Review: The Banker's Wife

Summary: On an early morning in November, a couple boards a private plane bound for Geneva, flying into a storm. Soon after, it simply drops off the radar, and its wreckage is later uncovered in the Alps. Among the disappeared is Matthew Werner, a banking insider at Swiss United, a powerful offshore bank. His young widow, Annabel, is left grappling with the secrets he left behind, including an encrypted laptop and a shady client list. As she begins a desperate search for answers, she determines that Matthew’s death was no accident, and that she is now in the crosshairs of his powerful enemies.

Meanwhile, ambitious society journalist Marina Tourneau has finally landed at the top. Now that she’s engaged to Grant Ellis, she will stop writing about powerful families and finally be a part of one. Her entry into the upper echelons of New York’s social scene is more appealing than any article could ever be, but, after the death of her mentor, she agrees to dig into one more story. While looking into Swiss United, Marina uncovers information that implicates some of the most powerful men in the financial world, including a few who are too close to home. The story could also be the answer to Annabel’s heartbreaking search–if Marina chooses to publish it.

The Banker’s Wife is both a high-stakes thriller and an inside look at the personal lives in the intriguing world of finance, introducing Cristina Alger as a powerful new voice in the genre. -- Putnam

I am a huge fan of thrillers, and I love that female characters are starting to them! My latest read, THE BANKER'S WIFE by Cristina Alger, actually has two strong women who set out to figure out some huge questions in their lives!

THE BANKER'S WIFE begins with a plane crash resulting in the death of Matthew Werner, a successful banker at Swiss United. Matthew's wife, Annabel, is distraught over the sudden death of her husband and even more traumatized by the mysteries surrounding his death. Rather than pack up her bags and immediately return to the States, Annabel starts her own investigation of her husband's death... and she learns that it was definitely not an accident. Now she fears that her own life and the lives of others in her orbit might be at risk!

Marina Tourneau is an accomplished reporter who will soon be retiring to become the wife of Grant Ellis, a wealthy business man and seemingly perfect guy. Grant's father, also a successful businessman, is getting ready to announce that he's running for President of the United States; and Marina needs to join the family's campaigning efforts rather than write about them.

When Marina's boss and mentor winds up dead under mysterious circumstances, she feels like she has owes it to him to investigate his death. What she discovers, especially when she examines Swiss United Bank, parallels many of the same questionable activities that Annabel is learning about her husband and his co-workers... and it just might be the biggest (and most personal) story of her career!

I found THE BANKER'S WIFE to be a terrific book! I thought the plot was intriguing and the characters were as well. I especially enjoyed that the book alternated between Annabel and Marina's stories, and that both women were smart, accomplished, and diligent in their investigations. All in all, I'd say that THE BANKER'S WIFE was an interesting look at the international world of finance as well as the lives of the very wealthy and the corruption that they sometimes find themselves in.

The entire novel went back and forth between Annabel and Marina's investigations, and I appreciated how they were linked both literally and figuratively. It was exciting to see how these women were figuring out the actions of the men in their lives, while also having the strength to pursue the truth even when it was uncomfortable for them. I especially enjoyed how the women's two stories eventually came together, and I will admit that I was surprised by a few things... especially one that occurred at the end of the book!

THE BANKER'S WIFE is a satisfying financial thriller that I found extremely entertaining. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.