The Dictator's Wife: A mesmerising novel of deception and BBC 2 Between the Covers Book Club pick (Paperback) - Freya Berry

A dictator's wife, overthrown and awaiting trial, pleads her case to a young female lawyer, while also drawing her into a tangled web of lies and dark, dangerous secrets. This dazzling and devastating debut is a Lead Launch for Headline Review.

'An intelligent, utterly-of-the-moment thriller' EMMA STONEX
'Compelling, atmospheric. It's BRILLIANT' MARIAN KEYES
'Sumptuously written. One of the most compelling literary debuts of the year' GLAMOUR

ONE WOMAN KNOWS THE TRUTH.
CAN YOU TRUST HER TO TELL IT?

Laura flies to her parents' homeland for the defence case of her life. Facing trial is Marija Popa, 'the Black Widow'; a constant at her husband's side until the day his people rose up and executed him. Beautiful and beguiling, Marija insists she knew nothing of her husband's dark affairs.

For Laura, the case has a personal meaning. Her mother has never spoken of the horrors she witnessed under the old regime, and remains a shadow of the woman she used to be. As Laura prepares for the trial, she realises that to find the truth, she must enter the web of the dictator's wife. But what secrets lie within?

A BBC 2 BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2022
THE NEW EUROPEAN'S BEST FICTION PICK OF THE YEAR 2022

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'Richly imagined' THE TIMES
'A remarkable new talent' ANTHONY HOROWITZ
'Magnificent' CHARLOTTE PHILBY
'A gripping and moving debut' HARLAN COBEN
'Fascinating, atmospheric, utterly gripping' LIZ HYDER
'Spellbinding' JANE SHEMILT
'Darkly compelling' STYLIST
'Thrilling and remarkably assured' NEW EUROPEAN
'The ending left me breathless' LARA PRESCOTT
'Atmospheric, claustrophobic and so elegantly written' ELLERY LLOYD
'Engrossing, evocative, chillingly claustrophobic' KAREN HAMILTON
'A darkly atmospheric, rich, compulsive and page-turning read' KATE HAMER
'Excellent, immersive' HARRIET TYCE

About the Author

Freya Berry studied English Literature at Cambridge. She graduated with a double first and worked as a financial and political journalist at Reuters and the Daily Mail in London and New York. Her debut novel The Dictator's Wife was inspired by the close observation of the wives of some of the world's most powerful leaders. It was featured on the BBC's Between the Covers and was The New European's novel of the year. Freya lives in London.