Spouse Trap

by Cynthia Hamilton

This book is not similar to most of the books I recommend, but after a dry spell of one boring but well reviewed novel after another, I was pleasantly surprised by this procedural mystery/crime novel. I couldn’t put it down.

The books starts out with a wealthy and prominent woman waking up naked and raped in a hotel room. She finds a recording of her being ravaged by an unknown man whose face cannot be seen. Madeline has no memory of how she got into this room. She started the night in the ballroom overseeing a fund raiser that she had organized. It was attended by the wealthy elite of Santa Barbara. The last thing she remembers is her husband yelling at her, calling her a cheating slut and then storming out of the hotel. Nothing like this had ever happened in their entire 14 year marriage. Madeline and her wealthy business man husband have lived and loved happily in a mansion in Santa Barbara, or so she thought.

Completely disorientated and confused after coming to in the hotel room, she drives to their beach house. Madeline has no idea what happened. She later finds her husband, Stephen, at their home, and asks him about the night. He shows her 10 large photos of her naked in the arms of an unkown man. He claims this proves she is a cheating whore, and demands a divorce. She tries to explain, but Stephen refuses to believe her. Stephen then tells her to leave the house by the end of the weekend and storms out saying he’s going to Dallas, but she discovers later that he went to Boston.

Madeline decides to find out who molested her and then recorded the incident. She hires Burt Latham, a private detective, to investigate who drugged and raped her so she can prove to her husband that she didn’t cheat on him, and how much she wants to save their 14 year marriage. It begins to dawn on her, however, that there may be something fishy going on, since the only clause in their prenuptial agreement is adultery.

She desperatly secures as many assets as she can and leaves her home. Madeline is shocked as she and Detective Burt discover and uncover many sordid facts about her husband and his business. Did she ever really know him? The rest of the book is a fast paced uncovering of just how dispicable and dishonest her not so loving husband has been. I will not reveal the ending, but I bet you won’t be able to put The Spouse Trap down. I will say that there are some sad consequences, but a surprising twist at the end.

ebook can be purchased on Amazon