This is Audiobook Fanatic’s first listen to the acclaimed Adele Parks and the sequel to Woman Last Seen. This can be listened to as a standalone, but it would likely be more satisfying to have listened to the prequel first. When Kylie Gillingham, a bigamist who has assumed two names in two different marriages, goes missing, the case becomes a national scandal. Her second husband, Dan, becomes the prime suspect after a slew of evidence points to him as the culprit. At the same time, Kylie’s best friend, Fiona, has suspiciously moved in with Kylie’s first husband and stepchildren. DCI Clemens is on the case, and until a body is found, she is not convinced of anything. In a parallel story, Stacie Jones is being nursed back to health by her father as she recovers from illness and is being shielded from any news from the outside world during the early days of the pandemic.
The characters and stories all collide in this fast-paced, exciting story that culminates with a final dramatic twist. This is a longer listen (14 hours) than most comparable thrillers, but it excels in great character development and sufficient backstory to be listened to as a standalone.
Narrator Kirstin Atherton delivers a powerful performance that will keep you on the edge of your seat and fully emotionally invested with the characters, as flawed as they are! The twists are plentiful and well placed throughout the book, keeping listeners fully engaged. The final revelations are especially compelling. It’s noteworthy to listen to the “Spoiler Alert Author’s Note” at the end of the audiobook, which provides excellent insight into the motivations for the sequel and more information about the prequel for standalone listeners! If you haven’t listened to this author before, this is a great series to begin with!
