Valerie S. (VolunteerVal) - reviewed on 7/1/2024 + 645 more book reviews

The intriguing title, striking cover, and historical fiction genre drew me to The Arsenic Eater's Wife by Tonya Mitchell. I wish I had enjoyed it more.

Overview:
- inspired by true events
- 1889 Liverpool, England setting
- unlikable characters
- influential people behaving badly
- Gothic home is a âcharacter'
- courtroom drama

Socialite Constance was accused of killing her husband William. Is she guilty?

I was interested enough to keep listening (at 1.75 speed) while doing household tasks, but the pacing was very uneven. Multiple chapters were devoted to a single day at the beginning, and then many years described in a single sentence near the end. And there was so much retching and descriptions of other unpleasant bodily functions, I could've played a drinking game with their frequency.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for advance access to the audiobook narrated by Penelope Rawlins.

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