Book review: First Wife’s Shadow by Adele Parks

First Wife’s Shadow by Adele Parks had me riveted to the extent I got out of the bath (where I was reading) to prepare dinner and returned to the bathtub, finishing the book before eventually eating. Having said that however, our lead character Emma was hard work. I wasn’t sure if we’re supposed to just find her disciplined and rigid. She certainly admits that about herself, but I felt she’d be someone I could cope with in only small doses or even potentially… avoid. I did relate to her however, on a number of levels, at the same time shaking my head at some of the stuff she did when she most certainly knew better.

Emma is a CEO, wealthy, independent, sensible – and has long put behind her a chaotic childhood at the hands of alcoholic parents. She meets Matthew, a photographer at a conference. He is a widower, gentle, interested, full of admiration for her success and they quickly fall into a serious relationship.

Her friends, Heidi and Gina, are initially delighted, but when Emma gets engaged after just 3 months, they panic. Matthew says the death of his first wife Becky means he believes in seizing the day. And Emma is in love, that’s all that matters.

And yet, Emma can’t shake the feeling that she is second best. Matthew would not be with her if Becky was still alive. And so, she becomes obsessed with the first wife, haunted by the memory of the woman she never met. Then the strange things start to happen. Emma feels watched. Objects are broken or disappear.

And then an incident which shows clearly Emma’s very life is in danger.

Matthew thinks she’s drinking too much, like her father did.

Heidi and Gina think Matthew is gaslighting her.

Emma thinks she’s being haunted…

I’ve always been single so could very much relate to Emma’s independence. I’ve seen friends partner up later than others, falling into relationships where they may have ‘settled’, having become tired of waiting for the fairytale we were promised as kids.

From the moment we are born every pop song, novel, film and TV show tells us that we need a special someone, that we are incomplete on our own, that there is a better half out there. Until recently, I never bought into that argument. I could happily dance alone. Think alone. Achieve alone. Live alone. Grow old alone. But then he came along, and you know what? It is better. Just that. My life is better with him in it. pp133-134

It meant I could understand the fact that Emma had blinkers on when it came to Matthew. They connected from the start and the attraction was obvious. Doubts did creep in but Emma waved them away.

I am not myself.

Is this love? Losing yourself? I don’t know. Past partners have never crawled under my skin. Until recently, my big, enduring passion has always been work. This is the first time I’ve been willing to be overwhelmed by a person. I want this.

I can’t follow my attention; I can’t be logical and sensible. p 66

For the rest of us, including her two best friends, there were red flags a-plenty. I would have been suspicious when I found no sign of Matthew or his wife Becky (and her tragic death) online. Let alone not meeting his friends or family and him suddenly – and coincidentally – needing a place to stay. Not to mention the fact he very blatantly talks about his eternal love for Becky. The latter being a sticking point for Emma as well, realising she was his ‘second choice’ not his ‘second chance’ and understanding Matthew would have preferred to remain with Becky, if that had been possible.

It seemed kinda obvious where this was heading. Emma alienated from her friends thanks to Matthew’s influence, his gaslighting of her, comments about her drinking and her sanity. This would not end well. We knew. Or did we?

About two-thirds of the way through this takes an entirely different turn and though I might have pondered the notion, I definitely didn’t see it playing out in the way it did. Parks does a great job at lulling us into thinking we’ve been there and seen this before, before changing the game completely. Surprising even those characters who are part of the plot but unaware themselves of the whole story. And… just when we think we know why, there is still more and Parks does an excellent job at wrapping all of the fraying threads together seamlessly and (mostly) satisfyingly. That she’s able to make this complex but not complicated meant this was almost a rare 4.5 star read for me.

First Wife’s Shadow by Adele Parks was published by HQ Fiction and is now available.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.