The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine: Book Summary, Characters, and Review

Ambition, deceit, and the chase for the ultimate life are some of the key elements in this psychological thriller entitled The Last Mrs. Parrish. It tells the story of an outsider, Amber Patterson, who manipulates her way into the lives of one of the most privileged couples in the community-Daphne and Jackson Parrish-and the unfolding twist and turns revealing the dark secrets hidden beneath the glittering surfaces of their lives.

Author	Liv Constantine
Publication date	October 17, 2017
Goodreads Rating	3,97
Page count	560 pages
Genres	Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Adult, Contemporary

The Last Mrs. Parrish Summary

Amber Patterson is tired of her mediocre, invisible life and craves wealth, power, and the glamorous existence of the elite. She sets her sights on Daphne Parrish, the wife of Jackson Parrish-a wealthy and influential businessman. Amber befriends Daphne by faking a personal tragedy: the loss of a sister to cystic fibrosis, the same illness that claimed Daphne’s sister. This shared “experience” allows Amber to infiltrate Daphne’s world as a trusted confidant.

The more ingratiated Amber becomes with Daphne and her family, the more she subtly erodes Daphne’s self-confidence and positions herself as an attractive alternative to Jackson. Convinced she’s one step away from appropriating Daphne’s life for herself, nothing is as it seems.

Midway through the book, the perspective switches to Daphne, and it is revealed that Jackson is not the perfect husband Amber thinks he is but rather controlling, emotionally abusive, and physically violent. Daphne has been planning her escape, biding her time until the perfect moment when she can finally be free and her daughters safe.

While Amber overplays her hand and walks right into Daphne’s trap, at the end, Daphne reveals Jackson’s abuse, secures her independence, and leaves Amber stuck in a toxic relationship with Jackson, harnessed into the nightmare she once wanted.

It ends with Daphne leading a life of her own choices, absolutely unfettered by her past, whereas Amber’s so-called dream of a perfect life with status and wealth crashes into noxious reality.

The Last Mrs. Parrish Review

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine is a salaciously delightful psychological thriller that really weaves a great deal of ambition, deceit, abuse, and empowerment together. The novel keeps the intrigue for the readers with the dual perspective narration while peeling away layer by layer of deceptions to show just how dangerous appearances can be.

Strengths

• Character Development: Amber Patterson is an enthralling anti-heroine-conniving and ambitious, loathsome yet fascinating at the same time. Daphne Parrish, on the other hand, is a very archetype of a trophy wife until her depth, resilience, and agency are revealed later in the novel.
• Dual Narratives: The first half of the book is told through Amber’s voice, full of suspense as her well-calculated manipulations unfold. The switch to Daphne’s point of view brings a surprising and satisfying twist, reframing the story and revealing hidden layers of abuse and strategy.
• Twists and Turns: The twists in the story are well-played, especially the shift in tone once Daphne’s perspective is introduced. This turns what could have been a simple story of envy into a complex one of survival and revenge.
• Themes: The novel deals with heavyweight issues such as domestic abuse, toxic relationships, and societal pressures to put up appearances. It also celebrates female empowerment and resilience as Daphne overcomes her circumstances on her own terms.

Weaknesses

• Predictability: Although the twists are engaging, the seasoned thriller reader may anticipate some of the reveals, especially the one involving Amber’s downfall.
• One-Dimensional Male Characters: Jackson Parrish, though crucial to the story, is a typical abusive husband character. The lack of nuance might disappoint readers who have gotten used to expecting more depth in their characters.
• Pacing Issues: The first half, filled with Amber’s scheming, is sometimes slow. However, the second half picks up dramatically, and a patient reader is satisfyingly rewarded.

Overall Impression

The Last Mrs. Parrish works as a psychological thriller with a strong emotional core. It gets the balance between suspense and character-driven storytelling just right, and for that reason, it rises above many in the domestic thriller genre. Using some familiar tropes, the unique dual-narrative structure and focus on female empowerment make this a different read.

The Last Mrs. Parrish Characters

Each character takes a different route in moving the plot along to bring out a web of deceit, a power play, and at last, the revenge. Daphne and Amber are polar opposites, providing a sort of centric force, one pulling outward against the tension that Jackson facilitates through much of the conflict.

• Amber Patterson: Ambitious manipulative woman envying everything that Daphne has and will eliminate her to become what she is. Overconfident and tricky, her manipulative schemes come finally to fall into her life.
• Daphne Parrish: The seemingly perfect socialite and Jackson’s wife. Behind her polished veneer, she is strong, resourceful, and quietly planning her escape from an abusive marriage.
• Jackson Parrish: Daphne’s wealthy, controlling, and abusive husband. Outwardly charming but cruel and manipulative behind closed doors.
• Tallulah and Bella Parrish: Daphne and Jackson’s daughters. They are young, innocent, and loved by their mother. Daphne’s desire to protect her children is key to her intentions of leaving Jackson.
• Meredith Parker: She is a friend of Daphne’s within her social circle. Meredith is a loyal friend to Daphne but remains oblivious to her abuse. Meredith is a figure representative of the high-class lifestyle Daphne lives.
• Dr. Kaussman: A psychologist working with Daphne. In this search, Dr. Kaussman is empathetic and supportive, and becomes more of a lifeline for Daphne.
• Other Connections to Amber’s Past: Amber’s ex-boss and acquaintances in her past expose her story of manipulation and lies.

The Last Mrs. Parrish vs The Housemaid

Both The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine and The Housemaid by Freida McFadden are psychological thrillers that delve into manipulation, secrets, and the dark complexities of domestic life. Here’s how the two compare:

Themes and Premises

• The Last Mrs. Parrish
  • Centers on ambition, envy, and the façade of a perfect life. Amber schemes to replace Daphne Parrish as the wife of a wealthy man, only to uncover the abusive reality beneath the glittering surface.
  • Focuses on female empowerment, the duality of appearances, and revenge.
• The Housemaid
  • Follows Millie, a young woman hired as a live-in housemaid for a wealthy couple, only to uncover disturbing secrets about the family she serves.
  • Explores themes of trust, power dynamics, and survival, with a heavy focus on the suspense surrounding the employer-employee relationship.

Tone and Writing Style

• The Last Mrs. Parrish
  • Elegant and polished, with a dual-perspective narrative that gradually unveils shocking twists.
  • Relies on psychological tension and character depth.
• The Housemaid
  • Fast-paced and gripping, with shorter chapters and cliffhangers.
  • More straightforward but packed with surprises that keep readers on edge.

Characters

• The Last Mrs. Parrish
  • Features two strong female leads: the manipulative Amber and the resilient Daphne.
  • Jackson Parrish serves as the villain, embodying wealth and control but with a dark side.
  • Focused on character-driven intrigue and emotional depth.
• The Housemaid
  • Millie, the protagonist, is resourceful but flawed, navigating a morally ambiguous world.
  • Nina Winchester, the employer, is a mysterious, erratic character, while her husband, Andrew, adds layers of suspicion.
  • The plot revolves around unraveling their secrets rather than deep emotional introspection.

Plot Structure

• The Last Mrs. Parrish
  • Slow-burn with a dramatic mid-book perspective shift that recontextualizes the story.
  • Focuses on manipulation and revenge, building to a satisfying resolution.
• The Housemaid
  • A more traditional thriller structure, with twists and reveals scattered throughout.
  • Emphasizes suspense, with a shocking ending that keeps readers guessing.

Key Differences

1. Focus on Social Commentary:
   • The Last Mrs. Parrish critiques wealth, privilege, and societal expectations.
   • The Housemaid leans into suspense and the thrill of uncovering dark secrets.
2. Character Complexity:
   • The Last Mrs. Parrish offers more character depth and a nuanced exploration of abuse and resilience.
   • The Housemaid prioritizes plot-driven suspense with less focus on character backstory.
3. Pacing:
   • The Last Mrs. Parrish is a slow build with a rich payoff.
   • The Housemaid is fast-paced, ideal for readers who prefer immediate action.

Which Book Should You Read?

• If you enjoy elegant storytelling, layered characters, and a slow-burn psychological thriller, The Last Mrs. Parrish is for you.
• If you prefer fast-paced, suspenseful thrillers with shocking twists, The Housemaid is a better pick.

Both books deliver engaging reads with dark secrets and unexpected turns, appealing to fans of domestic suspense and psychological intrigue.