The Impostor: The utterly unmissable new psychological thriller from the international bestselling author of Girl, Missing

by Sophie McKenzie

Keep it in the family. Whatever it takes.Nathaniel Carson is dead. His family host a dinner to celebrate what would have been his 79th birthday only to have an unexpected guest arrive.

Mia says she's Nathaniel's daughter. The product of an affair. But not everyone is convinced her claims are genuine. After all, Nathaniel left behind a vast fortune. The kind of money people would do anything for.

The more the Carsons' get to know Mia, the more concerned they become. Can they trust her?

Because every family has its secrets. But this truth might hurt the Carson's more than they expect

A tense psychological thriller full of twists and turns. Perfect for fans of Gillian McAllister and Lisa Jewell.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2026

About the author

Hey there! Welcome to my Goodreads page where you can keep up with all my stories - both the ones that are already published and the works in progress!!

I write mostly teen thrillers - plus some teen romance, books for younger children and four adult psychological thrillers.

I'm really excited right now because of...

Boy, Missing, my £1 book for World Book Day and Truth or Dare, my new teen thriller. (UK)


For more info on these and my other books, check out my website: www.sophiemckenziebooks.com

Reviews

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

➡️ IS SHE OR ISN'T SHE?
❓❓❓❓❓❓

Is the woman who knocks on a bereaved family's door, claiming to be the long-lost daughter of their unfaithful father, an imposter or the real deal?

This pacey and twisty thriller takes the common trope of an alleged long-lost relative trying to claim a large family inheritance.

I especially enjoyed the final twist at the end of the book.

➡️ WHY NOT 5 STARS?
In addition to being unfaithful, the deceased family patriarch had been married multiple times.

Had the author stayed laser-focused on the unsettling family dynamics between fewer family members, this book would have earned that extra star.

I always prefer character-driven stories with a smaller cast that allows for more psychological depth on a few key players.

I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Jessica Whittaker.

[Alya ( 20 comments restriction ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
The impostor by Sophie McKenzie
NOW AVAILABLE

Thoughts
If you love messy family dynamics you'll love this read, this book had me invested from the get-go, this is my first reading experience with this author I'll definitely be coming back in the future, it kept me guessing till the very end, it's very rare that I don't figure the ending out when it comes to thriller mystery reads nowadays however I definitely had my doubts so we could say this one didn't quite beat me to it😂 throughly enjoyed this read.

Plot Summary
After the death of Nathaniel Carson, his family gathers for a birthday dinner in his memory—until an unexpected guest turns everything upside down. Mia arrives claiming to be his daughter from a past affair, but with a huge inheritance at stake, not everyone believes her story. As the family gets to know her, doubts and tensions begin to grow. With hidden secrets coming to the surface, they’re left questioning who they can really trust—and whether the truth will do more harm than good.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC

My Bookstagram

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie McKenzie pens some good, twisty thrillers.

The Impostor is filled with messy family dynamics, lots of murder and lots of secrets! While I do feel the reveals were quite obvious from the start, it was still a thrilling read. Things don’t have to be overly complicated to be enjoyable! In fact, when all the reveals began happening in the end (but in a way that McKenzie kept trying to confuse the reader, drawing out the suspense) is actually when the book is at its weakest — it becomes overly complicated and messy for something that was not complicated at all.

Overall, this was a good read with a decent pace. I enjoyed how the characters were a mixture of terrible, it made it all the more exciting.

Thank you to Canelo for the e-arc

[Shimnom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie’s father is dead, and her family is still grieving when an unexpected stranger turns their mourning into shock, their father Nathaniel's posthumous birthday.

This stranger is claiming to be Nathaniel’s daughter and Cassie’s stepsister. Given their father’s history as a serial cheat, the claim isn’t entirely that shocking. Cassie herself is a stepsibling, after all. What makes the situation even more unsettling is how easily the girl fits in: she shares Cassie’s hair and eye colour, has a gentle nature, and quickly convinces the family that she truly belongs.

A DNA test confirms that she is truly family, and she's getting along so well with Cassie's family and little daughter that there's no doubt she's family. Not even if Cassie's older stepsister and stepbrother are still insisting they don't want her to inherit anything from them.

Everything is going well until two consecutive deaths bring up old wounds, suspicion and resentments. Could Uncle Edgar, long an inheritance first by his father, and then his brother, finally be making his move? Even Cassie finds herself questioning her own husband and wondering whether the real threat has been in her home all along. And where is Adam? The only one child Nathaniel left out of the inheritance?

Honestly, this story felt like a drag for me in the beginning, and the first chapter didn't quite interest me. However, by the second chapter, the writer had picked up the pace, and even though I've read so many novels like this, it kept me on my toes (can't even imagine the number of red herrings I followed!).

It was enthralling, which is how I ended up reading it in one day instead of keeping it aside after the first chapter like I planned. I only hated the fact that, just as the beginning was slow, the last chapter felt like it was too abrupt, and I feel like some of the characters would've been held liable or at least portrayed realistically ( I mean, being left out of the inheritance will hurt everyone, so show their evil thoughts or opinions! But that's just me.) If, like me, you read Karin Slaughter and Lisa Jewell, this is one book you'll love!

Thank you to the author for this e-ARC. That has in no way influenced my opinion and review.

[Janna (Bibliophile Mom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Impostor is a thoughtfully crafted story about family dynamics, privilege, and the emotional toll that secrets and betrayals can take. I’ll be honest, as a thriller girlie who has read so many of these, I didn’t have high expectations when I requested this via NetGalley. But despite a few predictable moments, I found myself surprisingly invested in the messy, layered complexity of this family.

The characters feel incredibly realistic, each with their own strengths, quirks, and flaws. I actually liked all of them, which made the guessing game even more fun. I kept going back and forth trying to figure out who the culprit was. And that twist? I genuinely didn’t see it coming. Kudos to the author for manipulating the narrative so cleverly. It made for such a satisfying weekend read especially with a freshly made coffee in hand while listening to the rain.

What I Enjoyed:
• Inheritance trope never gets old
• Whodunit vibes that kept me guessing
• Tight sibling relationship despite the complexities

What Didn’t Sit Right:
• The oppressed “uncle” felt a bit too underdog
• Some questions were left hanging since the patriarch passed away too early in the story
• The villain felt slightly forced

Ratings Breakdown:
• Setting: 4⭐️
• Characters: 5⭐️
• Writing: 4⭐️
• Message: 3⭐️
• Overall: 4⭐️

To sum it up, this is an entertaining and gripping story filled with twists and heart‑stopping moments. Highly recommended for mystery‑thriller readers like me who always crave that classic whodunit feeling. Huge thanks to NetGalley, Canelo, and author Sophie McKenzie for my advance copy.

~ JaNnA ~

[Georgia Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – A Tense, Twisty Tale of Family Greed
I’ve always been a fan of Sophie McKenzie’s ability to weave tension into the domestic space, and The Impostor did not disappoint. From the very first chapter, I felt like a fly on the wall at the most awkward, high-stakes dinner party imaginable.
The Hook
The premise is classic but executed with a modern, sharp edge. The Carson family is gathered to honor their patriarch, Nathaniel, only for Mia to show up claiming to be his long-lost daughter. As a reader, I found myself constantly shifting my loyalties. One moment I was rooting for Mia as the underdog fighting a "snobby" elite family, and the next, I was just as suspicious of her motives as the Carsons were.
What I Loved
• The Atmosphere: McKenzie nails that "gilded cage" feeling. The wealth of the Carson family feels heavy and claustrophobic, making the stakes—a massive inheritance—feel incredibly real.
• The Pacing: It’s a quick read. I flew through the second half because the "is she or isn't she" mystery kept me guessing.
• The Secrets: Every character in this book is hiding something. It’s less about a single "big reveal" and more about the slow unraveling of a family’s carefully constructed image.
My Verdict
If you love psychological thrillers that focus on family dynamics, inheritance drama, and characters you love to hate, you’ll enjoy this. It’s a reminder that sometimes the people you share DNA with are the ones you should trust the least.
I did feel the ending was a bit polarizing, but in a way that makes you want to immediately message a friend to discuss it.

Final Thought: Come for the mystery of Mia’s identity, stay for the delicious drama of a wealthy family falling apart at the seams.
#Canelo#NetGalley#The Imposter#Sophie McKenzie

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Imposter is a tense, twist‑filled psychological thriller that sinks its hooks in from the moment Mia walks into the Carson family’s birthday dinner claiming to be Nathaniel’s secret daughter. Sophie McKenzie builds the suspense beautifully—what starts as an awkward surprise quickly spirals into a full‑blown family crisis where every glance, every question, and every half‑truth feels loaded.

The Carsons are a fascinating bunch: wealthy, guarded, and clearly used to keeping their skeletons firmly locked away. Watching them try to figure out whether Mia is a grieving outsider or a calculated threat is half the fun. McKenzie captures that simmering paranoia so well—the way suspicion spreads, the way alliances shift, and how money has a way of making everyone behave just a little worse.

Mia herself is a great catalyst: calm, composed, and just mysterious enough to keep you guessing. As the family digs deeper into her story, the tension ramps up, and the sense that something much darker is lurking beneath the surface becomes impossible to ignore.

The pacing is tight, the twists land cleanly, and the final reveals are satisfying without feeling over the top. It’s the kind of thriller you breeze through in a couple of sittings because you need to know who’s lying—and why.

A gripping, character‑driven read perfect for fans of domestic suspense and family‑secrets thrillers.

With thanks to Sophie McKenzie, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Anne DuRoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of thrillers this one is for you.

The book starts with Cassie and her family knowing that they are about to receive an inheritance since their father has passed away. A stranger, Mia, shows up on their doorstep claiming to be their sister. The family is shocked, with some believing her based on similar looks and DNA testing while other family members doubt the legitimacy of the results.

Mia moves in for a brief stay with Cassie, her husband and daughter Iris. Things start to happen (2 deaths) and Cassie worries that she has let a complete stranger into her home and family.

This book held my interest and had me guessing at how it was going to resolve itself. My only gripe was that it was tied up very neatly and nicely with everything being explained and admitted to. It was tied up in a perfect little bow.

Though I enjoyed the twists and turns and believe that others will as well, I think leaving a bit to the imagination and not explaining everything verbatim (can't say much more without spoilers!) bothered me a bit.

If you can look past that, this is a great thriller that is a quick read.

[Cindy Bokma · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the opening pages, this story hooked me: a young woman arrives just as the family patriarch dies and his assets are about to be divided.

Cassie’s father was the wealthy head of a family company. When he passes away, his will states that his fortune will be divided among his children.

Then Mia appears, claiming to be Nathaniel’s daughter, and his adult children immediately peg her as an imposter. Who set her up, and why?

As Mia begins integrating herself into Cassie’s tight-knit family, something feels off to Cassie. Though Mia seems believable on the surface, Cassie and her siblings can’t shake the feeling that she isn’t really their sister.

They start digging into the people surrounding the family, determined to uncover who orchestrated this fraud.

When the eldest brother, Zane, is involved in a car accident, the siblings begin to wonder if he was murdered. Zane had been piecing things together. Was he getting too close to the truth?

This book is packed with twists, turns, and suspense in nearly every chapter.

By the second half, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! Loved it.

[Andria Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sons and daughters of a rich man stand to inherit a lot of money and a business after his death. He, of course is now dead. His will specifies that all his biological children shall inherit. At the last minute, a young woman claiming to be his daughter shows up to meet her brothers and sisters and to stake a claim to the inheritance. Kind of throws a wrench in what was expected to happen. There is also a brother that disappeared many years ago, how does he play into this? Mia, the long lost sister at first seems to be nice but could she be a fraud? There are a lot of twists and turns in the process to figure that out and several tragic events that come up due to the greed for the inheritance. There are suspicions, lies, betrayals and more. Who can or can't be trusted? I found this read to be easy and entertaining, fast paced and interesting. It was also a fairly short read and could be read in a sitting. I was a little surprised at who one of the villains was, it was not who I expected, but I liked how the story ended up. I would be interested in reading more books from this author. Thank you Netgalley and Canelo for the complimentary copy of the story.

[Harriet Pasco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a compelling, twisty family drama. Right from the start the atmosphere is thick with suspicion, unease, and quiet power struggles. The tension doesn’t come from explosive action, but from what’s unsaid: glances across the table, guarded conversations, and the growing sense that everyone has something to hide.

The family dynamics were definitely my favourite part. Manipulation, backstabbing, and carefully guarded secrets sit at the heart of this story, giving it serious Succession vibes - wealthy, morally grey characters circling one another, each with their own agenda. Trust feels slippery throughout, and I was constantly reassessing where my sympathies lay.

It’s a steady, tension-driven read rather than a relentless thriller, but the pacing works beautifully for the story being told. The twists are well placed, the psychological elements are strong, and the themes around inheritance, identity, and entitlement are explored in a really satisfying way. A sharp, entertaining read that kept me hooked and guessing.

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Impostor" by Sophie McKenzie delivers a twisty psychological thriller centered on a wealthy tycoon’s death and the sudden arrival of a woman claiming to be his secret daughter. This bombshell shatters the grieving family during a tense birthday dinner, sparking lies, betrayals, and desperate power grabs. McKenzie hooks you from the start with her sharp take on family secrets.

The story races along with unlikable yet compelling characters that ramp up the drama and keep suspicions high. Rose, the protagonist, navigates the chaos with grit, while unpredictable turns make every page a surprise. It's fun, fast-paced suspense that nails the thrill of deception without getting too complicated.

This standout from the bestselling author of 'Girl, Missing' is unmissable for fans of domestic thrillers packed with punchy twists. It explores greed and identity in a gripping, entertaining way that's perfect for one-sitting reads. Grab it if you love edge-of-your-seat family feuds.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC

[Zoe Costley · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC)

This one got me. I went in expecting a quick, twisty read — and Sophie McKenzie delivered exactly that — but the ending still managed to knock me sideways. Yes, part of the reveal felt obvious… but the who behind it? Absolutely not. That final turn had me sitting there like, “oh, okay, we’re doing that now,” and honestly that’s my favourite kind of reading experience.

It’s short, sharp, and ridiculously easy to fly through. The storyline stays tight, the tension builds in all the right places, and the payoff is so satisfying. When a book can surprise me and keep me hooked from page one, it’s an instant 5 stars in my world.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Carson family is celebrating the 79th birthday of their deceased (and very rich) patriarch when a young woman shows up claiming to be his illegitimate daughter. Which means that she may have a claim on his wealth.

And as if that were not bad enough, Mia's subsequent behaviour raises a number of red flags. Just how worried should the Carsons be...?

This is a twisty and entertaining story that will be a hit with Sophie McKenzie's fans and will be welcomed by new readers. It easily earns 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was lucky enough to read an arc of this book and I was really not disappointed! The story was action packed and I couldn’t put it down towards the end. The story delivered a couple jaw dropping moments and the ending had me on the edge of my seat. It did keep me guessing and I did find myself questioning Cassie as a narrator at one point. I was quite sad that Tommy ended up being the villain as I did stupidly trust him throughout the story.

Thank you net galley for allowing me to read this book early 🫶🏽

[FN · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the inheritance process reveals ugly truth in a close knit family dynamic. Tension runs high throughout, with an undercurrent of uncertainty that hardly keeps you feeling easy. Each character brings a distinct energy, and the more dominant personalities cleverly draw suspicion, making you question things. I loved how the writing keeps you guessing while drawing you deeper into the drama. Grateful for the opportunity to read this in advance.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first, I would like to thank Netgalley and also Canelo for this ARC!

I can reall ysay that I did enjoy this fast-paced, twisty ride. Surely not an entirely new concept - a stranger claiming to be the child of a dead, wealthy man - but the story was holding me in it's grip the whole time and with roughly 280 pages it was easy to read it all in one sitting. Can only recommend!

[Brittany Selken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think I read anything by this author besides this book. This story was a wild one for sure I thought something was up with the person who show up out of the blue but I would never had imagined that they were working with someone so close to the family.

[Katlin Stokes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book. This book was super thrilling and twisty. Absolutely hated everything Cas went through in this book. Was not expecting that ending.

[Pien · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many twists