly have taken a few out. I was begging for the knife, a gun to be handed to me to just give me a few minutes with the ones that had taken her and changed that sweet smiling girl into a very cold person whose smiles never reaches her eyes, a person who bends to their will, giving others control. I promise she would be smiling from not only her eyes but her soul when I was done.

What I really like about this story is the author gives you all the fact without throwing them in your face. You know what happen and you know it is terrible but you do not read all the details. You can feel the pain of the victim as she is rape and beaten but it is told in a way that your mind can handle it. There are so many victims all because of one man who thinks he is better than anyone else that he deserves to have what he wants when he wants it. No one said no to him if they do he kills them or takes them. No one has been able to stop him. Alisha believes she can and will die trying, she has nothing to lose and nothing to live for. He must die, his evil must be stopped. There is many more beside her that have paid his price. She vows no more will die, no one will do anything against their will because of him, he will not take another and putting them through what he did her.

David isn't walking away he will make this man pay for what he has not only done to him but his wife, the women he adores, the love of his life. He will not leave Pakistani without her, no man will ever hurt his beloved Ally again, and those who have will pay dearly at his own hands. Now it becomes a fight to the death who will live and who will die.

This is one book I could not put down it held my interest like no other one has in awhile. There were times my mouth fell open my hand covered it. There were times I was close to tears as the author took me through the pages of hurt and pain. Many times I thought let me in a room with him and I will happily take him out. It has been a long time since a story has touched me so deep that I felt it all the way to my soul. I love the fact that it is told in a way that shouldn't trip any wires in your brain if you have been abused. It is a story you can relate to without having to read word for word what was done. This is one audio/book that will never get old it will always hold you spellbound as it did when you first read/listened to it. It is one you will want to listen to again and again. I think most who read this will not be able to walk away without being touched in some way. I know this review does not to justice to this book there are no words to say just how much it affected me, or what my feel are as you are taken to another place and another time living through your worst nightmare. I highly recommend you pick up The Second Wife and give it a read. I honestly can’t wait for the next book to come out in audio taking off where this one left off. It is a spellbound read as much as this one was.

Highly emotional and well done

This was an audio I did not want to stop listening to you. Every time I started and then had to stop I tried to find ways to prolong my commute or sneak extra time while folding the laundry and doing dishes. It’s an emotional story about the strength of love. The courage of not just the main character but all the supporting characters that’s proof that even when beat down if there’s love, there’s hope. The narrator did a great job of conveying the emotions through the timbre and nuances in her voice that where so necessary to keep me fully engaged. The author did a great job of character development and backstory. I did feel the ending was a little drawn out compared to the first 2/3 of the book. I understand the need to unfold the emotions of the process needed for the resolution but felt the audio change speeds unnecessarily. A great listen that I would highly recommend.

So good!

So good! Ok, so... the subject matter is pretty dark for a "romance", but doesn't cross any of my hard limits. I think of this as more of a suspense/spy/romance. While not at all like Paul's other books, I totally enjoyed this foray into human trafficking. Of course, there were moments when I wanted to quit out, and never return, but they were tempered by the fact that I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!! Brilliant writing, and I'm super happy that an actual therapist wrote it, so there was realism in the diagnoses. I listened to the audiobook, which was excellent! The accents were totally fab. Especially Ally's gradual cadence change, from American to Middle Eastern... beautiful.

Gutwrenching, emotional, beautiful!

The Second Wife is one of those rare novels that will lurk in the back of your mind for weeks. With stunning precision, Kishan Paul throws the reader into a world of clandestine organizations and brutal politics. The gripping characters wrench your heart and make you cringe with fear. A rollercoaster of suspense and emotion not to be missed.
I own the ebook and this narrator added another entire layer of emotion to the story. Well done! I would heartily recommend this book. I can't wait to hear the sequel.

Strong heroine and kind supporting characters

Story:
This book doesn’t gloss over the horrors Ally faces at the hands of her kidnapper. But she finds ways to mentally survive. The way her mind processes methods of safety is fascinating and truly a marker of her compassionate character.

Dave is unlike other heroes in that he’s not level headed or an alpha dog like Eddy. But despite that he will risk everything to make sure Ally is safe and bring her peace. He’s there for her for what really matters. I love how it’s not all sunshine and rainbow at the end, and the two have to fight to be together.

Overall, this story is filled with heartbreak, adventure, and healing.

Narrator:
It’s my first time listening to Shiromi Arserio and she does a fantastic job giving distinguishable voices to the male characters. Her character expressions felt genuine and portrayed the correct emotion apt for their corresponding scenes.

The second wife

This was an interesting book. It covers many situations...kidnapping, brutal abuse and post traumatic stress syndrome.