A review by cakt1991
In Their Shadows by Briana Cole

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

I tried a different book by Briana Cole a while ago, and while I wasn’t won over, I was intrigued enough by the premise of In Their Shadows to give her another try. And I was blown away. I’m a sucker for thrillers, especially by Black authors, that really lean into the mess, and boy, did this one ever. 

The plot is so intricate, what with the different personas and lives April inhabits, and I love the way this was conveyed, with it being mostly in the present with her juggling her two marriages, with a creeping specter from her past coming back to haunt her. But just when you think you have the story figured out, it pulls a twist, and then another, and I really didn’t know what to expect, but I loved where it ended up. 

Because amid all these deeply messy characters is an analysis of April’s psyche. Her mother, Erika, looms large in her orbit, having a massive influence, yet not filling the typical maternal role from the outset, and the dysfunction in their relationship plays a role in shaping who April is, and comes to fruition as the plot unfolds in a beautifully messy way. 

This was a deliciously compelling read, and I’d recommend it to lovers of domestic thrillers.