REVIEW: The Better Mother by Emily Shiner

The Better Mother by Emily Shiner

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Domestic suspense

Read: 15th October 2023

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Amazon

Published: 22nd October 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Zoe just wanted to help. Now she may have a killer in her home.

Zoe is happily married to Ethan until the day a 13-year-old boy shows up on their doorstep. He says his name is Micah and that Ethan is his father. Distressed because his mother is missing, Micah has come to them for help.

Ethan is wary – he didn’t know anything about Micah - but kind-hearted Zoe feels she can’t possibly turn her back on the boy. She welcomes him into their home and does her best to make him part of the family.

But there’s something off about Micah.

He lies constantly, creeps silently around the house and towers over Zoe, observing her every move. And his growing bond with Anna, Zoe’s young daughter, feels all wrong.

So when his mother's body is found and the police start looking for the murderer, Zoe realizes something terrible…

MY THOUGHTS:

She just wanted to help...now she may have a killer in her home...

A fast paced entertaining quick read and my new favourite by Emily Shiner. While some of her books have been hit and miss with me, this has got to be one of her best. It is fast paced with short snappy chapters and a simple storyline that holds your attention throughout. It may be a tad predictable but it certainly didn't ruin my enjoyment. I loved every minute of this quick read which I devoured in a matter of hours.

Zoe lives a happy life with handsome surgeon husband Ethan and their three year old hurricane Anna. Their lives are perfect...until one day a knock on the door changes everything. As soon as Zoe opens the door, she could see the teenager standing on her porch was her husband's son. There was no denying the similarities between them. What was she to do? She let him in and welcomed him into her home.

Thirteen year old Micah has had a very different life to the one he's just walked into. His drug addict mother would disappear for days on end, returning when her money ran out. But this time was different. She's been gone a week without a word and the power has been cut off. Micah had no choice but to seek out the father she had told him about and see if he would take him in...even for a short while. At least until they found his mother.

Ethan is shocked to see the boy who is clearly his son. But he knows nothing about his life and if he poses a danger to the carefully curated life he has created with Zoe, or their little daughter. But Zoe is kind and compassionate and refuses to turn her back on the child who so clearly needs to be take care of. But to Ethan, he's a stranger. Does he want him here?

It isn't long before little things begin to happen that are a little creepy, if not odd. A missing photograph later reappearing as a crafted photo-chop of Micah and his mother. Rita, his biological mother? Or Zoe, his new mother? A carefully curated collection of photos of Zoe on his laptop sends her into a tailspin. Micah is not what he appears. Why was he stalking Zoe? And what is he hiding?

When Micah's mother Rita is found dead, Zoe's heart goes out to the boy despite her growing fears about him. But does he know more about his mother's murder than he is letting on? His disturbing activities lead her to suspect this to be the case leaving her feeling torn between her committment to Ethan and her family and the realisation she has made a grave mistake in letting this child into her home.

This tale is both heartbreaking and disturbing. I felt for Micah and sympathised with his situation and yet there was also that nagging doubt as to his guilt. But of what? The further you delve into this story the more it reveals. It's shocking in a sense and yet it isn't because of its predictability. But I still lapped up every word of every page because for me it's the entertainment factor. And I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish, though I figured out the twist almost from the start it wasn't hard to, but it was still an addictive and captivating tale.

And then there was that nice little sting in the tale twist at the end...

I would like to thank #EmilyShiner, #Netgalley and #InkubatorBooks for an ARC of #TheBetterMother in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author but first served her time as a banker and a teacher. After a lifetime of devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world.

She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs. And loves books that keep you up long after you should be in bed.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: The Wife in the Photo by Emily Shiner

The Wife in the Photo by Emily Shiner

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller

Read: 4th September 2023

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Amazon

Audio Links:

UK

US

Listen to Sample

Published: 7th September 2023

★★★ 3.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

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.

MY THOUGHTS:

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.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author but first served her time as a banker and a teacher. After a lifetime of devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world.

She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs. And loves books that keep you up long after you should be in bed.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

  

REVIEW: The Hotel by Emily Shiner

The Hotel by Emily Shiner

Genre: Domestic thriller, Domestic Suspense, Psychological thriller

Read: 5th September 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 7th September 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

As we welcome the Rowe family to our beautiful clifftop hotel, a shadow passes over my husband’s face. In that moment I see it: my husband is hiding a terrible secret. Has he put us all in danger?

Mark and I pride ourselves on giving visitors to our hotel, high on the rugged Maine cliffs with views of the ocean, a vacation they won’t forget. But the Rowes are strangely over-familiar when they arrive with their teenage daughter. The wife puts a hand on Mark’s forearm and her husband meets my eyes with a knowing look as I hold my little son tight. They gush that they loved their previous stay here… But I’m certain I’ve never seen them before.

Mark reassures me that the Rowes are just being friendly. We have so many visitors, maybe we forgot meeting them. When I am locked in the master bedroom for over an hour, he later soothes my panic and says it was just an accident. But I know one of the Rowes was out in the hallway listening to me cry for help. I hear one of them whispering a lullaby to my baby on his monitor. I cannot trust these people.

But as the relentless icy rain gives way to the biggest blizzard of the season and we become cut off, I realize my son and I are trapped. Mark knows more about the Rowes than he’s letting on. I’ll do anything to protect my gorgeous baby boy. But how far will I have to go, to keep him safe?

The Hotel is totally twisty locked room thriller that you won’t be able to put down. Fans of Shalini Boland, Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose will be glued to the pages!

MY THOUGHTS:

The perfect escape...or the perfect trap...?

This is by far one of the best Emily Shiner books I've read, though to be fair, I've only read four and the other two didn't quite live up to the first one I read "The Stolen Child" which I really liked. This one was a whole lot of twisted secrets, lies and deception. A complex web so tangled I'm surprised even the spider herself could get out of it. But oh what a tangled web it was. And that ending. 

Abby and Mark live in and run a B & B on the rugged cliffs of Oyster, Maine. The windswept views of the ocean, the sweeping coastline, so remote and isolated especially in a storm when the power is out and there is no way down the mountain back to civilisation. Not in a blizzard at any rate. So when Abby notices the outgoings are more than their incomings, she knows something has to change. And so she pitches her idea to Mark in the hope he will love it as much as she does. And he does. He trusts her judgement implicitly when it comes to the running of Saltside Inn.

So Abby puts together an offer for prospective guests too good to refuse in the hope she gets a bite. And no sooner has she posted the ad than she gets her first customer. And they want to book the entire B&B for three weeks...for just the three of them. Abby is thrilled. But when she texts Mark the good news, it's immediately obvious the news is not so good for him. And one has to wonder why that is. What is it that Mark is hiding?

When Lottie, Tim and their sixteen year old daughter Chelsea arrive two days later, Abby does her best to make them feel welcome. She cooks up a storm and they enjoy the meal around the table like one big happy family. But they are anything but. Because each one of them is hiding a secret. And each one of them is hoping that they come out on top. But at what cost? And to whom?

But when Abby's two year old son Henry goes missing one night and is not on any of the four floors of the Inn, her blood runs cold when she sees that there is snow just inside the door. Someone has been outside. And that someone took Henry with them. But they came back because everyone is accounted for...everyone except Henry. So where is he? And will they find him before it's too late?

This is a compelling domestic suspense thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout. Though a different continent, it conjures up similar images of the unforgiving rugged Cornwall coastline, creating an atmospheric setting that is both creepy and chilling. As the story unfolds throughout the various narratives, the plot is tense and fast paced and by the end I was so completely absorbed I found I had been holding my breath.

The plot twist was fairly predictable but the writing is so tight and the story so engaging, it doesn't particularly matter. By this stage you just want to know how it all ends. But in saying that, nobody in this cast of characters is all that likeable although I did find myself silently rooting for Abby. Even so, I read this in one sitting.

What a delightfully vindictive little tale this was! And just when you thought it was over...that ending. 

I would like to thank #EmilyShiner, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheHotel in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author but first served her time as a banker and a teacher. After a lifetime of devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world.

She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs. And loves books that keep you up long after you should be in bed.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: I'm Following You by Emily Shiner

I'm Following You by Emily Shiner

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 11th December 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 11th December 2022

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

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.

MY THOUGHTS:

When I started this book, I was about five chapters in when I re-read the premise and thought "am I reading the right book?" Because the description was a whole lot different to the beginning of this story that I was confused. There was no Collette in the premise and no Amanda in the beginning. But I saw from other reviews that this was indeed the correct book and Amanda soon turns up...and she did.

Collette is distraught when two police officers knock on her door to tell her that her sister Arabella has been involved in an accident and was killed on impact. And at first, Collette blames herself because Arabella wanted to stay the night but Collette had plans. And now her sister is dead.

Six months on, Collette is attending a grief support group from which she gains nothing. Except a new friendship with Jackson whose wife died three years before. The pair strike up a friendship and it is then that Collette confides in him. The woman who killed her sister is walking around scot-free having gotten away with murder.

The only trouble is...Courtney Barrow, the woman who ran down Arabella whilst drunk, was found unresponsive in her home facing the upcoming trial for her sister's death. The police and her therapist have all told Collette that Courtney is dead. But Collette doesn't believe it.

Everyone else might think she is crazy but Jackson doesn't. He listens to her and then makes a suggestion - that they visit the bars down the main street and see if they can spot her. And they do just that. But is he just humouring her? Or does he believe that he is helping her?

And then, she sees her. Though she has probably changed her name, she knows it is her. 

The woman Collette sees in the restaurant is Dr Amanda Morgan, a well-known and highly regarded oncologist. She has a perfect life, a wonderful job and a home in a safe and secure neighbourhood. But her life hasn't always been so good. She was married but divorced after the death of her baby girl some years ago, and the grief still haunts her.

As she leaves the restaurant that day, she spots a little red car in her rearview mirror. Is it following her? But this is just the beginning of the problems to come. Amanda is frightened by the unknown person stalking her she locks herself in her house, completely paranoid at what her life has become.

Because Collette is hell-bent on getting revenge for the death of her sister and fueled by madness, anger and obsession, she will stop at nothing until she gets her revenge. But Jackson is worried. Is Collette taking things too far?

I'M FOLLOWING YOU is so not what you expect. It is deep-seated in craziness, revenge, obsession and murder. The characters are complex and not entirely likeable but the plot is filled with twists to keep you turning the pages. The coup-de-grace comes in the final chapter which was a skillful stroke of mastery. I did not see that jaw-dropping end coming but it made so much sense by its end.

Overall, a crazy train of delusional madness lies at the helm of this twisted thriller about grief, obsession, guilt and revenge. Not as good as "The Stolen Child" but still an entertaining ride.

I would like to thank #EmilyShiner, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #ImFollowingYou in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author but first served her time as a banker and a teacher. After a lifetime of devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world.

She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs. And loves books that keep you up long after you should be in bed.

Social Media links:

Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: The Stolen Child by Emily Shiner

The Stolen Child by Emily Shiner

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 18th September 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 11th September 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

She has hundreds of adoring fans. Only one wants to be her best friend.

Eliza has the perfect life. A beautiful home, a hugely successful blog, a loving husband and two adorable children.

Bethany barely scrapes by in a dead-end job. Her only happiness comes from reading Eliza’s blog. Obsessed with her, she believes they’re destined to be best friends.

But Eliza doesn’t want another friend . . . especially one as pushy as Bethany. Because Eliza is hiding a family secret. One that would shatter her entire world if it was ever revealed.

Rejected and furious, Bethany starts stalking Eliza. And, as she watches her every move, Bethany discovers Eliza’s secret and threatens to expose it.

But Eliza will do whatever it takes to protect her perfect life. Even if it means getting rid of Bethany . . . forever.

MY THOUGHTS:

This is my first read by Emily Shiner and I wasn't disappointed. The concept is intriguing with an edgy twist with a prologue that begins the spiral that soon becomes out of control. The reader does have to suspend belief at some of the actions and decisions made by both main characters which really have to be seen to be believed. But who wants reality when reading? It's entertainment and an ability to engage readers that I'm looking for and the author does this well.

Social media has taken the world by storm with Instagram and TikTok among the favourites. Influencers who are sponsored by big name brands to advertise their product rake in profit just for snapping a few well-curated photos in just the right way and the likes (and the money) come rolling in. But take a moment and stop and think just how much information we share on our social media platforms about ourselves. Even our photos can tell someone a lot about us. Once you realise this, the entire concept feels a whole lot scarier.

The story centres mainly on Eliza, an Instagram influencer and blogger with a following that defies logic. But what is even bigger than her social media presence? A secret that she and her husband James have kept for the past 18 months that neither of them want made public. And that makes Eliza vulnerable.

Then along comes Bethany, a cocktail waitress in a dead-end job and a one bedroom apartment with no friends, no money and no prospects. She has followed Eliza avidly for ages, watched her daughter Penelope grow from a baby to a young girl. To Bethany, Eliza has it all. A perfect life, a beautiful home, a loving husband and a gorgeous daughter. It's everything Bethany wants and more. And she decides that she wants it. Obsessed with her, Bethany believes they are destined to be best friends. And she decides that she is going to befriend Eliza. Whether she likes it or not.

But after a couple of fluffed attempts at befriending Eliza, Bethany cannot understand why she doesn't want to be her friend. I mean, that's all she really wants. And no one can have too many friends, can they? But what Bethany doesn't realise is that Eliza doesn't really have any friends. And for good reason.

And then one day...something in one of Eliza's latest instagram post catches Bethany's eye. And suddenly, she knows Eliza's secret. And that is her way in to Eliza's life. And she has no intention of leaving...ever!

Where do I begin? Well, the two main characters Eliza and Bethany are both completely self-obsessed. Both of them are totally flawed to the max and don't see a problem with their behaviour at all! And don't get me started on their decision making! To be honest, they are both to blame for the mess they found themselves in. Usually, the reader sides with one character but quite honestly they were both infuriating. However, I did find myself leaning a little more favourably towards Eliza, though goodness knows why! The woman couldn't see beyond herself, she was that self absorbed!

But the tension...oh the tension! This book had that in spades! I couldn't put it down and read it in a day. Despite the self-obsession and the crazy psycho, THE STOLEN CHILD is one hell of a read that was a thrill ride from start to finish. While the pace was steady to begin with, as soon as Eliza's secret is out...there's so stopping this rollercoaster ride.

The story unfolds through Eliza and Bethany's alternating narratives as we see into both women's worlds and the secrets they are hiding. Some of it is cringe-worthy, not with how it is written but the internal dialogue of both women and the justifying of their actions. Bethany especially is somewhat disturbing...but excellent fun to read though.

While there is no real mystery in this tale, no villain you have to guess the identity of because they are in plain sight, there are still plenty of twists to be had. The ending was a bit of a surprise, as I didn't quite expect it to go in that direction and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. But it still works.

THE STOLEN CHILD is a dark thriller that is twisted and psychological that will have you turning the pages long into the night.

I would like to thank #EmilyShiner, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheStolenChild in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author but first served her time as a banker and a teacher. After a lifetime of devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world.

She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs. And loves books that keep you up long after you should be in bed.

Social Media links:

Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads