Review: The Third Mrs. Durst

The Third Mrs. Durst by Ann Aguirre
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5*

Marlena grew up poor with multiple half siblings (different fathers) and a drug addicted mother.  She ran away as a teen for something better.  She makes a friend with Jenny and together they protect each other while on the street.  Jenny has a similar background and is a few years younger.  They are eventually discovered by a talent scout (they had heard of this person and arranged to "spontaneously meet" him) and get piecemeal modeling work that put a roof over their heads.  

Marlena does land a much better contract in Europe after catching the eye of Michael Durst, an investor in the modeling company she works for.  She is able to go to college and end her modeling career when she wants to.  Michael eventually makes his move and they began dating and eventually got married.  Marlena was be his third wife.  The first died in a car accident and the second committed suicide.  But where they really murdered and deaths made to seem otherwise?   Michael did get a HUGE insurance payout from wife number 1 which funded his business ventures.   

This is somewhat dark.  There is rape, but it is not gratuitous and is brief.  It is mentioned Marlena was raped as a child by one of her mother's boyfriends, the one that is on the page is early in the book and her modeling career.  Michael is not a handsome prince.  He is controlling and Marlena can't have her own friends or activities without his okay.  He controls what she wears and what she eats.  He also invented a new backstory and parents for her (she's an only child of Croatian parents).  

I enjoyed the twists in this.  Let's just say that Michael gets exactly what he deserves.  Marlena is not the innocent person you first think she is; revenge takes time and years of planning.  

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