Embassy Wife

More about the book

Katie Crouch's Embassy Wife is a satirical page-turner that follows two women abroad as they seek the truth about their husbands and their country. Persephone Wilder, a displaced genius posing as the wife of an American diplomat in Namibia, navigates the complexities of her role with a set of intricate survival rules. She grapples with challenges like dressing appropriately in extreme heat, maintaining composure at embassy events, and mastering the art of eating roasted oryx gracefully. However, she suspects her husband may not be the ambassador’s general counsel but a CIA agent. Persephone takes Amanda Evans, the new trailing spouse, under her wing. Amanda has recently left her Silicon Valley job to accompany her husband, Mark, who accepted a Fulbright in Namibia. Yet, their seemingly solid marriage begins to unravel in the harsh Kalahari heat, revealing Mark’s hidden past and his reasons for returning to Namibia—secrets tied to a woman he left behind two decades ago. When Amanda’s daughter becomes embroiled in an international conflict, it becomes evident that their government will not support them. This provocative narrative delves into the limits of resilience and loyalty, questioning how far Amanda will go to protect her family, how much corruption Persephone can overlook, and what it truly means to be an American abroad when disillusioned with one’s country.