Book Review: The Wife in the Photo by Emily Shiner
When I first stumbled upon The Wife in the Photo by Emily Shiner, I was instantly intrigued by its premise. The idea of a grieving widower; a desperate housekeeper with a hidden agenda; and the murky waters of betrayal and secrets? It all felt provocative and thrilling—just the kind of psychological drama to pique my interest. Little did I know that my reading experience would be a mixture of gripping excitement and some disappointments.
From the very outset, Shiner’s narrative pulls you in with a palpable tension that feels almost electric. After the supposed accidental death of Lola Warner, her husband Evan finds himself floundering in unfamiliar territory—parenting a hormonal teenager, Jessica, and managing a household. To ease his burdens, he hires Ariel, a dowdy yet seemingly perfect housekeeper. The initial chemistry between Ariel and Jessica is enchanting; you can’t help but root for their bond as they navigate their unique struggles.
Yet, lurking in the background is Ariel’s hidden motive: she believes Evan murdered Lola and is determined to uncover the truth, even if it means putting herself in danger. Shiner beautifully interweaves dual points of view with diary entries, creating a tapestry of misdirection that had my mind whirling. This structural choice made for a fast-paced read, leaving me tingling with anticipation at every turn.
However, despite Shiner’s skill in crafting suspense, I found myself grappling with some fundamental flaws that impeded my immersion in the story. Firstly, I had a sinking feeling early on that I had pieced together the plot’s twists long before they unfolded. As a seasoned thriller reader, I will admit this can sometimes be a double-edged sword—getting the pacing right is crucial, but I wished for more unpredictability in the narrative. Rather than a shocking climax, we soared straight from calm to chaos with jarring speed, leaving me with an unsatisfying whiplash rather than the thrilling exhilaration I craved.
Then came the conclusion, which didn’t just fall flat; it had me eager to hurl my Kindle across the room. The melodrama felt overt, and the resolutions left me wanting more depth. I understand that thrillers often lean on the outrageous, but I prefer my narratives to linger longer on character development and motivations rather than relying heavily on shock value.
In reevaluating the book as a whole, I can see how The Wife in the Photo would serve as an entertaining popcorn thriller for those new to the genre. Its accessible writing style and well-plotted short chapters beckon a wide audience. There’s something to be said for the adrenaline rush that comes from cycling through shady characters and questionable motives, and perhaps I’m simply too entrenched in thriller tropes at this point to appreciate the novelty.
In conclusion, I believe The Wife in the Photo is well-suited for readers looking for a quick suspenseful read that doesn’t shy away from twists and turns. Though it didn’t quite resonate with me as deeply as I’d hoped, it certainly has its merits. If you’re new to psychological thrillers, this could be a delightful entry point that leaves you anticipating the next page. I’ll be curious to see how Emily Shiner evolves as an author in her future works.
Rating: 3 stars
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Trigger Warning: Death of a spouse, excessive drinking, infidelity, fatal stabbing, gaslighting, mention of marijuana use.
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