First Wife’s Shadow is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into themes of love, obsession, and trust. The novel follows Emma, a successful CEO who falls for Matthew, a charming widower. As their relationship intensifies, Emma becomes increasingly haunted by the memory of Matthew’s late wife, leading to a series of unsettling events that blur the lines between reality and paranoia. Parks masterfully crafts a suspenseful narrative with unexpected twists, keeping readers engaged until the very end.

Title: First Wife’s Shadow
Author: Adele Parks
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Kristin Atherton
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Audiobook Pub Date schedule for March 18, 2025
Rating 4.3 Stars
Pages: 368


Emma Westley is a successful, attractive forty-seven year-old CEO of a wind harvesting company.
She meets Matthew Charlton at a conference where she is the key-note speaker.
Matthew is a handsome photographer and seems to be just what she needs. However he is perhaps ten years younger but is available as he recently widowed.
They both seem to be attracted to each other. Emma has a beautiful home in an isolated area. Her home is a house of glass. Since the area is isolated she doesn’t have concerns about neighbors spying on her. However, one evening while she is showering, she hears what sound like someone in her home. She has an expensive security system but it appears someone still must have a gotten in. When Matthew hears about the break-in he has concerns. They agree it would be great if Matthew moved in. Soon they are engaged and are making wedding plans.
Emma starts to feels second best to first wife. When strange things continue happen, Emma has fears that Becky, Matthew’s dead wife is haunting her. Emma’s best friends Gia and Heidi are suspicious of Matthew as Emma is very wealthy. The ‘accidents continue Emma questions is she losing her mind?

Then there is another part of this story where we are introduced to Becky-Matthew’s dead wife.

This story certainly kept me glued.

End wasn’t a big shock but did answer some questions

Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this audiobook.
Audiobook Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 18, 2025.

☆ALC 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.

The narrator of the audio did a fairly good job though!

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

This was a surprisingly good story! I was ready for a quick popcorn thriller that'd have a predictable plot/ twist (LOL) I got so much more than that 😄
3.5 stars! Pubs March 18th!

The narrator for this was fantastic! I loved the pacing, voices, emotions, all of it! The narration kept me 'in' the story. Just have to say: From experience, don't listen to the sauna scene while you're actually in a sauna-- SOOOO creepy LMAO. But that scene is a wonderful example of the narrator's emotions and pacing playing a big part in the narration being so enjoyable for this story!

Okay my thriller peeps, this might be predictable for some but there were some twists in this that I did not see coming. As more details are revealed throughout the story it's easier to see some of them coming but others were a fun little surprise. I wanted so badly to love Emma's character but I couldn't stop screaming "GIRL STOP IT RIGHT NOW" and "OMG DUMP HIS ASS" because like, sis what are you doooing with this man right now!? be so for real with his nonsense 😅

Overall this is a solid thriller that kept me reading in a rush to find out what would happen for these characters! (Especially to see if Emma would come to her damn senses).

My gripe (minus half a star) is with the "Scooby Doo" chapters in the middle. All telling, no showing. The middle part was too long. Like, if you give the readers SOME information they can put together alllll these pieces. We do not need a play by play of every single little thing like this had (it's hard to be more specific without spoiling so you'll have to find out for yourself, wink, wink, lol).

Wow... Absolutely loved this one. Definitely a page-turner.

This book follows Emma, a very wealthy, independent, and set-in-her-ways CEO. Emma falls in Love with Matthew, a free-spirted widower. After Matthew is always talking about Becky, his first wife, Emma, feels like she may never break free from the first wife's shadow. To the point that Emma even feels huated by Becky.

There were so many twists in this book.

I listened to the audio while reading along, and the narrator was perfection.

Adele Parks' "First Wife's Shadow" was a thrilling read all the way through. The narrator did a great job capturing the character's voices for the audience.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC.

Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Narration: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

A fun, twisty domestic thriller about a successful woman finding love with a seemingly perfect widower. However, his first wife’s shadow looms over their relationship and all may not be as it seems.

I always love Adele Parks’ thrillers and this was another hit. Kristin Atherton gives an excellent performance and I couldn’t stop listening.

ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Alright, so "First Wife's Shadow" by Adele Parks? Yeah, it's...fine. Like, if you need something to read on the beach and you don't want to think too hard, it'll do.
Basically, it's about this woman whose husband's dead ex is still hanging around in their lives, and of course, things get shady. You know the drill. The characters are...there. They do their jobs. You get what they're going for, but they're not exactly going to win any personality awards.
The writing's easy to read, which is good if you just want to zone out. But don't expect any fancy words or anything. It's pretty straight-up. The suspense builds okay, but you'll probably guess most of the twists. The ending? It wraps things up, but it's not going to blow your mind.
So, yeah, it's a solid "meh." It's not terrible, but it's not amazing either. It's just...a book. If you need something to kill time, go for it. If you want something that'll stick with you, keep looking.

Only Adele Parks could make this major of a plot twist only half way through. I saw none of it coming. Parks writes these characters that you love and trust but you know something has to go wrong. And it does. I love this book every step of the way. The narrator is wonderful and plays it mild when she needs to but also adds the appropriate emotion when required.

I received an ALC of this book to review. This is my honest opinion.

“First Wife’s Shadow” by Adele Parks provides a fresh new take on the age old tale of a new relationship being haunted by the deceased first wife with twists and drama I didn’t see coming. I very much enjoyed Emma’s character development, and would absolutely read more books about her! I really enjoyed the storyline and there are some characters you just love to hate. A great read!

4.5/5 stars! I loved this one. I thought the twists were perfectly executed and timed so well. Loved that the writing always kept me guessing and I felt like I really got to know the characters. A great twisty and addictive thriller!

This book started off little slow but got better as it progressed. The twists, turns, and revelations made it well worth the wait.
Emma, who is in her forties, meets Matthew, who is in his thirties, and they start a romantic relationship. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to forget his first wife or gain the trust of Emma’s friends. Emma ignores the red flags and sides with her new boyfriend over her longtime friends. I recommend reading this book for its fun twists. It will keep you guessing until the end.
This is a perfect book if you love domestic thrillers with annoying characters that you love to hate. I will be reading more books by Adele Parks, I rate this book a solid 4.5.
Harlequin Audio and NetGalley provided the ARC for an honest review.

This was a good and fun one sitting listen. I loved the narration by Kristen Atherton. This was a predictable but enjoyable popcorn thriller with familiar tropes that really worked for me while I was doing my bosses taxes. When doing mundane work it really helps to have a lovely British accent in my ears describing acts of betrayal, deceit, gaslighting, and all other sorts of thriller fun. While I did guess a lot of the twists a few did catch me off guard. Overall this is just an easy read that would be perfect poolside or on the beach. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio for my ALC.

This was an excellent audio filled with major suspense with a very entertaining and twisty story. This isn’t a thriller but it is very mysterious with an atmospherically placed secluded home and some unique plot points that kept me glued to my headphones. I don’t want to say any more because going into this blind will make the experience better but I will say I especially loved how it ended!

If you’re looking for a great audio experience of a medium burn mystery then add this to your list!

Format: Audio
Rating: 4.25/5⭐️
Pub day: March 18

This is my first book by Adele Parks, I was not sure about it when I first started. But as the story went on even I was beginning to get twisted on what was happening! This story had quite a few twist and turns. So if you like a twisty suspenseful story, this is a good one to pick up!

FMC Emma who is a successful and rich business woman lives on her own and is single and has been for quite awhile. Quite happy in her routines. One day that routine is interrupted by handsome Matthew who turns her routine upside down. Matthew is a widower for not quite a year. Emma begins to compare herself to his late wife and weird things begin to happen. As it starts to take a dangerous turn she is not sure who she can trust, even herself.

This was an audiobook that was Narrated by Kristin Atherton. She did a good job with changing the voices for the different characters and making this flow.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin for this audio arc read, it was really enjoyable.

I think I just had a hard time getting into the narration with this one. It was also a little slow going and didn't hold my interest. I had to DNF.

A fabulously entertaining psychological thriller full of fun twists and turns.

Emma Westly has it going on. She’s 47 years old and at the top of her career as CEO of AirBright, Britain’s wind harvesting company. She’s attractive, driven, and wealthy. The only thing she lacks is companionship and love. Until she meets Matthew Charlton. Emma falls fast and hard for the handsome photographer 11 years her junior despite the warnings of her friends and some serious red flags. The biggest issue at first is that Matthew is widowed and still grieving for his dead wife, Becky. Emma can’t help but feel a bit jealous even as their relationship becomes more intense and Emma invites Matthew to move into her beautiful home in Hampshire. Woodview is absolute luxury living and they both revel in the new direction they are heading. When Matthew suggests they marry, Emma is over the moon. Has she finally found happiness. Of course not, this is domestic suspense after all. But I won’t spoil it with details as you will have to read it for yourself.

I really enjoyed this and had to read it in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down wondering what would happen next. Although a teeny bit predictable, I did enjoy the revelations and the surprises along the way. The narrative is told from several points of view and that definitely puts all the perspectives in place to change what the reader thinks is going on. I liked the writing style even as I wasn’t sure what I thought about the characters since my initial opinions were challenged by new discoveries. I think it best to go into this without any preconceived notions so don’t read too many reviews ahead of time.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator did a great job voicing all the characters with the appropriate dramatic flair and expression. This definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book as it was a quality production.

Enjoy!

This ended up being a fun thriller! It definitely kept me on my toes and some of the twists and turns I was not expecting at all, which I love for a thriller!

I actually started this on ebook and I honestly was struggling to get into it a bit. But once I switched to audio it was great. The narrator was fantastic and I think it helped having her accent to really set the scene that this was in England.

The setup was interesting with Matthew being a younger widower. Emma was also an interesting character. She was older, had all these routines and never thought she would find love. Something just always seemed off with Matthew but I did not guess what was going on!

Where we ended the story compared to where we started and where I thought things might be going were extremely different and there were multiple times that something happened and I just had to pause and give myself a second. Like what?!?

So overall, this was an enjoyable thriller! Was it realistic? Probably not. And I'm not sure that it's going to be one that really stands out, but I had an enjoyable time nonetheless and would recommend!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC and ALC!

Adele Parks delivers yet another gripping thriller with First Wife’s Shadow—a story packed with twists, secrets, and a creeping sense of unease that doesn’t let up. I was completely consumed by this book. Every chapter pulled me deeper into its tangled mystery, and just when I thought I had all the answers, it twisted again.

I listened to the audiobook as well as reading the actual book, and it was fantastic. The narration brought an extra layer of suspense, making the tension feel even more palpable. Every reveal hit harder, and I found myself completely immersed in the story—like I was right there uncovering the secrets alongside the protagonist. If you love audiobooks that enhance the experience, this one is a must-listen!

It’s the kind of thriller that makes you question everything—who can be trusted, what’s real, and just how far someone will go to keep their secrets buried. The writing is sharp, the pacing relentless, and the tension keeps building right until the final page.

If you love psychological thrillers that keep you guessing, don’t miss this one!

If you’re searching for a grippingly psychological thriller, then look no further!! First wife’s Shadow is my first book by this author and it definitely won’t be my last! I normally tend to read fast paced books but I truly enjoyed the slow steady burn to get to the juicy plot twist after plot twist the author provided. The ending will have you both mind boggled and smiling. This story is filled with love, hate, trust, dishonesty, and mind tricking experiences that’ll have you questioning your own sanity. I highly recommend First wife’s Shadow as soon as it hits publication day!

Thank you so much to the publishers and NetGalley for an Audiobook Arc in exchange for an honest review!