Reviews

First Wife's Shadow: A Novel by Adele Parks

kimberleyh's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

marbooks88's review

4.25

 

What did I just read?!?! This twisty thriller kept my head spinning right to the very end. I thought I had it figured out when BAM everything I thought I knew was altered with the introduction of a new character.Then it happened again and BAM more information was revealed and the entire story shifted.What a crazy, in the very best way, read! Emma was successful and content with her routines and life she has created for herself. But when she meets Matthew, a widower, her life shifts. Things between them move quickly and her friends question his intentions and his story but Emma doesn’t listen. When weird things start happening Emma questions those around her and begins to doubt those around her but the truth is even more unexpected and unreal than she imagined. The writing is fast paced and once the new character was revealed I found myself unable to stop reading. I highly recommend this books to readers that enjoy twisty thrillers that keep you guessing.

Thanks to Htphive and Mira books for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

bibliophileamber's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Wow! 
The first half of the book there was a lot of inner monologue, and Emma meets Matthew. Matthew is a widower, and Emma soon falls in love with him. Their relationship moves very quickly, and beside Emma's friends discouragement and their advice, to be cautious. Emma embarked on the fast romance, continuing with them eloping without her friends or family present. 
However, throughout the relationship, Emma feels constantly compared to Matthew's first love, Becky. When mysterious incidents begin happening, Emma is paranoid. Matthew is concerned about her drinking. One night, when everything culminated, a shattering event occurred in Emma's life. But, like most things not all is as it seems. 
Matthew is hiding a secret, and that secret could change Emma's life all together! Everything that Emma had worked for, the life that she had created. With all of this Emma no longer knows who she can and cannot trust, and she is suspicious of Matthew and everything surrounding her life now. 
Initially this is a slow burn, at the time I almost DNF'D the book. But, I am glad that I did not because that twist makes the whole adventure worth it, the slowly gaslighting of Emma left her second guessing her own reality! That twist is INSANE!!!! Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA and Netgalley for the opportunity to have my mind twisted by this one and to review it! 

smorrison4's review against another edition

4.0

This was a wacky story with lots of twists and turns. Emma is a kick butt business woman and she has found the love that everyone talks about. I loved following Emma as she deals with the shadow of Matthew's first wife. The ending was unexpected and the perfect ending to this story.

Kristin Atherton did a great job narrating this story and I look forward to listening to more of Kristin's work in the future. 

alisoneroth's review against another edition

When I got to the twist that I found horribly uninteresting and annoying, there were still over 5 hours left and it just wasn’t worth it.

summerbende's review

4.0

Wow! This book had so many twists and unexpected turns, it definitely kept my attention. I loved how it was told through different points of view. Great book! 

april_be_readin's review

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

Format: eBook 📲

Perfect for: fans of domestic thrillers and fans of initial slow burns and then BAM twist after twist

What a great read!! This book’s rating kept increasing for me gradually as I continued because during the second half of the book, every time I thought everything was revealed, this author dropped yet another unexpected jaw dropping twist. The amount of deception and secrets in the book was unreal! The FMC makes you want to love her and yell at her at the same time, but overall she was a very likable character. 

When Emma meets Matthew, she is immediately smitten & although her friends are telling her she’s moving too fast, she ignores the BRIGHT RED FLAGS 🚩 and allows her naivety to take over. Middle aged and single, she is captivated by his charm. When Heidi & Gina (Emma’s best friends) points out that he may not be over his recently deceased ex wife, Emma just looks as this as them being overprotective! Emma slowly starts to realize there is something way more sinister going on, with Matthew entering her life at this time.

Overall, a really good read that makes me want to read more from this author. This was my first book by Adele Parks but certainly won’t be my last! Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

anneclareivy's review

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.25

v_dugas's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

First Wife’s Shadow by Adele Parks was an ARC gifted to me by HarperCollins Canada’s Killer Crime Club. First Wife’s Shadow is a story about a successful CEO, Emma, who is a total workaholic. She is married to her job, has great friends and seemingly has the perfect life until she meets handsome widower, Matthew. He’s everything she wants, but she can’t live up the ghost of, Becky, the dead first wife. Her shadow lurks everywhere leaving Emma to start questioning her worth. 

As Emma becomes more entangled in Matthew, she begins to leave her life and friends behind. Weird things start happening to her that she can’t explain. 

Adele Parks does it again. The twists of all twists happens about 65% ish through this book (don’t worry I won’t spoil it for you). Then more twists come along and practically change the story! I loved this book, I would have marked it higher but it was a little bit slow moving for me at the start and I know Ms Parks is a twisty queen so I was just being impatient. If you love a good twist this one is definitely for you. I do think it was a little too far gone in the damsel in distress move but I do love a solid and supportive friend group! Highly recommend First Wife’s Shadow for the thriller lovers out there! 

debs_shelves's review against another edition

dark tense

3.75

Twisty thriller!  A rich self made woman who has it all.  Except for someone to love.  Is there more to the handsome young widower than meets the eye?  Is he too good to be true?  Obviously!