Identicals

by William Brennan Knight

In the year and a half since Jack Clausen lost his five-year-old daughter, RosaMarie, his life has fallen apart. Depressed and despondent, he steps off a platform into an oncoming train. Just before impact, a strong hand pulls him away. A strange, small person offers Jack a way to bring his daughter back, but there is a high price to pay. After Jacks’ child is returned to him, he refuses to pay his debt, and events spiral out of control. Revisiting multiple past realities, Jack searches for a solution to a problem that only worsens as he confronts his inner demons and the deep issues that destroyed his family.

Unknown Binding

About the author

William Brennan Knight is originally from Chicago and settled in Arizona in the late 1980s. In his life, he has been a father, musician and business owner.

His passion for writing began early in his childhood and flourished as he grew older. He enjoys reading horror, supernatural thrillers and science fiction as well as memoirs and biographies.

Knight’s books have received praise from a variety of recognized reviewers, including the Publishers Weekly/BookLife Prize Fiction Contest (semi-finalist), Horrornews.net and Readers Favorite (5-star winner).

Knight currently lives in Southern Arizona and spends most of the summer in the mountains of New Mexico.




Thank you for taking the time to look at my books, and you can learn more at William Brennan Knight

Reviews

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of horror and there is a good reason why. I may be having nightmares for weeks.



That said, I picked this book up for a reason - the story sounded so compelling. What lengths would grieving parents go to to bring back a child they lost.

Two things really stand out in this novel - 1. The author's attention to detail, and 2. The rich character development.



The details really stood out to me. In just the first few pages, I saw Tommy, the Bartender using some well-practiced tactics to slow Jack's drinking. You'll notice, I had to ask Mr. Knight if he was a bartender in a past profession. It felt so authentic. That authenticity is carried throughout the book, often in not so benign ways. The strain on Jack and Juanita's marriage seemed all too real. I feel that really made a difference in the believability of the supernatural elements of the story. By the time I met the Identicals, I was so immersed in the extreme realism of the story that my mind didn't even question their existence.



If you've read even just a few of my reviews then I'm probably flogging a dead horse when I say that rich, quirky, flawed characters are what really make a story for me. As far as the characters go, the one you will get to know best is Jack. You may not like him, but you will understand him. You'll know his motivation and his weaknesses (of which there are many). I even found myself rooting for him at times. There is a lot of misery in this book, but there is hope too. I wanted to see an end to these parents' grief. I wanted to see them grow close again and lean on each other. I wanted to see Jack get off that barstool and get back to living instead of contemplating ending it all.



The best thing about the book -- it was so real.

The worst thing about the book -- it was so real.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a long time since I have read a really good horror book. Thus, I was very pleased when I found myself really engaged in this story. The "identicals" are definitely, the things that nightmares are made of. The descriptions are enough to make you think long and hard if you want to make a deal with them.

In the beginning, I was not a fan of Jack but I do have to admit that when I understood more about what happened and realized how guilty and full of remorse that he really felt, I did warm up to him. Sometimes having a do over is not always the best thing as Jack did learn.

I enjoyed this book so much that once I started reading, I could not stop until I had finished the book. I do want to check out the other books by this author.

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes a loss brings families closer together. In the Clausen family, it has torn them apart. The loss of his five year old daughter has Jack Clausen wallowing in a year and a half of despair. He spends more time in a bottle than with his remaining children. He has lost his job, ruined his marriage, neglected his sons and contemplated suicide.

It is on one of his lowest days, as he is about to step in front of a train, that he first makes contact with an Identical. A strange little being who promises to return his daughter. There is a steep price to pay but Jack is not told what this will be, until it's much too late.

It's much more complicated than a deal with the devil, where you could live happily every after until an agreed upon time when you relinquish your soul. The terms of this deal are less clear and the consequences are more immediate. The harder Jack tries to set things right, the worse off he and his family become.


This is a dark and disturbing story that straddles the line between horror and fantasy. I cared about the family and wanted things to work out for them.

The Identicals. What are they? Where do they come from? Why do they promise to save some people in return for murdering others? How do they choose their victims? These are things I wish I knew, and which were not answered for me in this book.

3.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up

I received an advance copy for review.

[Horror DNA · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Brennan Knight’s Identicals was a recent semi-finalist in the 2021 Publishers Weekly/BookLife Prize Fiction Contest in the sci-fi/fantasy/horror category, where the judges noted that "Knight has crafted a disturbing, horrifying, and eloquently written novel that expertly captures the sensations of desperation, fear, and confusion." That quote is a decent summary of what this novel is all about and sells its oddball charms nicely. The story is built around a single clever hook, a simple ‘what if?’ moment which has horrific ripple-effect consequences. If you’ve read Pet Semetary, you already know that bringing somebody back from the dead only leads to something much worse. If you bastardise the Stephen King classic with the WW Jacobs short story The Monkeys Paw, the reader will quickly realise that events are heading downhill fast for the central character, the seriously suckered Jack Clausen.

You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Curiosity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this story as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was captivated by this story the moment I started reading it. This was a very gripping story of a man grieving the loss of his daughter all while his family is falling apart. We follow Jack as he is drowning his grief in a bottle. The writing really lets the reader feel the weight of the pain and sadness this family is struggling with. The strain in Jack's marriage felt very raw and real.

The author crafted a beautiful story that frightened me while keeping me at the edge of my seat. I kept wanting to know more about the Identicals and what the price of seeing a loved one who had passed away would be. This story made me question my own relationship with death and grief and wonder how I would have reacted if I was in the character's shoes.

[Babs | babs_reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this horror blended with fantasy.

OOF. This book is exactly why I try not to play the 'what if' game with myself.

For Jack, his 'what if' boils down to one moment, or rather a connected string of them. When the unthinkable happens, he loses himself to the bottle. So when approached with a chance to go back and relive that moment and live out a 'what if' Jack jumps at the chance, not realizing the debt he would have to pay would be more than he was willing to pay.

Could things possibly be worse than they were? Oh, well, things can always be worse.

A spiral of realities Jack finds himself in as he tries to unravel what he's done, or what he hasn't. In an attempt to save all of his loved ones he has to make a new kind of deal.

The opening was a bit slow, once you hit the midway point it got hard to put down as I wanted answers. If you enjoy horror and a splash of fantasy give this one a try!

Thank you to Travelling Pages Tours and William Brennan Knight for the gifted copy!

[butterflyprincessluvsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read a book in the horror genre for quite some time & this one was just creepy but in a good way being that I just couldn’t stop reading. The author really got into details when describing each character & their characteristics & struggles. As a parent myself I don’t think I could dabble in the “what-ifs” especially if I don’t know all the consequences. The fact that the main character was so desperate to get what he had in the past back & didn’t really think to ask what he’d have to do to ensure it would all work out is understandable but given the outcome & what actually transpired is a big reason why I wouldn’t do it. This book kept you questioning yourself & thinking could i really do it not once but over & over again. To understand the “it” you’ll have to read the book. I’ve never read this author before, he didn’t disappoint. I’d give more of his books a read. If you like twists, graphic descriptions & an unexpected ending then this is the book for you.

[Joel Bresler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Identicals may be the most quietly intense novel I have ever read. Once the plot becomes obvious, author William Brennan Knight keeps the reader engaged through subtle but wonderful writing. He does not rely on spectacle or gross-outs to create an atmosphere of horror; yet the horror is inescapable. I am not a regular reader of this genre. But William Brennan Knight has a way of writing novels which are primarily works of good fiction that happen to have horror, suspense, etc. in them.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank his bizarre little book was pretty entertaining and I enjoyed the way it almost seemed to come full circle.

This book kind of reminds me of Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage meeting The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon.

If you liked both of those, you may enjoy this slightly less intense tale

[Ashley Jacobs · Rating 3 out of 5]

IdenticalsWilliam Brennan Knight


This book gave me Pet Cemetery and Multiverse vibes and I was all for that.

This story follows Jack, a father, husband, and provider for his family. Jack has to decide what price he would pay to bring someone that he loved back. I loved the development of the Main Character even though I was not a fan of him. The author did a great job keeping the reader engaged throughout the story. This one took a little bit to get going for me. I would have liked to see a little more of the backstory development in the beginning of the novel vs how the author portrayed it. However, I did enjoy reading this story and would recommend it to anyone who loves the Horror/Thriller genre.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gripping tale of grief and regret that will stick in your mind long after reading it! I couldn’t put it down once I’d started.

Jack is a well-written and interesting character, and though he’s not always likeable I found myself rooting for him anyway. There were a few characters like this; you may not like them, but there’s something that makes you empathise/want the best for them.

The story is great, and Jack’s attempts to fix his mistakes by erasing them leads to intriguing plot lines which make you think about what it means to truly deal with regret.

This is the perfect book for horror lovers who want an emotional and gripping read. It tackles difficult subjects in a way that keeps you pulled into the story, and is a wonderfully written and terrifying book.

[Lozzi Counsell · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the death of his daughter, Jack has allowed his life to spiral. He's neglected his two sons and pushed his wife away. Instead of losing just the one family member, he's pretty much lost them all as he points the blame and wallows in grief. And then the unthinkable happens.

At the point of suicide, an old, creepy lady and a strange, small being enter his life. He's offered a pill to take that will take him back to before his daughter died. In return, he has to pay an unknown, high debt. After taking the pill, Jack gets his family back and all is amazing... until it's time for Jack to pay his debt.

There are definitely points where this book feels a little slow. The beginning especially and also there's a point where there are pages of pretty much repeats. I understand why the repeats are needed and also the beginning is trying to build a sense of how Jack is really not coping and pushing everyone away. I think I just personally prefer books that start in the action. But that doesn't take away from how good the book is, it's just a personal preference.

For me, what made this really, really creepy is the old lady. Especially the sexual scenes involving her. They are written in such a way that you genuinely feel grossed out. It sets you on edge. I don't think this book would have hit me in the same way without her in it.

After refusing to pay his debt, Jack is pushed back through trauma, even more severe than the original, over and over, his debt building. It's a dream of most people to bring back their loved ones but this book left me feeling like sometimes it's better to accept your grief than to go back. Jack wasn't a massively likeable character in the first half but you soon end the book feeling a lot of empathy towards him. You wish, for him, that he'd been able to grieve with his family, not against them. Sometimes, no matter how hard things are, you need to realise what you still have, no matter how much you're hurting.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this DRC.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's nice finding a book that takes a direction into the supernatural where it's nice and creepy while sometimes getting even scarier with the closer it gets to reality.

I wasn't "terrified" throughout the book, but as I said, it had definite moments. And yes, I do think even though there were several alternate realities, the one most distressing was the one most in tune with reality and most distant from the supernatural. However, that doesn't mean I wasn't creeped out by other parts of the book. The ending was even creepy, and I liked it because not only was it unique and unexpected, but it tied everything up neatly.

I will admit I did struggle a little with the alternate realities mainly because I am just not personally a huge fan of them in general, but they were pretty simple to figure out while keeping the story moving forward for the most part. I just wish either something else sci-fi/horror had happened with them or something less repetitive had happened for me to enjoy them more.

As for the "identicals" and what they were, that is what ended up surprising me the most out of the entire book. It was a bit promising but still, a bit cheesy. When it came to what scared me in this book, they were not it. I did think the idea of them was interesting, but it seemed like how they were described and their dialogue and everything just knocked the story down a notch for me.

It’s a book worth reading not just to see what ends up happening with Jack’s daughter, the one who died yet was brought back to life. (I mean, that’s crazy on its own, right?) But what about the reality if she hadn’t been brought to life, still remained dead, and what that ended up looking like for husband, father, drunkard Jack? It’s worth a read to find out. Just stay in this reality while you do so.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

How many times throughout your life have you wondered what life would be like if you could bring a loved one back? As an avid reader/watcher of thriller/suspense/horror, I know better. Yet, a part of me does often think it would be nice to bring my brother or grandfather back -- regardless of the consequences.


The build is a little slow, but it helps create a deep-seeded fear inside as we journey with Jack to the resurrection of his daughter. We hope that perhaps Jack could beat the odds of a second chance being bad. Unfortunately, it goes from bad to worse -- much, much worse.


As Jack desperately seeks a way to make things right, you'll find yourself rooting for him to succeed, even though you know that fate isn't exactly on his side. Vivid descriptions enhance your senses while reading - especially smell. Honestly, there were a few times I could literally smell the scene as I was reading. A book that can give you that kind of experience is definitely worth a read!


For fans of horror legend Stephen King and his Pet Sematary story, Fringe, Rumpelstiltskin, and other sci-fi/horror oddities, this book is one you need to add to your TBR right now. I refused to put it down until I learned how the situation was going to play out. Thankfully I read this during the day because I'm sure I wouldn't have slept if it'd been at night. The creep factor is high, settling a fear within you as you read through to the end. One final twist has you questioning the entire course of events and makes you pray that you'll never get a visit from the Identicals!


I received a complimentary copy for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own!

[Ran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book perfectly encapsulates the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover."

I will admit, I didn't find the cover that appealing. I thought it seemed like the cover of a cheap pocketbook that's only good for a long flight or train ride, but I'm really happy I looked past that and actually read the description.

And what can I say, this book was an enjoyable, thrilling ride.

Jack Clausen's life used to be perfect, but after a terrible tragedy that happened a year and a half ago, it's now it's falling apart at the seams. He meets a strange old woman who tells him not to forget to pay his debt when the time comes. When he tries to take his life, a deformed-looking little man saves him and offers him a way out by taking a small yellow pill. The only caveat? He now owes the man a debt... and the price may be much more than he bargained for.

The horror is fairly subtle here, but I really enjoyed the atmosphere throughout the book. There's a feeling of melancholy – you know things aren't going to end well, but you still hope for the best.

All I can say is that it's a real page-turner, and that I had a really hard time putting it down. I finished the entire book in around 3.5 hours, so this is also perfect for a nice evening read. Well, if you consider a book about failed do-overs, tragic backstories, and crumbling family life "nice," I suppose.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, for letting me read this!

P.S. I think there were a couple of typos with regard to the name of the main character... "Clausen" was spelled as "Clauson" on more than three occasions... kinda weird.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

What would you pay to bring back your loved one who has died? I think most would say there are few things they wouldn’t do… Knight explores that very idea in “Identicals”.

Horror mixed with alternate realities, we follow the story of Jack - grief-stricken after the tragic death of his five year old daughter, RosaMarie. Finding solace in the bottle, Jack’s life fell apart in the 18 months since RosaMarie’s death. He has driven his entire family away and can find no reason to carry on. Until he is approached by an old woman at his usual bar, urging him not to be late and that he must pay his debt.

Knight draws you in and doesn’t let go. You are immediately aware of Jack’s grief and desperation, and follow him into the dark workings of an irresistible deal. Jack only wants his daughter back, but is the price too much to pay?

A character-driven story with dark imagery and themes, this book isn’t for everyone. It unsettled me many times, but that was likely the intent. It’s a dark story with scary elements - not quite what one might expect from a horror book, but interesting all the same.

This was not my favorite, but I’d certainly recommend it to a horror reader looking for something new.

[Laurie Tell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kudos to this supernatural mystery/horror novel. It gave me chills and it made me think.

If you had the chance to bring back a lost loved one, but the cost was the death of an innocent person at your own hand, would you do it? This is the concept of the book, and I kept thinking "what would I do" throughout the book..

Jack loses his 5 year old daughter, and his life falls apart. Then is teenage son commits suicide - after reaching out to his father, who ignored his calls. He is then given the opportunity to go back in time but he has a very high price to pay.

Jack agrees to the deal, then backs out. Things spiral out of control leading to a series of different realities.- each worse than the last.

I loved the concept. I loved the world building and could just see the action. I could picture this as a movie, all filmed in the dark, because the whole book just had that feel. It was crazy, it was intense, it was chilling and dark and I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to the author #williambrennanknight the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

[Phil Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I've been putting this one off for a while as I've never been in a horror mood since I got the book. Honestly, I wish I'd read it sooner, it's the fastest I've ever read a book.

Normally I read before bed, and I get tired after a few pages so it takes me ages to read anything, but for the first time in a long time, I found myself glancing at the clock and seeing 2am blinking. I just couldn't put it down.

The story was fantastically written, I wasn't sure where it was going at first, but once I got into it, what a brilliant idea for a story. Honestly did not see this entire book coming.

Jack is a bit of an anti-hero and found him difficult to like at first, but by the end of the book I shed a few tears. Only 2 books have ever made me do this before, this is one of them.

Cannot recommend highly enough, my only slightly negative comment is that I felt WBK was holding himself back when writing about the gory/dirty stuff and could have been a bit more graphic with things, but this is personal preference.

[Courtney (withabookproblem) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many feel tragedy brings a family together but this isn’t the case for Jack Clausen’s family. A year and a half after tragedy strikes, his family is barely hanging on. His five year old daughter is dead and he copes by drowning his sorrow in booze and as a result loses his job. The final straw seems to be his oldest son dying from a drug overdose. His turmoil felt raw and real and you see how far this father will go to make things right. The question is can he repay his side of the bargain?

This book deals with multiple alternate realities and I do wish that each had been fleshed out a little more. The “identicals” felt a little lacking. Maybe I was hoping for a bigger bad than what we got. It was promising but fell a little short.

In summary, this book provided a fall into the supernatural without being overwhelmingly scary. Everything tied together neatly without leaving too many questions.

3.5 rounded up.

I received an advanced copy for my honest review.

[Mellisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack's world changes forever the day his daughter dies. A year and half later he is on the verge of taking his life when someone saves him, and tells him they can bring his daughter back. But if they do, he has to repay the debt. If he doesn't, the consequences will be bad. Jack doesn't listen, caught up in the moment of having his daughter back. Now Jack will realise the consequences of not paying his debt, and will understand who the identically really are...

Oh I loved this one! It was absolutely terrifying, heartbreaking, devastating. It pulled on so many emotions, and yet I couldn't stop reading. This author is incredibly talented, and has a way of writing horrors that make it all the more terrifying. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!

[Bibliophileverse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original and Frightening..................

Identicals by William Brennan Knight is a terrifying and creepy read. The book starts at a slow pace but as soon as you reach halfway it picks up speed. The other half is amazing and literally gives you goosebumps. The most exciting things are the connecting dots between the characters which makes the plot more interesting. By the time I reached climax, it felt like a roller coaster ride. Also, The climax was totally different than what I expected.

I would like to give the book 4 stars. Thanks to Book Review Crew for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.

Read more on bibliophileverse.blogspot.com

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character, Jack, suffers from severe depression after his child was tragically murdered. To cope, he drinks A LOT. This heavy drinking makes him turn nasty towards the family he still has left and when things get as worse as they could get, he turns to attempting suicide. Instead, he is stopped by a creature offering him a deal to return back to his life before his daughter was murdered… as long as he can pay a debt back to this creature.

Wow, wow, wow. This book was incredibly creepy. I sped through it with ease because the story was so different than I expected and unlike anything I’ve read. If you’re looking for something with some horror and suspense, this is it.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the writing style of this one, although the book didn't stick with me much after, which is why I rated it a bit lower. Kind of reminds me a bit of watching a good, solid slasher movie- fun in the moment, enjoyable, but not anything profound. That being said, I do still recommend this book. It was quite the ride, and the imagined universe was quite vivid (although I do wish there had been a few more background and lore-building details given about it). Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Elaine Betancourt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I REALLY REALLY enjoyed this one. I totally felt for Jack but I loved the creepy vibe this book gave. So many crazy characters I knew pretty much right away this was going to be a page turner. I got the groundhog feel of this book where Jack got the opportunity to go back and help his daughter RosaMarie. The ending got me hooked. This will be a reread for sure!!!

[Samantha Hehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

What starts out as the downward spiral of depression, takes a turn when a strange little man approaches Jack with a strange little pill that can solve his problems. Only, when it comes time to pay the price, Jack balks at insanity of it all. Will he ultimately pay the price? Or will he ruin himself in hiding.

[Thus Kvothe The Raven · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was really difficult for me to get through. It was sort of a horror story but told in as way that I just could not relate to. I did not like any of the characters and felt they were really underdeveloped. Many of the situations were just unbelievable. The writing itself was not bad, but this one definitely was not for me. Two stars is the best I can do.

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

CW: gore,mentions of suicide
Thanks to NetGalley for early access! This was definately creepy and tense, reminded me a lot of Pet Sematary actually, I didn't find it ultra scary, but to each their own I guess

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite read as I was not a huge fan of the writing. I kept reading to see what was really going on which was a bit of a letdown in the end. Oh well.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for a copy of this book.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Benjamin ⏬ Jason]

Yes 🌌