First Wife’s Shadow

Emma is a CEO, wealthy, independent, sensible – and has long put behind her a chaotic childhood at the hands of alcoholic parents. She meets Matthew, a photographer at a conference. He is a widower, gentle, interested, full of admiration for her success and they quickly fall into a serious relationship.

Her friends, Heidi and Gina, are initially delighted, but when Emma gets engaged after just 3 months, they panic. Matthew says the death of his first wife Becky means he believes in seizing the day. And Emma is in love, that’s all that matters.

And yet, Emma can’t shake the feeling that she is second best. Matthew would not be with her if Becky was still alive. And so, she becomes obsessed with the first wife, haunted by the memory of the woman she never met. Then the strange things start to happen. Emma feels watched. Objects are broken or disappear. And then an incident which shows clearly Emma’s very life is in danger.

Matthew thinks she’s drinking too much, like her father did.

Heidi and Gina think Matthew is gaslighting her.

Emma thinks she’s being haunted…

Adele Parks

British born author Adele Parks is the author of 23 bestselling novels including the recent Sunday Times Number One hits Lies Lies Lies and Just My Luck. Over five million English editions of her work have been sold and her books have been translated into 31 different languages. She is an ambassador of the National Literacy Trust and the Reading Agency: two charities that promote literacy in the UK. Adele also writes for national media including The Times, Guardian, The Telegraph and appears regularly on TV as a spokesperson for the publishing industry. In 2022 she was awarded an MBE – a British order of chivalry – by His Majesty King Charles III for services to literature.