Colleen became Michael’s secretary a month after his wife Joanna left him, and Joanna was 5 months pregnant at the time... and that’s where the ghosts and lies begin.

Filled with twists, turns, deceit and one mystery after another, you never know what is going to happen next. Even when you think you have it figured out and are satisfied, another surprise twist pops up.

The characters aren’t lovable, some are barely likable! But you aren’t really supposed to like most of them, you’re supposed to suspect every character of murder from the first sentence on the page... and you do. I love characters like these, you want to have them in some nighttime soap opera or reality show and talk catty garbage about them!

And I’m sitting here trying to write a spoiler free review, ummmm, that is so difficult! How do you do that when the book starts with spoilers, but maybe not quite the ones you think.

This book had one red herring after another. It kept me guessing to the end-and what an ending. Unusual. The protagonist is not a character one really likes but seems to keep the story moving. Sometimes one distrusts her. Other times, she seems sincere. The author wrote a tangled web that keeps the reader interested.

Kristin Miller presents chapter titles that really work on the suspense of this novel. Count downs to the murder of the main character Colleen Roper! Although this was a page turner and did have a jaw dropping ending; I was just not invested in the characters involved. "A copy of this book was provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."

In Her Shadow
A Novel
by Kristin Miller
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
Ballantine Books
Mystery & Thrillers , Women's Fiction

Highly recommend! I didn't know till the last page how the story would end. Great thriller!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishers for my digital ARC.

Colleen Roper is hired as an assistant to Michael Harris. They begin an office affair, and she quits following becoming pregnant.

Michael Harris is a wealthy businessman, whose pregnant wife, Joanna, left him. Michael lives in a huge, beautiful home, Ravenwood, in an affluent neighborhood, and has kept the home almost as a shrine to Joanna.

When Michael brings Colleen to Ravenwood to live, Colleen after given a grand tour is told to keep out of one wing where all the doors are locked, except one. The chef and housekeeper treat Colleen with disdain, all the while reminding Colleen about Joanna at every turn.

When a neighbor is out walking her dogs, and one escapes its leash, it digs up a bone--a human femur bone. Digging out a small grave where Joanna's humanly remains are unearthed. Now Michael is the main suspect, and the locked doors will be opened, along with buried secrets kept by a growing list of suspects.

When I got to the end of this book, I asked myself--What did I miss? I started reading this, thinking it was going to be centered around another outcome, but didn't see the end coming. That was what made this an amazing read! This was a twisted, haunting thriller!

I received an ARC from NetGalley via Random House and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

I received an ARC of this book. Wow! Kept me guessing until the very end. Great suspense with so many twists. A real page turner. Highly recommend if you're looking for a book you can't put down!

When I read the blurb for In Her Shadow, I was intrigued. Seeing the comparisons to Rebecca caught my interest right away. The blurb deepened my interest in the book. It sounded perfect for me. Then I read it. While I liked some parts of the book, there were other parts that I didn’t like. Those parts did factor in my rating of the review.

In Her Shadow had a fast plotline, which I liked. The book takes place within a week of Colleen moving into Michael’s house, Ravenwood. There were no dropped characters and, more importantly, no dropped storylines. The flow of the book was ok. Because the book had several different POV’s (always in 3rd person), the flow did get interrupted. I felt that if the author kept to Colleen, Michael, and maybe Joanna’s POV, the book would have had a better flow to it. I did not need to read about the detective, Michael’s friends, the cook, or the maid’s POV.

I liked, and felt terrible, for Colleen during the first half of In Her Shadow. She was thrust into a world that she did not know about. She had to deal with a staff that treated her like she was invisible. Adding to that, she was pregnant, and it was high risk. I didn’t blame her for feeling that she was overshadowed in the first days there. I also didn’t blame her for becoming obsessed with Joanna and her legacy. But, saying that, I wasn’t expecting what she found out.

I didn’t like Michael. From the beginning, he came across as skeevy. I had my doubts about him from the start. I mean, who moves on less than a month after his wife disappears? And then gets his new girlfriend pregnant? That was a huge WTF for several people in the book and me. But, as skeevy as he was, I didn’t quite believe that he killed Joanna. He was a coward and a bit of a wuss, but he didn’t spark that “I’m a killer” vibe to me.

The secondary characters most definitely made the book. From the police detective to Joanna’s best frenemy to Michael’s best friend, those characters breathed life into the book when it needed it.

The mystery angle of the book (Joanna’s disappearance) was well written, but it held no mystery for me. I was able to guess what happened to her before the author got there. I also guessed certain specific details that occurred before they happened (if that makes sense).

The thriller angle of the book was very well written. The author was able to keep me on my toes during those scenes.

The end of In Her Shadow was intense. Considering the prologue, I was expecting the book to end a certain way. I was not expecting what happened to happen. But, as I mentioned in the above paragraph, there was a huge plot twist that took me by surprise. I was not expecting what was revealed. I also was not expecting the final chapter or the countdown. Does that mean another book is in the works?

A dark and twisty thriller that left me guessing until the end! This was wholly atmospheric with a creepy setting. The characters were unlikable and I was confused to their ties. The writing was well done and set the tone for a creepy experience! The final big twist was well done and surprised me. Thank you to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Colleen is pregnant with Michael's baby. She was his secretary and when his wife disappeared they began dating. He takes her to his estate Ravenwood. Colleen is not used to living in the lap of luxury as Michael is She feels very out of place and with the mystery of Michael's missing wife, Colleen's life is not easy. More and more secrets are revealed and so many twists and turns make this a great thriller! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

I loved the gothic atmosphere of this book. Reminded me of Rebecca in a way. A pregnant girlfriend of a married boss who is wife comes to harm. Somewhat cliched, yet interestingly written. The author did a find job with character and plot development and kept me on my toes as far as the ending. I thought she did a wonderful job for the most part and I definitely recommend the read. I will look into more of her works.

I would like to thank the author/publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was an interesting read. It centers on Colleen, who becomes pregnant with her boss's child and he whisks her away to his mansion, Ravenwood, in the San Francisco Bay area, Once there, she realizes that there is a lot she doesn't know about his ex-wife, Joanna, who left him right before Colleen came on the scene. Colleen is met with hostility from the house staff, odd behavior from the next door neighbors, and an overall sense of creepiness in the house, which has a wing she is told not to enter. It also turns out that everyone loved Joanna and Colleen is struggling to live up to her memory.

Early in the book, there are bones found in a shallow grave near the Ravenwood mansion. I think everyone knows who those bones turn out to be, but the author makes you wait on confirmation of this for a few chapters. Though I liked the dynamic between the 2 police detectives, I did think the police work itself was a little slow- there were multiple times when I questioned why they didn't follow a lead or make an assumption, only to see them finally get there later in the book.

There is an overall sense of unease throughout the book, which added to my enjoyment, but the best thing here was the unexpected and awesome ending. I pride myself on being able to figure out a twist but did not see this coming.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to those who like mysteries and psychological thrillers- I would give this a solid 3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher Random House for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you are a fan of Rebecca you will love this. It is a story of a young woman who gets involved with her boss and finds herself pregnant. He moves her into his palatial home after his wife suddenly leaves him. Like Rebecca, everyone loves his wife and Colleen finds it difficult to fit in. This is a thriller from the very beginning as you are introduced to the staff, friends and neighbors of the very popular woman who left. The story keeps you involved and guessing and your heart goes out to this young woman who so wants to fit in. The characters are well defined, the settings are beautiful.

My only complaint was the abrupt ending. I wanted more. Kristin did a great job in building her story but the rush to wrap it all up was not what I wanted or even expected. The story had you going one way only to find yourself suddenly going another. That is what makes a great mystery. A little more in the summation would have made this a 10 star book.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for granting me the wish for this book!
I couldnt put this book down. When I say I read it everywhere, I mean while walking the dog, making dinner, and until 3 in the morning on a work night.
I loved how much Kristin Miller built the characters so that they came alive off of the page. She is a very talented author and this book is a perfect twisted and twisty book. There were characters to root for and characters to hate and everytime I thought I had it figured out, the author threw me with a twist.
10 stars. If you have this on your TBR shelf, READ IT NOW!!! :-)

In Her Shadow
by Kristin Miller
368 pages
Publication date: April 21, 2020
Publisher: Ballantine Books
5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow, Wow, Wow!!!! It's 5 am and I just finished In her Shadow. That was one twisted, shocking psychological thriller! I was drawn In from the beginning and my interest kept throughout. I could not put this book down. So many twists and turns that has your brain going in so many different directions. It is very well written and each character is really well developed. I felt like I was right there with them during every part of the story. It was so good i didn't want it to end.I really enjoyed the characters and story. This was such an Intense read with such a mind blowing twist you will never see coming! My jaw hit the floor! It really was a roller coaster of a ride.The ending omg it left me with my mouth hanging open saying what ??????
I am so glad the
publisher granted my wish and I received an advance copy of In Her Shadow. I absolutely love love loved it !!!!This is one book you will not want to miss. This is the first book by this Author that I have read, but it won't be the last. I want to read all the books she writes. I am impatiently
looking forward to reading many more of this authors books. As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get ! Thank you to NetGalley ,the publisher and the author for the chance to read and review this amazing 5 star read for an honest review ! I wish I could give it more that 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#InHerShadow #NetGalley

Miller crafts a psychological mind tease. Michael's wife Joanna has disappeared. He now Has his pregnancy secretary moving into the home he once shared with Joanna. Other characters emerge from the mists: Travis, Rachael, and Dean. Joanna turns out to be a cunning, very unlikable woman. She had many secrets that are slowly revealed. In the end, however the one who ends having the most secrets is right in front of the reader. I appreciated the author's clever play on words with chapter titles.

Colleen makes her living as a personal assistant to Michael Harris. She is also now his girlfriend as well as an expectant mother to be. Michael's first wife Joanna left him abruptly six months ago and he has now asked Colleen to move into Ravenwood the estate he once shared with Joanna.

Colleen can not believe her eyes when she steps through the door. She has never in a million years expected to live in such a life of luxury. However there is one problem. Joanna's memory seems to still linger in the house. The chef and housekeeper are less than friendly. And why did Michael tell her she is never allowed to enter the locked rooms in the east wing?

After spending her first night restless and sleepless she is shocked to find out that a body has been found buried in the grove right across the street from Ravenwood. Is it possible that Joanna didn't actually leave her husband but was murdered instead? And just how well does she now Michael? You'll have to read it to find out.

This was a compelling read that takes some twists and turns. Some I did see coming and some that I did not. Nobody outside of Colleen is likable which makes the who did it that much more difficult to figure out. I thought the ending was solid and enjoyable. I will gladly read more from Kristin Miller. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for generously granting my wish for this ARC.

Colleen has never had anyone care for her and love her and she so desperately craves this. She may not come from the same world as him but she is not letting that stop her.
When Colleen becomes pregnant with her boss Michael’s child, she is brought to his home, Ravenwood Estate. His wife, Joanna disappeared a short time before Colleen starting working at Michael’s office. Joanna left the marriage and went to stay with her sister. Colleen may be sleeping with Michael and living in his house but the staff at Ravenwood and everyone around them is not so quick to let Joanna go. Colleen is given the cold shouldder
by everyone and feels that she is still living in the shadow of Joanna. When bones are discovered across from the house, speculation is around Michael and what really happened to Joanna. The police are closing in and Joanna isn’t ready to give up her fairytale yet. But how far is she willing to go to achieve her happy little family?
Highly recommend this thriller with it’s plot twists and turns. Keep me guessing until the end.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am very happy I was able to read this book... at first I was a little confused at how the main character was going to end up in this novel but wow... Kristin Miller did a wonderful job at really letting her characters shine. Just the right amount of thrill and suspense!

Colleen is 5 months pregnant and moves in with Michael, her boyfriend and former boss, whose wife left him and disappeared without a trace. Early on, it's mentioned that Colleen's favorite book is Rebecca, and her experience does echo that book in some ways - the staff hate her, she feels compared with Joanna by everyone, etc. Then Joanna's body turns up buried across the street, and everyone comes under suspicion. I guessed at the ending in the middle of the book, and while I did mostly enjoy it, I kind of hated all of the characters and wasn't really shocked by anything, so 3 stars.

I love a good thriller and man did I get one in this book. It started out with a bit of a shocker and ended that way to, The story starts with Colleen, naive, in love and pregnant, moving in with her boyfriend Michael at his opulent estate Ravenwood, All seems well except for the mystery of the missing wife Joanna. Then a body is discovered and the twists keep coming. Is Michael a murderer? Was Joanna the person everyone thought she was? This books reminds me of Rebecca and the gothic romances I was addicted to as a teenager, and has some good twists and turns. I have never read this author before, but highly recommend this book for people who like a good thriller, or are nostalgic for a gothic mystery.

Thank you to Random/Ballantine, Netgalley and the author, Kristin MIller for the chance to preview this book. I cannot wait for her next endeavor.