Overall, this domestic thriller was a little underwhelming and predictable. Ariel's character and all her snooping was probably the highlight of the story and the only aspect that made me want to continue reading. The story wasn't terrible, just predictable as far as domestic thrillers goes. The hidden diary was a nice twist, gave a bit of GONE Girls once it was introduced. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC opportunity!

Dark, twisted and so addictive it is a struggle to put down, The Wife in the Photo is the chilling new novel by Emily Shiner.

Evan Warner has just lost his wife Lola and he needs help. With his young daughter Jessica to look after all by himself, Evan hopes that by hiring a housekeeper he can restore some order to his life and help Jessica process this very difficult time she is going through after her mother’s death. Ariel comes highly recommended and she quickly fits into the day-to-day routine of Evan’s house. However, little does he realise that Ariel is not all that she seems and that having her in his house and his life might just be the biggest mistake he has ever made…

Ariel is more closely connected to Evan and Lola that anyone else realises. Ariel has never forgiven Lola for everything she had done to her, but knowing that Evan had been responsible for his wife’s murder, she cannot simply sit idly by and let him get away with the heinous crime he had committed! However, Ariel must tread carefully, because lately Evan has been watching her far too closely and she needs to keep her job if she wants to expose him and make him pay for what he did to Lola!

When Ariel finds Lola’s diary, she thinks that finally she can find all the proof she desperately needs – until she starts reading it and realises that she had been blaming the wrong person for Lola’s death all along…

Emily Shiner’s The Wife in the Photo is a spine-tingling psychological crime thriller I couldn’t read fast enough. A nail-biting chiller full of shocks, surprises and jaw-dropping revelations that left me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath and reeling from plot twist after plot twist, The Wife in the Photo is a first-class page-turner about twisted deceptions, deadly secrets and dangerous lies that will keep you reading all through the night.

A woman falls to her death, but was it intentional or an accident?! Her husband and daughter have to start living without her, but are overwhelmed with housework, cooking, and having a woman's touch in the house. So, Evan hires a housekeeper, but the housekeeper wants to find out the truth of what really happened to Lola.

While I found the blurb intriguing the book fell flat for me. I found it very predictable and figured out the twists early. I didn't want to finish the book, but I needed to find out if I had figured the book ending out correctly or not. Unfortunately I did.

Thank you to Netgalley, Emily Shiner, and the publishers for this free ebook. This review is 100% my own and honest review.

The is the type of book that will have you on the edge of your seat! A psychological thriller! This was my first book by Emily Shiner and I will definitely be on the lookout for more. Grab your popcorn and get ready for a ride with this book! Lola, a wife and a mother is found dead at the bottom of her steps. Overwhelmed with life her husband hires a housekeeper to help with his daughter and housekeeping… except she’s her to investigate Lola’s murder! This book is from multiple POV you may think you guessed it but you won’t!

Wow this book was soooo good! I was absolutely addicted from the very first page! I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen!!!

Not too sure what I read and not too sure if I've liked it. The book was compulsively readable and engaging until it wasn't. I didn't enjoy the multiple point of views.

A great read, really keeps you guessing with some great twists and turns, especially near the end, Really good dharacters too and a good sense of mystery,

The book opens with Lola falling to her death down the stairs at the front of her house and we realise that someone has pushed her. Lola’s husband Evan, who is a police chief, and their daughter Jessica are devastated at her death which is thought to be accidental. Evan’s assistant finds them a housekeeper as they are struggling to cope. She recruits someone she knows, Ariel. She seems the ideal solution but Evan begins to be suspicious of Ariel as she seems to be getting too close to Jessica and he finds her searching through drawers in his room. Ariel has taken the job to try to find evidence that Evan killed his wife. The story is told from multiple points of view with snippets from Lola and Jessica’s diaries. It is a book full of suspense, secrets and lies with so many twists and turns that take you in so any different directions and then a completely unexpected ending. A recommended read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>The Wife in the Photo</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>The Wife in the Photo</i> by Emily Shiner is a exploration of love, loss, and the enduring power of memory. Set against the backdrop of a picturesque coastal town, it's a tale that transports readers into the lives of her characters.

<h4>The Details</h4>

At the heart of the novel is the protagonist. Her mysterious disappearance years earlier continues to haunt her husband and their daughter, Grace. As Grace delves into her mother's past , she uncovers secrets that challenge her understanding of her family and herself.

Shiner's prose paints vivid scenes that linger in the mind long after the book is finished. Her characters are richly drawn. And their emotions and motivations laid bare, with honesty and depth. Through alternating perspectives, she navigates the complexities of grief, betrayal, and ultimately, redemption.

What sets <i>The Wife in the Photo</i> apart is its exploration of the ways in which the past shapes the present. Also how the stories we tell ourselves can both comfort and deceive.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>The Wife in the Photo</i> is a poignant reminder that even in the face of tragedy, there is hope to be found in the bonds that connect us to one another. Shiner's novel is a testament to the enduring power of love and the human spirit.

I loved this book.
I loved the story that kept you guessing and kept you enthralled with what was next. I couldn’t put this one down

A great novel that had me hooked from the beginning. I loved the mystery surrounding the plot and waiting to see what would happen next.

Wow! Not how I expected it to end. At least 3 or 4 twists that surprised me. I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. The premise of this book had me hooked! The storyline was pretty good and the characters were well drawn. The twist? I was hoping for bit more from this one but it didn't quite deliver.

This was an okay read for me. It had all the right twists and turns but for some reason I couldn't get into this story. Ariel is hired by Evan as a housekeeper after his wife is killed. She also looks after teen daughter Jessica. She finds Lola's diary and is shocked by what she reads. The suspense and chills of this story will be loved by hardcore psychological mystery stories. For me I found myself skipping ahead.

My curiosity got the better of me after I read the premise. I was looking for something different as I've been stuck reading Splatterpunk, lately. However, sadly, this didn't bring anything new to the table. Overly-cliched and the twists aren't the much shocking.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This was really good! Kept me intrigued and entertained the entire time. Never knew what was going to happen next. Highly recommend.

📷 The story follows Lola who has recently died after a tragic incident. Her husband Evan and daughter Jessica are struggling to cope with their loss. They hire Ariel, a housekeeper so she can bring some order to their home. But they have no idea that Ariel has entered into their lives with a hidden motive. She believes that Lola’s death was not an accident and she is here to find the proof.

📷 Pick this up if you like/ don’t mind:
📌 psychological thriller
📌 short chapters
📌 slow paced plot
📌 multiple POVs
📌 diary entries
📌 whodunnit vibes
📌 unlikeable characters/ unreliable narrator ⁉️
📌 dark/ disturbing/ psycho vibes
📌 talk about infidelity and substance abuse ⚠️

📷 This was my first book by the author and it did manage to keep my interest. I was able to correctly guess the true identity of the murderer. ( perks of reading TOO MANY thrillers). But still there were few twists that came as a total surprise. I don’t wanna give away any spoilers but I just felt that there were few loopholes like Evan not having the slightest idea about true identity of Ariel. The ending felt rushed and a bit far fetched. However it did manage to SATISFY my inner psychopath.

📷 Thanks @netgalley @bookouture for the ARC in exchange of an honest opinion.

This was a book I was drawn to based on the cover and the description. While I did enjoy the first few chapters of this story, I unfortunately did start to become bored around a quarter or halfway through this story. This book was probably unfortunately not the same level of thriller and excitement that comes out of a Sally Hepworth or Lisa Jewell story. With that being said, I am willing to give this book a second chance sometime in the future in hopes that I enjoy it more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access to this book in exchange for my honest review!

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Thank you!

This was a fun, quick read!

Lola, Evan, and Jessica were a mostly happy family until Lola sadly slipped and died. Now, Evan is in over his head with their teenage daughter and needs to hire some help...thank goodness for Ariel! She arrives to be a housekeeper, but quickly we realize she's much more than that. She's convinced that Evan had something to do with Lola's death - and she won't stop at anything to protect Jessica while trying to find the truth. As Evan grows more uncomfortable with her boundaries, they all grow increasingly less safe...

This was a fun, popcorn read - perfect for relaxing and enjoying a domestic thriller. The final twist was a fun surprise!

Emily Shiner always earns five stars from myself and this book is no exception. Psychological thrillers are her specialty. This one grabs you from the start and you will not be able to put it down!