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 Harrison’s, one of the most powerful Black families on Martha’s Vineyard. Impossibly supercilious Jillian Harrison often spends the entire summer on the island, while her husband Irvin and their twenty-nine-year-old daughter Norma commute from Washington, DC, on weekends. They always join Jillian for the month of August, when the family throws a lavish garden party on the expansive lawn that is attended by nearly one hundred guests. This year’s guests include Everette Bruce, an influential Black billionaire, still in mourning for his first wife, Chloe, who committed suicide.

To the imperious Jillian’s surprise, Bruce ignores her and instead becomes enchanted with Angel. Eager to get away from the controlling Mrs. Harrison, Angel accepts Everett’s invitation to become the private chef at Riverwild, his massive mansion along the Potomac River. Her meals and company provide comfort Everett, and soon he and Angel begin a whirlwind romance that culminates in marriage.

Though Angel is confident and strong, over time, she begins to feel the enigmatic Chloe's ghost. The house’s staff, the head housekeeper Ida—a menacingly rigid thorn in Angel’s side—and even Everett, cannot seem to let the dead woman go, nor explain why the wealthy, stunning woman would kill herself. The more questions Angel asks, the more melancholic Everett becomes, revealing a far less charming side of himself. Just how well does Angel know Everett? Did she marry in haste?

The answers lie somewhere in Riverwild . . .

©2025 Connie Briscoe (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

Twists and Turns

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

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!

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.