I wasn't sure about this book initially as it seemed almost paranormal but i'm so happy i stuck with it, because it was overall incredible. I'm a huge fan of Mark's books anyway so I should have known better! This was shocking, gripping and I thoroughly enjoyed it

I love Mark Edwards Books and just love the way he writes. So when this book came up to read and review I jumped at the chance and requested it. So please when I downloaded this book, got comfy and opened my Kindle. But Sadly, this one In Her Shadow did not grip me. I felt it was lacking something for me. I got to chapter five and put it down made a coffee went back to it got to Chapter seven Closed my Kindle. Sorry. It wasn't for me.

Thank you so much to Mark Edwards, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.

I enjoy Mark Edwards writing on a whole and although I'm not sure he can ever top The Magpies, In Her Shadow is most definitely worth a read. There are most certainly paranormal elements to the plot and although I tend to avoid books of this subject, all is not what it seems in the book and if anything, this added to the mystery as a whole. Pretty much every character is a suspect throughout the book so you never really trust any of them (nor necessarily like them), an element I really enjoy in books because I want to be surprised by the outcome. Although the truth wasn't quite the high drama I would have prefered to read, it was still enjoyable none the less and I will always read Mark's books in the hope of coming across a book to rival The Magpies.

I am a huge Mark Edwards fan and I would read anything that he writes. His ability to weave paranormal and haunting elements into his books in a gripping and believable way is remarkable. I enjoyed his last book “The Retreat” very much. So I was excited to get my hands on his new book.

The story begins very strong and it holds the suspense for quite a while. But somehow the story turns into a hectic race. I enjoyed the part with the paranormal thing and watching Jessica’s ordinary live become creepy. I love it when it looks all so supernatural but there also is the chance of a logical explanation. But as soon as Jessica decides that there is more to the dead of her sister the story goes downhill. Jessica really got on my nerves with her jumping around and accusing one after the other to be a murderer. Actually, I did not mind that the book suddenly turned into a whodunit-story. It was more that it seems to me that the second part of the book was done with less preciseness. It felt that the story needed further elaboration. Everything is just happening very conveniently. I just did not buy how this all worked out.

Mark Edwards writing is solid and he drew me again into his story. But I did not love this book as much as his others. It still is a good book but it feels like it wanted too many things and failed to elaborate some parts. But I still would read more from Mark Edwards because he is still a very good writer.

This is a great book that I didn’t want to put down. It’s set in two time frames. In current day we encounter Jessica and Will who are parents of Felix and Olivia. Jessica was pregnant with Olivia in 2013 when her sister Izzy died by falling off a balcony. The coroner declared that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death but now in 2018 four year old Olivia suddenly appears to know a lot about Izzy’s life and death even though she was not born.so when Izzy died.

The other thread is set in 2012/13 and follows the last few months of Izzy’s life with her husband Darpak and sister-in-law Nina as she ran her successful Blissful Massage business.

This is a great psychological thriller that I didn't want to put it down. I thought it was a ghost story at first but I enjoyed the way the story evolved. It’s hard to say more without spoilers. My only complaint being that there were a few events such as what happened to Pat, the school and Pete that were not explained.

With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A new author for me, but I'm so glad I discovered his books when I did!
Such an edge if the seat twists and turns!!!

Imagine your daughter has an imaginary friend. And the imaginary friend seems to be your sister, that has been dead after an accident several years ago. First you ignore it as being a children will be children. But then the friend reveals information that the poor daughter couldn't possibly know.....
Julia starts investigating her sister's death and soon it turns deadly. Highly recommended.

Jessica's sister Isabel, or Izzy as she was affectionately known, died 4 years ago after a tragic accident but when Jess's young daughter Olivia starts acting strangely and talking about her dead auntie like she is there with her Jess starts to question what really happened on that fateful day, was it an accident or did something more sinister occur.  Is Izzy trying to reach out from beyond the grave to reveal to Jessica that it wasn't an accident after all....?

In true Mark Edwards style, this latest book has you hiding under the duvet from the beginning.  It's very creepy and if you believe, like I do, that death isn't the end of a life it will draw you in too.  Olivia's behaviour had me convinced that Izzy was talking via her to let Jess know what had really happened  and each time I thought I'd figured out what went on the story veered in the opposite direction and left me floundering.

Another cleverly written thriller from this author, with some paranormal thrown in for good measure.  Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the auto approval, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

First of all not only am I a massive fan of paranormal stories but I am also a massive fan of Mark Edwards so has you can imagine I couldn't wait to get my teeth into this story.

In Her Shadow we follow a story told in two parts which alternates between the past and present where we meet Jessica sister of Isabel The author takes us on a dark a creepy road when Jessica's daughter seems to know a lot about Isabel's past.

I have to say that I loved the first part of the story, then we move on to the second part and I wasn't so sure in comparison. This was mainly due to the context and references of Isabel's business for me I found it rather strange and I was starting to wonder where the whole story was going. But then low and below the author throws a twist in and I felt like we were back on track again.

Once again Mark Edwards has written a story that will have you hooked from start to finish, with each chapter leaving you wanting to know what is going to happen next. I loved the whole paranormal element mixed with crime. This is a story that will make you question if there is really life after death.

So if you're looking for something a little different this is the book for you.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for a copy in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

Jessica is struggling to make sense of her four-year-old daughter’s (Olivia) strange behaviour at school. Jessica’s sister, Isabel, was killed a few years previously. From small beginnings, Jessica’s life starts to be overtaken by the idea that Olivia might be communing with her dead aunt Isabel, and that Isabel’s death was not an accident.

This is complicated by the fact that the family was visited by a poltergeist during the teenage years of Jessica and Isabel. Jessica’s mother is still a firm believer in communication with the dead. A few spooky incidents with Olivia are enough to send Jessica’s mother back into her beliefs.

Jessica becomes more and more convinced her sister was murdered. She suspects everyone in turn in her small, inner circle as Olivia says more and more outrageous ‘secrets’ supposedly passed on to her by her aunt.

There is plenty of depth to the story. The characters are well written and believable.

The reader goes back in time to the final months of Isabel’s life and we see what actually happened to her. This works very well because, at the same time, we are reading about Jessica’s current turmoil and her discoveries about the people around her.

Jessica also makes discoveries about herself. Jessica was always the less popular sister and Isabel was the one everyone liked. Jessica overcomes plenty of hurdles that have threatened her self-confidence. She is relentless in pursuing the truth, however unlikely it all seems to be. In fact, she turns out to be a first-class detective.

The writing style is conversational and easy-going and this makes the pages fly past. The ghostly element feeds into a mounting murder-mystery.

The ending is clever and unexpected and only a few ghostly questions remain…

In short, it was a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Eerie, unsettling, and intense—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.

If Mark Edwards were a wine he’d be fast flowing and smooth, strong and chilling, turbulent in patches and finish with a flourish. It’s always easy to read a Mark Edwards book. There’s a light touch to his writing that quickly immerses you in his characters and their stories, and makes it easy for you to accept his premise, even when that premise has you looking askance to begin with.

At the heart of his books are stories of loss, loss and family secrets; that’s what makes them so universally popular. In In Her Shadow, we meet Jess, Will and their 4 year old daughter, Olivia. Jess starts to get a bit worried when Olivia begins acting up in school. Usually a cheerful child, Olivia’s imaginary friend seems to be the cause of her change in behaviour.

But when Jess discovers that this imaginary friend is Izzy, her older and more glamorous sister who died in an accident just before Olivia was born, she begins to think she may be losing her mind.

Jess’s concerns are not helped by her slightly dotty mother, who is a believer in the paranormal and who has always been convinced that her eldest daughter’s death was no accident. She has never really liked Isobel’s grieving husband, Darpak since that day, though he remains true to Isobel’s memory and still grieves her loss.

When Olivia whispers to Jess that Izzy’s death was not an accident, Jess starts to search for answers to her daughter’s behaviour and in the process to find out the truth about her sister’s death. In her quest to discover the truth, she will question everything she knows about her close family and more than one member will fall under suspicion as she delves into Isobel’s secrets and lifestyle.

What she finds reveals a picture of her sister she didn’t really know as well as she thought, and she puts her own life under threat as she retraces her sister’s last days.

Told predominantly from Jessica’s perspective, with flashbacks to Izzy’s past, Mark Edwards skillfully weaves paranormal elements into a well told story that involves love, obsession, sex and drugs. His twists are frequent and surprising and though there are a number of false leads, the conclusion is both logical and surprising.

Mark Edwards will always be a writer I turn to when I want an addictive, easy read. This book, whilst enjoyable and engrossing didn’t quite hit the 5 star mark for me, partly I think because there was so much going on that the chilling elements got a bit lukewarm, but it was still a solid, engrossing and enjoyable read. Can’t ask for more than that!

Verdict: An enjoyable, engrossing read

In Her Shadow begins five years after Isabel’s death. Her niece, Olivia,is suddenly talking about the aunt that she never met. She knows things about Isabel’s life such as her favorite music, the name of her childhood pet. Things that her family hadn’t shared with her This definitely spooks everyone. How does she know all this? Is Isabel visiting her from the next world? In addition, Olivia has now brought suspicions about Isabel’s death. Was it really an accident as everyone believed or did someone else have a hand in it?

Through the dual narrative, readers get to unravel the mystery surrounding Isabel’s death and Olivia’s behavior. Isabel’s narrations presented clues that had me guessing what could have happened to her. However, I couldn’t guess what was going on with Olivia. Having read Mark’s previous books, I knew that there would be an explanation but I was still spooked by some of the stuff the little girl said.

This is a well-paced thriller that had me guessing to the last page. The character development of the sisters was impeccable. I like how Isabel’s character was so well developed even though she only appeared in the story through the past timeline, flashbacks and Olivia’s revelations. I also like the fact that the story was unpredictable which is something that I enjoy in thrillers.

However, like I mentioned in the first paragraph, my experience with this story was a bit different compared to the author’s previous title. Maybe my expectations were too high? I still loved this story though, just not as much I thought I would. Still, I have nothing but love for Mark’s writing. The vivid imagery, addictive storytelling and even his ability to make things that I don’t believe in, actually seem plausible definitely makes me a big fan of his writing.

Family secrets, obsessions, deception and a mysterious death, perfect cocktail for this disturbing, enthralling thriller that will keep you turning pages in search for answers.

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.

Another dark and disturbing novel from the brilliant pen of Mark Edwards. He has such a fabulous imagination, and manages to get the reader thinking about what is possible, what to believe? I thought Jessica was a great character, and the relationships between her and Will, her children, her Mum and the others were believable and realistic. A gripping story line, which moves along at a brisk, consistent pace, questioning everybody and everything and never quite getting any satisfactory answers. The truth is out there, but until we know what 'The Truth' is, I'll keep my options open and continue to read Mr Edwards excellent books.

This is a clever psychological thriller, different from anything I’ve read before. It’s beautifully written and kept me guessing most of the way. Did Isabel (Izzy) fall off her balcony to her death? Or was she pushed? No-one suspected foul play until Izzy’s small niece, Olivia, hints that her aunt is sharing secrets with her. Perhaps this would have been instantly dismissed had the family not had prior experience with ghosts … Is Isabel really reaching out from beyond the grave to bring her killer to justice? It seems more and more likely. Olivia’s mother, Jessica, tries teasing out what her daughter knows, and is horrified to discover she knows things she could only have been told by Isabel’s ghost (such as what they called their car when they were children). As if that’s not enough, Mark Edwards also adds doses of sex therapy, poltergeists and affairs to the mix. At its heart, the book also examines the plague of powerful men that continue to abuse women – very topical as the “me too” movement continues to gather support worldwide. Well worth a read.

This is the story of two sisters, Isabel (Izzy) and Jessica. One dead, and one very much alive.

Jessica is still mourning the loss of Isabel who died when she fell from a balcony in her home five years ago. Since she was drinking and had drugs in her system, the death was ruled an accident. Isabel was always the prettiest one, the smartest one, the one with so much going for her... Jessica had always felt to be in the shadow of her older, more beautiful sister.

Now Jessica is married to Will, and the mother of ten-year-old Felix and four-year-old Olivia. The family live in the London suburb of Beckenham with their aging golden retriever, Caspar.

Since Izzy died just weeks after Jessica told her of her pregnancy with Olivia, her young daughter had never had the opportunity to meet her aunt Isabel. Yet lately, Olivia has seemed obsessed with the auntie she never knew... She suddenly seems to intuit things that only Isabel would have known. She seems.... possessed. Jessica wonders if her little daughter has chosen Isabel as an imaginary friend. Can she credit all that is going on to the overactive imagination of a four-year-old? But would that explain all the weird coincidences and Olivia's disturbing behaviour? Olivia seems to predict certain dire events. The death of the school's dinner lady, the burning down of another school, the illness of a goat, etc. How CAN she know this stuff??? There seemed no rational explanation... Olivia is acting out at school. Her room looks as if it had been ransacked and her soft toys have their eyes gouged out.

Jessica has always leaned toward belief in spirits. Could Izzy be trying to tell her that she didn't fall from the balcony five years ago? Could she have been pushed??? Is Isabel using her young daughter as a conduit to communicate?

Also, Jessica has felt that she is being watched. Several times she spotted a grey Hyundai following her or parked up outside her house.

Could Jessica's entire family be in the shadow of her late sister?

MY THOUGHTS

Once again, Mark Edwards has served a cunning cocktail of genres to his readers. At any one time you are uncertain if this is a mystery? a thriller? domestic noir? or, as is easily assumed, a paranormal thriller. Though I would never spoil it for future readers so you'll have to discover the truth for yourself.

What I do know is that the author has a way of keeping the reader engaged. His devious plotting and very real characters make for an enjoyable read. His use of short chapters moves the narrative along.

The story is told mostly from Jessica's point of view with a few chapters told by Isabel in the weeks leading up to her untimely death.

Having just read another of his novels "Follow you home" I feel I am well versed in his writing technique and can recommend his work to others. Others who, like me, enjoy a good fast-paced thriller.

Four years ago, Jessica’s sister Isabel died after falling from a balcony – a tragic accident. Nobody has ever doubted that her death was anything other than an accident. But now, Jessica’s 4 year old daughter, Olivia begins talking about her Aunty Izzy and she knows things about her that she couldn’t possibly know. Jessica and Isabel’s mother begins to think that Isabel is talking from beyond the grave through Olivia. Jessica doesn’t want to believe it, but when Olivia begins to say that Isobel didn’t fall from the balcony she was pushed, it makes Jessica look more closely into her sister’s death.

I had heard such good things about this book before I started to read it and I was literally itching to get started on it! Everything that had been said about this book went along the lines of ‘gripping’, ‘chilling’ and ‘spooky’ and I’m pleased to say that they weren’t wrong - It’s all of those things and more! It begins as a very spooky read with Olivia seemingly ‘possessed’ by the spirit of her Aunt Izzy, who had died some years before. All throughout these moments where Olivia was saying ‘Aunty Izzy says this’ and ‘Aunty Izzy wouldn’t like that’ and where Olivia is whispering to an empty space next to her made my teeth, hair and everything else stand up on end! There were lots of these moments throughout the first half of this book and it had me reading it from behind a cushion for fear of seeing dark shadows cross the room!

As the story moved on, it began to take on a more sinister tone. I thought Jessica’s character was great and loved the fact that she constantly tried to find a rational explanation into how Olivia was behaving. I also felt for her, as still missing her sister some years since she died, she now has to face the fact that Isabel’s death may not have been an accident. As I was grabbed and dragged further into the story, I found myself questioning and suspecting everyone. The plot twisted and turned and kept me guessing at what was happening right until the very end. I loved the inference that there is a logical answer to everything, but then there was this little part that gets you thinking ‘what if…..’

A fantastic read which had me feeling spooked, unsettled and scared all in one go. Part murder, part thriller, part paranormal with lots of tension, suspense and shock….what more could you want! Highly recommended!

This was my first book by Mark Edwards and I found the writing to be excellent and the characters well developed. I'm not an avid crime reader but the premise of this story caught my attention and the idea of it being supernatural.

The story is based around the death of Jessica's sister Isabel who seemed to have the perfect life and died tragically when she fell from her balcony. When Jessica's daughter begins to talk about Isobel being pushed and that someone has killed her, the story really begins and we go on a journey to find out the truth.

There are quite a few twists and turns but I wasn't overly fond of the ending and at 83% of the book, I really didn't care who had done it. The supernatural element was well played but fell flat towards the end too. There seemed to be a bit too much going on at times. I think in the end, the book just wasn't for me but the writing was excellent so I'm giving it 4 stars.

The trouble with a Mark Edwards’ book is that it stops you in your tracks. Explain? Well, I don’t want to do anything else but carry on reading and this was no exception. The thing is, I am so comfortable with his writing and I know as soon as I see his name that I quickly become totally absorbed in the tale that he is spinning.

So, I settled down to learn all about two sisters, Isabel and Jessica (the main protagonist). When they were young they became the subject of a newspaper article that detailed their encounter with a poltergeist which was to then lead to unpleasant repercussions. Fast forward to present day, and Jessica is happily married with two children, her life is good with the exception of the death of her sister, Isabel, over four years earlier. Isobel had fallen from the balcony of her beautiful house, leaving her husband, and her family and friends distraught. Cause of death? A tragic accident.

Jessica receives a summons from her 4 year old daughter’s school, Olivia is talking about her friend Izzy and slowly it emerges that she can see her dead auntie and she has related a secret to the child. No more plot, you will have to read it.

What follows is a fine example of Edwards’ skill in drip feeding information; presenting the expected twists and turns; manipulating the reader into guessing, and guessing again. Like an obedient puppy, I followed the trail he left, right until the end. Now about the end – I’m not completely sure about that because it all felt a bit tortured, whether that is because I was racing to find out what happened, whodunit, or what? I don’t know. What I do know is that I have no hesitation in recommending it. Is it his best, I don’t think so? Even so, it is a fine example of his very fine work.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.