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Fiction. Literature. Suspense. Thriller. HTML: THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER AND A REESE WITHERSPOON'S HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK "Will keep you up. In a 'can't put it down' way. It's 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' with XX chromosomes."â??The Skimm "Deliciously duplicitous. . . . equally as twisty, spellbinding, and addictive as Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl or Paula Hawkins's The Girl on the Train."â??Library Journal (starred review) Amber Patterson is fed up. She's tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves moreâ??a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted. To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphneâ??a socialite and philanthropistâ??and her real-estate mogul husband, Jackson, are a couple straight out of a fairy tale. Amber's envy could eat her alive . . . if she didn't have a plan. Amber uses Daphne's compassion and caring to insinuate herself into the family's lifeâ??the first step in a meticulous scheme to undermine her. Before long, Amber is Daphne's closest confidante, traveling to Europe with the Parrishes and their lovely young daughters, and growing closer to Jackson. But a skeleton from her past may undermine everything that Amber has worked towards, and if it is discovered, her well-laid plan may fall to pieces. With shocking turns and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end, The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fresh, juicy, and utterly addictive thriller from a diabolically imagin… (more)
User reviews
By
Liz Constantine
What it's all about...
What is it about books with characters you absolutely love to hate? What it is...is this...these books are highly readable, they get to your gut, you bite your fingers with stress and you can not even remotely begin to think about putting
Why I wanted to read it...
I really thought that this book would be a good one but I didnât realize just how good it was destined to be. The premise wasnât a new one but it was written in such a way as to sort of tease the reader along in a really clever way.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
I loved that I was surprised by certain situations in this book. I loved these surprises! The book took quite a few twisty turns that I didnât expect but that really made this book exciting. Sharing any more about what actually happened would detract from anyoneâs reading enjoyment...you really have to read it to believe it.
Why you should read it, too...
So...potential readers who like books with a bit of mystery, surprise, and a little bit of sexiness...should love this book. The characters...Daphne, Jackson and Amber drive this story. They roll around and tumble and perhaps even manage to pick themselves up again. But...certain characters get their âjust rewardsâ. Readers might actually stand and cheer for this part! I loved this book.
I received an advance readerâs copy from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. I then read this book on my Kindle Oasis.
âTHE LAST MRS. PARRISHâ by LIV CONSTANTINE
I have to blame Liv Constantine, (the two authors) of âThe Last Mrs. Parrishâ.. for my anguish. This intense,and suspenseful psychological thriller had me actually biting and chewing my permanent gel nails, and I
Kudos to the authors for writing such an incredible story! What an adventure!!
The genres for the book are Psychological Thriller, Mystery and Suspense, and Fiction. Be warned :the excitement and the twists and turns, and highs and lows wonât let you see what is coming next.
The timeline of the story is in the present, with references to the past only when it pertains to the characters or events.
The authors describe the
colorful cast of characters as complex, complicated, greedy, dysfunctional, competitive, and possible psychologically unbalanced.
(to say the least)
To be part of the wealthy and fabulous Parrish family seems like a dream come true to Amber Patterson, a con-artist, who is looking to become friends with Daphne Parrish. Daphne is the wife of an extremely wealthy and handsome man. Amber has done her homework, and knows that Daphneâs sister had died from Cystic Fibrosis, and Daphne heads this Foundation. Why should Daphne have the jewelry, the servants, the vacations? Amber really thinks this presents an opportunity for her. But, is everything the way it seems?
There are secrets and betrayals. I couldnât predict many things that were happening. I highly recommend this intense, suspenseful, psychological thriller and mystery to any readers that enjoy any of these genres. I loved everything about this book. I kept repeating âOMGâ âOMGâ at the end of this book.â I received this book from a very special friend, and I canât thank her enough! Happy reading!
Slick, shrewd, and wickedly devious-
Daphne meets Amber at the gym, where they discover they share a terrible tragedy in common- the death of a beloved sister due to Cystic Fibrosis. The women, though from very different
Before long, Amber has become Daphneâs confidante, while also working for her CF foundation, and even helps Mr. Parrish went he needs an assistant.
But, Amber has plans, big plans, and in order to achieve her goals, she will walk over and step on anyone in her path- even Daphne-
This story was chilling, clever, and sinfully entertaining. Amber gets to set the pace in the first half of the book as she describes her cunning, and very manipulative nature. Sheâs not the timid, sweet, impressionable woman she appears to be.
Once she has clued us in on her diabolic plans, and once she has seemingly gotten what she came for, the story shifts gears, and Daphne takes control of the wheel.
Itâs at this point, things really get interesting-
There are many breadcrumbs left on the trail, and if you follow them you probably wonât be all that surprised when you learn all that glitters, isnât gold. But, thatâs only part of the picture. Those who appear naĂŻve, those appear in control, those who seem like innocent bystanders may not be as naĂŻve, innocent or as in control as they appear.
By the time we get to the last section in the book, that old phrase about âwhat goes around comes around' came to mind, along with a few other books or movies in which the tables are turned in spectacular fashion, and revenge is carried out with carefully constructed scheming.
The book is not too big on shock and awe, instead opting for a stylish noir type atmosphere, which is more understated than many novels that land in this sub-genre, but it gets the job done, just the same, without going off the rails with unnecessary plot twists.
The characters were not overly developed, as we only see them in certain contexts, with was key to the story, nor did they evoke deep feelings or emotions, other than disdain or dislike, but by the time all is said and done, I had an enormous amount of respect for some of them.
What makes the novel work is the careful arrangement and pacing. The twists werenât really all that surprising, but they are still delectable and immensely entertaining. The story is a bit of a cautionary tale, a warning to beware of what appears on the surface, to never judge a book by its cover, or blindly trust people. But, it was also a story of escape and empowerment- albeit, one with an unconventional approach, as well as a tale of retribution- which was the most satisfying part of this enjoyable parable.
Overall, this is an impressive debut novel, and I look forward to seeing what else these talented sisters will entertain us with in the future.
Good fun.
I was hooked from page one. The writing was great. Lots of manipulation, dark secrets, envy (maybe even from me at times), and surprises. It was easy and fun for me to envision all the expensive things and beautiful places that were in this book. The characters really came to life and I enjoyed how we got both sides of the story - very interesting and well done. This was an entertaining and compulsive read.
Amber has set her sights set on having Daphne Parrish's fairy tale life. Not just a life like Daphne's - she literally
Oh, Amber is one of the best 'worst' characters I've read in a long time. She's callous, cold and calculating. Constantine's depiction of her scheming is impossible to put down. The reader is aware of Amber's plan and I wanted to shout at Daphne - to wake her up to what is happening right under her nose. Surely she can't be that oblivious?
There are three parts to The Last Mrs. Parrish. Part Two comes from a different viewpoint - and is no less addictive. You might have an idea whose viewpoint part two belongs to - and yes, you're going to race through it as well. Part three? Well, it's just perfect. And just deserts.
Constantine does a wonderful job of manipulating her characters - and the reader. Although the twist is telegraphed ahead, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. The Last Mrs. Parrish was a five star read for me - twisty, addicting and just plain fun to read. I wouldn't be surprised to see film rights for this book being snapped up. I look forward to the next thriller from these two sisters.
Sometimes, everything in the universe fall into its proper place and someone gets exactly what they deserve . . . .
Readers will find this cat-and-mouse caper deceptively complex as the unfolding story, told first by Amber, then by Daphne, spins out its unexpected revelations. Although the [very good] good guys wear white hats, the [very bad] bad guys wear black, and there is no grey anywhere, the characters never tumble into the obscurity of one-dimensionality even when they are completely over the top.
Readers should be aware of a few cringe-worthy scenes, necessary in revealing sociopathic behavior. Uncomfortable and troubling, they nevertheless provide a strong backstory, essential in the telling of the tale.
Despite some predictable moments, the twisty plot slowly reveals unforeseen truths; there is enough deliciousness in this tale of manipulation, greed, and comeuppance to keep those pages turning.
Highly recommended.
I wanted to love this book. I've heard so many good things about it, it's all over book lovers' social media accounts, and it seems to be the book everyone is talking about. So when I finally made it to the top of the extensive hold list for a copy from the library, I was really excited.
The first part had me hooked. While Amber is highly unlikable, that is the point. Her scheming ways, the hint of something from her past lurking just out of view, the possibility that she will be found out, the possibility that she will get everything she wants...I flew through Part 1.
And then I got to Part 2.
While I absolutely appreciate a big twist in a book (actually one of my absolute favorite things to discover in a book I'm reading), the twist still has to make sense. It has to be rooted in some way to what has come before. It can't be shocking just to be shocking.This twist, while definitely surprising, felt out of left field to me. Then Part 3, while satisfying in many ways, also felt a little too neat and tidy for what had come before.
This book definitely had potential, and it was by no means a bad read. It kept me turning pages quickly, wanting to know what was coming next. But I've read a lot better. If you are looking for a book with these kinds of themes-love triangle, jealously, replacement-pick up The Wife Between Us instead, which spins a twist that will make you gasp out loud but still makes sense when you look back.
Amber moves from Missouri to Connecticut and creates a new identity. She helps Daphne with her foundationâs fundraiser and the two ladies become friends. She becomes a fixture at their dinners and they spend their weekends and holidays together. Amberâs plan seems to be working and she starts her scheme to become the new Mrs. Parrish.
The story is told from both Amberâs and Daphneâs points of view. The book has many twists and turns as each secret is revealed. It's a fun read that is difficult to put down. This novel was written by a team of sisters (Lynne and Valerie) under the name Liv Constantine.