Lauded as “a deeply unsettling, brilliantly gripping story of a family legacy built upon lies”, The Second Woman is the third novel from mystery writer Charlotte Philby, and it looks like she’s well and truly done it again. 

The story, which shifts between the ’80s and the present day, follows the character of Artemis who moves to London from Greece in the ’90s, before her untimely death. Twenty years later, the death of an heiress appears strikingly similar – resulting in an investigation, links to a crime cartel, and an ongoing web of deceit.

With themes of betrayal and love interwoven within the mystery, The Second Woman features a host of gripping twists and turns. Exploring how the choices of the women in question ultimately lead to their deaths, Phlby creates a complex tale that’s impossible to put down. 

Those already familiar with Charlotte Philby’s novels will fall head over heels for this latest instalment, though if this is your first foray then you’re still in for a treat. Philby said that, after working as a reporter and editor on magazines and newspapers for years, she “decided to write the books I longed to read: female-led stories that are twisty, stylish and multi-layered, tying together global espionage with haunting domestic noir.”

While The Second Woman does an excellent job of sewing together the threads of Philby’s previous novels, it can still be read and enjoyed entirely on its own. Through her work, Charlotte Philby has created a whole new sort of spy novel; a new perspective on the traditional worlds of intrigue and suspense. Gripping and smart, The Second Woman is well worth a read.