Review of The Wicked Wives
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Jane Gaskins
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Review of The Wicked Wives
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Wicked Wives" by Gus Pelagatti.]
The Wicked Wives:
A Novel based on a true story
by Gus Pelagatti
The Wicked Wives is a fascinating fictitious work based on a true-life story about deceit, murder, fraud, and seduction. The story occurs in Philadelphia in 1938, just after the Great Depression. Seventeen dissatisfied, unfaithful, and greedy wives plot and murder their husbands using poison they obtain from their secret lover, Giorgio DiSipio. The infamous poison murder scandal is the backbone of the book.
Tom Rossi, the assistant D.A., investigates the suspicious murder of Reggie Stoner. He experiences opposition, threats to his political career, and threats to his girlfriend. Tom uncovers a considerably broader scheme of murders, deception, insurance fraud, adultery, and illicit drugs. A womanizing, seductive Giorgio DiSipio convinces women he is in love with them. To prove they idolize him, they must poison and kill their husbands for life insurance payouts. He provides the insurance policies and the poison. In addition, Giorgio has a friend who is an undertaker. He performs the autopsies and claims all the spouses died from varied forms of pneumonia.
With many twists and plot changes, we end in the courtroom, where the stories begin unraveling. Starting with one murder, we end with multiple murders and insurance fraud on a grand scale.
In addition to the murders and fraud, the story includes a mysterious woman in black and her giant. Tom knows she is at the center of this poison ring. Who could this be? She remains one step ahead of Tom at every turn. He is positive she is involved but can never uncover her identity. Subsequently, Tom receives a big break. He discovers where the giant resides. On the way to the apartment of the giant, Tom observes a woman in the crowded elevator dressed in all black. Due to the crowd, he cannot reach her. After finding the giant murdered in his bed, Tom smells a familiar perfume. He knows who the woman in black is. Will he ever find her? It is as if she has vanished.
December 2, 1941, Tom receives a package. He finds a necklace, a newspaper clipping, and a handwritten note. "If you take love from life, you take away all its pleasures." He finally has confirmation of the identity of his lady in black.
With all the sexual content and profanity, I would not recommend this for younger readers or those who are religiously disinclined to read such things.
Although there is a lot of profanity and sexual content, the storyline is good. The descriptive details in the story are impressive. Therefore, I will give it 5 out of 5.
The only thing I would change is the amount of profanity. I understand Mr. Pelagatti uses this to set the atmosphere for the story, so I will not deduct points for it.
******
The Wicked Wives
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
The Wicked Wives:
A Novel based on a true story
by Gus Pelagatti
The Wicked Wives is a fascinating fictitious work based on a true-life story about deceit, murder, fraud, and seduction. The story occurs in Philadelphia in 1938, just after the Great Depression. Seventeen dissatisfied, unfaithful, and greedy wives plot and murder their husbands using poison they obtain from their secret lover, Giorgio DiSipio. The infamous poison murder scandal is the backbone of the book.
Tom Rossi, the assistant D.A., investigates the suspicious murder of Reggie Stoner. He experiences opposition, threats to his political career, and threats to his girlfriend. Tom uncovers a considerably broader scheme of murders, deception, insurance fraud, adultery, and illicit drugs. A womanizing, seductive Giorgio DiSipio convinces women he is in love with them. To prove they idolize him, they must poison and kill their husbands for life insurance payouts. He provides the insurance policies and the poison. In addition, Giorgio has a friend who is an undertaker. He performs the autopsies and claims all the spouses died from varied forms of pneumonia.
With many twists and plot changes, we end in the courtroom, where the stories begin unraveling. Starting with one murder, we end with multiple murders and insurance fraud on a grand scale.
In addition to the murders and fraud, the story includes a mysterious woman in black and her giant. Tom knows she is at the center of this poison ring. Who could this be? She remains one step ahead of Tom at every turn. He is positive she is involved but can never uncover her identity. Subsequently, Tom receives a big break. He discovers where the giant resides. On the way to the apartment of the giant, Tom observes a woman in the crowded elevator dressed in all black. Due to the crowd, he cannot reach her. After finding the giant murdered in his bed, Tom smells a familiar perfume. He knows who the woman in black is. Will he ever find her? It is as if she has vanished.
December 2, 1941, Tom receives a package. He finds a necklace, a newspaper clipping, and a handwritten note. "If you take love from life, you take away all its pleasures." He finally has confirmation of the identity of his lady in black.
With all the sexual content and profanity, I would not recommend this for younger readers or those who are religiously disinclined to read such things.
Although there is a lot of profanity and sexual content, the storyline is good. The descriptive details in the story are impressive. Therefore, I will give it 5 out of 5.
The only thing I would change is the amount of profanity. I understand Mr. Pelagatti uses this to set the atmosphere for the story, so I will not deduct points for it.
******
The Wicked Wives
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: The Virulence by James C. Hendee
