Spotlight on: Maribelle’s Shadow

I was invited to spotlight this book by Deb Zipf at Merrylmossmedia.com. Thanks.

About the book:

The only thing that spreads faster than gossip in Palm Beach is news of a mysterious death.

Maribelle, the eldest of the three Barrows sisters, deserves to be envied. Not only for her plum position as editorial director of Palm Beach Confidential, but for her impressive husband, Samuel, and his involvement in the family business. Together, they present themselves as the “it” couple of Palm Beach. She might have even aced her two stunning younger sisters.

But things aren’t always what they seem. When Samuel unexpectedly dies, suspicion around the Barrows family swirls. Suddenly the authenticity of their socially ambitious mother, Lucina, and their lavish existence of mansions, prestige and couture clothes are in question. Who are the Barrows, what happened to Samuel, neighbors begin to ask.

As their carefully constructed image unravels, each sister realizes she must fend for herself. Yet the pathway out is steep, and Samuel’s death casts a long shadow. Until the price of escape is too dear and worth any risk. Until the winner takes all.

A compelling tale of betrayal and lies, Maribelle’s Shadow is a memorable novel about what lurks beneath family loyalty

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beaufort Books (June 27, 2023)

About the author:

Susan Shapiro Barash is an American author of 13 nonfiction women’s issue books including Tripping the Prom Queen, Toxic Friends, and You’re Grounded Forever, but First Let’s Go Shopping. Her current non-fiction book, A Passion for More: Affairs That Make or Break Us” is a study of today’s women and infidelity. Her novels are Between the Tides, A Palm Beach Wife, and A Palm Beach Scandal and her latest, Maribelle’s Shadow. Susan’s books focus on the gender divide, how women are positioned in our society and their innermost feelings about themselves as daughters, mothers, sisters, friends, wives, mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, rivals, colleagues, and lovers. She has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The New York Post, The Chicago Tribune, Elle, ‘O’, and Marie Claire. She has appeared on national television including The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS, CNN, and MSNBC. She has been a guest on NPR and Sirius Radio. Several of her titles have been optioned by Lifetime and HBO.She has served as a literary panelist for the New York State Council on the Arts, as a judge for the International Emmys and as Vice Chair of the Mentoring Committee of the Women’s Leadership Board at the JFK School of Government, Harvard.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A slew of family secrets, sisterly betrayals, and the suspicious drowning churn the Palm Beach waters in this wickedly entertaining novel by Susannah Marren.” — Mary Simses, author of THE WEDDING THIEF

“With a penetrating eye for tribal nuance, Susannah Marren returns to Palm Beach, where wearing the wrong shade of lipstick can be social suicide. Maribelle’s Shadow explores how a mother and three daughters transplanted from Nowhere play the ambition game with chilling skill. Get ready for a mystery surrounding one husband’s death, and don’t expect Little Women.” — Sally Koslow, best-selling author of THE REAL MRS. TOBIAS

“Another stunning novel from Susannah Marren set in Palm Beach. Exploring the intricacies and interplay of family loyalty, romance, and high society, Marren never ceases to amaze. This one will keep you turning pages!” — Jacqueline Friedland, USA Today best-selling author of HE GETS THAT FROM ME