balberry 's review for:

First Wife's Shadow by Adele Parks

4.0

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This twisty thriller kept me on my toes more than I expected. Just when I thought I had the plot figured out, it delivered a surprise that caught me off guard. The writing is sharp, and while I disliked nearly every character for one reason or another, it felt like an intentional choice for the story. The pacing was uneven for me. Around halfway, I was ready for a big finale... and then it just kept going. The extended wrap-up wore on, turning what could have been a snappy, satisfying conclusion into something that dragged. I appreciate a thorough ending and love a well-done epilogue, but this wasn’t that for me. The premise was solid, the reveals effective, and it delivered a few rewarding shocks. Not quite a favourite, but worth the read if you like a layered deception. 

Thanks to NetGalley and MIRA Books for access to this book.