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The Wife in the Photo
This dual-narrated psychological thriller is perfect for fans of Freida McFadden: Housekeeper Ariel lies her way into the home of a widower she’s convinced killed his wife Lola. As she hunts for proof — growing close to his young daughter and uncovering Lola’s hidden diary — she realizes the truth is far darker than she imagined…
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…
The Wife in the Photo is a totally twisty psychological thriller guaranteed to keep you up all night. Fans of Freida McFadden, Gone Girl and The Couple Next Door will find it impossible to put down.
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…
The Wife in the Photo is a totally twisty psychological thriller guaranteed to keep you up all night. Fans of Freida McFadden, Gone Girl and The Couple Next Door will find it impossible to put down.
Audio CD
First published September 4, 2023
About the author
Emily Shiner
39 books1,019 followersEmily lives in the mountains of North Carolina and loves hiking with her dogs--only when she's not thinking up twisted tales, that is. She loves books that keep you up long after you should be in bed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 744 reviews
September 7, 2023
3.5⭐
Well, that was wild! What did I just read??🤪
Lola died when she fell down the stairs. The widower and Police Chief Evan Warner is mostly busy and with a 14-year-old daughter Jessica, he wants some order at home and maybe a hot meal for them both so he hires a housekeeper through a recommendation, Ariel.
Ariel however has a different agenda. She wants to investigate the death of Lola which was ruled an accident. Finding evidence against Evan is key and protecting Jessica from him.
I like Emily Shiner's writing and the audiobook was done well with Todd Kramer and Kate Handford.
I do like this domestic suspense. Ariel's snooping around the house was nerve-racking at times. The plot with this theme has been done before. I guessed some of it yet I was surprised by the twists. I should have known better than to make such a low-key prediction! The Wife in the Photo is a fun popcorn thriller that's mostly implausible and OTT. Be in the right mindset and I think it's entertaining.🍿🎧
Thank you Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for this ALC.
Published Sep 7, 2023!
Well, that was wild! What did I just read??🤪
Lola died when she fell down the stairs. The widower and Police Chief Evan Warner is mostly busy and with a 14-year-old daughter Jessica, he wants some order at home and maybe a hot meal for them both so he hires a housekeeper through a recommendation, Ariel.
Ariel however has a different agenda. She wants to investigate the death of Lola which was ruled an accident. Finding evidence against Evan is key and protecting Jessica from him.
I like Emily Shiner's writing and the audiobook was done well with Todd Kramer and Kate Handford.
I do like this domestic suspense. Ariel's snooping around the house was nerve-racking at times. The plot with this theme has been done before. I guessed some of it yet I was surprised by the twists. I should have known better than to make such a low-key prediction! The Wife in the Photo is a fun popcorn thriller that's mostly implausible and OTT. Be in the right mindset and I think it's entertaining.🍿🎧
Thank you Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for this ALC.
Published Sep 7, 2023!
September 7, 2023
Outstanding!!! A psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. You may guess the ending, but most of us have been wrong. You can't trust anyone in this twisted action packed book. I was intrigued by every twist and changed my mind several times with the deception and lies displayed to surprise you.
Told in multiple POVs and narrators to help transition the characters easily.
Lola, a mother and wife, is found dead at the foot of the steps. No one suspects her husband, but she leaves her diary behind and a trail of his demeanor to investigate. Overwhelmed, he hires a housekeeper to help with their daughter Jessica and the housework. She conspires against him by snooping through his personal belongings to prove he killed his wife. It is very intense and while she is snooping, I'm holding my breath.
Excellent writing and I can't wait to read her next one, so I pre-ordered The Hotel!
The audio is amazing with the narrators Todd Kramer, Kate Handford perfectly in sync.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this amazing ARC in exchange for my review!
Told in multiple POVs and narrators to help transition the characters easily.
Lola, a mother and wife, is found dead at the foot of the steps. No one suspects her husband, but she leaves her diary behind and a trail of his demeanor to investigate. Overwhelmed, he hires a housekeeper to help with their daughter Jessica and the housework. She conspires against him by snooping through his personal belongings to prove he killed his wife. It is very intense and while she is snooping, I'm holding my breath.
Excellent writing and I can't wait to read her next one, so I pre-ordered The Hotel!
The audio is amazing with the narrators Todd Kramer, Kate Handford perfectly in sync.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this amazing ARC in exchange for my review!
November 24, 2023
Following Lola Warner’s supposed accidental death, her husband, Evan, is overwhelmed dealing with his hormonal teenage daughter, Jessica, on top of the household duties and his job. Figuring that the best way to handle his problem is head on, he hires a housekeeper. Luckily for him, in the very first interview, he meets Ariel and she seems like the perfect candidate. Adept at cooking and cleaning, she’s also just dowdy enough not to raise suspicions about what a grieving widower could get up to with a single woman in the privacy of his own home.
Little does he know, however, that Ariel isn’t exactly who she appears to be as she was no stranger to Lola. And even though they’d become estranged over the years, Ariel’s now determined to make sure that Evan pays for murdering her and using his position as Chief of Police to cover up his crime. After all, Ariel is sure that Lola’s death was no accident. Now all she needs to do is find proof of what she already knows to be true. Surely, there’s evidence hidden somewhere in the house—and if it’s there, she’s determined to find it.
But as Ariel takes over the housework and prepares the Warners meals, she notices Evan watching her every move—even as she and Jessica start to connect. Despite knowing she has the young girl’s best intentions at heart, the thunderclouds that shadow Evan’s face whenever he sees the two women alone together can’t help but send chills down her spine. But even if it’s the last thing she does, Ariel knows she needs to get Jessica out of that house and far away from the murdering monster responsible for Lola’s death.
Then Ariel makes a startling discovery. Hidden deep in the Warner home, she finds Lola’s diary. Hoping that it will reveal all of the secrets she needs in order to take Evan down, she starts reading it right then and there—until she looks up and realizes that she’s heard a noise downstairs. Trapped in an upstairs closet, it dawns on her that perhaps she’s just placed herself in even more danger than she even imagined possible. In fact, as she hears the sounds of someone climbing the stairs, Ariel knows that it just might be coming for her right now—and she has nowhere to run.
Hmmm… Unfortunately, I ran into some very real problems reading The Wife in the Photo. But let me start with the pluses before moving onto the negatives… With palpable tension and very real foreboding, my fingers tingled with anticipation from the very first word. The first book I’ve read by Shiner, I loved the interwoven dual POVs that had diary entries scattered throughout and, all together, led to an enticing level of misdirection. On top of that, the shady characters and layers of lies meant for one fast-paced, rollercoaster ride of suspense.
Sadly, however, there were plenty of issues that meant I had a hard time losing myself in this one. Topping the list was the fact that, from the start, I thought I had it all figured out. I held out hope that there was going to be a gigantic twist that would throw me for a loop, but, by the end, my predictions were shown to be mostly right. Perhaps my ability to see the truth is down to how I inhale anything thriller, but, needless to say, it left me thoroughly disappointed by the end.
Then there was the over-the-top climax. Going from zero to one hundred in under a second, the whiplash was sudden and sure. I was certainly anticipating a little more finesse as the events exploded, which left me sadly underwhelmed if not somewhat turned off by the final showdown. Add in the conclusion which had me eager to hurl my Kindle across the room and I found myself rather surprised by the glowing ratings that this book has earned. Maybe it’s just me, but the melodramatic flamboyance and easy to guess twists just rubbed me the wrong way after flipping the last page.
All in all, I can still see how this popcorn thriller would be an epic ride for any thriller novice. Between the short, easy chapters that were well-plotted and the fact that none of the characters were even a bit trustworthy, this should have been a home run. Unfortunately, I have to put my lack of awe down to the fact that I saw through all of Shiner’s tricks of the trade. Perhaps if I’d read this one early on in my thriller addiction, it would’ve surprised me as well. Ultimately, I suggest taking my thoughts with a rather large grain of salt as there are plenty of glowing reviews for this new psychological thriller. Rating of 3 stars.
Thank you to Emily Shiner, Bookouture, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: Out now!
👉 Be sure to head to my Amazon Storefront to order. I get a small commission and would love your support!
Trigger warning: death of a spouse, excessive drinking, infidelity, fatal stabbing, gaslighting, mention of: marijuana use
Little does he know, however, that Ariel isn’t exactly who she appears to be as she was no stranger to Lola. And even though they’d become estranged over the years, Ariel’s now determined to make sure that Evan pays for murdering her and using his position as Chief of Police to cover up his crime. After all, Ariel is sure that Lola’s death was no accident. Now all she needs to do is find proof of what she already knows to be true. Surely, there’s evidence hidden somewhere in the house—and if it’s there, she’s determined to find it.
But as Ariel takes over the housework and prepares the Warners meals, she notices Evan watching her every move—even as she and Jessica start to connect. Despite knowing she has the young girl’s best intentions at heart, the thunderclouds that shadow Evan’s face whenever he sees the two women alone together can’t help but send chills down her spine. But even if it’s the last thing she does, Ariel knows she needs to get Jessica out of that house and far away from the murdering monster responsible for Lola’s death.
Then Ariel makes a startling discovery. Hidden deep in the Warner home, she finds Lola’s diary. Hoping that it will reveal all of the secrets she needs in order to take Evan down, she starts reading it right then and there—until she looks up and realizes that she’s heard a noise downstairs. Trapped in an upstairs closet, it dawns on her that perhaps she’s just placed herself in even more danger than she even imagined possible. In fact, as she hears the sounds of someone climbing the stairs, Ariel knows that it just might be coming for her right now—and she has nowhere to run.
Hmmm… Unfortunately, I ran into some very real problems reading The Wife in the Photo. But let me start with the pluses before moving onto the negatives… With palpable tension and very real foreboding, my fingers tingled with anticipation from the very first word. The first book I’ve read by Shiner, I loved the interwoven dual POVs that had diary entries scattered throughout and, all together, led to an enticing level of misdirection. On top of that, the shady characters and layers of lies meant for one fast-paced, rollercoaster ride of suspense.
Sadly, however, there were plenty of issues that meant I had a hard time losing myself in this one. Topping the list was the fact that, from the start, I thought I had it all figured out. I held out hope that there was going to be a gigantic twist that would throw me for a loop, but, by the end, my predictions were shown to be mostly right. Perhaps my ability to see the truth is down to how I inhale anything thriller, but, needless to say, it left me thoroughly disappointed by the end.
Then there was the over-the-top climax. Going from zero to one hundred in under a second, the whiplash was sudden and sure. I was certainly anticipating a little more finesse as the events exploded, which left me sadly underwhelmed if not somewhat turned off by the final showdown. Add in the conclusion which had me eager to hurl my Kindle across the room and I found myself rather surprised by the glowing ratings that this book has earned. Maybe it’s just me, but the melodramatic flamboyance and easy to guess twists just rubbed me the wrong way after flipping the last page.
All in all, I can still see how this popcorn thriller would be an epic ride for any thriller novice. Between the short, easy chapters that were well-plotted and the fact that none of the characters were even a bit trustworthy, this should have been a home run. Unfortunately, I have to put my lack of awe down to the fact that I saw through all of Shiner’s tricks of the trade. Perhaps if I’d read this one early on in my thriller addiction, it would’ve surprised me as well. Ultimately, I suggest taking my thoughts with a rather large grain of salt as there are plenty of glowing reviews for this new psychological thriller. Rating of 3 stars.
Thank you to Emily Shiner, Bookouture, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: Out now!
👉 Be sure to head to my Amazon Storefront to order. I get a small commission and would love your support!
Trigger warning: death of a spouse, excessive drinking, infidelity, fatal stabbing, gaslighting, mention of: marijuana use
September 14, 2023
"The Wife in the Photo" was not picture-perfect.
To the author's credit, the book's premise was intriguing:
Readers quickly learn that a wife's accidental death was most likely not an accident.
The prime suspect?
The husband (of course!), who is also a policeman.
The book was compulsively readable and engaging until it wasn't.
Approximately 70% in, new "twists" were introduced that were absolutely, positively ludicrous and had my eyes rolling at record speed.
Quite frankly, my eyes were rolling so rapidly that they started to hurt.
Where was the editor????
And where were my cold compresses????
I listened to the audiobook that was expertly narrated by Kate Handford and Todd Kramer.
Credit to the publisher for an enticing book cover that prompted me to give the book a try, after the publisher declined my NetGalley request.
Should I be thanking Hoopla for this audiobook freebie....or messaging them a complaint about a wasted credit???
(Not quite sure!)
2 stars, rounded up.
September 4, 2023
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary digital ARC of this book. Unfortunately it's not one I would recommend. An over-the-top thriller can be fun, but this one veered into ridiculous territory. Motivations weren't explained or didn't make sense. Characters were flat. I had most of the twists figured out very early on. Intriguing premise, but the execution was lacking. It's probably me and my current headspace, so please check out other reviews!
September 1, 2023
I absolutely loved sorting through the evidence - the clues, twists, secrets, and lies - to uncover the truth! Emily Shiner knows how to keep her readers guessing until the final reveal.
The Warners are hiding a secret. Who is going to be the first to share it - Jessica, the teenager who has just lost her mom in a tragic accident? Evan, the police detective husband who is struggling to run a home after his wife’s death? The new housekeeper who sees everything? Or…someone else?
Everyone has a secret. Whose will be let out of the bag first and will it have repercussions for everyone in the Warner household?
Readers know from the start that a woman died. We don’t know if it was accidental or if she was killed for a reason. Readers are given clues as to who it might be, but we don’t know why. Then we have a ‘replacement’ step in to fill a role and we are left wondering what she’s hiding, too. It doesn’t take long for the seeds of doubt to take root and each character claims that someone will pay for Lola’s death. The tension is palpable. The twists are gobsmacking.
I can’t tell you more. I’ve tried to figure out how to word this review and all I can say is that Shiner’s stock-in-trade is the art of misdirection. I love it and can’t wait to read more of this author’s work. Fingers crossed there’s a sequel in the works!
This is a ‘forever shelf’ book for me.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
The Warners are hiding a secret. Who is going to be the first to share it - Jessica, the teenager who has just lost her mom in a tragic accident? Evan, the police detective husband who is struggling to run a home after his wife’s death? The new housekeeper who sees everything? Or…someone else?
Everyone has a secret. Whose will be let out of the bag first and will it have repercussions for everyone in the Warner household?
Readers know from the start that a woman died. We don’t know if it was accidental or if she was killed for a reason. Readers are given clues as to who it might be, but we don’t know why. Then we have a ‘replacement’ step in to fill a role and we are left wondering what she’s hiding, too. It doesn’t take long for the seeds of doubt to take root and each character claims that someone will pay for Lola’s death. The tension is palpable. The twists are gobsmacking.
I can’t tell you more. I’ve tried to figure out how to word this review and all I can say is that Shiner’s stock-in-trade is the art of misdirection. I love it and can’t wait to read more of this author’s work. Fingers crossed there’s a sequel in the works!
This is a ‘forever shelf’ book for me.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 20, 2023
Evan the chief of police is nervous about what his daughter, Jessica, knows.
Evan’s wife fell down the stairs at their home.
It was ruled an accident, but others don’t believe that. They think Evan pushed her.
While Evan and Jessica are struggling with Lola’s death, the house is in a total shambles.
Evan asked his secretary if she knew someone who could be a housekeeper and cook. Miriam, his secretary, finds Ariel.
Ariel doesn’t trust Evan and plans to find proof that he killed Lola.
THE WIFE IN THE PHOTO will have you guessing and most likely guessing wrong about who did what and who is doing what.
There are lots of shady, lying characters in this fast-paced, twisty, really good book with a lot of surprises and a book you won’t want to put down.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Evan’s wife fell down the stairs at their home.
It was ruled an accident, but others don’t believe that. They think Evan pushed her.
While Evan and Jessica are struggling with Lola’s death, the house is in a total shambles.
Evan asked his secretary if she knew someone who could be a housekeeper and cook. Miriam, his secretary, finds Ariel.
Ariel doesn’t trust Evan and plans to find proof that he killed Lola.
THE WIFE IN THE PHOTO will have you guessing and most likely guessing wrong about who did what and who is doing what.
There are lots of shady, lying characters in this fast-paced, twisty, really good book with a lot of surprises and a book you won’t want to put down.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
July 30, 2023
I'd like to thank Bookouture, Emily Shiner, and NetGalley for an advanced copy for an honest review.
Lola has just died, leaving behind her husband, Evan and daughter, Jessica. Evan is feeling the pressure and decides to get some help around the house. Being the chief of police and a father are weighing him down. Here enters Ariel, someone trying to get close to them to get to the truth.
As Ariel gets employed, she works hard to earn the trust of Evan and Jessica both. They both act suspicious at times. I did enjoy the guessing game part. Unfortunately, the end just got a bit ridiculous. I rate this one 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.
Lola has just died, leaving behind her husband, Evan and daughter, Jessica. Evan is feeling the pressure and decides to get some help around the house. Being the chief of police and a father are weighing him down. Here enters Ariel, someone trying to get close to them to get to the truth.
As Ariel gets employed, she works hard to earn the trust of Evan and Jessica both. They both act suspicious at times. I did enjoy the guessing game part. Unfortunately, the end just got a bit ridiculous. I rate this one 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.
July 23, 2023
A disturbing psychological thriller told in several points of view. There is some unreliable narration here too, lots of lies being told. I figured out who committed the first murder fairly early on, but certainly didn't foresee the ending climax. Wow! That was quite a shocker. There were several twisty surprises in this one. I didn't find the ending satisfying though - not what I wanted to see happen.
Thanks to Bookouture through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication on September 7, 2023.
Thanks to Bookouture through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication on September 7, 2023.
September 12, 2023
Wowza!!! What an ending!!! Not going to ruin my review with spoilers but will say my head was spinning!
I listened to this on audio and narration was great, easily distinguishable different voices for Evan, Ariel and the diary readings. So easy to follow and flowed very well.
I did find some of the writing repetitive and felt there could have been a little better editing on that perspective. Solid storyline, relatable developed characters, made me want to keep reading and had to know what happened. Overall 4 stars and would definitely read more by this author!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I listened to this on audio and narration was great, easily distinguishable different voices for Evan, Ariel and the diary readings. So easy to follow and flowed very well.
I did find some of the writing repetitive and felt there could have been a little better editing on that perspective. Solid storyline, relatable developed characters, made me want to keep reading and had to know what happened. Overall 4 stars and would definitely read more by this author!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 10, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture audio for providing me with the ARC of this book
Ok so this started off strong and i really enjoyed the initial 20% of the book but after that it all went downhill imo
This is what one can call lazy writing, repetitive and boring, no thrill whatsoever and the ending was meh
Also it was evident right from the beginning who was the culprit and the 'plot twist' was also predictable
Ok so this started off strong and i really enjoyed the initial 20% of the book but after that it all went downhill imo
This is what one can call lazy writing, repetitive and boring, no thrill whatsoever and the ending was meh
Also it was evident right from the beginning who was the culprit and the 'plot twist' was also predictable
August 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of The Wife in the Photo in exchange for a review.
This book had an exciting premise but sadly failed to hit the spot for me. Spoilers coming up so please turn away if you haven’t yet read it!
The book begins with a sense of unease - and I will say that Emily Shiner does a great job of creating and building tension - which leads to the titular wife being pushed down the stairs to her death. She complains a bit about her relationship with her husband, but then doesn’t name the person pushing her. So straight away for me I’m thinking - ok, not her husband pushing her down the stairs but maybe we’re meant to think it is. So who else is there? The daughter. The daughter did it.
Then we have like 80% of the book yelling in our faces, literally spelling out that the husband did it. So, we don’t need to be Derren Brown to detect we’re being subjected to a wee bit of misdirection. But that it was the daughter was a let down because I love to be surprised.
But then I can’t really complain about not being surprised because as soon as this is confirmed, the plot goes into absolute fever dream mayhem. Evan knows his daughter is a murderer. He lets her go padding off upstairs to check out an intruder with a knife in her hand and just chills out downstairs. Evan the chief of police. He hears everything they say and that they’re struggling. He chills downstairs. Gah someone’s knocking on the door! I’d better just chill down here for another few minutes and decide what to do. Oh shit Ariel’s bee stabbed and pushed down the stairs.
Now Dakota’s getting it and Evan’s just watching and freaking out. But - remember that time he once freaked out at work as a police officer and froze? So it’s not that weird! It happened once before! Ah shit she’s been stabbed a bunch of times and he didn’t quite get to help. And Miriam just filmed it and couldn’t quite manage to say anything either. She’s still filming it as she’s running away down the stairs. Evan’s still freaking frozen!
Oh man come on. It was entertaining and - sure - surprising - but just plain daft to the point of farce. And I cannot believe the police would just be like “dude. We’ve seen the diaries”. You know, diaries! That pure hard bit of criminal evidence. Surely they’d investigate a tiny bit more than that?
Oof! Anyway. To focus on the positive. The writing was very tense and page-turning. When Ariel was in that bedroom rummaging for evidence I felt a bit sick to my stomach waiting for her to get caught! And it was clever how I really did hate Evan from everyone else’s description of him when in fact he wasn’t AS bad as you first think. (But still pretty rubbish with his affair and constantly thinking about Dakota’s “gorgeous face” even when his daughter just murdered someone.) and the very end was a bit of a surprise too!
But ultimately too much made zero sense. There was no explanation of anyone’s motivations really - why the heck would Jessica kill her mum just because she wanted them to move out? Why was the mum not writing anything in her diary about her daughter being a bit… off? Why was Evan chief of police based on his policing skills? Why did Miriam want Evan to be murdered because her granddaughter was a bit broken hearted by him? What is Ariel’s actual name and why does she still want to live with Jessica when she is blatantly just going to off her at the earliest opportunity? And my biggest why of all - why was it called The Wife in the Photo? The photo viewing was a very unremarkable scene and the wife herself even wasn’t all that central to the story in the end! I kept wondering when we were going to see something significant in a photo that would connect some dots!
This book had an exciting premise but sadly failed to hit the spot for me. Spoilers coming up so please turn away if you haven’t yet read it!
The book begins with a sense of unease - and I will say that Emily Shiner does a great job of creating and building tension - which leads to the titular wife being pushed down the stairs to her death. She complains a bit about her relationship with her husband, but then doesn’t name the person pushing her. So straight away for me I’m thinking - ok, not her husband pushing her down the stairs but maybe we’re meant to think it is. So who else is there? The daughter. The daughter did it.
Then we have like 80% of the book yelling in our faces, literally spelling out that the husband did it. So, we don’t need to be Derren Brown to detect we’re being subjected to a wee bit of misdirection. But that it was the daughter was a let down because I love to be surprised.
But then I can’t really complain about not being surprised because as soon as this is confirmed, the plot goes into absolute fever dream mayhem. Evan knows his daughter is a murderer. He lets her go padding off upstairs to check out an intruder with a knife in her hand and just chills out downstairs. Evan the chief of police. He hears everything they say and that they’re struggling. He chills downstairs. Gah someone’s knocking on the door! I’d better just chill down here for another few minutes and decide what to do. Oh shit Ariel’s bee stabbed and pushed down the stairs.
Now Dakota’s getting it and Evan’s just watching and freaking out. But - remember that time he once freaked out at work as a police officer and froze? So it’s not that weird! It happened once before! Ah shit she’s been stabbed a bunch of times and he didn’t quite get to help. And Miriam just filmed it and couldn’t quite manage to say anything either. She’s still filming it as she’s running away down the stairs. Evan’s still freaking frozen!
Oh man come on. It was entertaining and - sure - surprising - but just plain daft to the point of farce. And I cannot believe the police would just be like “dude. We’ve seen the diaries”. You know, diaries! That pure hard bit of criminal evidence. Surely they’d investigate a tiny bit more than that?
Oof! Anyway. To focus on the positive. The writing was very tense and page-turning. When Ariel was in that bedroom rummaging for evidence I felt a bit sick to my stomach waiting for her to get caught! And it was clever how I really did hate Evan from everyone else’s description of him when in fact he wasn’t AS bad as you first think. (But still pretty rubbish with his affair and constantly thinking about Dakota’s “gorgeous face” even when his daughter just murdered someone.) and the very end was a bit of a surprise too!
But ultimately too much made zero sense. There was no explanation of anyone’s motivations really - why the heck would Jessica kill her mum just because she wanted them to move out? Why was the mum not writing anything in her diary about her daughter being a bit… off? Why was Evan chief of police based on his policing skills? Why did Miriam want Evan to be murdered because her granddaughter was a bit broken hearted by him? What is Ariel’s actual name and why does she still want to live with Jessica when she is blatantly just going to off her at the earliest opportunity? And my biggest why of all - why was it called The Wife in the Photo? The photo viewing was a very unremarkable scene and the wife herself even wasn’t all that central to the story in the end! I kept wondering when we were going to see something significant in a photo that would connect some dots!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2023
Evan, the least observant and/or competent police officer in town who somehow got promoted to chief, just lost his wife Lola. He and his daughter Jessica are grieving and the house is in disarray.
Friend of the family from work, Miriam, is quick to jump in and help. She recommends Ariel, a nice lady she knows from church who can keep the house up and take care of them. Evan doesn't want her to move in but he enjoys the work she does during the day and she hits it off with Jessica. That should be a good thing but Evan and Jessica share secrets regarding her mother and he's afraid of someone getting too close and weaseling them out of vulnerable Jessica.
He's right to be concerned because Ariel is not a stranger. She is to them but they are not to her. What is her reasoning for coming here and how is she connected? She just wants to help!
This starts off by throwing you right into the good stuff which I appreciated and it remained interesting, with dual narration between Ariel and Evan, with questionable diary entries from others sprinkled in. We get reveals slowly throughout and that's good. I did guess early on what was going to happen and I hoped I was wrong but I came to terms with it until the climax of the story and it just went off the rails completely. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
There were silly parts but it was good and is a popcorn thriller not great American literature so it is was enjoyable and I would recommend. Beware of the twist scene though and don't have any water in your mouth to choke on.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review. The audiobook narration was great.
Friend of the family from work, Miriam, is quick to jump in and help. She recommends Ariel, a nice lady she knows from church who can keep the house up and take care of them. Evan doesn't want her to move in but he enjoys the work she does during the day and she hits it off with Jessica. That should be a good thing but Evan and Jessica share secrets regarding her mother and he's afraid of someone getting too close and weaseling them out of vulnerable Jessica.
He's right to be concerned because Ariel is not a stranger. She is to them but they are not to her. What is her reasoning for coming here and how is she connected? She just wants to help!
This starts off by throwing you right into the good stuff which I appreciated and it remained interesting, with dual narration between Ariel and Evan, with questionable diary entries from others sprinkled in. We get reveals slowly throughout and that's good. I did guess early on what was going to happen and I hoped I was wrong but I came to terms with it until the climax of the story and it just went off the rails completely. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
There were silly parts but it was good and is a popcorn thriller not great American literature so it is was enjoyable and I would recommend. Beware of the twist scene though and don't have any water in your mouth to choke on.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review. The audiobook narration was great.
August 29, 2023
I pick up the photograph from the 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 story is filled with lies and deceit. We also get a murder and a shocking twist. The story is told from multiple, unreliable perspectives. Every character is flawed. I liked the diary entries which, with everything else, eventually come together. Emily Shiner likes to play mind games with you, she lets you think you are on the right path, and then blows you away again. I love her writing style. My only criticism is, the books title doesn't really reflect the story. I loved how the story ended. fingers crossed we get a follow-on book so that we can find out what happened next. This is a well written psychological thriller.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #EmilyShiner for my ARC of #TheWifeInThePhoto in exchange for an honest review.
This story is filled with lies and deceit. We also get a murder and a shocking twist. The story is told from multiple, unreliable perspectives. Every character is flawed. I liked the diary entries which, with everything else, eventually come together. Emily Shiner likes to play mind games with you, she lets you think you are on the right path, and then blows you away again. I love her writing style. My only criticism is, the books title doesn't really reflect the story. I loved how the story ended. fingers crossed we get a follow-on book so that we can find out what happened next. This is a well written psychological thriller.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #EmilyShiner for my ARC of #TheWifeInThePhoto in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2023
*Taylor Swift’s voice* She thinks he did it, but she just can’t prove it…
This was an intriguing, fast-paced thriller with a disturbing twist. This book is narrated from the perspectives of three main characters, all with different motivations. We get a glimpse of Lola (the wife in the photo) through her diary entries which reveal an increasingly broken home life. All of the narrators' POVs are full of misdirects and lies, making the final reveal that much more shocking.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
This was an intriguing, fast-paced thriller with a disturbing twist. This book is narrated from the perspectives of three main characters, all with different motivations. We get a glimpse of Lola (the wife in the photo) through her diary entries which reveal an increasingly broken home life. All of the narrators' POVs are full of misdirects and lies, making the final reveal that much more shocking.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
August 26, 2023
Emily Shiner is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She seems to knock it out of the park every single time!! Where oh where has she been hiding? There were lots and lots of twists to keep you guessing all the way to the end. It was fast paced and I really enjoyed it. I would give it 5 stars if I wasn't confused part of the time but it did all come together in the end. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this audio version in exchange for my honest review.
September 4, 2023
This was a quick and fun read, though it was a little repetitive and I also don’t really know why it was titled the way it was. The story centers on the death of a woman named Lola, who leaves behind a husband (Evan) and teenage daughter (Jessica). Enter Ariel, who gets a job cooking and cleaning for them in the aftermath of Lola’s death, though it becomes quickly apparent that she has an ulterior motive.
The story is told from both Evan’s and Ariel’s POVs, for the most part. Neither is a likable character but the dual storyline helps the reader to understand their motives. I do think the story was a little repetitive as it covered their inner monologues, but perhaps the author was just trying to nail down their characters clearly for the reader. Both characters end up making stupid decisions that were expected based on what I had read so far, so I guess it worked! The last few chapters are really good and while I can’t say I was totally surprised, I do think they were well written and successfully tied up loose ends.
Overall, this is a quick and fun psychological thriller with some twists along the way; even if you figure out the end, it doesn’t disappoint! Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told from both Evan’s and Ariel’s POVs, for the most part. Neither is a likable character but the dual storyline helps the reader to understand their motives. I do think the story was a little repetitive as it covered their inner monologues, but perhaps the author was just trying to nail down their characters clearly for the reader. Both characters end up making stupid decisions that were expected based on what I had read so far, so I guess it worked! The last few chapters are really good and while I can’t say I was totally surprised, I do think they were well written and successfully tied up loose ends.
Overall, this is a quick and fun psychological thriller with some twists along the way; even if you figure out the end, it doesn’t disappoint! Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2023
Pay for the whole seat but you will only need the edge!!
Told from three different POVs: Evan (the husband of the wife in the photo), Ariel (hired help who is dying to get closer to the truth) and, my personal favorite, journal entries from Lola (the wife in the photo). From the beginning, it’s unclear how Ariel relates to Lola and why she is so interested in discovering the truth about Lola’s murder and it’s that right there that made me want to keep reading. Why does she care so much?
I loved that every character in this book was clearly keeping some kind of dirty little secret. It’s those kinds of thrillers that make me race to the end because I can’t stand waiting another second to find out what those secrets are and this one was no different.
As an avid reader of these types of books, the plot twists were fairly obvious and stuck out from a mile away. Still, this was an intoxicating psychological thriller and I was obsessively turning the pages until the very end.
Thank you NetGalley for my digital copy.
Told from three different POVs: Evan (the husband of the wife in the photo), Ariel (hired help who is dying to get closer to the truth) and, my personal favorite, journal entries from Lola (the wife in the photo). From the beginning, it’s unclear how Ariel relates to Lola and why she is so interested in discovering the truth about Lola’s murder and it’s that right there that made me want to keep reading. Why does she care so much?
I loved that every character in this book was clearly keeping some kind of dirty little secret. It’s those kinds of thrillers that make me race to the end because I can’t stand waiting another second to find out what those secrets are and this one was no different.
As an avid reader of these types of books, the plot twists were fairly obvious and stuck out from a mile away. Still, this was an intoxicating psychological thriller and I was obsessively turning the pages until the very end.
Thank you NetGalley for my digital copy.
August 9, 2023
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.
I did not enjoy this book. The plot is wildly implausible and the characters left me cold. Their decisions and reactions made absolutely no sense.
Also I figured out the twist very early on in the book so there was no element of surprise.
Major spoilers for what bugged me about this book:
- For à chief of police, Evan is sure dumb. He doesn't run any background check on someone he allows into his home as a housekeeper. He even gives her a key! There are no security cameras in his home. He knows Ariel isn't to be trusted but he doesn't change the locks after he fires her.
- We have no idea how or why the daughter turned out to be a crazy psycho. Her mother had absolutely no idea based on her diary. Until one day her daughter kills her.
- How is it possible Evan has no idea what his sister-in-law looks like particularly after he's adopted her daughter? This stretches all bounds of credulity.
- No explanation given for why Ariel was unable to keep her daughter.
- Why does the psycho have zero interest in getting to know her biological mother?
- Crazy teen girl kills 3 people in front of her father the chief of police and he does nothing. In his inner monologue, he's thinking, I really should do something but I don't like confrontation. Seriously??
- The actions of Dakota and Miriam at the end are puzzling. Skinny teen girl is flying at you with a knife but you're too busy filming. Three adults aren't able to tackle this weirdo to the ground.
- It's repeatedly mentioned that Jessica is super skinny. Yet she's so strong neither Ariel nor her father can subdue her.
- At the end we find out Ariel is alive and for some reason she wants to have a relationship with Jessica even though she's a murderous whacko.
My eyes are rolling back in my head just writing this review. When the end scene with the 3 murders rolled around I wanted to stop reading. I only skimmed through to the end after that.
My 2 stars are for the author's writing style which I did enjoy. The book did pull me along from chapter to chapter.
I did not enjoy this book. The plot is wildly implausible and the characters left me cold. Their decisions and reactions made absolutely no sense.
Also I figured out the twist very early on in the book so there was no element of surprise.
Major spoilers for what bugged me about this book:
- For à chief of police, Evan is sure dumb. He doesn't run any background check on someone he allows into his home as a housekeeper. He even gives her a key! There are no security cameras in his home. He knows Ariel isn't to be trusted but he doesn't change the locks after he fires her.
- We have no idea how or why the daughter turned out to be a crazy psycho. Her mother had absolutely no idea based on her diary. Until one day her daughter kills her.
- How is it possible Evan has no idea what his sister-in-law looks like particularly after he's adopted her daughter? This stretches all bounds of credulity.
- No explanation given for why Ariel was unable to keep her daughter.
- Why does the psycho have zero interest in getting to know her biological mother?
- Crazy teen girl kills 3 people in front of her father the chief of police and he does nothing. In his inner monologue, he's thinking, I really should do something but I don't like confrontation. Seriously??
- The actions of Dakota and Miriam at the end are puzzling. Skinny teen girl is flying at you with a knife but you're too busy filming. Three adults aren't able to tackle this weirdo to the ground.
- It's repeatedly mentioned that Jessica is super skinny. Yet she's so strong neither Ariel nor her father can subdue her.
- At the end we find out Ariel is alive and for some reason she wants to have a relationship with Jessica even though she's a murderous whacko.
My eyes are rolling back in my head just writing this review. When the end scene with the 3 murders rolled around I wanted to stop reading. I only skimmed through to the end after that.
My 2 stars are for the author's writing style which I did enjoy. The book did pull me along from chapter to chapter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2023
The Wife in the Photo is a pyschological thriller that centers on Evan, Jessica, and Ariel. Evan's wife and mother to Jessica, Lola, has just died, apparently by accidentally falling down the stairs. Ariel is hired to help out around the house; however, it is clear that Ariel is not who she says she is and has an ulterior motive to agreeing to help Evan and Jessica. Was Lola's death actually accidental? Who is Ariel?
This is my second book by this author. I did not paricularly enjoy the first book I read and had wanted to give the author another chance. After reading The Wife in the Photo, I believe that this author may simply not be for me. I had some of the same issues in this book as the other. Spoilers ahead:
If a character is going to be a socio/psychopath, there needs to be some explanation as to why. In this case, there is absolutely no reason given to why Jessica is the way she is.
The book is extremely predictable. From that start, the reader is told over and over again that clearly Evan killed Lola, which obviously the reader knows will not be the case. It is evident early on that Jessica has issues and that she is the likely killer. But why she has issues, the reader never finds out.
All of the characters were unlikable and annoying. I really didn't care what happened to any of them. The murder scene felt forced and over-the-top, and then when one of the three survives, it was just hard to believe. I do think that there are readers out there who will enjoy this author's books, I'm just not one of them.
This is my second book by this author. I did not paricularly enjoy the first book I read and had wanted to give the author another chance. After reading The Wife in the Photo, I believe that this author may simply not be for me. I had some of the same issues in this book as the other. Spoilers ahead:
If a character is going to be a socio/psychopath, there needs to be some explanation as to why. In this case, there is absolutely no reason given to why Jessica is the way she is.
The book is extremely predictable. From that start, the reader is told over and over again that clearly Evan killed Lola, which obviously the reader knows will not be the case. It is evident early on that Jessica has issues and that she is the likely killer. But why she has issues, the reader never finds out.
All of the characters were unlikable and annoying. I really didn't care what happened to any of them. The murder scene felt forced and over-the-top, and then when one of the three survives, it was just hard to believe. I do think that there are readers out there who will enjoy this author's books, I'm just not one of them.
July 28, 2023
This book is insanity.
You don’t know if you should trust Jessica or Evan. You shouldn’t trust either of them!
The twists keep coming. Once, you’ve gotten it figured out. There’s something new happening. I felt it was a little slow at times but overall, a good read.
You don’t know if you should trust Jessica or Evan. You shouldn’t trust either of them!
The twists keep coming. Once, you’ve gotten it figured out. There’s something new happening. I felt it was a little slow at times but overall, a good read.
August 12, 2025
3.5 🌟
The Wife in the Photo was a good read. I enjoyed how the suspense building throughout the plot kept me engaged. There was tension, the short chapters didn't bore me. The multiple POVs with diary entries helped me understand each main character and helped me connect with them.
But, I figured the twist out, which didn't help me have "Whaaaaat was that" 😮 moment.
The Wife in the Photo was a good read. I enjoyed how the suspense building throughout the plot kept me engaged. There was tension, the short chapters didn't bore me. The multiple POVs with diary entries helped me understand each main character and helped me connect with them.
But, I figured the twist out, which didn't help me have "Whaaaaat was that" 😮 moment.
April 6, 2026
You may just figure it out before you really get started but, keep going! So good!
September 4, 2023
This is a psychological thriller told from the POV of Evan, Jessica and Ariel. Evan’s wife, and the mother of Jessica, recently passed away after apparently falling down the stairs. Ariel is then hired to help around the house to make life easier for Evan and Jessica. However it soon becomes clear that Ariel isn’t just there to help out-she’s got an ulterior motive for being there-but what is it? And was Lola’s death really an accident?
While this was fine in terms of being a thriller, it was definitely predictable and none of the characters were very likable so it was hard to get invested in them. There were several over the top, there’s no way moments that you absolutely have to suspend reality for in order to keep reading, but then again, that’s what fiction is for.
If you like cheesy horror movies from the 90’s you’ll probably love this book.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
While this was fine in terms of being a thriller, it was definitely predictable and none of the characters were very likable so it was hard to get invested in them. There were several over the top, there’s no way moments that you absolutely have to suspend reality for in order to keep reading, but then again, that’s what fiction is for.
If you like cheesy horror movies from the 90’s you’ll probably love this book.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
August 11, 2023
This was another great read!
I absolutely loved this book & did not see the all the twists.
This is my second book by Emily Shiner and I’ve been blown away by her writing style, it’s absolutely captivating!
I loved the multiple POV’s, short chapters and the twists that kept me guessing.
I will definitely recommend this to all thriller lovers & can't wait to read more of this author and her books are all on Kindle Unlimited!!
RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: Sept 7, 2023
Many thanks to Bookouture & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book & did not see the all the twists.
This is my second book by Emily Shiner and I’ve been blown away by her writing style, it’s absolutely captivating!
I loved the multiple POV’s, short chapters and the twists that kept me guessing.
I will definitely recommend this to all thriller lovers & can't wait to read more of this author and her books are all on Kindle Unlimited!!
RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: Sept 7, 2023
Many thanks to Bookouture & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2023
The Wife in the Photo is a deliciously dark story about loss and vengeance. Next level domestic suspense!
I was really taken aback at The Wife in the Photo. I don’t really know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. Honestly, I was hovering around the 3-star mark for a lot of the book but the last third of the book made me change my mind and quite frankly shocked me. I had a slight inclination of how it was going to end but the ending that was delivered made me laugh – I love it when someone nasty is outdone, it cracked me up.
Being an avid reader of Thrillers especially of the domestic variety, there isn’t a lot that shocks me, but this genuinely did, it came out of left field and I’m pleasantly pleased. The prologue set the tone and built up what would be an emotive story. It immediately made me want to find out what had led to the wife being pushed to her death.
The story is told in dual perspectives – from the husband, chief of police, Evan Warner, and the housekeeper he hires to get their house in order, Ariel. There is also bonus chapters from the Lola’s diary and the daughter, Jessica’s diary. We first met Ariel when she is watching the Warner’s home with a clear vendetta against Evan. Lola is dead, apparently from an accidental fall, but Ariel isn’t convinced. She witnesses a black mini cooper and wonders how its all connected. Her motive is to protect the daughter but why? What is her connection to the Warner family.
The Wife in the Photo examines the intricacies of family life and the fallout of a partner/parent dying. How things would be affecting the family post loss, the housework building up, relationships breaking down and frustrations mounting. I think that the author did a phenomenal job of highlighting the realism of those issues.
Evan is a dodgy character. You can clearly see that he is covering up for something. His wife’s death was no accident but was it him and how far does the rabbit hole go? He’s had an affair with a very young work colleague and has to immediately call it off after his wife dies. Life is getting on top of him and his daughter Jessica, so when his assistant, Miriam recommends a woman to cook, clean and get their lives back on track he jumps at the proposition.
Ariel is a mysterious woman. She obviously has an ulterior motive for working for the Warner’s but just what is it and why in particular does she want to keep Jessica safe? She witnesses some very odd behaviour from Evan but also from Jessica herself. Will she gather the evidence she needs before Evan gets onto her?
I was really taken aback at The Wife in the Photo. I don’t really know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. Honestly, I was hovering around the 3-star mark for a lot of the book but the last third of the book made me change my mind and quite frankly shocked me. I had a slight inclination of how it was going to end but the ending that was delivered made me laugh – I love it when someone nasty is outdone, it cracked me up.
Being an avid reader of Thrillers especially of the domestic variety, there isn’t a lot that shocks me, but this genuinely did, it came out of left field and I’m pleasantly pleased. The prologue set the tone and built up what would be an emotive story. It immediately made me want to find out what had led to the wife being pushed to her death.
The story is told in dual perspectives – from the husband, chief of police, Evan Warner, and the housekeeper he hires to get their house in order, Ariel. There is also bonus chapters from the Lola’s diary and the daughter, Jessica’s diary. We first met Ariel when she is watching the Warner’s home with a clear vendetta against Evan. Lola is dead, apparently from an accidental fall, but Ariel isn’t convinced. She witnesses a black mini cooper and wonders how its all connected. Her motive is to protect the daughter but why? What is her connection to the Warner family.
The Wife in the Photo examines the intricacies of family life and the fallout of a partner/parent dying. How things would be affecting the family post loss, the housework building up, relationships breaking down and frustrations mounting. I think that the author did a phenomenal job of highlighting the realism of those issues.
Evan is a dodgy character. You can clearly see that he is covering up for something. His wife’s death was no accident but was it him and how far does the rabbit hole go? He’s had an affair with a very young work colleague and has to immediately call it off after his wife dies. Life is getting on top of him and his daughter Jessica, so when his assistant, Miriam recommends a woman to cook, clean and get their lives back on track he jumps at the proposition.
Ariel is a mysterious woman. She obviously has an ulterior motive for working for the Warner’s but just what is it and why in particular does she want to keep Jessica safe? She witnesses some very odd behaviour from Evan but also from Jessica herself. Will she gather the evidence she needs before Evan gets onto her?
September 15, 2023
The first thriller I've ever read that made me laugh out loud at the climax.
This story started out pretty solid, if standard. Husband is having an affair and wife dies under questionable circumstances. Obviously as Chief of Police, it makes sense that Evan can push an investigation aside and knows how to have it ruled an accident. He's also obviously grieving, so it makes sense no one on the local force would look too closely. All of that was fine. Trite, but fine.
I kind of got lost with Ariel. She seemed obsessed with Jessica to the point of mania in some parts. It also worked out too neatly that she and Miram just happened to find each other and they both happen to have a grudge, but I could look past that.
I really didn't care about any of the characters. I didn't care who killed Lola. I didn't care if the killer was caught. I just didn't have any emotional connection to any of these characters.
This story started out pretty solid, if standard. Husband is having an affair and wife dies under questionable circumstances. Obviously as Chief of Police, it makes sense that Evan can push an investigation aside and knows how to have it ruled an accident. He's also obviously grieving, so it makes sense no one on the local force would look too closely. All of that was fine. Trite, but fine.
I kind of got lost with Ariel. She seemed obsessed with Jessica to the point of mania in some parts. It also worked out too neatly that she and Miram just happened to find each other and they both happen to have a grudge, but I could look past that.
I really didn't care about any of the characters. I didn't care who killed Lola. I didn't care if the killer was caught. I just didn't have any emotional connection to any of these characters.
July 6, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the short chapters, the multiple POVs and the diary entries. The characters were well developed and it was very suspenseful.
✨ Spoiler free character list ✨
Lola: mother; deceased
Evan: father; chief of Police
Jessica: daughter
Miriam: Evan’s assistant
Ariel: Evan’s housekeeper
• My only con is that I feel that the title of this book doesn’t really represent the book.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
✨ Spoiler free character list ✨
Lola: mother; deceased
Evan: father; chief of Police
Jessica: daughter
Miriam: Evan’s assistant
Ariel: Evan’s housekeeper
• My only con is that I feel that the title of this book doesn’t really represent the book.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
June 29, 2025
emily shiner’s books are always such a fun palate cleanser for me. they aren’t the best thrillers i’ve ever read, but they remind me a lot of how i used to feel about freida mcfadden’s books – quick, fun, and easy to read. super predictable, and this one was waaay over the top, but i really enjoyed it regardless. i was starting to get into a reading slump, so i’m happy i decided to go with this one!
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
September 4, 2023
★★★ 3.5 stars
The beautiful wife. The happily married couple. And the daughter who holds their secret...
After the tragic death of his wife, Evan Warner struggles to maintain his house and his fourteen year old daughter Jessica. Since Lola's death he and Jessica are adrift and he has no idea how to find their way back. The house is a mess, the dishes are piling up, the laundry needs doing...but no amount of cleaning will rid his house of the secrets that lurk beneath the surface. But he can try.
And so he employs a housekeeper, Ariel. The moment he walks in after work the first day, she has the place whipped into shape and the smell of a pot roast in the oven. He watches her from the doorway, humming as she works and using her hip to close the oven door. He frowns. The move seems familiar, like he has seen it before. But he shakes it off as soon as she sees him. He beams at her, knowing that hiring her was the best decision he has made.
But Ariel has a secret of her own. She has met Evan before. She even knew Lola. She has an ulterior motive for being here now. Lola called her in the weeks before her death. She wanted her help. And now she is here to do just that. To save Jessica from her father and to bring Lola's killer to justice.
And then she finds Lola's diary, hidden deep inside a closet. And her words from the grave change everything...
This is probably my third read by Emily Shiner and each one has been different. Like other reviewers, I'm baffled by the title as it doesn't reflect the story in any way. I did guess the main plot twist almost from the start but there were a few things I didn't see coming that were a surprise. The bloodbath near the end was a little far-fetched but doable. But from there, I could see how it was going to pan out. And I'm not entirely convinced I'm satisfied with the ending. But it was still a dark and chilling pageturner.
I would like to thank #EmilyShiner, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheWifeInThePhoto in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
The beautiful wife. The happily married couple. And the daughter who holds their secret...
After the tragic death of his wife, Evan Warner struggles to maintain his house and his fourteen year old daughter Jessica. Since Lola's death he and Jessica are adrift and he has no idea how to find their way back. The house is a mess, the dishes are piling up, the laundry needs doing...but no amount of cleaning will rid his house of the secrets that lurk beneath the surface. But he can try.
And so he employs a housekeeper, Ariel. The moment he walks in after work the first day, she has the place whipped into shape and the smell of a pot roast in the oven. He watches her from the doorway, humming as she works and using her hip to close the oven door. He frowns. The move seems familiar, like he has seen it before. But he shakes it off as soon as she sees him. He beams at her, knowing that hiring her was the best decision he has made.
But Ariel has a secret of her own. She has met Evan before. She even knew Lola. She has an ulterior motive for being here now. Lola called her in the weeks before her death. She wanted her help. And now she is here to do just that. To save Jessica from her father and to bring Lola's killer to justice.
And then she finds Lola's diary, hidden deep inside a closet. And her words from the grave change everything...
This is probably my third read by Emily Shiner and each one has been different. Like other reviewers, I'm baffled by the title as it doesn't reflect the story in any way. I did guess the main plot twist almost from the start but there were a few things I didn't see coming that were a surprise. The bloodbath near the end was a little far-fetched but doable. But from there, I could see how it was going to pan out. And I'm not entirely convinced I'm satisfied with the ending. But it was still a dark and chilling pageturner.
I would like to thank #EmilyShiner, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheWifeInThePhoto in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
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