I like the setting in Chicago with all it's familiar places such as the Loop, Navy Pier, Printers Row, and the Drake Hotel.
I like the backdrop of psychology not only in the heroine's profession, but also in the exploration of Adler's three life goals. "That Adler's school is pragmatic and socially atuned is nowhere quite so evident as in his three main life tasks, which he identified as hallmarks of mental health: 1) the experience and expression of love, 2) the development of friendships and social ties, and 3) engagement in meaningful work." (p. 130)
I like the way the reader is a casual, but engaged, observer. Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl felt like it was constantly playing tricks on me for the sake of keeping me guessing. A. S. A. Harrison's The Silent Wife has a crescendo slowly building to a completely unexpected, but believable, conclusion.
I like reading about strong women and seeing how they've coped with life's adversities. Even if it is in a way I wouldn't choose for myself.
I first heard of The Silent Wife when I read about it on Nadia's blog, A Bookish Way of Life. Our reading likes are so compatible, and this book which came highly recommended by her is no exception. Read it for a thriller, read it for its multi-layered plot, and read it to see all the ways in which this wife is silent.
