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In Her Shadow
Isabel’s life seemed perfect. Successful business, beautiful house, adoring husband. And then she was dead.
For four years Jessica has never doubted that her sister Isabel’s death was an accident. But when Jessica’s young daughter seems to know long-forgotten details about her aunt’s past, Jessica can’t shake the feeling that there’s a more sinister truth behind the tragedy.
As Jessica unearths disturbing revelations about her sister, and about the people she loved and trusted most, it becomes clear Isabel’s life was less than perfect and that Jessica’s might also be at risk.
Did someone murder Isabel? Are they now after Jessica and her family? The key seems to lie in the hands of a child. Can Isabel reveal the truth from beyond the grave, or is the answer closer to home?
In Her Shadow is a gripping tale of family secrets, lies and obsession from the two million copy bestselling author Mark Edwards.
For four years Jessica has never doubted that her sister Isabel’s death was an accident. But when Jessica’s young daughter seems to know long-forgotten details about her aunt’s past, Jessica can’t shake the feeling that there’s a more sinister truth behind the tragedy.
As Jessica unearths disturbing revelations about her sister, and about the people she loved and trusted most, it becomes clear Isabel’s life was less than perfect and that Jessica’s might also be at risk.
Did someone murder Isabel? Are they now after Jessica and her family? The key seems to lie in the hands of a child. Can Isabel reveal the truth from beyond the grave, or is the answer closer to home?
In Her Shadow is a gripping tale of family secrets, lies and obsession from the two million copy bestselling author Mark Edwards.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2018
4244 people are currently reading
5913 people want to read
About the author
Mark Edwards
38 books5,722 followersMark Edwards writes psychological thrillers in which scary things happen to ordinary people.
He loves hearing from readers and always responds. Mark can be contacted in the following ways:
Email: [email protected]
Twitter @mredwards
Facebook/Instagram: @markedwardsauthor
You can download a free box set of 'Short Sharp Shockers' by visiting www.markedwardsauthor.com/free
Mark has sold over 5 million books since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013 and has topped the bestseller lists numerous times. His other novels include Follow You Home, Here To Stay and The Psychopath Next Door. He has also published six books co-authored with Louise Voss. His next novel, The Wasp Trap, will be published in the UK/Australia in July 2025 and the US/Canada in September 2025.
Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, two cats and a golden retriever.
He loves hearing from readers and always responds. Mark can be contacted in the following ways:
Email: [email protected]
Twitter @mredwards
Facebook/Instagram: @markedwardsauthor
You can download a free box set of 'Short Sharp Shockers' by visiting www.markedwardsauthor.com/free
Mark has sold over 5 million books since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013 and has topped the bestseller lists numerous times. His other novels include Follow You Home, Here To Stay and The Psychopath Next Door. He has also published six books co-authored with Louise Voss. His next novel, The Wasp Trap, will be published in the UK/Australia in July 2025 and the US/Canada in September 2025.
Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, two cats and a golden retriever.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 799 reviews
October 5, 2018
3.5 stars
This is a frustrating review to write because there’s so much I want to say, but can’t because I don’t want to give anything away.
Jessica has always believed in ghosts, so much so she believed that she was being haunted when she was a child. So when her 4-year-old Olivia daughter starts relaying messages from her deceased Aunt Izzy, Jessica is beyond spooked. Jessica’s sister Isabel died 5 years and her death was ruled an accident. As Olivia continues sharing messages from her dead Auntie, Jessica begins to wonder if her sister’s death was truly an accident. Jessica not only begins to question the cause of her sister’s death, but she also must grapple with whether or not her 4-year-old daughter is psychic. Is Olivia really communicating with her dead Aunt or is someone playing a cruel hoax?
As always, Mark Edwards took me on a journey that I wasn’t quite expecting. I loved the spooky atmosphere of the first half, but the tone changes rather dramatically in the second half of the book. I felt things unraveled in the second half of the book. It didn’t feel as tightly wound as some of his other novels. Edwards usually reels me in, even when the storyline lacks believability, and while I enjoyed In Her Shadow, it was a bit anticlimactic. But I did enjoy the times when Jessica got her revenge and final say.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK in exchange for an honest review.
This is a frustrating review to write because there’s so much I want to say, but can’t because I don’t want to give anything away.
Jessica has always believed in ghosts, so much so she believed that she was being haunted when she was a child. So when her 4-year-old Olivia daughter starts relaying messages from her deceased Aunt Izzy, Jessica is beyond spooked. Jessica’s sister Isabel died 5 years and her death was ruled an accident. As Olivia continues sharing messages from her dead Auntie, Jessica begins to wonder if her sister’s death was truly an accident. Jessica not only begins to question the cause of her sister’s death, but she also must grapple with whether or not her 4-year-old daughter is psychic. Is Olivia really communicating with her dead Aunt or is someone playing a cruel hoax?
As always, Mark Edwards took me on a journey that I wasn’t quite expecting. I loved the spooky atmosphere of the first half, but the tone changes rather dramatically in the second half of the book. I felt things unraveled in the second half of the book. It didn’t feel as tightly wound as some of his other novels. Edwards usually reels me in, even when the storyline lacks believability, and while I enjoyed In Her Shadow, it was a bit anticlimactic. But I did enjoy the times when Jessica got her revenge and final say.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2019
Another whirlwind of a book by Mark Edwards! It sees Jessica's 4yo daughter Olivia start to mention things that her Aunt Izzy has told her, things that only Izzy and Jessica would know, except Izzy died before Olivia was born, in what police ruled as an accident. As Olivia comes out with more and more bombshells, now about the day that Izzy died, Jessica starts to think that there was more to her sister's death than meets the eye. She starts to re-examine everything from the time of Izzy's death, trying to find out what everyone has missed. Then Olivia starts to make predictions about people and places around her, predictions that start to come true...
And the truth? It's even creepier than you'd imagine...
This is a chilling, gripping suspense novel, as I've come to expect from Mark Edwards. It races out of the blocks and the pace doesn't slacken until the last page. I was, as usual, oblivious to everything going on around me until I'd come to the final conclusion. I recommend this book to all lovers of psychological fiction and domestic suspense.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
And the truth? It's even creepier than you'd imagine...
This is a chilling, gripping suspense novel, as I've come to expect from Mark Edwards. It races out of the blocks and the pace doesn't slacken until the last page. I was, as usual, oblivious to everything going on around me until I'd come to the final conclusion. I recommend this book to all lovers of psychological fiction and domestic suspense.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2018
Wow, my first book from Mark Edwards is a solid winner!
A tale of two sisters. Isabel is young and successful, and one day, she is found dead after an accident. Years later, Jessica is still reeling from her sister’s death when her young daughter, Olivia, mentions secrets about Isabel’s past, things she shouldn’t know.
With that discovery, Jessica senses that there has to be something more to the story, and perhaps her sister has been murdered. She also has to reason to believe that she and her family are in danger. And just what does her daughter know? And how on earth does she know it?
I read In Her Shadow quickly, absorbing the tension and feeling anxious for Izzy, Jessica, and Olivia. I liked how Izzy is present within the story through flashbacks. There was breathing room in the writing for me to make my own theories, while that tension continued to ramp up and up. Red herrings and many possible culprits left my head spinning in the best possible way.
I’m cutting this review short so you can explore this treat of a read for yourself. I can easily see why this author has so many fans. In Her Shadow is a spine-chilling, smart, and overwhelmingly engaging psychological suspense that I recommend to ALL thriller readers.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer/Amazon Pub UK for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
A tale of two sisters. Isabel is young and successful, and one day, she is found dead after an accident. Years later, Jessica is still reeling from her sister’s death when her young daughter, Olivia, mentions secrets about Isabel’s past, things she shouldn’t know.
With that discovery, Jessica senses that there has to be something more to the story, and perhaps her sister has been murdered. She also has to reason to believe that she and her family are in danger. And just what does her daughter know? And how on earth does she know it?
I read In Her Shadow quickly, absorbing the tension and feeling anxious for Izzy, Jessica, and Olivia. I liked how Izzy is present within the story through flashbacks. There was breathing room in the writing for me to make my own theories, while that tension continued to ramp up and up. Red herrings and many possible culprits left my head spinning in the best possible way.
I’m cutting this review short so you can explore this treat of a read for yourself. I can easily see why this author has so many fans. In Her Shadow is a spine-chilling, smart, and overwhelmingly engaging psychological suspense that I recommend to ALL thriller readers.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer/Amazon Pub UK for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
August 16, 2018
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Mark Edwards, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Mark Edwards is back with another spine-chilling novel that takes the reader inside the eerie world of communication with the afterlife, yet another branch of psychological thrillers. Jessica is the proud mother of two children, though it would seem her youngest has begun acting out at school. When she arrives to speak with the teacher, Jessica learns that Olivia has been making many comments about her friend, Izzy, who’s died. Although Olivia is only four, Jessica refuses to take any chances and soon learns that her daughter is speaking about a member of the family. It would seem that Izzy, Olivia’s aunt, died after leaping from her balcony at home, not long after little Olivia was born. How might Olivia be communicating with her aunt, save through some sort of spirit portal? Thoughts of this nature remind Jessica of a situation from her own youth, when she and Izzy were visited by an uncle’s spirit who was highly disruptive. Jessica refuses to believe that Olivia has any contact with her dead sister and pushes the limits to find out who might be feeding her daughter such information. However, the evidence keeps piling up that Olivia has a way to speak to ‘Izzy’ and there are things that few others ever knew, yet they seem to be coming from Olivia’s mouth with ease. The entire situation opens up new fears in Jessica when Olivia admits one night that Izzy was pushed and murdered by someone. Could there be some truth to this? If so, how much does Olivia know and can her connection with Izzy help re-open a police investigation? Edwards uses his skills to lure the reader deep into the story and soon the story has taken over their entire brain, forcing them to race forward and discover what’s happened before turning off the light at night. Perfect for those who love Mark Edwards’ work, as well as the reader who enjoys blindsides throughout.
I have long enjoyed Mark Edwards and his writing, finding myself susceptible to his style of narration so much that I lose track of time. Even when I want to read only a few pages, I find it hard to put down one of his books until I have resolution to the mystery at hand. Edwards has a wonderful way of connecting the reader to his characters, especially a strong-minded protagonist like Jessica. The reader learns much about her throughout, both her backstory and current development as she fights to get to the bottom of both the Izzy and Olivia situations. There is much to discover and the story peels things back slowly enough as to keep the reader flipping pages, but not too quickly as to be a let-down. Alongside Jessica are a handful of other characters, all of whom bring their own flavour to the story, particularly those who crossed paths with Izzy in the days and weeks before her death. Edwards keeps the reader wondering if it could have been murder and who might have the most plausible motive to end the life of this interesting woman. That also serves to promote Izzy into the role of secondary protagonist, as flashbacks and extensive dialogue throughout resurrect her personality throughout the entire piece. Edwards effectively weaves past and present into a seamless plot and keeps everyone guessing until the very end. The story was brilliantly executed and the reader will surely find themselves surrounded by possible culprits and mysteries they ask themselves, all while the narrative forges onwards. With clipped dialogue that keeps the story realistic, Edwards leaves little time to ponder, as each chapter presents new and interesting perspectives to keep things from going stale. I have yet to find a dud when Mark Edwards is at the helm and hope many readers will follow me and get hold of this book in short order.
Kudos, Mr. Edwards, for another winner. I hope those who have yet to discover your writing style do so soon, for you have a great deal to offer the genre and those who love it so very much!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Mark Edwards is back with another spine-chilling novel that takes the reader inside the eerie world of communication with the afterlife, yet another branch of psychological thrillers. Jessica is the proud mother of two children, though it would seem her youngest has begun acting out at school. When she arrives to speak with the teacher, Jessica learns that Olivia has been making many comments about her friend, Izzy, who’s died. Although Olivia is only four, Jessica refuses to take any chances and soon learns that her daughter is speaking about a member of the family. It would seem that Izzy, Olivia’s aunt, died after leaping from her balcony at home, not long after little Olivia was born. How might Olivia be communicating with her aunt, save through some sort of spirit portal? Thoughts of this nature remind Jessica of a situation from her own youth, when she and Izzy were visited by an uncle’s spirit who was highly disruptive. Jessica refuses to believe that Olivia has any contact with her dead sister and pushes the limits to find out who might be feeding her daughter such information. However, the evidence keeps piling up that Olivia has a way to speak to ‘Izzy’ and there are things that few others ever knew, yet they seem to be coming from Olivia’s mouth with ease. The entire situation opens up new fears in Jessica when Olivia admits one night that Izzy was pushed and murdered by someone. Could there be some truth to this? If so, how much does Olivia know and can her connection with Izzy help re-open a police investigation? Edwards uses his skills to lure the reader deep into the story and soon the story has taken over their entire brain, forcing them to race forward and discover what’s happened before turning off the light at night. Perfect for those who love Mark Edwards’ work, as well as the reader who enjoys blindsides throughout.
I have long enjoyed Mark Edwards and his writing, finding myself susceptible to his style of narration so much that I lose track of time. Even when I want to read only a few pages, I find it hard to put down one of his books until I have resolution to the mystery at hand. Edwards has a wonderful way of connecting the reader to his characters, especially a strong-minded protagonist like Jessica. The reader learns much about her throughout, both her backstory and current development as she fights to get to the bottom of both the Izzy and Olivia situations. There is much to discover and the story peels things back slowly enough as to keep the reader flipping pages, but not too quickly as to be a let-down. Alongside Jessica are a handful of other characters, all of whom bring their own flavour to the story, particularly those who crossed paths with Izzy in the days and weeks before her death. Edwards keeps the reader wondering if it could have been murder and who might have the most plausible motive to end the life of this interesting woman. That also serves to promote Izzy into the role of secondary protagonist, as flashbacks and extensive dialogue throughout resurrect her personality throughout the entire piece. Edwards effectively weaves past and present into a seamless plot and keeps everyone guessing until the very end. The story was brilliantly executed and the reader will surely find themselves surrounded by possible culprits and mysteries they ask themselves, all while the narrative forges onwards. With clipped dialogue that keeps the story realistic, Edwards leaves little time to ponder, as each chapter presents new and interesting perspectives to keep things from going stale. I have yet to find a dud when Mark Edwards is at the helm and hope many readers will follow me and get hold of this book in short order.
Kudos, Mr. Edwards, for another winner. I hope those who have yet to discover your writing style do so soon, for you have a great deal to offer the genre and those who love it so very much!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
November 10, 2018
Dear Mr. Edwards,
Well, Mr. E, I have to hand it to you. I have read 7 of your 8 novels, and number 8 is the best of all! That’s saying a lot, as The Magpies and Follow You Home are pretty magnificent. Actually 6 of your books have earned 5 big gold stars from me. Now before you get all pleased with yourself, this one was only perfect, not perfectly perfect.
First some good stuff. I have to say I have never dissected anyone’s books like I dissect yours. In fact, I get help from my book buddy Jan. We rip ‘em apart on Google Docs, chapter by chapter. This time around we knew we could nail it, as after all, we know you really well. We know how that brain works. We could write your stuff. Maybe. Anyway, we smugly picked out the baddie about 9 times each. Yeah, it was someone different all 9 times. Then we ran out of characters on our cast list. It was like 90% in, and we had to concede that there was NO baddie as we had eliminated every one of them. I can’t remember ever going so far in a book and running out of suspects. Gotta give you that one. And yes, you readers out there, there is a baddie! Sort of.
I really should dock you for this next one, but I can’t. Gosh, there are so many weird things happenings in this book that it was impossible to gather them up in one nice ball and assign a nice cohesive explanation to it all. We even wrote all these events down and analyzed them to death—all for naught. In a way, that was fun. Like rolling down a long hill as a kid and standing up all sick and nauseated, but happy, as that’s fun, right? However, despite all that joy, I was getting really irritated that I had to write, “I’m confused” to my buddy about 15 times. I don’t like writing that, Mr. Edwards. It is painful thing to admit. But kudos for you for weaving all these things perfectly (almost) together by the end.
Sorry, but I have to call you out for cheating a few times. Or as my buddy would say, “Mark’s being convenient again.” Being convenient by making stuff happen that gets you through a potentially tough section to write. I let most of that stuff pass because you and I have a many-year relationship now and I know you just can’t help yourself, but really—do you actually think a 31- year-old woman wouldn’t recognize a high school classmate whom she shared a pretty awesome kiss with when both were 17? Come on, Mr. Edwards, tongue was involved, and not only that, but people’s looks just don’t change that much during that age range! Much as I love you, I just can’t let that one go, Mister.
OK, some people will ding you for making Jessica somewhat wild and crazy the second half of the book. Not me. To me she was rightfully panicking and reacting accordingly as you were pulling some nasty strings on her. Poor Jess.
Now others for sure are going to nick you for this story lacking the usual unrelenting creepy crawly suspense that seems to be your hallmark. I have to agree that was partially lacking, but this was such an engrossingly darn good whodunit that I kinda didn’t notice that too much at the time. Since I am a major fan of darn good whodunits, I’m giving you a pass on this one. But you know, Mr. Mark, you are on my “best suspense writer ever” pedestal, so maybe you could sharpen up that part of your game for your next book.
Props for the shout out to the “Me Too” movement. I liked that immensely!
And how about that ending? Some people will hate it. I loved it. Particularly how you dealt with Olivia, Jess, and Izzy. Smokin’ good!
So, in summary, this book is a winner, a home run, and fabulous use of my reading time. I have to remind you though, Mr. Edwards, that you messed with my head twice this year. That means I am twice as determined to break you next time. So bring it on and beware--my buddy and I are ready to get even!
All my love,
Your fan now and forever,
Christine XO
Many thanks to Net Galley, Thomas Mercer, and Mark Edwards for an advanced copy of this novel. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Well, Mr. E, I have to hand it to you. I have read 7 of your 8 novels, and number 8 is the best of all! That’s saying a lot, as The Magpies and Follow You Home are pretty magnificent. Actually 6 of your books have earned 5 big gold stars from me. Now before you get all pleased with yourself, this one was only perfect, not perfectly perfect.
First some good stuff. I have to say I have never dissected anyone’s books like I dissect yours. In fact, I get help from my book buddy Jan. We rip ‘em apart on Google Docs, chapter by chapter. This time around we knew we could nail it, as after all, we know you really well. We know how that brain works. We could write your stuff. Maybe. Anyway, we smugly picked out the baddie about 9 times each. Yeah, it was someone different all 9 times. Then we ran out of characters on our cast list. It was like 90% in, and we had to concede that there was NO baddie as we had eliminated every one of them. I can’t remember ever going so far in a book and running out of suspects. Gotta give you that one. And yes, you readers out there, there is a baddie! Sort of.
I really should dock you for this next one, but I can’t. Gosh, there are so many weird things happenings in this book that it was impossible to gather them up in one nice ball and assign a nice cohesive explanation to it all. We even wrote all these events down and analyzed them to death—all for naught. In a way, that was fun. Like rolling down a long hill as a kid and standing up all sick and nauseated, but happy, as that’s fun, right? However, despite all that joy, I was getting really irritated that I had to write, “I’m confused” to my buddy about 15 times. I don’t like writing that, Mr. Edwards. It is painful thing to admit. But kudos for you for weaving all these things perfectly (almost) together by the end.
Sorry, but I have to call you out for cheating a few times. Or as my buddy would say, “Mark’s being convenient again.” Being convenient by making stuff happen that gets you through a potentially tough section to write. I let most of that stuff pass because you and I have a many-year relationship now and I know you just can’t help yourself, but really—do you actually think a 31- year-old woman wouldn’t recognize a high school classmate whom she shared a pretty awesome kiss with when both were 17? Come on, Mr. Edwards, tongue was involved, and not only that, but people’s looks just don’t change that much during that age range! Much as I love you, I just can’t let that one go, Mister.
OK, some people will ding you for making Jessica somewhat wild and crazy the second half of the book. Not me. To me she was rightfully panicking and reacting accordingly as you were pulling some nasty strings on her. Poor Jess.
Now others for sure are going to nick you for this story lacking the usual unrelenting creepy crawly suspense that seems to be your hallmark. I have to agree that was partially lacking, but this was such an engrossingly darn good whodunit that I kinda didn’t notice that too much at the time. Since I am a major fan of darn good whodunits, I’m giving you a pass on this one. But you know, Mr. Mark, you are on my “best suspense writer ever” pedestal, so maybe you could sharpen up that part of your game for your next book.
Props for the shout out to the “Me Too” movement. I liked that immensely!
And how about that ending? Some people will hate it. I loved it. Particularly how you dealt with Olivia, Jess, and Izzy. Smokin’ good!
So, in summary, this book is a winner, a home run, and fabulous use of my reading time. I have to remind you though, Mr. Edwards, that you messed with my head twice this year. That means I am twice as determined to break you next time. So bring it on and beware--my buddy and I are ready to get even!
All my love,
Your fan now and forever,
Christine XO
Many thanks to Net Galley, Thomas Mercer, and Mark Edwards for an advanced copy of this novel. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
October 1, 2018
Jessica's sister, Isabel, “Izzy" died four years ago and Jessica has never doubted the coroner's finding that her sister's death was an accident. But when her four-year-old daughter, Olivia, begins mentioning things, things that only Jessica and her sister knew, Jessica becomes concerned. Is her daughter interested in death because of her age and she is beginning to understand what that means? Is she curious about the Aunt she never knew? As the tension mounts, Jessica begins to wonder if her sister's death was really an accident? How does her daughter know so much about her dead aunt? Is her daughter getting messages from beyond the grave? What was going on in his sister's life leading up to her death?
Mark Edwards has created a creepy psychological thriller that does not disappoint. I questioned what was real and what was not real while reading this book. This book has a feel of dread and apprehension. Are ghosts real? Is Olivia talking to a ghost? How does she know everything she knows? As Jessica becomes more concerned about her daughter, I did as well. As Jessica becomes obsessed with learning the truth, it is easy to feel her emotions, her anxiety, her suspicion, her fears, her concern for her family and her need to know the truth. I came up with several theories and guesses while reading. Edwards does a good job at throwing out some possibilities but keeps the truth just out of the reader's grasp.
I read this book in one day as I was fully invested in learning the truth. There are twists and turns which I did not see coming. There is an interesting, yet plausible reveal at the end. Edwards has created interesting and fully developed characters who are dealing with a lot of issues in this book. The story-line touches on several things such as sex, love, loss, infidelity, grief, the #MeToo movement, trust, guilt, family secrets, lies, relationships, drug use and obsession. There is a paranormal element which I thought he worked flawlessly into the story.
Another solid book by Edwards.
Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
Mark Edwards has created a creepy psychological thriller that does not disappoint. I questioned what was real and what was not real while reading this book. This book has a feel of dread and apprehension. Are ghosts real? Is Olivia talking to a ghost? How does she know everything she knows? As Jessica becomes more concerned about her daughter, I did as well. As Jessica becomes obsessed with learning the truth, it is easy to feel her emotions, her anxiety, her suspicion, her fears, her concern for her family and her need to know the truth. I came up with several theories and guesses while reading. Edwards does a good job at throwing out some possibilities but keeps the truth just out of the reader's grasp.
I read this book in one day as I was fully invested in learning the truth. There are twists and turns which I did not see coming. There is an interesting, yet plausible reveal at the end. Edwards has created interesting and fully developed characters who are dealing with a lot of issues in this book. The story-line touches on several things such as sex, love, loss, infidelity, grief, the #MeToo movement, trust, guilt, family secrets, lies, relationships, drug use and obsession. There is a paranormal element which I thought he worked flawlessly into the story.
Another solid book by Edwards.
Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
June 9, 2019
Eerie and gripping—I have come to look forward to the new Mark Edwards books the way I look forward to Fridays or crawling in bed after a long day. They are always tantalizing and well-written, and they captivate my interest until the very last page. Mark Edwards is a master of the suspense genre! His books always have that vague sense of uneasiness over them—wondering what exactly is going on. And I love the spooky ghost-shadow that lurked over this! It blurs the line between mystery and paranormal, where it made me wonder if maybe there was something otherworldly going on!!
About the Book
Nearly five years ago Jessica’s older sister Isabel feel off of her balcony in a tragic accident. But Jessica’s mother Mo has never been convinced it was truly an accident. She is certain that Izzie’s husband Darpack was to blame, and it’s a topic she won’t let up on.
Jessica’s daughter Olivia never met Izzie, but recently she has begun to talk about her more. Olivia claims that Izzie has been communicating with her. Though Jessica initially brushes this off as the whims of a child, she finds it hard to explain how Olivia is able to sing a song that was a favorite of Olivia’s from childhood, or how she knows the name of their childhood pet or their car. And then things become even more sinister—Olivia seems to know things about others that haven’t happened yet.
Is it possible that Olivia is able to communicate with Izzie? And if so, will Jessica finally get answers to what happened to her sister all of those years ago?
The darker things get, the less certain Jessica is that this is merely coincidence. Someone knows something about Izzie’s death, and they aren’t letting Jessica forget it. Jessica needs to find the truth before something horrible happens to Olivia, or even to herself!
Reflection
Unsettling and haunting are what I’ve come to expect from Mark Edwards, and this was no exception! I had absolutely no clue what to make of the strange events of this novel. I wondered how it could be possible for Olivia to know some of the things she knew, or believe the things she said. Though Jessica wants to be skeptical, she can’t help but remembering her own haunted past. She knows it is possible, because she herself experienced it too.
I think most of us have found ourselves surprised at the things children say sometimes. The words and thoughts that come out of there mouths, that often seem much beyond their years. Children have a mix of innocence and naivety and wisdom. They often are more perceptive than adults believe them to be, and that makes this the perfect set up for this story.
This book is filled with many amazing characters, and the female characters were particular standouts. I think that can be difficult to do—to write a breadth of characters so different from yourself. But this is an area that Edwards consistently surprises and delights in. Every novel of his I read, I find myself captivated again by the characters.
And then the ghost story itself is so wonderful! I love the idea of someone trying to communicate something. What happens in this book is the story of not how something is being communicated, but what is being communicated and why. Why go through Olivia? What did happen that day Isabel fell? The delivery on this mystery will make your mind buzz with excitement and energy. It is so well-crafted, with dozens of twists and turns along the way.
Thank you so much to the amazing team at Amazon Publishing for my copy of this book to review.
About the Book
Nearly five years ago Jessica’s older sister Isabel feel off of her balcony in a tragic accident. But Jessica’s mother Mo has never been convinced it was truly an accident. She is certain that Izzie’s husband Darpack was to blame, and it’s a topic she won’t let up on.
Jessica’s daughter Olivia never met Izzie, but recently she has begun to talk about her more. Olivia claims that Izzie has been communicating with her. Though Jessica initially brushes this off as the whims of a child, she finds it hard to explain how Olivia is able to sing a song that was a favorite of Olivia’s from childhood, or how she knows the name of their childhood pet or their car. And then things become even more sinister—Olivia seems to know things about others that haven’t happened yet.
Is it possible that Olivia is able to communicate with Izzie? And if so, will Jessica finally get answers to what happened to her sister all of those years ago?
The darker things get, the less certain Jessica is that this is merely coincidence. Someone knows something about Izzie’s death, and they aren’t letting Jessica forget it. Jessica needs to find the truth before something horrible happens to Olivia, or even to herself!
Reflection
Unsettling and haunting are what I’ve come to expect from Mark Edwards, and this was no exception! I had absolutely no clue what to make of the strange events of this novel. I wondered how it could be possible for Olivia to know some of the things she knew, or believe the things she said. Though Jessica wants to be skeptical, she can’t help but remembering her own haunted past. She knows it is possible, because she herself experienced it too.
I think most of us have found ourselves surprised at the things children say sometimes. The words and thoughts that come out of there mouths, that often seem much beyond their years. Children have a mix of innocence and naivety and wisdom. They often are more perceptive than adults believe them to be, and that makes this the perfect set up for this story.
This book is filled with many amazing characters, and the female characters were particular standouts. I think that can be difficult to do—to write a breadth of characters so different from yourself. But this is an area that Edwards consistently surprises and delights in. Every novel of his I read, I find myself captivated again by the characters.
And then the ghost story itself is so wonderful! I love the idea of someone trying to communicate something. What happens in this book is the story of not how something is being communicated, but what is being communicated and why. Why go through Olivia? What did happen that day Isabel fell? The delivery on this mystery will make your mind buzz with excitement and energy. It is so well-crafted, with dozens of twists and turns along the way.
Thank you so much to the amazing team at Amazon Publishing for my copy of this book to review.
July 25, 2018
Mark Edwards writes what is often a chilling and creepy psychological thriller with elements of the paranormal. Jessica always felt accustomed to the idea that she was living in the shadows of her more glamorous older sister, Isabel/Izzy. Almost five years ago, Isabel died after falling off the balcony of her luxurious apartment. The police deemed it to be an accident, but was it? Living an ordinary life as a mum, Jessica, still traumatised by Isabel's death, begins to feel unsettled and disturbed when her 4 year old daughter, Olivia, begins to exhibit strange behaviour and talking weirdly. The little girl knows things about Jessica and Izzy that she really could not possibly know. Olivia seems to be channelling Isabel, which has Jess looking more closely at how Isabel died. This is a great read, with twists, that does not fail in engaging the reader. Mark Edwards fans will love this! Many thanks to Amazon Publishing for an ARC.
Want to read
July 18, 2018There was no cover art on Netgalley, nor was there a description, but I saw the words “Mark Edwards” and hit request so fast 🤗
September 4, 2018
2.5 Stars
Reading the synopsis for this book didn't make it clear that, in addition to being a possible murder mystery, this is a ghost story at heart. Had I realized this, I would have never chosen it to read. The creepy-kid-talks-to-ghost-and-relays-information-the-child-couldn't-possibly-know is a tired premise and one that I've never enjoyed.
The story follows Jessica, mother of said creepy child and sister to Isabel, the possible victim, on her crusade to find out the truth of what happened to her sister five years prior.The characters, while fleshed out just enough to keep the story moving, were ALL irritating and not at all realistic or relatable. As the story unfolds, each character takes his/her turn at being a suspect in the demise of Isabel. While I didn't figure out the end, without giving any spoilers, it was nevertheless over the top and implausible.
This is my first book by the seemingly popular Mark Edwards and it seems I find myself in the minority. Fans of his writing will no doubt enjoy this book, it just wasn't my cup of hot chocolate.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Reading the synopsis for this book didn't make it clear that, in addition to being a possible murder mystery, this is a ghost story at heart. Had I realized this, I would have never chosen it to read. The creepy-kid-talks-to-ghost-and-relays-information-the-child-couldn't-possibly-know is a tired premise and one that I've never enjoyed.
The story follows Jessica, mother of said creepy child and sister to Isabel, the possible victim, on her crusade to find out the truth of what happened to her sister five years prior.The characters, while fleshed out just enough to keep the story moving, were ALL irritating and not at all realistic or relatable. As the story unfolds, each character takes his/her turn at being a suspect in the demise of Isabel. While I didn't figure out the end, without giving any spoilers, it was nevertheless over the top and implausible.
This is my first book by the seemingly popular Mark Edwards and it seems I find myself in the minority. Fans of his writing will no doubt enjoy this book, it just wasn't my cup of hot chocolate.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2018
3.75 Stars
Four years ago Jessica’s sister, Isabel, died. Seemingly it was an accident. She had fallen off the balcony. They think she was drunk/on drugs when she was there. Now Jessica’s four-year-old daughter, Olivia, talks about her auntie Izzy! The aunt that she has never seen. Olivia knows about her aunt’s past, the details that no one told her! And apparently, she knows about the day Izzy died!
Did someone murder Isabel? Are they now after Jessica and her family? The key seems to lie in the hands of a child. Can Isabel reveal the truth from beyond the grave, or is the answer closer to home?
My first read by this author and it was good! At first, I thought it lost me at the supernatural part but well, I was wrong! It’s slow but the short chapters were in my favor and I couldn’t guess it right! The story alternates between the past and the present. Told in multiple POV (Mostly dual), 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel and a really good read for Halloween! Overall, enjoyed it and hope you like it as well!
Thanks to Mark Edwards, Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer/Amazon Pub Ukf or the advanced digital copy in exchange an honest review.
Four years ago Jessica’s sister, Isabel, died. Seemingly it was an accident. She had fallen off the balcony. They think she was drunk/on drugs when she was there. Now Jessica’s four-year-old daughter, Olivia, talks about her auntie Izzy! The aunt that she has never seen. Olivia knows about her aunt’s past, the details that no one told her! And apparently, she knows about the day Izzy died!
Did someone murder Isabel? Are they now after Jessica and her family? The key seems to lie in the hands of a child. Can Isabel reveal the truth from beyond the grave, or is the answer closer to home?
My first read by this author and it was good! At first, I thought it lost me at the supernatural part but well, I was wrong! It’s slow but the short chapters were in my favor and I couldn’t guess it right! The story alternates between the past and the present. Told in multiple POV (Mostly dual), 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel and a really good read for Halloween! Overall, enjoyed it and hope you like it as well!
Thanks to Mark Edwards, Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer/Amazon Pub Ukf or the advanced digital copy in exchange an honest review.
November 11, 2018
EXCERPT: Olivia lifted her head from Jessica’s shoulder and stared at Pat.
"Will it hurt?" she said.
"Pardon?" Pat looked from Olivia to Jessica and back again.
Jessica knew Olivia was going to say something terrible. She could feel it. She tried to hurry away, nodding an apology to Pat, but she was too slow. Olivia was still staring at the dinner lady.
"When you die," she said to her. "Will it hurt when you die?"
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Isabel’s life seemed perfect. Successful business, beautiful house, adoring husband. And then she was dead.
For four years Jessica has never doubted that her sister Isabel’s death was an accident. But when Jessica’s young daughter seems to know long-forgotten details about her aunt’s past, Jessica can’t shake the feeling that there’s a more sinister truth behind the tragedy.
As Jessica unearths disturbing revelations about her sister, and about the people she loved and trusted most, it becomes clear Isabel’s life was less than perfect and that Jessica’s might also be at risk.
Did someone murder Isabel? Are they now after Jessica and her family? The key seems to lie in the hands of a child. Can Isabel reveal the truth from beyond the grave, or is the answer closer to home?
MY THOUGHTS: This is slightly different from anything I have previously read by Mark Edwards, but I can't tell you why for fear of spoiling it for you. I found the first half of the book a little slow, but that was just Edwards laying the groundwork for a gripping second half.
Edwards had me suspecting any and everyone of causing Isabel’s death. As Jessica unearths disturbing revelations, we see the same events through Isabel’s eyes. An intriguing and satisfying read.
😊😊😊😊
THE AUTHOR: I write psychological thrillers. My influences include writers such as Stephen King, Ira Levin, Ruth Rendell, Ian McEwan, Val McDermid and Donna Tartt and movies like Rosemary's Baby, Single White Female, Fatal Attraction and anything in which scary things happen to ordinary people.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas and Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of In Her Shadow by Mark Edwards for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
"Will it hurt?" she said.
"Pardon?" Pat looked from Olivia to Jessica and back again.
Jessica knew Olivia was going to say something terrible. She could feel it. She tried to hurry away, nodding an apology to Pat, but she was too slow. Olivia was still staring at the dinner lady.
"When you die," she said to her. "Will it hurt when you die?"
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Isabel’s life seemed perfect. Successful business, beautiful house, adoring husband. And then she was dead.
For four years Jessica has never doubted that her sister Isabel’s death was an accident. But when Jessica’s young daughter seems to know long-forgotten details about her aunt’s past, Jessica can’t shake the feeling that there’s a more sinister truth behind the tragedy.
As Jessica unearths disturbing revelations about her sister, and about the people she loved and trusted most, it becomes clear Isabel’s life was less than perfect and that Jessica’s might also be at risk.
Did someone murder Isabel? Are they now after Jessica and her family? The key seems to lie in the hands of a child. Can Isabel reveal the truth from beyond the grave, or is the answer closer to home?
MY THOUGHTS: This is slightly different from anything I have previously read by Mark Edwards, but I can't tell you why for fear of spoiling it for you. I found the first half of the book a little slow, but that was just Edwards laying the groundwork for a gripping second half.
Edwards had me suspecting any and everyone of causing Isabel’s death. As Jessica unearths disturbing revelations, we see the same events through Isabel’s eyes. An intriguing and satisfying read.
😊😊😊😊
THE AUTHOR: I write psychological thrillers. My influences include writers such as Stephen King, Ira Levin, Ruth Rendell, Ian McEwan, Val McDermid and Donna Tartt and movies like Rosemary's Baby, Single White Female, Fatal Attraction and anything in which scary things happen to ordinary people.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas and Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of In Her Shadow by Mark Edwards for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 2, 2018
Thank you to Net Galley, The Publishers and to Mark Edwards for an ARC copy of this fabulous book.
OMG.... A Gripping, Tense, psychological thriller that keeps you guessing all the way!
Isabel's life seemed perfect. Successful business, beautiful house, adoring husband. And then she was dead.
For four years Jessica has never doubted that her sister Isabel's death was an accident. But when Jessica's young daughter seems to know long-forgotten details about her aunt's past, Jessica can't shake the feeling that there's a more sinister truth behind the tragedy.
As Jessica unearths disturbing revelations about her sister, and about the people she loved and trusted most, it becomes clear Isabel's life was less than perfect and that Jessica's might also be at risk.
Did someone murder Isabel? Are they now after Jessica and her family? The key seems to lie in the hands of a child. Can Isabel reveal the truth from beyond the grave, or is the answer closer to home?
I personally to not like books on the paranormal activities, but it goes on to more than that and at first " Oh not not my type of book", but I was so wrong, this is a great book, with an intrigue, tension and suspense that is hard to get with a psychological thriller, slow burning it is not, fast paced it is, with an incredible supply of characters, red herrings. With a clever storyline that switches between the past and present, as well as different points of view, one being Isabel's, the past and present giving just small pieces of the puzzle, but just also teasing you and keeping so many secrets to near the end...
In Her Shadow is a gripping tale of family secrets, lies and obsession from the two million copy bestselling author Mark Edwards.
I have read most of Mark Edwards books, and I think this is his best so far, I really could not book this book down.
A clear five star book.
OMG.... A Gripping, Tense, psychological thriller that keeps you guessing all the way!
Isabel's life seemed perfect. Successful business, beautiful house, adoring husband. And then she was dead.
For four years Jessica has never doubted that her sister Isabel's death was an accident. But when Jessica's young daughter seems to know long-forgotten details about her aunt's past, Jessica can't shake the feeling that there's a more sinister truth behind the tragedy.
As Jessica unearths disturbing revelations about her sister, and about the people she loved and trusted most, it becomes clear Isabel's life was less than perfect and that Jessica's might also be at risk.
Did someone murder Isabel? Are they now after Jessica and her family? The key seems to lie in the hands of a child. Can Isabel reveal the truth from beyond the grave, or is the answer closer to home?
I personally to not like books on the paranormal activities, but it goes on to more than that and at first " Oh not not my type of book", but I was so wrong, this is a great book, with an intrigue, tension and suspense that is hard to get with a psychological thriller, slow burning it is not, fast paced it is, with an incredible supply of characters, red herrings. With a clever storyline that switches between the past and present, as well as different points of view, one being Isabel's, the past and present giving just small pieces of the puzzle, but just also teasing you and keeping so many secrets to near the end...
In Her Shadow is a gripping tale of family secrets, lies and obsession from the two million copy bestselling author Mark Edwards.
I have read most of Mark Edwards books, and I think this is his best so far, I really could not book this book down.
A clear five star book.
September 29, 2018
Isabel's life seemed perfect. A successful business, a beautiful house, an adoring husband.
Isabel and Jessic were sisters. Jessica has two children, Felix and Olivia. Isabel died in a tragic accident. She fell from a balcony at her home before Olivia was born. When Olivia starts misbehaving at school, she tells her teachers that it's her friend Izzy that is making her do these bad things. Jessica is shocked when she learns this, but it seems that Olivia is able to communicate with her dead aunt. Olivia knows things that only Isabel and Jessica knew. So just how is Olivia getting her information? Can she really communicate with the dead? Jessica set out to find out the truth.
The story is told mostly by Jessica's perspective but we also get flashbacks from Isabel. I was totally captivated by this story. With the usual suspects st the top of my list, I still had no idea whether I was right or wrong. The twists just kept coming and it now seems the vital ones I had ignored or did not recognised them as clues. All my thought processes were wrong. I admit, I never saw that end coming. Mark Edwards, you have a wonderful talent in writing. I highly recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author Mark Edwards for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Isabel and Jessic were sisters. Jessica has two children, Felix and Olivia. Isabel died in a tragic accident. She fell from a balcony at her home before Olivia was born. When Olivia starts misbehaving at school, she tells her teachers that it's her friend Izzy that is making her do these bad things. Jessica is shocked when she learns this, but it seems that Olivia is able to communicate with her dead aunt. Olivia knows things that only Isabel and Jessica knew. So just how is Olivia getting her information? Can she really communicate with the dead? Jessica set out to find out the truth.
The story is told mostly by Jessica's perspective but we also get flashbacks from Isabel. I was totally captivated by this story. With the usual suspects st the top of my list, I still had no idea whether I was right or wrong. The twists just kept coming and it now seems the vital ones I had ignored or did not recognised them as clues. All my thought processes were wrong. I admit, I never saw that end coming. Mark Edwards, you have a wonderful talent in writing. I highly recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author Mark Edwards for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2018
Yet another winner from Mark Edwards!
Five years ago Jessica’s sister, Isabel, tragically fell from her second storey balcony. Now, Jessica’s daughter, Olivia, who was born after her aunt died, is exhibiting some worrying behaviour. The 4 year old is obsessed with death, particularly Isabel’s. Not only that, she insists that Aunt Izzy told her she was pushed by a bad man. Jessica tells herself there must be a rational explanation, but her daughter knows things about Izzy she couldn’t possibly know, and Jessica has believed in the existence of ghosts, even since she and Isabel were young, and their childhood home was invade by an evil spirit.
First rate psychological suspense! The perfect Halloween read, equipped with a creepy, unsettling storyline, that appears to be paranormal, but you know by the end there’s going to be a rational explanation. This is my fifth book by this author, and the fourth one I have rated 5 stars. His books have so many layers, peel back one, and you’ve barely scratched the surface. I figured someone had to be manipulating Olivia, feeding her information, but I was completely stumped by who, why, and how they were doing it. Instead of making more sense as the book progressed, things got even more confusing and disconcerting, and it wasn’t until the last page that I had all the answers. Well, except for one part that was left open to your own interpretation, depending on how you choose to read into it.
I really liked Jessica, an average wife and mother, just trying to do the best for her family. She’s got a lot on her plate – grieving the loss of her sister, as well as trying to figure out who, or what, is trying to harm her daughter, and whether or not there’s more to Isabel’s death than meets the eye. The bulk of the story takes place in the present (2018) narrated by Jessica, with flashback chapters (2012-2013) in Isabel’s POV.
An entertaining, nail-biting novel. I will be waiting with baited breath to see what Mark Edwards comes up with next.
Five years ago Jessica’s sister, Isabel, tragically fell from her second storey balcony. Now, Jessica’s daughter, Olivia, who was born after her aunt died, is exhibiting some worrying behaviour. The 4 year old is obsessed with death, particularly Isabel’s. Not only that, she insists that Aunt Izzy told her she was pushed by a bad man. Jessica tells herself there must be a rational explanation, but her daughter knows things about Izzy she couldn’t possibly know, and Jessica has believed in the existence of ghosts, even since she and Isabel were young, and their childhood home was invade by an evil spirit.
First rate psychological suspense! The perfect Halloween read, equipped with a creepy, unsettling storyline, that appears to be paranormal, but you know by the end there’s going to be a rational explanation. This is my fifth book by this author, and the fourth one I have rated 5 stars. His books have so many layers, peel back one, and you’ve barely scratched the surface. I figured someone had to be manipulating Olivia, feeding her information, but I was completely stumped by who, why, and how they were doing it. Instead of making more sense as the book progressed, things got even more confusing and disconcerting, and it wasn’t until the last page that I had all the answers. Well, except for one part that was left open to your own interpretation, depending on how you choose to read into it.
I really liked Jessica, an average wife and mother, just trying to do the best for her family. She’s got a lot on her plate – grieving the loss of her sister, as well as trying to figure out who, or what, is trying to harm her daughter, and whether or not there’s more to Isabel’s death than meets the eye. The bulk of the story takes place in the present (2018) narrated by Jessica, with flashback chapters (2012-2013) in Isabel’s POV.
An entertaining, nail-biting novel. I will be waiting with baited breath to see what Mark Edwards comes up with next.
October 1, 2018
Jessica Gardner lost her sister Isabel (Izzy) five years ago to a bizarre freak accident. Since that time she has immersed herself in motherhood doting on her two children Felix and Olivia. The children don't know much about aunt Izzy as they have been spared the details of her death. Felix was rather young at the time and Olivia was not even born yet.
Suddenly Izzy becomes a daily topic of conversation for four year old Olivia. Jessica is bewildered as to how Olivia seems to know details of Izzy's life. Unsettling details of an aunt that she never knew. The thing is nobody has told Olivia about these things and they are extremely accurate. So you can imagine Jessica's further shock when Olivia implies that aunt Izzy was murdered. Is her daughter actually communicating with her dead sister? How else could she knows these things? If she is and it is true that she was murdered, that means the culprit is still on the loose.
Jessica finds herself searching for the truth about her sister and what is going on with her daughter. She begins to question the motives of everyone in her inner circle. Trying to unravel the details of that fateful night her sister lost her life.
I have been hearing so much about Mark Edwards and how fantastic his books are. A truly suspenseful read that kept me wondering what the heck happened to Izzy. I began to wonder if Olivia really did have the power to talk to her aunt. I found myself on edge wondering what Olivia was going to reveal to us next. Would she lead us to the killer? Or was this simply a case of a child repeating things they have heard. Hmmm I going to say no on that. See what you think!
Thank you so much to Mark Edwards, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.
Suddenly Izzy becomes a daily topic of conversation for four year old Olivia. Jessica is bewildered as to how Olivia seems to know details of Izzy's life. Unsettling details of an aunt that she never knew. The thing is nobody has told Olivia about these things and they are extremely accurate. So you can imagine Jessica's further shock when Olivia implies that aunt Izzy was murdered. Is her daughter actually communicating with her dead sister? How else could she knows these things? If she is and it is true that she was murdered, that means the culprit is still on the loose.
Jessica finds herself searching for the truth about her sister and what is going on with her daughter. She begins to question the motives of everyone in her inner circle. Trying to unravel the details of that fateful night her sister lost her life.
I have been hearing so much about Mark Edwards and how fantastic his books are. A truly suspenseful read that kept me wondering what the heck happened to Izzy. I began to wonder if Olivia really did have the power to talk to her aunt. I found myself on edge wondering what Olivia was going to reveal to us next. Would she lead us to the killer? Or was this simply a case of a child repeating things they have heard. Hmmm I going to say no on that. See what you think!
Thank you so much to Mark Edwards, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.
June 11, 2018
Mark Edwards never fails to have you staying up way past your bedtime to finish his books... this one was no different! Very big fan of his books and if you haven't read any of them yet - why not!!
Jessica is a stay at home mum to four year old Olivia. She has never really gotten over the death of her sister Izzy, who fell from her balcony nearly 5 years ago. The police ruled it to be an accident - but was it really? And how does her daughter know things about her aunt that she could not possibly know?
This book is definitely a page turner, and at time creepy. Is the aunts ghost haunting her niece? What possible explanation is there?
Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book to read and enjoy. Easily a 5 star read for me.
Jessica is a stay at home mum to four year old Olivia. She has never really gotten over the death of her sister Izzy, who fell from her balcony nearly 5 years ago. The police ruled it to be an accident - but was it really? And how does her daughter know things about her aunt that she could not possibly know?
This book is definitely a page turner, and at time creepy. Is the aunts ghost haunting her niece? What possible explanation is there?
Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book to read and enjoy. Easily a 5 star read for me.
December 9, 2018
A stand a-lone novel by author Mark Edwards.
Isabel's life appeared perfect she had a successful business, beautiful house, adoring husband. And then she was dead. In the four years that followed her sister Jessica never doubted that her sister's death was an accident. All this changes when Jessica's young daughter Olivia appears to know forgotten details from Isabel's past and makes her start to wonder about the tragedy.
Jessica discover's disturbing things about her sister, about the people she loved and trusted most and it becomes clear Isabel's life was less than perfect and that Jessica's might also be at risk. Jessica tries to discover if her sister was actually murders and are they now after Jessica and her family? The answer seem to be in the hands of her daughter.
I really enjoy Mark Edwards books and his style of writing. Good plots full of suspense and intrigue.
Isabel's life appeared perfect she had a successful business, beautiful house, adoring husband. And then she was dead. In the four years that followed her sister Jessica never doubted that her sister's death was an accident. All this changes when Jessica's young daughter Olivia appears to know forgotten details from Isabel's past and makes her start to wonder about the tragedy.
Jessica discover's disturbing things about her sister, about the people she loved and trusted most and it becomes clear Isabel's life was less than perfect and that Jessica's might also be at risk. Jessica tries to discover if her sister was actually murders and are they now after Jessica and her family? The answer seem to be in the hands of her daughter.
I really enjoy Mark Edwards books and his style of writing. Good plots full of suspense and intrigue.
October 16, 2018
Thank you NetGalley for this book.
It's my first Mark Edwards's book and it won't be the last. The book is a supernatural/crime/ psychological thriller that kept me gripped from the first pages.
The story and the characters .....just excellent! loved it from the start till the end.
It's my first Mark Edwards's book and it won't be the last. The book is a supernatural/crime/ psychological thriller that kept me gripped from the first pages.
The story and the characters .....just excellent! loved it from the start till the end.
November 27, 2018
Oh where to begin with this one????
I guess I can start by saying I have to proclaim my complete adoration for all things Mark Edwards...
I have many spent hours being completely entertained by his writing, which most often consists of a whole lot of creepiness, a whole bunch of interesting characters and a whole lot of crazy plot twists.
He has become a staple buddy read for my good friend Christine and I, both of us eagerly anticipating the journey that Mark will take us on. Each time we start out confident that we know his writing style well enough by now to not get blindsided. Yeah, you know where I'm going with this--of course we had to admit defeat once again.
This time the story revolves around Jessica Gardner. A devoted Mother and wife who lost her sister Izzy to a bizarre accident 5 years ago. Nothing unusual going on in her life until her 4 yr old daughter Olivia starts acting strange and mentioning memories of Izzy that she couldn't possibly know about. As additional odd and creepy scenarios continue to occur, Jessica soon starts to wonder if her sister's death was truly an accident or something more sinister.
Told from multiple POV's through flashback chapters, the story starts to unfold. And this is where Mark shines! With his usual pocket full of characters, he once again kept us off kilter and guessing the entire way. What really had us running in circles were the supernatural elements that were thrown in: How were these odd things happening? Was there a simple explanation, or was there something more dark behind them?
While this was another fun read to rip apart and dissect, I did have some issues with it. I found myself a bit frustrated with some of the pat explanations or gloss overs that were used to help move the story along. There were a couple of circumstances where emotions weren't played out realistically, questions that should have been asked never were, or suspicions jumped from one to another too quickly.
It's this that held me back from giving Mark my usual 5 star rating. It's also because of Mark that this is still a 4 star rating versus less. The way this man's brain works and the intricate plots he creates, I forgive him for taking a few liberties here and there. ;)
If you haven't taken a Mark Edwards journey, I highly recommend you grab any one of his books and buckle up--you are in for quite a bumpy ride!
Looking forward to our next encounter...
ARC provided by NetGalley
I guess I can start by saying I have to proclaim my complete adoration for all things Mark Edwards...
I have many spent hours being completely entertained by his writing, which most often consists of a whole lot of creepiness, a whole bunch of interesting characters and a whole lot of crazy plot twists.
He has become a staple buddy read for my good friend Christine and I, both of us eagerly anticipating the journey that Mark will take us on. Each time we start out confident that we know his writing style well enough by now to not get blindsided. Yeah, you know where I'm going with this--of course we had to admit defeat once again.
This time the story revolves around Jessica Gardner. A devoted Mother and wife who lost her sister Izzy to a bizarre accident 5 years ago. Nothing unusual going on in her life until her 4 yr old daughter Olivia starts acting strange and mentioning memories of Izzy that she couldn't possibly know about. As additional odd and creepy scenarios continue to occur, Jessica soon starts to wonder if her sister's death was truly an accident or something more sinister.
Told from multiple POV's through flashback chapters, the story starts to unfold. And this is where Mark shines! With his usual pocket full of characters, he once again kept us off kilter and guessing the entire way. What really had us running in circles were the supernatural elements that were thrown in: How were these odd things happening? Was there a simple explanation, or was there something more dark behind them?
While this was another fun read to rip apart and dissect, I did have some issues with it. I found myself a bit frustrated with some of the pat explanations or gloss overs that were used to help move the story along. There were a couple of circumstances where emotions weren't played out realistically, questions that should have been asked never were, or suspicions jumped from one to another too quickly.
It's this that held me back from giving Mark my usual 5 star rating. It's also because of Mark that this is still a 4 star rating versus less. The way this man's brain works and the intricate plots he creates, I forgive him for taking a few liberties here and there. ;)
If you haven't taken a Mark Edwards journey, I highly recommend you grab any one of his books and buckle up--you are in for quite a bumpy ride!
Looking forward to our next encounter...
ARC provided by NetGalley
January 16, 2020
Was that supposed to be a bit creepy? Because it wasn't, and now I feel like a broken record. It was probably my least favourite Mark Edwards book (sorry Mark, I normally love your work). There just didn't seem to be much at stake, I mean apart from the question of exactly how Isabella died. Other than that, all the ghost stuff was boring and slow. I'm being blunt now because I haven't had a really good book for a while. And I'm cranky about it 😠.
Jessie and Will are married with two children Felix (10 ish) and Olivia just 4 years old. Olivia starts talking about her invisible friend Izzy (Jessie's dead sister Isabella who died 5 years ago). She seems to know things that she ought not to know. Hence the whole ghost thing. I mean what else could it be 🙄? It didn't grab me. After trotting out everyone that Jessie knows as a suspect in Izzy's death we finally zero in on the truth. Nothing new here and because of the ghost stuff any other options for drama and page turning suspense were lost to us. Edwards' stellar writing saved the book from total awfulness.
Jessie and Will are married with two children Felix (10 ish) and Olivia just 4 years old. Olivia starts talking about her invisible friend Izzy (Jessie's dead sister Isabella who died 5 years ago). She seems to know things that she ought not to know. Hence the whole ghost thing. I mean what else could it be 🙄? It didn't grab me. After trotting out everyone that Jessie knows as a suspect in Izzy's death we finally zero in on the truth. Nothing new here and because of the ghost stuff any other options for drama and page turning suspense were lost to us. Edwards' stellar writing saved the book from total awfulness.
October 1, 2018
When In Her Shadow first popped up on Netgalley, it didn’t have a cover or a book description. Yet, after just having finished Mark Edwards’ previous book, The Retreat, I jumped at the chance to request it. His psychological thrillers with a slightly paranormal vibe to them are always hugely entertaining.
Four years ago, Jessica’s sister Izzy fell to her death from a balcony at her home. Jessica never questioned that this event was nothing more than an unfortunate accident. Until the day her four year old daughter starts acting a wee bit creepy, seemingly coming up with memories and details about an aunt she’s never known. Was Izzy’s death an accident or was she murdered?
Through a few flashback chapters and Jessica’s search for the truth, the reader discovers that Izzy’s life was, despite appearances, anything but perfect. This is also the point where I got lost a little. There was so much going on, from drugs to infidelity to stalkers, from quite an odd business to the #metoo movement. While it all made sense in the end, there seemed to be quite a lot to try and keep track of.
Even though I was unable to figure out the who or the why, which is always a bonus, In Her Shadow lacked a little something for me. It wasn’t as thrilling as I expected it to be and I felt the chapters dealing with Izzy’s past broke the flow of the story. And while Olivia’s words and actions were a tad creepy, they never quite chilled me to the bone.
Nevertheless, I stayed up way past my bedtime, again, to finish it because that’s just what Mark Edwards does to you. And that’s also why, even though this maybe didn’t quite work for me as well as The Retreat did, I will most definitely be picking up one of his other books in future. Because they are entertaining and enjoyable and they are addictive page-turners. Mark Edwards is a fantastic writer and tells a great story but for me, this thriller needed just that little bit more thrill to it.
Four years ago, Jessica’s sister Izzy fell to her death from a balcony at her home. Jessica never questioned that this event was nothing more than an unfortunate accident. Until the day her four year old daughter starts acting a wee bit creepy, seemingly coming up with memories and details about an aunt she’s never known. Was Izzy’s death an accident or was she murdered?
Through a few flashback chapters and Jessica’s search for the truth, the reader discovers that Izzy’s life was, despite appearances, anything but perfect. This is also the point where I got lost a little. There was so much going on, from drugs to infidelity to stalkers, from quite an odd business to the #metoo movement. While it all made sense in the end, there seemed to be quite a lot to try and keep track of.
Even though I was unable to figure out the who or the why, which is always a bonus, In Her Shadow lacked a little something for me. It wasn’t as thrilling as I expected it to be and I felt the chapters dealing with Izzy’s past broke the flow of the story. And while Olivia’s words and actions were a tad creepy, they never quite chilled me to the bone.
Nevertheless, I stayed up way past my bedtime, again, to finish it because that’s just what Mark Edwards does to you. And that’s also why, even though this maybe didn’t quite work for me as well as The Retreat did, I will most definitely be picking up one of his other books in future. Because they are entertaining and enjoyable and they are addictive page-turners. Mark Edwards is a fantastic writer and tells a great story but for me, this thriller needed just that little bit more thrill to it.
October 13, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review. I feel like all my christmases have come at once as I love Mark Edwards books. I wanted to lock myself away so I could read this book without being disturbed!!
Another amazing psychological thriller that kept me spellbound from beginning to the end, I could not predict how this would end and you kept me on my toes trying to fathom it out.
Jessica and will have 2 children Felix 10 and Olivia 4. When Olivia appears to be passing messages on from her dead Aunt.Jessica starts to think maybe her sisters accident was something more sinister.
Cleverly written thriller with a paranormal twist.
If you haven’t read a Mark Edwards book then where have you been? He is a must read author who just gets better and better!!!
If you was only going to read one book this year, this should be it!!!
Another amazing psychological thriller that kept me spellbound from beginning to the end, I could not predict how this would end and you kept me on my toes trying to fathom it out.
Jessica and will have 2 children Felix 10 and Olivia 4. When Olivia appears to be passing messages on from her dead Aunt.Jessica starts to think maybe her sisters accident was something more sinister.
Cleverly written thriller with a paranormal twist.
If you haven’t read a Mark Edwards book then where have you been? He is a must read author who just gets better and better!!!
If you was only going to read one book this year, this should be it!!!
January 14, 2019
This review can also be found at Pure Textuality PR.
This was good! I have not had the opportunity to read any of Mark Edwards writing before picking up this book so I really had no idea what to expect. I now know that I want to read a lot more of his work. This was a book that pulled me in right away and kept me guessing until the very end. I was completely entertained by this wonderfully woven story.
Jessica is a happily married mother of two children. Jessica’s sister, Isabel, died in a tragic accident years ago. Or did she? Jessica’s young daughter, Olivia, seems to know things about her aunt that just isn’t possible since she is too young to remember Isabel. Did someone kill Isabel? If so, who could have done it? Is Isabel’s ghost really speaking to young Olivia or is something else going on?
The mystery in this story was pretty complex and it really seemed like just about anything could have happened. I loved the fact that it kept me guessing until the very end. It was really interesting to spend time with Isabel in the time leading up to her death. I thought that the things happening with Olivia was just creepy enough to give me a small case of the chills. I enjoyed watching Jessica desperately work to put the pieces of her sister’s death together. There were really a lot of things that came up that may have played a role in what happened.
This was my first experience listening to Ester Wane’s narration and I thought she did a great job with this story. She really had the perfect voice to tell this story. I thought that she added a lot of intensity and emotion to the story. She handled the cast of characters very well and the dialogue in the story felt very authentic. She had the kind of voice that was very easy to listen to for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to fans of mystery thrillers. This book had a lot of great elements that came together to tell a story that was hard to put down. I look forward to reading more from Mark Edwards soon!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from Kindle Unlimited.
Initial Thoughts
This was good. This is the first book by Mark Edwards that I have had the chance to read so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. The mystery really kept me guessing in this one and I was never quite sure what would happen next. The kid was pretty creepy at times which had me giving the book a whole lot of bonus points. I listened to the audio for this book and thought that Ester Wane did a remarkable job with the story.
This was good! I have not had the opportunity to read any of Mark Edwards writing before picking up this book so I really had no idea what to expect. I now know that I want to read a lot more of his work. This was a book that pulled me in right away and kept me guessing until the very end. I was completely entertained by this wonderfully woven story.
Jessica is a happily married mother of two children. Jessica’s sister, Isabel, died in a tragic accident years ago. Or did she? Jessica’s young daughter, Olivia, seems to know things about her aunt that just isn’t possible since she is too young to remember Isabel. Did someone kill Isabel? If so, who could have done it? Is Isabel’s ghost really speaking to young Olivia or is something else going on?
The mystery in this story was pretty complex and it really seemed like just about anything could have happened. I loved the fact that it kept me guessing until the very end. It was really interesting to spend time with Isabel in the time leading up to her death. I thought that the things happening with Olivia was just creepy enough to give me a small case of the chills. I enjoyed watching Jessica desperately work to put the pieces of her sister’s death together. There were really a lot of things that came up that may have played a role in what happened.
This was my first experience listening to Ester Wane’s narration and I thought she did a great job with this story. She really had the perfect voice to tell this story. I thought that she added a lot of intensity and emotion to the story. She handled the cast of characters very well and the dialogue in the story felt very authentic. She had the kind of voice that was very easy to listen to for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to fans of mystery thrillers. This book had a lot of great elements that came together to tell a story that was hard to put down. I look forward to reading more from Mark Edwards soon!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from Kindle Unlimited.
Initial Thoughts
This was good. This is the first book by Mark Edwards that I have had the chance to read so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. The mystery really kept me guessing in this one and I was never quite sure what would happen next. The kid was pretty creepy at times which had me giving the book a whole lot of bonus points. I listened to the audio for this book and thought that Ester Wane did a remarkable job with the story.
October 2, 2018
Mark Edwards books never fit neatly into one particular genre, and In Her Shadow is no different, is it a psychology thriller? Possibly, horror? it definitely has elements of that fit this genre, supernatural? there’s plenty of events that suggest it could be, see what I mean?The reader is never sure what the author has planned, and that’s one of the reasons I’m such a huge fan of this authors work, he turns the most ordinary events into an extraordinary tale. In Her Shadow is spine-chilling creepy, it’s one of those books where your nerves are frayed, the slightest noise will make you jump, there’s a sense of impending doom which only intensifies as the plot thickens, it’s a story that’s brimming with suspense, misdirection and the most delicious twists.
Jessica is mum to four year old Olivia who appears to be communicating with Jessica’s sister Isabel, but that’s where things take a creepy and disturbing turn as Isabel died four years ago when she fell from the balcony of her house. At the time the fall was seen to be a tragic accident but Olivia has other ideas and soon Jessica is convinced that there is something far more sinister behind her sisters accident. In Her Shadows reminded me a little of the film The Sixth Sense, it’s the one where a young boy talks to dead people, I got the same sense of unease whilst reading this book. Olivia’s character is definitely the star of In Her Shadows, I had permanent goose bumps as Olivia’s behaviour became more disturbing, especially when she started sharing memories that only Jessica and Izzy would have known about.
Familiar themes run through this book, family secrets, lies and obsession but Mark Edwards adds his unique voice making the themes his own. I loved the way the author always manages to make his books multi genre, and even with elements of the supernatural In Her Shadows felt frighteningly credible. Add into the mix unreliable characters that as the reader you find yourself constantly doubting how trustworthy they actually are. The author also leaves little time to contemplate because as each chapter ends the plot thickens, which certainly added to my enjoyment of this read. I really enjoy the fact you never know what story will be hidden in the pages of a new Mark Edwards books, but one thing you can be guaranteed it will be a highly entertaining read. Definitely one for fans of psychological thrillers. Highly recommended.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
Jessica is mum to four year old Olivia who appears to be communicating with Jessica’s sister Isabel, but that’s where things take a creepy and disturbing turn as Isabel died four years ago when she fell from the balcony of her house. At the time the fall was seen to be a tragic accident but Olivia has other ideas and soon Jessica is convinced that there is something far more sinister behind her sisters accident. In Her Shadows reminded me a little of the film The Sixth Sense, it’s the one where a young boy talks to dead people, I got the same sense of unease whilst reading this book. Olivia’s character is definitely the star of In Her Shadows, I had permanent goose bumps as Olivia’s behaviour became more disturbing, especially when she started sharing memories that only Jessica and Izzy would have known about.
Familiar themes run through this book, family secrets, lies and obsession but Mark Edwards adds his unique voice making the themes his own. I loved the way the author always manages to make his books multi genre, and even with elements of the supernatural In Her Shadows felt frighteningly credible. Add into the mix unreliable characters that as the reader you find yourself constantly doubting how trustworthy they actually are. The author also leaves little time to contemplate because as each chapter ends the plot thickens, which certainly added to my enjoyment of this read. I really enjoy the fact you never know what story will be hidden in the pages of a new Mark Edwards books, but one thing you can be guaranteed it will be a highly entertaining read. Definitely one for fans of psychological thrillers. Highly recommended.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
September 30, 2020
In Her Shadow is the second book I've read by Mark Edwards. I loved the first one and started out really liking this one. Primarily I enjoyed the paranormal aspects of the book but about two-thirds in I was done. I skimmed to the ending but by then already knew who had committed the crime despite multiple red herrings and some seriously convoluted events. There were a few too many twists in this one so that it came as unbelievable. Meh. Oh, and if you have a child as bright as Olivia - PLEASE correct their grammar, past tense use before it is too late. Not once did the mother do that in this book and after the 100th time of the child saying things like "bited" me, I wanted to scream.
I won't give up on Mark Edwards but I'm as thrilled about reading more of his work now.
I won't give up on Mark Edwards but I'm as thrilled about reading more of his work now.
September 27, 2018
A good screenwriter could wring three or four Lifetime movies out of this book. There is a murder mystery, a young child who think she can see a ghost, affairs, obsession, stalking, sexual harassment, sister rivalry, and an unbelievable sex therapy business. I enjoyed the alternating points of view from the past and present but overall, it was just too much. If you are in the mood to binge on a jam-packed melodramatic read, this book could be for you.
Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and the author Mark Edwards for an advanced electronic reading copy.
Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and the author Mark Edwards for an advanced electronic reading copy.
October 3, 2018
You can always rely on number one bestselling author Mark Edwards to write a hugely thrilling, edge-of-your-seat rollercoaster ride, and this book is no exception. There's no doubt that this is destined to become another top seller. I have been a fan for a long time and have read every one of his published works - they are all incredible! If you appreciate psychological thrillers then put this guy at the top of your list. You will not be disappointed!
This book uses one of the well-worn tropes of the genre as its main premise - the inference that you don't know close family and friends as well as you think you do. It leads to a chilling and memorable read that fizzles with kinetic energy as you speed through it! Well written, as always, and with characters that are interesting - you simply want to know more about each of them. As with all of his books, I was immersed from the first couple of pages, it almost felt as though I was living in the same fictional world as the Jessica et al. A large part of the plot involves the supernatural which I wasn't expecting, but it worked very well actually. Following on from that point, there were a few instances where events were simply not believable, but if you can suspend your disbelief about those, this is a fabulous and well-crafted story. Creepytastic and released just before Halloween is an inspired move as this book definitely gives the requires chills and thrills readers are looking for at this time of the year. I wouldn't expect anything less from Mr Edwards!
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book uses one of the well-worn tropes of the genre as its main premise - the inference that you don't know close family and friends as well as you think you do. It leads to a chilling and memorable read that fizzles with kinetic energy as you speed through it! Well written, as always, and with characters that are interesting - you simply want to know more about each of them. As with all of his books, I was immersed from the first couple of pages, it almost felt as though I was living in the same fictional world as the Jessica et al. A large part of the plot involves the supernatural which I wasn't expecting, but it worked very well actually. Following on from that point, there were a few instances where events were simply not believable, but if you can suspend your disbelief about those, this is a fabulous and well-crafted story. Creepytastic and released just before Halloween is an inspired move as this book definitely gives the requires chills and thrills readers are looking for at this time of the year. I wouldn't expect anything less from Mr Edwards!
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
October 8, 2018
2.5 stars I love a good spine tingling ghost story and I think this book had the promise of being just that except for the genre shift about midway through. It starts off strong. Jessica’s sister Izzy died from falling off her balcony at home about 4 years ago. It was ruled accidental by police. There has been no reason to suspect otherwise until Jessica’s 4 year old daughter Olivia suddenly starts claiming that Izzy’s ghost is living with her.. Olivia seems to know details about Izzy’s death and life that she has no business knowing. Having already experienced a poltergeist while growing up, Jessica is terrified and wonders if it’s really her dead sister back for justice and was Izzy’s death truly accidental?
At about the halfway point, the plot changes from creepy paranormal to full on mystery who-done-it. Personally, I would have preferred to keep going with the ghost story as that was much more intriguing. The mystery was just so-so for me. Truth be told, it felt a bit klunky and the ending lacked surprise. There were definitely glimpses of great storytelling, which kept me going. I can see why Edwards is a favorite for many readers. However, I wanted to like this book more than I did. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and as the story progressed, it felt far fetched and unbelievable. It was hard to buy in and the two genres didn’t mesh all that well.
In Her Shadow is a fitting October read with notes of haunting and ghosts. Fans of mystery genre may enjoy this book more than I did. Thank you to Amazon Publishing and Mark Edwards for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
At about the halfway point, the plot changes from creepy paranormal to full on mystery who-done-it. Personally, I would have preferred to keep going with the ghost story as that was much more intriguing. The mystery was just so-so for me. Truth be told, it felt a bit klunky and the ending lacked surprise. There were definitely glimpses of great storytelling, which kept me going. I can see why Edwards is a favorite for many readers. However, I wanted to like this book more than I did. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and as the story progressed, it felt far fetched and unbelievable. It was hard to buy in and the two genres didn’t mesh all that well.
In Her Shadow is a fitting October read with notes of haunting and ghosts. Fans of mystery genre may enjoy this book more than I did. Thank you to Amazon Publishing and Mark Edwards for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2018
This is the second of Mark Edwards' books that I have read, and like The Retreat, I thought it was a spooky well-plotted thriller, that kept me gripped, but ultimately for me it lacked the wow factor to push it into the 5-star zone.
I think it's because I'm not really a fan of supernatural fiction, and the 'is it or isn't it?' puzzle throughout both books turned me off a bit, although I found the resolution satisfying.
Jessica has never really gotten over the accidental death of her older sister, Isabel, five years earlier. When her four year old daughter, Olivia, starts making comments and predictions about things she couldn't possibly know about, and saying her aunt Izzy told her, she begins to question her sanity, especially when Olivia tells her that Izzy was pushed by the bad man...
A lot of books get labelled as psychological thrillers, to the point where I sometimes wonder what the term actually means, but this one did have characters on the edge, being manipulated, and having experiences that couldn't possibly be real... Or could they? I liked the large array of possible suspects, and red herrings galore, even if I didn't particularly like the heroine, her gullible mother, or her spoiled daughter. I didn't guess the denouement, but liked that the important threads were tidied up, leaving a little mystery unexplained. Many of my friends have given this rave review, and I certainly enjoyed this enough to read more of Edwards' work in future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a voluntary honest review. In Her Shadow is available now.
I think it's because I'm not really a fan of supernatural fiction, and the 'is it or isn't it?' puzzle throughout both books turned me off a bit, although I found the resolution satisfying.
Jessica has never really gotten over the accidental death of her older sister, Isabel, five years earlier. When her four year old daughter, Olivia, starts making comments and predictions about things she couldn't possibly know about, and saying her aunt Izzy told her, she begins to question her sanity, especially when Olivia tells her that Izzy was pushed by the bad man...
A lot of books get labelled as psychological thrillers, to the point where I sometimes wonder what the term actually means, but this one did have characters on the edge, being manipulated, and having experiences that couldn't possibly be real... Or could they? I liked the large array of possible suspects, and red herrings galore, even if I didn't particularly like the heroine, her gullible mother, or her spoiled daughter. I didn't guess the denouement, but liked that the important threads were tidied up, leaving a little mystery unexplained. Many of my friends have given this rave review, and I certainly enjoyed this enough to read more of Edwards' work in future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a voluntary honest review. In Her Shadow is available now.
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