Betty Boomer, the protagonist in The Passion Thief, is a married woman torn between two lovers. Betty appears to have the perfect life, although that life is lacking in ways that have made alcohol her dearest companion. When temptation calls in the form of an old boyfriend, she is tempted, and justifies her actions with what’s lacking in her marriage.
At times heart-breaking, at times hilarious, The Passion Thief takes the reader on a walk too many long-married women travel. In a cautionary tale filled with twists and turns, McCarthy Strauss gives no clue which way Betty will turn which keeps the reader turning the page until reaching the surprising conclusion.
As Betty vacillates between the two men, the reader can feel her passion, pain, and frequent urges for alcohol. The choice she makes in the end pulls everything together and may give other women the support they need to make a decision that is right for them.
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“The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.”
–Anaïs Nin