Razor Thin

by Amy Frances

A twin’s devotion is unending.

After losing her sister, Kate Vanguard struggles with reality. Weeks before graduating top of her class and securing her dream job, an innocent party ends in murder, leaving the college student unable to focus on even the simplest of tasks. But when a striking businessman visits the breezy lakefront town, visions of blood splattered Nikes, ribbons of yellow, and an eerie murmur, “ Sheepish ,” haunt her into action.

Desperate with urgency, Kate vows to uncover the truth about that night. The insomniac begins questioning everyone she loves. Even her enemies. And resolves they’re all lying to her.

Will investigating the murder give Kate everything she’s ever wanted, or will her meddling curiosity destroy friendships, love, and her sanity?

Razor Thin is the heart-pounding first book in the Razor Thin psychological thriller series. If you liked Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train , you’ll love Amy Frances’ twisty, roller-coaster read.

512 pages, Paperback

Published August 21, 2023

About the author

Growing up in Land O' Lakes, WI, as a self-proclaimed book nerd, Amy geeked out earning an embarrassing number of free books. This passion followed her through adulthood. Whenever changing addresses, the first item on her to-do list? Register for a library card.

In July of 2019, after a reading slump, a good friend challenged Amy to write a book. At first, she was like, “Whaaaaaaaaaat?” Then she wondered if she could. Then she was like, “Yeeeeeeeeees!”

Soon she began devouring YouTube videos, Audibles, buying books online, and checking creative writing books out from the local library. (Go Germantown!) She even started dissecting her favorite novels (Twilight in the house!), and spending every free moment writing what she calls ‘terrible stories’.

Now, over 20 beta readers from around the country, and some across the pond, say Razor Thin reads as good as any best-selling novel! Recently, she approached a local writing friend to formally edit her manuscript. After the published author read the first five pages, she said, “Amy! You don’t need me!”

Thanks to months of editing (reading printed copies, listening to the novel via the lovely word app, collecting beta reader feedback, and reading the manuscript aloud), Razor Thin flows like any polished thriller.

As a child, Amy read The Babysitter’s Club, Sweet Valley High, The Chronicles of Narnia, Christopher Pike, and R.L. Stine. In high school, while cleaning the local library on Sunday evenings, she ‘borrowed’ spicey historical romances (by Jude Devereaux and Catherine Coulter), and returned them the following week. As an adult, she’s loved classics like The Giver and Slaughter House Five. Currently, she enjoys reading psychological thrillers with wicked plot twists. Some of her recent favorites? Big Little Lies, The Silent Patient, and Atonement. Her all-time favorite book? Twilight! There’s just something about handsome strangers and dark romances.

Presently, Amy is keeping beta readers in suspense while she writes book 2 in her Razor Thin series.

While Amy’s not writing, or thinking about writing, you’ll find her at home, in a quaint Wisconsin town, chasing her family around the living room, demanding Chapstick kisses or snuggling with Milly (who looks suspiciously like an Aussie Doodle, but is, in fact, entirely human).

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kept reading the book expecting it to get better. Usually I can read and ignore errors. This time I found 8 glaring errors. For example the chapter titles have dates and times in them and one of the chapters stated the day incorrectly. There were several typos I assume weren’t typos and were intended but it’s hard to tell.

Throughout the first 95% of the book it’s made explicitly clear that Kate’s sister Kylie has died. Kate says Kylie was so young to have died from a heart issue. She states over and over that her sister died. She overhears two hospital staff talking about her sister and one states that she thinks the sister did it. In the last 2 chapters it completely changes and suddenly it’s her mom who died. I think it’s supposed to be a shocking twist but it comes across as stupid.

The plot had a lot of potential but it was lacking and left me disappointed.

[Haley Hanson · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF I can’t even finish this book. I’ve tried to pick it back up several times but it’s just irritates me beyond reason. The characters are all extremely unlikable. The author writes for twins with Kate constantly saying “you can’t understand cause you’re not a twin” or something along those lines and as a twin myself I want to say the same thing to Kate. Both my identical sister and I have read this, but my sister somehow managed to finish it (she didn’t like it either). I am begging authors to stop writing about twins like we’re a trope rather than regular people who have siblings the same age as us.

I made it halfway through and am still trying to figure out where the thrilling part of this thriller was.

The continuity of this book made my head hurt. It was unclear when there was a flashback as each chapter starts with a date but no year. It should have shown it was the year prior with a year. Some of the transitions would be mid chapter it would go from reminiscing to suddenly your in the past then boom back to present with zero transitions.

The constant bringing up the night of the party where something horrible happened between the sisters but Kate can’t remember and no one will talk about it is frustrating. Ambiguity can only work so long and the rest of the story in between does nothing to help drive the story forward but feels like unnecessary filler like characters discussing the plot of a tv series or the messy business dealings of a side characters rival. Completely unnecessary information that does nothing for the story.

The dismal of Kate clearly unstable mental state is frustrating all her friends and family are acting like she didn’t survive something traumatic and instead of helping her cope so she can remember they all act as if nothing happened. Who would do this? And that many people and no one caved when they saw her collapsing in on herself?? They just fire her from her job and her dad demotes her from a position she was promised all her life. Again with zero explanation blindsiding and hurting an already fragile person.

Niall is awful and despite my dislike for Kate I wanted him no where near her.

Peaches is a bit much but the most decent character she has.

Kate is quirky but is too much so. Some of it plays off as believable and other times her behavior is simply unrealistic.

[Tina Plintz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would give this book about a 2.5
I really had to want to read to finish it. I found it was very slow in the beginning. It did have some interesting twists. I enjoyed the characters but it felt like it lacked something to me. But I didn’t give up and finished it. Not sure if I would continue reading the sequel tho

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book. I couldn’t wait for someone else to read it so I could chat about the twists! I can’t wait for the second one!

[Delphine Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first moment I saw the cover of Razor Thin, I was instantly intrigued, it had that mysterious and haunting beauty that made me dive right in without hesitation. And I’m so glad I did! This book completely exceeded my expectations.

Amy Frances has crafted an absolutely gripping psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The writing is sharp, emotional, and incredibly immersive. Kate Vanguard’s journey felt so real her grief, her confusion, her determination, it all came alive on the page in such a powerful way. I could almost feel her unraveling, her desperation to uncover the truth, and her growing distrust of those around her.

The pacing is perfect, the twists are unpredictable, and the tension builds with every chapter. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the story would shift in a direction I never saw coming. It’s rare for a book to pull me in so completely, but Razor Thin did exactly that.

Amy Frances deserves huge praise for this masterful debut. Her storytelling is emotional, intelligent, and deeply atmospheric. I can already tell she’s an author to watch, and I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

If you love psychological thrillers that are beautifully written, full of suspense, and emotionally charged, Razor Thin is an absolute must-read.

[Suzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could have been half the length. Very drawn out for the “twist” at the end. There was really no development of the characters to set you up for the end. The book switches back and forth and is very confusing as it does so. I almost stopped with about 100 pages left but I was mad that I had actually read that far and finished it.

[Guida Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was good, really good, though one must suspend disbelief. A lot. Probably too much. Still, it kept me wanting to read, but there was far too much detail, making the book faaaaaaarrrrrrr too long, and there were far too many typos and writing errors.

[Mica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished Razor Thin by Amy Frances, and let me tell you, it's been a wild ride. From the depths of grief to the edges of obsession, this book takes you on a psychological roller-coaster that's as gripping as it is twisty.

Kate Vanguard's story is one of heartache turned determination. Losing her sister and then getting tangled in a murder mystery in the weeks leading up to graduation? That's not exactly the college experience anyone signs up for. But here we are, and Kate's resolve to uncover the truth behind that fateful night is nothing short of compelling.

The arrival of a mysterious businessman in her small lakefront town kicks off a series of events that had me questioning everything and everyone right alongside Kate. The mantra "Sheepish" became a haunting echo through the pages, driving the suspense to new heights.

Now, let's talk about Kate and Niall. Their connection is the heartbeat of the story, authentic and fraught with the kind of tension that keeps you on edge. I spent half the book bracing myself for the possibility of betrayal, a testament to the book's ability to keep you guessing.

Admittedly, the narrative pace had its moments of ebb and flow. There were times I felt lost in Kate's chapters, asking, "What's happening here?" But as the pieces started clicking into place, the fog of confusion lifted, revealing a meticulously planned narrative architecture.

That twist? Didn't see it coming. Amy Frances masterfully plays her cards, holding back just enough to deliver a gut punch of a revelation that reshuffles everything you thought you knew. And yes, the ending leaves you hanging on the edge of a cliff, am already craving for the next installment!

Rating Razor Thin a solid 4 stars for its clever blend of mystery, romance, and psychological intrigue. It's a bit of a slow burn at the start but hang in there—the payoff is worth it. For a debut novel, Frances showcases a knack for crafting a suspenseful tale that teases your brain and tugs at your heartstrings.

Can't wait for book two because, honestly, I NEED answers. If you're a fan of thrillers that weave romance and mystery with a deft hand, Razor Thin should definitely be on your radar.

Thank you for the paperback copy!

[Erica Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate lost her sister and is seeking the truth as to what happened to her. It's hard when you don't know who to trust, and even question your own version of the truth.

I found this book to be in the same vein as "All Good People Here," by Ashley Flowers while adding the romance part of it. If you are a crime junkie and love romance novels then this is probably one that you will gravitate to and love every second of.

At the start it was very slow in my opinion, and I found myself very lost and having to go back to read some parts over again. There are a lot of people to keep up with, and it would honestly probably be easier to read this book on a kindle with the ability to highlight and go back to refresh your memory about who the characters are and what role they play.

Kate and Niall have you routing for them with their chemistry and seemingly genuine relationship. Some books you cannot believe that the two characters would have a real relationship, but that is not a problem here. From the introduction of Niall I found myself having anxiety that he would be the one with the key to mystery in a negative way, and lead Kate to question herself even more.

I did not see the twist coming and I thought it was beautifully written.

I am left wondering where this story will go in the next book. I find myself trying to fit pieces together for other clues to where this will go, but I am confident I will be pleasantly surprised in how the next book will bring things together.

Overall, while I thought some parts are slow and left me lost, I think this book is worth the read for anyone that enjoys some mystery with their romance. I felt it was more of a romance than a thriller even given the bigger plot. However, I am not mad at that. I genuinely enjoyed the writing overall.

Thank you for the paperback!

[Melissa Ammons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as a gift.
Kate is quite an interesting character, and her relationships are even more so. Kate is dealing with quite a few different things which has put her … in a word … in a tailspin and she doesn’t really know what to do with her feelings. Kate is also a refreshing character in the realisticness (is that a word?) of bouncing from job to job, not being able to get it together enough to finish college, not knowing who to believe, and the list goes on with her flightiness.
She also has a really cool friend named Peaches. Peaches is very colorful … in personality and self.
Niall comes across as Kate’s ‘hero,’ for lack of a better word. Kate can also cook, so I really enjoyed one particular scene between Kate and Niall when Kate made him a cheeseburger, but it was no ordinary cheeseburger. Great imagery portrayed in that scene. There are also quite a few other scenes that made me chuckle, just in their descriptions.
For me, this was quite a long read at 489 pages. I kept turning the pages wanting to find out the truth that Kate was searching for. This story didn’t really come together for me until I was near the end when things were finally revealed. I had it all wrong. Then, I read, the back matter … now, I want to read the next book in this series, mostly because I’m curious and, even though this is not what I would call a typical mystery/thriller, I am intrigued with the writing style and the characters with their many different idiosyncrasies. I also learned a new word: Pulchritudinous.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Razor Thin by Amy Frances
I thought this book was a really great read. I liked the author's writing style, the characters were great. The story was told from two points of view and two time periods. I was a little worried at the beginning with all the characters but it all came together as I read. It was a little slow to get into, but then all of a sudden i was hooked! I liked the plot, and the twist was great, didn'tsee that coming. . I was expecting a bit of a different ending, but it's good, leaves some things to the imagination, and leaves you hanging hopefully for the next book! I love how the author portrayed some ofthe main characters and their actions and conversations, very real life.
This was a long book but I actually enjoyed the length and found I didn't want to put it down, I had to find out how it ended. Waiting for the sequel 😁
I appreciated the sexual innuendo's vs full on sex scenes and the relationship between Kate and Niall was great too.
Overall I really liked this book and will be watching for the next by Amy Frances

[Jared Walz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I'd call this a first-in-class. I met the author at a book signing, read the first 100 pages in maybe ten days, and then the other 400 in less than two. In other words: a bit slow to get going, but starkly compelling. While marketed largely as a psychological thriller, this read to me as 20% that, 40% mystery, and 40% dramedy. And I say dramedy because this book is FUNNY, full of personality and wit in a way that most hyper-polished bestsellers fail to accomplish. I left off a single star NOT because of the occasional grammatical error (which personally I have no room to knock, especially in the context of a novel that did not undergo several rounds of professional editing), but because the provided context and character-building did seem to take up a large proportion of the word count, occasionally slowing down the story. Essentially, VERY solid and VERY tonally unique, especially for a first-time self-publishing effort. Thoroughly enjoyed.

[Kelsey Widner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think if I were allowed to give half’s I would rate this book more of a 3.5 - 3.75 but since I’m unable to I will stick with a four. Mainly mg complaint for this book and not wanting to rate it higher is that it seemed really slow to pick up, the first whole 80% of the book in my opinion was creating this extremely intricate background, which does help add to the story yes but I personally think it could have helped capture interest and hold attention more if some of the smaller plot twists and things were realized a little sooner in the beginning of the story. I don’t let myself DNF books but if I were to be the type of person who did DNF I still don’t think I would’ve done that here. I was definitely interested enough to want to finish the book it just moved a lot slower than other thrillers psychological or other wise that I have read.

[Theresa D'Antonio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but it was just so confusing for the first 40% of it. There were far too many characters and the time line flashbacks were also too difficult to follow. For the first few chapters, I could not tell what the significance of each timeline was. It would have been better if the flashbacks were “before Kylie’s death” and “after Kylie’s death” or something more straightforward. Then at about 40-70% of the book it felt like it was more of a love story. I actually forgot that this was supposed to be a suspenseful /thriller style of book. Honestly I didn’t mind the novel but I had to go slow and pay attention to all of the characters. At times, I found myself going back to a chapter because I couldn’t remember which timeline I was in.

[Natalie Doll · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the romance and connection between the two main characters in this book, I would say it is what kept me going most. Kate and Niall’s connection felt so genuine and I was worried the entire time that Niall was going to end up being the villain. I also liked the plot although the mystery of it at times left me feeling confused. After getting to the end I think the vagueness was intentional to make the twist more jarring, but still as a reader I often found myself thinking “wait what is going on” particularly in Kate’s chapters. The end felt like it was left way too open, but now that I know there will be a second book in the story I understand why.

[Maddie Kawnak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that had me staring at the wall after having made a variety of faces, read the last sentence, slowly closed the book and put it down, and resisted screaming out loud. Not to be dramatic or anything but this definitely had an ending I did NOT see coming. So many times throughout this book I thought I had the ending all figured out but no. No I did not. I will say there are some parts that are hard to follow and it can be a little slow in some areas but it all comes together (kinda, not really, but that’s the point) in the most twisted way possible - I’ excited for book two.

[Destiny Imperati · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆Shocking, mysterious thriller☆
This is definitely a must-read for any fans of Freida McFadden!!! The way the author wrote the plot twist was incredible, to say the least. This story threw me for a loop in such a good way! I love psychological thrillers so much, and Amy's writing made me love them even more! The description of this book alone was so intriguing. 🙌🙌 I'm anxiously waiting for the next book!!

[Michelle Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate lost her twin and has been struggling really hard. Kate is graduating top of her class soon and ready to start her dream job when a party she is at results in a murder. Kate has a hard time coping and decides she must uncover the truth. Can Kate find truth and get what she wants or will it destroy her?

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Razor Thin has fun wordplay and I appreciate the nods to life in Wisconsin. The chapter titles and dates kept me thinking and I definitely did not guess the ending. I had the opportunity to meet Amy at an event and she was so gracious with everyone who stopped by to meet her. Looking forward to the next part in this series!

[Felicity Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued just from the description alone. At first, it was hard to get into but eventually Razor Thin did suck me in. It felt wordy in places but overall it was good read. The plot twist was unexpected and Frances did a great job weaving through mystery and the need to know who did it. Razor Thin is a solid read and I look forward to the next book.

[Kearstin Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a psychological thriller that will have your brain begging for answers. This is the book for you. So many twists, unexpected events, trauma, and drama.

Kate is groundbreaking and by far my favorite character. Her strength is astounding.

This book has me begging for me.

[Amanda Claas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page turner! I loved the writing, it was clean and fresh. Not sure how else to describe it. Loved the twist and how it all played out. Just waiting for the next one!

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my!!!! A MUST read!! Couldn’t put this down and will anxiously await the continuation!!…….

[Pamela Treder · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did enjoy the authors writing style. But there was so much fluff. 500 pages was not necessary for this story. Also - too much of a love story for me.

[Lisa Moreland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Razor Thin! At first I was a little confused but I quickly got it all straight and was able to follow along easily. I felt the frustration and sadness of Kate. I felt sad for her that everyone thought she should just move on. That was her twin!! This book kept me enthralled the entire time. It was really long but I didn’t feel that it just went on and on. It had enough twists to keep you guessing. I didn’t want it to end. I definitely look forward to reading the sequel!

[Michele Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book!! It kept me wanting for more! I did have to flip back a couple of times to remember certain details, but it was steamy and full of suspense and mystery! I am also an identical twin so I really identified with Kate and Kylie's connection.