The Good Mistress

A moving, beautifully written and unputdownable read from the bestselling author

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The Good Mistress

By: Anne Tiernan

Narrated by: Aisling Leyne

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About this listen

The affair is over - so what does she have to lose?

Juliet never planned to be the other woman, but Rory was the only man she'd ever loved. She was sure he would leave his annoyingly perfect wife for her - then he went and died. At his funeral, Juliet hides shamefully at the back, while his wife and their son rightfully grieve up front.

Maeve, a bestselling novelist, appears to have it all, except any time for herself. Between her exasperating husband, two teenage sons, and ailing mother, Maeve's success feels hollow. When she dallies in a surprising infidelity of her own, and then uncovers a disturbing secret, her carefully constructed life begins to unravel.

Erica was the perfect wife, but Rory knew things about her that no one else can ever know. And now she's left with a question she doesn't want the answer to: had she lost Rory long before he died? In the wake of his death, she forms an unlikely connection with the last person she expected - Juliet, the gorgeous girl from his past.

As three women's lives collide, they must reconcile the realities of love, betrayal, and the limits of forgiveness - because what does it truly mean to be 'good', anyway?

The brilliant new novel from international bestseller Anne Tiernan, with her trademark wit, sharp observation, charming warmth and devastating honesty when it comes to mid-life.©2025 Anne Tiernan

Anne TiernanAisling LeyneHachette Books Ireland

Genre Fiction

Literary Fiction

Women's Fiction

Marriage

Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Marriage

Critic reviews

I was drawn in from the first page. A tender, raw and moving story about characters you grow to care about and get to truly understand as their layers and complicated history are peeled back, chapter by chapter

I loved The Good Mistress. Juliet, Maeve and Erica all stole my heart in different ways and they will steal yours too. Anne Tiernan's characters feel like friends, they draw you in and don't let go and you care very deeply about what happens to them. I was hooked and adored these characters. This is also such an accurate portrayal of the midlife female experience, complete with guilt and exhaustion and frustration and renewal. It is a hugely uplifting read. It's also emotionally gripping, filled with secrets and tension and betrayal. This book is beautifully written and is a really emotional read. Anne is a skilful, emotional and really funny writer. This is a wonderfully balanced novel - funny and sad in equal measure, and about the very relatable and painful process of women losing and rediscovering themselves in midlife. I loved this. Perfect for fans of Meg Mason

Absorbing, propulsive novel ... Anne Tiernan ... is a gifted writer - her voice is as fresh as Meg Mason's and as spiky and humorous as Zoe Heller's ... The Good Mistress is full of humour and pathos

Most relevant

Great characters really good read . Love the layout of the chapters would be a good book club read as lots to investigate and explore.