JUNE 2020 - AudioFile
Two narrators voice strong-willed women facing off in this zippy thriller. Meghan Wolf sounds earnest and youthful as Piper Reynard, a woman running from her past by opening a wellness spa in Connecticut. She quickly finds love with Leo Drakos, much to the dismay of his wife, Joanna, who finds their family life suddenly ripped apart. Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan gives Joanna a frosty sophistication that is undercut by the intense devotion she feels for her children, making her sympathetic and complex. As Piper's clashes with Leo's children and Joanna build, the good faith of Wolf's tone instills cracks, and we question Piper’s motives. The women make faster and faster moves in their dangerous competition for maternal power before clashing in a jaw-dropping conclusion. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
03/02/2020
Not even a late-breaking, game-changing twist can quite salvage this disappointing psychological thriller from Constantine (The Last Mrs. Parrish). Much of the fault lies in the story’s two protagonists, alternating (and unreliable) narrators Piper and Joanna, who are vying for the affections of Leo Drakos, a depressed, workaholic—but well-off—Westport, Conn., lawyer and father of two. Glamorous recent arrival Piper, who has bought a local recovery center as part of a new identity to distance herself from the suspicious deaths of her husband and teen stepdaughter in a sailing accident, quickly sets her cap for Leo, never mind that Joanna is already living with Leo. For her part, Joanna is slow to recognize the danger posed by the seductive interloper—and swiftly finds herself on the outside looking in. Though readers may root for Joanna as she delves into the narcissistic Piper’s past in a race to win back the family she loves so fiercely, many of her actions are puzzling if not downright off-putting—for reasons that will only become clear with the flabbergasting final reveals. Constantine has done better. Agent: Bernadette Baker-Baughman, Victoria Sanders & Assoc. (May)
From the Publisher
"Wickedly entertaining. With THE WIFE STALKER, Liv Constantine proves once again to be a master of domestic malice." — Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of Lock Every Door
“A twisty, engrossing house of mirrors...smart, propulsive, and tricky-in-all-the-best-ways psychological suspense." — Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of The Stranger Inside
“Exciting. . . . Strong storytelling draws in the reader — hook, line and sinker. . . . Constantine keeps the suspense high. A clever twist pulls The Wife Stalker in a unique direction that readers will savor.” — South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“By their very nature, thrillers and novels of suspense typically have any number of twists. However, THE WIFE STALKER is teeming with them, and a big one that will leave you totally reeling. You may read this entire book thinking you know what’s going on. At least 99 percent won’t get it right. Once you’ve reached the aha moment, you’ll want to go back to the beginning to see the perspective in a whole new light. Liv Constantine really is that clever with this plot.” — Book Reporter
“If you’re looking for an entertaining binge-read, this book is for you. . . . The sister authors do a masterful job telling the story from Joanna and Piper’s points of view. Readers will not see the twist coming, and the nuances of the writing will ultimately come together in not one, but two 'what just happened?!?' moments.” — Portland Book Review
“The Constantine sisters are as astute observers of class as any literary writer I can think of; they understand how people signal their social status both consciously and subliminally. And class is really at the heart of The Wife Stalker, which I don’t want to spoil, so I will just say it’s about a woman who has a habit of marrying rich men who then have fatal accidents.” — CrimeReads, "10 Novels You Should Read This Month"
“The Wife Stalker is a daring, dastardly story with complex characters and a sinister plot. A read-through-the-night thriller that mesmerizes to the final page. An absolute must for your 2020 list!” — Samantha Downing, USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling author of My Lovely Wife
"Liv Constantine has done it again. Suspenseful and mesmerizing, Constantine’s third novel is a breakneck thriller that keeps you riveted from the first page to that explosive, jaw-dropping twist. If you’re looking for an addictive, up-all-night read, The Wife Stalker is as good as it gets." — Jennifer Hillier, award-winning author of Jar of Hearts and Little Secrets
The Constantine sisters (The Last Mrs. Parrish) have done it again: crafted a psychological thriller that keeps readers squirming until the last harrowing page, as it alternates between the two voices. Readers will enjoy the twists, turns, and surprises as the story unfolds. — Library Journal
“Tense and deliciously twisty, THE WIFE STALKER is a hall of mirrors in which Liv Constantine delivers sinister surprises with characteristic sleight of hand." — Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of The Nanny
“Thrillers with a big twist near the end make for good reading, and that’s what Liv Constantine’s recently published The Wife Stalker provides. It saves lots of its ammunition for the denouement, making it a page-turner—not surprising considering its authors, the sister duo Lynne and Valerie Constantine as Liv Constantine, have written nothing but best-sellers. . . . Both narrators are scarred. Neither is particularly sympathetic, but they keep the reader riveted with their machinations.” — Washington City Paper
“The Wife Stalker is skillfully constructed and fast-paced—a mischievously tense and engaging novel filled with plenty of twists and turns that keep readers spellbound and guessing until the very final page.” — New York Journal of Books
"In true Liv Constantine fashion, this story wraps with a twist that you just won’t see coming, no matter how hard you try. This one is definitely a must-read!" — Suspense Magazine
"The story's swift pace and twist in the final act should keep domestic thriller fans engaged.” — Shelf Awareness
“Compelling and surprising, THE WIFE STALKER is a fast-paced page-turner, full of unexpected twists and an ending I did not see coming. Impossible to put down!” — Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of The Last House Guest and The Girl from Widow Hills
"Oh, you sneaky sisters. Liv Constantine got me in the best possible way with The Wife Stalker, a wicked, whip-smart bag of tricks about a woman fighting to hold onto her family. Read this one in one long gulp, then read it again to see what you missed the first time through. I promise you won’t see it coming." — Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of Dear Wife
"Liv Constantine has done it again. THE WIFE STALKER is a masterclass of domestic suspense that keeps you up all night, turning the page, desperate to find out what happens next. Can't recommend this book enough! Fun, thrilling, and an ending you simply won't see coming!" — Matthew Farrell, bestselling author of WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
“An Addictive & Thrilling Follow-Up To 'The Last Mrs. Parrish'” — Bustle, on The Last Time I Saw You
“Increasingly ingenious twists...Constantine expertly ratchets up the tension.” — Publishers Weekly, on The Last Time I Saw You
"An absorbing tale . .. fans of Gone Girl and its successors will appreciate an ending that puts a pricey shoe on one foot and then changes it again . . . and again.” — Booklist, on The Last Time I Saw You
“Murder, threats and forgotten friendships come together in this thriller, from the author of the 2018 hit book The Last Mrs. Parrish.” — Newsweek, “Best Books of 2019 So Far,” on The Last Time I Saw You
“From murder and madness to secrets and fraught family relationships, the non-stop glitz gives this tale soapy sheen that makes for perfect escapist summer reading.” — New York Journal of Books on The Last Time I Saw You
“Elegantly constructed. . . . [A] terrific tale of brooding noir that echoes Patricia Highsmith and her classic Ripley series, as complex as it is ambitious.” — Providence Journal on The Last Time I Saw You
“A fun and fast-paced psychological thriller about two determined women who play a high stakes game of deception that only one can win.” — Reese Witherspoon on The Last Mrs. Parrish
“[A] wicked debut thriller… you’ll relish every diabolical turn.” — People on The Last Mrs. Parrish
“Utterly irresistible. . . . The Last Mrs. Parrish pivots on an enormous and satisfying twist. . . . the pages keep flying, flying, flying by.” — USA Today on The Last Mrs. Parrish
Gilly Macmillan
Tense and deliciously twisty, THE WIFE STALKER is a hall of mirrors in which Liv Constantine delivers sinister surprises with characteristic sleight of hand."
"10 Novels You Should Read This Month" CrimeReads
The Constantine sisters are as astute observers of class as any literary writer I can think of; they understand how people signal their social status both consciously and subliminally. And class is really at the heart of The Wife Stalker, which I don’t want to spoil, so I will just say it’s about a woman who has a habit of marrying rich men who then have fatal accidents.
Book Reporter
By their very nature, thrillers and novels of suspense typically have any number of twists. However, THE WIFE STALKER is teeming with them, and a big one that will leave you totally reeling. You may read this entire book thinking you know what’s going on. At least 99 percent won’t get it right. Once you’ve reached the aha moment, you’ll want to go back to the beginning to see the perspective in a whole new light. Liv Constantine really is that clever with this plot.
Riley Sager
"Wickedly entertaining. With THE WIFE STALKER, Liv Constantine proves once again to be a master of domestic malice."
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Exciting. . . . Strong storytelling draws in the reader — hook, line and sinker. . . . Constantine keeps the suspense high. A clever twist pulls The Wife Stalker in a unique direction that readers will savor.
Lisa Unger
A twisty, engrossing house of mirrors...smart, propulsive, and tricky-in-all-the-best-ways psychological suspense."
Samantha Downing
The Wife Stalker is a daring, dastardly story with complex characters and a sinister plot. A read-through-the-night thriller that mesmerizes to the final page. An absolute must for your 2020 list!
Portland Book Review
If you’re looking for an entertaining binge-read, this book is for you. . . . The sister authors do a masterful job telling the story from Joanna and Piper’s points of view. Readers will not see the twist coming, and the nuances of the writing will ultimately come together in not one, but two 'what just happened?!?' moments.
Jennifer Hillier
"Liv Constantine has done it again. Suspenseful and mesmerizing, Constantine’s third novel is a breakneck thriller that keeps you riveted from the first page to that explosive, jaw-dropping twist. If you’re looking for an addictive, up-all-night read, The Wife Stalker is as good as it gets."
USA Today on The Last Mrs. Parrish
Utterly irresistible. . . . The Last Mrs. Parrish pivots on an enormous and satisfying twist. . . . the pages keep flying, flying, flying by.
“Best Books of 2019 So Far Newsweek
Murder, threats and forgotten friendships come together in this thriller, from the author of the 2018 hit book The Last Mrs. Parrish.
Matthew Farrell
"Liv Constantine has done it again. THE WIFE STALKER is a masterclass of domestic suspense that keeps you up all night, turning the page, desperate to find out what happens next. Can't recommend this book enough! Fun, thrilling, and an ending you simply won't see coming!"
Suspense Magazine
"In true Liv Constantine fashion, this story wraps with a twist that you just won’t see coming, no matter how hard you try. This one is definitely a must-read!"
on The Last Time I Saw You Booklist
"An absorbing tale . .. fans of Gone Girl and its successors will appreciate an ending that puts a pricey shoe on one foot and then changes it again . . . and again.
Providence Journal on The Last Time I Saw You
Elegantly constructed. . . . [A] terrific tale of brooding noir that echoes Patricia Highsmith and her classic Ripley series, as complex as it is ambitious.
People on The Last Mrs. Parrish
[A] wicked debut thriller… you’ll relish every diabolical turn.
New York Journal of Books
“The Wife Stalker is skillfully constructed and fast-paced—a mischievously tense and engaging novel filled with plenty of twists and turns that keep readers spellbound and guessing until the very final page.
Washington City Paper
Thrillers with a big twist near the end make for good reading, and that’s what Liv Constantine’s recently published The Wife Stalker provides. It saves lots of its ammunition for the denouement, making it a page-turner—not surprising considering its authors, the sister duo Lynne and Valerie Constantine as Liv Constantine, have written nothing but best-sellers. . . . Both narrators are scarred. Neither is particularly sympathetic, but they keep the reader riveted with their machinations.”
Megan Miranda
Compelling and surprising, THE WIFE STALKER is a fast-paced page-turner, full of unexpected twists and an ending I did not see coming. Impossible to put down!
Shelf Awareness
"The story's swift pace and twist in the final act should keep domestic thriller fans engaged.
Reese Witherspoon on The Last Mrs. Parrish
A fun and fast-paced psychological thriller about two determined women who play a high stakes game of deception that only one can win.
on The Last Time I Saw You Bustle
An Addictive & Thrilling Follow-Up To 'The Last Mrs. Parrish'”
New York Journal of Books on The Last Time I Saw You
From murder and madness to secrets and fraught family relationships, the non-stop glitz gives this tale soapy sheen that makes for perfect escapist summer reading.
Kimberly Belle
"Oh, you sneaky sisters. Liv Constantine got me in the best possible way with The Wife Stalker, a wicked, whip-smart bag of tricks about a woman fighting to hold onto her family. Read this one in one long gulp, then read it again to see what you missed the first time through. I promise you won’t see it coming."
Good Morning America
"This psychological thriller told from multiple viewpoints had me gasping in surprise."
Providence Journal
Liv Constantine plants her flag squarely in land staked out by the likes of Lisa Gardner and Karin Slaughter with The Wife Stalker, a romantic thriller of rare depth and poise. . . . The Wife Stalker keeps you reading, and guessing, from the first page to the last. A sumptuous and scintillating read that disguises its secrets with a master’s touch.
null New York Journal of Books on The Last Time I Saw You
From murder and madness to secrets and fraught family relationships, the non-stop glitz gives this tale soapy sheen that makes for perfect escapist summer reading.
Booklist
"An absorbing tale . .. fans of Gone Girl and its successors will appreciate an ending that puts a pricey shoe on one foot and then changes it again . . . and again.
Bustle
An Addictive & Thrilling Follow-Up To 'The Last Mrs. Parrish'
Library Journal
05/01/2020
There is more than one side to a story! Joanna recounts how Leo Drakos leaves her and their two young children for another woman. Piper, "the other woman" tells how she set her sights on Leo and seduced him. Leo is instantly smitten with Piper and takes steps to remove Joanna permanently. Combining incriminating information and a payoff, he bribes Joanna to leave. He tells his two young children that their mother has died, and invites Piper into their family. Meanwhile, Joanna digs into Piper's duplicitous past, suspecting foul play. Piper assumes Joanna's place in the Drakos home, but resents the time and attention that Leo gives his children. Joanna refuses to retreat, continuing to delve into Piper's past. She secretly stalks her family, to safeguard the children and expose Piper's lies. VERDICT The Constantine sisters (The Last Mrs. Parrish) have done it again: crafted a psychological thriller that keeps readers squirming until the last harrowing page, as it alternates between the two voices. Readers will enjoy the twists, turns, and surprises as the story unfolds. [See Prepub Alert, 10/18/19.]—Mary Todd Chesnut, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights
JUNE 2020 - AudioFile
Two narrators voice strong-willed women facing off in this zippy thriller. Meghan Wolf sounds earnest and youthful as Piper Reynard, a woman running from her past by opening a wellness spa in Connecticut. She quickly finds love with Leo Drakos, much to the dismay of his wife, Joanna, who finds their family life suddenly ripped apart. Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan gives Joanna a frosty sophistication that is undercut by the intense devotion she feels for her children, making her sympathetic and complex. As Piper's clashes with Leo's children and Joanna build, the good faith of Wolf's tone instills cracks, and we question Piper’s motives. The women make faster and faster moves in their dangerous competition for maternal power before clashing in a jaw-dropping conclusion. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2020-03-02
A dual narrative pits a New Age beauty with a checkered past against an old-fashioned gal fighting for her kids and her man.
Piper Reynard has moved to Westport after the mysterious deaths of her husband and stepdaughter on the West Coast, and actually he was dead husband No. 2. Now she has changed her name, erased her internet footprint, and opened Harmony Healing Arts on the premises of a failed recovery center: “Maybe things were really going to be different here. They had to be. She couldn’t keep starting over and finding new places to hide.” In short order, Piper fixes her gaze on a handsome married lawyer named Leo Drakos. Leo has “always been a loyal and faithful husband,” so his wife, Joanna, is taken by surprise when he responds to Piper’s charms and almost immediately kicks her out of the house and cuts her off from their children. Neither her therapist nor her awful mother seems very sympathetic as Joanna’s whole life goes up in smoke. As Piper ruthlessly maneuvers her way into the family, having hot sex with Leo on her sailboat and forcing the children to drink green smoothies, Joanna turns private investigator in order to find out who this creepy platitude-spouter really is. A woman who hates children was a strong element of the author's first book, the very successful The Last Mrs. Parrish (2017); a somewhat watered-down version is in play here. In general, Constantine’s (actually two sisters writing in collaboration) third suspense novel relies on many of the same strategies as the first two, and they feel a bit mechanical at this point. The prose, too, is flat and the characters, thin.
Readers who love to be tricked by an unreliable narrator may forgive the shortcomings of this fast read.
