Skip to main content

Maribelle’s Shadow by Susannah Marren | Book blogger

Book review:

This is a book about money - lots of it -, power and how family secrets can affect lives and keep a family divided.

Maribelle, Caroline and Raleigh Barrows are sisters. Maribelle is the eldest and Raleigh the youngest by ten years. She is the most sensitive and Caroline is the most driven. Maribelle is the Editor of the “PB Confidential”, a magazine she has made more successful, and her husband Samuel Walker was CFO of the family business. Maribelle and Samuel were sweethearts when they lived in Kesgrave, located in the panhandle of Florida, on the Gulf Coast. 

The Barrow sisters and their mother are all well known in Palm Beach Society. They always dress to impress and support philanthropic causes that are popular. The three sisters appear to be close friends but are really in competition with each other. 

Maribelle is the oldest sister. As the novel begins, her beloved husband, Samuel, has just died in a boating accident. Even though she knew that he was unfaithful, she accepted it so that they could keep their place as the IT couple in local society. When their mother uncovers the fact that there was money missing from the family company, all fingers point to Samuel.

Caroline is married to Samuel's best friend and they both work at the family business. She knows that her husband knows more about Samuel and the missing money but won't share information with her.

Raleigh is the youngest sister. She appears to have a good marriage but she is actually having an affair and is being very deceptive to her husband. She and her husband are struggling artists and her husband has never really been accepted by her mother like Maribelle and Caroline's husbands.

Now Maribelle wondered who his last mistress was and what happened to the millions of dollars that were missing from the family business? Would she be responsible for his debts? Who knew what he had been doing? Was it his best friend Travis who knew his secrets? Who was the real Samuel Walker, and what were his secrets? 

This author has undressed Palm Beach and its residents so that their warts and foibles are visible, and the underbelly of the landscape of Palm Beach is exposed, with all of its weaknesses and strengths laid bare. She has used the fictional Barrows family as the vehicle to define the entitled and their lives.

Overall, This is fast-paced, multi-layered, yet easy to follow storyline,  narrated by each of the three sisters and told from their individual perspectives, in short, well-signposted chapters. I would recommend this to those who love to read books about high society and drama filled families. People who love reality shows or soap operas, this book is for you!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Taming the Turbulent Mind: Yogic Meditation and Mindfulness by Deekay

 Taming the Turbulent Mind: Yogic Meditation and Mindfulness for Combating Overthinking, Achieving Stress Relief, and Attaining Absolute Peace  Deekay | Book Review What is turbulence? Any thoughts, or have you ever tried to tame any animal? I remember watching circus shows organised once a year in the city's open area for all the locals to enjoy. There I used to cherish the person who tamed the elephants or the lion (if any). But today I thought of taming my mind. Every second our thoughts are randomly moving and giving us goosebumps. Nowadays people have so many threads of work looming in their minds that they feel like completing but fail to prioritise. To dive into a river is not easy. But only a few people have the calibre to do that. The same is true with diving in your mind. This practice needs calmness of mind and anxiety levels to be very low. I had heard about meditation and its techniques to apply in your daily routine, but when I stumbled upon this book, my myths w...

New Year RESOLUTIONS | Mistakes One should Not Repeat

 NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS: Introduction: Every year begins with a loving note full of excitement, energy, and plans to fulfil that year. A new year imparts lots of opportunities to reflect on the past and set our intentions for the future. Many of us, including me, are just promising ourselves to complete these resolutions but fail to take time for ourselves in our busy schedules. Is 2025 any different? Let's see. What are Resolutions? Resolutions  are more than fleeting promises—they are a chance to realign with our values, pursue personal growth, and create meaningful change. Whether we focus on health, improve relationships, or achieve   long-term dreams, resolutions help us stay purposeful throughout the year.  As we enter 2025, let’s take a moment to set realistic and inspiring goals that will guide us toward a fulfilling and balanced life. New Year Resolutions for 2025 Prioritize Health: Make Healthier Food Choices:  When it comes to food, our tongue is...

The Health And Wealth Paradox: How to Use First Principles Thinking to Achieve Both Ankush Datar , Mihir Patki

 The Health And Wealth Paradox: How to Use First Principles Thinking to Achieve Both  Ankush Datar ,  Mihir Patki | Book Review Investing is known as an interdisciplinary practice, but we would say so is health. In fact, the principles of health and wealth are so deeply intertwined that no one can learn from either discipline and apply the lessons across both. This book dives deep into the timeless link between smart investing and healthy eating. The book improves on complex subjects like smart dieting, wellness schedules, and monetary preparation. The creators draw matches between wellness and money, showing how standards like compounding apply to both. Their recommendations are commonsense, feasible, and grounded in private insight, making them simple to connect with and follow. This book is a straightforward, simple way to deal with setting your well-being and funds up. It's a very fun read stacked with significant counsel. The writers work hard at building trust by sh...