Book Rating: 3/5
Narration Rating: 4/5

This audiobook was solid overall, though I found the second half much more engaging than the first. The beginning felt a bit slow for a thriller. I understand the need to set the stage, but I was hoping for the suspense to kick in a bit sooner.

That said, once the story picked up, I was hooked and didn’t want to turn off the audio. One aspect I really enjoyed was the use of multiple perspectives; it added layers to the plot and helped create a more dynamic narrative.

My biggest critique is the character development. I didn’t feel particularly connected to any of the characters. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Emma, but that’s mostly by default since the central conflict revolves around her. The rest felt somewhat flat and didn’t leave a strong impression.

Overall, this is a decent, slow-burning thriller. If you enjoy multi-POV storytelling and don’t mind a gradual build-up, it’s worth a listen.

Kristin Atherton can do no wrong! The moment I saw she was narrating this, I instantly requested it. Her performance added so much atmosphere and depth to the story—I’m always impressed by her range.

This was my first book by Adele Parks, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. It turned out to be a very interesting listen, full of unexpected twists. At one point, I even wondered if there might be a paranormal element—it definitely had me spooked when Emma started hearing crashes while alone in her room!

That said, I had mixed feelings about Emma. I appreciated her strong morals, but I found many of her decisions frustrating. She came across as too trusting, especially when it came to Matthew. Maybe it was her loneliness that made her ignore the red flags, but still—it was hard not to feel like she should have been more cautious.

Overall, "First Wife’s Shadow" was an entertaining and twisty listen. While I didn't always connect with the main character, the eerie atmosphere and Kristin Atherton’s narration kept me engaged throughout.

Thank you to Adele Parks, Kristin Atherton, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve enjoyed all of Adele’s books and this one was no different. I loved the character development and felt the complexities of each of them. The romance is the story showed how quickly a person can deny red flags and make this story very believable.

A big fan of all her books, and this was no different. No idea who to trust, and it was great with all the descriptions of the setting.

First Wife’s Shadow is a tense, atmospheric psychological thriller that slowly draws you into a web of love, grief, and dangerous secrets. Adele Parks masterfully builds suspense, creating a story where nothing is quite what it seems and trust becomes a fragile thing.

The protagonist, Emma, is relatable and layered — a woman caught between her love for Matthew and the increasingly unsettling legacy left behind by his first wife, Becky. Parks handles the psychological tension beautifully, keeping the listener second-guessing everyone’s motives.

The audiobook narration by Kristin Atherton is smooth and clear, capturing Emma’s vulnerability and mounting anxiety well. While I wished for a bit more emotional range during some of the tenser scenes, overall, Atherton’s performance kept me engaged and invested in the unfolding mystery.

The pacing is deliberate at first, setting a moody, uneasy tone, but the twists in the second half are sharp and genuinely surprising. Without giving too much away, the ending ties the tension together in a way that’s both satisfying and unsettling — exactly what I want from a thriller.

Overall, First Wife’s Shadow is an addictive listen, perfect for readers who enjoy domestic thrillers that play with trust, identity, and obsession. I’d recommend it to fans of Lisa Jewell, B.A. Paris, and readers who like their suspense with a psychological edge.

Emma is a successful CEO. She seems to have it all except love. While her two best friends are married and have children, Emma is content with her single lifestyle. Until she meets Matthew. She is instantly drawn to him and they begin a fast relationship. There is only one problem, Matthew was once married and Emma always feels second best and her friends are not convinced that he isn't in it to get to her money.

Part thriller, part mystery, part romance, I didn't know which direction this book would head next! Reading or listening to thrillers always keeps me on my feet. I know there will be a murder, I just don't know when. This book kept me on my toes the entire time wondering if this was it! I felt just as gaslit as Emma did and was in disbelief once the twist came. I definitely was not expecting any of it!

I listened to this book on audio provided by NetGalley. I enjoy listening to thrillers because it makes me wait to hear the twist. I can't skip several lines ahead to see what happens next. I have to wait which builds the suspense. Kristen Atherton voice is the perfect match to Parks' writing style. Her vocal tone and cadence are easy to listen to and follow. I tend to listen to audiobook at 1.2 and her articulation allowed me to understand everything. She kept me engaged the entire time.

This book was riveting from beginning to end. I will definitely be adding Adele Parks to my list of favorite thriller authors.

Love this book and the narrator! Now I need to find more of her books. It was so good! Highly recommend!

Emma is successful, wealthy, and disciplined. She has created massive success in business, and when she meets Matthew, a kind and attractive widower, her life seems to be complete. Her close friends are initially happy for her, but as the relationship progresses quickly they begin to doubt Matthew’s authenticity. Emma trusts Matthew, but can’t help comparing herself to his dead wife and previous relationship. When disturbing things begin happening to Emma, she questions who or what is targeting her, and as suspicion and jealousy pile on, Emma’s worried her grip on reality is slipping.

This story was initially slow to pick up for me, but I found myself really enjoying the mystery! Emma is so smart, yet has trouble sticking to her convictions, and I felt for her as the gaslighting pursued. I felt like the reveal happened a little too fast, but the satisfying ending made up for that!

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted book, and Harlequin Audio for the listening copy!

This was such a fun audiobook—Kristin Atherton nailed the narration, especially her take on Emma. Totally brought the character to life.

The story starts from Emma’s perspective, and I liked watching her shift from guarded and career-focused to suddenly swept up in a whirlwind romance. Her friends are suspicious, she’s unsure about the shadow of his late wife, but she’s all in. What could go wrong, right?

At first, I thought I had this one figured out. It felt a little predictable… until it wasn’t. The twists hit, the red flags started to pile up, and by the end, I was definitely caught off guard in the best way.

If you’re in the mood for a light suspense with some solid curveballs, this one’s worth a listen.

This book was okay. A run of the mill thriller. Some parts were more interesting than others. But the twist was ultimately predictable. Three stars.

Adele Parks keeps getting better and better. This was a mystery/thriller that kept me guessing throughout the entire books. Engaging plot, interesting characters. Highly recommend. The narrator did a good job building and keeping suspense and playing the different characters.

This was a fun little mystery. Not too original and forgettable, but a good escape book. Narration was good.

Emma, a wealthy, smart, and independent CEO, rapidly falls for Matthew, a recent widower, with a dead wife named Becky and red flags EVERYWHERE! Emma feels like she'll never be as good as Becky in Matthew's eyes. This book is a speedway of surprising twists and turns. While I had some of this figured out, I didn't see all of it coming! This book kept me engaged, and I enjoyed the narration of this book also. I've enjoyed reading Adele Parks before, and I'm sure I'll keep reading everything she writes.

Wow....just wow! First Wife's Shadow is a book that keeps on giving.

Emma is a successful businesswoman. Financially secure, strong and independent, she is not looking for love, but while away at a conference, she meets Matthew; a young, handsome widower who has recently lost his wife. The two hit it off and a relationship quickly blossoms.

Despite Matthew's thoughtful gestures and kind personality, Emma's friends are concerned. Everything seems to be moving so fast, and they question his motivations. Emma however is head over heels. Her only competition, the memory of his dead wife. Emma begins to wonder if she will ever be able to compete with the memory of Becky or if she will always be second best. Overcome with jealousy Emma begins to question her relationship with Matthew while at the same time she is experiencing friction between herself and her closest friends. Strange things start to happen around the house and soon Emma is beginning to question even herself. The real question is.....what is real and who can she trust?

When I hit the midway point in the book, I thought the story had pretty much played out and I wasn't sure why there was still so much book left to go. Silly me to question the author. A true master of the thriller!! Strap in and get ready for a wild ride. You don't want to miss a word!!

This book had me guessing from start to finish. The plot twists were delectable, riveting and flowed so naturally. If you love a good thriller that will play with your mind and emotions, this is the perfect book for you!

I listened to the audio version of this book. The voice actor Kristin Atherton did a tremendous job bringing this amazing story to life!

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the ALC of the audio version of this book. It was a truly wonderful listen!

"The body was pinned up against the tree." Great first line to a ridiculous book. It had me until more than halfway through and then it just got so silly and kept getting sillier. I would have rather it gone supernatural than where it actually went.

‘First Wife’s Shadow’ by Adele Parks is a twisty psychological domestic suspense. This was my first book by Adele Parks and I really enjoyed it. So many twists and sneaky turns i did not see coming.
I loved everything about this book! highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh boy, this was so good! I started this book off thinking I knew where this was going (as a major thriller enthusiast who has read every one I can get my hands on) - but Adele Parks kept me buckled in for every twist and turn right to the end!

We start off the book with Matthew (handsome, widowed) bumping into our protagonist Emma, who is a successful and accomplished career woman. They hit it off immediately and their relationship is off to a running start, leaving her long-time friends a bit wary. Then, strange things start happening around Emma's home (which Matthew has also moved into) - is it Matthew we should be afraid of? A jealous friend? Or someone (or something) else altogether?

This was an excellent exercise in keeping the reader on the edge of their toes, making us unsure of who we should be rooting for and more importantly - trusting.

I was engaged throughout the read and then fully swept off my feet by the end! The audiobook in particular was really engagingly performed. Strongly recommend.

i really really enjoyed this book. one - i love british narrators, so that gave it 2 stars right away. i also loved how at no point did i fully know where the story was going. everytime i was like “oh, it’s going to be this” i was wrong. but the BEST part of this book is that the curtain falls on the mystery at 60%. most thrillers of this nature go up to the 90% with the mystery - but this one really used the time to set up, establish, and bring down. definitely one i will recommend!

The book begins with a fun “will they, won’t they” series of chapters. (They do otherwise there’s no book lol)
I liked Emma’s chapters, her life, and her friends. They felt so real and that’s something I really love about Miss Park’s writing.
I did not care for Becky’s chapters. She was just tiresome and monologuing. I can’t stand monologuing.
However, when the twists started unraveling though, it got wild and crazy. Loved it!
What I found to be the main shock factor, is this type of thing could happen to anyone and that definitely brought extra chills.

Overall good book. Good twists and turns. Definitely recommend to friends !!
Emma was a good strong independent woman whose meeting Matthew was no accident. The twists that came along were unexpected!!