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3 Wochen bis zur Wahrheit
Jemand zerstört dein Leben. Jemand mordet in deinem Namen. Jemand hat dein Kind. Eigentlich hat Annie bei ihrer Zwillingsschwester und engsten Vertrauten Julie Ruhe und Trost gesucht – vom Ehemann betrogen, ist sie mit ihrer fünf Monate alten Tochter auf sich gestellt. Doch kaum angekommen, bricht das Grauen über sie herein: Vor Julies Haus liegt eine brutal ermordete Frau, die den Schwestern erschreckend ähnlich sieht. Sollte in Wahrheit einer der Zwillinge sterben? Als Annie kurz darauf merkt, dass jemand ihre Kreditkarten und persönlichen Daten für illegale Machenschaften benutzt, gerät sie in Panik. Dann wird sie verhaftet. Ihre Schwester und das Baby sind spurlos verschwunden.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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464 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 19, 2017
I so wanted to give this 5 stars.. but the ending! Uhh! Always the stinking ending. This ending sucked. I was wrapped into this story only to have the ending pulled from me like a rug from beneath my feet.
Julie and Annie are twins and Annie leaves her husband to go to Julie’s home and as she arrives she notices a dead body of a woman. The woman looks almost exactly like her... from there it turns into a story of identity theft, severed family ties, and a storm of other issues.
The story was wonderful but the ending sucked. It was not at all how I wanted it to end :(
Julie and Annie are twins and Annie leaves her husband to go to Julie’s home and as she arrives she notices a dead body of a woman. The woman looks almost exactly like her... from there it turns into a story of identity theft, severed family ties, and a storm of other issues.
The story was wonderful but the ending sucked. It was not at all how I wanted it to end :(
December 13, 2011
One of the worst books I've ever read. It doesn't deserve the one star!
Story is predictable and cheesy. The characters are flat. This book is not worth 99 cents I paid for!
Story is predictable and cheesy. The characters are flat. This book is not worth 99 cents I paid for!
May 2, 2013
Cons:
When you are half-way through a book and you're still asking the question, "when is the story going to start" there is a problem. The first couple chapters are supposed to hook me as a reader and make me want to continue. Apparently Lief has other ideas. Reading this book is like watching someone play the Sims. You get to watch the characters live their lives but have no control over what they do. At least if you are the one *playing* the Sims there is a sense of interactivity, but watching someone play?
It seemed like Lief wanted to tell a story but was struggling with how to progress. Just when the reader thinks something is going to happen finally, we get to be disappointed by the brief tension breaking up the monotony not leading to a plot point, or more tension, or action, or drama, but simply more monotony.
This is not a story but simply a serious of monotonous events. Yes there is a mystery going on, but the characters aren't directly related with the whole murder-mystery motif and in fact have such a hands off approach that it really has nothing to do with their lives, thus effects the story in no way. (Bear in mind this is talking about the first part of the book. The plot thickens by the end, but it is a slow laborious process.)
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that I am a sucker for action and because there is no action this is not a good book. It is simply not a good book because there is no story and the characters are flat. If any of the main characters died at this point I really wouldn't care. Why? Because even though I have invested my time into this book, the characters haven't drawn me in. I am quite surprised by this given the amount of internal dialogue on the part of the main character. She does a lot of thinking, but it is more observations about what is happening or has happened in her life, not giving it much life or flavour. It is not lack of action that is the biggest problem but lack of character development and plot (although throwing some action in might make the lack of plot less monotonous and more forgiveable... but probably not).
Pros (finally):
All the cons aside, once you get through the first half of the book struggle, the story picks up nicely and there is even some character development to the effect that by the end of the book I felt a little bit for the characters... a little bit. The book is in three "parts" and honestly I feel that if you just skip straight to last chapter of part 1 you won't miss a whole lot. Yes there are some fine details which aid in wrapping up the story, but for all the monotony and poor story telling at the beginning, is it really worth the time investment. I will say that I almost put the book down a number of times during the first half but just when I was going to give up on it for good, the story finally started (i.e. in the last chapter of part 1).
To conclude the tale there is a slight twist, but the last couple chapters are pretty dry otherwise. Out of the three parts that this book is separated into the second one is really the only one worth ready in its entirety. The first and third parts can just be skimmed for the important points to give you context and closure for the second part.
When you are half-way through a book and you're still asking the question, "when is the story going to start" there is a problem. The first couple chapters are supposed to hook me as a reader and make me want to continue. Apparently Lief has other ideas. Reading this book is like watching someone play the Sims. You get to watch the characters live their lives but have no control over what they do. At least if you are the one *playing* the Sims there is a sense of interactivity, but watching someone play?
It seemed like Lief wanted to tell a story but was struggling with how to progress. Just when the reader thinks something is going to happen finally, we get to be disappointed by the brief tension breaking up the monotony not leading to a plot point, or more tension, or action, or drama, but simply more monotony.
This is not a story but simply a serious of monotonous events. Yes there is a mystery going on, but the characters aren't directly related with the whole murder-mystery motif and in fact have such a hands off approach that it really has nothing to do with their lives, thus effects the story in no way. (Bear in mind this is talking about the first part of the book. The plot thickens by the end, but it is a slow laborious process.)
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that I am a sucker for action and because there is no action this is not a good book. It is simply not a good book because there is no story and the characters are flat. If any of the main characters died at this point I really wouldn't care. Why? Because even though I have invested my time into this book, the characters haven't drawn me in. I am quite surprised by this given the amount of internal dialogue on the part of the main character. She does a lot of thinking, but it is more observations about what is happening or has happened in her life, not giving it much life or flavour. It is not lack of action that is the biggest problem but lack of character development and plot (although throwing some action in might make the lack of plot less monotonous and more forgiveable... but probably not).
Pros (finally):
All the cons aside, once you get through the first half of the book struggle, the story picks up nicely and there is even some character development to the effect that by the end of the book I felt a little bit for the characters... a little bit. The book is in three "parts" and honestly I feel that if you just skip straight to last chapter of part 1 you won't miss a whole lot. Yes there are some fine details which aid in wrapping up the story, but for all the monotony and poor story telling at the beginning, is it really worth the time investment. I will say that I almost put the book down a number of times during the first half but just when I was going to give up on it for good, the story finally started (i.e. in the last chapter of part 1).
To conclude the tale there is a slight twist, but the last couple chapters are pretty dry otherwise. Out of the three parts that this book is separated into the second one is really the only one worth ready in its entirety. The first and third parts can just be skimmed for the important points to give you context and closure for the second part.
May 1, 2013
I'm a guy, and therefore not a fan of "chic-lit", but I got this book in a Chic-lit Storybundle as part of a "mind-widening" exercise. For some reason I no longer remember, with nothing to go on but the names of six female authors I'd never heard of and the titles, I chose this one over the others.
I began, expecting to take a bathroom break (two fingers down the throat) before the end of the first chapter, and move on to the next and repeat the process, but one whole day and all 14 chapters later I was still reading.
Take "Gone Girl", add a little "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" unspecified computer wizardry, then remove the darkness and smooth out the agonising twists and you have something resembling "Here She Lies".
OK, so it wasn't too deep and the final revelation was a little desperate, but it's well written, flows smoothly and, by skipping over the one-too-many references to leaking breasts, I made it to the last page without ever feeling like I'd had enough. Some time later, I did begin to wonder just where exactly our newly single heroine was going as she drove off into the sunset with a bun in the oven, a toddler strapped into the back seat, no job, no money and a credit record shot to hell, but I'm not ashamed to admit that while it lasted I was entertained. And isn't that the objective of chic-lit?
I began, expecting to take a bathroom break (two fingers down the throat) before the end of the first chapter, and move on to the next and repeat the process, but one whole day and all 14 chapters later I was still reading.
Take "Gone Girl", add a little "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" unspecified computer wizardry, then remove the darkness and smooth out the agonising twists and you have something resembling "Here She Lies".
OK, so it wasn't too deep and the final revelation was a little desperate, but it's well written, flows smoothly and, by skipping over the one-too-many references to leaking breasts, I made it to the last page without ever feeling like I'd had enough. Some time later, I did begin to wonder just where exactly our newly single heroine was going as she drove off into the sunset with a bun in the oven, a toddler strapped into the back seat, no job, no money and a credit record shot to hell, but I'm not ashamed to admit that while it lasted I was entertained. And isn't that the objective of chic-lit?
January 16, 2020
I need to read another before I formulate an opinion about her as an author for def but this one was a perfectly enjoyable little mystery. You know by like page 40 who the murderer is but the piecing together of elements is engaging enough that you're not like OH FOR HEAVENS SAKES I KNOW WHO THE MURDERER IS AND IT'S ONLY PAGE GD 40. I am super judgy about books when I feel like the author feels like a sniffy snoot and super generous about them when I feel like the author is just like "oh hey check it out I am writin a book! I like books do you!" which obviously is not based on anything more than my own sniffy snooty particular judgyness and has nothing to do with the actual authors, whom actually I obviously know jack about, but this lady feels like a oh-hey-look-i-like-books kind of lady, so I am down.
August 10, 2010
I couldn't relate to Annie at all. There is no build up to the separation with her husband. Chapter one, first page - Annie is packed and leaving. You don't have a chance to get acquainted with her or her situation. How can you sympathize with her when you don't know what he did. This made it tough for me to get into this story. I instantly felt sorry for the husband and thought Annie was just being an over-reactive bitch. And I didn't like her twin sister, Julie a bit. She just seemed shady and sneaky to me.
It finally got interesting when Annie is arrested for embezzlement and the surprise ending really took me by surprise. Surely didn't see that coming at all. All in all it ended okay but definitely not worth the five hours it took to read.
It finally got interesting when Annie is arrested for embezzlement and the surprise ending really took me by surprise. Surely didn't see that coming at all. All in all it ended okay but definitely not worth the five hours it took to read.
February 11, 2013
I gave this two stars only because while the plot itself was good; the main character was too wishy washy and totally weak. Also, there was way too much breast milk, breast pumping, milk dropping, my baby is missing omg my life is over, and did I mention the breast milk dropping? Seriously, I just skimmed over much of the final1/4 because I just wanted to find out whodunnit. Lief's next book better not have ANY babies or new moms in it.
November 13, 2014
This book was pretty good. It started out slow but got better after a few chapters. I predicted the ending. overall, it was a pretty good book to read. This was the first book that I have read from this author.
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April 24, 2012Didn't see that ending coming!!
July 20, 2012
Eh. I have loved all of her other books, but this one just seemed "rushed". And the things that happen in it (as far as emotions of the main character) don't seem even remotely realistic.
September 5, 2022
I can only say I found this ok (one of the easy reads I load onto my kindle specifically for the hairdressers or other places I can't wear my glasses, so I can increase the font size!).
Quite difficult to review without spoilers, but it was pretty obvious from very early on who was gas-lighting the main character, and although there was a bit of a twist at the end, even that was easy to see coming a few chapters beforehand, and the ultimate ending was a bit of a disappointment. It wasn't a bad read, but not as suspenseful as it could have been, or as clever - but it was a quick, easy read and passed the time.
Quite difficult to review without spoilers, but it was pretty obvious from very early on who was gas-lighting the main character, and although there was a bit of a twist at the end, even that was easy to see coming a few chapters beforehand, and the ultimate ending was a bit of a disappointment. It wasn't a bad read, but not as suspenseful as it could have been, or as clever - but it was a quick, easy read and passed the time.
November 6, 2017
A good thriller which I really enjoyed.
However, I do have one slight criticism & that is the about the back cover blurb......I wish it hadn't told us that Annie's twin disappears with Annie's baby! While it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what's going on it would have kept the suspense going a bit longer if you weren't expecting that to happen - but that's only my opinion. Nevertheless, a good read.
However, I do have one slight criticism & that is the about the back cover blurb......I wish it hadn't told us that Annie's twin disappears with Annie's baby! While it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what's going on it would have kept the suspense going a bit longer if you weren't expecting that to happen - but that's only my opinion. Nevertheless, a good read.
November 16, 2025
Far too predictable from the beginning, no action throughout, and characters so flat that I couldn't care less if one of them dropped dead suddenly. The ending that Pepper felt suitable is just like a couple of her other books that I have read (and I won't bother reading any more).
June 22, 2018
I knew half way through the book what the outcome was going to be, I did enjoy the writing style, it
was a good read...until the end, expected more punishment of sorts.
was a good read...until the end, expected more punishment of sorts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2018
The book was a quick, easy to follow read. It kept you into the book, and didn’t feel it was dragging on.
April 22, 2019
Sehr gute Geschichte.
February 29, 2020
2,5 Sterne
January 9, 2021
Twisty. Sort of guessed the ending early in, but then it twisted again
June 12, 2022
Ich habe es während des Urlaubes gelesen und ich fande es spannend. Es ist ein guter Schreibstil und ich habe es fast in einem Rutsch gelesen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2022
Good, suspenseful novel. Have to read to the end.
July 13, 2025
I wouldn't pay for this book. Absolutely hated the ending. Slow beginning, decent middle.
October 10, 2016
This was a real page-turner and thriller that kept you guessing.
April 23, 2013
Another electrifying read from my new favourite author. Weird things are happening to Annie first she finds her husband has been having an affair charging romantic gestures to their joint credit cards and receiving lust fuelled emails from the mysterious LovyLuv when he fails to own upto it Annie leaves him and goes to live with her twin sister Julie whist she sorts out a new job and place to live of her own. Disaster strikes when Annie arrives to find the local cleaning lady murdered outside Julie's home. Julie and Annie have always been close and Annie is enjoying spending some quality time with her twin even if she is a little bossy! Julie who can't have children of her own dotes on Annie's baby Lexy even convincing Annie to change her from breast milk to formula. Things get even weirder though when there is a break in at the house and the only thing stolen is Annie's wallet. Julie manages to convince her sister it was a malfunctioning alarm and that she must have left her purse somewhere she then encourages Annie to go to her job interview in New York using her car, driving licence and credit card and Julie will stay behind and look after Lexie using Annie's hire car and new licence when it comes. Everything seems fine until Annie is arrested for grand larceny and finds out her identity has been stolen even worse her baby has disappeared along with her sister and nobody knows where they could have gone. Eager for a reconciliation estranged husband bobby rushed to her putting their house up as the collateral for her bail bond. After a furious search Julie and the baby are located and everything seems ok until Annie is arrested again this time for the murder of the cleaner outside Julie's house knowing now that it was Julie who stole her identity Annie, Bobby and the lawyer fight to prove that Julie also committed the murder finally Annie is cleared of the charges and released. Julie is captured in Italy and brought back to the USA to face the charges. Settling back into life Annie is pregnant again and feeling like everything has fallen back into place until she makes a terrible discovery...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2013
2/5 or maybe a 2.5/5. It was ok. Average. The last half of the book certainly went at a better pace than the first half and the twist in the ending was pleasantly unexpected since everything else up to that point was more predictable than the ending of Romeo and Juliet.
The slow build up in the beginning was off-putting however and the main character wasn't always believable. She over reacted to small, more neutral things yet seemed often unfazed by the more horrifying events... Her personality was a bit lacking in places. The fact that she identified with her twin so much that she viewed them as one and the same person was odd (even for a twin thing) - I just couldn't jump on board with the idea of this grown woman having no urge to exert a sense of self. I found myself skim reading a lot of her inner thought and twin-related blurbs because it was just too ridiculous.
The story itself was ok, the writing was fair and it kept me entertained in the two days it took to read it. I have another one by this author on my kindle so here's hoping for a slightly more gutsy protagonist.
As for this one, I'd recommend it for passing the time, if you fancy a 'softcore' version of a crime thriller.
The slow build up in the beginning was off-putting however and the main character wasn't always believable. She over reacted to small, more neutral things yet seemed often unfazed by the more horrifying events... Her personality was a bit lacking in places. The fact that she identified with her twin so much that she viewed them as one and the same person was odd (even for a twin thing) - I just couldn't jump on board with the idea of this grown woman having no urge to exert a sense of self. I found myself skim reading a lot of her inner thought and twin-related blurbs because it was just too ridiculous.
The story itself was ok, the writing was fair and it kept me entertained in the two days it took to read it. I have another one by this author on my kindle so here's hoping for a slightly more gutsy protagonist.
As for this one, I'd recommend it for passing the time, if you fancy a 'softcore' version of a crime thriller.
May 7, 2012
When Annie (Anias) discovers evidence of her husbands infidelity her whole world is shattered. Annie ignores his pleas of innocence and fleas to her identical twins house taking their baby daughter with her. Julie, her twin is the one person she can trust. But when Annie applies for a job everything falls to pieces even further..when she is arrested for grand larceny.
The police and Annie both realise that she has been a victim of identity theft but the true scale of the crime has yet to reveal itself. When Annie turns to her twin for help, she finds that she has disappeared along with Annie's baby daughter..Now with not only her life but that of her sister and baby daughters, on the line, Annie begins to fight for what belongs to her.
A fast paced read of suspense and drama, exploring complex family issues and the relationship between twins.
A good read for anyone who likes mystery and suspense..
Well recommended..ideal book to take on holiday!!
The police and Annie both realise that she has been a victim of identity theft but the true scale of the crime has yet to reveal itself. When Annie turns to her twin for help, she finds that she has disappeared along with Annie's baby daughter..Now with not only her life but that of her sister and baby daughters, on the line, Annie begins to fight for what belongs to her.
A fast paced read of suspense and drama, exploring complex family issues and the relationship between twins.
A good read for anyone who likes mystery and suspense..
Well recommended..ideal book to take on holiday!!
May 6, 2014
This was the last book I read by Katia Lief. This was a great look at the havoc identity theft cause a person. While I have liked the protagonists in Lief's other books more, I found Annie wishy-washy and the references to breast milk a little annoying. However, a mother who is breast feeding their child WOULD have those feelings and issue if a child was taken away from them. The author leads you to suspect the sister from the "get-go" so when the double whammy happens, you may be surprised (unless you are like me and want to think that if a person is a cheater, that's not all they may be up to). I found this book harder to believe than the previous two I read, but it's her style of writing and pacing that I love so for me this was still a good, but not great, read.
April 3, 2014
So unimpressed by the last few pages of this book. A explanation of what really happened and a weak conclusion. This had a lot of potential, I will live with how it ended.
August 18, 2013
Totally predictable right off the bat. I thought the outcome was too obvious (knowing the twists she throws in on her other books) until the middle of the book when it was totally clear. The end had a bit of a twist, though the "bad guy" was still the "bad guy"... And kind of reminded me of Gone Girl a bit.
The theme of identity theft was so relevant and eye-opening in today's world. Glad I read this. Definitely a typical Katia Lief page-turner!
The theme of identity theft was so relevant and eye-opening in today's world. Glad I read this. Definitely a typical Katia Lief page-turner!
February 18, 2012
This book is about the relationship of twins and a husband. Lots of twists and turns and a surprising ending. I personally did not like the ending and having said that, I do not know given the plot how else it could have ended. I would have finished the book sooner however work and sleep interfered. A real page turner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews