How Did "The Last Mrs. Parish" by Liv Constantine End?
What Are the Twists and Spoilers?
The husband, Mr. Jackson Parish, is actually an abusive sadist
Halfway through the book the perspective switches from Amber to Daphne. We learn from Daphne that Mr. Parish is abusive and sadistic. Once they are married his personality quickly switches from caring to controlling. After Tallulah is born, Jackson threatens to kill the baby so Daphne tries to leave. When she runs away with Tallulah, he calls Daphne in as missing and tells the police that he fears for the life of his child. When Daphne is taken to a mental hospital, Jackson makes clear that if she ever wants to get out and see her daughter she needs to follow his rules. He keeps documentation from a college friend who is also a psychologist, showing Daphne has a "mental illness". Jackson threatens that he will have her committed again if she steps out of line and then she will not be able to see her children.
Mr. Parish decides Daphne will get an abortion if their next child isn't a boy
After they find out they are having another girl, Jackson tells Daphne that if their next child is a girl then they will get an abortion and try again. Daphne has made it clear to Jackson that she does not want ever to get an abortion. Daphne decides she has to find another way to not get pregnant again and goes to a clinic in another town to get an IUD.
Mr. Parish is always gaslighting Daphne
There are *so* many examples of this, for one he is drugging Daphne and deleting emails to make her look like an irresponsible parent. Daphne recalls being very sleepy and missing pick up. She also misses another pick up day because Jackson deleted the emails regarding the early dismissal. Jackson announces in front of the kids and nannies that Daphne has a drinking problem and that she needs to get help. Jackson also hides turtles around the house knowing that Daphne is scared of them. Her anxiety and "paranoia" about him purposefully placing them around the house is labeled by Jackson as postpartum anxiety. Daphne then begins taking psychology classes in secret to better understand her husband.
Daphne has a plan and knows exactly what is going on
Daphne has not given up and tries to develop a plan to leave Jackson. She secretly sells her old designer handbags and other items online and has a secret bank account and phones in case she has the opportunity to leave. From Amber's perspective it seemed like Daphne was clueless, but actually she becomes suspicious of Amber when Meredith revealed that the *real* Amber is a missing person whose picture doesn't match the woman is she is claiming to be. We know from Amber's narrative that she is not who she says she is but we also think from her narrative that Daphne buys the story, she doesn’t.
Amber and Jackson deserve each other
The more you read about Mr. Parish from Daphne's perspective the clearer it is that Amber and Jackson Parish truly deserve each other.
Daphne hires a private investigator
The investigator reveals that Amber’s actual name is Lana Crump. It becomes clear that Amber has tried to do this before. And there is a warrant out for her arrest.
Daphne begins feeding information to Amber to help her
Amber makes up a story about Jackson cheating on her, for example, to make Amber believe that she has a chance. She arranges for them to be together by ducking out of plans. Daphne also introduced Amber to Greg to make Jackson jealous and keep her around. Daphne decided to purposefully gain weight to make herself unappealing to Jackson. Amber also spoke to Jackson about her “worries” that Jackson might be attracted to Amber. Because she set a boundary she knew that would only make him want to do it more as he didn’t like to be controlled.
Jackson suggests adoption
Furious with Daphne after speaking to Amber, Jackson threatens Daphne with his gun and says that he thinks they should adopt a son. He says that he knows someone who is pregnant with a boy and will not want the baby, the reader and Daphne know that he is talking about Amber.
Amber is not happy with her progress
At this point, Jackson has not left Daphne yet. Amber threatens Jackson that she is going to get an abortion if he doesn’t leave Daphne. Jackson says that he will get a divorce and offers for Amber to live in his downtown apartment indefinitely. Amber agrees and Jackson begins to let his real personality come through. As the mask slips, Amber sees who he really is but ignores it.
Jackson asks for a divorce and Daphne is secretly ecstatic.
Reader, I was also thrilled this is so exciting for her and for their daughters. Yay! I am less thrilled that now Amber is going to endure Jackson's abuse. As evil as Amber acts in this story, her life being threatened and daily abusive controlling behavior just isn't something I find it wasy to cheer for, but then again this a fictional story, so bring it on!
Daphne reveals to Jackson that Amber isn’t who she says she is
Months after Jackson and Amber get married and Amber has delivered their son, also named Jackson of course. Daphne also lets Jackson know that she orchestrated it herself. Daphne reveals that she knew that Amber just wanted to steal Jackson and so she made sure it happened to get out of the marriage herself. She tells him everything, including that her IUD is why they never got pregnant again.
Daphne demands that Jackson give up his parental rights.
She tells Jackson that if he won’t she will go to the police with the truth about Amber and then they’ll arrest her. She suggests that that would be shameful to his family and reputation. Daphne plans to move to California. He is furious but agrees.
Jackson confront Amber with the information Daphne shared
Jacksons mask fully slips now and Amber begins to experience the controlling abuse that Daphne escaped. Amber fights back but Jackson is ruthless. He threatens her with a gun just like he did with Daphne. After that Amber follows his rules and stops fighting back.
“All she wanted was the life she deserved. It didn’t occur to her that she’d gotten it.” - The Last Mrs. Parrish, Liv Constantine
Jackson is arrested for fraud
Eight moths later, Daphne is at Jackson’s office again. She is talking to Jackson’s new assistant, Douglas. With his help they were able to prove Jackson was tax evading and committing fraud. They contacted the FBI who comes to arrest Jackson. Daphne tells him that she is behind his arrest and gifts him a small turtle as a final gift - as a reference to when he used to scare her by hiding them around the house. She is no longer scared of the turtles or of Jackson.
Daphne tells Amber everything as well
Daphne visits Amber to tell her not to contact her family anymore. Daphne reveals that she is the one who told Jackson the truth about her. We find out that not only is Amber’s real name Lana, but that last time she tried this it backfired. Afterwards, she accused the teenage boy of raping her. When her lies were discovered she was arrested, got out on bail, and then ran away. It is revealed that Amber had a baby with the teenager but abandoned the baby with the man’s family who is now raising him. The novel ends with Daphne driving away after telling Amber that Jackson has been arrested and they have likely lost all of the wealth she schemed so hard to obtain.
What other twists and turns were you surprised by reading "The Last Mrs. Parish" by Liv Constantine? Did you see the ending coming or were you surprised!? Comment down below and let me know!
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