Belport Island is described as a "ghost town" in winter—harsh, isolated, and claustrophobic—which serves as a silent character in the mystery.
The story alternates between the two women, each grappling with betrayal and the haunting realization that they may not know their husbands at all.
Critics from The Age and ABC News Breakfast highlight White as a "master of misdirection". While some readers find the central twist "infuriating," most agree it is a powerful exploration of grief and the corrosive nature of secrets. The Wife and the Widow by Christian White | Goodreads