Liv Constantine | THE LAST MRS. PARRISH

Plot:

Amber Patterson is fed up. She’s tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more—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, Daphne—a socialite and philanthropist—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 life—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. 

Review:

This psychological suspense novel is unlike any I've ever read. The thing I really loved about this novel is that it is told from two different perspectives from two very different women telling two very different stories. Intrigued? You should be. THE LAST MRS. PARRISH is a tale about obsession, desire, sex, and lies. I guess the best way to review this is by splitting my review into three different parts...for three very different and uniquely dark and delicious stories.

Part 1: Amber

Amber's perspective is dark, calculating, and wildly entertaining. It is clear from the beginning that Amber is keeping quite a lot of secrets and her perspective is not only terrifyingly brilliant, but just plain terrifying. We get a unique and rather honest portrayal of who Amber is through Amber's eyes, but we also get to see how many other characters view her...and everyone has something different to say. 

I would say this portion of the novel is more of the psychological thriller aspect and not so much a mystery or suspense. It is more or less a character study that blurs along the lines of FATAL ATTRACTION with its themes of obsession, desire, and manipulation. I was quickly drawn into this novel reading Amber's story and couldn't stop myself from wondering where this one would go. 

I was quickly flying through the pages as something dark and ominous was brewing in the background. While Amber seemed to be taking life in stride and proving that she was not only a genius, but quick to go after what she wants and let nothing and no one get in her way, we all know that not all is what it seems. The pacing with this one was not only beautifully done, but the story is crafted in such an addicting way, that it's impossible to put down once you get 50 pages in. That is, until Amber's story concludes halfway through the novel.

Part 2: Daphne

Daphne's story is more or less a tale of survival. This perspective is less psychological and more of a character study into the woman that we've gotten to know through Amber's eyes in Part 1. What I really enjoyed about this was that we've all been there. We've all witnessed the fictional and reality of people who seem to have it all and may at some times take things for granted. It is easily shown in Part 1 with Amber that this is how she feels about Daphne. However, with things not always being as they seem, the reader is thrown into an emotional and honest look into the life of Daphne Parrish.

I enjoyed getting to know Daphne for who she really was and not just how Amber portrayed her. It was really interesting to get to know both women inside and out and learn about who Daphne was before she met Jackson Parrish and how their relationship got to where it was before Amber came into the picture. It was also interesting to see their relationship behind closed doors and realize the problems they face are issues and situations I would have never guessed through Amber's perspective, making it all the more addicting to continue this journey of two women.

As I really got a hold of what was truly going on with this novel as the two perspectives blended together, I found myself at a standstill. I truly had no idea what the hell was going on or where this would take me as each part was so different than the other. And then, Daphne's part came to an end.

Part 3: The Conclusion

As I found myself dumbfounded and really addicted and obsessed with this brilliantly honest story, I was thanking my lucky stars I had began this novel on a weekend as I couldn't imagine trying to put this one down to go to work, socialize, or carry on with any other responsibility of my everyday life. I was immersed and too far gone to even try to put this one down.

The suspense and tension really built up with the third and final part of this story as the reader gets to see how this one is going to end for all three of the main characters. It was a brilliant and unnerving change to go from two character perspectives to the conclusion of this amazingly taut story told from a different narrative. Ultimately, the ending came to not only a satisfying conclusion, but one with not only chills, but a little bit of heart. 

This is a beautifully creepy, sexy, and downright addicting psychological thriller that is unlike any I have had the pleasure of reading. With amazingly honest and well-crafted characters, a brilliant plot, and an ending that made my jaw drop, I cannot imagine what these two brilliant writers will do next. Whatever it is, consider me in.

Rating: 5/5

*Special thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This title is released on 10/17/2017.