I just finished reading

A RELIABLE WIFE by Robert Goolrick, 2009.

Set in Wisconsin in 1907-08, a wasteland of snow and ice, this novel really was just so engrossing and it's hard for me to describe it. It begins with a 50+ year old wealthy man, Ralph Truitt, advertising for "a reliable wife"; Catherine Land answers the ad and arrives by train from Chicago. Both characters have dark secrets and hidden plans, slowly revealed, and they are both involved with a third character, Antonio. There's drama and heartbreak and rage and guilt and misery and love and sex (lots of sex) and motives that at first are not clear. Some good surprises, and the ending, while sort of expected, still is rather shocking. Overall, very interesting, well written, good suspense, description, and complex characters in their emotions and motives. Not a quick read, but very satisfying.