Does this title sound like erotica? Or romance?

[JRTomlin]

I am changing the title of one of my medieval mysteries because the current title is somewhat deceptive so I don't want the new one to be. I kind of like The Wayward Wife but fear that it might be deceptive too because there is NO sex or romance in the novel. But maybe it doesn't sound that way and it's my imagination. The 'wayward wife' is mentioned in the blurb so it makes sense but I don't want to have to change this title again. Another possibility would be The Missing Wife but that just is kind of blah sounding.

Thoughts?

[LilyBLily]

Possibly historical erotica. Historical romance, for sure. Find a cool synonym for wayward.   

[JRTomlin]

Unfortunately, none of the synonyms work. Maybe I'll have to go with The Missing Wife. The Runaway Wife?  Again I think that has a slightly salacious sound.

[notthatamanda]

The Absent Wife?

What exactly is the wife's issue, if you don't mind my asking.

Sometimes I take a synonym of the word I want and look at those synonyms and repeat until I get something.

The Ungovernable Wife?  Sounds more Victorian

The Inconstant Wife - definitely not contemporary.

Synonyms for wayward:

synonyms
willful · self-willed · headstrong · stubborn · obstinate · obdurate · perverse · contrary · rebellious · defiant · uncooperative · refractory · recalcitrant · unruly · wild · ungovernable · unmanageable · unpredictable · capricious · whimsical · fickle · inconstant · changeable · erratic · intractable · difficult · impossible · intolerable · unbearable · fractious · disobedient · insubordinate · undisciplined · contumacious

[JRTomlin]

She has supposedly run away with a man other than her noble husband. Needless to say in a mystery, it isn't really that simple. Murder and mayhem ensues.

I want to avoid anything with even a hint that it could be salacious but also, needless to say, want it to sound interesting. I don't feel that any synonym for wayward works. I will probably go with 'missing' because I really can't think of anything better.

[cecilia_writer]

The Lost Wife?

[JRTomlin]

Mislaying your wife would be a bit careless. 

The Truant Wife? Nope. I seem to be at a loss.

[notthatamanda]

The False Cuckold?

In my defense the kids had two snow days this week and today is a half day for *cough* professional development. 

[JRTomlin]

You have my sympathies. 🙅‍♀️

I rather like The False Cuckold though I'm not sure I want to tell the reader from the start that he is false. Although our hero is always a bit suspicious of him.

[notthatamanda]

The Cuckold of town name here?

[JRTomlin]

It takes place in Perth, Scotland but that doesn't really work. It has nothing to do with Perth really. (The whole thing is a lie, basically a con, by the way)

[notthatamanda]

The Cuckold of Something Lane?

Just tell me to stop.  We leave in a half hour for dance and volunteer work at the library, and I'll get my run in.  I have no brain left to do anything else today.

[JRTomlin]

Streets were not generally refered to as 'lanes' in medieval Scotland and he doesn't actually live in Perth. But if it keeps you occupied, hey that's all to the good. 😜

The equivalent would probably be a vennel.

[notthatamanda]

The Cuckold of blank Vennel?  I think we've come back round to erotica again, sorry.

[elleoco]

Doesn't sound like romance to me, and coupled with a historical fiction cover, I don't see how anyone would think that.

[notthatamanda]

The Reluctant Cuckold?

[LilyBLily]

All the suggestions point to a woman, and to me they all sound like potential romance. "Missing" sounds better because it throws it back to the man. Depending on how many people you kill and how bloody you get, you could push the thriller type of title more. 

[lea_owens]

Wife Removed
Alliance Erased
Marriage Erased
Never To Part
Missing Matrimony
Enigma of Wife
The Meaning of Wife
The Riddle of Wife
The Secrets of Her
The Wife's Illusion
Wife No More
A Question of Wife
Nuptials Negated
Wife Withdrawn
Be No More
The Fading Wife
The Ebb of Bride

[JRTomlin]

All the suggestions point to a woman, and to me they all sound like potential romance. "Missing" sounds better because it throws it back to the man. Depending on how many people you kill and how bloody you get, you could push the thriller type of title more.

Wait. Novels about women have to be romances? There is a woman and she is as dangerous as the men. Admittedly that startles the main character a bit who didn't expect it.

[JRTomlin]

Doesn't sound like romance to me, and coupled with a historical fiction cover, I don't see how anyone would think that.

I like your opinion. 😜

[LilyBLily]

How about "An Alliance Gone Badly Astray" or "An Alliance Deathly Astray"?

[alhawke]

You could exchange the word "wife" for something else. That will downplay romance. I kind of like the word wayward in your title. Something like "Wayward Wanderer"?

[JRTomlin]

How about "An Alliance Gone Badly Astray" or "An Alliance Deathly Astray"?

I like it although it's a bit long. I generally prefer short titles.

[JRTomlin]

You could exchange the word "wife" for something else. That will downplay romance. I kind of like the word wayward in your title. Something like "Wayward Wanderer"?

Wayward Alliance might work. I'll have to think about that. Combining LilyB's idea and yours.

It suits the plot and is rather interesting.

[W.R. Gingell]

If your cover says "historical mystery/historical" rather than "historical romance" I would definitely go with The Wayward Wife. it should be fine with the right cover, especially if your blurb is right. Reminds me of the Perry Mason titles, honestly.