"The Wife Upstairs" by Rachel Hawkins

I have read a couple of Rachel Hawkins' YA books and they were fun. This is her first foray into the adult thriller/mystery genre and I would say it was a success. Hawkins took the very familiar story of Jane Eyre and set it in modern-day Alabama. Fans of Jane Eyre will recognize many names and draw parallels in characters' backgrounds and intentions. 

The marketing for this book might have centered around it being a loose retelling of Jane Eyre, but the characters and the plot are quite original and have little to do with the Victorian classic. Since it is a mystery, it is difficult to describe the plot without giving anything away. I think knowing what it is based on is enough to pique someone's interest - it certainly piqued mine. 

If you don't like suspense, this book will appeal to you as well. The tension created by the author is not intense. In fact, at one point I was wondering when things would start unraveling. I did very much like the twist at the end and the conclusion itself. To me, it was worth the read. I would say the last 40 pages or so of the book changed my mind about this being a mediocre novel and I ended up giving it 4 out 5 stars. 

In conclusion, a modern, feminist take on a beloved classic. At the center of it is a character who is a true survivor, who does everything possible to climb out of the gutter and make something better of the hand she's been dealt.