I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I tried a different book by Briana Cole a while ago, and while I wasn’t won over, I was intrigued enough by the premise of In Their Shadows to give her another try. And I was blown away. I’m a sucker for thrillers, especially by Black authors, that really lean into the mess, and boy, did this one ever.
The plot is so intricate, what with the different personas and lives April inhabits, and I love the way this was conveyed, with it being mostly in the present with her juggling her two marriages, with a creeping specter from her past coming back to haunt her. But just when you think you have the story figured out, it pulls a twist, and then another, and I really didn’t know what to expect, but I loved where it ended up.
Because amid all these deeply messy characters is an analysis of April’s psyche. Her mother, Erika, looms large in her orbit, having a massive influence, yet not filling the typical maternal role from the outset, and the dysfunction in their relationship plays a role in shaping who April is, and comes to fruition as the plot unfolds in a beautifully messy way.
This was a deliciously compelling read, and I’d recommend it to lovers of domestic thrillers.

I am a fan of Briana Cole especially because I think she does a really good job with building suspense that lends to great plot twists. I was really happy to get my hands on a gifted copy of her newest mystery/suspense thriller, In Their Shadows. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advanced reader copy.

This story is about a woman who is in essence a glorified scam artist. She learned to play the game and use people, men in particular, to get her fair share out of life. Having been taught by her mother, Ericka, how to survive, April knows the life all too well. So well in fact, that she presently has multiple aliases and identities that thankfully have not crossed paths. That is until a package arrives that threatens to have her entire world crumbling down.

There were parts of the story, especially the suspense building and plot twists that were really YES moments for me. I absolutely loved the concept of one woman living multiple lives on a scam. I mean when fiction meets reality, it can always be fun. And April was a pro at it. Trained by the best.

There were other parts that could have been further explored and nice to see. I would have enjoyed more character development for April and Erika and even Jameson/Prez. I think I wanted to know more about them and kept waiting to learn more but it never came. I loved April's character overall, but there were times when she fell flat and almost one dimensional. Nevertheless, it's still definitely worth the read.

In Their Shadows releases on October 24, 2023.

3.5/5 ⭐️'s

This was my first read by Briana Cole, and I enjoyed the book but at times I felt as if it was being rushed. A con artist raised to be that by her mother. The situation her mother put her in at 17 was a little weird to me but for the story it made sense. I did love all the twists and turns especially as the story was wrapping up; it’s like one minute you’re thinking you have all the answers but then find out it’s more pieces to the puzzle. Overall it was an interesting read, and I will read more from the author especially to compare her writing.

Someone's threatening to expose April, who was raised by a scam artist mother and continues to live that way. Is is her mother Erika? And how far will April go to keep her secrets? This starts off well but honestly, April isn't likable. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fast read,

In Their Shadow left me breathless! The dynamics between this mother/daughter duo kept me on my toes the entire reading. Ericka, the mother, has promoted a life of thievery, treachery and Con artistry for her daughter April/Erin (or whatever name she uses to con her new "husbands" out of their money). This book had so many twist and turns with Brynn & Jameson (which I did not see coming). I thoroughly enjoyed and will definitely read more by this author. #NETGALLEY #INTHEIRSHADOWS

A scam artist has someone threatening to expose her secrets. I was missing the suspense here. I also didn't love the writing. It just felt awkward at times to me.

Thank you NetGalley, Dafina, and Briana Cole for the advanced copy of In Their Shadows in exchange for my honest review!

I have been a big fan of Cole's books in the past and I'm happy to say this one is no different. It starts off with a bang and doesn't let up until the very end. There were a few times I thought I knew what direction the book was headed, but I was pretty much never right.

The ending definitely threw me for a loop! Which is a good thing and I'm not at all mad about it. I can't wait to see what Cole comes up with next.

In Their Shadows will be on US bookshelves October 24!

This book is twisty and brilliantly written! I enjoyed it from beginning to end!

What I like about this book is the characters and the plot. I was floored and couldn't believe how shady and scandalous these characters were. It was a fantastic read! The book flowed perfectly, and it was fast-paced. What was the most enjoyable was the final twist. That twist had me screaming at the book!

“In Their Shadows” is the type of novel I enjoy reading. The one willing to push the envelope. The author kept everything nice and tidy. I think "In Their Shadows" is her best novel yet.

For those who read reviews to help decide to purchase, you MUST add this one to your collection! This novel will shock you and make you laugh and shout.

This book is OUTSTANDING! Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest, unapologetic book review.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

I’ve read all of her works and this was a fast read but not nearly as good as her previous works. There were some loose ends and plots holes as well.

April was taught from an early age to be the ultimate con artist. She seduces, and steals fortunes then vanishes without a trace. She is finally living her dream, albeit having two very different lives.

When a mysterious package arrives, April’s past is coming to head and secrets she thought were buried are being resurfaced. Up against an unknown entity, April must continue to act the part in order to survive. But when bodies start to turn up, April isn’t sure she can stay hidden. Who can she trust when she can’t be trusted?

I saw that this one had some mixed reviews, so I was a little hesitant to pick it up, but boy am I glad I did. I always enjoy reading about female con artists and this one had a good twist at the end! I think that the author did a good job creating a believable story along the way, and the twist was fun. The main character, despite doing some not so nice things, was really entertaining to read about and I enjoyed her. This one was utterly addictive, and I didn’t want to put it down. Good thing I had a free afternoon and was able to finish in one sitting.

If you are looking for a well-crafted suspense novel, then check this one out.

Thank you so much to Kensington Books, Dafina, and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was surprisingly disappointed. This was the first book by B.C. that I didn’t absolutely love. It felt rushed and pointless, like there was no real end in sight for the storyline. It came together with a bow on top, albeit not the jaw dropping moment that she usually has. It also didn’t feel like this was a continuation of a series. I expected more and perhaps my expectations were too high but a generously given 3 stars is all I can muster for this one.

3.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was my first Briana Cole book. I think this was a good book with drama and a little suspense. It had a good plot, good characters (though maybe not morally), and pacing. The main character April, who is also Erin and Michelle, was smart and also secretive. I like how she was able to juggle her pas and her current two lives all while trying to figure out who was "after" her.

The action and suspense of the book was high and I was invested along with April in trying to solve the mystery. I was excited to see who was the culprit, what was their motive, and how it would all end. It was also interesting to see what life April would choose.

The author also did a good job with the twists. While there were some elements I had figured out, the why and the details were ones that stumped me. I also think the culprit and their motive was done well.

Aside from that, there were things about this book that didn't quite work for me. I feel like the characters were interesting but in a one-dimensional way. There was a lot that could have been explored with April and her mother Erika that just wasn't. There also could have been some sort of redemption and growth from April. In some ways there was, but again I think there could have been more. I would have liked more insight into April and Erika's past as well. The book could have benefitted from more juggling between Erin and Michelle. The story was very one-sided in a way and since April's two lives was almost the basis of the plot, there should have been more about those two lives instead of just the one. In the end, a lot of things were left too loose for my liking. There were a lot of unanswered questions that I think needed to be answered.

What the author did well was create a story that was original. I give this book five stars on that alone because the plot and suspense was done in a way that was light but also intense when it needed to be. The author did a good job creating twists I did not see coming and keeping the plot moving forward at a good pace.

I enjoyed In Their Shadows, the story was well thought out and characters were well developed as well.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****