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.

I had read a couple thrillers that just weren’t delivering, so I immediately turned to this. I knew Adele would give me a domestic thriller with twists and turns that would keep me tearing through the pages! This was a great popcorn thriller that kept me entertained until the last mind blowing twist! I wanted to reach through the pages and shake the characters! Or mainly the main character, Emma! The rest of them were so shady, I wasn’t sure who I could trust! I went into this one blind and would recommend that for readers!

Emma Westly, 47, is the CEO of AirBright, a wind harvesting company. She is single and an extremely disciplined person. At a conference, she meets Matthew Charlton, 36, a free lance photographer. There is an instant attraction to one another. After thinking this was a one-off meeting, they end up seeing one another when he is hired to photograph officers of her company for their website.

As they get to know each other better, she learns he is a fairly recent widower. Emma has never felt this way about anyone. However, as she a wealthy person, her friends think he is just after her money. But when he asks her to marry him, she says yes and he agrees to a prenup.

Emma owns a large home on the edge of a wooded area built with care. Before and after their marriage strange things happen at her home and she can’t help but think there is some kind of paranormal force at work here. It is Matthew’s late wife, Becky haunting her?

As I kept reading this book I couldn’t believe all of the twists and turns right up to the very end. I am continuously amazed at the imagination of some authors as they write books like this that take readers on a wild ride. This book is wild and I enjoyed it. Hope others will too.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Emma has it all. She’s CEO of an ecofriendly company. She has a gorgeous, isolated contemporary house in the country. She has an inherited fortune and she has good friends. What doesn’t she have? A husband. Enter Matt Charlton, a handsome, charismatic photographer who she meets at a conference. He’s a widower, still grieving the death of his wife. Sparks fly and within months, he has moved in with her. There’s a catch. Several, actually. Her friends are not enthusiastic and warn Emma that she is moving too quickly. Matt seems to be obsessed with his dead wife and talks about her often. Then the strange events begin.

The talented Adele Parks has delivered a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. No spoilers here but nothing, nothing is what it seems. First Wife’s Shadow keeps you guessing until the last page and deserves every one of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Adele Parks for this ARC.

I loved this book and read it in one sitting. I could not put this book down.
This book was absolutely wild and I loved every minute.
The number of twists kept me wanting more! I didn't know what would happen next but it kept me on edge! This was probably one of the most twisted stories I've ever read.
Adele Parks atmospheric writing heightens the suspense, as she masterfully weaves tension. The psychological unraveling of the characters makes for an intense and unpredictable read.
First Wife's Shadow by Adele Parks was an exciting story I very much enjoyed.

This was my first book by Adele Parks and overall, I enjoyed it. The first half was very slow, but the twist right at 50% kept me going and the finish was strong (if not a tad bit predictable).

Emma is in her mid forties and while she's never been married and doesn't have kids of her own, she is a very successful business woman and a loving figure to her best friends' children. Emma meets Matthew, a freelance photographer, at a business event and they hit if off right away. Emma comes to find out that Matthew lost his wife, Becky, less than a year ago and while he is still mourning, he is ready to pursue more with Emma. Their relationship takes off and before long, Matthew is moving in with Emma, much to Emma's friends' dismay. Emma doesn't care that Matthew doesn't have a big, successful career but she can't seem to live up to his first wife. Everything she does is compared to Becky and before long, Emma can't figure out if she can trust Matthew, or even her friends, any longer.

The first half of the book is plot building and while I understand that it is important to the second half of the book, it is SLOW. I do wish the first half was a little more gripping, but it did do a good job setting up the second half when things really start to take off. As Emma slowly starts losing her mind, for lack of a better term, the reader does, too, trying to figure out who she can and cannot trust.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital copy. My review is honest and voluntary.

If you're in the mood for a psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, look no further than First Wife's Shadow by Adele Parks.
This gripping novel spins a tale of love, obsession, and mystery that will have you turning pages late into the night. At least it did for me.

PLOT SUMMARY:
Meet Emma, a hardworking CEO who has worked hard to become the independent, successful, wealthy person that she is. Enter Matthew, a charming photographer and widower who sweeps Emma off her feet at a conference. Their whirlwind romance quickly leads to an engagement, much to the concern of Emma's friends. They worry that Emma might be rushing into things, especially considering Matthew's tragic past and his late wife, Becky.
Ignoring her friend's concerns and several red flags, Emma settles into her new life with Matthew. However, she can't seem to shake the feeling that she's living in Becky's shadow. Emma's paranoia grows, and she soon begins to question everything, including her own sanity. Is Matthew the loving partner he appears to be, or is there a darker side to him?

WHY I LOVED IT:
This book started off as a bit of a slow burn, but quickly picked up and made me start questioning things. There's this deep sense of mystery that kept me intrigued and reading into the late hours of the night. I didn't 'love' the characters all that much, and at times they could be quite annoying. There were parts that were just unbelievable - but it didn't matter.
In fact, that's what makes the story what it is.

The twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very end, making this a perfect read for fans of psychological thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Big thank you to @HTPHIVE and @netgalley for the advanced copy of First Wife’s Shadow by Adele Parks which hits shelves this month on 3/18/25.

Emma meets Matthew, who was recently widowed, and quickly falls for him. Her friends are worried that she’s moving too quickly and tell her that she should slow down with him because she’s a very rich woman and Matthew is NOT a rich man. Emma starts to become jealous of his dead first wife, and gets increasingly paranoid when weird things start happening to her around the house.

I’ll admit I was getting bored of the story line about halfway in, but then part two hit and oh boy did it pick up! The second half of this book was more fast paced than the first and was told from a different POV and held a few twists and turns that were unexpected.
Someone’s out for revenge…. But who… and WHY?!

Unbelievable! This is an amazing book that kept me on edge throughout. I think this was one of her best books yet. I love the extensive descriptions of the setting and experiences each character encounters. A definite revengeful act against the main character told mainly from her POV. Emma is a very successful woman and doesn't mind flaunting her money. She may have divulged too much... Matthew is a recent widower after his wife died of a freak accident. When he sets his mind on Emma, she is unsure of a relationship after making it so long without a companion, but he is charming and handsome drawing her into his web...web of lies. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and wish her the best. Her friends have a different opinion of his motives and are quick to judge him no matter how hard he tries. After a brief stunt of dating, they marry. What is his motive or does he really love her? I had no idea this one would take me down a revengeful road leading to destruction and chaos. You will not believe where this one is going until you are at the last 25%. I loved it.
I can't divulge much about this one since it is better to go into it blind. When strange occurrences happen, you are not going to know who to trust.. An important note,,,try to compete with a deceased wife...intriguing...
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for this incredible ARC in exchange of my review.

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!

Thanks to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade and Harlequin Audio for both an EARC and an ALC.

I was so excited for this ARC and yet so disappointed. It is extremely slow moving - at 20% nothing much has happened except we have listened to a supposedly extremely smart, successful , regimented woman fall of a younger man ( or maybe just the good sex) and ignore oh so many red flags 🤦‍♀️ I just can’t . There are some predictable but interesting twists but overall I was just real disappointed in this one


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA Books, and Harlequin Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Adele Parks, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Kristin Atherton. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

When Emma meets Matthew, a kind, handsome widower, he seems to be just what she needs. Their friendship moves quickly, and her friends are worried that she might be taken advantage of, since she's rich and Matthew isn't. Emma isn't worried about that, but she does wonder if she is second best after his perfect first wife. But who really can Emma trust - her friends, Matthew, or even herself?

I’m a huge fan of Adele Parks and this book is why – perfect writing with a taut storyline that kept my mind guessing, flipping, and shocked. Emma’s character had me screaming at her naiveté, and lots stretched the imagination, but what a fun ride. Up until the very end, the twists kept coming. I thought the audiobook narration was spot on, and I ended up mostly listening to this one.

This was too much of a slow burn for me .
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Adele Parks always delivers outstandingly twisty psychological domestic suspense stories and this latest was no exception. Marriage plots, schemes, lies, gaslighting, gold diggers, revenge and more, this book really had it all and kept me guessing to the end. The audio narration was also extremely EXCELLENT read by Kristin Atherton. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

What happened to Matthew's first wife? Emma is not sure and now she is worried what to do. I found the plot intriguing and was so worried for Emma during the book. I got suspicious of everyone and was surprised here and there! A great thriller and a first for me from this author

Adele Parks' First Wife's Shadow is a masterful work of psychological suspense that grabs you from the very first page and never lets go. As a fan of domestic thrillers, I had high expectations, and I’m pleased to say this book exceeded them919-937-0920 in every way.

The story revolves around the complex, multi-layered characters, especially the protagonist, whose journey of discovery and emotional turmoil is riveting. Parks expertly weaves together a narrative that’s both thrilling and deeply human, making you question everything you thought you knew about love, loyalty, and betrayal. The pacing is perfectly timed, with moments of tension that will leave you holding your breath, eager to turn the next page.

What truly sets this book apart is how it cleverly tackles the themes of obsession, the weight of the past, and the devastating consequences of secrets. The plot twists are unpredictable and chilling, keeping the suspense high until the very last page. Parks' ability to craft a story that’s not just about the mystery but also about the psychology of her characters is what makes First Wife's Shadow stand out in the crowded thriller genre.

The writing is sharp, engaging, and layered with depth, ensuring that readers are not only entertained but also challenged by the complex emotional undercurrents.

If you're a fan of gripping crime thrillers, domestic suspense, or psychological dramas, First Wife's Shadow is an absolute must-read. It’s a perfect blend of dark intrigue and psychological insight, proving yet again that Adele Parks is a force to be reckoned with in the world of thrillers. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to MIRA Books, The Hive, and NetGalley for the gifted copy of First Wife’s Shadow. I really loved this one! It was a twisted and unique thriller. The twists kept on coming in the last 25% of the book and I really did not see a few of them coming which is rare for me.

Emma an extremely independent hardworking woman gets swept off her feet when she meets the swoon worthy Matthew. Matthew a widower quickly wins Emma over and has her making room in her very structured life for a new love. As time goes on strange things start happening and Matthew reveals more and more about his late wife Becky. Emma begins to compare herself to Matthew’s late wife and feels that she is in competition with a dead woman who was with her husband before her. Can these strangers occurrences have anything to do with Matthew’s late wife? How is that possible when she is dead? Is Emma losing touch with reality?

Told from multiple points of views you’ll be tossed into this twisty thriller and questioning everyone.

Full of all the twists and turns you hope for in a psychological thriller. I was baffled, confuddled, betrayed and astonished in this book! I love main character growth throughout a novel, and Emma's character did just that. A total tale of who to believe, who to trust, and who to like; constantly upending itself and making you second guess yourself! A novel about desperation, revenge, love, and the lengths we go to get what we think we deserve. Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarlequinTradePublishing for an Arc of Parks' new, explosive novel!

☆ARC REVIEW☆
Publication date: March 18, 2025

I unfortunately found this quite long and boring. The summary of the book sounded super intriguing but it just seemed to drag.


Thank you NetGalley, the author, Harlequin Trade Publishing for advanced copies in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun take on the dead wife/gaslit woman tropes! I couldn’t stop listening to this audiobook and when the first major twist hit, I literally gasped. Such a terrific listen. My first book by Adele Parks, but it won’t be my last!