Title: THE WIFE IN THE PHOTO
Author: Emily Shiner
ISBN: 9781837903863
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 286
Source: Private Copy
I pick up the photograph from their mantlepiece and carefully wipe away the dust. The beautiful wife. Supposedly happily married and enjoying a family vacation. I know her husband killed her. And I’m going to make him pay…
This is my first job as a housekeeper, but Evan Warner doesn’t need to know that. It’s the first of many lies I’ll tell him. He just lost his wife, Lola , and now he and his young daughter Jessica are adrift. But no amount of cleaning will rid this house of the secrets that have seeped into the cracks. I never forgave Lola for what she did to me. But I can’t let Evan get away with her murder.
In their impressive home, I busy myself preparing meals and peeking at carelessly discarded mail, looking for proof of his crimes. Evan hovers and I’m sure he is watching me… even as I bond with Jessica. But whenever he catches us alone together, his face darkens. I realize I have to get her out of this house before it’s too late for her, too.
Then I find Lola’s diary, tucked away in a closet out of sight. Her words, hastily scrawled on these pages, change everything I thought I knew about this family. As I hear footsteps on the stairs, I know I’m trapped. And I’m in more danger now than ever before…
Official Summary
24 September 2024
This book was a surprise find on my TBR shelf. I’m not even sure how long it has been sitting there, or when I bought it. Lately, this seems to be happening more often, but I love that browsing my TBR shelf is as much fun as visiting a bookstore—on a smaller scale, of course.
From the moment you open *The Wife in the Photo*, you can expect a story that grabs your attention and holds it tight until the very last page. This book is a wonderfully gripping read, packed with surprises, and the final twist is nothing short of fantastic.
The story centres around Evan Warner, who recently lost his wife, Lola, in a tragic accident at home. Evan is struggling with the devastating loss, worrying about his young daughter, Jessica, and trying to maintain a stable home life for her. With everything piling up, he decides to hire a housekeeper to help manage the household, which is quickly falling apart.
Ariel seems like the perfect fit. Evan believes she’s exactly what he and Jessica need. However, Jessica is not thrilled about having another woman in the house. What Evan and Jessica don’t know is that Ariel has her own secrets. She made sure to find her way into their home for reasons that go beyond housekeeping.
Emily Shiner weaves a wonderfully twisty tale that will keep you guessing. Her characters feel realistic and full of surprises, with their personalities seeming to shift before your eyes. Just when you think you have them figured out, a new revelation forces you to rethink everything.
Young Jessica will steal your heart. She’s lost her mother and was home when it happened—she saw it all. Vulnerable and acting out, Jessica displays a bad attitude, but she’s also engaging in troubling behaviours like stealing and using drugs. The biggest shock? Her father, a police chief, isn’t doing anything about it. Or is he?
Evan Warner, while playing the part of the grieving husband, is hiding a secret of his own—a secret Jessica shares with him. He’s determined to make sure it never comes to light. When Ariel starts getting too close to Jessica, Evan becomes nervous. He’s afraid of what she might uncover.
The Wife in the Photo is a fantastic read, perfect for anyone seeking a twisty thriller that will keep them on edge. Full of family drama, dark secrets, and jaw-dropping twists, this book is a must-read. I can’t wait to add more of Emily Shiner’s works to my TBR!
Also by Emily Shiner
I’M FOLLOWING YOU
Amanda has the perfect life. But someone wants to end it.
Amanda loves her life. She’s a highly respected doctor, and she lives in a beautiful home in the best neighborhood in town.
But her perfect life begins to crumble when she notices a woman in a red car following her. Then this mysterious person begins an increasingly disturbing campaign – stalking Amanda, even invading her home and office.
Amanda is terrified and feels as if she is under siege. As far as she knows she has no enemies. So who is this strange woman? And what does she want?
As the interloper’s behavior becomes more and more threatening, the conflict between the two women moves inexorably towards a fateful confrontation.
When dangerous secrets and shocking lies are revealed, there’s no turning back. One of them will pay the ultimate price.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Emily Shiner grew up in Western North Carolina, and after going to college in Charlotte, returned to her beloved mountains to write novels that keep you up at night. She lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, menagerie of chickens, and tens of thousands of bees. When not writing, she’s reading, hiking, or drinking copious amounts of tea while daydreaming about fall.
Thank you so much for visiting the blog and taking the time to read my review of *The Wife in the Photo* by Emily Shiner. I hope you enjoyed it and found it helpful in deciding whether to add this twisty thriller to your own TBR list. Don’t forget to leave a comment or share your thoughts if you’ve already read it—I’d love to hear your take! Until next time, happy reading!
