An Inconvenient Wife

A Modern Tudor Mystery

Karen E. Olson

This astonishing crime novel—inspired by the Tudor era—takes the reader into the world of Kate Parker, who has just married billionaire Hank Tudor when a headless body is discovered near their summer home . . .

Kate Parker knows what she’s getting into when she marries billionaire businessman Hank Tudor—she’s his sixth wife, after all, and was by his side (as his assistant) when his fifth marriage to actress Caitlyn Howard fell apart.

But honeymoon plans go awry when a headless body is discovered near Hank’s summer home, forcing Kate to contend with two more of his exes: Catherine Alvarez—the first—who lives as a shut-in with her computers, carefully following Tudor Enterprises; and Anna Klein—the fourth—who runs a bed-and-breakfast where she and her wife keep a steady eye on things—particularly Hank’s children, Lizzie and Teddy.

In this clever and suspenseful reimagining of Tudor era betrayals, these three women become entwined in a deadly game of cat and mouse—with each other, Hank, and Hank’s brilliant fixer, Tom Cromwell—as Kate seeks to solve the puzzle of who the murdered woman is, who killed her, and whether her death has any connection to the other headless body from eight years ago.

Karen E. Olson is the winner of the Sara Ann Freed Memorial Award and a Shamus Award finalist. She is the author of the Annie Seymour mysteries, the Tattoo Shop mysteries, and the Black Hat thrillers. Karen was a longtime editor, both in newspapers and at Yale University Press. She lives in New Haven, Connecticut.

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Endorsements & Reviews

"The Tudor monarch mystery that I never knew I needed. As a fan of the Tudor era, this book had me hooked from the start. Yet regardless of the historical parallels, I also found myself engrossed by the unique and gripping narrative. An Inconvenient Wife beautifully weaves together the past and present, resulting in a thrilling must-read." Criminal Element

"A complex story with a large cast that Olson masterfully weaves and develops, An Inconvenient Wife is a new take on a historical family, proving that high-class murder never gets old." The Big Thrill

"Karen E. Olson achieves something wholly original with An Inconvenient Wife, which is both a crime novel and an astute study in marital relations and power struggles. While it takes its inspiration from Henry VIII and his wives, a king (and killer) who lived more than five hundred years ago, the story is thoroughly modern. At the risk of sounding impertinent: You may just lose your head over this book.” Mystery Scene

"It is the wives in this story who offer glimpses of interesting backgrounds and ranges of emotions that feel more and more relatable as multiple mysteries begin to unravel." Booklist

"In this clever riff on the saga of Henry VIII, Olson introduces executive assistant Kate Parker, who’s just become billionaire Hank Tudor’s sixth wife. Olson’s intelligent plotting—in which she recasts Tudor dynastic maneuverings through the lens of 21st-century ultra-wealth—make this much more than a simple in-joke for history buffs. Those willing to go along for the ride will be happy they did." Publishers Weekly

“A Succession-esque update of Henry VIII, An Inconvenient Wife is sharp, suspenseful and deviously clever. Block out some time for this one—you'll want to read it in one sitting!” - Alison Gaylin, Edgar Award-winning author of The Collective

“Twisty, sly, and utterly unique, An Inconvenient Wife is a sinfully entertaining, one-sitting read. Don’t miss it!” Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of Find Me

“An entertaining modern take on Henry VIII’s six wives. A complete page-turner!” - Naomi Hirahara, Mary Higgins Clark award winning author of Clark and Division

"Step aside Gone Girl, An Inconvenient Wife is the new sheriff in town. Everything old is new again. Olson not only proves it; she improves it.” Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of Sleepless City

“An Inconvenient Wife is a truly captivating and often startling ‘what if’ adventure, both eerily familiar and entirely unknown. Karen E. Olsen brilliantly captures the psychological terror of the Tudor period, translating it into a vivid twenty-first century world. It is clever, captivating and oh-so-difficult to put down; the mystery deepens with every turn of the page. The book combines all the feminist fire of SIX with the dark familiar murder-mystery of Knives Out." Joanne Paul, author of The House of Dudley: A New History of Tudor England

Praise for Karen E. Olson:

“Olson steps up to a new storytelling level.” - The Baltimore Sun

“A sharply written and beautifully plotted story.” The Chicago Tribune

“A natural storyteller.” - Laura Lippman, New York Times bestseller author

“This electrifying series is an addictive page-turner with a stunner of a finale.” Kirkus Reviews