Connie Briscoe’s Chloe is a gripping, gothic retelling of Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca—boldly modernized, richly reimagined, and resonating with fresh cultural context. Briscoe masterfully takes the haunting bones of the original and breathes new life into them with a cast of Black central characters, a glamorous Potomac setting, and a protagonist whose voice is no longer anonymous, but grounded and assertive.

At the center of this retelling is Angel, a private chef from a small Southern town who marries Everett Bruce, a brooding billionaire still under the shadow of his first wife, Chloe. From the moment Angel sets foot in Riverwild—the novel’s modern stand-in for Manderley—she finds herself in a psychological maze: unsettling staff, cold stares, secrets behind every door, and the lingering, almost spectral presence of Chloe herself.

As someone who went to high school in Potomac, I found the setting especially fun to read—Briscoe’s transformation of Manderley into Riverwild, nestled along the Potomac River, adds a specific and tangible dimension that fans of the DMV area will appreciate. It’s a clever update that roots the story in a recognizable place while still preserving the atmosphere of looming dread.

Briscoe doesn’t just transplant Rebecca into a new cultural landscape—she reframes it. By naming the narrator Angel, Briscoe gives her heroine a voice and identity that the original famously denied. This shift alone redefines the narrative, emphasizing themes of autonomy and resilience. Additionally, the twist on Chloe’s character—especially the layered revelations about her past—invites readers to question their assumptions and reexamine the original story’s portrayal of the “first wife.”

The suspense simmers steadily, and Briscoe’s pacing ensures that each reveal lands with emotional and narrative impact. Though rooted in romance, Chloe never sacrifices its gothic undertones. The psychological tension, the atmospheric estate, the power dynamics between staff and mistress, husband and wife—all echo Du Maurier’s original themes while carving out something distinctly new.This book is a triumph in representation and reinvention. It’s a modern thriller steeped in tradition, yet unafraid to challenge it. I remember first reading Rebecca back in middle school, and Chloe was a fun, nostalgic way to revisit that timeless classic while updating several details for a modern audience. I highly recommend this one for fans of domestic suspense, gothic fiction, and anyone who loves when a classic is reimagined with intention and flair.