The Divide

by Morgan Richter, Hillary Huber (Narrator)

8 hours

A failed actress turned grifting psychic searches for her missing doppelgänger and is plunged into a web of murder and corruption among Hollywood A-listers.

When Jenny St. John was eighteen, she moved to Los Angeles from her rural midwestern hometown and scored the lead role in an independent film called The Divide. She was working with the young auteur Serge Grumet and was on her way to becoming the next indie darling. But then the movie tanked, and Jenny never caught a second break. Now, two decades later, after floundering on the fringes of the entertainment industry, she’s barely keeping afloat running a low-level grift as a psychic life coach.

But when news surfaces that Serge has been murdered, Jenny’s life is turned upside down. Unbeknownst to Jenny, Serge’s ex-wife, painter Gena Santos, looks alarmingly similar to Jenny. So much so that when Gena goes missing, the cops think Jenny is Gena.

Jenny finds herself pulled into Gena’s world and manages to somehow leverage both her resemblance to Gena and her ersatz psychic abilities to infiltrate the affluent yet unstable inner circle of friends, which include a Korean pop idol–turned–social media star and an Oscar-winning actress–turned–wellness guru. Soon Jenny’s search to find Gena unearths dark secrets about her own past while putting her squarely in the sights of a killer.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Suspense

Audiobook

First published August 20, 2024

About the author

Morgan is the author of the neo-noir thriller THE DIVIDE (Knopf; August 2024), and the thriller THE UNDERSTUDY, which will be released by Knopf on August 5th, 2025.

Morgan is a graduate of the Filmic Writing program at the University of Southern California’s film school and has worked in production on several television shows, including ABC’s America’s Funniest Home Videos and E! Entertainment Television’s Emmy-winning comedy series Talk Soup. An avid popular culture critic, she is the author of Duranalysis: Essays on the Duran Duran Experience and has amassed a cult following on her analyses of classic Duran Duran videos. She has self-published five novels, but THE DIVIDE is her first foray into traditional publishing. Richter currently lives in Seattle.

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Divide starts with an interesting premise. A woman is questioned by the police when they believe she’s living a dual life. Two decades earlier, she starred in a film directed by Serge Grumet. But the film never had a big release and she failed as an actress. These days, she’s a psychic and barely getting by. Now, Serge has been murdered and she bears an uncanny resemblance to his ex-wife. A woman who is now missing.
Jenny is so peeved that the missing woman pretended she was the star of the movie (her only true accomplishment) she can’t help but stick her nose into discovering what has happened.
Amateur sleuths are always questionable for me. Does their investigation seem realistic? The answer here is mostly no. In this story, the police are almost a side show which always strikes a wrong chord for me.
I liked Jenny. She’s not really a psychic, but she’s astute at picking up vibes from people. She’s not part of the upper echelon but she holds her own against the moneyed set. But as the plot moves along, she begins to question a large part of her past.
Richter throws a whole cast of possible suspects into the mix, but Jenny just doesn’t get any bad vibes coming off any of them. The plot veers off towards the whole ‘what’s the connection between Genna and Jenny’ thing and that’s when I started to lose interest. It got a little too weird and strange. And the worst of all, unbelievable. I was invested enough to see how Richter would pull it off, so I stayed the course. But it was an unsatisfactory ending. I guessed the murderer, but there were too many unanswered questions.
It helped that the first person narrative was beautifully narrated by Hillary Huber.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Divide, by Morgan Richter, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Jenny St. John, was supposed to be the new it girl. Jenny had moved to Los Angels at eighteen to be a movie star and make it big, but her first movie did horrible. Twenty years later Jenny is struggling and then she finds the director of her first movie was murdered, and that she looks a lot like Serge ex wife. This book was a little weird and out there, but it was a good read.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: Aug. 20, 2024

Jenny St. John left her small town in the rural Midwest to try and live her dream as an actress in California. After shooting one movie, “The Divide”, that was canceled before it hit the big screen, Jenny is now living in a rundown office, making a measly living as a psychic. When the news hits that Jenny’s former director, Serge, was murdered and his wife, Genevieve Santos has disappeared, Jenny is shocked. Unbeknownst to Jenny, Genevieve Santos claimed to star in “The Divide”, in the role that Jenny herself personified, and she easily got away with it, too, since Genevieve and Jenny look eerily alike. Jenny finds herself in the middle of an investigation, trying to prove she isn’t Genevieve and she had nothing to do with her disappearance, while at the same, trying to find out what happened to the starlet, without putting her own life at risk.

“The Divide” is the new release from author, Morgan Richter. Richter has an understanding of film life, having worked for the Paramount Pictures Studios, and it is this that she uses to bring realism to the character of Jenny St. John and all of her filmmaking friends and acquaintances. An interesting mystery, “The Divide” had me thinking from the first page- it was very obvious that something was going on, but Richter takes the reader through enough twists and turns, I couldn’t nail down what was actually happening until the very end. The possibilities for the outcomes of this novel were numerous, and it could’ve gone in a million different directions and been just as enjoyable.

I enjoyed the guessing game component, trying to sort out, first, Jenny’s relationship (if any) to Gena, and then, of course, the mystery of the death of Serge and Gena’s disappearance. Jenny’s background as a psychic let her into the world of the Hollywood elite (a life she had been evicted from long ago), and I enjoyed hunting down the truth alongside her.

Some of the plot connections were tenuous and weak, and some plot points did not resolve themselves in enough of a conclusive way. The relationship between Gena and Jenny is explained, but the details were not, and that felt like a pretty big detail to ignore.

Richter managed to keep my attention from the get-go, and each of her chapters ended in suspenseful cliffhangers, which made “The Divide” an easy-to-read story. The mystery is strong, even if all of the possible ending tropes in the mystery genre are covered within this one novel. “The Divide” was unique, and Jenny was a strong and relatable character and I found Richter’s novel easy to read and enjoy.

[Jessica Woodbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Started off pretty strong but it's not easy to pull off this high of a concept and ultimately the book isn't up for it.

The first third really works, the idea that a rich woman would swoop in and bring this lookalike in to shake things up and maybe lead her to the guilty party. But this conceit can only last so long. There aren't a lot of discoveries to make, and there aren't any more reasons for Jenny to stay around. And the last half is your standard Protagonist Makes Ridiculous Decisions Just So We Have a Plot stuff.

Except for the lookalike plot which could just be a coincidence but then it weirdly becomes not though the book doesn't know what to do with that, either.

[Melissa]

I enjoyed this SO much. I think the marketing choice to entirely hide the fact that this book is speculative both makes sense and is a slight bummer because I can't be the only person who would've found the book MUCH faster if I knew.

[Miss✧Pickypants ᓚᘏᗢ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A would be solid murder mystery that hums along as one until it doesn't. I get that coming up with a good, air-tight murder mystery storyline can be tricky but when key elements are going to rely on magical realism then the marketing of the book should reflect that. Don't misunderstand, big fan of fantasy and the unexplained but I was disappointed that key plot points unexpectedly end up being explained as supernatural.

No spoilers but be forewarned the story starts off strong then gets a bit confusing when the main character, a failed actress turned fake psychic, investigates her doppelgänger's disappearance. Fans of the murder mystery genre will be able to track the clues to solve the murder and I was able to solve that mystery before the reveal but was well into the novel, so that was satisfying. What was unsatisfying were many barely tenable plot points and the use of otherliness to wrap things up.

Rate as a 2.5 but rounded up since half stars aren't an option on GRs.

Disclosure: Received an uncorrected ARC of this book from NetGalley and Alfred A. Knopf (Thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenny is living a quiet life until a detective pays ger a visit. She sees a woman who looks almost identical to her. She decides to dovsome digging and uncovers sone secrets. A nice read.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a gritty LA murder mystery and this one was pretty fun! Jenny St. John is barely making ends meet as a psychic (fraudulent by her own admission) when her life is upturned by a visit from Detective Toni Moreau. Twenty years ago, Jenny starred in an Indie film, The Divide, directed by Serge Grumet. This film should have catapulted Jenny’s acting career but the film never made it to the theaters and she never acted again. Detective Moreau is investigating Serge’s recent murder and is searching for his wife, Genevieve Santos, who is mysteriously missing. The detective is convinced that Jenny is actually Genevieve and Jenny has to prove that she, in fact, is not the painter known as Gena. Fortunately it is quick and easy for her to show the detective that she is Jenny and not Gena, and it is embarrassing for both of them albeit highly effective. But the fact that Jenny has a doppelgänger who may have some knowledge about Serge’s death and who is also claiming to have been the star of The Divide, causes her to immerse herself back into the dark side of Hollywood world to find answers. Unfortunately, this search also puts a bulls eye on her back with the killer who is still out there.

This slow burn mystery was well plotted with a captivating set of characters. The ending left a lot of loose ends, which usually is ok with me, but, in this story, left me wishing for more answers. All in all, this was a good story and I will be looking for more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on August 20, 2024

[Laurie Tell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The divide is right up my alley. A little mystery. some Hollywood and add in a little psychic power. sort of.

what I liked
The thought the plot was something different, which I always appreciate.
I liked Jenny, the main character
I loved the background characters.
I loved how we weren't sure Jenny has psychic powers - she thought she didn't , but I am not sure. She was pretty intuitive

What I didn't like as much
I thought it dragged a bit at times. Especially since it was full of action. I found myself skipping and skimming once in a while.
I thought it had more potential - I just felt like something was missing.

With 3 stars being average, I will give this a strong 3 - but not quite a 4. Would I recommend reading it? Sure. But maybe borrow it from the library?

I do want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my opinion.

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenny St John is a bit of a huckster. A “psychic” life coach, she is doing barely enough to get in her LA practice. Out of the blue, a detective comes by and questions her to see if she is the same person as Genevieve Santos. Huh? Well it turns out she has a doppelgänger she has never met, whose ex-husband was found murdered.

This sets in motion a series of events and a mystery that searches for Serge’s killer and to find out what happened to Gena. And how eerie that they look so alike?

In the fashion of Agatha Christie, we have lots of characters with a variety of motives introduced, secrets uncovered, and a somewhat “reluctant” detective. This was a fun mystery, a grittier LA setting, and flawed yet intriguing suspects. If you like contemporary mysteries, this will be a fun addition to wrap up your summer reads.

Book to be published August 20
Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC.

[Jamele (BookswithJams) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Knopf Publishing and PRH Audio for the free copies to review.

I enjoyed this one, especially via audio which was narrated by Hillary Huber (a favorite of mine). The pacing was slow and steady, and I was really not sure how this was going to work itself out. 20 years ago Jenny St. John starred in an independent film, The Divide, and was on her way to ‘making it’, until the movie tanked and she instead found herself scraping by as a psychic life coach. Current day, the director of said film, Serge Grumet, has been murdered, and Jenny’s life is uprooted as his ex-wife Gena looks a lot like Jenny and the cops think she is one and the same and she has to prove that they are two different people. It took a little while to do this as well as to wrap everything up, and got a bit strange in doing so, but overall was a good read that held my attention the entire time.

[Audrey ✨]

DNF @ 13%


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is very boring. Will not be providing a rating.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure why, but I hadn't heard of Morgan Richter until I started seeing The Divide all over #Bookstagram. That is really what convinced me to read it, and I'm glad I did because I loved this mysterious literary thriller. I found our FMC Jenny to be a very sympathetic character, and even though she is technically a grifter (she even admits she’s not really psychic), she is a very loveable one.

I’m sure part of the reason I enjoyed The Divide so much was from listening to the audiobook and having Hillary Huber as the narrator. I have never heard anything that I haven’t liked with Huber at the helm, and she narrated the heck out of Jenny and this book in general. The climax really surprised me, but I did think the last chapter ended very abruptly. Maybe Richter is leaving the door open for another?! I loved Jenny, the glimpse into Hollywood, and the mystery of Gena. Overall, this was a very solid read for me, and I would love a follow-up to see where Jenny is now!

I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a traumatic incident at eighteen, Shiela left home in Iowa for Los Angeles. Shedding her name, she became Jenny St. John, a much more appropriate moniker for the actor she wanted to be, and managed to land the leading part in an independent film called The Divide. Created by an up and coming director called Serge, Jenny plays the same character but in different parallel worlds. Jenny did fantastic work, and she also had a short relationship with Serge during the filming. Unfortunately, the film was never released, and all the promise of this role fizzled, along with the relationship. And though Serge's career was on an upward trajectory afterwards, Jenny's stalled. Though she worked for a while as an actor, she never fulfilled her dream of making it big.

Twenty years later, Jenny is working as an "intuitive counselor", or psychic, or really, con artist. She's getting by, barely, and has lost her apartment, finding herself living illegally out of her office.

When a detective arrives one day, she's wondering about Jenny, and her uncanny resemblance to the recently murdered Serge, whose ex-wife Gena is prime suspect. Gena was an actor who became an artist, and is now missing. Jenny is told that Gena claimed to have starred in The Divide, and this not only infuriates Jenny, who discovers that her one, cherished project and the praise she did receive for her work in it, had been appropriated by Gena.

Jenny decides to check out an exhibition of Gena's work, and meets one of Gena's friends, a powerful, wealthy influencer, who wants Jenny to get close to Serge's and Gena's friends, using Jenny's resemblance to Gena, and find out who killed Serge, thereby exonerating Gena.

It's a crazy idea, but Jenny acquiesces, as she'll be paid for her trouble. So, she worms her way into the lives of Gena's former boyfriend, her friends, her home, and finds connections to Jenny's time on The Divide, as well as more recent information pointing to someone close to Gena who might have a decent motive.

I was entertained and could not put this book down. Jenny is a nicely complex character, making not great but also understandable choices as she gets ever more enmeshed in Gena's former life.

Though I was able to figure out who the murderer was, I still found the book compelling and interesting, and liked how the author played with perception and memory, providing a possible explanation for the weird resemblance and connections between Jenny/Shiela and Gena. It makes for occasionally perplexing reading, but also for a compelling plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Books Amongst Friends · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about a ride! When I first read the description of this book—a failed actress, a stolen identity, and a crime thriller—I was intrigued but hesitant about how it would all come together. But Morgan Richter absolutely delivered!

In The Divide, we follow Jenny Saint John, a failed actress turned psychic, whose life takes a wild turn when the police accuse her of murdering her ex-co-star and brief lover, Serge. The kicker? There’s someone out there who looks just like her. This revelation sends Jenny on an adventure to uncover who this mystery woman is, how they’re connected, and who might actually be behind Serge’s death.

What I loved most about this book is how Richter doesn’t shy away from giving Jenny layers of complexity. She’s not all innocent here—Jenny has her own motives for diving into this mystery. While her acting career never took off, the one minor movie she starred in still holds value to her as a last piece of pride. So when she finds out someone else is using her performance to gain fame and fortune, she’s ready to claim what she feels is rightfully hers—even if it means walking headfirst into danger.

When Jenny is hired by one of the mystery woman Jenna’s friends for a psychic reading, she’s suddenly thrust into Jenna’s world—meeting the people who shaped her life, her success, and ultimately her downfall. Jenna, a famous New York City artist, is missing and accused of murdering her ex-husband Serge. From there, the story unravels into a twisty tale full of uncertainty, with every character hiding something.

One of the book’s strengths is the way it presents so many potential culprits: the friend sleeping with everyone, the apprentice hungry for fame, a cheating boyfriend, a greedy manager—or maybe even Jenny herself. The tension is constant, with plenty of moments where I was sure I’d figured out the killer, only to second-guess everything. There’s even a hint of paranormal intrigue that adds to the suspense without overshadowing the main mystery.

What truly stood out, though, was how Richter held Jenny accountable for her decisions. Jenny isn’t just a vessel for the story—she’s deeply flawed, self-aware, and willing to take risks for what she wants. Every choice she makes feels authentic to her character, not just a convenient way to push the plot forward.

If you love stories that dive into the messy lives of the rich and famous, packed with secrets, betrayal, and ambition, this one is for you. The Divide is a thrilling exploration of identity, accountability, and the lengths we’ll go to reclaim what we think we’ve lost.

Thanks to Knopf for this fun ARC!

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Knopf Books for sending me this FREE ARC Copy to promote and review for them as part of their Review Crew.

This was my first time reading a Mystery by Morgan so I wasnt sure what to expect but I have to say I really enjoyed this one more then I thought I would.

The Characters were fun and interesting to read about. I found the look alike twist very interesting. Kind of reminded me of The Switch by Sandra Brown.

The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like I was actually in LA while reading especially when the scenery was described.

I do wish this book was part of a series cause I'd love to see more with these characters.

Overall a Good Mystery Novel. Can't wait to read more by Morgan in the future.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Divide somehow magically contains every element I love in a thriller:
- An usual premise
- A fascinating protagonist who, despite not being a detective, slowly unravels a mystery
- Great supporting characters
- An atmospheric setting
- Endless twists leading to an unexpected ending
- A lasting emotional resonance that isn't just connected to the mystery, but the story itself.

Many thrillers aren't as good as their marketing blurb. This one far, far exceeded it. Jenny's story was so intriguing and I love how she used her skillset at different points. Even the climactic scenes in the book were unpredictable. I don't know what else to say other than I utterly loved this book and I'm so sad I finished it.

[Weronika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very quick read, I was hooked from the opening chapter. A connection to murder and mysterious doppelgänger sets Jenny on a course to solve the case, even if to only reclaim her fame.

I enjoyed the various suspects and Jenny’s history unraveling, it had my brain working overtime to solve the murder and the mystery. The Hollywood adjacent setting was very catchy, I appreciated keeping it down to earth and not super over the top. The slight psychological and maybe supernatural angle really worked for me as well.

3.5⭐️

Thank you to Knopf for the review copy.

[Keri Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Divide is like if Marisha Pessl’s book Night Film was a mystery rather than a horror, was written in a very straightforward, practical way, and had a woman at the helm of the story. You’re likely to enjoy this book if you’re the sort of person who likes slower paced mysteries AND also speculative fiction, and if you don’t mind your books getting a little weird.

The Divide follows Jenny St. John, a psychic grifter just barely staying afloat in her life. She used to be an actress, and finds out that Serge, the director of the movie she had previously starred in, has been murdered. She also realizes pretty quickly that the actress the director was married to, Gena, looks exactly like her. But Gena is missing, and no one seems to know where she went. She gets pulled into solving the mystery of what happened, and it only gets weirder from there…

Morgan Richter’s writing style is super clear and easy to read. I bet this would make a great audiobook because of how little effort it requires to follow the plot. The best part of her writing, by far, is that every time we visit a new setting, the descriptive details are on point! Also, the strong atmosphere blended with her “just the facts” style of writing made this really appealing to read. All of her characters are interesting, and I had a super strong desire to figure out what was actually going on in the plot.

Drawbacks to her writing, for me, have to do with the dialogue. When characters are meeting each other for the first time (and there are plenty of these kinds of scenes in the book), the length of time it took for them to exchange greetings and pleasantries got repetitive after a while. While mildly annoying, it didn’t detract too much from what was otherwise a strong 4 star read.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique premise for a missing person/doppelgänger murder mystery featuring Jenny, a con-artist psychic scamming the rich in LA out of their money who is barely scraping by after starring in one hit movie and then failing to get another role as an actress afterwards.

When a policewoman shows up at her shop in the wake of the movie's famous director's murder suspecting Jenny might actually be his painter wife, Gena, who's gone missing and looks just like her Jenny can't believe it. Gena's also been telling everyone that it was her who starred in the movie, which doesn't make any sense.

Puzzled why she looks identical to this complete stranger, Jenny embarks on a quest to discover just what happened to the woman who has been pretending to have acted in the movie Jenny knows she was in, leading her to confront her dementia addled mother and the trauma of her past.

Great narration by Hilary Huber but I found this one really slow moving at times and considered DNFing several times. Worth a read if you want something different but I wouldn't say it's a can't miss book of the year. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Olivia Swindler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but the second half felt like it was rushing towards an ending. I wish the mystery would have been a little more tied up, as there were many clues that seemed to point to nowhere.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy.

[Pam Kovalic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenny St. John is a psychic life coach in Los Angeles, barely making a living and living in the back of her shop. Twenty years earlier she made a movie called “The Divide”, that never got released as it was supposed to. The director was unknown back then, but since that time has become quite famous. When the director, Serge, is murdered and his ex-wife Gena is missing, the police come to question Jenny, who is a doppelgänger for Gena. Jenny finds herself in the middle of the investigation trying to figure out what happened and why Gena had told everyone that she was the one who had starred in The Divide. Jenny is an interesting character that I found myself pulling for. The author does a good job describing the characters and keeps the plot moving along. I found a few things unclear about the plot, but overall I enjoyed the book - it was a quick and interesting read. I give the book 3.5 stars out of 5.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. The book is set to be published on August 20, 2024

[Dana K · Rating 3 out of 5]

{3.5 stars}

Thanks to Knopf for the gifted copy. All opinions below are my own.

When an actress goes missing and her husband is found dead, a psychic with a spitting image of her finds herself in the crosshairs of the police. The psychic claims that she was the actress and her identity has been stolen, she has no knowledge of this other woman, but is shocked how alike they look. With very little going on in her own life and the ‘supposed’ ability to discern if people are lying, she gets involved in the investigation.

This one has a lot of characters and most of them, except for the main one are not very likable. And I found most of the decisions the main character made were questionable at best. I enjoyed the pace of the story and how it was resolved, but struggled with the believability of it all.

[Jackie Sunday · Rating 3 out of 5]

A psychic in a detective story? It’s not a first but it certainly made me want to find out more.

You’d think a fortune teller could live a good life with the knowledge of what’s about to happen. Yet, Jenny St. John who claimed to be a psychic in LA was making only enough money to pay her bills. She wasn’t even sure that she believed in the supernatural world.

When a lady in a suit showed up, everything changed. Jenny suspected that she was caught for being a fraud and taking money illegally. However, she learned that Detective Toni Moreau was there to investigate a murder.

Jenny was feeling pretty anxious finding out that she had an identical twin in the world. Gena Santos was taking credit for her leading role in “The Divide.” It was the only film she had a role in years ago that was never released. The director, Serge Grumet, was now dead and Gena who was living with him was missing. The detective thought it was her. How could this woman claim to be the star in this film when obviously it was Jenny? She informed the detective there was no way she had a twin -- but maybe.

The next day, Jenny was told she had three days to move out for violating the lease agreement. The detective filed a police report that threw her life into turmoil. She was living in the back cluttered room because she was kicked out of her previous place and now where would she go? However, someone coincidentally came to her rescue.

The plot had a strong start with an intriguing twist or two. The reader really got to know the characters that were suspected. Most were likeable in the Hollywood area of wealth but, the story moved slowly and I just wanted to know how it was going to conclude. I was glad to finally find out who the murderer was at the end.

My thanks to Knoph and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of August 20, 2024.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay now this book actually pleasantly surprised me. I love this genre and I love a good murder mystery type vibe. I loved this book and was hooked immediately! I finished in two days, probably one if I hadnt had plans!

My favorite kind of murder mystery is when I truly do not know who did it until it’s revealed. I almost hate the feeling of reading a mystery and figuring it out immediately. This book had me guessing till the end!

I will say it can be kind of confusing at times with the Gena and Jenny “flashbacks” and alternating versions of the same story but not enough to make me frustrated. However, I felt truly invested in this story and would recommend to anyone I know! Love love love!

Thank you to NetGalley and Morgan Richter for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Lisa Aiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit of Hollywood, a little bit of mystery, a lotta bit of murder, and a fun psychic life coach (who is a fraud by her own admission). If that sounds up your alley, then you will really enjoy this. I was glued to the pages trying to figure out what was going on. What was the explanation for our main character having a doppelganger who not only look exactly like her, but stole her name, her identity, and the only acting credit she had to her name which she was so proud of. I enjoyed this one very much!!

[Megyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows a woman who was a failed actress. She starred in a movie, The Divide, in the past and then never did land another role after that. She is now a fake psychic. When the director of her one claim to fame movie is murdered and she is suspected to be the missing wife in disguise (since they look a lot alike), she starts to investigate on her own to figure out the killer.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! The average rating is a bit low and the synopsis didn't totally sound like something I would like but I ended up really enjoying this one. The whole set-up sounded a bit confusing, but I don't think it was hard to understand while reading.

I think this book was well-written and it kept me intrigued the whole time. It had a bit of weirdness and that made it different than a lot of other thriller/mystery books. The killer was maybe a bit obvious, however, I still enjoying reading it to find out the killer and also what happened to the missing wife.

I will say that I wish things were tied up a bit better. Without spoiling anything, I will say that I wish the author went a little further into the "weirdness" and gave us readers a bit more explanation and closure.

I would recommend this book!

[Lorena · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

"The Divide" is a propulsive thriller about Jenny, a down and out, self-proclaimed psychic who becomes involved in solving the murder of the director of her only film and personal accomplishment 20 years ago. Shockingly, she discovers that the director's ex-wife, Gena, who is her doppelgänger, is now missing and had taken credit for the role Jenny was so proud of. Motivated by the need to understand why Gena lied, Jenny becomes deeply involved in solving the murder and finding Gena.

Overall, this was an entertaining and easy read. However, the plot point regarding Gena's identity wasn't sufficiently explained, though this might have been the author's intention.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for access to the ebook ARC.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenny is just barely keeping her head above water. She's lost her apartment and living out of her work office. Work? Not the acting she thought it would be but, instead, she's a psychic. Of course, she's not actually psychic but really good reading people.

Then, one day a detective comes to visit her. A girl has gone missing, one that looks an awful lot like Jenny. And like Jenny, she changed her name and claimed that she acted in the same film that Jenny acted in - Jenny's one claim to fame. This doppelganger is an artist - the other role that Jenny would have loved to have been. And suddenly, Jenny is pulled into this world as she tries to understand how these 2 can look so much alike

This was a great mystery. I liked learning about the past and future, the little bits about who was who and get to know everyone Jenny did. The mystery kept me wondering and guessing. The audiobook narrator was great and kept me engaged in the story. I liked this one.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Byrd Lit Review · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hyped at first, but then it just…flopped. 💀 So boom, Jenny St. John, this washed-up actress-turned-psychic, is living her mediocre life when a detective pulls up, asking if she’s Gena—a missing artist who looks EXACTLY like her! 😳 doppelgänger

Now, I would’ve been shook, but Jenny? Nah, she dives headfirst into the drama, snooping around Gena’s life like it’s her new job. First off, we meet Gena’s “friends”—Boots (who was fake as hell, like girl, we see you 👀), Linus (who had the audacity to ask Jenny to act like Gena to save his coin—boy, BYE 💸), and Mmp, Gena’s boyfriend, who’s as clueless as they come.

And then, the so-called big twist? Linus was the shooter. shot Gena and her ex-hubby Serge over some MONEY. 💀💀 Talk about being down bad for a check. Jenny cracks the case, but honestly, the ending had me like, “That’s it?” 🙄 I still don’t know if Gena was Jenny’s twin, if she had real psychic powers, or if this whole thing was just a scam! 😩 I needed answers, but they left me hangin’! The story had potential, but it needed more heat, more sauce, more EVERYTHING. Instead, it was just…. 😒 A fun lil’ read, but definitely not hitting like it should’ve. 🌶️👀