His Perfect Wife proves how unknowable those closest to us can be. “This smart, mirror maze of a thriller bristles with sharp edges, twisting familiar Gone Girl themes into Bell’s own intense creation.”—Kirkus Reviews Before she disappeared, Alexandra Southwood lived an average, happy life: devoted to the care and upkeep of her husband, Marc, and their two beautiful daughters. But now, held in a room against her will, Alexandra is forced to imagine how her family is coping in the wake of her disappearance. She finds solace in memories of their past, recalling her courtship with Marc and their marriage—all that he saved her from, all that she’s lost.
Marc’s pain is visceral. He thinks of nothing but Alexandra. Even when the police discover her bloody belongings, he cannot accept that she is gone. Marc is the only one who believes she’s still alive, and he channels his pain into action, embarking on his own journey to find his wife, one that will lead him to discover answers to questions he never wanted to ask.
Previously published as Exhibit Alexandra “An astutely written, complex debut
.”—The Guardian “Beautifully insidious, a novel that outwits expectation at every turn
.”—Francis Spufford, author ofGolden Hill “[A] provocative debut thriller . . . Bell’s daring performance can’t be ignored.”
—Publishers Weekly(starred review)
Praise for Exhibit Alexandra:“An astutely written, complex debut.”
— The Guardian"[A] provocative debut thriller...the full extent of [Bell's] audacity only becomes evident toward the end of this ingenious optical illusion...On one level a gripping page-turner and on another a disturbing exploration of identity, art, and decency, Bell's daring performance can't be ignored."
— Publishers Weekly (starred)“Bell gives us all the clues and dares us to follow them to the shocking end. This smart, mirror maze of a thriller bristles with sharp edges, twisting familiar
Gone Girl themes into Bell’s own intense creation.”
— Kirkus
“A moody, gut-wrenching tale of domestic ennui, feminism, and identity, recommended for literary-thriller devotees and book groups.”
— Booklist
“I adored
Exhibit Alexandra. I thought it was a smart, original page turner which really brought something different to the thriller genre. It kept me up half the night!”
— Gillian McAllister, author of Anything You Do Say
"I had such a range of emotions from curiosity mingled with dread and horror as I realised what was happening. An incredibly accomplished debut."
— Jenny Blackhurst, author of How I Lost You “Beautifully insidious, a novel that outwits expectation at every turn.”
— Francis Spufford, author of Golden Hill “A taut and spellbinding look at creative darkness and the price we pay when art bleeds into real life. I couldn't put this book down!”
— Amy Engel, author of The Roanoke Girls
“A smart, confident thriller,
Exhibit Alexandra asks searching questions about motherhood and identity, and keeps you guessing to the very last page. Natasha Bell writes thought-provokingly about home, love, belonging - and what else a woman might want from life.”
— Beth Underdown, author of The Witchfinder’s Sister"An intelligent, taut thriller which was beautifully written and compelling. I loved how the author played with the whole theme of life imitating art. Full of twists and turns I couldn’t put it down. I thought the ending was perfect!"
— Claire Douglas, author of Last Seen Alive
