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Doubles
Cameron is twenty-one and drunk when she's abducted after a homecoming party. She doesn't know where she is, why this has happened to her, or anything about her new cellmate, Colin. She has time to figure it all out though—nothing but time.
Amy, Cameron's twin, doesn't think much of her sister's disappearance. She's got her own life to contend with. Since Cam has gone missing, Amy's been the glue holding her family together, but she's not bulletproof, and she can't shake the feeling that she's being watched.
Sam has too much anger, a penchant for blondes, and a fondness for voyeurism and electromagnetic shock. He's good at hiding—not even his wife knows he's a monster dressed in janitor's clothing. Maybe that's why he's gotten away with his dark desires for so long.
Amy, Cameron's twin, doesn't think much of her sister's disappearance. She's got her own life to contend with. Since Cam has gone missing, Amy's been the glue holding her family together, but she's not bulletproof, and she can't shake the feeling that she's being watched.
Sam has too much anger, a penchant for blondes, and a fondness for voyeurism and electromagnetic shock. He's good at hiding—not even his wife knows he's a monster dressed in janitor's clothing. Maybe that's why he's gotten away with his dark desires for so long.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2013
14 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Simonson
10 books71 followersSlave/mother to a herd of animals, Loch Ness monster enthusiast, breaker of many a wine glass.
Do not challenge her to Harry Potter trivia unless you wish to be slaughtered.
Do not challenge her to Harry Potter trivia unless you wish to be slaughtered.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 6, 2013
Short and sweet review:
This book takes the creepy basement to a whole new level. This was a dark horror novel that left me cringing. This book takes us inside the minds of a psychotic killer, a partying co-ed, a jock, the outcast sister, and an FBI profiler. We see this story play out from very different points of view.
Horror is not my typical genre but this one was well written.
March 14, 2013
Terrific Debut Novel!
This is the best book in the Thriller genre that I’ve read in a few years, and I must say I read LOTS of Thriller books. I never expected to love the book the way I did, and after reading page 1 of this Manuscript I went on and on and just couldn’t stop. I’m a slow reader in general, but with DOUBLES I just wanted to keep reading faster and faster as I really wished to find out what would happen next.
DOUBLES is a Thriller with elements of Horror, featuring a twenty-one-year-old Cameron kidnapped by a ruthless maniac, Sam Atwood. Cameron’s got a twin sister, Amy, who had been previously kidnapped by the same maniac, but who managed to escape him. Now that he’s got Cameron, Sam wants to have the twin, Amy, as well.
Writing a book with multiple Points Of View is always a tricky thing because it’s really hard to write one convincing POV, let alone a few, but I must say Melissa Simonson made the most of it. There’s Cameron’s POV that is given in the first person, and there are the others that are third-person narratives. I didn’t feel uncomfortable or confused about them. Each is recognizable, believable, relatable, which shows the author’s ability to create unique yet believable characters. Of all the POVs, I enjoyed Cameron’s and Sam Atwood’s POV the most, although the others were well-written as well.
Another point I’d love to mention is Melissa Simonson’s manner of writing. I’ve been immensely impressed by it. It is very visual, and I could clearly picture each scene in the book. The short chapters kept the pace fast throughout the book, which eventually made it into a highly engrossing book. It’s also remarkable how masterfully the author triggered my imagination to run wild. Let’s just take this scene that impressed me a great deal:
“We’d both needed a stiff drink, or several, when the man had disassembled Julia’s body the way my brother used to snap the limbs off my Barbie dolls when I was little. He didn’t do it in front of us, but we could hear him sawing through her bones, his frustrated grunts, and the sound of her blood spraying like the stream of a hose, ricocheting off the door of the basement.”
Although Cameron didn’t see Sam performing this ceremony, she could picture what he was doing, and so could I through her descriptions. It was amazing! The images just kept racing through my mind. It’s not easy to accomplish, but Melissa Simonson managed it!
When I started DOUBLES, it reminded me of Nicci French’s LAND OF THE LIVING. If you read French’s book and loved it, I think you should try out DOUBLES because you’ll enjoy it so much more. It’s without a doubt a 5-star book!
I can’t wait to read the next book by this author!
This is the best book in the Thriller genre that I’ve read in a few years, and I must say I read LOTS of Thriller books. I never expected to love the book the way I did, and after reading page 1 of this Manuscript I went on and on and just couldn’t stop. I’m a slow reader in general, but with DOUBLES I just wanted to keep reading faster and faster as I really wished to find out what would happen next.
DOUBLES is a Thriller with elements of Horror, featuring a twenty-one-year-old Cameron kidnapped by a ruthless maniac, Sam Atwood. Cameron’s got a twin sister, Amy, who had been previously kidnapped by the same maniac, but who managed to escape him. Now that he’s got Cameron, Sam wants to have the twin, Amy, as well.
Writing a book with multiple Points Of View is always a tricky thing because it’s really hard to write one convincing POV, let alone a few, but I must say Melissa Simonson made the most of it. There’s Cameron’s POV that is given in the first person, and there are the others that are third-person narratives. I didn’t feel uncomfortable or confused about them. Each is recognizable, believable, relatable, which shows the author’s ability to create unique yet believable characters. Of all the POVs, I enjoyed Cameron’s and Sam Atwood’s POV the most, although the others were well-written as well.
Another point I’d love to mention is Melissa Simonson’s manner of writing. I’ve been immensely impressed by it. It is very visual, and I could clearly picture each scene in the book. The short chapters kept the pace fast throughout the book, which eventually made it into a highly engrossing book. It’s also remarkable how masterfully the author triggered my imagination to run wild. Let’s just take this scene that impressed me a great deal:
“We’d both needed a stiff drink, or several, when the man had disassembled Julia’s body the way my brother used to snap the limbs off my Barbie dolls when I was little. He didn’t do it in front of us, but we could hear him sawing through her bones, his frustrated grunts, and the sound of her blood spraying like the stream of a hose, ricocheting off the door of the basement.”
Although Cameron didn’t see Sam performing this ceremony, she could picture what he was doing, and so could I through her descriptions. It was amazing! The images just kept racing through my mind. It’s not easy to accomplish, but Melissa Simonson managed it!
When I started DOUBLES, it reminded me of Nicci French’s LAND OF THE LIVING. If you read French’s book and loved it, I think you should try out DOUBLES because you’ll enjoy it so much more. It’s without a doubt a 5-star book!
I can’t wait to read the next book by this author!
April 8, 2013
I really liked this book. It snapped me out of the same ole stuff that I've been reading for awhile and plopped something entirely new in my lap (new for now). This is a thriller, not a gory horror. Right from the beginning we know who the key players are, so it's all psychological, and aren't those the best kinds? Though it talks of some gruesome acts, they aren't described and you aren't walked through them. The reader hears them happening, but doesn't see it. The main psycho, Sam, is indeed, a psycho. Going through what they went through in that basement and other things alluded to would have broken many people. I think without each other, Cam--a beautiful blonde coed and Colin--a gorgeous blonde, football playing coed, they never would have gotten as far into the story as they did.
And the ending. Wasn't expecting that at all, though not surprised, given Sam's twisted mind.
This wasn't Stephen King or Dean Koontz worthy, but it was a great read and a nice distraction from the usual books I pick up.
Definitely read this is if you want to shake things up a bit.
And the ending. Wasn't expecting that at all, though not surprised, given Sam's twisted mind.
This wasn't Stephen King or Dean Koontz worthy, but it was a great read and a nice distraction from the usual books I pick up.
Definitely read this is if you want to shake things up a bit.
May 18, 2013
Even after reading the synopsis of this book I was surprised when I started reading it. It dived straight on in to the action and didn't leave until the last page.
So much so that it took me a moment to catch my breath, I had a bit of a wtf just happpened moment, before I got to grips with all the possible places that the storyline could go in.
This is a well written, engaging and pretty damn horrific at times.
To be in the head of a serial killer is, for want of a better word, not a pretty place to be.
This book didn't leave me wondering what was going to happen next, for me at least, it was pretty obvoious, and that was its charm. That I knew what would inevitably happen and the only thing I could do was wait and read.
If you like horror, then you will simply love this. I'm just saying that there should be a warning label on the front of it as you may need to sleep with one eye open for a few months afterwards.
So much so that it took me a moment to catch my breath, I had a bit of a wtf just happpened moment, before I got to grips with all the possible places that the storyline could go in.
This is a well written, engaging and pretty damn horrific at times.
To be in the head of a serial killer is, for want of a better word, not a pretty place to be.
This book didn't leave me wondering what was going to happen next, for me at least, it was pretty obvoious, and that was its charm. That I knew what would inevitably happen and the only thing I could do was wait and read.
If you like horror, then you will simply love this. I'm just saying that there should be a warning label on the front of it as you may need to sleep with one eye open for a few months afterwards.
April 16, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. From the first chapter, the author has caught your attention.Each chapter changes to a different character's point of view including Sam, the kidnapper. There were a lot of scenes that had a lot of suspense, like the failed attempts to escape, where you were hoping they will make it. I think the concept of the book is great. Sam kidnaps Cameron,only for it to be revealed he thought it was Amy,Cameron's identical twin. He realises he can have two of them. I enjoy the developing relationship between Cameron and her fellow captor,Colin. There are some good twists in the book. The last quarter of the book is great with constant shocks and suspense as to what could happen next. I enjoyed how it ended, and it leaves it open for another book.
What I didn't enjoy about the book was the over explained terms to do with Sam or the Supervisory special agent John. I would assume the author watches shows like Dexter, and Criminal Minds. I love these shows and because I would know a lot about them, it felt like it was being spelled out too much. I think there wasn't enough on how Cameron and Colin are after the ordeal and I would hope there will be a second book for this to be put in it.
What I didn't enjoy about the book was the over explained terms to do with Sam or the Supervisory special agent John. I would assume the author watches shows like Dexter, and Criminal Minds. I love these shows and because I would know a lot about them, it felt like it was being spelled out too much. I think there wasn't enough on how Cameron and Colin are after the ordeal and I would hope there will be a second book for this to be put in it.
March 30, 2013
Man, this book is creepy. Creepy in a spine-tingling, I have to read one more chapter - kind of way.
Cameron, a beautiful, cheerleader is kidnapped on campus after a drunken night out. A blonde, drunk cheerleader - yes. A typical dumb bimbo - no. From seeing the ordeals she is put through, from her point of view, we quickly realise there is a whole lot of depth to her character. She is not your typical dumb blonde, nor is she super woman. She has flaws and weaknesses, and is scared shitless the whole time. It serves to make her all the more human and intriguing.
We also see the kidnap and subsequent actions through the eyes of the kidnapper. Seeing the thought process from kidnapper and kidnappee ramps up the tension and atmosphere. The horrific scenes are deftly handled without being overly gratiutous. The author takes the reader right to the edge and leaves the imagination to kick in.
A great debut.
Cameron, a beautiful, cheerleader is kidnapped on campus after a drunken night out. A blonde, drunk cheerleader - yes. A typical dumb bimbo - no. From seeing the ordeals she is put through, from her point of view, we quickly realise there is a whole lot of depth to her character. She is not your typical dumb blonde, nor is she super woman. She has flaws and weaknesses, and is scared shitless the whole time. It serves to make her all the more human and intriguing.
We also see the kidnap and subsequent actions through the eyes of the kidnapper. Seeing the thought process from kidnapper and kidnappee ramps up the tension and atmosphere. The horrific scenes are deftly handled without being overly gratiutous. The author takes the reader right to the edge and leaves the imagination to kick in.
A great debut.
March 7, 2013
Every once in a while I like to take a chance on a completely random free book, without reading anything about it. This was my most recent in the randomness...
This falls in the psycholigical thriller/horror category, definitely not your "feel good, chick lit" type stuff here. While I wasn't crazy about the writing style I found that I couldn't put it down. You see the story unfold from several perspectives, which was pretty interesting once I got the feel for it. There were so many unseen twists and turns. The author definitely kept me on my toes until the very, very end. I didn't see this ending coming at all! and trust me, it's not the right ending for everyone, but it fits with the genre. Again, not a feel-good book, but the ups and downs and quick page turns justified the 4 star rating for me.
This falls in the psycholigical thriller/horror category, definitely not your "feel good, chick lit" type stuff here. While I wasn't crazy about the writing style I found that I couldn't put it down. You see the story unfold from several perspectives, which was pretty interesting once I got the feel for it. There were so many unseen twists and turns. The author definitely kept me on my toes until the very, very end. I didn't see this ending coming at all! and trust me, it's not the right ending for everyone, but it fits with the genre. Again, not a feel-good book, but the ups and downs and quick page turns justified the 4 star rating for me.
March 18, 2013
This is a good read well worth a look at. What makes this book so good though is the FBI agent John Maxwell what an awesome character i would love to read more stories with him hunting down the sick and twisted and finding out more about him.
This is sometimes gory, haunting and cruel has what you would expect from a thriller, its not predictable and the ending wont be to everyone's taste. Definitely worth a read!
This is sometimes gory, haunting and cruel has what you would expect from a thriller, its not predictable and the ending wont be to everyone's taste. Definitely worth a read!
November 7, 2015
The underlying story is interesting and it kept my attention. The problems I had were with fluidity. It jumps from one character's POV to another throughout the book and the transitions are distractingly choppy. I read very quickly and found myself having to go back and read sections numerous times to understand where the story was trying to jumped to.
The characters were good but underdeveloped. Colin was a pretty big part of the book and I still know practically nothing about him other than that he was there. The same with all the other characters. I got a little more out of Sam's character but still there are holes in his character as well. Many times it seemed like more information about a character was about to be delved out only to completely change direction and leave more questions.
This book has a cliffhanger not one that makes you wish you hadn't read the book but the kind that make you think "really that's how this book ends". The characters seem to be unfinished and since some died it isn't like they could be more thoroughly described in future books. Even Sam, while it was easier to understand his character from the details, there are so many aspects of his character that were not explained and would have added to the quality to the story.
It was a good story just choppy and seemingly unfinished.
The characters were good but underdeveloped. Colin was a pretty big part of the book and I still know practically nothing about him other than that he was there. The same with all the other characters. I got a little more out of Sam's character but still there are holes in his character as well. Many times it seemed like more information about a character was about to be delved out only to completely change direction and leave more questions.
This book has a cliffhanger not one that makes you wish you hadn't read the book but the kind that make you think "really that's how this book ends". The characters seem to be unfinished and since some died it isn't like they could be more thoroughly described in future books. Even Sam, while it was easier to understand his character from the details, there are so many aspects of his character that were not explained and would have added to the quality to the story.
It was a good story just choppy and seemingly unfinished.
April 16, 2013
Chilling. Dark. Realistic. I'm not usually a reader of dark Horror, but man did I enjoy this read! Melissa Simoson clearly has a strong grasp on character depth and plot creation. As I read I became involved with the mind of Cameron as she was trapped in the torture cell-like basement, and struck by what occurs there, the barbed wire puncturing her skin where she sits against the basement wall and the sheer horror of all that she experiences in the farm house at the hands of Sam. I found myself caring deeply for her, her twin Amy, the FBI detective and Colin, a young man who is chained up in the basement/dungeon with her.
The way the bodies are disposed of... perfect and haunting.
This is a dark horror to the core. Its depth of plot was like a NY Strip Steak for me, and the experiences the main characters go through were the razor blades embedded in its meat.
I'll be reading Simonson's newest release, Blood Echo, very soon, and eagerly awaiting the rest of her works to come. You want to read this book. You will sleep with one eye open and be rapt all the way to the final page.
- Scott J. Toney
The way the bodies are disposed of... perfect and haunting.
This is a dark horror to the core. Its depth of plot was like a NY Strip Steak for me, and the experiences the main characters go through were the razor blades embedded in its meat.
I'll be reading Simonson's newest release, Blood Echo, very soon, and eagerly awaiting the rest of her works to come. You want to read this book. You will sleep with one eye open and be rapt all the way to the final page.
- Scott J. Toney
March 24, 2013
Have to say loved this book. not something i usually read but couldnt put it down once i started it. luvd the alternate points of view throughout. it made it flow a lot better. some ppl i hav found didnt enjoy the ending which i can kinda understand but i liked it. it kept you guessing if there will be anymore to add to the story or just left to your imagination. luvd the book and would reccommend to anyone after a good thriller. look forward to more from this brilliant author.
March 15, 2013
This one was a freebie that caught my interest. I have been reading a series and needed a break from the hard core erotica. I could not put this book down once I started. It was a lil dark at first, but kept my mind reeling. It jumped around alot, which at first I did not know if I would like, but in the end, the different POV's kept my interests. Very good read!
March 6, 2013
It was a really good book. Kind of gory but good. It kept you on the edge of your seat wondering what was going to happen next. I would defintely recommend this book to others.
June 11, 2013
Fantastic book! Love it , highly recommended.
August 5, 2023
This was one of those days where I scrolled through my Kindle and clicked a random book, one that has been on my Kindle for at least 5-10 years. This one before I get into the review is not a book for the faint-hearted and isn't a HEA ending either, well not really anyway. The book starts with Cameron being abducted by Sam, he has a thing for blondes and blue eyes. Cameron discovers he already has two other people down there - Julia and Colin. He loves to torture them, especially the females. When Julia dies, it's down to the two of them to try and survive and escape this hell. The thing though is that Cameron doesn't realize that he originally thought she was her twin sister Amy and that he is closer to her family than she ever realized. Amy was raped and it resulted in her daughter Emma. Of course, near the end of the book, Amy finds herself kidnapped too and blames it all on Cameron - I'm sorry but she never reported her rape and she is a grade A B____. Can the three of them survive this or will one of the twins be saying goodbye to the other? Without giving away the spoiler, I will finish by saying unless you are a fan of not-so-happy endings, then do not read this book. Doubles by Melissa Simonson is truly a dark thriller/suspense read that is not for the faint-hearted and one of the darkest books I have read in a long time.
April 6, 2013
This was an odd book. I felt in places that the author wasn't really sure about whose story it was or where it wanted to go, which for me took away a little of the power and tension. At the start we are focussed more on Cameron - all round american good girl who's bright, pretty and perfect. The only thing marring her idyllic life is her alcoholic father (I'd like to have know what influence this had on her life). Then our Cammy gets kidnapped by psychotic pervert Sam. And here's where things could have gone in several different directions but didn't. We're in Cammy's head (loved the 1st person angle of this - made everything more immediate) and also in Sam's head (undecided about this one?), never mind FBI agent John and Cameron's twin sister Amy. And this novel wasn't sure whether it was straight crime (will John rescue Cammy before it's too late? John was a very well-rounded character, almost more so than Cameron), or a psychological thriller (how will Cameron deal with what Sam does to her? Will her spirit be broken? What about her relationship with Colin?). I think if the story had gone one way or the other, the tension could possibly have been ratcheted up higher?
And then there's twin Amy (nice twist with her daughter). From being very close as children, Cameron and Amy have grown apart as they've grown up and Amy envies Cameron's life to the point where I wondered whether she was actually secretly glad her sister had been abducted. Or even whether she might have been involved in it?
This is a dark story, but much of the violence is off-stage or glossed over. Which was a shame really - so long as it's not gratuitous, I think it's OK to *show* us what's going on rather than telling it, showing us the pain and humiliation would help us get right inside her head. I never really felt I knew Cameron, what made her tick and I'd like to have seen her develop a relationship with Colin and explored how she felt about Amy. And I did wonder how she could drive with a broken hand and with her feet in the state they were in.
On the other hand, FBI agent John was expertly done. I was right with him as he conducted the search for Cameron and pieced together all the bits of the puzzle.
A neat, unexpected and brave ending which fitted the story. I enjoyed reading this and couldn't put it down towards the end as I genuinely didn't know who was going to survive and who wasn't.
And then there's twin Amy (nice twist with her daughter). From being very close as children, Cameron and Amy have grown apart as they've grown up and Amy envies Cameron's life to the point where I wondered whether she was actually secretly glad her sister had been abducted. Or even whether she might have been involved in it?
This is a dark story, but much of the violence is off-stage or glossed over. Which was a shame really - so long as it's not gratuitous, I think it's OK to *show* us what's going on rather than telling it, showing us the pain and humiliation would help us get right inside her head. I never really felt I knew Cameron, what made her tick and I'd like to have seen her develop a relationship with Colin and explored how she felt about Amy. And I did wonder how she could drive with a broken hand and with her feet in the state they were in.
On the other hand, FBI agent John was expertly done. I was right with him as he conducted the search for Cameron and pieced together all the bits of the puzzle.
A neat, unexpected and brave ending which fitted the story. I enjoyed reading this and couldn't put it down towards the end as I genuinely didn't know who was going to survive and who wasn't.
May 19, 2013
Oh my gosh! That was one crazy read - I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I can't believe what happened, happened, and that it ended the way it ended. As big a mind-f@ck as it was, I need a sequel...it just can't end that way!
I did feel that the story was a bit sparse and could've been fleshed out a bit more, but I enjoyed what I read. I didn't care for Amy, even though I empathized with her. I really was all about Cameron and Colin. And Sam is a great psychopath.
I did feel that the story was a bit sparse and could've been fleshed out a bit more, but I enjoyed what I read. I didn't care for Amy, even though I empathized with her. I really was all about Cameron and Colin. And Sam is a great psychopath.
September 11, 2014
Doubles started out horribly. Poor writing, weak characters, jumpy plot. I initially wanted to give it two stars, but it definitely improved in the last half. The introduction of the FBI agent immediately developed the story, and all the characters started to become more interesting. All-in-all, quick read, reminded me of a Lifetime movie, creepy creepy killer dude....gross.
June 24, 2013
I love reading and had to force myself through this book. It's not bad, it's just not great... There is no climax, it's the same thing until the end... if there's a sequel I will read it just to cure my curiosity about the little girl.. I recommend this only if you have patience.
September 18, 2015
A twisted good read
I almost stopped reading after a few chapters as I thought the book was going to be just too disturbing. It was a bit twisted but I found myself drawn into the the plight of the victims. Not so sure about the ending......
I almost stopped reading after a few chapters as I thought the book was going to be just too disturbing. It was a bit twisted but I found myself drawn into the the plight of the victims. Not so sure about the ending......
March 24, 2013
very good
April 13, 2013
Book sucks, couldnt even finish it!!!
Read
January 18, 2014Good
it was a slow read at first but it picked up momentum. if you looking for hardcore horror this is not. it had a surprise ending though that opens up for a sequel down the road.
it was a slow read at first but it picked up momentum. if you looking for hardcore horror this is not. it had a surprise ending though that opens up for a sequel down the road.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews