Bathsheba: A Novel (The Wives of King David)
*Starred Review* When King David’ suffers a devastating loss, it seems that nothing can break through his cloak of grief—until he sees the legendary beauty, Bathsheba. Their affair, as well as David’s ruthless disposal of Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba’s husband and one of David’s loyal officers, are among the Bible’s biggest scandals. Smith puts a refreshingly different spin on this familiar tale of adultery, delving into the motivations and feelings behind Bathsheba’s and David’s actions within the context of the customs and religious expectations of the times. There’s plenty of suspense, court intrigue, and excitement in Smith’s rendering, especially when David’s other sons, worried that his child by Bathsheba, Solomon, will be king, lead a revolt against their father. Smith has a strong voice, and her seamless blending of David’s words from the Psalms with her narrative adds to the novel’s authenticity. Bathsheba will appeal to a wide variety of readers, including fans of Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent (1997). The third novel in Smith’s splendid Wives of King David series (Michal, 2009; Abigail, 2010), this works as a standalone, but libraries will want all three books. –Shelley Moseley