Embassy Wife

About the book

In the captivating novel Embassy Wife by Katie Crouch, two women living overseas embark on a quest to uncover the truth about their husbands and their homeland.

One of these women is Persephone Wilder, a brilliant individual pretending to be the spouse of an American diplomat in Namibia. Persephone takes her role as a representative of her nation seriously, creating a detailed set of guidelines to navigate the challenges she faces: how to dress appropriately in sweltering heat, how to maintain composure at embassy events, and how to eat local cuisine with elegance. She also harbors suspicions that her husband may not be the ambassador's legal advisor, but rather a covert operative for the CIA. Embodying the role of the perfect embassy wife, Persephone takes the new trailing spouse, Amanda Evans, under her wing.

Amanda arrives in Namibia shortly after relinquishing her job in Silicon Valley to accompany her husband, Mark, who is conducting a Fulbright project with his family by his side. However, once they settle in the African desert, Amanda realizes that Mark, who had lived in Namibia twenty years earlier, has ulterior motives for returning. While their marriage appeared strong back home, it feels fragile in the harsh Kalahari heat. The situation escalates when their daughter becomes entangled in an international dispute and their own government fails to support her.

To what lengths will Amanda go to preserve her family? How much corruption can Persephone turn a blind eye to? And what does it truly mean to be an American overseas when you feel disconnected from your own country?

Riveting and thought-provoking, Embassy Wife delves into the essence of humanity in a complex world, offering moments of humor in the face of the seemingly insurmountable challenges we encounter.