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The Missing Twin
A unique, exciting psychological thriller that will tug at your heartstrings, and keep you guessing until the very last page!
A MISSING GIRL…A SECRET TO BE UNCOVERED.
Edie and her identical twin Laura have always been best friends. So when Laura surprises Edie at the Mediterranean holiday resort where she’s working, Edie can’t wait for the partying to start! But then, Laura vanishes without a trace…
At the same time, in a country on the other side of the sea, Fatima and her twin daughters set out on a harrowing journey that only the strongest – and luckiest – survive.
Edie and Fatima’s lives are worlds apart, but now, their paths are set to collide, with devastating consequences. When Fatima hovers on the brink of survival, Edie must risk her own life to save her, and finally discover the truth about her missing sister.
342 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2017
126 people are currently reading
470 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
August 4, 2017
Fantastic! Stunning Read!!
A stunning thriller that kept me on my toes looking out for clues throughout! Heartbreaking and compelling on many levels.
Edie and Laura are identical twins. Edie has been working for 3 months (the longest she has held a job) at a small beach resort with two dozen cabanas among the olives. It is beautiful with sea views and plunge pools. Laura shows up one night and they end up at a bar. They drink vodka and party with some men. The next morning when Edie wakes up, Laura hasn't returned. Is Laura starting a new relationship with one of the men? Why hasn't she called? Something doesn't feel right to Edie. Could Laura be in danger or is she being paranoid? Who is lying ? Edie's life is about to change.
Miles away in a bomb ridden country ravaged by war, Fatima and her very young twin daughters are about to face unspeakable circumstances. Their welfare is at stake and Fatima faces some disturbing and very devastating abuses herself. Fatima's life is about to change.
How do these two very different stories connect? How will they come together? Who will survive?
I would recommend this book if you enjoy a compelling, emotional and on going puzzle of a read! I didn't connect all the dots, but did have some inklings that were cleverly placed throughout!
Now available for request on Netgalley (UK)
Publication date is August 18, 2017
A stunning thriller that kept me on my toes looking out for clues throughout! Heartbreaking and compelling on many levels.
Edie and Laura are identical twins. Edie has been working for 3 months (the longest she has held a job) at a small beach resort with two dozen cabanas among the olives. It is beautiful with sea views and plunge pools. Laura shows up one night and they end up at a bar. They drink vodka and party with some men. The next morning when Edie wakes up, Laura hasn't returned. Is Laura starting a new relationship with one of the men? Why hasn't she called? Something doesn't feel right to Edie. Could Laura be in danger or is she being paranoid? Who is lying ? Edie's life is about to change.
Miles away in a bomb ridden country ravaged by war, Fatima and her very young twin daughters are about to face unspeakable circumstances. Their welfare is at stake and Fatima faces some disturbing and very devastating abuses herself. Fatima's life is about to change.
How do these two very different stories connect? How will they come together? Who will survive?
I would recommend this book if you enjoy a compelling, emotional and on going puzzle of a read! I didn't connect all the dots, but did have some inklings that were cleverly placed throughout!
Now available for request on Netgalley (UK)
Publication date is August 18, 2017
August 18, 2017
Thank You to Helen Boyce and the author Alex Day on TBC Reviewer Request Group on Facebook for giving me a copy of "The Missing Twin", in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is a gripping debut psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page.
“A MISSING GIRL…A SECRET TO BE UNCOVERED.”
Edie and Laura were identical twins. Laura expectantly arrived at the holiday resort on the shores of the Adriatic Sea where Edie worked, for a surprise visit. They both hit the town that night to celebrate, and the next morning Edie finds that Laura is missing! She must find her sister.
“At the same time, in a country on the other side of the sea, Fatima and her twin daughters set out on a harrowing journey that only the strongest – and luckiest – survive.”
After the death of her husband, Fatima and her two twin children are fleeing their war-torn country as refugees to Europe to find safety, and a better life.
“Edie and Fatima’s lives are worlds apart, but now, their paths are set to collide, with devastating consequences. When Fatima hovers on the brink of survival, Edie must risk her own life to save her, and finally discover the truth about her missing sister”.
Fatima’s story was heart-breaking, and made me appreciate my good life and take a closer look at the refugee crisis in the world today. Meanwhile, I was following the clues of Laura’s disappearance, trying to see where these two stories could merge. I was completely amazed by the ending… which really blew me away. I didn’t see it coming. This was a fast read and easy to follow with alternating chapters between Edie and Fatima.
The Missing Twin is an exciting debut novel by Alex Day, and that will keep you guessing and turning the pages to find out what will happen next.
Now available for request on Netgalley (UK)
Publication date is August 18, 2017
“A MISSING GIRL…A SECRET TO BE UNCOVERED.”
Edie and Laura were identical twins. Laura expectantly arrived at the holiday resort on the shores of the Adriatic Sea where Edie worked, for a surprise visit. They both hit the town that night to celebrate, and the next morning Edie finds that Laura is missing! She must find her sister.
“At the same time, in a country on the other side of the sea, Fatima and her twin daughters set out on a harrowing journey that only the strongest – and luckiest – survive.”
After the death of her husband, Fatima and her two twin children are fleeing their war-torn country as refugees to Europe to find safety, and a better life.
“Edie and Fatima’s lives are worlds apart, but now, their paths are set to collide, with devastating consequences. When Fatima hovers on the brink of survival, Edie must risk her own life to save her, and finally discover the truth about her missing sister”.
Fatima’s story was heart-breaking, and made me appreciate my good life and take a closer look at the refugee crisis in the world today. Meanwhile, I was following the clues of Laura’s disappearance, trying to see where these two stories could merge. I was completely amazed by the ending… which really blew me away. I didn’t see it coming. This was a fast read and easy to follow with alternating chapters between Edie and Fatima.
The Missing Twin is an exciting debut novel by Alex Day, and that will keep you guessing and turning the pages to find out what will happen next.
Now available for request on Netgalley (UK)
Publication date is August 18, 2017
June 5, 2018
The Missing Twin is the story of two women – Edie, a 23 year old working in a Mediterranean holiday resort and Fatima, a woman trying to escape a war torn country to safety and a new life. At first, it seems difficult to imagine how their lives will connect as their backgrounds are so different but Alex Day has woven a dramatic and suspenseful tale which expertly combines the two strands.
I have to admit that when I first started this book, Edie irritated me so much that I was ready to throw the Kindle across the room. I found her immature, selfish, self-centred and quite frankly for a 23 year old, just plain stupid – part of me was wishing that it had been her who had disappeared and not her twin Laura but I guess that’s the reaction the author intended. It was Fatima’s story that kept me reading. The tragedy and suffering that families like Fatima have to endure is heartbreaking to read. Widowed, homeless and penniless she joins forces with her brother in law and they, together with their respective children, make the perilous journey to find sanctuary away from the bombing of their country.
Edie’s obsession with the odious Vuk, was hard to stomach, and every time he treated her badly I was willing her to see his true colours. I did find the names confusing at times and frequently got my Vlad (the resort manager) and Vuk’s mixed up!
Fatima’s story was a real eye opener into the immense difficulties and danger that refugees have to suffer to get to safety; being constantly ripped off by people traffickers, struggling to find food, water and shelter. Having to deal with illness, my heart was in shreds whilst travelling with Fatima. She was definitely my favourite character – her resilience and bravery was tremendous and I was so hoping throughout that everything would turn out well for her. There was part of her story that I did correctly guess quite early on – however this aspect was quite cleverly done.
Despite my feelings about Edie, there was a point in the story when she redeemed herself and I actually felt a bit guilty for disliking her so much earlier. Once I knew more about her background, I did begin to see her in a different light. Again, I had already guessed part of the final outcome but this didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment.
In my opinion, if an author is able to invoke a strong reaction in readers to fictional characters, then they have done their job well. Whilst The Missing Twin was suspenseful, I’m not sure that it could be called a psychological thriller, but it was a well structured and emotional read, making me think about the people behind the newspaper headlines and the struggles they face.
I have to admit that when I first started this book, Edie irritated me so much that I was ready to throw the Kindle across the room. I found her immature, selfish, self-centred and quite frankly for a 23 year old, just plain stupid – part of me was wishing that it had been her who had disappeared and not her twin Laura but I guess that’s the reaction the author intended. It was Fatima’s story that kept me reading. The tragedy and suffering that families like Fatima have to endure is heartbreaking to read. Widowed, homeless and penniless she joins forces with her brother in law and they, together with their respective children, make the perilous journey to find sanctuary away from the bombing of their country.
Edie’s obsession with the odious Vuk, was hard to stomach, and every time he treated her badly I was willing her to see his true colours. I did find the names confusing at times and frequently got my Vlad (the resort manager) and Vuk’s mixed up!
Fatima’s story was a real eye opener into the immense difficulties and danger that refugees have to suffer to get to safety; being constantly ripped off by people traffickers, struggling to find food, water and shelter. Having to deal with illness, my heart was in shreds whilst travelling with Fatima. She was definitely my favourite character – her resilience and bravery was tremendous and I was so hoping throughout that everything would turn out well for her. There was part of her story that I did correctly guess quite early on – however this aspect was quite cleverly done.
Despite my feelings about Edie, there was a point in the story when she redeemed herself and I actually felt a bit guilty for disliking her so much earlier. Once I knew more about her background, I did begin to see her in a different light. Again, I had already guessed part of the final outcome but this didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment.
In my opinion, if an author is able to invoke a strong reaction in readers to fictional characters, then they have done their job well. Whilst The Missing Twin was suspenseful, I’m not sure that it could be called a psychological thriller, but it was a well structured and emotional read, making me think about the people behind the newspaper headlines and the struggles they face.
September 2, 2017
The Missing Twin is a story of two women, Edie and Fatima. Each different to the other. Edie,a woman from Western Europe, working at a Mediterranean resort enjoying the sun sea and male attention. Fatima couldn’t be further from Edie, she’s a widow with twins on the refugee trail to a better life.
I loved the way the chapters alternated between these two women’s stories as Fatima continues her journey to Europe and Edie who is searching for her missing twin Laura after she arrives unannounced and vanishes after one night. My heart was tugged in so many ways as I read each story. I was heartbroken for Fatima, willing her and her children to make it to Europe. As Edie’s search continued, I became more and more worried for her state of mind, she became more erratic and I do like an unreliable narrator!
I really didn’t know where the story was going as it developed. The author kept me totally in the dark but the final third of the book ramped up the speed and gripped my full attention as the story climaxed.
Many thanks to Killer Reads and Netgalley for my copy of “The Missing Twin”.
I loved the way the chapters alternated between these two women’s stories as Fatima continues her journey to Europe and Edie who is searching for her missing twin Laura after she arrives unannounced and vanishes after one night. My heart was tugged in so many ways as I read each story. I was heartbroken for Fatima, willing her and her children to make it to Europe. As Edie’s search continued, I became more and more worried for her state of mind, she became more erratic and I do like an unreliable narrator!
I really didn’t know where the story was going as it developed. The author kept me totally in the dark but the final third of the book ramped up the speed and gripped my full attention as the story climaxed.
Many thanks to Killer Reads and Netgalley for my copy of “The Missing Twin”.
August 18, 2017
The Missing Twin is essentially two stories, alternating between Edie and Fatima. Two very different people, both stories utterly compelling.
Edie is working in a holiday resort, she’s young and full of life, living the dream. Laura, Edie’s twin sister and best friend arrives unannounced and Edie is over the moon. They only have a short time together when Laura goes missing. Living and working in a foreign country, Edie isn’t sure who to turn to for help, can her lover Vuk help? The police don’t seem interested and Edie has her suspicions tickled when Laura’s scarf is found.
Meanwhile in another country Fatima’s life is turned totally upside down, she goes from living a comfortable life with her husband and twin daughters to total devastation when bombs rip through her country and the only way to survive is to flee and seek asylum in the EU.
Both stories had me totally gripped, flying through the pages. Alex Day has a way of transporting the reader, I could feel the heat and tensions building up, this is one of those books where you can’t just read one more chapter. I’d get to the end of one of Edie’s chapters, holding my breath desperately needing to know what was going to happen next to then go on to Fatima’s chapter and be blown away by her story and desperately needing to know how things would turn out for her. It’s so very cleverly written, it’s very easy to lose time while reading.
From reading the description, I knew that Edie and Fatima’s paths were set to collide but I couldn’t figure out how and I was really eager to try and fit all the pieces together. Some I did but others were lost under the sofa I think as I was totally shocked when everything came together. The Missing Twin really does have the wow factor.
I’m so pleased I bumped this up my reading list, I’m honestly not sure what I was expecting from The Missing Twin but I definitely got more than I bargained for, it really got under my skin. It’s tense, emotional, heart-breaking and really get’s you thinking about the world we live in and the journey lots of people are facing.
I definitely will be recommending The Missing Twin and I’m excited to see what Alex Day will come up with next.
Edie is working in a holiday resort, she’s young and full of life, living the dream. Laura, Edie’s twin sister and best friend arrives unannounced and Edie is over the moon. They only have a short time together when Laura goes missing. Living and working in a foreign country, Edie isn’t sure who to turn to for help, can her lover Vuk help? The police don’t seem interested and Edie has her suspicions tickled when Laura’s scarf is found.
Meanwhile in another country Fatima’s life is turned totally upside down, she goes from living a comfortable life with her husband and twin daughters to total devastation when bombs rip through her country and the only way to survive is to flee and seek asylum in the EU.
Both stories had me totally gripped, flying through the pages. Alex Day has a way of transporting the reader, I could feel the heat and tensions building up, this is one of those books where you can’t just read one more chapter. I’d get to the end of one of Edie’s chapters, holding my breath desperately needing to know what was going to happen next to then go on to Fatima’s chapter and be blown away by her story and desperately needing to know how things would turn out for her. It’s so very cleverly written, it’s very easy to lose time while reading.
From reading the description, I knew that Edie and Fatima’s paths were set to collide but I couldn’t figure out how and I was really eager to try and fit all the pieces together. Some I did but others were lost under the sofa I think as I was totally shocked when everything came together. The Missing Twin really does have the wow factor.
I’m so pleased I bumped this up my reading list, I’m honestly not sure what I was expecting from The Missing Twin but I definitely got more than I bargained for, it really got under my skin. It’s tense, emotional, heart-breaking and really get’s you thinking about the world we live in and the journey lots of people are facing.
I definitely will be recommending The Missing Twin and I’m excited to see what Alex Day will come up with next.
November 29, 2017
This is a story of two very different women with two very different stories.
There is Edie who waitresses at a seaside resort. Her twin sister Laura surprisingly shows up. They have a crazy night on the town but when Edie wakes up hung over and disoriented her sister is no where to be found. What happened to Laura?
We then alternate chapters with Fatima. Fatima is escaping from her war torn country with her twin 3 year old daughters in tow. Her husband was killed and her home destroyed in a bombing.
Edie is not a smart woman. She's reckless and all around annoying. I almost DNF this book three times because every time I was reading her chapters I wanted to throw my kindle against the wall. If I had to read about how perfect and pretty she was while every one else is fat and plain one more time I was going to go mad. Around the half way mark her story did start to improve. In the end, while I still didn't love her character, I could sympathize with her and I did feel that her character matured a bit.
Poor, sweet Fatima. The horrific conditions that her and her daughters endure is beyond sad. I became so attached to them. Before this Fatima was a housewife and she never really had to make decisions. Her husband took care of everything but now it's up to her to keep her daughters protected while navigating them to safety through a terrifying landscape. Let me just say that this story is powerful, relevant, and important. If I rated on her story alone I'd give it 5 stars.
While this did have a rocky start I did ultimately enjoy this and found the ending to be satisfying. 3.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
There is Edie who waitresses at a seaside resort. Her twin sister Laura surprisingly shows up. They have a crazy night on the town but when Edie wakes up hung over and disoriented her sister is no where to be found. What happened to Laura?
We then alternate chapters with Fatima. Fatima is escaping from her war torn country with her twin 3 year old daughters in tow. Her husband was killed and her home destroyed in a bombing.
Edie is not a smart woman. She's reckless and all around annoying. I almost DNF this book three times because every time I was reading her chapters I wanted to throw my kindle against the wall. If I had to read about how perfect and pretty she was while every one else is fat and plain one more time I was going to go mad. Around the half way mark her story did start to improve. In the end, while I still didn't love her character, I could sympathize with her and I did feel that her character matured a bit.
Poor, sweet Fatima. The horrific conditions that her and her daughters endure is beyond sad. I became so attached to them. Before this Fatima was a housewife and she never really had to make decisions. Her husband took care of everything but now it's up to her to keep her daughters protected while navigating them to safety through a terrifying landscape. Let me just say that this story is powerful, relevant, and important. If I rated on her story alone I'd give it 5 stars.
While this did have a rocky start I did ultimately enjoy this and found the ending to be satisfying. 3.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 17, 2017
Now EVERYONE knows I love a twin book and I had so many people point me in the direction of this book but I have to say a special thanks to the fabulous Claire Knight who made sure I was aware of The Missing Twin as soon as it became available. And what a twin book this one was! Heartbreaking, intense and frustrating at times, its definitely one you won’t be able to put down as you struggle to work out the connection between Fatima and Edie. I thoroughly enjoyed following their stories, which are on a collision course to some shocking reveals!
Two very different women with two very different stories meant that this intriguing thriller was never quite what I expected. And I had rather different reactions to them both as well. Edie is working in a holiday resort somewhere on the Adriatic coast and is unexpectedly surprised by her twin sister Laura who turns up to visit her. But the day after she arrives Laura goes missing and Edie is struggling to remember what happened the previous evening. Fatima is escaping her war torn country for a better life in the EU with her young twin daughters but every step of the way is fraught with danger.
I was really baffled to begin with on how the stories of two such different women could actually be connected! Edie wasn’t a particularly likeable character in my mind, she seemed to have no self respect or discipline and made some very questionable decisions. But as soon as Laura went missing she changed and it became 100% about finding Laura for her. I had much more sympathy for Fatima and her heart wrenching tale of escape so she could provide a better life for her children. I found myself quite heavily invested in this part of The Missing Twin as Alex Day wrote with such emotion that I was always keen to get back to her story, hoping that nothing else could have gone wrong as she fought her way to safety. Whereas I was getting very frustrated with Edie as, although she was increasing in her desperation to find Laura, her questionable methods made me want to slap some sense into her (and I’m not a violent person honestly!) And her boyfriend Vuk gave me the creeps everytime Edie came into contact with him.
I do defy anyone to guess the outcome of this compelling thriller! Towards the end there are more twists and turns than you can throw a stick at and Alex Day needs to take a bow for writing this expertly crafted, diverting and absorbing storyline. Recommended by me.
Two very different women with two very different stories meant that this intriguing thriller was never quite what I expected. And I had rather different reactions to them both as well. Edie is working in a holiday resort somewhere on the Adriatic coast and is unexpectedly surprised by her twin sister Laura who turns up to visit her. But the day after she arrives Laura goes missing and Edie is struggling to remember what happened the previous evening. Fatima is escaping her war torn country for a better life in the EU with her young twin daughters but every step of the way is fraught with danger.
I was really baffled to begin with on how the stories of two such different women could actually be connected! Edie wasn’t a particularly likeable character in my mind, she seemed to have no self respect or discipline and made some very questionable decisions. But as soon as Laura went missing she changed and it became 100% about finding Laura for her. I had much more sympathy for Fatima and her heart wrenching tale of escape so she could provide a better life for her children. I found myself quite heavily invested in this part of The Missing Twin as Alex Day wrote with such emotion that I was always keen to get back to her story, hoping that nothing else could have gone wrong as she fought her way to safety. Whereas I was getting very frustrated with Edie as, although she was increasing in her desperation to find Laura, her questionable methods made me want to slap some sense into her (and I’m not a violent person honestly!) And her boyfriend Vuk gave me the creeps everytime Edie came into contact with him.
I do defy anyone to guess the outcome of this compelling thriller! Towards the end there are more twists and turns than you can throw a stick at and Alex Day needs to take a bow for writing this expertly crafted, diverting and absorbing storyline. Recommended by me.
August 9, 2017
The missing twin tells the story of two different people from different walks of life.
The first one is Edie who is working on a beach resort after leaving her life behind to do something different, one day her twin Laura comes to see her, they go out for the night, the next day Laura is nowhere to be be found. The rest of Edies story is spent trying to find Laura.
The second woman is Fatima, a refugee fleeing from a war torn country to claim asylum in the EU.
The book is split up into one chapter of Edie and the next Fatima and so on. At first Edie comes across as quite childish and annoying. Her obsession with Vuk, a man who works at the resort and treats her like dirt is annoying and at times I found myself thinking that it was ridiculous and no one acts like that. The chapters which were Fatima were, I thought a lot stronger at the start and her story was more real. The description of her life and what her and her family had to go through were really interesting and made me think more about refugees, and what they have to suffer to get to places such as England.
However once the story got fully going and Edie was uncovering clues as to where Laura was I found both parts or the story really good.
The way the story comes to its conclusion is really good and I wasn't expecting the twist at the end at all.
This book was fantastic and I really enjoyed it. It took me two days to read it and it's a real page turner. I know I'm enjoying a book when I skim in front because I can't wait to see what's happening, and I was doing this a lot especially towards the end when the story was reaching its conclusion.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and TBC for providing me with a copy of this book to review.
The first one is Edie who is working on a beach resort after leaving her life behind to do something different, one day her twin Laura comes to see her, they go out for the night, the next day Laura is nowhere to be be found. The rest of Edies story is spent trying to find Laura.
The second woman is Fatima, a refugee fleeing from a war torn country to claim asylum in the EU.
The book is split up into one chapter of Edie and the next Fatima and so on. At first Edie comes across as quite childish and annoying. Her obsession with Vuk, a man who works at the resort and treats her like dirt is annoying and at times I found myself thinking that it was ridiculous and no one acts like that. The chapters which were Fatima were, I thought a lot stronger at the start and her story was more real. The description of her life and what her and her family had to go through were really interesting and made me think more about refugees, and what they have to suffer to get to places such as England.
However once the story got fully going and Edie was uncovering clues as to where Laura was I found both parts or the story really good.
The way the story comes to its conclusion is really good and I wasn't expecting the twist at the end at all.
This book was fantastic and I really enjoyed it. It took me two days to read it and it's a real page turner. I know I'm enjoying a book when I skim in front because I can't wait to see what's happening, and I was doing this a lot especially towards the end when the story was reaching its conclusion.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and TBC for providing me with a copy of this book to review.
August 27, 2017
The missing twin by Alex day.
A missing girl…a secret to be uncovered.
Edie and her identical twin Laura have always been best friends. So when Laura surprises Edie at the Mediterranean holiday resort where she’s working, Edie can’t wait for the partying to start! But then, Laura vanishes without a trace…
At the same time, in a country on the other side of the sea, Fatima and her twin daughters set out on a harrowing journey that only the strongest – and luckiest – survive.
Edie and Fatima’s lives are worlds apart, but now, their paths are set to collide, with devastating consequences. When Fatima hovers on the brink of survival, Edie must risk her own life to save her, and finally discover the truth about her missing sister.
OMG what a read. Fantastic read with brilliant characters, gripped from start to finish. I was very surprised. Didn't expect that. 5*. Captivating and gripping read. Netgalley and harper Collins UK harper fiction and tbc on fb.
A missing girl…a secret to be uncovered.
Edie and her identical twin Laura have always been best friends. So when Laura surprises Edie at the Mediterranean holiday resort where she’s working, Edie can’t wait for the partying to start! But then, Laura vanishes without a trace…
At the same time, in a country on the other side of the sea, Fatima and her twin daughters set out on a harrowing journey that only the strongest – and luckiest – survive.
Edie and Fatima’s lives are worlds apart, but now, their paths are set to collide, with devastating consequences. When Fatima hovers on the brink of survival, Edie must risk her own life to save her, and finally discover the truth about her missing sister.
OMG what a read. Fantastic read with brilliant characters, gripped from start to finish. I was very surprised. Didn't expect that. 5*. Captivating and gripping read. Netgalley and harper Collins UK harper fiction and tbc on fb.
January 25, 2024
3.75 ⭐️ !!! Pacing was super slow at the start (and the middle to be fair) but once you reach the 70-80% mark the story gets super intriguing lol.
Edie is a immature, stroppy, obsessive and naïve 23 year old who was mistreated at the hand (or 🍆) of Vuk every chapter. She redeemed herself though! Fatima, her story was much more up my alley. Strong willed, resilient, determined and a total slay.
I don’t know if I would class this as a psychological thriller but plot was okay, I liked seeing when both stories came together and you read the big reveal at the literal last sentence
Edie is a immature, stroppy, obsessive and naïve 23 year old who was mistreated at the hand (or 🍆) of Vuk every chapter. She redeemed herself though! Fatima, her story was much more up my alley. Strong willed, resilient, determined and a total slay.
I don’t know if I would class this as a psychological thriller but plot was okay, I liked seeing when both stories came together and you read the big reveal at the literal last sentence
August 18, 2017
Edie and her identical twin Laura have always been best friends. When Laura surprises Edie at the Mediterranean resort where she is working she is ecstatic, until Laura vanishes without a trace. At the same time, in another country on the other side of the sea, Fatima and her twin daughters are desperate to make their escape to Europe. Edie and Fatima live worlds apart but they are about to be thrown together and the fate of one will be left with the other.
I found this novel so frustrating because I really was not into this, not feeling it at all until the very final twists. The epilogue and the chapter just before are sensational and I loved the direction that Day suddenly and shockingly took. I only wish it could have happened earlier so I could enjoy it more. For me the problems with the plot lay with a lack of detail, I just could not imagine the place where Edie was so I felt no connection and struggled to find a connection the whole way through. I thought everything happened a bit slow as well so again I struggled with the connection. I did, however thoroughly enjoy Fatima’s sections. I thought Day clearly portrayed the struggle of Fatima and her children, getting across their desperation and the human, emotional side that their journey has on them. I was thoroughly invested in their story.
Although a thriller at times I was not sure what genre ‘The Missing Twin’ belonged in and the genres became muddled. Some of the plot seems to belong in romance and I am not sure that it fitted being in this novel.
‘The Missing Twin’ just was not for me and I did not enjoy reading this. However Day does save part of the novel with the sensational twists at the ending and if there had been more events like that the whole way through then I would have loved this novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC.
I found this novel so frustrating because I really was not into this, not feeling it at all until the very final twists. The epilogue and the chapter just before are sensational and I loved the direction that Day suddenly and shockingly took. I only wish it could have happened earlier so I could enjoy it more. For me the problems with the plot lay with a lack of detail, I just could not imagine the place where Edie was so I felt no connection and struggled to find a connection the whole way through. I thought everything happened a bit slow as well so again I struggled with the connection. I did, however thoroughly enjoy Fatima’s sections. I thought Day clearly portrayed the struggle of Fatima and her children, getting across their desperation and the human, emotional side that their journey has on them. I was thoroughly invested in their story.
Although a thriller at times I was not sure what genre ‘The Missing Twin’ belonged in and the genres became muddled. Some of the plot seems to belong in romance and I am not sure that it fitted being in this novel.
‘The Missing Twin’ just was not for me and I did not enjoy reading this. However Day does save part of the novel with the sensational twists at the ending and if there had been more events like that the whole way through then I would have loved this novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC.
August 19, 2017
A pair of very different storylines converge and eventually synchronise with fascinating aplomb. There are moments of genuine heart-wrenching pathos, anxiety, suspicion, fear and action. There are twists galore but the main characters aren’t simply cut-outs for the writer to manipulate. They are genuine people who mature and achieve self-knowledge.
December 8, 2017
Edie loves her twin sister Laura very much. She feels like she's the inferior twin of the two though. They're both gorgeous, but Laura is a little bit better at everything they do. When Edie goes on an adventure she doesn't take her sister with her. She finds a job at a resort on the Adriatic coast and she enjoys working there. She's even fallen in love. When Laura arrives for a visit Edie is reluctant to introduce her sister, afraid that Laura will be liked more. Still, she is thrilled to see her sister and they do what they do best, they party. However, when Edie wakes up the next morning Laura isn't there and Edie can't find her. Where did her sister go?
Fatima lives in a war zone. After a major loss she decides it's better to protect her twin daughters and the only way to do that is leaving the country. The journey will be long and risky, filled with uncertainty and danger. Will Fatima and her girls be able to find safety and will they survive the hard road ahead of them? Fatima doesn't have a choice, she has to keep going. Unfortunately this awful experience isn't something she could have ever prepared for. Will she and her daughters be able to find that safety she so longs to have?
The Missing Twin is a fantastic book about two very different young women. Fatima has a family and lives in a country that's being destroyed by war. She has many responsibilities and has to be resourceful to survive. Edie likes to have a good time, she easily judges people, appearance is incredibly important to her and she's the center of her own world. However, Edie's search for her sister changes her. It makes her more aware of who she is and how she behaves and she grows as a person. At first she's a selfish insecure girl with a gorgeous appearance, but slowly she turns into a brave woman who can be proud of herself because she finds the beauty within, which is something I really loved. Edie and Fatima's paths are about to cross and I couldn't wait to find out how that would happen. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to know more about each of their stories. I love a good page-turner and The Missing Twin definitely falls into that category.
Alex Day has a beautiful descriptive writing style. I love how she makes her settings come to life in a vivid and dynamic way. She writes about both the good and the bad parts of life in a raw and honest way, something that made me fall in love with her story straight away. The Missing Twin is gripping, compelling and heartbreaking. It's a story filled with anxiety and despair, but there's always that little ray of hope to give it a little bit of lightness. I love the way Alex Day balances grief, unexpected situations and the idea the future will be better. She kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I absolutely loved this terrific suspenseful story and highly recommend it.
Fatima lives in a war zone. After a major loss she decides it's better to protect her twin daughters and the only way to do that is leaving the country. The journey will be long and risky, filled with uncertainty and danger. Will Fatima and her girls be able to find safety and will they survive the hard road ahead of them? Fatima doesn't have a choice, she has to keep going. Unfortunately this awful experience isn't something she could have ever prepared for. Will she and her daughters be able to find that safety she so longs to have?
The Missing Twin is a fantastic book about two very different young women. Fatima has a family and lives in a country that's being destroyed by war. She has many responsibilities and has to be resourceful to survive. Edie likes to have a good time, she easily judges people, appearance is incredibly important to her and she's the center of her own world. However, Edie's search for her sister changes her. It makes her more aware of who she is and how she behaves and she grows as a person. At first she's a selfish insecure girl with a gorgeous appearance, but slowly she turns into a brave woman who can be proud of herself because she finds the beauty within, which is something I really loved. Edie and Fatima's paths are about to cross and I couldn't wait to find out how that would happen. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to know more about each of their stories. I love a good page-turner and The Missing Twin definitely falls into that category.
Alex Day has a beautiful descriptive writing style. I love how she makes her settings come to life in a vivid and dynamic way. She writes about both the good and the bad parts of life in a raw and honest way, something that made me fall in love with her story straight away. The Missing Twin is gripping, compelling and heartbreaking. It's a story filled with anxiety and despair, but there's always that little ray of hope to give it a little bit of lightness. I love the way Alex Day balances grief, unexpected situations and the idea the future will be better. She kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I absolutely loved this terrific suspenseful story and highly recommend it.
September 14, 2024
With alternating narratives between two very different women, I couldn't imagine how their stories would in any way connect or even intersect.
Edie is an irritating, self-absorbed, promiscuous, and immature twenty-three year old English girl who is presently working at a Croatian holiday resort - without a work permit. Surprisingly, her twin sister Laura shows up at the resort. When Edie awakens the following morning, there is no sign of Laura...
Fatima, almost the same age as Edie, is a widowed woman trying to escape a war torn country with her three-year-old twin girls. Without any home, or any possessions, she is struggling to survive amidst her grief over losing her husband to the bombing. She joins forces with her brother-in-law and their respective children to find sanctuary away from their besieged and decimated country. Fatima's terror, panic, and desperation were palpable.
Edie’s obsession with the odious Vuk, was hard to stomach, and I disliked hearing about their sex life, and his mistreatment of her. He was the epitome of an unscrupulous and misogynistic man.
Fatima's plight was the only reason I kept reading. Though you see such people on the news so often that we somehow become immune to their suffering, this novel brought their immense and valiant struggles to the forefront of my mind in an authentic and heartbreaking way. It put a human face on the issue, and Fatima's strength and resilience were admirable and impressive.
Despite my distaste of Edie, there was a point in the story when she redeemed herself and became a bit more mature. Once I learned more about her background, I began to understand her more.
"The Missing Twin" was an emotional read, making me think about the people behind the newspaper headlines and the tremendous struggles they face. With themes of people smuggling and rape, there were several scenes that were difficult to read.
In short, I loved Fatima's story far more than I enjoyed Edie's story. Don't be put off at the beginning, if you persevere with this novel it gets much more compelling in the second half. The final chapters were very suspenseful and the final pages held an astounding plot twist.
Edie is an irritating, self-absorbed, promiscuous, and immature twenty-three year old English girl who is presently working at a Croatian holiday resort - without a work permit. Surprisingly, her twin sister Laura shows up at the resort. When Edie awakens the following morning, there is no sign of Laura...
Fatima, almost the same age as Edie, is a widowed woman trying to escape a war torn country with her three-year-old twin girls. Without any home, or any possessions, she is struggling to survive amidst her grief over losing her husband to the bombing. She joins forces with her brother-in-law and their respective children to find sanctuary away from their besieged and decimated country. Fatima's terror, panic, and desperation were palpable.
Edie’s obsession with the odious Vuk, was hard to stomach, and I disliked hearing about their sex life, and his mistreatment of her. He was the epitome of an unscrupulous and misogynistic man.
Fatima's plight was the only reason I kept reading. Though you see such people on the news so often that we somehow become immune to their suffering, this novel brought their immense and valiant struggles to the forefront of my mind in an authentic and heartbreaking way. It put a human face on the issue, and Fatima's strength and resilience were admirable and impressive.
Despite my distaste of Edie, there was a point in the story when she redeemed herself and became a bit more mature. Once I learned more about her background, I began to understand her more.
"The Missing Twin" was an emotional read, making me think about the people behind the newspaper headlines and the tremendous struggles they face. With themes of people smuggling and rape, there were several scenes that were difficult to read.
In short, I loved Fatima's story far more than I enjoyed Edie's story. Don't be put off at the beginning, if you persevere with this novel it gets much more compelling in the second half. The final chapters were very suspenseful and the final pages held an astounding plot twist.
March 19, 2021
This was okay, not quite what I was expecting, but okay. I guess that's what happens when you pick books using the cover and recommendation rather than the blurb.
I felt really bad for Fatima, losing her home and husband. Then having to go on such an awful journey, thinking she might die, or worse her daughters might die, and then
I found Edie's story interesting, but it was more in a 'what is going on?' way rather than feeling anything for her specifically. It was also weird how she said her twin sister was missing, yet not one single person had actually seen her sister 🤔
I liked how the two stories tied together at the end, but the whole thing with
I felt really bad for Fatima, losing her home and husband. Then having to go on such an awful journey, thinking she might die, or worse her daughters might die, and then
I found Edie's story interesting, but it was more in a 'what is going on?' way rather than feeling anything for her specifically. It was also weird how she said her twin sister was missing, yet not one single person had actually seen her sister 🤔
I liked how the two stories tied together at the end, but the whole thing with
November 5, 2017
Very confusing sometimes but the ending was very good
December 25, 2017
when i first saw the title of this book "THE MISSING TWIN" i was excited..
the story follows edie where she works at a holiday resort there she has a kind of boyfriend called vuk whos very mysterious one night her twin sister laura turns up, edie who is very happy to see her tells her to go rest in her room until she gets of work and after they go out and party but the next morning edie wakes to find her sister is not there shes missing,
so edie is worried about the fact her sister is missing but no-one else is her boyfriend or the local police don't seem to care so shes on the hunt to find her sister herself..
next we meet Fatima who has problems of her own her country has neem bombed her children her nephew and brother in law try to make the make jorney across the border ans by chance her abd edie cross paths!
like i said when i saw the title of this book i was excited thinking it will be a great thriller but sadly i was very disappointed very early on i was bored with the story and the fact that it told two womens diffrent story made it worse it just didn't work if edie and Fatimas story was told in there own book and bot one maybe it would be better.. i didn't like any of the characters the story did not grip me and if im truly honest very predictable i guessed who Fatimas brother was very early on also gussed about laura very early on the only reason i finished the book and not stop after 10 pages was because i got this book in exchange for an honest review... someone people may have loved the book but im sorry to say i was glad i finished it.. thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy
the story follows edie where she works at a holiday resort there she has a kind of boyfriend called vuk whos very mysterious one night her twin sister laura turns up, edie who is very happy to see her tells her to go rest in her room until she gets of work and after they go out and party but the next morning edie wakes to find her sister is not there shes missing,
so edie is worried about the fact her sister is missing but no-one else is her boyfriend or the local police don't seem to care so shes on the hunt to find her sister herself..
next we meet Fatima who has problems of her own her country has neem bombed her children her nephew and brother in law try to make the make jorney across the border ans by chance her abd edie cross paths!
like i said when i saw the title of this book i was excited thinking it will be a great thriller but sadly i was very disappointed very early on i was bored with the story and the fact that it told two womens diffrent story made it worse it just didn't work if edie and Fatimas story was told in there own book and bot one maybe it would be better.. i didn't like any of the characters the story did not grip me and if im truly honest very predictable i guessed who Fatimas brother was very early on also gussed about laura very early on the only reason i finished the book and not stop after 10 pages was because i got this book in exchange for an honest review... someone people may have loved the book but im sorry to say i was glad i finished it.. thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy
August 16, 2017
A missing girl…a secret to be uncovered.
Edie and her identical twin Laura have always been best friends. So when Laura surprises Edie at the Mediterranean holiday resort where she’s working, Edie can’t wait for the partying to start! But then, Laura vanishes without a trace…
At the same time, in a country on the other side of the sea, Fatima and her twin daughters set out on a harrowing journey that only the strongest – and luckiest – survive.
Edie and Fatima’s lives are worlds apart, but now, their paths are set to collide, with devastating consequences. When Fatima hovers on the brink of survival, Edie must risk her own life to save her, and finally discover the truth about her missing sister.
I read this book in one sitting and I can’t say much about this book without giving any spoilers. Needless to say I enjoyed this book. 4*
Edie and her identical twin Laura have always been best friends. So when Laura surprises Edie at the Mediterranean holiday resort where she’s working, Edie can’t wait for the partying to start! But then, Laura vanishes without a trace…
At the same time, in a country on the other side of the sea, Fatima and her twin daughters set out on a harrowing journey that only the strongest – and luckiest – survive.
Edie and Fatima’s lives are worlds apart, but now, their paths are set to collide, with devastating consequences. When Fatima hovers on the brink of survival, Edie must risk her own life to save her, and finally discover the truth about her missing sister.
I read this book in one sitting and I can’t say much about this book without giving any spoilers. Needless to say I enjoyed this book. 4*
August 30, 2017
Two women, Edie and Fatima. Each living in a different country, both characters vastly different. And at the start they are seemingly unrelated as the book shares their individual stories.
When Edie’s twin Laura disappears, the plot begins to build as Fatima’s life is devastated by violence, which forces her to flee. As both Edie and Fatima’s lives revolve around damaging relationships, it’s an interesting intersection that brings the book full circle.
Although marketed as a psychological thriller, it seems to genre-hop as it delves into deeper emotional territory, describing their journeys and tumultuous experiences that might be more fitting of contemporary fiction with a mystery slant.
Packed with powerful prose and characterizations that you love to hate, The Missing Twin is an engaging read about the life of a refugee, a woman’s battle to get help for her missing sister, and a twist that ties everything together. Thanks, TBC and NetGalley, for providing me a copy to review.
When Edie’s twin Laura disappears, the plot begins to build as Fatima’s life is devastated by violence, which forces her to flee. As both Edie and Fatima’s lives revolve around damaging relationships, it’s an interesting intersection that brings the book full circle.
Although marketed as a psychological thriller, it seems to genre-hop as it delves into deeper emotional territory, describing their journeys and tumultuous experiences that might be more fitting of contemporary fiction with a mystery slant.
Packed with powerful prose and characterizations that you love to hate, The Missing Twin is an engaging read about the life of a refugee, a woman’s battle to get help for her missing sister, and a twist that ties everything together. Thanks, TBC and NetGalley, for providing me a copy to review.
August 28, 2017
'The Missing Twin' tells the dual stories of Edie and Fatima, switching between the two women's stories in each alternate chapter. I had no idea for a long time how their stories would come together, and even though I began to have some idea what the ending would be, it still kept you guessing right up until the final page had been turned.
Edie is searching for her missing twin, Laura, whilst Fatima is trying to keep her own twin daughters safe and alive. It's a gripping, page turning story that kept me awake long into the night. Fantastic storytelling, this is a book that I enjoyed much more than I expected to. Well written, with characters that are at times frustrating and not always easy to like (Edie in particular), the coming together of the two storylines is explosive and moving.
A gripping 4 stars.
Thank you to TBC, NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.
Edie is searching for her missing twin, Laura, whilst Fatima is trying to keep her own twin daughters safe and alive. It's a gripping, page turning story that kept me awake long into the night. Fantastic storytelling, this is a book that I enjoyed much more than I expected to. Well written, with characters that are at times frustrating and not always easy to like (Edie in particular), the coming together of the two storylines is explosive and moving.
A gripping 4 stars.
Thank you to TBC, NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.
August 7, 2017
All of my reviews can be found at: https://jacob-reviews-books.blogspot....
The Missing Twin is an exciting debut novel by Alex Day. It is a brilliant read, that’ll keep you guessing and turning the pages to find out what will happen next.
Edie and Laura are twins. Edie has been living and working on a Mediterranean island and is thrilled when her sister turns up out of the blue to surprise her. After Laura arrives they both hit the town but the next morning, Edie discovers that Laura is missing. Filled with anxiety for her twin, she is desperate to find her sister, but her boyfriend, Vuk, warns her against approaching the police. Who can she trust to help her?
Meanwhile, Fatmia is fleeing her country which has been torn apart by war. She is desperate to reach mainland Europe and begins the dangerous journey with her two children to find safety.
I was intrigued by both of the stories in this book. Fatima’s story was heartbreaking, it really makes you think about what is going on in the world today with the refugee crisis and Alex writes her story incredibly well. I was always looking for clues to see how the stories could possibly be connected but when I thought I had worked it out but I was completely surprised by the ending which Alex had in store for us, the ending of the book really blew me away.
A great read from Alex, a book that I highly recommend, I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next. This book deserves to be huge! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read.
The Missing Twin is an exciting debut novel by Alex Day. It is a brilliant read, that’ll keep you guessing and turning the pages to find out what will happen next.
Edie and Laura are twins. Edie has been living and working on a Mediterranean island and is thrilled when her sister turns up out of the blue to surprise her. After Laura arrives they both hit the town but the next morning, Edie discovers that Laura is missing. Filled with anxiety for her twin, she is desperate to find her sister, but her boyfriend, Vuk, warns her against approaching the police. Who can she trust to help her?
Meanwhile, Fatmia is fleeing her country which has been torn apart by war. She is desperate to reach mainland Europe and begins the dangerous journey with her two children to find safety.
I was intrigued by both of the stories in this book. Fatima’s story was heartbreaking, it really makes you think about what is going on in the world today with the refugee crisis and Alex writes her story incredibly well. I was always looking for clues to see how the stories could possibly be connected but when I thought I had worked it out but I was completely surprised by the ending which Alex had in store for us, the ending of the book really blew me away.
A great read from Alex, a book that I highly recommend, I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next. This book deserves to be huge! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read.
October 14, 2018
*thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
2 stars.
This just wasnt for me. I struggled through the beginning because I though that once I got to know the characters then the story would pick up and be fast paced. Sadly, that did not happen. Still at 30% of the way through I was still bored, but I pushed on to the end and I do have to say that the twist there did bump this star rating up from 1 star to 2 stars.
The IDEA of this story sounded so good! A missing person story, yes please! Just the kind of books I love. But lobe just didn't happen with this. Alot of people did like it, so it's obvious that it's not a bad book, just not right for me.
2 stars.
This just wasnt for me. I struggled through the beginning because I though that once I got to know the characters then the story would pick up and be fast paced. Sadly, that did not happen. Still at 30% of the way through I was still bored, but I pushed on to the end and I do have to say that the twist there did bump this star rating up from 1 star to 2 stars.
The IDEA of this story sounded so good! A missing person story, yes please! Just the kind of books I love. But lobe just didn't happen with this. Alot of people did like it, so it's obvious that it's not a bad book, just not right for me.
August 2, 2017
Growing up in Brighton with two doctor parents, her twin Laura and their younger brother, Edie has only known her love life to be competitive with her sister as she falls in love with Vuk but as the adoration from Zayn stays strong, she vows to set him up with Laura.
When Edie wakes up from a night out to her sister being missing, she freaks out and panic's, just where is her sister now?
When the police can't help due to her sister being an adult and no suspicious circumstances being present. Whilst Edie carries on working at the resort she keeps on asking around if anyone has seen her sister.
Can she trust Zayn and Vuk completely?
Especially when her sister's scarf, texts supposedly from her begin arriving from an unknown number and a scream is heard also later on...
Fatima has two twin daughters whom she dotes over, however, when she finds their home has been destroyed by a bomb she never expects to find her husband's body there in an in repairable state. Taking her twins with her she flees for safety and a better life eventually after struggling for money and finding any relative safety. Unfortunately, that means forcing herself to marry Ehsan, a man who rapes her as he believes she owes it to him to fulfill his needs which then lands her in an even more dangerous situation as they are still on the run from their home country...
Then Peter, a holidaying cop makes a discovery as does Edie as she finds all is not as it seems and neither is the company she keeps as well as herself...
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
When Edie wakes up from a night out to her sister being missing, she freaks out and panic's, just where is her sister now?
When the police can't help due to her sister being an adult and no suspicious circumstances being present. Whilst Edie carries on working at the resort she keeps on asking around if anyone has seen her sister.
Can she trust Zayn and Vuk completely?
Especially when her sister's scarf, texts supposedly from her begin arriving from an unknown number and a scream is heard also later on...
Fatima has two twin daughters whom she dotes over, however, when she finds their home has been destroyed by a bomb she never expects to find her husband's body there in an in repairable state. Taking her twins with her she flees for safety and a better life eventually after struggling for money and finding any relative safety. Unfortunately, that means forcing herself to marry Ehsan, a man who rapes her as he believes she owes it to him to fulfill his needs which then lands her in an even more dangerous situation as they are still on the run from their home country...
Then Peter, a holidaying cop makes a discovery as does Edie as she finds all is not as it seems and neither is the company she keeps as well as herself...
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
January 30, 2018
A 3* review for The Missing Twin by Alex Day, a NetGalley copy i downloaded to read and review. The missing twin tells the story of two different people from different walks of life. First there is Edie who works at a holiday beach resort and secondly there is Fatima who is trying to flee her war torn country and claim asylum in the EU. The story is told through alternate chapters from the women and the connecting link seems to be that Edie has a twin sister Laura who came to visit and then went missing and Fatima who has twin daughters she is struggling to keep alive in a refugee camp while they plan their escape via people smugglers. I didn't warm to Edie and found her naive and needy and annoying but was surprised at how much sympathy i felt for Fatima. The chapters about Fatima were a real eye-opener to me and the description of her life and what her family had to go through were really interesting and made me think more about the plight of refugees and why they are so desperate and put their lives in such danger to get to places like England. This is a very current topic and i felt a story worth telling on it's own, even without the back story of Edie and her problems. The ending was a bit weak and predictable for me and although i would consider the book a thriller i don't think i would class it as a psychological thriller .
August 18, 2017
The Missing Twin is an interesting psychological thriller that is split into two narratives. We meet Edie who is working at a holiday resort in the Mediterranean, her twin sister Laura visits her but after a night out, Laura has vanished. Then we meet Fatima, a young mother of twin girls who is forced to flee her war-torn country and she sets off on a route to the EU that is familiar to most of us from the news.
At first I was struggling to understand how these two stories would intercept but as the book progressed I guessed what was going on and I figured out the twists. I would have rated it five stars but there was just something about the book that didn't quite pull me in like other thrillers have done in the past.
I loved Fatima's story, she was such a strong-willed young woman who only wanted the best for her little girls but her circumstances meant that she had to flee and set off on a horrendous journey. I would have happily read a book about Fatima and her journey, I found when I was reading about Edie and Laura, I wanted to go back to Fatima. At times, Fatima's story broke my heart and I really wished there was more that could be done to help refugees without putting ourselves at risk.
Edie did bug me, she was being pushed around by Vuk who was just horrible to her and no one wanted to help her with her sisters disappearance. I struggled to connect with her, I felt she was bullied by Vuk and she didn't stand up for herself.
The book was well-written, I loved how Alex Day was able to write about two different narratives. I always enjoy reading about war-torn countries and how people survive and this is one that I'd recommend to others if they enjoy the same.
Huge thank you to The Book Club on Facebook and Alex Day for allowing me to read and review this book. All views are my own.
At first I was struggling to understand how these two stories would intercept but as the book progressed I guessed what was going on and I figured out the twists. I would have rated it five stars but there was just something about the book that didn't quite pull me in like other thrillers have done in the past.
I loved Fatima's story, she was such a strong-willed young woman who only wanted the best for her little girls but her circumstances meant that she had to flee and set off on a horrendous journey. I would have happily read a book about Fatima and her journey, I found when I was reading about Edie and Laura, I wanted to go back to Fatima. At times, Fatima's story broke my heart and I really wished there was more that could be done to help refugees without putting ourselves at risk.
Edie did bug me, she was being pushed around by Vuk who was just horrible to her and no one wanted to help her with her sisters disappearance. I struggled to connect with her, I felt she was bullied by Vuk and she didn't stand up for herself.
The book was well-written, I loved how Alex Day was able to write about two different narratives. I always enjoy reading about war-torn countries and how people survive and this is one that I'd recommend to others if they enjoy the same.
Huge thank you to The Book Club on Facebook and Alex Day for allowing me to read and review this book. All views are my own.
August 14, 2017
What a great story that kept me turning the pages until the early hours of the morning just to finish this. I loved Alex's writing style as well as the main characters. Vuk and Vlad were not very likable characters and I did not like it that Edie had to demean herself for Vuk. This was a very interesting story with an ending that I did not see coming.
Fatima had a rough time and my heart went out to her, her brother in law was not a likable character and I really did not like him, to me he was just a means to an end.
Very well written and I would definitely recommend this book to all Psychological Thriller readers out there.
Thank you to TBConFb and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the opportunity to review.
Fatima had a rough time and my heart went out to her, her brother in law was not a likable character and I really did not like him, to me he was just a means to an end.
Very well written and I would definitely recommend this book to all Psychological Thriller readers out there.
Thank you to TBConFb and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the opportunity to review.
August 28, 2017
I found this book difficult to get into - on the surface, Edie seemed a little vacuous. But as the story unfolded, this was far from the truth.
In parallel we are told the story of Fatima who is escaping from the horrors of war and losing her home and husband on the same day.
A fast-paced tale with darker elements of intrigue, distrust and secrets... Edie is a more complex character than initially thought and the story of Fatima shows strength of character and what tragedies these refugees have to overcome.
A great read - 4.5* from me
In parallel we are told the story of Fatima who is escaping from the horrors of war and losing her home and husband on the same day.
A fast-paced tale with darker elements of intrigue, distrust and secrets... Edie is a more complex character than initially thought and the story of Fatima shows strength of character and what tragedies these refugees have to overcome.
A great read - 4.5* from me
June 24, 2025
4.5 ⭐️/5
I enjoyed the alternating chapter perspectives. The story was interesting and gripping. I was slightly disappointed by the “twist” at the end.
I enjoyed the alternating chapter perspectives. The story was interesting and gripping. I was slightly disappointed by the “twist” at the end.
September 9, 2017
Ì found the book hard to get into but glad I stuck with it. Essentially 2 stories in both and they are both equally compelling . Hard to believe this is the debut by this author
November 28, 2017
Thanks to the publisher for my copy, via Netgalley.
With each chapter of The Missing Twin I became more and more engaged, wondering what on earth was going on and just how the two protagonists might overcome their ever-worsening difficulties. The novel is carefully constructed; it consists of two storylines that appear at first to be unrelated, told in alternating chapters from the points of view of two young women in very different situations.
Edie, a middle-class English girl in her 20s, works in a Croatian resort as a cleaner/bar-hand. In her time off she enjoys freediving (swimming underwater while holding one’s breath). She is treading water in life, however, having given up on various possible careers and is besotted by a guy at work who clearly cares nothing for her. Fatima, in contrast, is married with two daughters and lives in an unnamed, war-torn country. Apart from being a similar age (and that Edie is a twin and Fatima is the mother of twins), about the only thing they have in common is that both face a crisis in their lives early on in the novel which brings them into life-threatening danger, forcing each to re-evaluate their lives and what is truly important.
It is particularly difficult to say much about the plot without giving away crucial information. One of the most memorable things about The Missing Twin is the rug-pulling twist close to the end, which puts a lot of earlier things into perspective. (Clever title, too.) Suffice to say, Edie comes to believe that her twin (Laura) who suddenly disappears has been the victim of something sinister, possibly connected with the resort. Edie feels compelled to investigate with the intention of finding Laura. Fatima’s crisis begins with losing her husband and her house during a rocket attack; she sees little choice but to flee her devastated homeland with her daughters to seek a new life.
Early on in the book, I admit, I did wonder about Edie – why she was doing such a dead-end job and why she was so preoccupied with Vuk, another resort worker. He seems to see her in purely sexual terms (he doesn’t even give her a good time in bed!) and is obviously not on her side. That’s not to say the ‘relationship’ wasn’t believable – many girls fall for the bad guy, after all – just that early on, when we had very little background information about Edie, I found it hard to understand what was in her head. But this changed over the course of the novel, as her character develops.
Both the Fatima and Edie threads of the plot are infused with suspense by around the halfway point, and the tension ramps up in the second half with quite a few pageturning scenes and some chilling, hold-your-breath moments. The separate storylines intersect satisfyingly close to the end.
The novel portrays the plight of refugees exceedingly well, showing how they are exploited by people seemingly able to carry on their activities with impunity. The journey towards the promised land of Europe that Fatima makes is full of peril – what she has to endure on the way felt horrifyingly real to me. In a short time, she goes from being a high-status wife and mother in an affluent household to a woman with virtually nothing except herself and her daughters.
This was an entertaining and emotionally involving read. This is a successful dive into the realm of the thriller for Alex Day, in my view – one with strong social elements as well as the psychological. Re the final twist, I wouldn’t be surprised if this divides readers… But I’ll say no more about that and let you make up their own mind!
With each chapter of The Missing Twin I became more and more engaged, wondering what on earth was going on and just how the two protagonists might overcome their ever-worsening difficulties. The novel is carefully constructed; it consists of two storylines that appear at first to be unrelated, told in alternating chapters from the points of view of two young women in very different situations.
Edie, a middle-class English girl in her 20s, works in a Croatian resort as a cleaner/bar-hand. In her time off she enjoys freediving (swimming underwater while holding one’s breath). She is treading water in life, however, having given up on various possible careers and is besotted by a guy at work who clearly cares nothing for her. Fatima, in contrast, is married with two daughters and lives in an unnamed, war-torn country. Apart from being a similar age (and that Edie is a twin and Fatima is the mother of twins), about the only thing they have in common is that both face a crisis in their lives early on in the novel which brings them into life-threatening danger, forcing each to re-evaluate their lives and what is truly important.
It is particularly difficult to say much about the plot without giving away crucial information. One of the most memorable things about The Missing Twin is the rug-pulling twist close to the end, which puts a lot of earlier things into perspective. (Clever title, too.) Suffice to say, Edie comes to believe that her twin (Laura) who suddenly disappears has been the victim of something sinister, possibly connected with the resort. Edie feels compelled to investigate with the intention of finding Laura. Fatima’s crisis begins with losing her husband and her house during a rocket attack; she sees little choice but to flee her devastated homeland with her daughters to seek a new life.
Early on in the book, I admit, I did wonder about Edie – why she was doing such a dead-end job and why she was so preoccupied with Vuk, another resort worker. He seems to see her in purely sexual terms (he doesn’t even give her a good time in bed!) and is obviously not on her side. That’s not to say the ‘relationship’ wasn’t believable – many girls fall for the bad guy, after all – just that early on, when we had very little background information about Edie, I found it hard to understand what was in her head. But this changed over the course of the novel, as her character develops.
Both the Fatima and Edie threads of the plot are infused with suspense by around the halfway point, and the tension ramps up in the second half with quite a few pageturning scenes and some chilling, hold-your-breath moments. The separate storylines intersect satisfyingly close to the end.
The novel portrays the plight of refugees exceedingly well, showing how they are exploited by people seemingly able to carry on their activities with impunity. The journey towards the promised land of Europe that Fatima makes is full of peril – what she has to endure on the way felt horrifyingly real to me. In a short time, she goes from being a high-status wife and mother in an affluent household to a woman with virtually nothing except herself and her daughters.
This was an entertaining and emotionally involving read. This is a successful dive into the realm of the thriller for Alex Day, in my view – one with strong social elements as well as the psychological. Re the final twist, I wouldn’t be surprised if this divides readers… But I’ll say no more about that and let you make up their own mind!
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