A middle-aged man in the early 1900s, Ralph Truitt is looking for a competent, simple woman to be his companion. So when he places an ad in the paper for “a reliable wife,” he is not expecting it to be answered by the young, beautiful, and devious Catherine Land. But lust, loneliness, and Catherine’s craftiness lead to Ralph’s decision to marry her, despite his misgivings. And that’s when everything starts to go wrong.

This novel is dark, moody, and filled with tension. The writing is lyrical and raw, and the characters are flawed and exciting. While some readers won’t enjoy the constant laying bare of characters’ internal thoughts and feelings, I enjoyed the psychological transparency. But don’t get the wrong idea: it’s not just a bunch of diary entries strung together; the plot is fierce and surprised me quite a few times. I could not put this book down.