First up is In Her Shadow by Kristin Miller, a book I uncovered from the depths of my Kindle. Like a previous book I read by Miller, this is another Privileged People Being Generally Terrible book but where the previous book faltered, this one was mostly a success. It helps that I spent my impressionable teen years cutting my teeth on soap operas and Gothics and this story scratched both of those itches.

Colleen Roper took a secretarial job, working for financial guru Michael Harris. In record time they're sleeping together and bingo-bango she's pregnant. There have been some complications to her pregnancy so the doctor is prescribing plenty of rest and relaxation, which means quitting her job and Michael sweeping her off to palatial family home, Ravenwood. The wrinkle? Michael's pregnant wife, Joanna - who abruptly left Michael very shortly before he fell into Colleen's bed. Oh and minor detail nobody has heard from her since. Colleen, of course, being the typical Gothic heroine has stars in her eyes, newly thrust into a world of luxury, spinning fairy tale happy family fantasies. In reality? Michael seems distant from the idea of starting a family, there are locked rooms at Ravenwood that are off limits, and a small staff that are openly hostile to her. Then, of course, a dead body shows up.

This story is told from multiple points of view (Colleen, Michael, a married couple next door with plenty to hide, and the lead detective on the case when the body turns up) and it really works here. Miller plays these shifts to maximum effect to keep the reader guessing, keeping the equilibrium off balance just enough.

The only halfway decent "likeable" person in this book is the lead detective on the case, while everyone else is generally terrible or hopelessly naïve (Colleen grates in short order) but man, nothing will hook me faster than a soapy Gothic. I had it half-figured out by the end, but it was entertaining all the same.

Final Grade = B-

This book was really good and I would definitely recommend it. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Colleen is living her dream. She has a wonderful husband, a beautiful house in a great area and a baby on the way so why is she living in her husband’s ex wife’s shadow? There are so many secrets. Why are there locked rooms in her house and why doesn’t anyone discuss Joanna?
“I Her Shadow” will keep you guessing until the end.

This one surprised me and that’s saying a lot as of late. Full of unlikable characters and plenty of secrets this was fun to try and figure out.

What a great spooky season book! Definitely gave me all the creepy October Vibes! I'd never heard of this author prior to reading, so I'm definitely impressed and will be watching out for more books!

I enjoyed In Her Shadow! If you enjoy reading a story with an ominous tone full of twists and turns you should def read this one!

Oh wow, what an intriguing story. It is certainly a page turner! Just when I thought I had it all figured out them BAM a big twist. Then I would have to start trying all over again! That makes for a great read. Thank you Kristin for such a great book!

Such an addictive read. I enjoyed this immensely and hope to read more of this author. Quite the page turner

This was a fast and easy read. I liked how devious the last chapter was and I wasn't expecting it but I enjoyed it. It fell a bit flat in the dark and atmospheric story telling, sadly.

Colleen was in awe at her first sight of Ravenwood, the grand estate where she would be living with her boyfriend, Michael. Intimidated, Colleen soon learned that Michael was still grieving the disappearance of his first wife, Joanna, while the household staff seemed resentful of Colleen’s presence, especially since she had recently been employed as Michael’s secretary and was now five months pregnant. When a woman’s body was discovered buried in the park across the street, the neighborhood was both stunned and terrified at the fact that their upscale neighborhood near Half Moon Bay could be the target of such an act.

Living in Joanna’s house, in a castle with locked doors and household staff, Colleen didn’t know how to fill her days. She unpacked the few boxes of her possessions and tried to make Ravenwood her home, but both Michael and the staff were insistent about keeping things exactly the same as before, even keeping to the meals Joanna had planned. The discovery of the body across the street bothered Colleen, and when the body had been officially identified as that of Joanna, Colleen was horrified at the possibility that Michael could have been involved.

I really enjoyed this journey with Colleen, surprised that she would agree to move into a place she’d never seen, knowing Michael’s wife had disappeared only six months before. I felt sorry for her, essentially trapped, with Michael’s friend/co-worker right next door. In Her Shadow is told through alternating characters’ voices, and in that way, the reader learns about the real Joanna, not the polished trophy wife image she presented. I almost hate to admit it, but I didn’t suspect who the murderer was until the last chapter. Kristin Miller has written an intriguing mystery with plenty of surprises that easily held my interest.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

We know it's coming, from the ominous beginning to the chapter titles telling us how long until Colleen's murder, but how will it all play out? Colleen is the new pregnant girlfriend to Michael, who's pregnant wife Joanne just left him six months ago. However, Joanne's body is found next to the home property and we find wasn't even pregnant. Now there is a murder to solve with many suspects on the radar. Colleen doesn't know who to trust and begins to wonder if she is now in danger. Lots of great twist and turns and it really is a last minute reveal of who was responsible. And boy what an ending it is.

This book was a pretty decent gothic mystery. I don’t read those hardly at all so it was a nice change of pace. My biggest issue was the numerous POVs. I like when it’s between the two main characters, but more than that for no real reason it just gets on my nerves. Would try this author again though.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

I was inspired most to read this book because it was advertised as a modern-day Rebecca. I am a big fan of the Alfred Hitchcock movie. I don't think I liked the characters as much in this book as I did in the movie, but the twists and turns in this book were totally worth it. I highly recommend this entertaining read!

Such a cool premise - and the author delivered! This book was eerie while still holding your attention and leaving you wanting more. Would definitely recommend!

FINALLY! A psych thriller worth reading. Miller did a wonderful job with this book. From the beginning I was captivated with the story and did not want to put the book down. The characters throughout the book were made vivid in my mind. Joanna, Colleen and Michael are the main characters within the book, but there are several more that play important roles within the book, and they are easily separated and not easily forgotten. A tumultuous marriage on the rocks, a girlfriend, pregnancy, murder, lies and secrets dwell within the chapters of this book. Who committed the murder and why? So many twists in this book, and I did not see the ending coming. Thank you to Miller for keeping it clean and free of cursing. That's hard to find these days. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

I was convinced I knew what happened. I was wrong!

Given the opportunity to live in a house with your soulmate is divine, right? But what if all around you is staff and items that continuously remind you that you're an interloper and don't belong here? What if you're soulmate is suddenly accused of murder? Can you continue to remain there? Can you remain unwavering by his side?

This story makes you ask these questions and many more. Is the perfect life really attainable? Is it actually perfect?

Colleen and Michael have finally found each other, they finally feel whole, but what happened to Michael's first wife, Joanna? Where is she and why did she leave?

Everyone loved Joanna but won't give Colleen a chance to make her own mark. What are Dean and Samara hiding? This story is full of these questions as you continue to feel like Colleen, an interloper.

In Her Shadow by Kristin Miller - A pregnant young woman becomes obsessed with the disappearance of her lover’s wife, only to discover that she may be headed for the same fate. When Colleen Roper becomes pregnant by her boss, Michael, he takes her to luxurious Ravenwood. There are memories of his former wife, Joanna, who left months ago. In addition, she’s not allowed to enter certain rooms and the staff is nasty. Then, bones are unearthed in the grove across the street and Michael falls under the suspicion of detectives. Colleen finds herself pulled into her lover’s dark past surrounding beautiful Joanna. “As Colleen untangles truth from lies, she discovers that nothing is what it seems, and that some people will kill to keep their secrets as quiet as the dead.“
This book was a good psychological thriller! There were well developed characters and I never would have guessed who the sick killer was. This is the first book of Kristin Miller that I’ve read, however I now want to read another! Good read. Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Loved, loved, loved this book!

I loved how you know one of the main characters dies right away, but through her chapters, it reveals the murder. The book is extremely suspenseful with lots of twists and turns.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a good thriller.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy for my honest review.

There was a lot that I liked about this book. The setting is vivid and the characters are well written. However, I found the pace to be a bit slow and the switching narratives was somewhat confusing (and unnecessary.) Unfortunately, I read an AMAZING book right before this one so I think anything would have been colored somewhat poorly after this.