whitneydaniell

Book #1: The Last Mrs. Parrish

Synopsis

Amber Parrish finally has everything she schemed for—her dream life, her dream home, and a reputation that commands attention. But with Jackson in prison and their fortune dwindling, her reign at the top is slipping fast. She needs a way out, and fast. The plan? Flee to Paris with what’s left of their money before Jackson gets released. But when he returns home early on good behavior, Amber’s escape is thwarted, and she’s forced into a dangerous game of deception, where the only rule is survival.

Meanwhile, Daphne Parrish vowed never to return to Bishops Harbor after escaping Jackson’s grasp. But when her daughter runs away, desperate to see her father, Daphne has no choice but to go back—for the summer, at least. Jackson swears he’s a changed man, but Daphne knows better.

As Amber and Jackson wage war on each other, a ghost from Amber’s past resurfaces, threatening to unravel everything. Forced into an uneasy alliance, Daphne, Amber, and Jackson must decide who to trust in a high-stakes battle where betrayal is currency, and no one makes it out unscathed. In this twisted game of cat and mouse, the question isn’t just who will win—it’s who will be left standing.

The Main Players

Following her divorce, Daphne and her two daughters have built a new life in California—about as far from Bishops Harbor as she could get. She’s focused on putting the pieces back together, creating a stable home for her girls, and finally moving on from Jackson Parrish’s suffocating grip. But when her oldest daughter, Tallulah, runs away from a class trip to D.C. in an attempt to see her father, Daphne is thrown right back into the chaos she worked so hard to escape.

She knows keeping her children from their father isn’t ideal—Tallulah already resents her for it—but the idea of returning to Bishops Harbor, even temporarily, feels like walking into a trap. Still, in an effort to keep the peace, she decides they’ll spend the summer there so the girls can be closer to Jackson. Deep sigh.

Meanwhile, Jackson Parrish is released from federal prison a month early on good behavior and is back in his palatial waterfront estate before the sun even sets. As far as he’s concerned, prison is in the past, and he’s ready to reclaim his life, his business, and—most disturbingly—his family. Never mind that he’s currently married to Amber and has a two-year-old son, Jax. Jackson has tunnel vision for Daphne and their daughters, fully expecting to pick up right where they left off. What a sicko.

But Jackson isn’t the only one scheming. After discovering Amber stole millions from him in an attempt to flee to Paris, he forces her into a deal: help him win Daphne back, and in return, he’ll help Amber take down an enemy from her past. The only problem? They’re both master manipulators who can’t be trusted—by anyone.

Thoughts on the Book:

This second installment from Liv Constantine had me thinking I’d love the “new” Daphne as much as the old one, but I was wrong. The original Daphne knew exactly who she was dealing with and never wavered. Sure, she wasn’t always a full step ahead, but she stayed sharp and kept her head on a swivel. This Daphne? I don’t know what happened to her in California, but it’s like she lost her fight.

I personally don’t get why she wasn’t honest with her children about their father—even if she didn’t want to traumatize them with details, she could have at least prepared them with the truth (with the help of a therapist). And going back to Bishops Harbor without a plan? Without informing the courts or getting a lawyer involved? She walked right into the lion’s den blind. And trusted a man she knew not to trust.

Then there’s the whole situation where Jackson gets the kids removed from her care. She finally gets him on the phone, confessing to drugging her drink, with Meredith right there… and I’m screaming—record him, Meredith! Why did it take so long for Daphne to get proof? He never even denied it! Insane.

And let’s talk about the sketchy doctor situation. The one trusted doctor just so happens to be out of town, and Daphne gets conveniently redirected to a new one? Girl, no. I would have never trusted an unknown doctor in Jackson Parrish’s territory, where he still has power and influence. Daphne, you were slippin’, girl.

Meanwhile, Daphne is trapped in some twisted Get Out simulation in her old house while Amber is off on a revenge tour in Texas because a dead man’s daughter embarrassed her? Ma’am, you are the embarrassment.

Honestly, the whole Amber/Daisy Ann storyline could have been left on the cutting room floor. I get that Daisy Ann’s backstory gave some breathing room in an otherwise heavy web of deceit, but it felt unnecessary. I kept waiting for some big reveal—maybe Daisy Ann’s family had shady dealings or some dark secrets—but nope. It just felt out of place. And that ending? Daisy Ann swooping in like some savior? Didn’t love it.

And not to be that person, but… does no one in this Mrs. Parrish universe know how to use Google?! Lana Crump had warrants in Nebraska, skipped town, shot her husband (a very wealthy and well-known man in Texas), and then casually reinvented herself as Amber Patterson—without ever changing her name?! And no one found her?! Be serious. I wanted Amber to be a seasoned con artist, with multiple aliases and a level of cunning that matched her ambition. Instead, she’s all impulse, no strategy. She acts out of insecurity and desperation—two traits that don’t exactly make for a successful lifelong criminal. Also, how was she even able to board a plane and leave Texas? Who are the cops on this case, Pinky and the Brain?!

Final Verdict:

Solid 3-star read. Lana’s past in Nebraska had plenty of skeletons—Daisy Ann and Jake Crawford weren’t necessary. That said, I did enjoy Birdie. Daisy Ann just felt like another rich woman for Lana to despise, but she already had enough resentment in her life. The story could have explored that instead and landed in the same place—Amber in jail.

As for Jackson? He was never redeemable. Daphne should have never trusted him. And the whole drugging all the drinks twist? Wild. How was he so sure his own kids wouldn’t drink them?! Also, if he was paddleboarding with the girls, where exactly did he disappear to when they went beyond the buoy? And why didn’t the girls tell the cops or DCF that Jackson—not Daphne—was watching them? Maybe I’m being too critical.

It wasn’t a bad read—I finished it in a day. The writing was solid, no complaints there. I wouldn’t personally call this a thriller, but if you liked Big Little Lies, you might enjoy this. Lots of drama, lots to unpack. The ending is clearly left open-ended, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s another book in the works. We’ll see.

Acknowledgment:

I originally received this ARC from NetGalley but wasn’t able to finish it at the time. I’d still like to thank them for the opportunity to read an advanced copy and provide feedback.