Chloe

A Novel of Secrets and Lies

De: Connie Briscoe

Narrado por: Chanté McCormick

“Entertaining. . . . Briscoe folds some perceptive class critiques into her intoxicating blend of romance and suspense. This offers plenty of gothic pleasures.”—Publishers Weekly

New York Times bestselling author Connie Briscoe updates Daphne Du Maurier’s classic Rebecca in this chilling tale of domestic suspense centered on a spirited woman named Angel who marries a Black billionaire, only to discover that he remains haunted by his first wife who took her own life—or did she?

A mansion haunted by the ghost of a cool, charismatic first wife. A second bride from a small Southern town who may be in over her head. A brooding billionaire who grows icier the more his new wife questions him about the past.

In Connie Briscoe’s propulsive and entertaining novel, the elements of one of the most famous Gothic novels of all time is reimagined in surprising, yet still suspenseful, ways.

Angel is a private chef for the Harrisons, one of the most powerful Black families on Martha’s Vineyard. Impossibly supercilious Jillian Harrison often spends the entire summer on the island, and every August the family throws a lavish garden party. This year’s guest list includes Everett Bruce, an influential Black billionaire still in mourning for Chloe, his first wife, who com­mitted suicide.

To Jillian’s surprise, Bruce becomes enchanted with Angel. Soon he and Angel begin a whirlwind romance that culminates in marriage, and Angel moves to Riverwild, her husband’s massive estate along the Poto­mac River.

Though Angel is a confident and strong woman, over time she begins to feel the enigmatic Chloe’s ghost. Not helping matters is Ida, Everett’s menacing sister who, like her brother, cannot seem to let the dead woman go, nor explain why Chloe would kill herself. The more questions Angel asks, the more vitriolic Ida grows and the more melancholic Everett becomes, reveal­ing a far less charming side of himself. Just how well does Angel know Everett?

The answers lie somewhere in Riverwild . . .

©2025 Connie Briscoe (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

Good performance, ho hum storyline

Very predictable story line, which got old fast. I almost did not finish it. Performance was well done.

Beautifully written and narrated

Engaging and suspenseful! Couldn’t stop listening to find out what really happened to Chloe! Angel was definitely going to get to the bottom of it! Loved the narrator, kept me engaged.

About average

First and foremost, I haven’t read Rebecca, but if you have, Chloe is the retelling.

Secondly, I listened to the audiobook while simultaneously reading the physical book The audiobook itself was good Chanté McCormick did a good job.

Angel is a private chef for a wealthy Black family during the summer in Martha’s Vineyard. While there, she meets Everett, a billionaire who recently lost his wife, named Chloe. These two instantly hit it off and spent a lot of time together, which was enjoyable to watch them fall in love. However, the second half of the second part is where things truly became intriguing. Revelations were made, and I couldn’t help but shake my head in disbelief. Perhaps I should be a detective myself. Angel genuinely surprised me, though. Wish things would have picked up sooner in the book but overall it was a good book. I would pick up another book by this author.

Jillian was such a hater.

Thank you NetGalley, Colored Pages Book Tour, and Amistad Books for my gifted copy.

The many suspenceful surprises

I live in Maryland and have vacationed in Martha’s Vinyard so the scenery and locations described were very vivid for me. I loved the unimaginable twists and the authors brilliant way of allowing me to use my imagination to fill in how and why characters transitioned along the story’s timeline. Should be turned into a Lifetime movie!

Thrilling

A wonderfully written dramatic weave of love, devotion and adventure. The storytelling is a thrilling journey through relationships!

Shades of Manderly

This is a 21st century re-telling of Daphne DeMaurier's famous novel, "Rebecca." While I appreciate the exposure of this classic to new audiences, I can't help but lament the continuing lack of creativity in the arts. It seems that everything is derivative. That being said, this is a adequate update. Narration was meh, but overall, it was not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

Anticlimactic

I don't understand why the author spent 1/2 of the book detailing the initial meeting/dating of the couple and then "BAM" we are married and moving to the mansion. It felt like a long run for a short slide. After all the "suspense" the ending was very "MEH". It could have been so much more.

very well written

this is not my usual genre of preference but it was a very good story.

Setting and Everett

I appreciate that Everette was a Black billionaire & Angel’s initial independence. I did not like her early clinginess, & inability to entertain herself. As the Lady of Riverwild, she should have immediately asserted her authority to Ida. I did not appreciate Everettte deserting his wife so early in their marriage.

Twists and Turns

This was a gem and kept me in my toes. I absolutely loved this book. I read it in one day.