"The Wife in the Photo" by Emily Shiner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Wife in the Photo" by Emily Shiner is a compelling psychological thriller that opens with a bang and then builds up to an explosive climax. This is the first book I have read by this author, and I am looking forward to reading more of her books.

Lola, a mother and wife, died in suspicious circumstances, leaving behind her husband, Evan, who is the chief of police, and her 14-year-old daughter, Jessica. The police regarded this as an accident, but not everyone is happy with this outcome.

Enter Ariel, whose connection to the case isn't clear at the outset. She suspects Evan had something to do with the death of his wife and is determined to find some proof pointing to his guilt. She accepts a job as a housekeeper in his household, seeking the truth. Evan is happy to employ her as he is overwhelmed with taking care of his daughter and household chores. Little does he know Ariel has her own agenda. As the plot unfolds it becomes clear to Ariel and (the reader) that not all is well in the household, and that Evan and Jessica are hiding something.

Ariel is worried about Jessica's safety and tries to befriend Jessica, but she does not make much progress with that or her initial goal. The plot thickens when Ariel finds Lola’s diary and realizes there is more to the accident than meets the eye. The more she delves into the past, the more her life is on the line.

The story kicks off with a bang and continues to thrill as it unfolds. The book alternates between the perspectives of the main characters, with the diary entries interjected in between, much to my delight. Each chapter heading clearly indicates which voice we are hearing. I liked the style of writing and the way the tension was built up. The pacing of the mystery was a bit slow at times, but it didn’t dampen my enjoyment of the book.

While the plot and storyline were good, I didn't connect with or like any of the characters. I found the motive of one of them unbelievable, and their actions too radical. Although I suspected Ariel's identity, her secret came as a shock. The identity of the killer didn't came as a big shock, but the author still managed to cause me to doubt myself. In addition, I thought the ending was too far-fetching and unsatisfactory.

Despite those slight hiccups, I did enjoy the book and eagerly flipped along to see what would happen next. Therefore, I rate it 4 out of 5 stars and definitely recommend it.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: The Wife in the Photo