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The Last Mrs. Parrish

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine is an mind-bending psychological thriller that features some pretty unlikeable characters. If you have a hard time with anti-heroes (think Amy from Gone Girl ( A | K | G | AB )) you probably won’t like this book. If you enjoy the vicarious thrill of being devious through a fictional character, though, The Last Mrs. Parrish will be right up your alley.

This book does contain graphic examples of abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual) so trigger warning for that.

Amber Patterson has been studying up on the Parrishes, a wealthy NYC power couple, with one intention: to become the next Mrs. Parrish. She inserts herself into Daphne Parrish’s life seamlessly, making herself a non-threatening supportive force who eventually becomes Daphne’s surrogate sister and best friend. She enjoys the perks of being a hanger on in Daphne’s ultra wealthy and posh life. Her real goal, however, is to get close to Jackson Parrish, and to steal him from Daphne. He’s handsome, obscenely wealthy, and desperate for a son that Daphne can’t give him. Amber emotionally manipulates the couple, slowly assuming Daphne’s role and pushing her out in a long con that would be worthy of a two night Dateline special.

Of course, there’s a twist. I can’t reveal what it is, but it changes the entire narrative. Unfortunately, I saw it coming, so a lot of the shock value and enjoyment was lost. Adding to my disappointment was the ending: it wasn’t what I hoped for and it left me feeling cheated.

This book is twisted and weird and at times delightful. It’s also very dark. If you like your thrillers bizarre and full of untrustworthy characters, then you’ll adore The Last Mrs. Parrish. If you need a heroine you can love, this book will definitely not work well for you.

– Elyse

A mesmerizing debut psychological thriller full of delicious twists about a coolly manipulative woman who worms her way into the lives of a wealthy “golden couple” from Connecticut, befriending the wife and seducing the husband to achieve the privileged life she wants
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 and her husband, Jackson—the beautiful philanthropist and the confident real estate mogul—are a golden couple straight out of a fairytale, blessed with two lovely young daughters.
Amber’s envy could eat her alive . . . if she didn’t have a plan. Determined to become the next Mrs. Parrish, 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 Parrish family, 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 imaginative talent.