In Her Shadow

Congratulations to Mark Edwards, another spine tingling page turner, plot twists keep you guessing to the very end. Izzy and Jessica are sisters, but, Izzy has passed away in a terrible accident (or was it?) Jessica's daughter has been acting strangely at school. Has she really been contacted by the ghost of Izzy or is it something more sinister. Mark Edwards has surpassed himself with this gripping tale, strongly recommend you read it!!!

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer for the Arc of this book, and what a book!
I really enjoyed this book, so many twists and turns all leading you to the amazing ending.

Jessica has never really gotten over the loss of her sister. Izzy, who fell to her death from her balcony. Still, as a mother to a four year old little girl, she keeps her days full and concentrates on making her daughter happy. But Jessica begins to feel uneasy when her little girl starts talking about her departed aunt, telling Jessica things about Izzy that the little girl can’t possibly know. Ghost, possession, reincarnation? Edwards is a master at creating the perfect thrills and twists his fans have come to expect

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. I used to be a seriously Mark Edwards fan girl, but I can't say I love the direction he's taken witness last two. This book wasn't bad, it just felt like it wanted to be too many things, not doing any of them with precision. Not a bad thrill, just not great.

Mark Edwards never fails to have you staying up way past your bedtime to finish his books... this one was no different! Very big fan of his books and if you haven't read any of them yet - why not!!

Jessica is a stay at home mum to four year old Olivia. She has never really gotten over the death of her sister Izzy, who fell from her balcony nearly 5 years ago. The police ruled it to be an accident - but was it really? And how does her daughter know things about her aunt that she could not possibly know?

This book is definitely a page turner, and at times creepy. Is the aunts ghost haunting her niece? What possible explanation is there?

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book to read and enjoy. Easily a 5 star read for me.

Mark edwards has done it again once I think I've figured out what's going to happen next he pulls the rug from under me and changes it. I read this title within 2 days which for me is normal with one of Marks books.
The characters were interesting and detailed. He says the scene well.
Would highly reccomend this book. I won't go into details as I don't wish to give anything away as the book hasn't been released yet. I will update this review in depth once it's been released later in the year

Loved this book. Lots of twists and turns designed to keep the reader unsettled and guessing. Another great book by Mark.

Really enjoyed this latest novel from Mark edwards. Full of all the usual twists and turns that you would expect from him, read this book in 2 days, I've now got a long wait for the next one!

Another page turner by Mark Edwards. Thank you for introducing me to his books . My first was The Retreat, l have since gone back and read others. Once you start In Her Shadow you won't put it down till it's finished. None of the nice people in this book could possibly done It, so by the end of the book I accused everyone, even thinking maybe there was a bad seed. The only bad thing about this book was it had to end.

I really enjoyed this dark tale and it kept my interest enough to read it in two sittings.

Another great book by Mark Edwards.

Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for such a great read!!!

Jessica's daughter, Olivia, is 4 years old and has started school. After only six weeks of the school year passed, Olivia has not been all that great, socially. Mum is called in. Apparently, Olivia tells her teacher that "Izzy" does or does not like certain things about school. Izzy (Isabel) was Jessica's sister who died 5 years ago.
The rest of Jessica's immediate family are he mum, her husband (Will), and her son (Felix) who is 10.
Will and Jessica and their children still spend time with Darpak (Izzy's widower) and his sister, Nina. Darpak gives Olivia some of Izzy's costume jewelry when she next visits. Olivia immediately puts on the bat necklace (well, it IS almost Halloween). As Olivia sat on the balcony rail, she went backward but her mum grabbed her by the arm. Olivia, " Don't be silly, mummy, you can't fall, you have to be PUSHED."
Prior to this, Izzy's death had been deemed as accidental - she fell off a (rather weak) balcony and there was a mixture of drugs in her system at the time. Mum never really believed it - she was convinced that Darpak had done the deed. She even wanted the police to reopen the case!
Isabel had enjoyed a great life, as so it all seemed. She owned 51% (Darpak - 49%) of her "Blissful Marriage" business, worked there and Darpak and her were devoted to each other. (Their finances weren't bad, either). Gavin Lawson was one of Izzy's clients at her business. Nina, an aspiring model, worked there part time and would do anything to have him for her photographer!
Jess' mum had a boyfriend, Pete. He was OK, but a bit of a bigot. After visiting at mum's house Olivia looked to Pete and said, "Get well soon." Pete wasn't sick. Also on Halloween, Olivia arrived for treats at her "dinner lady's" house and asked her if it hurt to die. Of course, Pete gets sick and the dinner lady does die. A former Poltergeist had ravaged Jess' house when she was 10, and Jess claims that this is all a remnant of that experience.
2012 - Izzy was noticing a change in Darpak. She found a selfie on his phone of a woman's breasts. She began drinking more and self-medicating. Izzy tells Nina - Nina has trouble believing it.
Now - Jess is quite sure that a gray car (Hyundai) is following her. Also, Jess finds drawings in Olivia's book of someone falling off a balcony - and they aren't alone. Olivia wonders if Olivia isn't "possessed".

Finally, Darpak explains to Jess that the entire poltergeist thing from long ago was a hoax by Izzy. This makes Jess think that perhaps mum is the one making Olivia have strange happenings. Things begin to unravel as Jess finds 2 bat necklaces... Also, Ryan (the teacher's assistant) has been feeding things into Olivia's mind about Izzy. "We're going to talk to Izzy", "Izzy says a bad man pushed Izzy and made her die", and hints that Will pushed Izzy. Now that Jess knows this, she NEEDS to see Ryan NOW. She visits where his mom lives and sees that his old bedroom is more or less a replica of her and Izzy's years ago. Ryan was obsessed with Izzy, we find out. Spurned by her, Ryan goes to Thailand and returns to stalk Izzy. He tells her she should call the police - he has Will's confession on tape. He then shows Jess where Will is - beaten up at Ryan's house! Ryan gets contained and both he and Will end up in the hospital. Will swears he did NOT kill Izzy - Jess believes him. She then visits Ryan's hospital room. After conversation with him, Jess realizes that there is another person in the final photo that Ryan took while stalking Izzy. In this photo, the arm is raised showing the back of the hand...

Twists and turns abound in this really great read. I highly recommend this book - and the startling conclusion!

Loved this book from the start and read it in a day. It's one of those books that you think you have it figured out but then it goes in a different direction.
We see the story unfolding through Jessica in the present and her sister who died in the past building up to her death. Did she fall or was she pushed! Jessica is determined to find out and we are kept guessing right until the end with her.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 sparkling stars! Mark Edwards has done it again.

I’ve read all the author’s books, they are all great but this is my second favourite after Follow You Home.

The writing is brilliant - the story hooks you in straight away and I was gripped.

It had twists and turns, chapters told from different character perspectives and I have to say, I wasn’t sure who the bad guy was till near the end.

When’s the next book out?!

I look forward to reading Mark Edwards books and was delighted to receive an advanced copy of his latest book In Her Shadow.
In this psychological thriller Jessica's four year old daughter Olivia starts to talk about her dead aunt Isobel. Jessica always thought that her sister Isobel's death was an accident but now she's not so sure. Olivia knows things she shouldn't and is saying Isobel talks to her.
This book is spooky and has many twists and turns. Another excellent read from Mark Edwards.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

In Her Shadow was another home run for me and of course I stayed up into the late hours reading this. Although, I was halfway through when our power went out in the middle of the night....not the book to be reading when this happens....especially at 3:15am. (Sleep didn't come easy after that).

Jess is a mom of two kiddos, one who is like every creepy kid in horror films, and is still grieving from the death of her older sister Izzy. When strange things begin to happen and her daughter Olivia starts saying "REDRUM, REDRUM"(just kidding), Jess wonders if Izzy's death actually was an accident or if her sister is using Olivia to communicate the truth from beyond the grave...

Queue eerie horror film music.

If you have not read a Mark Edwards book, do yourself a favor and get on it!

Another brilliant book from Mark Edwards! So addictive, so many twists that kept me guessing right until the end!!

I am a big fan of Mark Edwards' books and this book does certainly not disappoint. The book is thrilling and chilling in equal measures.

Everything about it is perfect, from the plot to the characterization. If you have not read a book by Mark Edwards then you need to and you need to ensure that this book is on your to read list.

In Her Shadow

I’ve read all of Mark Edwards books apart from the last one (The Retreat) because I found the one before that (The Lucky Ones) to be more police procedural than any of his others, so thought maybe this is where he was going with his writing now. Well I was wrong. In Her Shadow is exactly what I love about Marks writing. Gripping, edgy, suspense, it’s all there. The only tiny thing I would say is that the names of the 3 main females names are quite alike. Izzy, Jessie, Olivia (Livvie) but maybe that’s just me. Great read with twists and turns galore. Would highly recommend. Now I will be gong to read The Retreat.

I always enjoy Mark Edwards books. They are well written and have story lines which keep my interest. I would certainly recommend them to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers. Keep it up!

I was very excited to be approved for this early release of Mark Edward’s book, In Her Shadows! It is a story of two sisters, Jessica and Izzy. Jessica is married and has a 4 year old daughter and Izzy is deceased. Jessica’ s daughter, Olivia starts talking about her aunt and details that no one has told her. Jessica begins to wonder how she is finding out information. Is Izzy haunting her daughter? Is she trying to let them know something that was missed about her death? This book had me guessing until the end. If you enjoy a good psychological thriller you have to read this book!

Solid 4.5 stars!

In Her Shadow is a well written, enjoyable story that was difficult for me to put down. The main character is Jessica who is a mom of a 4-year-old Olivia who seems to be communicating with Jessica's dead sister Isabel. Isabel died 4 years ago when she fell from the balcony of her house. At the time the fall seemed to be an accident but Olivia thinks auntie Izzy might have been pushed.

The story is mostly told from the perspective of Jessica with some flashback chapters from Isabel's life. This combination of POVs and two timelines works really well. While Jessica keeps us updated on the current situation, the flashbacks provide an insight to the events taking place before Isabel's death ensuring that the suspense is slowly and steadily released throughout the book.

The last few chapters had me hanging on every word as I was hurriedly turning pages to find the answers. I would definitely recommend to check this one out!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I was definitely drawn into this book right away. I found the hints of the paranormal fascinating.
This book was a bit creepy. (And I loved it!)
I liked the nod at current events and the #metoo movement.
I was a fan of Mark Edwards before I read this book, and I am an even bigger fan now.

In her Shadow was a brilliant, creepy thriller that kept me gripped throughout, I really enjoyed it.

BIG FAT 5 STARS.....BOOM…. Mark Edwards does it again, in my opinion this man can do no wrong when it comes to writing books! As per Mark’s style, this book reels you in from page 1 and had me reading into the early hours as I just could not put it down.

This book had the hairs on my arms standing up, Jess whose sister, Izzy died 5 years previous (from a fall from a balcony which the coroner classed as death by misadventure) before her second child Olivia was born appears to be making contact with Olivia. Can this be the truth? Is she trying to talk through Olivia, what happened to her, was it an accident or was she pushed? Are there such things as ghosts? This one really plays with your mind, a real page turner! If you are a fan of psychological thrillers that will make you hold your breath, THIS IS FOR YOU, can’t recommend it enough… for fan’s of Mark Edwards, no words are needed!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Mark Edwards, Amazon Publishing UK for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A remarkable book. It always amazes me how far the ripples do spread when you drop a rock into a pond. When you do something to a person it affects everyone in their circle, family, friends, people they've only met once even; and in fact children who weren't even alive at the time.

This is a book about the ripples. At times it is painful to read, but always interesting and just when you think that everything has been explained - logically - there's that little breeze of doubt blows across the story.

4.5 stars. I was instantly gripped reading this book, the paranormal always interests me (and creeps me out) as it’s something I believe in. I was always up later than I wanted to be as I couldn’t put the book down! Another great one by Mark!

Firstly, thankyou to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Mark Edwards for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of In Her Shadow.
This is not the first novel by Mr Edwards that I have read. I can honestly say that In Her Shadow is hands down the best book he has written. There were so many OMG moments while reading this novel. It was full of twists and turns until you get to the stunning conclusion. I had to read this book in one sitting as I could not put it down.
If you enjoy unpredictable, page turning thrillers like I do, then you will love In Her Shadow.

In Her Shadow is the second book by Mark Edwards that I've read in the last couple of weeks and he's quickly becoming a firm favourite! Creepy, intriguing and totally unputdownable - I thoroughly enjoyed this suspense thriller! A very well deserved 5 stars!

#InHerShadow#Netgalley.
This is my first time reading anything by Mark Edwards and it's a gripping and compelling read that had me hooked right to the end. It says that this is an unproofed copy and honestly there's nothing that should be changed. It's convinced me to read his other books. Thanks to the publishers and netgalley for approving me to read the book.

Mark Edwards never disappoints. Yet again we are given a story with well developed characters who’s story you want to follow till the very end. This book has lots of twists and turns and keeps you guessing until the last page

Another awesome book from Mark Edwards. Kept me thinking and wondering what was going on.
Not quite could't put downable but close.

I've read most of this authors books and he sure knows how to tie your head in knots. He very celverey gets you thinking one way and then turns it around and slaps you in the face with it.

In her shadow is a convoluted tale about Jess and her 4 year old daughter Olivia, who begins to exhibit signs of communicating with Jess's dead sister Izzy and reveals a mystery surrounding Izzys death which had me suspecting every character in the book, in turn. We get flashbacks to Izzy's life and back and forth we flit, getting more and more puzzled about who has done what to whom!

I liked the twisty mystery, I loved little Olivia, but Izzy's job as a new age sex therapist seemed to be purely gratuitous and didn't sit well with me. It seemed out of character and pointless and served merely to give the story a bit of edge, a touch of titillation that didn't ring true and the story would have worked just as well if she'd been a dentist or ordinary therapist and I would have actually preferred it.

Definitely a book that stays with you! Could not put it down!

Highly recommended if you enjoy suspense genre! Thank you for my review copy, which I received through Net Galley.

Mark Edwards has to be one of my favourite authors and I have read all of his books so I was looking forward to reading his latest novel. Once again he delivers a fast paced, creepy in places storyline with plenty of twists and turns. I thought I had it figured out more than once but I was wrong so it keeps you guessing until the end. If you like the psychological thriller genre then this book is for you. If you haven’t tried any of Marks books then start now as he is just a brilliant writer.

Wow, I was surprised how into this book I became and quickly. The story was phenomenal and the world building was outstanding. I decided to try a few pages and before I knew it I had devoured the entire book. This book flowed so easily I didn't realise I had read the entire thing until I had turned the last page. Wow!! Will definitely be following this author from now on.

A spine chilling thriller that has everything. Poltergeist, ghost, a four year old and that’s just some of the characters. A great read

With thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for ARC in return for an honest review

I’m already a fan of Mark Edwards, I’ve read and enjoyed his previous books so I was looking forward to this latest release.
From the beginning I found myself hooked as the story and characters were so well written. Mark Edwards is a great storyteller, he unravelled details over time and I had no idea which way the storyline would go.

In Her Shadow is an intruiging creepy read that will have you turning the pages and staying up late at night to read more. With an incredible plot line and lots of tension, this is a must read!

I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards having read all of his superb books,i was a little disappointed with his last book The Retreat so was a bit apprehensive about In Her Shadow,but i shouldn't have been because believe me Mark Edwards is back to his brilliant best with his latest book !! Jessica is mum to Olivia who is seemingly having conversations with her dead auntie Izzy who fell from a balcony 5 years ago in a tragic accident.This sets Jessica wondering what did really happen to her sister and was it an accident or not ? Once again Mark excels in telling a story that will have you gripped from the very first page and i highly recommend his latest book and if you've not read any previous books of Mark Edwards do it now i promise you will not be disappointed..5 stars.

First and foremost I would like to thank Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
In her Shadow by Mark Edwards (release date 4th October 2018)

The story follows Jessica mother of two who is struggling with the death of her sister Izzy four years previous, who fell to death from her balcony.
Jessica's daughter Olivia starts acting strange and vocalising information that online Jessica and Izzy knew when they were growing up - and things over time start to get more and more strange. I am not going to go anymore in depth cause I really want people to enjoy and savour this book as much as I did.

Mark Edwards is amazing at what he does, this book is another of my top titles from him.
In her shadow is a spine tingling page turner, I stayed up way to late two nights in a row just wanting to find out more and more.
Fans of thrillers and paranormal will absolutely love this book, if you haven't heard or read anything by Mark Edwards please go and check out one of his books and make sure this one is on pre-order.

Easily 5 STARS!! from me.
Once again thank you Mark for this amazing book and AMAZON Publishing and NETGALLEY for the advanced copy..

When I read this book I was stunned it was a fantastic book .
I really enjoy Mark Edwards so anything I read is fabulous .
I was given an ARC

**Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.**

This is my first Mark Edwards book and I’m impressed. I started reading this once before but stopped because of the ‘paranormal’ story line. That’s not a genre I usually read. But then I took this up as a challenge and decided to expand my horizons. And boy am I glad that I did!! The book is outstanding. Brilliantly written and very engaging. The paranormal part initially is written so well that I had goosebumps. It felt so real and even scary, chilling to the bone. I’m glad the book isn’t a ‘ghost’ story. It has a complete whodunnit aspect to it and has many twists that lead you down a path to the truth. As the story moves on I was genuinely equally interested in the how and the who. The story has a nice logical conclusion and it was convincing. The slight mystery remains in the end but I’m happy to live with that thought hanging. Enjoyed reading this book!

An interesting read. One I struggled with initially as I found it difficult to get into, but I’m glad I continued.

This is the first Mark Edwards book I have read, but it won’t be the last. Interesting and intriguing from the first chapter to the very end, I read well into the early hours as the psychological twists and turns kept me engaged throughout. An excellent book well worthy of 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent story. Wonderful characters and plot line. I really enjoyed it. I would recommend this book.

Another brilliant book from Mark Edwards. This book had me gripped the whole way through. I did not guess the ending at all. Brilliantly written, superb plot and to me the short chapters add to the suspense. I want to go and read it again now.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I would like to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘In Her Shadow’ by Mark Edwards in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Jessica’s four-year-old daughter Olivia has started saying strange things about her Auntie Isabel who died five years ago. Jessica always believed Izzy’s death was accidental but things Olivia’s been saying which she couldn’t possibly have known about makes Jessica think maybe it wasn’t an accident and that someone deliberately pushed Izzy off the balcony. Has Olivia been possessed by the spirit of Izzy to get people to find out the truth about her death, or is someone secretly telling Olivia what to say?
‘In Her Shadow’ is a gripping psychological thriller with a cleverly thought-out plot, twists and turns, a number of credible suspects to keep me guessing, and a nail-biting conclusion. The final chapters became so tense that I had to keep reading to find out what happened. This is an enjoyable read that I can recommend.

This book was excellent, the first time in years that I got so into a book that I had to stick with it for the day. Absolutely loved it, full of suspense, the paranormal, twists and turns, I ended up being suspicious of everyone! Non stop action all the way through, ended up holding my breaths in several places along the way, really clever writing.
#InHerShadow #NetGalley

An out of the ordinary whodunnit

Jessica lives with Will and is mum to Olivia who is four and her older brother Felix. It’s pretty much typical of a run-of-the-mill existence of a middle-class family. Jessica may be a little more unusual in that she lost her older, more glamorous, sister, Isabel, to what was determined to be an unfortunate accident and she has never been able to overcome feelings that she was the less attractive and less exciting sibling. Life continues normally though after Isabel’s death until Olivia starts acting strangely and certain things come to light that suggests Isabel’s death was no accident.

And so starts yet another novel about the mundane life of a typical 21st family. At least that is what I thought when, with a heavy heart, I read the first few pages. I am not a great fan of that type of novel and to read that the theme also very much involved the paranormal did not set my pulse racing either. However, I was mistaken and was pleased that I took the plunge.

Mark Edward’s writing style is open and straightforward. The characters he portrays are very human and act and react exactly as you would expect of your friends and colleagues. He gradually builds the tension and then heads off in a different direction. This sounds confusing, but it isn’t as it’s beautifully crafted and the plot is easily followed, as are the characters who are well-defined and individual.

This is the first of Mark Edward’s novels I have read. I enjoyed it very much, would recommend it and will be looking out for his name in future.

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

I would like to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘In her Shadow by Mark Edwards’ for a honest unbiased review.

Where have I been. Yet another author that I have not heard of but who after reading this book will be read more of his works.

This book got me all excited. The story is well written your unsure which way the story is going. It certainly keeps you guessing. Which are the type of books I do enjoy.

Great book. Highly recommended.

Wow where do I start! another fantastic book by Mark.

Just when you think he can't do any better out comes another five star book!

This book contains lots of twist and turns and leaves you wanting more, Marks style of writing makes it so easy to be draw into the book and its characters. This book has both lovable characters and some not so but you could fell each one of them.

I don't want to say to much apart from IT'S A MUST READ!!!!!!!!! I can not wait for the next one.

Thank you net galley for giving me a chance to read this fantastic book,

With thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this - the perfect mix of tension and potential supernatural elements. Another fab read from Edwards.

I’ve read all Mark Edwards’ books to date and have enjoyed them all until his last one, which for me fell short of his usual standard. Consequently, I was apprehensive about reading this one, but I’m pleased to say that In Her Shadow was back to Mark’s usual standard.

It was gripping, creepy and kept me hooked till the end. The chapters alternated between the points of view of several characters and this worked well. The story was full of twists and turns and had a touch of the paranormal, but just enough, to not make it ridiculous.

What a book!
Mark Edwards has fast become one of my favourite authors and this new novel is brilliant.
The writing is fast paced and there’s lots of twists and turns that you won’t see coming. You will want to cancel all plans to get to the end of it.
It’s definitely worthy of 5 stars and I’d recommend to anyone.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of In Her Shadow by the talented author Mark Edwards.
First let me start with this is my second book by this author and I loved it just as much as I did The Retreat, which I read earlier this year.
The author is an excellent story teller. His book is intriguing, interesting and captivating. I couldn’t put this book down, there was a period of time when I read for 3hrs non stop, I didn’t want to put it down.
I loved the ghost aspect of the story. I’ve never read anything like it before so it was a nice change to the other mystery thrillers I’ve read recently. I liked the flow of the events, they were intertwined very well. The story line was developed perfectly.
Overall great job. I’m looking forward to his next book.

Oh my!! This was brilliant!! Lots of twists and turns. Loved the poltergiest angle. So enjoyable and life had to be put aside so I could find out how it would finish. Mark is now one of my favourite authors :0)

Mark's books never fail to disappoint me and "In Her Shadow" is of the usual brilliant standard.
From the first page I could not put this down. Twists that you don't see coming and suspenseful throughout. One of my favourite reads of this year.
Many thanks for this ARC via Netgalley

As ever Mark Edwards doesn't disappoint. I think his books just get better and better. It has many twists and turns and everything links together well at the end: the clues were there - we just don't connect them at the time.

I look forward to his next book.

This b00k is ab0ut Jessica, mum of two. Jessica's sister Isabel died in an accident 4 years ago. Jessica's 4 year old daughter Olivia who had never met her aunt starts telling her mum that her dead aunt is talking to her and telling her things that she could not have possibly known.

I am a big fan of Mark Edwards work. I have read nearly all his books and I have to say that I think that this is his best yet. Mark manages to make this story spooky but believable. We have the mystery of Izzy's death. Was it really an accident? Is Izzy really talking to Olivia from beyond her grave? This book kept me reading well into the night and would be a perfect book to read around Halloween.

As usual, Mark Edwards has managed to perfectly blend the potentially supernatural with the desire to find perfectly reasonable explanations for the seemingly unexplainable during a page turner of a thriller. Jessica’s sister fell off a balcony years ago, but now Olivia, Jessica’s daughter is coming to her with messages from beyond the grave. Information she shouldn’t know. Is her sister, Isabel, communicating with her? Jessica bounces from one suspect to another, her certainty increasing with each person as to who could have pushed her sister from the balcony, or did her sister simply fall? Mark Edwards pulls us into the tension and whirlwind inside Jessica’s mind as she desperately tries to figure out what happened to her sister. This was another un-putdown-able from Edwards, great read. Thank you Netgalley & Amazon UK for the ARC!

Wow absolutely brilliant, I couldn't put this down it constantly had me guessing right up until the end. Loved how Mark has added in some paranormal with this psychological thriller it really did work well.. another one to be recommending to my family and friends

I started this book this evening and within 3 hours I had completed it. It is the first I have read from Mark Edwards and it was chilling. I jumped to conclusions, changing my mind constantly about the twist but only realised when it was revealed. The characters were completely believable and it was easy to feel the fear that was felt.

This is a must read!

While I do love this author and this book started very strong I found that while I did enjoy it my excitement just couldn't be maintained to the same extent.

Another fantastic book by Mark Edwards. I really enjoyed the idea behind the story - a dead sister using a four year old child to communicate with the adults so that they question the circumstances surrounding her death. It makes you question whether the spirits of loved ones do linger until they resolve any issue that stops them moving on. Or, is there an explanation for everything that happens. There are many twists that make you suspect everyone. I did have my suspicions as to who the culprit was, but not until very late in the book.
An excellent read. Highly recommend.

Another incredible book by mark Edwards! This one, like all the others I have read by him kept me reading into the night and ignoring the world around me.
The characters were well thought out, and relatable, the plot was wonderful, and some aspects gave me chills.
In her shadow kept me guessing to the very end. Was Olivia really communicating with her aunt Izzy? And if not how would she have known so much? Was Izzy really pushed off of her balcony if so who would have done it?
The ending gave me all the answers I was looking for and neatly wrapped up the story. I'm usually quite good at predicting the end of thrillers before the reveal, but I was kept eagerly waiting until the end to get the answers I was seeking. This was a wonderfully written thriller and will be on my list of recommendations.

Mark has pulled it out of the bag again.

For me I found this book slightly different to his others but it doesn't pull any punches or let you go until the very end. This is one of those books that creeps into your mind and then sits there for a few days once read.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to all reading more from Mark.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Mark Edwards, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Mark Edwards is back with another spine-chilling novel that takes the reader inside the eerie world of communication with the afterlife, yet another branch of psychological thrillers. Jessica is the proud mother of two children, though it would seem her youngest has begun acting out at school. When she arrives to speak with the teacher, Jessica learns that Olivia has been making many comments about her friend, Izzy, who’s died. Although Olivia is only four, Jessica refuses to take any chances and soon learns that her daughter is speaking about a member of the family. It would seem that Izzy, Olivia’s aunt, died after leaping from her balcony at home, not long after little Olivia was born. How might Olivia be communicating with her aunt, save through some sort of spirit portal? Thoughts of this nature remind Jessica of a situation from her own youth, when she and Izzy were visited by an uncle’s spirit who was highly disruptive. Jessica refuses to believe that Olivia has any contact with her dead sister and pushes the limits to find out who might be feeding her daughter such information. However, the evidence keeps piling up that Olivia has a way to speak to ‘Izzy’ and there are things that few others ever knew, yet they seem to be coming from Olivia’s mouth with ease. The entire situation opens up new fears in Jessica when Olivia admits one night that Izzy was pushed and murdered by someone. Could there be some truth to this? If so, how much does Olivia know and can her connection with Izzy help re-open a police investigation? Edwards uses his skills to lure the reader deep into the story and soon the story has taken over their entire brain, forcing them to race forward and discover what’s happened before turning off the light at night. Perfect for those who love Mark Edwards’ work, as well as the reader who enjoys blindsides throughout.

I have long enjoyed Mark Edwards and his writing, finding myself susceptible to his style of narration so much that I lose track of time. Even when I want to read only a few pages, I find it hard to put down one of his books until I have resolution to the mystery at hand. Edwards has a wonderful way of connecting the reader to his characters, especially a strong-minded protagonist like Jessica. The reader learns much about her throughout, both her backstory and current development as she fights to get to the bottom of both the Izzy and Olivia situations. There is much to discover and the story peels things back slowly enough as to keep the reader flipping pages, but not too quickly as to be a let-down. Alongside Jessica are a handful of other characters, all of whom bring their own flavour to the story, particularly those who crossed paths with Izzy in the days and weeks before her death. Edwards keeps the reader wondering if it could have been murder and who might have the most plausible motive to end the life of this interesting woman. That also serves to promote Izzy into the role of secondary protagonist, as flashbacks and extensive dialogue throughout resurrect her personality throughout the entire piece. Edwards effectively weaves past and present into a seamless plot and keeps everyone guessing until the very end. The story was brilliantly executed and the reader will surely find themselves surrounded by possible culprits and mysteries they ask themselves, all while the narrative forges onwards. With clipped dialogue that keeps the story realistic, Edwards leaves little time to ponder, as each chapter presents new and interesting perspectives to keep things from going stale. I have yet to find a dud when Mark Edwards is at the helm and hope many readers will follow me and get hold of this book in short order.

Kudos, Mr. Edwards, for another winner. I hope those who have yet to discover your writing style do so soon, for you have a great deal to offer the genre and those who love it so very much!

I love Mark Edwards work but particulary enjoyed the touch of the supermatural in this one. Recommended.

I eagerly await any new book by Mark Edwards. He’s not let us loyal readers down. Do you believe in ghosts? Is deceased Izzy coming back through her niece Olivia? Was Izzy’s fall an accident or was she pushed? Olivia seems to know far more than a 4 year old should. Read and find out for yourself.....

Mark Edwards is one of my favourite authors so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to read this advance copy of his new book. Jessica lost her sister Izzy 5 years ago in what was considered an accident, however Jessica's young daughter Olivia seems to be getting messages from her dead aunt telling her that she was murdered. I am a terrible wuss when it comes to paranormal and ghost stories, so it is safe to say that this one kept me awake last night!
Plenty of twists and turns and there are some seriously dodgy characters in this book! Secrets and lies are uncovered as the backstory is slowly revealed. I really couldn't put it down, I had to know what had happened to Izzy and why.
Excellent book as always from Mark Edwards.

I loved The Magpies, and was expecting a similar kind of read, Unfortunately I don't feel that this lives up to its predecessor.

Oooooooo love all Mark Edwards books and this one did not disappoint either!....

What a corker I totally loved it and stayed up al night racing through it, to be devastated when it ended haha!

Basically Jessica’s sister Izzy died and yet her daughter olivia seems to be talking to her dead aunt and knows far too much about her and her life, they said it was suicide but Jessica never believed this and now Olivia is saying her dead aunt says different....

A seriously good book that had me guessing all the way through and I cannot way for his next book, a 5 star read as per usual 😊

Loved it! I read it while relaxing on a sun lounger in Turkey. It’s a real page turner, I flew through it!

Hooked from start to finish. Definitely recommend this author, from The Magpies to the Lucky Ones, all are great reads. Dont want to say too much about the story as i dont want to give anything/spoilers away. Cannot wait to read more ***** Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this copy.

I have read all Mark's books and I loved this one, even though I found it very different from his other books. Jessica lost her sister a few years ago when she fell off the balcony at her house. Jessica’s daughter Olivia, who is only four, is saying rather strange things about Izzy as if she is her imaginary friend. However, there are things she couldn’t possibly know or have heard at her age - so how does she know them?
This is a great read which poses loads of questions: What really happened to Izzy? Why is Olivia talking to her and hanging off the end of a balcony herself?
Mark Edwards is so talented. His addictive narrative sweeps you up and carries you away for hours. This book is a compelling read with good characterisation and a fabulous plot. It's a mystery meets supernatural ghost story. This book will creep you out, I did find the hairs standing on the back of my neck a couple of times and the story stayed in my head long after I'd turned the light out to sleep. If you haven’t read a book by Mark yet (and you must read them all) choose this one. It won't disappoint. I would highly recommend In Her Shadow.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my pre-publication copy.

This is another sure winner for Mark Edwards. Jessica's sister Isabel has died in suspicious circumstances. Her four year old daughter, Olivia, appears to be communicating with her aunt from beyond the grave. A chilling psychological thriller which will keep you totally engrossed right from the first page. Not so much a thriller but more of a ghost story, fans will not be disappointed. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. Reviews on Goodreads, Amazon and Facebook

A great thriller as we head into October. Jessica, the main characters, young daughter starts reciting details of her aunt Isobel and the days leading to her death. A page turner as what Jessica once thought about Isobel might not be so.

I am a fan of Mark Edwards, "The Retreat" was one of my favorites earlier this year. "In Her Shadow" is the story of Jessica, Izzy and Olivia. Izzy and Jessica are sisters. Izzy has died, by her own hand, and Jessica still grapples with her grief. Olivia is Jessica's daughter who starts behaving strangely...often referencing Izzy, as if she is still present.

Edwards creates a tense world where family secrets are hanging heavy in the air. Is Olivia really seeing Izzy or is someone playing a cruel joke on Jessica?

I don't want to go much further into the plot because as with "The Retreat", Edwards has given me the thriller that I needed to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A perfectly readable family drama. Jessica is a young mum who's youngest child Olivia, has started to say and do peculiar things relating the to the death of her aunt Isobel. Isobel fell from a balcony in her house four years ago however, there are a few people who didn't think it was an accident. With the obsession with death and bizzare knowledge Olivia seems to have, history seems to be repeating itself. As children Jessica and Isobel had a poltergeist and there is a worry it has returned, but we all know poltergeists aren't real right? The story is told from Jessica's point of view, and uses flashbacks to complete the story of what actually happened to Isobel. A very easy read with plenty going on to keep your interest, even if you don't believe in poltergeist!

So hard to write a review for this book without spoilers!
I liked the way the book kind of changes genre half way through, the author keeps you guessing all through the book as to “who did it”. Recommended read for people who like thrillers.

Another fantastic read by Mark Edwards, I'm a huge fan of his books and this one was no exception. Brilliant read, great characters.

Praise for Mark Edwards In Her Shadow. A grippING Whodunit that I couldn't put down, I was on the edge of my seat in parts. Well developed characters and a story line that flows , it kept me guessing right to the end.

Absolutely brilliant, an exciting knicker gripper in my opinion, just love the way Mark Edwards writes. I have read all his books but this is definitely one of my favourites, easy reading, full of suspense and an exciting page turner.

Nothing negative to say about this book, can thoroughly recommend, you will not be disappointed.

I’ve read and enjoyed several of Mark Edwards books and this one doesn’t disappoint! It was a real page turner... every time I thought I had figured out how it was going to end there was another twist and turn. It was also interesting how he incorporated the paranormal into this thriller. I received a free copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Let me start off by saying Mark Edwards is my third favorite author of all time. (That’s saying a lot as I am an avid reader) I love all of his books and recommend them to everyone I know. I’m so sad to say this one has been my least favorite. It wasn’t bad, far from it in fact, but for some reason I just couldn’t connect to the characters like I always do with his stories and the BAM factor that is usually there just wasn’t. I did enjoy it though and I’ll still give it 4 stars. I love all of Marks books, for whatever reason this one just didn’t click for me. I can’t wait for his next though!

In Her Shadow was a powerful new book by established author Mark Edwards. The main character, Jess, is haunted by the death of her sister four years earlier and memories surface when Jess’s young daughter starts an unhealthy interest in her dead aunt.

This is a compelling page turner that was very enjoyable.

Well, okay, but not really my cuppa tea. Psychological tension but lots of disbelief to suspend. Others are bound to enjoy it, though.

Reading this novel alone at night is not a good idea. The story of a little girl haunted by the ghost of her aunt is unbearably spooky. Jessica, the little girl's mother and still grieving the death of her sister Isabel, is not sure whether there really is something supernatural going on, or if there is a simple, rational explanation. When Isabel seems to be saying that she was murdered, Jessica starts digging into her life and discovering very unsettling secrets. These female characters are facing very real female problems and Mr. Edwards gets it right. Now, obviously it is possible for an author to write a good book about something that they haven't experienced in real life, but the way that he portrays these purely female issues without sounding forced shows how talented he is. About the plot I can't say anything because the twists were so unexpected and surprising that giving anything away would be a crime. I can just say that it is creepy... very, very creepy, surprising and impossible to put down.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer!

In Mark Edwards’s book In Her Shadow, Jessica is still trying to move on from her sister Isabel’s death five years earlier. As Jessica works to learn what really happened to Isabel, she is faced with the ghosts of her childhood, the mystery of her daughter’s abilities, and the possible betrayal of the people she holds dear.

This book was not as thrilling to me as Mark Edwards’s previous book The Retreat, primarily because I found the main character hard to identify with and a bit annoying, but I am a huge fan of Edwards’s writing style, descriptions, and character development. I will keep coming back for more.

I am grateful to NetGalley, Mark Edwards, and publisher Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Another fabulous read from Mark Edwards!

Full of twists, so many suspects and still couldn’t guess the outcome even though I was sure I’d got it right!

Don’t want to say to much as may spoil for others

If you’ve read Marks other novels you need to get this!

Wow! What a book...literally sat on the edge of my seat reading it! Twists and turns until the very end! Definate 5 star book!!!!

Another good one from Mark Edwards! He's definitely on my must- read-as soon as they come out list!

Five years ago Jessica's older sister Isabelle died from an accidental fall. Now, her 4 year old daughter is behaving strangely. She's saying creepy things about Isabelle's fall, things that only the Jessica and Isabelle know, singing Isabelle's favorite song, and other creepy things that she does in the middle of the night. Jessica doesn't believe it when Olivia says she's "talking" to Isabelle, though something happened when Jessica was a young girl involving a ghost. So her mother wants to bring in a paranormal investigator because she believes Isabelle was murdered. So this definitely has the creepy factor, paranormal vibe in the story. Which is something that I love in my stories. As things start escalating, Jessica starts to believe there is more to Isabelle's fall & begins investigating. I will say Mark Edwards knows how to write books that keep you glued to the pages. I haven't been disappointed by him, so give him a try if you like thrillers.


*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review - ‘In Her Shadow’ by Mark Edwards ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing UK and Mark Edwards for the chance to read an ARC of this novel.

“Isabel’s life seemed perfect. Successful business, beautiful house, adoring husband. And then she was dead”.

When the story starts it’s been four years since her sister Isabel’s death and Jessica has never once doubted that it was anything other than a tragic accident. But when her daughter Olivia, who never met her Aunt, suddenly knows long forgotten details of Isabel’s life and talking about “a bad man” and secrets she mustn’t share, Jessica starts to wonder if maybe Izzy didn’t fall from the balcony after all. So, she starts to investigate; trying to garner information from her reluctant and frightened daughter and family members who mostly believe she should let it lie. All the while going between belief and denial that Olivia is telling the truth, fearful of what it means if Olivia really is communicating with her dead Aunt and if Isabel was murdered.

Mark Edwards is the King of the psychological thriller with a eerie twist. When I read ‘The Retreat’ a few months ago I instantly became a fan and this is the 5th of his books that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. When you open a Mark Edwards book you expect a rollercoaster ride of heart pounding anticipation, gut-wrenching turmoil and shocking plot twists; which he has delivered yet again in this unputdownable book that sizzles with suspense and had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happened next.

In Her Shadow is a story about family, loss, a thriller, a who dunnit, and a culturally relevant novel all rolled into one.

Available October 4th.

Jessica’s sister Izzy died five years ago when she fell off a balcony. Or did she? Years before, Izzy was visited by a ghost, and seems to be communicating to Jessica through Jess’s daughter. Jess wants to get to the bottom of her sister’s death, and will use any means to do it. Things are not what they seem throughout this page turner. Edwards follows “The Retreat” with this fast paced and enjoyable ghost story.

A totally addictive and another spine chilling read by Mark Edwards. I've loved each and every one of Mr Edward's book and would highly recommend them all. 5* from me. My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

Thank you to Netgalley, Mark Edwards and Amazon Publishing UK for my arc of In Her Shadow.

I'm a huge fan of Mark Edwards books, they're a really unique combination of creepy/thriller. In her Shadow is no different. The other bonus is that they absolutely always keep you guessing!

Jessica is still trying to get back to some kind of normality 5 years after her sister Isabelle fell to her death. But now Jessica's four year old daughter Olivia is dredging up the past, talking above the aunt she never met, as if she knew her. Asking questions like, did Izzy fall or was she pushed? Is Olivia acting up or is Izzy's spirit using her to tell the truth about her death?

The story follows an interesting pathway, the creepy/horror/thriller element is intertwined with the everyday problems of marital issues, trying to be a good parent, and dealing with death. As well as abuse of power and touching on the issues of sexual assault from people in positions of celebrity power. Not to mention the theme of ghosts, spirits and poltergeists.

A rollercoaster of a ride, which kept me turning the pages in a race to the end.

I am a loyal Mark Edwards fan. I adore psychological thrillers and he is a master at this genre. "In her Shadow" tells the story of Jessica who lives in the "shadow" of her sister, Isabel's death. Although she accepted it was an accident long ago, now she's not so sure. As Jessica's little girl begins to reveal details that she couldn't possibly know from experience, the truth about her sister's "accident" is no longer clear.

Highly recommended to all thriller lovers!!

#InHerShadow #NetGalley

Family secrets and pure mystery, Mark blends well the emotions and keep the reader attentive until the last page. Excellent work!

I much preferred the first part of this book,where it was all talks of ghosts and how Olivia knew about her aunts things. You didnt know if the ghost was real or not.
It started to go downhill when practically each character ,one after the other,was accused of murdering Issy.
The whole unrequited love story seemed way over the top.
An easy enough read,and entertaining,though not very believable.
Nothing hugely amiss,I just wouldn't be recommending Edwards books based on this.

Aaahhh this was brilliant. As always Mak has knocked it out of the park.
I really enjoyed this book and it's many twists and turns. I really didn't suspect the culprit until it was revealed.

The characters were really good and I felt so much like Jessica and could totally understand why she was going about things the way she did.

Absolutely fantastic.

I have only recently discovered Mark Edwards as an author and have enjoyed the few books I have read so was pleased to receive a copy of this book. It is, as expected a book with a lot of twists and turns. It keeps you reading and guessing. I enjoyed it a lot but cannot help but feel that it tries to twist and turn just a little bit too much. That said I liked the basic plot, an inttriguing story. I thought the characters were well drawn, interesting and well developed.

In Her Shadow by Mark Edwards is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. Our protagonist Jessica lost her sister Izzy to an unfortunate accident. Izzy fell to her death from a fall from a balcony. We are thrust forward 5 years later and Jessica’s daughter, Olivia, knows things about her dead aunt that she could not possibly know. Edwards does a great job at hinting at such things as the paranormal, Could Izzy be talking to Olivia? It is hard to find a true thriller that will keep you hooked and actually scared yet still wanting to continue reading so that you can find out what the truth actually is. I was hooked with this one. The characters were well developed and the story had so many great twists that I believed everyone was suspect. All I can say to the reader is, hold on tight you are in for one hell of a ride. The only bad part of this book was......... the fact it hand to end. I have read othe books by this author and they all are brilliant in their own way but this one, I would say, is my favorite.

Thank you to netgalley as well as the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.


5++++ stars ⭐️ out of 5

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
In Her Shadow by Mark Edwards was a very clever book, it covered death or was it murder or an accident. Paranormal activity and child possession or were they? Stalking and obsession, love and hate.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and the complex issues discussed throughout the story.
Highly recommended

This is a very ambitious, topical novel with so many threads like loss, betrayal, obsessive love, inappropriate behaviour & harassment and psychic experiences. This was executed in a slightly mocking, satirical but logical fashion that it would intrigue a hardened sceptic. There's a murder or is it suicide or an accidental death all wrapped up with alcohol and drugs. There are so many "moments" when everything goes out of control. It's extraordinary that a hoax can cause a river of blood that echoes down the years when it backfires and affects so many lives. Another moment is a split second of panic that changes everything. There's an obsessive, unrequited love which has serious consequences. A lascivious photographer who takes advantage of his position and whom no one dares report. Jessica is the main character with her husband Will and children Felix and Olivia - and not forgetting the adorable Caspar, the dog. When Olivia, aged four begins to act strangely and say odd things the temperature rises and escalates to an astonishing degree of tension. Several alarming, inexplicable incidents occur. Trying to extract the "secret" from Olivia is like pulling teeth. They do say children can "see" things that adults can't and this thread is particularly interesting and food for thought. When the novel back to the past it turns everything upside down. The novel has such a fluid, compelling natural style. It neatly presses you to know the characters and what is going on. The dialogue is perfectly manicured, and every word is relevant and plausible. Is Jessica getting steamed up over nothing or is someone following or watching her? Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing.

2.5 Stars

Reading the synopsis for this book didn't make it clear that, in addition to being a possible murder mystery, this is a ghost story at heart. Had I realized this, I would have never chosen it to read. The creepy-kid-talks-to-ghost-and-relays-information-the-child-couldn't-possibly-know is a tired premise and one that I've never enjoyed.

The story follows Jessica, mother of said creepy child and sister to Isabel, the possible victim, on her crusade to find out the truth of what happened to her sister five years prior.The characters, while fleshed out just enough to keep the story moving, were ALL irritating and not at all realistic or relatable. As the story unfolds, each character takes his/her turn at being a suspect in the demise of Isabel. While I didn't figure out the end, without giving any spoilers, it was nevertheless over the top and implausible.

This is my first book by the seemingly popular Mark Edwards and it seems I find myself in the minority. Fans of his writing will no doubt enjoy this book, it just wasn't for me.


I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A rather confusing start to this story, has one thinking that you’re about to read a spooky tale of the supernatural as one continues into the story it transpires not to be the case, and turns into an intricate tale of suspense. A good read.

Having previously read and enjoyed a couple of Mark Edwards' books, I was delighted to receive an e-arc of In Her Shadow for review.

The story starts off with Jessica, married to Will and with two children, Felix and Olivia. A few years earlier, Jessica's older sister Izzy fell to her death from a balcony at her home. The death was ruled an accident however, Jessica and Izzy's mother has never accepted this and always held the belief that she was murdered. Olivia, 4 years old, starts to act strangely and is apparently, and unbelievably to Jessica, receiving messages from Izzy from beyond the grave, trying to get a message across. Having been at the centre of a perceived haunting in their home when they were younger, Jessica is very dubious about Olivia's actions. However, as time goes on Jessica starts to believe that perhaps Olivia is receiving messages from Izzy and that perhaps Izzy's death wasn't an accident after all.

This book unfortunately was not for me. I do enjoy a good paranormal style thriller but I found this to be quite tedious and boring. I found it hard to believe the storyline and the side story of Izzy's business and several other references of a similar nature throughout the book, I thought were irrelevant to the story and just put me off. I thought Jessica and her mother were over the top characters and by the time I got to 71% of the storyline with the revelation that one of the central characters was known to Izzy previously, I found I really wasn't too interested in continuing the book and unfortunately did not finish it.

This book was gripping from the start. Is Jessica’s daughter Olivia really being haunted by Jessica’s dead sister Izzy? Full of tension and suspense, the story had me spellbound. The twists and turns throughout the book were so good, I had no idea what was coming at the end. A wonderful style of writing by the author. I highly recommend this book.

In Her Shadow is the latest thriller by Mark Edwards. Mr Edwards manages to make the reader feel an immediate connection with our heroine, and make her feel like a friend. Some back and forth in time is woven in as we learn things that have previously happened. I was given an early copy to review.

Mark Edwards book never fit into one particular genre with elements of a psychology thriller, horror and supernatural the reader is never sure what the author has planned, and that’s one of the reasons I’m such a huge fan of this authors work, he turns the most ordinary events into an extraordinary tale. In Her Shadow is spine-chilling creepy, it’s one of those books where your nerves are frayed, the slightest noise will make you jump, there’s a sense of impending doom which only intensifies as the plot thickens.

Jessica is mum to four year old Olivia who appears to be communicating with Jessica's sister Isabel, but that’s where things take a creepy and disturbing turn as Isabel died four years ago when she fell from the balcony of her house. At the time the fall was seen to be a tragic accident but Olivia has other ideas and soon Jessica is convinced that there is something far more sinister behind her sisters accident. In Her Shadows reminded me a little of the film The Sixth Sense, it’s the one where a young boy talks to dead people, I got the same sense of unease whilst reading this book. Olivia’s character is definitely the star of In Her Shadows, I had permanent goose bumps as Olivia’s behaviour became more disturbing, in fact this book would make one hell of a creepy film.

Familiar themes run through this book family secrets, lies and obsession but Mark Edwards adds his unique voice making the themes his own. I loved the way the author always manages to make his books multi genre, and even with elements of the supernatural In Her Shadows felt frighteningly credible. Add into the mix unreliable characters, that as the reader you find yourself constantly doubting how trustworthy they actually are, the author also leaves little time to contemplate, as each chapter ends the plot thickens, which all help to make this book a intriguing read. I love the fact you never know what story will be hidden in the pages of a new Mark Edwards books, but one thing you can be guaranteed it will be a highly entertaining read. Definitely one for fans of psychological thrillers and the paranormal. Highly recommended

Review will be edited prior to being published on my blog

I have never read anything by tnis author before so was unsure what to expect........what I got was a well written, book full of tiwists and turns,very enjoyable and will defintely read more from this author

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book. I read it slowly trying to make it last forever.

Mark Edwards always knows how to keep his readers enthralled in a book. This one is no exception. In Her Shadow kept me up way past my bedtime on the second night of reading it. I had to stay up and finish it because I couldn't wait until morning to find out if Olivia really was in contact with her aunt. It has all the twists and turns that Mr. Edwards fans have come to expect, and love!

Another hit from one of my favorite authors! Fans of his writing will not be disappointed with this one!

Mark Edwards has this remarkable talent for taking ordinary people and turning their lives and experiences into something extraordinary and "In Her Shadow" is no exception to this rule.

A creepy tale that had me having to turn the light on in the middle of the night and sent my dreams into meltdown mode! There's something extra creepy when children are involved in tales that reach beyond the grave and I had a real feeling that this book would translate so well onto the big screen just in time for Halloween!

At times, I struggled a little with the read, it isn't a criticism of the writing. As with all of Mark Edwards books this was very well written and plotted out, I just felt for a while in the middle it dragged a little for me before picking up speed and hurtling me towards a brilliantly twisted conclusion.

Highly topical, as well as tackling otherworldly experiences, Edwards also covers the issue of abuse and rape in the film and media industries and does so extremely well and authentically. A whole host of clues and hints are given, snatched away and dropped in your lap again! Although I finally did work out the gist of what was going on, I was not without my Cluedo looking-glass to get there!

Another fantastic and intriguing psychological thriller from one of the best authors in the genre. Perfectly spooky and delightfully chilling this one will have you shivering with fear!

Jessica lost her sister a few years ago when she fell off the balcony at her house. When they were children something happened that made them minor celebrities for a short time- all to do with ghosts and spirits, which Jessica now can’t stand and doesn’t believe in. Her mother however is a bit of a believer in such things and has a spiritualist friend. Jessica’s daughter Olivia, who is only four, is saying rather strange things about Izzy as if she is her imaginary friend, however somethings she couldn’t possibly know or have heard. What really happened to Izzy? Jessica’s curiosity gets the better of her and as she finds out more the more she needs to know.
Sometimes I wish Mark Edwards wasn’t an author (just kidding) as he has the talent (or is a power?) to make time and real life disappear. He is one of my go-to authors and this book reflects this, I couldn’t put it down. A mystery and almost a ghost story. I’m not into ghost stories but this had me hooked. Mark’s style of writing is such that it grabs you from the outset, twists you around a little and makes you want more and more. It’s one of those that you want to get to the end to find out what happens but at the same time you don’t want it to end as it is so enjoyable. It made me a little anxious and a little chilled and kept me on the edge of my seat. If you haven’t read a book by Mark and you enjoy psychological thrillers then I would highly recommend trying one- but be warned- you might not put it down!
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
(rest of links on publication day)

This was my first read of Author Mark Edwards and what a book this was. Jessica and Will have 2 children, Felix 10 and Olivia 4 years old. All of a sudden, Olivia starts acting out in school and she tells her mother that her Aunt Izzy is talking to her. Jessica's older sister, Isabel, died after she fell from her upstairs balcony railing 5 years earlier. The death was ruled an accident but the family always suspected that maybe it wasn't. As the story unfolds, there are many twists, turns and surprises in it. This is a very well written book and the characters are solid and likable. This book was hard to put down and I really enjoyed it. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this fascinating book in exchange for an honest review.

Jessica’s sister Isabel died in a tragic accident. Jessica’s daughter Olivia never got to meet her aunt, so when she starts talking about snippets from Isabel’s past that she could not possibly have known, Jessica’s suspicions are raised about Isabel’s life and untimely death.
My husband spoke to me at one point while I was reading this and I jumped out of my skin! This read was absolutely chilling.
I thought I had it all figured out but I was wrong, the twists and turns kept coming.
As a regular reader of Mark Edwards I believe that this is his best work yet! I have yet to read a book by this author that I did not enjoy but he has truly raised his game here.
Thank you so much to Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read In Her Shadow.

I requested In Her Shadow after thoroughly enjoying Edwards' previous release titled 'The Retreat'. There's actually a cheeky little easter egg amongst the opening scenes of In Her Shadow that links the two of them together, if you do read both be sure to keep an eye out for it. I also own 'Follow You Home' but have yet to read it.

The main focus of the plot is to discover how Isabel really died. Was it an accident? A suicide? Perhaps she was murdered?

The pacing is steady to begin with, if not a little jerky. 66% into In Her Shadow I thought I'd guessed the entire ending and felt a little put-out. Thankfully I didn't have the details entirely right and so when the story ramped up at 75% I clawed back a little of my earlier investment. I say a little because looking back I realise I never really felt any desperation to find the answers.

The third person perspective switches back and forth between Jessica in the present, another character I don't want to spoil by revealing and her dead sister Isabel in the past.

Perhaps the time passing between Isabel's death and Jessica's discoveries was too long, maybe it was because I found Isabel to be shallow and uninteresting, but I think it's more the lack of emotional response in the living characters that made me lose interest. They didn't seem to care all that much so neither did I.

When adding to this an unrealistic car chase and some basic plot twists, even the question of supernatural involvement and a whodunnit wouldn't convince me to recommend this. In Her Shadow tries to be too many different things and ends up being nothing in particular.

If you haven't read Mark Edwards before please don't be put off entirely, just read The Retreat instead.. I promise that one's better.

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of this author's psychological thrillers, never read a bad one. Thing is though, as the story contained within this book started to unfurl I had this horrible thought that maybe this one would buck that trend as it began to go somewhere I wasn't really wanting it to go. But, I trusted in the author, something told me that he wasn't about to let me down so I read on. Was my trust repaid? Heck yeah - and then some!
Jessica is married with two children, her sister, Isabel, died in an accident several years ago and the hurt around that has never left her, so it was with shock and horror when her youngest child, Olivia, appears to know much more about Isabel than she should. Olivia's behaviour gets even more bizarre when it also appears that Isabel is using her to try to speak to Jessica, and the message she is trying to convey is that her death was no accident. But the dead can't come back, or can they?
Whilst not as chilling to me as his previous books have been, maybe cos I don't have children, don't know, this book relied instead on its intricate plotting to keep me reading. And it did that very well. Along with Jessica, I took what was happening at face value and then delved deeper as we both tried to make sense of what was going on. I thought I had it all worked out quite early but, yeah, wrong; very wrong! Then, as things went on, I started to expand my list of suspects, but I never managed to rule anyone in or out until right up to the final reveal. Shocked! But, with the wonderful power of hindsight, yep, clues were there, the author just done me like a kipper; again!
As I write my reviews I mentally list all the things I need to make a good book a great read and, again, full house on that score. Characterisation - spot on; pacing - perfect; twists, turns and redherrings - spot on; secrets and lies - check. And a motive/reason/explanation that, well, very original indeed. I simply don't have the words to fully explain the amazing journey this book took me on. Suffice to say, his other fans will love it and, if you've never read him before, where have you been?
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Did she fall or was she pushed? That is the question underlining the whole of In Her Shadow by Mark Edwards. Jessica was devoted to her sister and her death hit her hard. She has always believed it was nothing more than a tragic accident although her mother has always insisted there was more to Isabel's death than that. When Jessica's daughter Olivia starts telling Jessica all about things that happened to the aunt she has never met, the line between what is thought to be known and what is suspected start to blur.

It is fair to say that this book is quite creepy. Not in an obvious 'oh look there's a ghost' kind of way but in the slow building sense of unease that you get as you progress through the chapters. At first it is easy to dismiss Olivia's behaviour as the actions of a child with an imaginary friend. Would it be so unbelievable for that friend to be her aunt given how much Jessica adored her sister? Probably not. But when she starts to say things that she cannot possibly have known, sing songs that she has never heard and even foretell of tragedies which are soon to occur ... well you have to wonder if the child might just be haunted. 

There are no all out spook moments in this novel. It's not that kind of book. But Mark Edwards has created an unsettling atmosphere even in the most routine of actions, the simplest of conversations. It is always hard to tell with young children as they often say things in the most innocent of ways without understanding what they are saying or the impact it has, but the story is written in such a way that you always feel there is something just a little bit more than that.

Although largely written from Jessica's point of view the book is littered with chapters filling in Isabel's life in the months leading up to her death. Explaining the reasons whey she turned to drink, the very thing that made it so easy to believe her death was an accident. These passages are quite telling and lead you to a whole host of suspects if, in fact, it does turn out that her death wasn't quite so straight forward. And then there is Jessica's own investigation, her determination to get to the truth of how Olivia can know so much about a person she never met.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book, elements that you may or may not see coming. Certainly I was suspicious of one or two characters quite early on. Perhaps not in the way they were written but there was enough to get my senses tingling and not to trust them completely. You will definitely be led up quite a few garden paths until you find the right door to go knocking on, and the person it reveals may well surprise you. And then there's that killer ending. Just when you think that everything is sorted, that you know what really happened ... Well, it wouldn't be a Mark Edwards book if he didn't deliver that last moment of uncertainty now would it?

As you would expect, the story flows smoothly, the tension ramping up and dying down as the action dictates. You now you re in for a great read when you pick up a Mark Edwards novel, and while the pacing may not have felt as fast as some of the other books I have read, the story is truly compelling and I still found myself at the end of the book really quickly. Now I'm a gal who loves ghost stories, the spookier the better, and this wasn't perhaps as skin crawlingly creepy as I like, but it did make me wonder, with enough suspense to keep me on edge until the very last page.

Another fantastic book by Mark Edwards!
I thought this book was really different to his other stories, but I enjoyed it just as much. So many twists and turns in this book, I didn’t trust any of the characters but still didn’t expect the ending!
Five stars!

I’m new to Mark Edwards and his books and this was a great book to start! I loved the suspense in this book and once I started, I couldn’t stop reading this book because I felt a real connection to the characters and how the story was not only going to end, but how it was going to unravel as well. I’ll definitely be reading more books by this author because this book was a great read! 4.5 Stars

Wow, my first book from Mark Edwards is a solid winner!

A tale of two sisters. Isabel is young and successful, and one day, she is found dead after an accident. Years later, Jessica is still reeling from her sister’s death when her young daughter, Olivia, mentions secrets about Isabel’s past, things she shouldn’t know.

With that discovery, Jessica senses that there has to be something more to the story, and perhaps her sister has been murdered. She also has to reason to believe that she and her family are in danger. And just what does her daughter know? And how on earth does she know it?

I read In Her Shadow quickly, absorbing the tension and feeling anxious for Izzy, Jessica, and Olivia. I liked how Izzy is present within the story through flashbacks. There was breathing room in the writing for me to make my own theories, while that tension continued to ramp up and up. Red herrings and many possible culprits left my head spinning in the best possible way.

I’m cutting this review short so you can explore this treat of a read for yourself. I can easily see why this author has so many fans. In Her Shadow is a spine-chilling, smart, and overwhelmingly engaging psychological suspense that I recommend to ALL thriller readers.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer/Amazon Pub UK for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Jessica and Isobel are sisters, that is until Isobel falls from a balcony at home and passed away at the scene, that was some years ago and it was classed as a tragic accident until Jessica's daughter Olivia starts to say things that only Isobel and Jessica would know. Olivia tells her mum that Isobel is telling her these things but Jessica doesn't know whether to believe her or not as she does seem to know things that at 4 she could never have remembered.When Olivia says that Isobel didn't fall from the balcony but she was pushed it sends Jessica reeling as there had never been any doubt about her sisters accidental death. Surely Olivia can't be talking to Isobel from beyond the grave but then there was a time in the past that made Jessica unsure of what was happening but she was concerned about her daughters welfare and has to get to the bottom of this no matter what secrets she uncovers. This
was all brought together seamlesly with a couple of false leads and twists on the way. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Thank you to NetGalley for my copy

Mark Edwards proves once again that he is one of the most talented crime writers today. After the excellent ''Retreat'' that I greatly enjoyed, I was eager to read his new book and I was not disappointed. ''In Her Shadow'' is a superb psychological thriller playing with the notion of the supernatural element without eventually embracing it and also has an absorbing plot which makes it hard to put the book down. | read it almost in one sitting as I couldn't resist the urge to turn the pages in order to find out what happens next. The first half of the book hints on supernormal phenomena, thus making the reader believe that he is reading a ghost story but Edwards has lots of twists in store and the book turns to a mystery/thriller as it progresses. The development of the plot is well-crafted and it follows a steady not too fast, not too slow, tempo without becoming tedious at any time. The whodunit element is also present and you will constantly be trying to find the culprit as you are bound to change your mind many times throughout the novel. The narration shifts from present to past in a truly successful way, something that we rarely encounter in contemporary crime fiction books and this fact empowers my initial statement about the gifted writing abilities of the writer. I will not write anything specific about the plot, as it would spoil a great reading experience. Mark Edwards is on my top-10 crime writers and he is more than worth it.

Another triumph from this author.
I have been thoroughly entertained and enthralled by his books and I am glad to say that this one does not disappoint.
As you would expect from this author you spend most of your time sitting on the edge of your seat constantly turning the pages.
This story is full of twists and turns. A rollercoaster of a read.
If you have not this author shame on you.
Can't wait to read his next offering, hope I don't have wait too long.
I would like to thank the author Mark Edwards, Amazon Publishing UK and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

Firstly I'd like to start by saying that I adore Mark Edwards as an author he has this ability to keep me engaged from the beginning to the end of all of his books though matter how good the actual plot turns out to be.

In this novel we follow Jessica our main character and her four year old daughter Olivia who happens to say that she has been communicated with by her dead aunt isabel whom fell of a balcony in her house five years ago but did she really fall or was she pushed?

Like most Mark Edwards novels there was a supernatural feel to this however unlike his other books I found this very dark and eerie but in a good way and this continued throughout. What did I not like about this? There was a little to much going on towards the last part and some parts were easy to guess but with that being said I still highly enjoyed myself reading this book. It discussed important issues that I feel are currently being raised in the media recently and it's important to tell this type of story.

Will I be reading more Mark Edwards books? Of course he's one of my favourite authors and I look forward to seeing what he comes out with next.

IN HER SHADOW by Mark Edwards is a great suspense novel. I had never read any of Edwards's novels before but I will be on the hunt to read more from this great author.

In Her Shadow by Mark Edwards is a great story with many twists. I couldn't put it down, it was so good.

The story is about two sisters, Jessica and Isabel. But guess what? Isabel died 5 years ago, As the story goes on we get nearer to the day Isabel died.
Jessica is a mother of two. Things go normal when until her daughter starts to act strange. That is when things start to go out of control. Because the daughter knows thing she couldn't possibly know. And Jessica starts to wonder what really happened to Isabel 5 years ago. It was ruled as an accident but was that it really...

A huge thank you to NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book for an honest review.

What can I say other than Mark Edwards is a phenomenal story teller! I have read four or five of his other books to date and each one is better than the last!

In Her Shadow is the story of Jessica and her sister Izzy who died four years ago. Jessica’s daughter who was unborn when Izzy died seems to have lots of knowledge about her Aunt but no one has shared this information with little Olivia so how does she know all of these things. Jessica is trying to process what is going on and wondering what really happened to her sister the day she died.

Edwards has a way of throwing a plot twist in the perfect spot to grab your attention and then leave you hanging and wanting more. The twists in this book are devine! The ending leaves you breathless once the truth is revealed!

A must read for fans of Edwards of thrillers with a slight paranormal twist!

Mark Edwards has done it again, he is a truly remarkable author. His new books has a supernatural feel to it and is very dark compared to his other books, for this reason alone I love this book.

Wow, this book literally grabbed a hold of me and sucked me right in. I was gripped and sitting on the edge of my seat in eager anticipation as to what would happen next with ever chapter, right to the very end.

I thought the story was brilliantly well written and the characters are all so very well portrayed and believable. There are times when I literally didn't know who to trust, who was telling the truth and who was lying.

I was truly captivated and enthralled with this book and throughout reading it, I kept trying to piece everything together in my head, and figure it all out, and wondering how it would all end. Suffice to say I couldn't have been more wrong if I tried.  There were twists a plenty, that I literally didn't see coming.

This is one spooky and creepy psychological thriller that I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

Mark was a new author to me, but given how much I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this, I will definitely be looking to read his other books.

A great book by Mark Edwards. I was hooked from page 1. Ghosts, poltogyst, murder mystery, it's got it all. Shows how easy it is to get into a child's mind. Was Evies death, murder, suicide or an accident. Keeps you guessing all the way through. The whole family is affected by her death. Loss of trust affects their relationship. Even the answers keep you guessing. So is there an afterlife or not. Do the dead come back to make you look for the truth?

A good screenwriter could wring three or four Lifetime movies out of this book. There is a murder mystery, a young child who think she can see a ghost, affairs, obsession, stalking, sexual harassment, sister rivalry, and an unbelievable sex therapy business. I enjoyed the alternating points of view from the past and present but overall, it was just too much. If you are in the mood to binge on a jam-packed melodramatic read, this book could be for you.

Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and the author Mark Edwards for an advanced electronic reading copy.

For four years Jessica has never doubted that her sister Isabel’s death was an accident. But when Jessica’s young daughter seems to know long-forgotten details about her aunt’s past, Jessica can’t shake the feeling that there’s a more sinister truth behind the tragedy.

As Jessica unearths disturbing revelations about her sister, and about the people she loved and trusted most, it becomes clear Isabel’s life was less than perfect and that Jessica’s might also be at risk.

Did someone murder Isabel? Are they now after Jessica and her family? The key seems to lie in the hands of a child. Can Isabel reveal the truth from beyond the grave, or is the answer closer to home?

This book is a page turner about family secrets, obsession, and manipulation. If you like classic horror films, suspense, mystery, or other thrillers, this book is for you.

This is cleverly detailed and cleverly written. Used to build strong horror and strong crime thriller. The overall concept of the book is strong and Mark Edwards is successful with his concept.

I am interested in reading some of his other books now that I have seen Mark Edwards’ writing. He has a distinct voice and a distinct storyline that is really interesting.

Another page-turner by the unstoppable Mr. Edwards. Deliciously creepy, disturbing and all-absorbing. Mark Edwards books are just getting better and better.

Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this ARC for which I have given my voluntary and unbiased review.

Another Mark Edwards masterpiece with the characteristic chill factor. He is the master of weaving a complex plot which will have you on the edge of your seat.
Jessica has lived her life in the shadow of her extremely successful older sister Izzy. Izzy seemed to have everything- money, the perfect husband, house and job. Until one day she falls off the balcony and dies - or was she pushed?
When Jessica’s daughter starts talking about (and to) her Aunt, and relaying information she can’t know, Jessica wonders if Izzy is trying to tell her something.
Amazing book and highly recommended.

I just finished In Her Shadow by Mark Edwards and am sorry to say that this book wasn’t my cup of tea. I never read anything that deals with the paranormal and the first three quarters of the book was full of it.

It took me forever to get to the latter part of the book and I must admit that after that I started enjoying the book but for me that was a little too late.

I wouldn’t recommend the book but only because of the paranormal happenings. I rate it 3 stars because as said it was very good in the end.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Three and a half star rating.
Jess and her sister Izzy are very close so it's shocking when she's found on the ground after falling from her balcony. Even more sinister when Jess's young daughter starts saying things - things she shouldn't even know about. This is a story of parts - part creepy, part family, part crime and part supernatural. Once started you have to go right to the end but there's plenty to keep you glued to the plot. The sisters were a bit bossy, always wanting their own way, but the dog was nice! It was an enjoyable read and I'm sure the author's fans will be very happy with this book.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I only managed to get 27% in before giving up. It was quite slow and I didn't feel very invested in the story.

Isabel's life seemed perfect. A successful business, a beautiful house, an adoring husband.

Isabel and Jessic were sisters. Jessica has two children, Felix and Olivia. Isabel died in a tragic accident. She fell from a balcony at her home before Olivia was born. When Olivia starts misbehaving at school, she tells her teachers that it's her friend Izzy that is making her do these bad things. Jessica is shocked when she learns this, but it seems that Olivia is able to communicate with her dead aunt. Olivia knows things that only Isabel and Jessica knew. So just how is Olivia getting her information? Can she really communicate with the dead? Jessica set out to find out the truth.

The story is told mostly by Jessica's perspective but we also get flashbacks from Isabel. I was totally captivated by this story. With the usual suspects st the top of my list, I still had no idea whether I was right or wrong. The twists just kept coming and it now seems the vital ones I had ignored or did not recognised them as clues. All my thought processes were wrong. I admit, I never saw that end coming. Mark Edwards, you have a wonderful talent in writing. I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author Mark Edwards for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book very much, thanks for giving me the opportunity to read it.
A sister that died, why did she die. Was she killed, who killed her. Did she jump,from the balcony, why , was she drunk.
Her sister that thinks she has come back as a spirit, and her daughter that talks to her.
Is it true, or is there another reason, Do spirits really come and talk to you, maybe not.
Will not say any more do not want to spoil the book for you.

Another whirlwind of a book by Mark Edwards! It sees Jessica's 4yo daughter Olivia start to mention things that her Aunt Izzy has told her, things that only Izzy and Jessica would know, except Izzy died before Olivia was born, in what police ruled as an accident. As Olivia comes out with more and more bombshells, now about the day that Izzy died, Jessica starts to think that there was more to her sister's death than meets the eye. She starts to re-examine everything from the time of Izzy's death, trying to find out what everyone has missed. Then Olivia starts to make predictions about people and places around her, predictions that start to come true...
And the truth? It's even creepier than you'd imagine...
This is a chilling, gripping suspense novel, as I've come to expect from Mark Edwards. It races out of the blocks and the pace doesn't slacken until the last page. I was, as usual, oblivious to everything going on around me until I'd come to the final conclusion. I recommend this book to all lovers of psychological fiction and domestic suspense.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

i’m finding it hard to review this latest offering from mark edwards. ive read his previous books and loved them however, this one i neither loved nor hated. the first half was slow but the second halfway does take a more gripping turn however i didn’t feel it matched his previous books.

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jessica’s sister Isabel had it all, she had a successful business, a stunning house and a husband who adored her. But the. She was dead. Jessica accepted that her sisters death was an accident. It when Jessica’s four year old daughter suddenly seems to know long forgotten details about her aunt and it seems Isabel is trying to tell her that it wasn’t an accident after all.
Did someone murder her sister? Are Jessica and her family in danger? Everything seems to be in the hands of Jessica’s daughter Olivia and now Jessica needs to find out what happened that day.

A very good story with Isabel still being involved by flashback chapters. All of the characters were well developed and every time I thought I’d worked something out I was thrown off again by something else happening. I really enjoyed this creepy psychological thriller and highly recommend it to others.
Many thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy for my honest review.

This is my least favourite book of Mark Edwards. It's more of a ghost story than a thriller. I prefer the more psychological thriller rather than books about children in touch with ghosts!

When In Her Shadow first popped up on Netgalley, it didn’t have a cover or a book description. Yet, after just having finished Mark Edwards’ previous book, The Retreat, I jumped at the chance to request it. His psychological thrillers with a slightly paranormal vibe to them are always hugely entertaining.

Four years ago, Jessica’s sister Izzy fell to her death from a balcony at her home. Jessica never questioned that this event was nothing more than an unfortunate accident. Until the day her four year old daughter starts acting a wee bit creepy, seemingly coming up with memories and details about an aunt she’s never known. Was Izzy’s death an accident or was she murdered?

Through a few flashback chapters and Jessica’s search for the truth, the reader discovers that Izzy’s life was, despite appearances, anything but perfect. This is also the point where I got lost a little. There was so much going on, from drugs to infidelity to stalkers, from quite an odd business to the #metoo movement. While it all made sense in the end, there seemed to be quite a lot to try and keep track of.

Even though I was unable to figure out the who or the why, which is always a bonus, In Her Shadow lacked a little something for me. It wasn’t as thrilling as I expected it to be and I felt the chapters dealing with Izzy’s past broke the flow of the story. And while Olivia’s words and actions were a tad creepy, they never quite chilled me to the bone.

Nevertheless, I stayed up way past my bedtime, again, to finish it because that’s just what Mark Edwards does to you. And that’s also why, even though this maybe didn’t quite work for me as well as The Retreat did, I will most definitely be picking up one of his other books in future. Because they are entertaining and enjoyable and they are addictive page-turners. Mark Edwards is a fantastic writer and tells a great story but for me, this thriller needed just that little bit more thrill to it.

Jessica’s sister, Isabelle, died years ago in what was deemed an unfortunate accident. But was it? Now, years later, Jessica’s young daughter, who never knew her Aunt Isabelle, suddenly knows things about her Aunt that she should have no way of knowing. Things that imply that her death might not have been as accidental as it originally seemed.

This book was a very engaging mix of psychological thriller and paranormal mystery. It kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going on, and if anything was really as it seemed. The is-it-or-isn’t-it paranormal aspect was a pleasant and unexpected surprise.

The book itself alternated between Jessica’s point-of-view in present day, and a couple of other character’s points-of-view from the past to help flesh out what was really going on and full in the missing pieces for the reader.

I must say the book was just a tad predictable at times, but not entirely. Although I was able to put some of the puzzle pieces together before the ultimate reveal, some things still came as a surprise.

Finally, the last quarter of the book did seem to drag on a bit. Once one of the main reveals was done, the last chunk, which I think was meant to be the final unexpected twist, just felt a little anti-climatic and long-winded.

Overall, despite a couple of minor issues, this was a very entertaining and thrilling book. I would recommend to anyone who likes a fast paced thriller with a side of the paranormal!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a free advance review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This review appears on GoodReads and my Facebook page, and will be posted to retail sites once published.*

Jessica Gardner lost her sister Isabel (Izzy) five years ago to a bizarre freak accident. Since that time she has immersed herself in motherhood doting on her two children Felix and Olivia. The children don't know much about aunt Izzy as they have been spared the details of her death. Felix was rather young at the time and Olivia was not even born yet.

Suddenly Izzy becomes a daily topic of conversation for four year old Olivia. Jessica is bewildered as to how Olivia seems to know details of Izzy's life. Unsettling details of an aunt that she never knew. The thing is nobody has told Olivia about these things and they are extremely accurate. So you can imagine Jessica's further shock when Olivia implies that aunt Izzy was murdered. Is her daughter actually communicating with her dead sister? How else could she knows these things? If she is and it is true that she was murdered, that means the culprit is still on the loose.

Jessica finds herself searching for the truth about her sister and what is going on with her daughter. She begins to question the motives of everyone in her inner circle. Trying to unravel the details of that fateful night her sister lost her life.

I have been hearing so much about Mark Edwards and how fantastic his books are. A truly suspenseful read that kept me wondering what the heck happened to Izzy. I began to wonder if Olivia really did have the power to talk to her aunt. I found myself on edge wondering what Olivia was going to reveal to us next. Would she lead us to the killer? Or was this simply a case of a child repeating things they have heard. Hmmm I going to say no on that. See what you think!

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

Jessica's sister, Isabel, “Izzy" died four years ago and Jessica has never doubted the coroner's finding that her sister's death was an accident. But when her four-year-old daughter, Olivia, begins mentioning things, things that only Jessica and her sister knew, Jessica becomes concerned. Is her daughter interested in death because of her age and she is beginning to understand what that means? Is she curious about the Aunt she never knew? As the tension mounts, Jessica begins to wonder if her sister's death was really an accident? How does her daughter know so much about her dead aunt? Is her daughter getting messages from beyond the grave? What was going on in his sister's life leading up to her death?

Mark Edwards has created a creepy psychological thriller that does not disappoint. I questioned what was real and what was not real while reading this book. This book has a feel of dread and apprehension. Are ghosts real? Is Olivia talking to a ghost? How does she know everything she knows? As Jessica becomes more concerned about her daughter, I did as well. As Jessica becomes obsessed with learning the truth, it is easy to feel her emotions, her anxiety, her suspicion, her fears, her concern for her family and her need to know the truth. I came up with several theories and guesses while reading. Edwards does a good job at throwing out some possibilities but keeps the truth just out of the reader's grasp.

I read this book in one day as I was fully invested in learning the truth. There are twists and turns which I did not see coming. There is an interesting, yet plausible reveal at the end. Edwards has created interesting and fully developed characters who are dealing with a lot of issues in this book. The story-line touches on several things such as sex, love, loss, infidelity, grief, the #MeToo movement, trust, guilt, family secrets, lies, relationships, drug use and obsession. There is a paranormal element which I thought he worked flawlessly into the story.

Another solid book by Edwards.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com

When Mark Edwards publishes a book, I read it. It’s that simple really. He’s an author whose writing I am happy to return to again and again. To prove my point, here are my reviews of Mark’s previous books; Follow You Home, The Devil’s Work, The Lucky Ones and The Retreat. I’ve also read ‘The Magpies’ which started it all for me a few years back. All wonderful, immersive pieces of fiction and highly recommended.

Making a start on Mark Edwards’s latest book is a strangely nerve-wracking experience for me. I have loved everything I have read by this author so far. Will this be the first book to disappoint? Will I love it as much as the others? Well, the answer to those two questions is that it did NOT disappoint but I maybe didn’t love it as much as his previous releases. Let me explain. Once again, Edwards has penned a highly readable, family focussed psychological thriller. What he does best in my opinion. However, this book has an overarching paranormal element to it, and the inclusion of any kind of paranormal ‘activity’ in a novel tends to leave this reader feeling cold. But that’s me. Your feelings on the matter may be completely different to mine and that, I find, is one of the joys of reading, and books in general. Saying that, the paranormal elements to the story were extremely well done and at points I felt shivers run down my spine – particularly in the first half of the book. Little Olivia really did freak me out.

Edwards really knows how to write a fully formed, living, breathing character. I was drawn to Jessica and her deceased sister, Isabel. In fact, I would go as far as saying Isabel was my favourite character in the book. There are wonderful flashback sections throughout so what I’m saying isn’t completely crazy (read the blurb if you’re not sure what I’m talking about). I loved her feistiness, her boundless self-confidence and her ambition. Also her strong sense of right and wrong. Jessica very much pales in her sister’s shadow. Olivia was also a firm favourite, despite the fact she did send shivers down my spine at points. I couldn’t get over how authentic Edwards made her voice.

Would I recommend this book? I would but why recommend one when you can recommend them all! I felt there was a stronger lean towards the ‘women’s fiction’ genre in In Her Shadow which I have nothing against but it’s really NOT my thing. It’s also a little sexy which again, I could have done without. However, Mark Edwards is a supremely talented writer and if you haven’t read any of his books yet then we need to have serious words. A strong family driven thriller which I enjoyed. Recommended.

Four out of five stars.

I chose to read and review an eARC of In Her Shadow. The above review is my own honest unbiased opinion.

Mark Edwards does it again. I’m a big fan of his books and this one is possibly his best yet.
I loved the angle of the book and the twists and turns. I thought I’d worked out what was going on but I was wrong.
The main characters are easy to relate to and likeable.
Found the book gripping and easy and quick to read.
A must read

I have read all Mark Edwards previous books & thoroughly enjoyed them however I was a little unsure about this one initially. It was the hint of paranormal that made me hesitant.
That aside though I’m glad I completed this book as it all seemed to come together in the end.
Already looking forward to Mark’s next offering.
3.5 stars

In Her Shadow by Mark Edwards is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Synopsis:
Jessie is starting to wonder about her sanity. Her 4-year old daughter seems to be in contact with Jessie’s older sister Izzy, who died 5 years ago. How can Olivia know the things she does? Why is she suddenly obsessed with death, and why does she insist that Izzy had been pushed off the balcony when it had been ruled an accident?

Jessie’s mind travels back to “Uncle Larry”, who haunted them for a while when she was growing up. The poltergeist activity and telephone calls had them so freaked out that her Mom called in a psychic, and the newspaper stories ended up wreaking havoc on all their lives. Jessie thought all that was behind them, but now she is questioning things again.

So was Izzy really murdered? Jessie is going to find out. As she starts trying to question her daughter, she finds some startling information. As she keeps digging, it becomes evident that there is a lot about Izzy's life that she didn't know, and she ends up putting her own life in danger.

My Opinions:
The author told the story from different points of view, including Jessie, and Izzy. In this manner, we found out a little more about their childhood and things that were going on with Izzy for which Jessie knew nothing.

Although I felt it started out a little slowly, it definitely picked up speed – to the point that it was hard to put down. There were a number of twists, and I thought I knew what had happened, but I was pleasantly wrong.

I only wish I had liked the characters a little more. I didn’t particularly like Jessie or Izzy, or Will, (or Olivia for that matter). I think my problem with Izzy was the drugs and booze, but I’m not sure why I wasn’t a real fan of Jessie. I just felt Will was weak, and Olivia was a little bratty. On the other hand, I really liked a few of the secondary characters. Darpak and Nina were great individuals.

On the whole, and as always, Mark Edwards wrote a great story, with a good plot and a lot of twists...with a little creepiness thrown in.

Definitely recommend it.

I loved many things about this book. The story is gripping and the characters are well-drawn. I felt that I would recognise the main characters if I met them in real life. The cultural references both in the present day and the parts about Izzy’s childhood were spot on. I particularly liked how he drew his female characters as strong and successful. I’m not usually a fan of ghost stories but I like the way Mark Edwards makes them believable but at the same time explicable. A great book.

Another amazing book by Mark Edwards, resulting in another sleepless night for me. This super creepy and haunting thriller touches on many deep subjects, grief, love, paranormal and many more.

When Jessica’s young daughter Olivia starts becoming obsessed in the death of her late aunt Izzy who died in a mysterious accidental fall before she was born, Jessica starts to question whether her sisters death was truly the accident the coroner declared it to be. Was Olivia’s morbid fascination a normal part of being a child or was she communicating with Izzy.
Five very well deserved stars.

This book was more of a ghost story that was just too unbelievable for me . Some of the inconsistencies in this book were the idea of a five year old being duped by a teacher assistant at her school.It was too far fetched and unethical. Also so many women being sexually exploited by this photographer and not one having the nerve to expose him in this time of the MeToo movement. Finally the ability of a young Izzy being able to convince her mother and sister of a spirit called Larry was so unrealistic . With websites, Facebook , iPhones etc being a part of this book the ability of young children being able to deceive and convince intelligent adults of physic encounters was not connecting with me.

You can always rely on number one bestselling author Mark Edwards to write a hugely thrilling, edge-of-your-seat rollercoaster ride, and this book is no exception. There's no doubt that this is destined to become another top seller. I have been a fan for a long time and have read every one of his published works - they are all incredible! If you appreciate psychological thrillers then put this guy at the top of your list. You will not be disappointed!

This book uses one of the well-worn tropes of the genre as its main premise - the inference that you don't know close family and friends as well as you think you do. It leads to a chilling and memorable read that fizzles with kinetic energy as you speed through it! Well written, as always, and with characters that are interesting - you simply want to know more about each of them. As with all of his books, I was immersed from the first couple of pages, it almost felt as though I was living in the same fictional world as the Jessica et al. A large part of the plot involves the supernatural which I wasn't expecting, but it worked very well actually. Following on from that point, there were a few instances where events were simply not believable, but if you can suspend your disbelief about those, this is a fabulous and well-crafted story. Creepytastic and released just before Halloween is an inspired move as this book definitely gives the requires chills and thrills readers are looking for at this time of the year. I wouldn't expect anything less from Mr Edwards!

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Each new novel by Mark Edwards just beats the last one. Reading The Retreat earlier this year, I was convinced he will never be able to deliver better story and here we go again. What an amazingly written thriller, with usual creepiness you get from his stories and jet again he makes you believe unbelievable.

Story follows Jessica’s life after life changing and tragic event, losing her sister Isabel in incident at her home. 4 years later, Jessica’s daughter Olivia is going through hard time at school and her behaviour becomes very strange, creepy at times. She seems to know about her aunt Isabel’s life, who she never met, more than she has ever been told by anyone. Is her aunt trying to tell her something from beyond the grave? Pass on the message? Was her death just an accident or was there more behind?

Don’t we all just love guessing and trying to work out what is going on in the book? All the ‘facts’ that make you even question your own beliefs. I’m now again convinced In Her Shadow is the best novel by Mark Edwards to date but deep down I know he will bring even better one again in the future. His books never let me down!

Creepy, spooky, gripping, thrilling and haunting. Bloody brilliant. Another belter of a book from Mark Edwards! Another well worthy five stars. A must read! Highly recommend.

Books like this that contain a child as a main character tend to creep me out a little more than they should as children are so cute and innocent (Usually). Poor Olivia! I felt so sorry for everything she went through and had to experienced. Also the family as a whole…

At some point during the story everyone was a suspect! Jessica didn’t know who to trust, who was lying and who was telling the truth. She just wanted answers but things start to go too far and the damage has already been done.

This story will keep the reader on their toes and on the edge of their seat… Wondering, waiting and trying to figure out what did actually happen (I failed badly at that one). So unexpected! A jaw dropper of an outcome and cleverly thought out.

I absolutely loved it, enjoyed every minute of it. Would love to see this turned into a film! Brilliantly written. Fast paced! I am already looking forward to his next book! Mark Edwards has a reputation to keep up with these five star reads. A must buy.

I received this book "In Her Shadow" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
This book has the twists and turns and will keep you guessing throughout. I didn't really care for the storyline though. The book seems to be very popular but just wasn't for me.

Isabel’s life seemed perfect. Successful business, beautiful house, adoring husband. And then she was dead. In Her Shadow is a gripping tale of family secrets, lies and obsession from the two million copy bestselling author Mark Edwards.

Ooh this was a creepy one... I loved it! I read Mark Edwards' book Follow You Home, there's a similar spooky feel that you get when you read In Her Shadow as you do in Follow You Home. I've only read these two but I can't wait to read his other books!

#InHerShadow #NetGalley
Thanks for this ARC in exchange for my honest review and thanks to Mark Edwards for such a creative story!

Pub Date: 04 Oct 2018 (Tomorrow!!)

Another great read from this excellent author. Solid 4*

This is a story of two sisters, Jessica and Izzy and when glamorous Izzy falls from a balcony at her home, it was ruled an accident, but, was it? Then, when Jessica's daughter, Olivia, begins to talk about things only Izzy knew the tension really begins and Jessica wonders if her sister is speaking to her through her niece?

Mark Edwards weaves a complicated thread that points the finger at the husband / widower and more and I thought I'd sussed it early on, but, he keeps you guessing and the added thrill of a young child who either has special powers, or, the question of is she being manipulated really held my attention.

Another excellent read from this accomplished author.

I'm very grateful to NetGalley and publishers Thomas & Mercer as well as Mark Edwards for the opportunity to preview this fabulous read.

I'm a bit of a sceptic when it comes to things of the paranormal in real life but when it comes to reading it in fiction, I'm more game. So the thought of Jessica and her family being haunted by her late sister gave me the chills but knowing Mark Edwards, there is always an explanation of the human variety but it's matter of working out who and why.
The author has managed to create a sinister feel to the book with Olivia talking to her dead aunt and the unexplained events that take place in Jessica's life. With young Olivia knowing things that she really shouldn't know, I felt for her mum wanting to know how she knew them. It would make me go out of my mind! For me personally, this is a return to form for Mr Edwards. I got the heebie jeebies as I read the story and as I turned over in my head the events I was learning about.
I love how Edwards slips in references to his other books and characters.  It's subtle and brief but for those who have read his books, it brings a little smile to a fan's face.
Edwards has woven a highly topical tale into a story of bereavement and the search for truth. The story shows that nothing is quite what it seems and to trust no-one!!

I love a book that makes me wonder if ghosts, spirits and an after life really do exist and if they do are they stuck here until unfinished business comes to a close? Well it had been four years since Jessica’s older sister Isabel had died in a tragic accident when she fell from the balcony of her home. No-one had seen what had happened, as no-one was there but now Jessica’s daughter is telling a different story about what happened. Aunt Izzy says that a man pushed her!
Oh wow! This felt like a book that was going to play with my mind. Olivia was only just turned four, a spitting image of her dead aunt and one of the youngest in reception class at school, so there was no way that she could know the things she knew about the secrets shared between the two sisters way before she was even born. But she did. Jessica couldn’t let this rest. If someone had killed her sister she wanted to know who and why, she wanted justice but most of all she wanted her little girl back.
The deeper I got into the story the more complicated the dynamics became, things had gone bump in the night a long time ago, when the sisters were young. Their mum was a bit of a believer and a bit of a purvey ghost buster that enters the girls lives leaves a lot to be desired. The story falls back into the past, through quite an array of characters, where the very deceased sister makes some rather surprising mouth dropping moments. After all no-one is just one character, we become different people depending who we are with, mother daughter, lover. Each part of our character is unique to different people we interact with. So we never really fully know a person, even someone really close.
Mark Edwards is one hell of an entertaining story-teller that takes the family next door and bares all. He really made me think about how much we all keep secrets. Jessica becomes quite a super sleuth besides walking on tender egg shells with her daughter. Push too much and little Livvy may retreat just too far inside herself, not enough and she may lose her to Izzy forever. This is a stand alone novel and another riveting read from Mark Edwards.
I wish to thank Midaspr for inviting me to read and review this e-book which I have done honestly.

I had never read a Mark Edwards novel. The name rang the crime bell, of course, but I was afraid the hype would kill the book. You know how seeing someone’s work praised everywhere can create such expectations that despite being good, what you read never entirely fills the shoes it was supposed to.

Still, I took a bet. I mean, look at this cover! And the title? It screams ‘Read me, I’m creepy!’

Creepy. Disturbing. Completely and utterly riveting.

I don’t think I can do In Her Shadow justice. I will try, I will blabber all emotions and thoughts I had while reading, but don’t expect me to make sense. The novel knocked me off my feet. I fell in love, high over heels. I relished the fear. I passionately turned the pages.

Jessica is a mother of two, wife, mother, and sister of deceased Isabel. Yes, this detail is important. If you have already read a few reviews from this blog, you know that I believe that once you’re gone, you’re gone. But… You know the feeling when you are watching X-Files and your brain says ‘no’ but your senses say ‘OMG could it be?’? Well, Mark Edwards reminded me of this beautiful and terrifying truth. We don’t know. I am down-to-earth, so when Jessica’s daughter started saying her dead aunt was around and talking to her, I rolled my eyes.

Once.

I only did it once.

I can’t explain how Mark Edwards managed to rewire my entire system so I could start standing on the fence and rocking back and forth between ‘no way’’ and yes way’!!! The way the author deals with this little fragile girl believing Isabel, someone she has never met, is communicating with her, is freakingly good and had me walk down a path I thought I’d never set foot on.

What if she was telling the truth?

It worked so terribly well for numerous reasons. First of all, Mark Edwards never ever overdoes it. There is just enough information, just enough doubt, like the shadow of something you catch at the corner of your eye. Chilling doesn’t describe it. I couldn’t help but ask for more. I was completely hooked. The narrative skillfully uses the – Oh I hate the word but I’ll use it anyway – ‘supernatural’ side you can meet sometimes in psychological thrillers. It took me by surprise, but I am grateful for it! My heart and mind started to fight, just like our main character, Jessica. She is the second reason why this novel and all its pieces work so well. Jessica hasn’t had the perfect childhood and remains from the past taint today’s events in such a powerful way that you can’t help but be on her side. What kind of mother wouldn’t be worried to see her daughter insisting she is seeing dead people, witness her behavior change, and … predict things that actually happen. I would have been dead cold and might have thought about running far away! But Jessica loves Olivia and believes this is only a four years old’s phase that will pass.

Until unnerving details begin to nag at Jessica and she begins to wonder if her sister’s reappearance means that her death was wrongly deemed accidental. From there, we pull threads of both women’s lives into our hands as the book intensifies and events unfolds with such force that you find yourself looking for answers, wondering, and shivering.

What I loved the most in Mark Edwards’ In Her Shadow is that he never pushes you to believe, he hints, and he stays authentic, real, and his razor-edge brilliant style enhances every feeling, every shadow, every thought so you are fully immersed and completely unable to think of anything else but the truth. Was Isabel killed? Who did it? Why? Is she back? Are Jessica and her daughter in danger? What the hell is going on?

On top of this, you discover the relationship of two sisters (makes me very happy to be an only child!), this of a family torn by lies and secrets, and what it means to be a parent. Remark from Jessica about parenting stayed with me, and her thoughts on how her life turned out and where her freedom has gone made me feel for her more than for anyone else in the book, no matter how well-crafted! Because they all are, and they all sound suspect at one point or the other! I simply loved it.

Did I say I truly enjoyed this novel? Because I did!

I’ll tell you a secret. I usually nibble at something while reading. I did not this time. In Her Shadow was so addictive and filled with secrets tasting like candy that I didn’t need real sugar. I got crime sugar. It is still running in my veins as I am writing this review.

In Her Shadow is one of the best psychological novels I have EVER read. And boy the list of psychological stuff I’ve ingested is long so it tells you something! It combines fears that we can’t control, sprinkles the best kind of chilling suspense on every page, and keeps you guessing until the very last word. I am tremendously happy I jumped into the world of Mark Edwards and I will definitely do it again!

Another winner by Mark Edwards. Immediate one click for this author. Immersive story, every page equally enjoyable.

Mark Edwards has a huge fan base and his books inevitably garner hundreds of five star reviews of the “Mark Edwards has done it again!” variety. While I’ve read and mainly enjoyed most of his novels, I think I’m a bit more ambivalent than many, as there were also certain aspects I really didn’t like, to the extent that I’ve on occasion vowed not to read any more. However they’re just so darn readable that I always find myself doing so anyway... so that must tell you something!

In Her Shadow felt like a book of two halves, though it’s hard to expand on that without spoilers. There’s a strong supernatural feel running through it, as Jessica becomes increasingly convinced her sister Isabel, who died in an apparent accident five years earlier, is communicating with her (Jessica’s) four year old daughter Olivia. It certainly seems hard to explain exactly what’s happening to Olivia any other way. Is Isabel really trying to get a message, via Olivia, about what really happened to her? Could Isabel really have been murdered and if so, who is responsible? Literally everybody comes under suspicion....

The plot is far-fetched in the extreme but a very enjoyable read; as I said above, Mark Edwards’ books are always incredibly readable and definitely keep you guessing as to what’s really going on. A good escapist read.

WOW! I absolutely loved reading this book. It was so well-written and engaging, I was absolutely absorbed in the story from start to finish. I couldn't put it down. Rarely do I rate a book above 3 stars, as it takes a lot to really blow me away. I read a lot, and most of the books touted as "thrillers with a great twist" are pretty anticlimactic and predictable. This book was part ghost story, part murder mystery, and ALL suspenseful and surprising. I had so many doubts about everyone's innocence, and the ending surprised me very much. The imagery was spooky and made me feel paranoid and confused, as intended. I loved Mark Edward's writing and will absolutely be seeking out more of his books! I also loved how the story was told from alternating timelines and points of view, piecing together the puzzle for you as you read. This one is a must-read!

This is a great story.
It leads you one way and when you’re starting to believe the impossible, it’s turned on it’s head.
Jessica is still dealing with the death of her sister, Isabel, so when things start to happen which makes her suspect her death was not an accident, she has to investigate.
The main problem is that it’s her daughter that seems to be receiving clues about her auntie’s death and is becoming more and more troubled by it.
Jessica is soon suspecting those closest to her of terrible things and this leads to a nail biting final few chapters.
This is a great read.
Thanks to Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

It’s a good day for Mark Edwards fans! Publication day for his latest, eagerly anticipated book, and I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Jessica had always adored her older, glamorous sister Isabel. She preferred to stand back and bask in Izzy’s light until the day Izzy dies in a tragic accident. She inexplicably falls from the balcony at her luxury apartment, leaving her husband, sister and mother heartbroken.

It’s almost 5 years later and as much as Jessica has tried to move on she finds it difficult. She desperately misses her sister, but finds comfort in being a mother to her gorgeous 4-year-old little girl, Olivia, fondly called Livvy. But then Livvy starts behaving a bit strangely, and bizarrely she seems to know things about her Aunty Izzy that she surely couldn’t possibly know.

Jessica is adamant that there must be some rational explanation, but her mother willingly goes along with what she wants to believe: her daughter has returned in the form of her granddaughter. Old family history is dredged up and Jessica is forced to relive so much that she was determined would never resurface.

For those of us who are willing to contemplate the existence of the paranormal and an afterlife, Edwards deals with these topics more than acceptably. I have no doubt that he will also satisfy the sceptics out there, so if you fall into the category of cynics and doubters, don’t disqualify this book too quickly; there’s plenty to suit your appetite here too.

Once again, Edwards has written a book that will keep you awake long into the night – firstly because you won’t be able to put it down until it’s finished, and then once it’s done you’ll be mulling over it for a long time after that. There are certainly many, many questions that will be brought to mind.

4.5 big glittery stars for this one, and as usual, I can’t wait for the next one from one of my favourite authors!

A spine tingling addictive psychological thriller. A must read
An amazing thriller. Anyone who loves this genre should read this book

Another brilliant offering from Mark Edwards, a story that draws you in from the start. The storyline had me very early on, as it touches on a subject that has interested me for a long time. I was keen to find out what was happening next. The characters were interesting and mostly likeable, with a couple of horrid ones thrown in, the type that gives you the creeps. I loved this book and can't wait for Mark's next one. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Mark Edwards for the opportunity to read and review his latest thriller - does not disappoint! 4.5 stars!

As I started reading this book, I thought how appropriate to read a ghost story as we head into the Halloween season. Then this book took twists and turns right out of today's headlines to make it even more relevant.

Jessica and Will are busy raising their two children. Jessica is still mourning the loss of her older sister, Izzy, five years previously. Izzy's death was ruled an accident but the sisters' mom was never convinced of that. Then Olivia, Jessica's 5-year-old daughter, starts channeling Izzy and somehow knows things that only Izzy could know. Is Izzy working through Olivia somehow to avenge her death?

This one was hard to put down and there are so many twists and turns that will have you questioning everyone. A great read!

3.5 stars

This is a frustrating review to write because there’s so much I want to say, but can’t because I don’t want to give anything away.

Jessica has always believed in ghosts, so much so she believed that she was being haunted when she was a child. So when her 4-year-old Olivia daughter starts relaying messages from her deceased Aunt Izzy, Jessica is beyond spooked. Jessica’s sister Isabel died 5 years and her death was ruled an accident. As Olivia continues sharing messages from her dead Auntie, Jessica begins to wonder if her sister’s death was truly an accident. Jessica not only begins to question the cause of her sister’s death, but she also must grapple with whether or not her 4-year-old daughter is psychic. Is Olivia really communicating with her dead Aunt or is someone playing a cruel hoax?

As always, Mark Edwards took me on a journey that I wasn’t quite expecting. I loved the spooky atmosphere of the first half, but the tone changes rather dramatically in the second half of the book. I felt things unraveled in the second half of the book. It didn’t feel as tightly wound as some of his other novels. Edwards usually reels me in, even when the storyline lacks believability, and while I enjoyed In Her Shadow, it was a bit anticlimactic. But I did enjoy the times when Jessica got her revenge and final say.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK in exchange for an honest review.

Can I just state that I have never really been a fan of paranormal/spiritual novels as I have always found them a bit too farfetched. However, and I cannot believe I am about to say this, 'In Her Shadow' had me leaning more towards the 'ooooooo what if?!' than the 'errrrr how about nah?'. Honestly, I was genuinely surprised by my own reaction to the book! It just goes to show that stepping out of your comfort zone, even if its unintentional, can often be a brilliant experience. This, I am very glad to say, was one of those brilliant experiences. Although I now feel sorry for the author as he has now set the bar incredibly high for himself!!

Jessica is still grieving for her sister, Isabel, who passed away several years prior. According to the paperwork, her death was ruled accidental but Jessica's mother isn't so sure. Is it fair to re-open the case despite the official ruling? Is it fair on the family to bring the devastating event to the surface again? Unfortunately for Jessica and her mother, the day that they lost their beloved sister and daughter comes back to haunt them, and this time it's getting personal....

I need to be very careful with what I say here as I don't want to give anything away - yes, vague, I know! The storyline switches between the past and present, as well as different points of view, one being Isabel's. I was impressed that the different viewpoints on their own didn't complete the puzzle, even though it frustrated me in a good way because I just wanted to find out the truth. 'In Her Shadow' requires you to be patient!

In a roundabout way, I found a few of the situations in the book rather emotional because they involved Jessica's daughter who is very close in age to my own daughter. It was weird as on one hand I was like 'woaahhhhhhhh' to certain things, yet on the other hand I felt my heart-break for the little girl.

For me, the storyline kept getting better and better as it progressed, with the level of suspense going through the roof. I could have sworn I had just eaten a bunch of sawdust - my mouth was that dry from it dropping open!!

I am so, so, SO glad that I was given the chance to read a book out of my comfort zone, one which I may not have picked on my own. Mark Edwards is such a brilliant, gripping author who seems to be in tune with his readers and what it takes to keep them on the edge of their seats. His descriptive, intense, and highly believable writing took me so far out of my comfort zone, it was as though I was in a completely different time-zone - and no, I certainly am NOT complaining!! My only regret where 'In Her Shadow' is concerned, is why I haven't picked up this authors books before now! 

A 'OMG!!!' read which kept my jaw unhinged for a large portion of the book. I am so impressed by what I have read and I absolutely cannot wait to read more from this author, especially now that I have had such a brilliant introduction to his books!!

I decided to request an advance reader's copy of this book after finishing The Retreat by Mark Edwards which I found exciting and wanted to analyse his writing in greater depth. He has the ability to combine intense and dramatic moments with hints of paranormal activity in a unique and gripping way and I admire his bravery to incorporate this method in his books as a way of peaking the reader's interest. Unfortunately, I felt that the plot lost focus for me due to the emphasis on the supernatural elements which I think were too excessive here, especially when Jessica's daughter, Olivia, claimed to know the details surrounding Isabel's death without ever having met her. I was impressed with the way Jessica was portrayed as a multilayered character with secrets and regrets but simultaneously I would have liked to explore the other minor characters such as Darpak further.

The other drawback from my perspective was the intense change in pace halfway through the book. It starts off at a relatively slow pace and quickly picks up after one of the many secrets is revealed. I realise that this was perhaps done intentionally to draw the reader's attention back to the main suspects while discarding several others but I also felt that it disrupted the natural flow. Further on this note, I found the ending exhilarating and was kept on the edge of my seat until the last few chapters which I believe was partly due to the fast pace and plot twists disclosed at the very end. Exposing the murderer was a complete surprise and I appreciated the flashbacks leading up to this point to reveal Isabel's killer as a different and fresh writing technique.

Overall, I found this book more difficult to follow and dig into in comparison with The Retreat but liked the fast-paced unexpected ending. If there had been a deeper focus on the characters and less of an emphasis on the paranormal elements from Olivia's perspective I would probably have enjoyed this book more.

Jessica has dealt with the loss of her sister, Isabel, for nearly five years. As the anniversary of loss approaches, questions surrounding the nature of Isabel's death are raised and Jessica's young daughter seems to have some answers....

This was an enjoyable read which kept me guessing until the very end. I kept thinking I had it sorted out and then something popped up telling me otherwise. An intriguing, and even at times spooky, read!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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