Member Reviews
What a great read! Such a lovely style of writing! I found myself gripped from the start with well developed clear characters who I was quickly involved with.
The story was intriguing and developed at pace, putting enough ideas out there to keep my head puzzling and thinking. The blind alleys kept appearing but didn’t quite solve the queries, continually gathering momentum as it raised suspicions. I loved the ending, bringing it all together but still leaving a final thought to jiggle around in my head.
My 1st book by Mark Edwards but definitely not my last! Amazing read!
This reminds me of the early Mark Edwards books which I really enjoyed. It was a great story and was slightly different to the other books out there at the moment, which was a refreshing change.
I thought that this book was brilliant!
It is a gripping storyline, very well written with some excellent characters. They were really well developed and had excellent characterisation, I loved the flow and how well they all interacted.
I am a massive fan of true life paranormal and fictions books too and this one hit the spot for me on so many levels – I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish!
This was definitely a book that left me thinking – it was a really enjoyable story and I haven’t hesitated to give it 5 stars – another cracking book from Mark Edwards and I am very much looking forward to seeing what he releases next now!!
3.5 stars. I definitely enjoyed the first part more than the second. I don’t normally like books with a paranormal element but I enjoyed the twist this gave the plot and it had me turning the pages but then things seemed to descend into chaos and became a bit farcical. The second part and the ultimate reveal felt like a bit of a let down. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of those stories that will chill you to the bone. Absolutely chilling and very suspenseful to read. You keep wondering what’s next and are surprised by what happens. An author I will be looking forward to reading more from!
So this is my first Mark Edwards book and after I finished I really wondered why I hadn’t picked up any of his books sooner!
It’s been four years since Jessica’s sister fell from the balcony of her house. She never once doubted that it was accident until her four year old daughter Olivia starts saying things about Isabel she shouldn’t know. She claims she’s talking to her Auntie Izzy and she wants to tell her something, a terrible secret.
Jessica is torn, should she believe her daughter is talking to Isabel from beyond the grave or is there something more sinister going on...
Wow, what a book! For those who read this blog on a regular basis you may know that I love anything remotely ghostly and adding the psychological thriller aspect, well, I just couldn’t put it down!
I really enjoyed that the story was told from Jessica’s perspective in the present and also Isabel’s from four years previously. The back and forth between the timelines really created some good tension throughout the book.
I do like when an author takes a character that seems so ordinary and puts them in an extraordinary situation. Jessica is a highly strung mum, still grieving for her sister, who gave up a high flying career for her kids, cheeky ten year old Felix and little Olivia.
Olivia was super creepy at times and I think the author got her voice almost perfect, although it is a long time since my son was four, I feel like there could have been a few more babyish/made up words that would have just added a bit more authenticity.
Overall In Her Shadow is a fast paced, twist packed, suspenseful read that you won’t want to put down!
A great page turner. I havent read any of Marks books yet but i will definately be reading more. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and i highly recommend to anyone.
This seems to be a book that has people divided; they either love it or hate it. Personally I thought it was a great read, a little different to other Mark Edwards books in that it doesn't keep you on the edge of your seat. However it IS a great read and keeps you reading to find out what happens. A little paranormal but totally believable and one not to miss.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.3.5*
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.
Another well written story from this author. This book is a psychological thriller veering into a ghost story. I am not a fan of that genre but it did add a certain creepiness to this tale.
Jessica Gardner once had an older sister, Isabel, who died in a fall from a balcony almost 5 years ago. Jessica and her family have tried to move on, believing that the death was an accident. The agony had "dimmed to a dull ache" until her 4-year-old daughter, Olivia, starts having some serious issues at school and home. It seems that Olivia is recalling memories and details about Izzy that she can't possibly know and even insinuates that Izzy is telling her some secrets. Jessica is no stranger to haunting as she experienced a series of events in her childhood remiscent of the things that are happening to the family now. Is Izzy trying to send a message about her killer from beyond the grave? NO SPOILERS.
If you like your domestic drama with a bit of supernatural then you will enjoy this book. The mystery begs to be solved and Jessica is determined to release her daughter from this seeming "possession" and get to the bottom of it once and for all.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.
What an interesting read this turned out to be.
I really don't know what I was expecting from this book, it feels so different from the last book I read by Mr Edwards, but just as darn good.
This is one of those books that really does make you think, it tests your beliefs, and leaves you thinking about it long after you have finished reading it.
Don't read this book late at night, lol.
For 4 years Jessica has known her sisters death was a terrible accident. Jessica was very close to her beloved sister and misses her terribly. Although Jessica has believed it was an accident, her mother certainly hasn't believed it. Her mother has always believed there was a lot more to her death.
When Jessica's young daughter starts talking about her dead aunt, Jessica starts to think, how can her young daughter know things from Isabel's past? It really creeps Jessica out, there is no way her young daughter should or can know the things she knows. Jessica really does start to think that, just maybe there was more to Isabel's death than she first thought. Is Isabel trying to talk to Jessica through her daughter?
Creepy, spooky it's everything you want from a great read. This book really does make you think about the afterlife, Ghosts, do they really exist? If you are a believer or not, this book really gives you something to think about. It's the ability to get you thinking about such things that adds to this book being creepy, the fact it makes you think so much.
I don't know any words that is going to do this book the justice it deserves. A first class thrilling read. I can highly recommend this book. It would be a great book for a book club as there are so many things you sit and discuss about the book, it would be a great conversation starter.
A great book with a gripping story that keeps you engaged right to the end. Loved the style of writing, the characters and the plot. Superb read!
I Loved this book. Everything Mark Edwards always gives to his books was there
Twists Turns, making you think one thing then it changes, excitement
The Characters were great you could really make them fit to life and portrayed well in the book
Kept going right to the end true mark Edwards style
A really intriguing read, hooked from the beginning a great story told well, really enjoyed, I do feek it maybe could have ended a chapter or two earlier, but that may be because I guessed halfway through, but still a fab read
I love Mark Edwards! What more can I say lol. His style of writing builds and just makes you sit-on-edge waiting to see what happens. I like his slow build leading to what happens. It isn’t a bad slow build, but one that gets your mind thinking, and just when you honk you’ve solved it.. Bam! He throws in a wrench! He’s become one of my favorites and this book did not disappoint. It’s exactly the psychology thriller you want to read to get under your skin.
Another brilliant read from Mark Edwards! I've not read a bad or even mediocre book so far and this didn't disappoint either. I couldn't wait to keep picking it up and keep reading. There is the dual mystery of what happened to Izzy and whether she is really "talking" to Olivia. Both subplots drive the tension and intrigue. Absolutely loved it and highly recommend it!
Mark Edwards did it again with In Her Shadow. I loved the way he brought all of the events together to create this psychological thriller. I am one who believes in the after life so this book was quite interesting to say the least. I’d highly recommend this book.
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 have loved all of Mark’s books and this was one of the great ones. The story twists and turns leaving the reader unsure of whether Izzy’s death was an accident or a murder - and if murder who did it. A gripping story that from start to finish drew me in and I did not want to put it down at all until I had finished. The characters and their life styles are so realistic. The story is gripping throughout. Thank you Mark for writing yet another blockbuster story and thank you Netgalley for letting me read it for an honest review.
Jessica always looked up to Izzy her older sister. Izzy was glamorous, married to a rich handsome husband & ran a successful business. She was devastated when Izzy fell to her death from the balcony of her house. Years on she is still struggling to come to terms with her loss.
When Olivia, her young daughter starts getting into trouble at school & talking about Izzy- her 'friend' Jessica is concerned. Her mother is a great believer in the supernatural & is convinced Izzy is trying to tell them something from beyond the grave.
This book creates a really spooky atmosphere. Is it really Izzy trying to tell her family something? How did she know even before they happened? How can Olivia know things about Izzy that happened long before she was born? Is Izzy really getting in touch through her neice or is someone using her for their own ends.
I loved this book & couldn't put it down. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review it.