THE ENGLISHMAN'S WIFE

Louis Sanders

Serpent's Tail, £7.99 pbk Rel: July 2003

Reviewed by Mary Andrea Clarke

A new life in France has enticed John and Georgia away from their life in England to a cottage in the Dordogne. Soon they are in a routine of dinner parties with other ex-pats where the wine flows freely and life seems one long holiday.

The two separate communities of ex-pats and locals are established early, with distinctive, almost stereotypical qualities. John and Georgia manage to adapt themselves to each, thanks in part to Georgia's friendly, sociable nature. This sociability triggers a degree of uneasiness in John as he begins to wonder about the attention his wife attracts and the relationships she is developing. He rapidly jumps to conclusions and the tension incited by his jealousy is not improved as their savings evaporate through their new lifestyle.

Lengthy descriptions and explanatory passages about the backgrounds of the local people proves less than gripping. A clearer picture could have been given through character interaction and imaginative use of dialogue. In the event, the dialogue can occasionally be confusing, with several references in individual passages to "he" or "she", equally applicable to any participant where the speech is not attributed.

The book changes points of view frequently, making it difficult to develop an interest in any particular characters. Georgia seemed neutral and emotionless apart from her enthusiasm for the dinner party circuit and occasional irritation at John's outbursts. As John's jealousy grew to obsessive proportions, he came across as a whining type for whom it was difficult to feel sympathy.

The plot is well advanced before any crime takes place. When it does, it is treated more as a secondary inconvenience than the main focus. This detracts from suspense, not raising the pitch of a novel which plods along in disappointing fashion.