The Wife, the Maid and the Mistress

FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE FROZEN RIVER, BASED ON A TWISTED TRUE MURDER MYSTERY 'Inspired by a real-life unsolved mystery, this mesmerizing novel features characters that make a lasting impression' People 'This fun, fast-paced novel has it all: speakeasies, gangsters, show girls, and not one, not two, but three women scorned. A real page-turner' Melanie Benjamin, bestselling author of  The Aviator's Wife 'Vivid and unsettling, with a finale as startling as the pop of a gun' Caroline Leavitt, bestselling author of  Pictures of You  One summer night in 1930, Judge Joseph Crater steps into a New York City cab and is never heard from again. Behind this great man are three women, each with her own tale to tell: Stella, his fashionable wife, the picture of propriety; Maria, their steadfast maid, indebted to the judge; and Ritzi, his showgirl mistress, willing to seize any chance to break out of the chorus line. As the twisted truth emerges, Ariel Lawhon's wickedly entertaining debut mystery transports us into the smoky jazz clubs, the seedy backstage dressing rooms, and the shadowy streets beneath the Art Deco skyline. FIVE STAR RAVE READER REVIEWS - 'You will be drawn into the GLITZ, the GLAMOUR, and the CORRUPTION of the 1930's' - 'Taut, tense and RIVETING' - 'GO. READ. IT ... The book made me cry' - 'THE PERFECT BLEND of HISTORICAL MYSTERY, CRIME FICTION, and CHARACTER-DRIVEN' - 'FASCINATING page-turner ... Completely ABSORBING' - 'Grab a copy, pour a glass of champagne, and prepare to TRAVEL BACK TO NOIR 1930's New York'

ARIEL LAWHON is a critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction. Her books have been translated into numerous languages. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and four sons.