From Shakespeare to Tolstoy to the contemporary airport paperback, we love reading about juicy affairs and cheating spouses. What’s wrong with us? Well, it’s really a tale as old as human civilization. Desire and lust can be a harrowing and complicated thing, so it makes sense that writers take advantage of that…especially thriller writers. People fear it, so it automatically makes for a great trope in these types of novels.
I personally like to write about affairs because it’s doorway to slew of terrible things to come--lies, cover-ups, jealous rage, revenge, violent crime, and even murder. An affair means something is wrong, something’s off—there’s danger and mistrust at the very mention of it. Adultery is seen as a vulgar thing preying on our deepest desires and fears which fits nicely in a thriller plot. Here are some noteworthy thrillers with a sordid affair at the heart of the story:
Notes On A Scandal By Zoe Heller
This cleverly-written, unconventional thriller tells the story of Sheba, a lonely, middle-aged teacher having a sexual relationship with one of her high school pupils. The brilliantly-drawn characters in this story are at once disturbing and fascinating. When Sheba’s secrets are discovered, the blackmail that follows is...well, unlike any other story I’ve ever read. It’s thought provoking, creepy, and viscous all at once. A must-read.
The Silent Patient By Alex Michaelides
If you’re looking for a thriller with a twist to die for, this is it. A woman shoots her husband five times in the face and then never speaks another word. Her psychotherapist is determined to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband, and this “takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him....” If you haven’t already heard the buzz about this one, I’ll confirm it lives up to the hype.
The Last Affair By Margot Hunt
I don’t care what anyone says, I’m a sucker for juicy, unlikable characters. Suburban wife and mother, Gwen Landon, has it all…until she’s found in a pool of blood in her backyard. You’ll be pulling out your best detective skills trying to nail down the culprit in this twisty story. Every character is a suspect and it will keep you turning pages and guessing until the end. A fast-paced, delicious read.
Such A Good Wife by Seraphina Nova Glass (Published by Titan Books) Out Now
Melanie Hale is a devoted mother to her two children, a diligent caregiver to her ailing mother-in-law and a trusted neighbor in their wealthy Louisiana community. Above all, she's a loving partner to her wonderful husband, Collin. Then there are the parts of herself that Mel keeps hidden. She's exhausted, worried and unfulfilled. So much so that one night, after a writers' group meeting, Mel begins an affair with a successful local author named Luke. Suddenly she's transformed into a role she doesn't recognize-a woman who deceives with unseemly ease. A woman who might be capable of just about anything. When Mel finds Luke's dead body in his lavish rented house, she realizes just how high the stakes have become. Not only does she have to keep her affair a secret in order to preserve her marriage, but she desperately needs to avoid being implicated in Luke's death. But who would want to kill him? Who else in her life is keeping secrets? And most terrifying of all, how far will they-and she-go to keep those secrets hidden?
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