Written in a vivid, cinematic style, A.S.A. Harrison’s The Silent Wife reads more like a literary sister to the darker dramatic films of Woody Allen and the work of Ingmar Bergman than your typical crime novel. Most of the “crimes” committed exist in the minds of Jodi and Todd-an affluent, affable couple living in contemporary Chicago. Their rap sheet is written on their hearts as decades of regret, resentment, and selfishness finally breach the levee of their comfortable life, culminating in tragedy. Just as Jodi and Todd confront the truth about their relationship and themselves (each chapter is divided into “Him” and “Her”) we too are asked to take a long, hard look at ourselves and like them, we might not like everything we find. The Silent Wife often mines difficult emotional territory, but pays back dividends with its rich and nuanced prose, precise characterization, and raw honesty.