Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Mrs. Parrish #0.5

The First Shot

Rate this book
In this gripping prequel to the blockbuster best seller and Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick The Last Mrs. Parrish, listeners will discover exactly how Amber Patterson transformed from small-town girl to master manipulator - after all, practice makes perfect.

Amber Patterson has many secrets. This much is clear when she sneaks out of her home in the dead of night and hitchhikes across state lines to meet up with a man she hasn’t seen or spoken to since high school graduation. So begins her desperate attempt to leave her old life behind, and she’ll use everything and everyone at her disposal, from social media stalking to the kindness of unsuspecting strangers, to get where she needs to go. It’s not long before she’s ready for the main event: armed with a new identity and a new purpose, she heads to Gunnison, Colorado, preparing herself to meet her future husband among the wealthy vacationers.

Even the smallest misstep could derail this carefully-laid plan, and in the end, can you even truly outrun your past? The First Shot is an absorbing, binge-able thriller that shows just how far some will go to build the lives they want.

85 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2020

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

Liv Constantine

12 books8,657 followers
Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Lynne and Valerie are New York Times and international bestselling authors with over two million copies sold worldwide. Their books have been translated into 29 languages, are available in 34 countries, and are in development for both television and film. Their books have been praised by The Washington Post, USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Their debut novel, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH, is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection. Visit Liv at www.livconstantine.com

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
3,865 (22%)
4 stars
6,699 (38%)
3 stars
5,525 (31%)
2 stars
1,163 (6%)
1 star
212 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,024 reviews
Profile Image for Sheyla ✎.
1,918 reviews592 followers
May 16, 2021
This was a short Audible original. Perfect for a couple of hours commute!

I haven't read The Last Mrs. Parrish but now I know about Amber Patterson and her deceiving ways.

Amber is unhappy with her life and she has decided to create a new one. She moves to Colorado in the hope of arranging a meeting with a man that can give her what she believes she's entitled to. She will make it happen. Are things going to go as planned or is it going to backfire?

The narrator did a great job of keeping things moving and interesting.

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs story
4/5 Narration

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Profile Image for Chantal.
811 reviews702 followers
June 23, 2023
This prequel to "The Last Mrs. Parish" is absolutely fantastic! It has left me with a strong desire to do a re-read, just to delve deeper into Amber's character again. She's quite a fascinating individual, and this additional element added the perfect touch to the overall story. I absolutely adored it!
Profile Image for Kay.
2,179 reviews1,110 followers
January 17, 2022
This is a prequel to The Last Mrs. Parrish which I have not read. WOW, this is so good. This novella is included with Audible (USA).

The story follows the main character "Amber Patterson", an unlikable but fascinating bad bad girl who is running from the law. She dreams of a better life and with her new identity, Amber arrives at a vacation spot of the rich in Colorado to make a catch. I so despise her, but dang this is very entertaining!

Excellent narration by Suzanne Elise Freeman. 2 hrs and 35 mins
Profile Image for Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill.
670 reviews598 followers
April 12, 2021
Oh Amber girl...I didn't realize how much I missed you! I loved, loved, loved this! I am going to guarantee if you loved The Last Mrs. Parrish as much I did, you will love this little prequel!

I had no idea that I needed to know what Amber was up to before we met her...but I did need to know! Amber did not disappoint..again...

When Amber sets out to do something, well she gets the job done..no matter who she steps on. Wickedly fun! You certainly could listen to this before reading The Last Mrs Parrish, however I think it would be more enjoyable to listen after! What a fun listen this was. The audiobook was fantastic!
Profile Image for Danielle.
993 reviews580 followers
June 24, 2024
This prequel was pretty good. 👍 This woman is the epitome of evil.
April 12, 2021
Hi! (Today) my name is Amber, and I’ve just finished writing my memoir, The First Shot or To Death Do Us Part, and you are welcome to your very own signed copy, and a little hoochie coochie on the side. All you need to show me is that you are a gazillionaire and are willing to throw all your money my way. And by the way, it would be really helpful if you were stupid as all get-out and gullible to the point of idiocy. I was a convicted felon on bail, but heck, so what if my parents lose the house to the bail bondsman? They shouldn’t complain; after all, I left them their baby grandchild to keep them company in their golden years. So, hey, step right up! You just need you to show me that you live in a mansion with servants and cars galore and I will autograph your copy…What’s that you say? You worry that you are too old for me? Think again. I only have eyes for you(r money)! I’ll take care of you – I have your back. My ego is so huge that I know you’ll do the right thing and sign everything over to me before you have an accident, but, just to be sure, before we seal the deal, can you please give me a peek at your corporate portfolio? I need to be sure I have all my ducks in a row, before I sign on to death do us part.

12/4/2021
I forgot to mention that this is another winning freebie from the Audible+ collection. For those of you who subscribe. It is a prequel to The Last Mrs. Parrish for those of you who read the book, but it definitely works as a standalone.
Profile Image for James.
Author 20 books4,105 followers
May 10, 2024
After reading the first book in the series and learning there is a second coming out this summer, I had to catch this prequel story about how it all began. Quick and helpful, we learn how Amber became Amber, which helps provide some empathy and some concern. Good to have this story available before reading the second book in the series as it probably helps set a lot of context about who comes to visit her.
Profile Image for Tracy  .
928 reviews12 followers
January 15, 2022
'The First Shot' is an eye-opening inside look into how Amber Patterson got her start as the "master manipulator" we come to know her as in 'The Last Mrs. Parrish'. She is nothing if not resourceful and extremely calculating in going about getting what she believes is her just dues in life.
Little does she know she may have met her match when she comes up against someone who is determined to out her for who she really is once and for all.
Narrator Suzanne Elise Freeman brings Ms. Constantine's storyline to life seamlessly for the listener.
Profile Image for Liv Constantine.
Author 12 books8,657 followers
Currently reading
November 7, 2022
Dear Readers,

We are so excited to share this novella with you. It's all about Amber and where she was before she moved to Bishops Harbor and infiltrated the lives of the Parrish family. We hope you enjoy it!!
Profile Image for Tonya.
595 reviews121 followers
April 19, 2021
Loved this prequel to The Last Mrs. Parrish! I enjoyed finding out Amber’s backstory and thought the mixture of humor and suspense was perfectly combined. This audiobook is a fast paced thriller and a must listen 🎧 for all fans of The Last Mrs. Parrish. If you haven’t read The Last Mrs. Parrish, this prequel is a great tease of Amber’s antics and cunning ways. Sly as a fox, Amber’s on the prowl and no one is safe from being caught in her web of lies, deception and betrayal. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Rachel Hanes.
596 reviews572 followers
December 19, 2021
Scandalous!

I absolutely loved The Last Mrs. Parrish, so when I saw that this short story was a prequel to that book, I knew I had to read this!

The First Shot focuses on the character of Amber. And I must say that although I despised her in The Last Mrs. Parrish, I despise her even more now! Amber is an evil, conniving, manipulative human being.

If you enjoy reading about scandalous women, then this short story is for you! This was a quick, entertaining read and it did not disappoint.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
472 reviews18 followers
July 30, 2024
I haven't read any of the books from this series yet, so I went into this one blindly. This book focuses on the main character, Amber, and her life before meeting the Parish Family. It is a quick and scandalous read, with a gripping storyline, a captivating plot, and many twists. I found it interesting to get the "villain's" backstory. This book made me curious to read the other books in the series, but I am hesitant because I'm not sure how much I "like" the main character, villain or not.


3.5 stars, rounding down.
Profile Image for Javier.
969 reviews254 followers
November 28, 2020
In this prequel to "The last Mrs. Parrish", we meet master manipulator Amber Patterson the months prior to her meeting the Parrishes. She knows what she wants and deserves, so nothing or no one will get in her way to succeed in her desires. She is one of those devious characters you don't know whether to love or hate.

Although if you've read "The last Mrs. Parrish", the ending will not catch you by surprise, it was an enjoyable listen all the same.

Short and engaging, it made my last drive so much more entertaining.
366 reviews35 followers
August 1, 2024
Having loved The Last Mrs. Parrish, I was excited to read this short narrative detailing paycho-villain Amber's backstory. However, if you've already read The Next Mrs. Parrish (book 2), you will already know most of what this prequel has to offer. No real thrills, but it was a fun read about a character we love to hate!
Profile Image for debbicat *made of stardust*.
798 reviews117 followers
January 28, 2022
Enjoyable audiobook listen. I needed something short. Hadn’t heard of the book this was a prequel for which was a Reese Witherspoon book club selection. While this was interesting I am not going to seek out the next book. Amber is a nasty character. I didn’t like her at all.
Profile Image for Jess.
862 reviews39 followers
December 10, 2021
Paperback

Of course I loved The First Shot. We all love to hate Amber, right!? She truly is the worst kind of human but I’ve gotta give her credit for her resourcefulness.

Amber is a survivor…also an opportunist but still, she is persistent and one way or another shes going to get ahead in this life.

So glad Liv Constantine had Amber’s conniving self back for a prequel.

This novella was good…short, quick and right to the point of things. Amber gives no Fs and wastes no time getting down to business.

I think Amber might be my favorite villain in a book.

Daisy (the daughter of Amber’s latest victim) was awesome. I was cheering her on more & more with each turn of the page.

This was a fun book. I definitely recommend it.
Profile Image for Linda.
964 reviews18 followers
January 8, 2021
I don't think I can remember the last time I detested a character in a story as much as I detest Amber. What a money grubbing, cold hearted, manipulative individual. Everything for her is about her and what she seems to think the world owes her. The sad thing is there are people out in this world just like her. I'm glad I'm not one of them. A good story if you can get past your wanting Amber to take a very long walk on a very short pier.
Profile Image for TheBerryBookReport.
510 reviews27 followers
November 15, 2021
The Last Mrs. Parrish is one of those books that YEARS later still sticks with me. It is always in my list of must reads to anyone who asks me what a favorite book of mine is and when I saw this prequel drop on Kindle Unlimited...I dropped everything else, hopped in the tub, and soaked in the bubbles while reading this entire novella in one sitting.

I want more.

Liv Constantine PLEASE give us more Amber!
Profile Image for Kristin (Always With a Book).
1,462 reviews423 followers
November 27, 2020
I am a huge fan of the writing duo, Liv Constantine, and The Last Mrs. Parrish is one of my all-time favorite books of theirs, so I was thrilled when I saw that they had written a prequel to that book. Amber Patterson is one of those characters that you love to hate and I was so excited to get more of her. I needed to see where she came from and how she become the person she was when we first met her in TLMP...and oh boy, this one sure doesn't disappoint. It may be short but it is well worth it!

This is only available on Audible right now so go grab it while you can...it's highly entertaining and if you have already read TLMP, you will get to see Amber in action before she sets her eyes on the Parrishes and if you haven't read TLMP, this is a great introduction to one crazy character and then you seriously need to pick up The Last Mrs. Parrish immediately!!!


Audio thoughts: This was such a great audio and Suzanne Elise Freeman, a new-to-me narrator did such a great job. She brought all the characters to life and her pacing and intonations were spot on.


You can see all my reviews at: http://alwayswithabook.blogspot.com/
Profile Image for Barbara Nutting.
3,070 reviews145 followers
October 15, 2023
OMG - The prequel to Mrs Parrish - I wish this had been a whole book and that I had read it first. Amber is the devil in a short skirt and 6” Louboutins.
Profile Image for jennyreadit.
720 reviews67 followers
January 5, 2024
If you loved The Last Mrs. Parrish, you must read this prequel. This novella explains what really happened to Amber’s first husband .
Profile Image for Nam Tran.
208 reviews24 followers
August 12, 2024
Truyện ngắn giúp điền vào những khoảng trống trong cuốn the next Mrs. Parrish và làm nổi bật được đức tính độc ác nham hiểm của nhân vật Amber. Lần này do thiếu kinh nghiệm nên Amber không đạt được những gì mình muốn, nhưng cô ta hứa hẹn sẽ trở lại và nguy hiểm hơn nữa trong những lần tới.
Profile Image for Shruthi.
88 reviews9 followers
April 6, 2023
Imagine you come up with a great product. And you want to really tap into its success - so you just make a mini version of the same product in another colour and sell it. That’s what this book was. It was like a slightly different summary version of Last Mrs Parrish. It really added nothing new and it just rehashed the same kind of story line with Amber trying to bang a rich dude and ends up getting screwed over.

This was really not needed. I would have actually loved to instead read a sequel with Amber escaping and moving on to something bigger.
Profile Image for Alexa  Altman.
146 reviews5 followers
November 19, 2021
This is the prequel to The Last Mrs. Parrish, which is probably one of the greatest psychological thrillers to date. The novella, which is an extremely fast read of 95 pages, follows Amber before she meets Jackson Parrish.

If you don’t remember, or haven’t read The Last Mrs. Parrish, Amber is a complete villain, with one object in mind: wealth. I absolutely loved this prequel to see more of Amber’s cunning ways, and what led her to meet Jackson & Daphne Parrish.
Profile Image for Nicole Wuthering Vines .
701 reviews40 followers
February 19, 2022
I loved The Last Mrs. Parrish so I was extremely excited when I learned there was a short and fun new prequel!

I enjoyed getting a look into Amber’s past and learning how she became the devilishly devious master manipulator we know her for!

Definitely work checking out before OR after!
Profile Image for Shelley.
310 reviews36 followers
August 1, 2023
The First Shot by Liv Constantine
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gives a great inside view into the previous life of Amber. Just shows how calculating and careless she is from the very beginning. It is the perfect prequel to the Last Mrs. Parrish!
Profile Image for Rebecca.
289 reviews7 followers
May 10, 2023
The prequel to “The Last Mrs. Parrish” that I didn’t know I needed. Short, sweet, and to the point about Amber’s history. Getting a deeper look into her psyche & her decision making made me feel the same emotions as I did in “The Last Mrs. Parrish”. Great read & glad I came across it!
Profile Image for Dallas Strawn.
785 reviews101 followers
July 4, 2024
This was a fun little breeze of a prequel; I read it an hour and a half and it was great being back in the head of Amber Patterson before she became Mrs. Parrish. Great prep before reading the new sequel!
Profile Image for Gloria reads for fun .
15 reviews2 followers
December 23, 2022
I already read and loved “The Last Mrs. Parrish” so when I saw this prequel, I knew I had to read it. This was all about the gold-digger before she met Daphne Parrish, and we got to learn about how she became “Amber”.

After reading this book I decided to reread “Mrs Parrish” and I am realizing how much of the book I had forgotten. I am giving 3 1/2 stars on the prequel but rounded up for the fact that it enticed me to reread the first.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,024 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.