In Her Shadow

February 24, 2020
In this uninspired update of Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca from romance bestseller Miller (Dangerously Red), Colleen Roper, once the assistant to wealthy Michael Harris, discovers she’s pregnant with his child. Michael invites Colleen to move from her tiny San Francisco apartment to Ravenwood, his mansion north of the city, where her arrival is met with a frosty welcome from the housekeeper and the chef, both of whom were devoted to Michael’s wife, Joanna. Joanna and her mysterious disappearance six months earlier still haunt Michael and everyone at Ravenwood. Colleen becomes increasingly obsessed with Joanna as she struggles to measure up to Joanna’s image as a woman renowned for her looks, poise, and grace. When Joanna’s body is found in a grove near Ravenwood, Michael becomes the prime suspect in her murder and Colleen must prove Michael innocent or lose him forever. Miller neither creates characters to care about nor builds up any sense of terror. An unexpected plot twist can’t save this flatfooted remake of a classic. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary.

Starred review from March 15, 2020
Inspired by Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, Miller's latest is the modern-day tale of Colleen, who is desperate to begin a new, perfect life with her boss-turned-boyfriend Michael at his seaside mansion, Ravenwood. There are a few bumps in the road for this couple, not the least of which is that Colleen is five months pregnant, and Michael's wife Joanna mysteriously disappeared just six months previously. Determined to make it work, Colleen attempts to warm up to the household staff, all of whom remain devoted to their beloved Joanna. Colleen's steadfastness also wavers when Michael denies Colleen access to parts of the house, leaving her wondering if Michael might be hiding something. When bones are found across the street, and secrets from Michael and Joanna's relationship are slowly unearthed, detectives are on the case, and everyone is a suspect. Filled with spell-binding descriptions and well-paced storytelling, In Her Shadow is a fresh, suspenseful take on the classic gothic story. Told from several perspectives, this dark, suspenseful novel leaves the reader guessing to the very end.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)