
Love, secrets and danger abound in the new historical novel from bestselling author Diney Costeloe, set in 19th-century France.
As the St Clair family prepare for the grand wedding of their daughter, Clarice, trouble is brewing. An old friendship, a new love and a dangerous secret threaten to destroy the life the St Clairs have built.
Their younger daughter, Hélène, became friends with orphaned Annette during the terrible events of the 1871 siege of Paris. Now they are reunited, with Annette working below stairs for Hélène’s parents. But she is hiding a dangerous secret, which Hélène has promised to keep at all costs.
Meanwhile, Hélène has begun to fall in love with a young nobleman from England, whose family has plans which do not include their son choosing a French wife.
Ebook: 7th May 2020: Amazon Google Play Kobo
Hardback: 6th August 2020: Waterstones Hive

I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
My Thoughts…
The French Wife is an emotional and poignant historical story about women’s lives in nineteenth-century France. It explores the fortunes of two women with a multigenerational relationship who are servants and a wealthy French family. This story is the second in a series but reads as a standalone. Agathe, Annette and the St Clair family’s connection are provided as required in this novel.
There’s a lovely sense of place and time from the rich historical detail. The story highlights the disparity in opportunity and treatment of women of all classes. Agathe and Annette and Helene and Annette have a life-affirming friendship, which makes them stronger emotionally.
This a poignant and rewarding historical read with an authentic historical setting and believable characters.


Diney Costeloe is the author of twenty-three novels, several short stories, and many articles and poems. She has three children and seven grandchildren, so when she isn’t writing, she’s busy with family. She and her husband divide their time between Somerset and West Cork.
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