The First Shot by Liv Constantine


The First Shot
Title : The First Shot
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : -
Language : English
Format Type : Audiobook
Number of Pages : -
Publication : First published November 12, 2020

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.


The First Shot Reviews


  • Sheyla ✎

    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


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  • Kay ❦

    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

  • Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill

    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!

  • Tamar...playing hooky for a few hours today

    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.

  • Tracy

    '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.

  • Tonya

    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. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

  • Liv Constantine

    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!!

  • Rachel Hanes

    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.

  • Javier

    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.

  • Mandy White (mandylovestoread)

    A prequel to The Last Mrs Parrish! So good.. I wanted more. 2.5hrs.. find out qbat happens prior to the events in the book

  • debbicat *made of stardust*

    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.

  • Jess

    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.

  • TheBerryBookReport

    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!

  • Kristin (Always With a Book)

    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/

  • Linda

    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.

  • Nicole Wuthering Vines

    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!

  • Gloria

    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.

  • Alexa  Altman

    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.

  • Dianna

    Short & sweet!! Makes me want to read The Last Mrs. Parrish again.

  • Tisha (IG: Bluestocking629)

    This book, the prequel to The Last Mrs. Parrish, was short and not sweet. Don’t get me wrong it was good, but our favorite freak, Amber Patterson was not sweet. At all. Dang man. She is so demented. A horrible human. But it still, some of the time, reads as almost fun. I mean she is no Jack Torrence who is demented on the outside as well as the inside. Amber looks normal. And acts normal to some, some of the time. But deep down she is as dark as my black cat.

    Amber really wasted her talents however. She is a master planner. I mean she plans details like Martha Stewart. She could have been an event planner or Julie the Cruise Director and made her money that way.. The honest way 😊😊😊

    I wish I had read this right alongside The Last Mrs. Parrish. I read a lot and my memory is not fabulous. But that is nothing against the book.

    4 stars, same as The Last Mrs. Parrish

  • Brittany Parrish

    It’s been a few years since I read The Last Mrs. Parrish but I still really enjoyed this short prequel. I liked getting more of a look at what Amber’s life was like before and it’s made me want to reread the book which I really enjoyed.

  • Lesa Divine

    This is Amber story the before the book of The Last Mrs. Parrish.

    Interesting how Amber started off.

  • Maria

    I forgot how much of a gold-digging b***h Amber really was. This was such a fascinating view into where she came from and how she started out. It was just the right length and I enjoyed learning more about her.

  • Stephanie Daige

    This was a good little story! "Amber," as she now calls herself, will do anything to snag a wealthy husband and give herself the good life that she didn't earn. (As long as it doesn't involve actually working for the money.) Amber is not above lying, stealing, or using sex to get what she wants. Will she even be willing to murder? If so, will she get away with it?

  • Shreya

    Such an engaging listen. I read The Last Mrs Parrish a couple of years ago, but the book makes me want to reread it and escape into the world of duplicitous Amber Patterson again. My only qualm is that I wish there was more!

  • Samm Houston

    I really enjoyed reading this prequel to The Last Mrs. Parrish. I will still stand by what I said - Jackson and Amber deserve each other. If anything this short story sealed that deal for me.🙅🏼‍♀️

    Amber is HORRIBLE!!!! 🤬 I can’t believe what she did before she met she Parrish family. But it all makes total sense now. Amber is nothing but a con artist and always has been. She doesn’t want to get anything herself, rather be handed what she believes she deserves.

    If Amber made your skin crawl during The Last Mrs. Parrish then I highly recommend you finish it off with this one!

  • Danielle

    This time, our heroine Amber has chosen to use her skankery and foolery on a southern family. This was a nice and short listen. I could definitely go for more tales of Amber or others from Mrs. Parrish or even her other books like The Wife Stalker. Amber’s ability to get what she deserves good and hard is delicious.

  • Brianas_best_reads

    ✨Review✨

    “Discover exactly how Amber Patterson transformed from small-town girl to master manipulator- after all, practice makes perfect.”

    Fans of THE LAST MRS. PARRISH need to make sure that they do not miss this prequel. It’s a novella that is just so well-written I didn’t want it to end. I devoured it in one sitting and already kind of want another Amber story. She’s wild and I am loving it!

    Liv Constantine can do no wrong in my eyes and I will read anything this sister duo writes. I won’t say much else, but if you’re a fan and you’re looking for some background on why Amber is the way she is, then make sure to grab your copy of this fantastic prequel.

    5/5 ⭐️