Member Reviews
I’m not going to lie: I feel bad about how much I hate this book. I’m a fairly easy to please reader and rarely give even a book I dislike less than three stars because I start to feel guilty and think taste is subjective. And then I think about a writer being a woman and I want to gas them up even more because publishing is so slanted in favor of men. But honestly, from the fact that homegirl is obviously named Lola just so that the author could quote the song to the cliched detective Maroni to the dad with a drinking problem to basically everything, it’s just so cliched. The writing is bad, as well. It’s stilted and awkward and sometimes seems to immediately contradict itself. I absolutely couldn’t stand this and I’m shocked it was published.
Ariel becomes a housekeeper for chief of police Evan Warner and his daughter Jessica. Evan has recently lost his wife, Lola in a supposed accident, but Ariel believes that Evan killed her, and is intent on searching the house for evidence, and also hoping to protect Jessica from her father too. Ariel discovers lots of lies during her time cleaning the house, talking with Evan, and trying to bond with Jessica, but the difficulty is discovering who is lying to who.
This was a riveting read, I couldn't put it down, the plot twisted and turned with each lie uncovered. My sympathies were in turn for housekeeper, the father, then the daughter, and I was kept guessing right up to the end.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Emily Shiner for my ARC copy.
Wow, what a twisted story this turned out to be! You think you have it figured out but then as you turn the page you read something that makes you question that and you end up thinking it's someone else, then it happens again and again. The story is told in four different points of view - Lola, Evan, Jessica and Ariel. At some point you trust what one of them is telling you, then as you turn the page and read a little more you question that and start to trust what a different one of them is saying. You'll find yourself on Lola's side, but then Evan's, then Jessica's then Ariel's. You just don't know who to believe until the final event and that had my head spinning! I'm quite a visual reader and can I just say watching that play out in my head was c-r-a-z-y!!
This was a page turner with lots of twists that really keeps you guessing. You really don't know the whole story until you get to the very end of the story and now, I want a part two!
Oh I loved the book. The plot twist, the scenes where you would doubt everyone and feels like oh now I know it’s them. The way you portrayed the characters and plot was everything. I could vividly see everything that you wrote for the book. Also I really loved the cover and title of the book. Also as it was initiated from the starting that dad was the killer so I knew it wasn’t him but as the end of the book was nearing I doubted myself saying “Oh! It’s him why didn’t you see it, girlll😂”. I completed the book in 5 hrs as I couldn’t put it down at all. Now, I am hoping for a second book. Also, this is my first mystery book as I am a romance girly but this book tho chef’s kiss 💋.
The Wife in the Photo is a fast paced and gripping thriller that you won't be able to put down. The short chapters and multiple POVs make this story a fast read. I read most of it while at the nail salon and usually it is hard for me to focus in a public place, but I was fully engrossed in this story. The final reveal was shocking and disturbing!
Minus one star because I do not understand the title of this book. I don't think it gives an accurate description of the book. The entire time I was trying to figure out what the title had to do with the story, and there is really no link.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC.
4.5 stars. I absolutely loved this book, and it definitely had the Emily vibes that I love so much. This book hooked me in from the start and I couldn't put it down. You are bounced between three characters, all of which are unhinged, and you are lead to believe one thing, and yet it turns out be another. You think you know who killed the wife but then things are twisted and you find yourself questioning yourself. There are so many twists and turns on this book, that I was get surprised with each chapter. The ending is explosive and definitely not what I expected.
This was a fast paced read and easy to follow. I really enjoyed the multiple point of views. The diary entries were also a nice touch. I did find it to be a little predictable and little unbelievable towards the end. But overall enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
Fast paced read which i got through in record time.
A little far fetched at the end but oh what a twist!
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.
Overall a heart pounding whopper of a read.
Wow! This book was gripping, suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat! Quick read and the ending was shocking to me. Did not expect that ending! Definitely entertaining and recommend it! Will be checking out this authors other books! Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Shiner and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This was a great fast paced thriller that kept me wondering “whodunit” the whole time. I loved the short chapters and the dairy entries were amazing. I thought I thought I had it figured out but I didn’t see that twist coming.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review !
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy.
This is a story about a wife who is murdered, but it is commonly thought that it was an accident. A housekeeper is hired and she is determined to find out the truth.
This was a fast paced, easy read. I read in one sitting! It keeps you hooked and guessing until the end.
Wow! From the first few pages, I was blown away by the author’s masterful style of writing. It was a fast read - I didn’t want to put it down. Each chapter identifies the character (POV) and timeline. But, who to believe???
I highly recommend it!
I look forward to finding/reading additional titles by Emily Shiner.
Thank You to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Emily Shiner for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC.
The book started out great and was fast paced, I was shocked at what happened and actually found it to be a little too hard to believe! All in all it was ok but not her best!
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this book!
A solid read which I enjoyed. Slightly predictable in places but this didn’t detract from my enjoyment.
THE WIFE IN THE PHOTO 📸
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
TWs: marital affair, alcohol abuse, marijuana use
What I liked:
⭐️short chapters
⭐️multiple POVs
⭐️”who done it”
This upcoming thriller is going to be a go to for anyone who loves a slow burn “who dun it”. Its giving The Maid’s Diary vibes a bit with the snooping and sneaking around by Ariel the new maid. I myself, however, had a challenging time getting through this one due to the slow pace. I love diary entries as they give a backstory and should envelop the reader into the feelings of the one making the entry. However, I did not get this feeling when journal entry chapters popped up. They were awfully long winded, and the writing did not change from regular chapters. I felt like no one would write those types of things in a journal. For me, the writing seemed a bit juvenile for my taste. It felt more like a younger adolescent child was the intended audience here. Honestly, I wanted to push through this one and give the ending the benefit of the doubt: but I could not. I DNF at about 78% when the first “twist” appeared. Pick this one up the first week of September if you are in the mood for a very quick read!
Loved this author! It was really hard for me to put this book away. I pulled an all-nighter to finish reading it. The numerous plots and suspense left me, chapter by chapter I read with bated breath!
*Taylor Swift’s voice* She thinks he did it, but she just can’t prove it…
This was an intriguing, fast-paced thriller with a disturbing twist. This book is narrated from the perspectives of three main characters, all with different motivations. We get a glimpse of Lola (the wife in the photo) through her diary entries which reveal an increasingly broken home life. All of the narrators' POVs are full of misdirects and lies, making the final reveal that much more shocking.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
The Wife in the Photo by Emily Shiner is another must read from an author who never fails to squarely hit the mark.
Evan and his daughter Jessica are struggling following the death of Lola, wife and mother respectively. Hiring a housekeeper to help out seems the logical decision, and so enters Ariel, who knows that no amount of cleaning will ever purge their home of its dreadful secrets. Ariel, you see, has her own suspicions about what really happened to Lola Warner, and she is on a mission to prove that Evan is, in fact, a very dangerous man.
This is an addictive, thoroughly compelling read, and once again Emily Shiner has delivered in spades. If you have not already done so, add this one to your TBR. 4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.
This book is absolutely fantastic! A great plot. I thought I had worked out what was going on. Turned out I was wrong! Highly recommended.
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review-
When Lola dies or is murdered her sister takes a housekeeping job for her sisters husband hoping to find clues to what she thinks is a murder. She tries to get close to the daughter for answers. Will she risk her life for the answers?
Grab this book for a wild ride to the finish you won’t see coming!