Adulterers anonymous! (The Adultery Club - Tess Stimson)

Member Name: leanne8686

Product:	The Adultery Club - Tess Stimson
Date:	08/04/09 (123 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great character development, story and writing

Disadvantages: Not original

As mentioned in my review of another Tess Stimson book 'The Infidelity chain', I bought the book in a set of two; the other being this one 'The Adultery Club'...as you can see from the title alone it is again along a familiar theme!

"A wife, a Husband, a Mistress. Whose side will you be on?"

Simple enough question you would think, of course the wife she's done nothing wrong unlike the other cheating marriage wrecking two! right? Wrong.

The story pans out as happy as anything couple Nicholas (top lawyer) and Mal (celebrity chef) get on with their perfect ife in the countryside just outside out of London. Mals best friend Kit makes an appearance often, camp as they come Nicholas just can't get along with him but puts up with him for his wifes sake as he does seem madly in love with her.

Then Sara, a young lawyer starts work at his law firm and for the first time in married life he wants another woman. There's just something about her.....
It doesn't help that Sara feels the same about him.

The story is as I said set in London, around the same time of the London bombings. In one particular scene, the famous bomb on the bus goes off and it is very close to their office, danger apparently makes people do crazy things and the two end up in bed....actually slight exagerration they don't get further than the communal hallway to Saras flat.

Nicholas, still devoted husband and actually still sleeping with his wife too hopes this was a one off triggered by the tragic terror attacks but he can't stand to be in the same room as Sara as he wants her so much, obviously this causes tension at work and the inevitable happens for the second time...and the third, fourth, fifth etc.

Meanwhile Mals first love, Trace Pitt a celebrity chef himself is back on the scene. He is opening a restaurant in Covent Garden and wants Mal as head chef.....

If the two are so tempted by others surely the marriage has faults? But it doesn't seem that way, this just shows that it doesn't mean you're unhappy if you stray, I can vouch for that one!

Back to the question at the beginning: Whose side will you be on?
I'm on Nicholas's side for some reason! The way Tess Stimson writes doesn't paint any one character as the bad guy and he seems genuinely nice and caring (minus the adultery of course).
Mal could be likeable but for me she is just a bit too dizzy for the sharp minded Nicholas. I like how her 'other side' is shown as she falls for Trace again...
Sara is a complete sex pot but none of this was her intention, we are introduced to her friend Amy who is sleeping with a married man and Sara despises the idea...until Nicholas comes along. She also seems a lovely girl, just unlucky to fall in love with the wrong man.

Who'll get the guy?


There are some scenes of sex, nothing too filthy but sometimes the descriptions are fairly graphic, I'd give an example but I don't wanna make you all blush!

The writing is fantastic, I will definitely be looking for more Tess Stimson books. Its not a long book at 390 pages but it is just enough, It's like a fantastically edited film compared to one that just drones on and you get bored. Each page is full of events, no time for being bored.
It really is hard to put down.

As in her other book I read (and reviewed) this book is split into chapters from the characters points of view. For example chapter 1 is Nicholas, 2 is Sara and 3 is Mal...and it carries on like that throughout. As there are only 3 main characters most of the time it's really easy to follow and keep track off. I like this style of writing as I know what everyone is thinking, the contrasting views of the same event are interesting!


I enjoyed the story just not as much as The Infidelity Chain, the classic Love Triangle (and sometimes square) is a much told story and there isn't much of a twist to this one.
Still enjoyable though.

I paid £4 for the set of two books from Tesco, this book alone is available from Amazon for £5.49.

Summary: A great read, just needed a twist