Oh boy, this was so good! I started this book off thinking I knew where this was going (as a major thriller enthusiast who has read every one I can get my hands on) - but Adele Parks kept me buckled in for every twist and turn right to the end!

We start off the book with Matthew (handsome, widowed) bumping into our protagonist Emma, who is a successful and accomplished career woman. They hit it off immediately and their relationship is off to a running start, leaving her long-time friends a bit wary. Then, strange things start happening around Emma's home (which Matthew has also moved into) - is it Matthew we should be afraid of? A jealous friend? Or someone (or something) else altogether?

This was an excellent exercise in keeping the reader on the edge of their toes, making us unsure of who we should be rooting for and more importantly - trusting.

I was engaged throughout the read and then fully swept off my feet by the end! Strongly recommend.

As Bella tries to navigate her new role and build a life with Philip, she becomes increasingly unnerved by the pervasive presence of Freya. Small, unsettling incidents and Philip's almost obsessive idealization of his late wife begin to sow seeds of doubt and suspicion in Bella's mind. Was Freya truly the flawless woman Philip remembers, or is there a darker, more complex truth hidden beneath the surface?

Parks expertly crafts a narrative that explores Bella's growing unease and her desperate need to understand the woman who continues to cast such a long shadow over her marriage. As Bella delves deeper into Freya's past, she uncovers secrets and inconsistencies that challenge everything she thought she knew about Philip and his first wife. The novel skillfully plays with the reader's perceptions, blurring the lines between reality and Bella's increasingly anxious state of mind.

A very strong four stars for this psychological thriller from Adele Parks. Emma has it all -- money, success -- but no man. When she finally meets someone who interests her, he's almost too good to be true. But of course, Emma's girlfriends ask all the right questions about Matthew's past, and Emma brushes them off or worse. And when even more unexplainable things start happening, Emma doesn't know what to think! Is she going crazy? Were her friends suspicions valid? And even worse -- is her husband involved?

I did like this quite a bit, although I thought the first half was a bit slow. But when the other narrators come into play, things get really interesting and twisty. I did like that very much about this story. I started thinking I knew everything that was going on, but I didn't. Very enjoyable read.

First Wife’s Shadow is a domestic thriller. While I adore Adele Parks’ writing, this story wasn’t my favorite of hers. Emma and Matthew are an interesting pair. The premise of the book had me intrigued but the slow burn of the first half of the novel had me a trying hard to hold tight for the action to begin. Emma’s inner dialogue was interesting to a point. The twists were there however because the pace was slow they were easy to predict. This would be a great beach read.

I've always enjoyed Adele Parks' books so it was a no brainer for me to request an ARC of First Wife's Shadow, especially after reading the description. Once again Adele Parks delivers an exceptional domestic thriller -- with gaslighting GALORE. There are essentially three main characters, and Parks Day provided the perfect amount of backstory/complimentary characters for each and also wove together past and present drama seamlessly. The perfect read this summer!

This was a good "who do I believe" book. following the main characters marriage, you start to question what really happened prior to this marriage. I love a good popcorn thriller so I enjoyed this one.

4.5*
Emma is a successful woman, despite all the hardships she’s encountered in her life. She’s dedicated much of her life to a job that she finds fulfilling and never had the desire to marry - until she met Matthew, a handsome photographer who just so happens to be recently widowed. Emma jumps at the opportunity but finds the relationship moving very quickly and her friends’ concerns are growing. Emma hasn’t met any of his family, she’s never been to his house, and she continues to feel second to his first wife. Ignoring all the red flags, Emma and Mathew persist as a couple, but Emma begins to ponder… is Matthew in the relationship for the right reasons? Is Emma truly standing in his first wife’s shadow?

First Wife’s Shadow is a story of love, obsession, and revenge. It is a thrilling read and I loved every second of it! The characters (as unlikable as a few are) were written phenomenally. A truly incredible psychological thriller.

A real page turner about a second marriage. Questions about the death of the first wife, the husband, and the friends. Who too trust. I enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what would happen next.

A very intriguing read, which is the first book I’ve read from this author. It had those twists and turns as well some great characters that I absolutely enjoyed! I’m looking forward to reading more of her books!!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!!!

The First Wife’s Shadow is a domestic thriller that hits many of the right notes, even if it doesn’t fully deliver on all its suspenseful promises. There were enough twists to keep me turning the pages, and while I didn’t love everything, I’d still call it an entertaining read—especially if you’re a fan of the genre.

The story follows Emma, a successful and grounded woman who seems content with her carefully curated life… until she meets Matthew. A charming widower, Matthew sweeps Emma off her feet, and their whirlwind romance moves fast—too fast, if you ask her friends. Despite their concerns, Emma elopes with him, diving headfirst into a new life filled with love, secrets, and more than a few red flags.

The first half of the book leans heavily on Emma’s inner monologue, which made the pacing feel a bit sluggish at times. But once the weird stuff starts happening—strange behaviors, unsettling discoveries, a growing sense of being watched—the tension begins to build. Emma starts to question everything: her choices, her husband, even her own instincts. And let’s just say, the truth is far more bizarre than she ever could’ve imagined.

I will say, the recurring comparisons to Matthew’s first wife, Becky, started to feel repetitive. It’s clear this shadow looms large, but it began to wear thin after a while. Still, the mystery surrounding Becky’s death and the unraveling of Matthew’s past gave the story its edge.

While it didn’t quite blow me away, The First Wife’s Shadow offers an intriguing ride. A few eye-roll moments aside, it’s a solid pick for fans of quick-paced, twisty domestic drama with a slightly unhinged vibe.

This was a twisted and intriguing read. Emma is a career-oriented fitness buff, happily single in her 40s, when she meets a younger man named Matthew. Despite the red flags and her friends' objections, she throws caution to the wind. Then feeling like she's second best, Emma becomes obsessed with discovering more about Matthew's first deceased wife. There are so many twists and turns that I don't want to get into for fear of spoilers. Fans of psychological thrillers will enjoy this one.

3.5 stars

I have read only one book by Adele Parks in the past and really liked it. This one was just as good! I found it very readable and fast-paced. I loved the characters and it ended up being an excellent thriller!

First Wife’s Shadow by Adele Parks follows Emma, a wealthy, single CEO as she meets a widower at a work conference. They hit it off and end up married within a few months. Then odd things begin to happen to Emma and she worries she is being haunted by her husband’s first wife!

I have read several Adele Parks books and unfortunately this wasn’t my favorite. I was able to guess what was going to happen relatively early on and as a result much of the middle seemed to drag for me. I think this would be much enjoyed by someone who doesn’t read a lot of thrillers and would be surprised by some of the twists.

My introduction to https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7439774626 a novel that initially held great promise. As someone who actively seeks out fresh voices in the genre, I approached the story with eager interest. While the premise intrigued me, I found that the narrative struggled to maintain momentum, leaving me disconnected from the characters in the early chapters. The central conflict revolves around Emma, a CEO whose sharp professional astuteness contrasts with her vulnerability in the realm of romance. Her swift entanglement with the enigmatic widower, Matthew, is met with skepticism by those around her, but this development stretches credibility, particularly in light of Emma's otherwise discerning nature. The character developments, especially that of Becky, never fully resonated and often felt implausible. Although Parks introduces twists intended to maintain tension, their effectiveness is inconsistent—some moments deliver genuine surprise, while others fall flat, feeling predictable and lacking impact. The audiobook's narration, unfortunately, lacked the depth and nuance necessary to fully immerse the listener, occasionally sounding artificial and detracting from the intended atmosphere, which prompted me to switch to print. Additionally, the pacing of the narrative felt uneven, with stretches of stagnation that weakened the tension and diminished the suspense that the genre thrives on. The ending was a disappointing and uncompelling resolution, and the book's length felt disproportionate to its slow unfolding. Thank you to NetGalley, Adele Parks, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with the opportunity to review this ARC. (2.5/5 rounded up to 3/5)

Made it 25% and I don’t understand the set up. It is taking too long for the stuff to start happening

Wow!
In the first half of the book, there is a lot of inner monologue, and Emma meets Matthew. Matthew is a widower, and Emma soon falls in love with him. Their relationship moves very quickly, and beside Emma's friends discouragement and their advice, to be cautious. Emma embarked on the fast romance, continuing with them eloping without her friends or family present.
However, throughout the relationship, Emma feels constantly compared to Matthew's first love, Becky. When mysterious incidents begin happening, Emma is paranoid. Matthew is concerned about her drinking. One night, when everything culminated, a shattering event occurred in Emma's life. But, like most things not all is as it seems.
Matthew is hiding a secret, and that secret could change Emma's life altogether! Everything that Emma had worked for, the life that she had created. With all of this Emma no longer knows who she can and cannot trust, and she is suspicious of Matthew and everything surrounding her life now.
Initially, this is a slow burn. I almost DNF'd the book. But I am glad that I did not because that twist makes the whole adventure worth it. Emma's slow gaslighting left her second-guessing her own reality! That twist is insane!!!! Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA and Netgalley, for the opportunity to have my mind twisted by this one and to review it!

This was an incredible read! I adore the way this author creates such an intense and engaging story—full of twists and turns! This did not disappoint—just be prepared to cancel any plans once you start reading!

First Wife’s Shadow
Adele Parks
Available

First of all… I love Adele Park’s books… TWO DEAD WIVES one of my favourite and I was not disappointed with FIRST WIFES SHADOW.

Emma is the head of a major company, has two best friends since her uni days and yet, she has not ever found love. Then, one day, at a conference she is speaking at, she meets Matt. Matt is a photographer there to take photos of the conference and she is smitten. After many dates, he, because of a strange turn of events, comes to live with her in her opulent, secluded home. Even though he is 10 years younger than Emma, he was married and been widowed for a little over a year. Becky was the love of his life since school and so Emma feels she is living in her shadow.

When strange things start happening; her sauna traps her, her beloved plants are broken and tossed around her living room and the books on her shelves are thrown around as well; Emma starts to think she is “haunted “ by the ghost of Becky.

Both her friends and Matt are concerned for her, but Emma can’t shake the feeling she is being watched…. And is she?

Adele does what she does best, throws a twist, or two, into the mix to give a delightful mystery to read.

Emma has met Matthew and their relationship is moving fast. Matthew is a widower and has very little money. Emma is head of a company and has lots of wealth. Needless to say, her friends are not fans of this new found love.

Matthew and Emma together did not sit well with me from the start. You know something is not right about their relationship. And honestly you are not sure if this is a ghost or if Emma is going crazy or if something else is happening behind the scenes. I love a good guessing game…and this one is definitely that…plus it has some twists I did not see coming.

This story takes you on a chase you won’t soon forget.

I loved this narrator. Kristin Atherton was definitely Emma! No other words for it. She was intense and perfect for Emma’s type-A personality.

Need a quick, twisted thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I wanted to like this book more but the writing from page one threw me off and it was juvenile. Did not like the story either