The Second Wife's Handbook: A Survival Guide for Marrying Money (And Keeping It)

By Margot Blackwood

Some women marry for love. Victoria Ashford marries for survival.

After three successful marriages to wealthy widowers-and three generous life insurance payouts-Victoria has perfected the art of becoming the ideal second wife. She's written the playbook: how to comfort a grieving man, erase the ghost of his first wife, and secure your financial future before the honeymoon ends.

But when Victoria sets her sights on tech mogul James Rothwell, something feels wrong. His first wife Claire allegedly died in a boating accident two years ago, but the house still smells like her perfume. Her clothes remain untouched in the closet. And sometimes, late at night, Victoria hears footsteps in the locked wing of the mansion.

As Victoria follows her own carefully crafted rules-"Always befriend the staff," "Never ask about the first wife," "Control the narrative"-she begins to suspect that Claire might not be as dead as everyone believes. And if Claire is alive, Victoria's next move could be her last.

Written as a darkly comic how-to guide with increasingly desperate chapter titles, The Second Wife's Handbook is a twisted psychological thriller about two women, one house, and the deadly game of marriage. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, The Wife Between Us, and anyone who's ever wondered what really happens after "till death do us part."

Some rules are made to be broken. Some wives refuse to stay buried.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GMR58GKM
• ISBN13: 9798247676072
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 154 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"