From the TBR Pile: Blog Tour: The Shadow Writer by Eliza Maxwell

Author:Eliza Maxwell

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Date of publication: May 2019

Every writer has a story. Some are deadlier than others.

Aspiring author Graye Templeton will do anything to escape the horrific childhood crime that haunts her. After a life lived in shadows, she’s accepted a new job as protégé to Laura West, influential book blogger and wife of an acclaimed novelist. Laura’s connections could make Graye’s publishing dreams a reality. But there’s more to Laura than meets the eye.

Behind the veneer of a charmed life, Laura’s marriage is collapsing. Her once-lauded husband is descending into alcoholism and ruin and bringing Laura nearer to the edge.

As the two women form a bond that seems meant to be, long-buried secrets claw their way into the present, and the line between friendship and obsession begins to blur, forcing each to decide where her loyalties lie. Running from the past is a dangerous game, and the loser could end up dead.

I loved The Widow's Watcher (my review), so I had really high hope for The Shadow Writer. That is kind of the down side of loving a book by an author. You end up having high expectations for the next book that you read by them. I wish I could say I loved this one as well. It ended up being OK for me. I feel like the plot had a good backbone, but the body just didn't fill out the way it could have. It just felt very unbalanced to me.

The first 60% of the book, nothing happens. The Time lines were jumpy and I had to re-read parts to figure out if I missed something. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters very well, so by the end, I wasn't really invested in them. The last 35ish% was the best part of the book. There were twists and a couple of surprises. I did call the big one in the end. I just wish the rest of the book had me as on the edge of my seat as the last 35%. I know that I won't love everything by an author, so I'm not giving up on this one. It is a fairly quick book to read, so I would recommend trying it out.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Eliza Maxwell

Eliza Maxwell is the author of The Widow’s Watcher, The Unremembered Girl, The Grave Tender, and The Kinfolk. She writes fiction from her home in Texas, which she shares with her ever-patient husband, two impatient kids, a ridiculous English setter, and a bird named Sarah. An artist and writer, a dedicated introvert, and a British-cop-drama addict, she enjoys nothing more than sitting on the front porch with a good cup of coffee.

Connect with Eliza

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Instagram tour:

Monday, May 6th: @diaryofaclosetreader

Tuesday, May 7th: @sarahs_reads

Wednesday, May 8th: @readingbetweenthe_wines

Thursday, May 9th: @lifeinlit

Thursday, May 9th: @jennblogsbooks

Friday, May 10th: @jessicamap

Friday, May 10th: @readingwithmere

Sunday, May 12th: @booknerdingout