The Watchful Wife

The Watchful Wife is a gripping novel about love, faith, and courage, exploring the destructive power of an allegation. Ellen, raised in a strict religious household, is transformed by her relationship with Gordon, a fellow teacher, but their world is turned upside down when Gordon is accused of a shocking crime. Ellen refuses to believe Gordon is guilty and fights to protect him, but at what cost? Leal's novel is a page-turner with emotional depth, nuance, and moral complexity, featuring a strong and relatable protagonist.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 04 July 2023
Publisher: Allen & Unwin

The Watchful Wife is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of love, faith, and courage. Written by bestselling author Suzanne Leal, the book follows the story of Ellen, a woman who is forced to confront her beliefs and values when her husband, Gordon, is accused of a shocking crime. Ellen's journey takes her on a tumultuous path as she struggles to protect him and maintain her own sense of self. The Watchful Wife is a story of unshakeable belief and unbending faith. As our crisp, clear-eyed narrator with more than one cross to bear, Ellen guides us through a tangle of ethical and emotional quandaries that feel both timeless and immediate, keeping us on her side the whole way through. Jacqueline Bublitz, author of Before You Knew My Name, praises Leal's unusual perspective on the destructive force of an allegation, giving the book real moral complexity. "Nuanced, troubling, and convincing," she says. "Jock Serong, author of The Settlement, agrees, calling the book "unsettling and thought-provoking." Raised by her severe parents in a punitive and authoritarian church, Ellen's narrow world is upended when she meets Gordon, a fellow teacher. Responding to his interest with curiosity and, before long, pleasure, Ellen is both transformed and beguiled by the connection, love, and laughter he brings into her life. Three years later, a knock on the door changes everything. Two police officers have come to accuse Gordon of a shocking crime. Abandoned and reviled by those around her, Ellen steadfastly refuses to believe Gordon has done anything wrong. In a world of swirling suspicion, however, she will have to fight to protect him. But what will that cost her? And what will she discover about him along the way? A propulsive and provocative novel about love, faith, and courage from the bestselling author of The Teacher's Secret. Suzanne Leal's books always grab me from the very first sentence, and The Watchful Wife is no exception. It is intriguing, engaging, and deeply moving from beginning to end. I loved Ellen from the first moment I met her. Jane Caro, author of The Mother, praises Leal's ability to deliver an intriguing page-turner with emotional depth, nuance, and moral complexity: "The Watchful Wife is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of love, faith, and courage. Written by bestselling author Suzanne Leal, the book follows the story of Ellen, a woman who is forced to confront her beliefs and values when her husband, Gordon, is accused of a shocking crime. Ellen's journey takes her on a tumultuous path as she struggles to protect him and maintain her own sense of self. The Watchful Wife is a story of unshakeable belief and unbending faith. As our crisp, clear-eyed narrator with more than one cross to bear, Ellen guides us through a tangle of ethical and emotional quandaries that feel both timeless and immediate, keeping us on her side the whole way through. Jacqueline Bublitz, author of Before You Knew My Name, praises Leal's unusual perspective on the destructive force of an allegation, giving the book real moral complexity. "Nuanced, troubling, and convincing," she says. "Jock Serong, author of The Settlement, agrees, calling the book "unsettling and thought-provoking." Raised by her severe parents in a punitive and authoritarian church, Ellen's narrow world is upended when she meets Gordon, a fellow teacher. Responding to his interest with curiosity and, before long, pleasure, Ellen is both transformed and beguiled by the connection, love, and laughter he brings into her life. Three years later, a knock on the door changes everything. Two police officers have come to accuse Gordon of a shocking crime. Abandoned and reviled by those around her, Ellen steadfastly refuses to believe Gordon has done anything wrong. In a world of swirling suspicion, however, she will have to fight to protect him. But what will that cost her? And what will she discover about him along the way? A propulsive and provocative novel about love, faith, and courage from the bestselling author of The Teacher's Secret.

Weight: 398g
Dimension: 233 x 155 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781761067778