Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.

There are two things about this book that I regret and neither of them are because I didn't like it. First, it took me forever to finish it and I kept wanting it to be over but that is absolutely no reflection on the story itself, life just got in the way of me being able to spend as much time reading as I would have liked. Second, I did not realize it was a sequel when I requested it, but the good thing to come out of that is now I want to read the prequel! Even though this is part two, obviously you can read it as a stand alone because I just did, it made complete sense and was very good and even though I kind of know the ending of the prequel I feel I must read it now.
It was kind of multiple stories rolled into one but they all worked very well together. The characters were all very unique and some I liked (I can't help it but I liked Stacie's dad) and there were some that I didn't like (Mark and Daan) but then Daan surprised me and I kind of liked him, for a minute. I was kind of hoping for a different ending but am okay with it and it does make more sense than the one I was hoping for.
There were some twists, some edge of the seat moments and overall I'm glad to have read it. Now, I need to go find the first one.

When I first read the front page of this book, the character name Kylie Gillingham sounded familiar and then I clicked that this book was a sequel to Women Last Seen which was when we saw Fiona kill her best friend Kylie who was living a double life - one as Leigh and the other as Kai. Leigh was a stepmother to two boys and lived a homely life, but as Kai, she was a single woman and married to a rich wealthy husband. Her lives were completely different and she ran in different circles. That was until her friend Fiona got jealous and took matters into her own hands. Kylie's husband Kai is the main suspect, but Mark's sons Oli and Seb are about to discover the dark truth about Fiona and Kylie and learn what happened and where Kylie is. The other storyline that runs through this book is Stacie who we learn has amnesia, she can't remember her life but has these fleeting memories. Who is Stacie and how does she connect to Kylie? What dark secrets is Stacie's dad Kenneth hiding as we learn the connections in the last few chapters between Kylie and Stacie? I would say overall that this is a good thriller, but only read it if you have read the first book otherwise, you will be feeling confused as you try and connect the dots in this giant web of deceit. I do find Adele Parks, a hit/miss author for myself but the DCI Clements series is definitely hit-worthy for readers who love missing people, double lives, and family stories.

What a roller coaster! It took some time for me to get invested in this book but there was a certain point where I couldn’t get enough and was desperate to find time to keep reading! I still don’t know whether to like or dislike Kylie but there was definitely a very clear villain in this revenge story. This book is full of complicated relationships and complicated feelings and I’m here for it!

So many layers to this story, so many secrets, so many lies. And I loved every minute of it!

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced thriller, with all it's interlocking characters and their devious minds. I'll admit, I was a bit confused with two husbands, the two wives who just may be the same woman (what?), best friends (really?), and an amnesiac women living on the beach. How do they all tie together? My head was spinning.

Two Dead Wives was am amazing read and one I won't soon forget. This is book two in the DCI Clements series but totally can be read as a standalone. I loved that we got another look at a case that Clements found herself involved in. And I am excited for more.

3.5 stars rounded up. I read this book as a standalone so my perspective on this book may be different than someone who read it as a continuation of the series. The first probably 40% of the book took off really slowly for me. I really had to drag myself through it. We started off with the story of Kylie going missing and then suddenly we were abruptly taken into Stacie’s story, and I felt like I was being forced to dig through a lot of “unimportant” information to get back to the main story. Once the stories became connected, however, the pace really picked up and I really enjoyed the story. There were some good plot twists and there was a lot of suspense!

I gave this a chance. I truly did. I enjoyed the 1st book enough, but this book seemed to go on and on for no reason. I didn't even realize it was a sequel until after I received it from NetGalley. I got through more than 50% of the book, but couldn't take anymore.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the sequel to "Woman Last Seen", which I have not read. This will tell us how Kylie Gillingham ended up with her secrets.

"Two Dead Wives" was a very good read. Kylie Gillingham is now missing during Covid pandemic and her secrets have now been exposed. This was not the way she wanted her husbands to find out her secrets.

I do highly recommend reading "Woman Last Seen" first since this will help you grasp the beginning of the book easier. Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for the advance read.

Two Dead Wives is the sequel to Woman Last Seen and deals with the aftermath of the disappearance of Kylie Gillingham. Kylie had been leading a double-life and had two husbands when someone abducted her. Kylie is presumed dead and the prime suspect is her “second” husband. There is a second storyline about a woman named Stacie who is living with her father after having surgery. These chapters seem unrelated to Kylie’s story at first, but then begins to make more sense. There are a few twists and turns and dramatic scenes before everything comes together at the end.

I read the first book but this book works well as a standalone. In fact, I liked the storyline and the tone of this book much more than the first one. DC Clements returns and I like her character and what a capable investigator she was, while remaining empathetic to those involved in the case. She sees what appears to be the facts in Kylie’s murder investigation, but is willing to keep an open mind.

The book alternates between several points-of-view, including DC Clements, both of Kyle’s husbands, Kylie’s stepson, and Stacie. Note that because of when it takes place, there are several references to the lockdown in the UK, mask-wearing, etc. throughout the book. Some of the things occurring in Stacie’s story are a little strange, but most start to make more sense as the story progresses. It’s hard to say too much without giving spoilers, but the book is entertaining and becomes especially suspenseful near the end. I wondered what would happen next to the various characters and whether or not justice would prevail. I like that the story tied up the loose ends and ended on a hopeful note.

~ Christine

I might be in the minority here but this was not my favorite- I found it somewhat slow and hard to believe. I might give the prequel a try to see if that changes my opinion.

The first 25% of this was a little hard to follow. But once you get the jist and the characters straight the pacing is better. I liked the different points of view, I liked the plot and the ending. I do find it strange door in the UK apparently only close with keys even on the inside.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity for o read Two Dead Wives by Adele Parks. This is an author who never disappoints and this book is a solid wow!

Going into this book, I somehow missed that it was a sequel to Woman Last Seen.  However, I think it works well enough as a standalone novel.  For the most part, the author does a good job of giving you the backstory you might have missed.  I will say that I'm going to have to borrow the previous novel from the library now, just so I can have the whole story.

I really enjoyed the multiple points of view, especially Stacie's as hers seemed to be the most honest to me.  Both Mark and Daan felt like they were hiding something, but that might be due to me having read and watched too many mysteries where the husband indeed did do it.  As the story progresses and you get to know each one of them more, I grew to like both Stacie and Daan.  Mark's a bit of a limp fish, but he did mean well, so I didn't totally dislike him either.  Of all the characters, Oli and Seb were my favorites.  Despite being kids, they were determined, devoted, and unafraid to find out the truth.

The story unfolds in a very twisty and engaging way.  Every time I thought I had it figured out, I discovered I was wrong.  Once I finally did think I had the killer nailed down, there was one heck of a twist thrown at me that I probably should have seen coming.  I am a bit oblivious when reading so it's not surprising I missed it.  Still, I thought it was a great little surprise that turned the entire course of the book around.  

Two Dead Wives was a fascinating and intriguing murder mystery with a twist.  The characters all seemed unreliable and sketchy in their own right, but I also found myself wanting to believe them all, too.  DCI Clements while not a huge part of the story - which was interesting considering - was the kind of investigator that I enjoy. I'd love to read more in this series if the author decides to continue on with it.

Wow!!
What a roller coaster. I absolutely LOVED Two Dead Wives By; Adele Parks.

It's my understanding that this is book 2 of DCI Clements mysteries, but I can't speak to what the first book really was about, except I know it had mostly the same characters with the same storyline, but this book seems to be a different perspective and another thread added to this addicting who done it. In my opinion, this can completely be read as a stand alone!

When we realize that two men are missing their wife (yes 1 wife, 2 husbands), we immediately dive head first into life after both husband's find out that their wife was married to another man, and is now, most likely DEAD. After either being killed or escaping a torture room, both men are forced to go on without her, hating her, missing her, and trying to clear their names. All set during the lockdown from covid, this is a challenging situation, given the state of the country and the restrictions they are faced with.

Simultaneously, we have the story of Stacie, a girl in her 30's who has recently moved back in with her father to their small coastal town, after having a brain surgery, that she essentially has no memory of her life prior to. As we walk with Stacie, helping to conjure the memories locked away in her mind about who she was before, we start to learn just how small the world is after all, and how one thread of connection, can be the missing piece.

This story is gripping from the very beginning. It took off fast, and was hard to put down. I love the different POVs, and they simplistic style everything was written in. I feel like the character development was top notch. I got a GREAT sense of everything about the characters, even the things the author doesn't describe to us, just through the use of dialogue and POV. It was a whirlwind, and there were a few parts that felt redundant, but overall I would 100% recommend for a good thriller/mystery.

When a wife is murdered, isn't it almost always the spouse who turns out to be the primary suspect? What happens when there are two husbands?

Having two lives and two identities didn't do Kylie any favours— in the end, when someone kidnaps her, the police are now looking for a body. The case has gripped the nation, and the whole affair won't end for either man.

DCI Clements is on the case, and she knows that the dark side of humanity can make you a person do some unspeakable things.

Stacie Jones is recovering from a severe illness and is being nursed back to health by her retired GP father. Can their lives remain reclusive?

How are these families all linked, and how much danger are they all in?

I didn't love this book. It wasn't a bad read, but it was slow in places. I don't think it needed to be this long, and some of the POVs were lengthy, and there wasn't much balance. Two Dead Wives is a sequel to Women Last Seen that may answer my one question about why Kylie would lead a double life. I was disappointed I didn't know that before reading this one because there were more questions than answers.

I also felt the book was a little predictable, and all the excellence was in the last ⅓ of the book. The writing was good; it felt like a lot of padding to a book that didn't need it.

It was hard to care about any of the characters except the Oli, who I did invest my time in. I think it's because I didn't read the first book and missed many plot details of the characters' backstories.
I am going back and reading the books in sequence. I intend to re-evaluate my initial review. I suggest you first read

I recommend you read Women Last Seen before reading Two Dead Wives. I loved Adele Parks's last book I read, One Last Secret, I will continue to read her books. I am going back and reading the books in sequence. I intend to re-evaluate my initial review of 3.5 Stars.


I want to thank NetGalley, MIRA and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the AEC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC ebook. When I found out that “Two dead Wives” was a sequel to “Woman Last Seen” I had to get the first book and read it first so I didn’t miss anything. I want you to know that was not needed, the author makes sure you know anything you need to know in this book, but I still enjoyed reading the books in order.
I really enjoyed the story of Kayleigh. She is a bigamist and her entire story is very interesting. In this book we have the aftermath of Kayleigh’s fall off the cliff after she was pushed by best friend Fiona. It’s during the lockdown, her boys are greving, and husband #2 Dann is being framed for murder. We have a character named Stacie who is living with her father Kenneth. Something is off about Stacie, what could it be?
Adele Parks hit another home run with this book. She is becoming one of my favorite authors. I do have to say that I liked the first book better than the second but that’s mainly because I wanted to know what happened to Kayleigh and if Fiona would get caught and I felt this book took a little longer to tell me what I wanted to know.

I read this not knowing that it was actually a sequel to “Woman Last Seen,’” but it was still very easy to follow along. You don’t have to read them in order for the story to make sense. It flows so beautifully on its own. With that being said, I thoroughly enjoy Adele’s writing. I thought that I had it all figured out by the title, but I was so wrong! The twists in this one keep coming, and the author keeps you guessing throughout.

When Kylie goes missing, the life she has so carefully created and kept hidden is brought into the light. She has two separate families and neither was the wiser. So was it one her her husbands or someone else? DCI Clements knows there is more than meets the eye so keeps digging and digging. The author has crafted a convoluted thriller that was a compelling read.

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I liked this book more than I thought I would. This is my first read by the author, and I did not read woman last seen before picking up this book. I read this as a stand alone and found it very enjoyable even without reading the prequel.
Now that I’m finished with it, I want to read it!
I enjoyed Kylie’s character even though she was flawed, as well as Stacie’s father Kenneth who was also very flawed.
This book kept a good pace and kept me guessing. I didn’t think that Kenneth was going to wind up helping in the end.
Overall, 3.5 stars for me and would recommend!

TWO DEAD WIVES by Adele Parks reminds us why she is at the top of so many TBR piles.

As the world begins to deal with the pandemic, forty-three year old Kylie Gillingham goes missing, and the only one who believes she knows where she is is her BFF Fiona Phillipson. What can she do but move into the family home and help care for Mark and his two children Oli, 15 and Seb, 12? After all, Mark’s first wife died after a long illness a few years back. Mark reports ‘Leigh’ missing.

Meanwhile, Daan Janssen believes HIS wife of four years, ‘Kai’ is caring for her sick mother out of town. He cannot get in touch with her and a knock on the door reveals that Kylie Gillingham is a bigamist, is missing and he is the prime suspect in her disappearance.

Finally, there is ‘Stacie Jones’ who is being lovingly(?) cared for by her father, Kenneth after suffering through surgery for a brain tumor. She has little to no memory of her past life but her father insists that she will recover her memory over time. When Stacie realizes she is being locked in and controlled by her father, not taken care of, she begins to have flashbacks of an earlier life. When a crazy, old teacher insists that Stacie is “the dead woman”, she can’t figure out what is going on. What dead woman?

Daan looks for help in the unlikeliest place and Fiona realizes that maybe being with Mark and the boys isn’t what she really wants.

As usual, Adele Parks proves why she is a master at suspense. Her writing style is very smooth and easy which leads to an entirely enjoyable read. I love how she fleshes out her characters and makes you feel like you are watching what she describes rather than reading it. I will be looking forward to her next novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Books for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

This book came highly recommended and it didn't disappoint. Although it is the second in a series, you can read it as a stand-alone book. But I would recommend reading both together!