The Lives of Others

A Novel

De: Ellen Won Steil

Narrado por: Michelle H. Lee

A young woman is drawn into the lives of a seemingly perfect New England family. But not everything is as it appears in a riveting novel of psychological suspense by the author of Becoming Marlow Fin.

After ten hectic years in Seoul, burned-out expat Radley Asher is promised a change—working the fall season at an apple farm in idyllic Fox Isle, Maine. Hoping for solitude, Radley is instead welcomed by the effusive Clark family as one of their own. A loner like Radley finds it almost disarming.

But what’s not to like? Beau and Livia are doting parents, and their three children are absolute delights. Still, Radley prefers to keep her distance and just watch the lives of the Clarks unfold from her window. For Radley, as she’s pulled deeper into the family dynamics, watching becomes an obsession.

Then one night the orchard is set ablaze and the family is thrown into chaos. Who would do such a terrible thing? When one of the Clark children suddenly goes missing, the veneer of the perfect family is set to shatter. And in the aftermath, too many secrets stand to be exposed—including Radley’s.

©2025 by Ellen Won Steil. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“The Lives of Others is a slow burn suspense about dark obsession and how secrets can rot us from the inside out. Through the eyes of a compelling unreliable narrator with a hidden past of her own, Ellen Won Steil keeps up the tension while delivering twist after delicious twist. It all leads up to a shocking climax that, just like the protagonist, you won’t be able to look away from.”—Jamie Lee Sogn, author of Salthouse Place

“Full of lush prose and long held secrets, The Lives of Others is a searing psychological tale and a thoughtful exploration of motherhood that builds to the very last twist.”—Jen Marie Wiggins, author of The Good Bride

“An emotionally layered meditation on motherhood, guilt, and grief, The Lives of Others is at once a life-affirming family drama and a suspenseful story filled with shocking secrets.”—K.T. Nguyen, author of You Know What You Did

A Gripping, Emotionally Charged Listen

The Lives of Others by Ellen Won Steil, narrated by Michelle H. Lee is an absolute triumph an audiobook that blends gripping suspense with profound emotional resonance, keeping listeners captivated from start to finish. Steil’s intricate storytelling, paired with the narrator’s skillful delivery, creates a web of secrets, lies, and tangled relationships that builds unrelenting tension with every chapter.
The plot is sharp and layered, delivering unexpected twists that feel both shocking and inevitable. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, another revelation left me reeling. The narrator’s pacing and tone amplify the suspense, making each twist hit even harder. Yet, what truly sets this audiobook apart is its emotional depth. The characters, brought to life through Lee’s nuanced performance, are achingly human, grappling with guilt, grief, and the weight of past choices in ways that feel profoundly authentic.
I found myself unable to pause, desperate to uncover what happened next, yet lingering on the raw, vulnerable moments Steil and the narrator capture so beautifully. This is the kind of audiobook that lingers in your mind long after the final chapter.
Highly recommended for fans of psychological thrillers who crave emotional complexity, elevated by a stellar narration that brings every moment to life.

Great story

I didn’t think I would enjoy this book, but I was wrong. The story was so good and took me in from the first few pages. Unexpected stories within and a great ending. Can’t wait to find more books from the author.

good read

thank you Ellen. you are very talented. slow at first but it leads to a twisted ending. keep writing

Mommy

The book was not what I was expecting from the very beginning. The two story lines going on at the same time was sometimes confusing and the main character was NOT somebody I would have as a friend. As a matter of fact no adult character in this book was worth having as a friend or really a family member. The beginning of the story felt like it dragged on forever. The book was a psychological thriller but where was the thrills. The book was about a very happy family, living their best lives, and owning their own thriving business. It took a lot of chapters to get to the "thrilling" part and when we finally got there it just was not exciting at all. I liked the story. It just needed to be more intense.

DNF. This woman can't write

I didn't get very far. The very first paragraph was loaded with an obscene amount of adjectives and adverbs. It didn't get much better.