chapters.indigo.ca: A RELIABLE WIFE: Robert Goolrick: Books

About this Book

Format:Trade Paperback

Dimensions:304 Pages, 6.06 x 9 x 0.83 in

Published:March 24, 2009

Publisher:Harpercollins Canada, Limited

The following ISBNs are associated with this title:
ISBN - 10:1554685036
ISBN - 13:9781554685035

From the Publisher

Set in a small Wisconsin farming and manufacturing town still crumbling a decade after the depression of the 1890s, A Reliable Wife tells the story of Ralph Truitt, a wealthy businessman who advertises for ?a reliable wife? in newspapers across America. The woman he chooses, Catherine Land, describes herself as ?a simple, honest woman,? but in truth she is both complex and devious? not the missionary?s daughter she claims to be in her letter to Truitt but a courtesan of great beauty, kept by men and haunted by a terrible past. Catherine?s plan in accepting the marriage offer is simple: she will win this man?s devotion, and then, ever so slowly, she will poison him and leave Wisconsin a wealthy widow. What she has not counted on, though, is the passion she finds in this seemingly solid, forthright man?a man who also harbours secrets and whose own past is far from pure.

Filled with remarkable characters and drenched with colour and atmosphere, A Reliable Wife is a story of love and madness, longing and murder, played out in a world that seems to have gone temporarily off its axis.

About the Author

Robert Goolrick is the author of the highly acclaimed memoir The End of the World as We Know It. He lives in New York City.

From The Community

Who's Listing it as a Top Ten

This title has appeared in 3 Top Ten lists. See the most recent lists below:

Bookclub Reads for Mom

chapters.indigo.ca Editors , 8 months ago
Great Summer Reads 2009

Heather Reisman , 6 months ago
Recently Read June 2009

Neo's Mom , 5 months ago
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Who's Blogging

This title has been mentioned in 4 blogs. See the most recent posts below:

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

Samia , 5 months ago
Week#34 Week ending August 2nd

CeyLo , 4 months ago
LM Montgomery and Robert Goolrick

Steph S. , 3 months ago
In need of a New Book

Autumnchi , 3 months ago
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Average Customer Rating:
Reviews from the Community20 Reviews

Write a Review

Lindsay
Disappointed

5 weeks ago

I'll admit that i picked up this book because the cover grabbed my attention...which just goes to show that it holds true that you can't judge a book by its cover. For something recommended by Heather Reisman I was extremely disappointed, the writing was very repetitive with very little action or driving force and the characters were not likeable or relateable. A very unsatisfying story
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arley midgley
Interesting

2 months ago

This book was a bit wordy and the style of writing was unique but I throughly enjoyed the story.
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Doriana Bisegna
- 1 person found this helpful
It's been awhile....

2 months ago

since I've had a book grab me and hold me till the last page. I honestly couldn't put it down. The writing was evocative and the descriptions made you feel that you were there and part of this gripping story. I highly recommend this book but just have another one ready to go because you won't be reading it for a long time!
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This reviewer also recommends:
Marieline Quinton
a calm read with a twisted ending

2 months ago

It's 1907 and Catherine Land, a whore answers an ad in the ppr of a wealthy man's request for a 'reliable wife". She's accepted and goes to Wisconsin to start a life fresh with Mr. Ralph Truitt. Unbesknowst to him, she plans on slowly posioning him with arsenic to claim his riches with his son who was fathered by another man his wife betrayed him with a long time ago. a slow read, lots of wanton explicit sex and a twisted ending to satisfy you
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Lady Marlo
- 1 person found this helpful
A great surprise

3 months ago

Not at all what I was expecting. I'd picked up the book to read while on vacation and found myself pulled into a story raw, gritty.. not at all like the love story I was hoping for. Brings a whole new meaning to 'in sickness and in health." Not award winning, but would have been great for a book club - there's a lot here worth talking about.
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