Review: The Wicked Wives

Wicked Wives by Gustine H. Pelagatti is a legal thriller that will captivate its audience with ruthless politics, murdering wives and lovers, conspiracies and romance. It is a fiction account of an actual poisoning crime ring that took place in the city of Philadelphia in the late 1930s. The story starts with Lilian and Reggie Stoner having a night out and discussing their failing marriage. Shortly after the couple arrive home Reggie is dead. Even though the family doctor rules that the death is a result of pneumonia the assistant District Attorney thinks otherwise. Soon the assistant District Attorney starts investigating the death of Reggie Stoner but quickly runs into a road in the form of Deputy Mayor Bill Evans, a ruthless politician and Lilian's uncle. Despite the threats, from the Deputy Mayor, assistant D.A. Tom Rossi continues his investigation where he uncovers more murders and soon finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy ring of wives poisoning their husbands, insurance fraud and sex. As Mr. Rossi digs into his investigation he finds that the ring is being orchestrated by a mysterious woman only known as the woman in black referring to the all black outfit she wears. It is not long before Mr. Rossi starts making arrest in the case only to run into some complications as some of his key witnesses being dying at the hands of the mysterious woman in black and her companion only known as the giant. Eventually Mr. Rossi arrest and tries Lilian Stoner, Eva Bell Fitzpatrick, Joanna Napoli, Giorgio Dicipio and several other wives and conspirators. Through all the trails and convictions he keeps looking for the mysterious woman and her companion. They finally track down the giant but it is too late as Mr. Rossi and Chief of detectives Mike Fine find the man has been poisoned by the woman in black.

Throughout the book Mr. Pelagatti shows a great command of the element of suspense with keeping us guess on just who this mystery woman can be and just how she is able to one step ahead in the investigation.

The book is thoroughly enjoyable as you will find yourself involved in the investigation wanting to find out just how deep it will go. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys murder mysteries, politics and legal fiction.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars