Taka sama

by Erica Spindler, Emilia Skowrońska (Translator)

Porywający thriller psychologiczny o kobiecie, która uważa, że uciekła przed brutalnym morderstwem sprzed lat. Ale czy ktoś jej w to uwierzy?
Sienna Scott dorastała w mrocznym cieniu paranoicznych urojeń swojej matki. Teraz wraca do domu, by zmierzyć się z przeszłością i nierozwiązaną sprawą zabójstwa, które zmieniło jej życie. Młoda kobieta boi się, że w noc morderstwa to ona była celem. Pojawia się też obawa, że zabójca zamierza naprawić błąd z przeszłości i już zaczął działać. W miarę jak pętla zaciska się coraz bardziej, granice między prawdą a kłamstwem, rzeczywistością a złudzeniem powoli się zacierają. Czy spełni się najgorszy koszmar Sienny? A może uda jej się zdemaskować mordercę?

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

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2020

About the author

A New York Times and International bestselling author, Erica Spindler's skill for crafting engrossing plots and compelling characters has earned both critical praise and legions of fans. Her stories have been lauded as “thrill-packed page turners, white- knuckle rides and edge-of-your-seat whodunits.”

Erica loves meeting and interacting with her fans, both in person and online. She has a wicked sense of humor, an optimistic spirit and loves coffee, chocolate and red wine, not necessarily in that order.

In 2002 her novel Bone Cold won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence. A Romance Writers of America Honor Roll member, she received a Kiss of Death Award for her novels Forbidden Fruit and Dead Run and was a four-time RITA® Award finalist. In 1999 Publishers Weekly awarded the audio version of her novel Shocking Pink a Listen Up Award, naming it one of the best audio mystery books of 1998.

Erica lives just outside New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband and two sons.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting, fast-pacing thriller is centered on mother-daughter dysfunctional relationship and mental illness.

Thrilling elements, intriguing, attention taker clues was like breadcrumbs spread around the pages push you harder follow and find them to solve the case.

The author was completely genius of misleading. She definitely killed my spider senses and till the end I couldn’t get whodunit and she came behind sucker punched me at the end. Great job because as a born in the April Fool’s day kind of person (not kind of actually, literally I was born on that day and I never forgive my parents for the pranks I’ve been enduring for years) I always tried to more cautious to catch the clues hid behind the lines but the author’s misdirection was impeccable. One more time I became the fool one! (At least I am not floating clown! Bite me Pennyweise)

The characters were surprisingly fine and I didn’t feel itchy fingers to punch or slap them. Maybe I’m losing my touch or becoming sweeter or nicer person (The woman I screamed at today who was grabbing the last bottle of Chardonnay wouldn’t think the same but this is irrelevant! I’m still softhearted angel!)

Sienna turned back to her childhood town, gathered the dark and broken pieces from her past and took care of her mother who suffered from mental illness. (I visualized her as Sissy Spacek. She would be a great paranoid mother) By the way a murder case related to her reopens. She’d found the corpse and she always thought the killer had been behind her, he had wrongly killed the other girl.

As soon as she got back in town, she started getting suspicious phone calls. Maybe the killer learned she was back and he planned to finish what he had started. And look out the handsome neighbor who recently moved next door, acting like Sienna’s knight in shining armor. Yes : hottie boy next door alert! But is the neighbor trustworthy hottie or devil disguised behind angel face? Or does Sienna’s protective and goodhearted step brother have really good intentions about his sister or is he hiding something? Or could her mother’s paranoid thoughts be somewhat true?

No spoils! Mouth zipped! Read it and get ready to be surprised! That book was not the best thriller I’ve read on this year because there is really serious competition. And there are many perfect examples I’ve read lately. But it is still great, heart throbbing, witty, gripping, fast reading. I didn’t get bored for a second.

It earned my 3.5 stars rounded definitely and unquestionably up to 4 STARS!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press to share this amazing ARC COPY in exchange my honest review!

[Miranda Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

"What time is it there?"
"Same time as it is in Tranquility Bluffs...I've come home."

Sienna Scott spent the last ten years in England, escaping from a brutal murder and her paranoid mother.

Ever since Sienna was born, her mother has had paranoid delusions regarding her daughter's safety.

"You can't protect yourself from what you don't see. I see them, you don't. Your dad couldn't either, no matter how hard he tried."

Ten years ago, Sienna was walking home from her college study group in the middle of a blizzard and stumbles upon a girl's body.

The horror of the body and the shock of so narrowly missing death sets off her mother in a way Sienna's never experienced before.

And so she escapes to England, returning only now to take care of her mother - and possibly to achieving her dream of opening up a restaurant.

But her mother is not in a good place.

"You need to understand, Sienna. This isn't going away. She's never going to get better."

and keeps insisting that there are people - horrible people - prepared to kill Sienna at the slightest provacation.

And at first...Sienna dismisses it...but the more she thinks about it, the more she realizes that maybe (just maybe) her mother was right all along...

"I'm sorry, Sienna. The lid's off the box, I can't put it back on."

It was great... but the ending threw me, and not entirely in a way I liked...

There was quite a bit that I enjoyed about this book - Sienna's character was wonderfully fleshed out and her mother was really well done.

In particular, I loved how Sienna treated her mother's illness as a part of her rather than a demon or a terrible all-consuming madness.

There was always love between them - no matter the situation.

The relationship between Sienna and her brother was a bit odd... and I mean other than calling each other "bro" and "sis" (if I'm being perfectly honest, I don't think I ever saw that outside of literature).

Essentially, one of them does multiple unforgivable things - absolutely abhorrent - to the other.

And the other one is just like, "it's cool sibling. I forgive you because I love you."

Maybe it's because I have never had a brother, but I honestly cannot see anything happening like that could possibly warrant forgiveness so easily given... or given at all.

I also adored how Spindler wove the mystery - piecing together the past and the present - as Sienna began piecing together the unsolved mystery.

The only thing that threw me was the end.

I don't want to give anything away, but suffice to say that the ending took me completely by surprise.

But it was more like a..."Well...that came out of nowhere." rather than a, "ohmygosh. I never saw that coming."

There just wasn't enough build or enough substance for me to really buy the ending.

All in all, I really did enjoy the first 3/4 of the book.

It was smart, fun and tense! A rather enjoyable read!

I received a free ARC of The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review

All quotes come from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change upon publication

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[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I freaking loved this book!

Sienna has been living with her grandmother for ten years in London. When Sienna was a teenager she found a girl dead in the snow, when she was walking back to her dorm room. The girl was one of her classmates. Sienna thought she might of been the killers target that night since her classmate was wearing a white coat that was identical to hers. So that is why she moved to her grandmother's house.

She then decides to move back home because her mother has been having paranoid delusions, and she is always thinking people are after to harm her and her family. She has a mental illness. Sienna wants to take care of her because her mother had been in and out of treatment facilities. Sienna's biggest fear is that she will inherit her mother's mental illness.

The case of the murdered classmate has never been solved and the case has been reopened when she returns home. She sees a white van that passes her house multiple times every day. Sienna starts feeling paranoid.

This is the second book that I read by this author and I am becoming a big fan of this author.

This book kept me captivated. I could not put this book down. I kept guessing and guessing who the murderer was. Every character seems to be untrustable. I didn't know who I could trust. Each time I guessed, I was wrong. I even guessed the killer at one point, but then changed my mind to someone else. When the killer was revealed, I wasn't surprised. This was not a predictable read for me.
This is a fast paced read and is filled with suspense. The chapters were short and I kept telling myself one more chapter before I put the book down and would read a lot more chapters. I love short chapters and wish every that every book was written this way. This book was very well written.

The characters were very well developed with a lot of unlikable characters. I really loved Sienna though which is a good thing because I have to at least love one of the characters. I also felt so sorry for Sienna's Mom and what she went through every day.

I loved the twist at the end and I did not see it coming. I was on the edge of my seat reading this book.

I want to thank the publisher, Macmillan for the free arc of The Look-Alike in exchange for an honest review.

Available Now

[Meredith (Trying to catch up!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.

2.5 stars

The Look-Alike is a psychological thriller about a woman who stumbles across a murder victim. She comes to believe she was the intended victim, leading her to question her sanity.

There are two look-alikes in this book: There is the murdered girl who was wearing the same coat as Sienna. And then there is Sienna’ mother to whom bears an uncanny resemblance. Because she was wearing the same coat as the murder victim, Sienna must have been the target. And since she looks like her mother, she must have inherited her mother’s illness--this train of thought drove me crazy, as it oversimplifies the complexity of mental illness. There are additional reasons why Sienna believes she might have the same illness as her mother, but they are not fully explored.

The Look-Alike is just not all that exciting. I figured out who the murderer was early on. I didn’t know their motive until later, which gave me something to read for. I found the writing, especially the dialogue, stilted. Additionally, I had some issues with Sienna’s character. She makes a lot of stupid choices, whines a lot, and is quite immature (her immaturity is intentional). Her romantic life plays a significant role and had me rolling my eyes. She sees what’s happening around her in black and white terms. Had her character been more dynamic or had she been an unreliable narrator, this book could have been much more interesting.

The role of mental illness is the most interesting element of the Look-Alike, but Sienna’s character and the plot take away from what could have been a fascinating and impactful read. Overall, I would say this is an O.K. read, but it could have been so much more.

I received a free copy of The Look-Alike from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review. After posting this review, they might never send me another book!

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting. Or perhaps laying is the more accurate term. Or is it lying?

Anyways, that's unheard of for me.

You're probably saying to yourself ... "Self (that's you), she (that's me) must have reallyyyy loved this book."

And you'd be right, however, there's absolutely no reason for me to have enjoyed this book.

1. It's written in third person. Yuck.
2. I hated the characters.
3. Zero character development.
4. It's repetitive and doesn't really go anywhere. Like, ever.
5. Insta-Love. 'Nuff said, amiright?
6. The ending is cringeworthingly (I think I just made up a word) cliché.

I couldn't put it down.

Maybe the publisher put some sort of subliminal messages in the text like "You'll get a lifetime supply of Lindor Truffles if you like this book."

So, there you have it.

4 Stars for the book
Less 1/2 Star for that ending
Rounded up because Lindor Truffles

4 ⭐


** I recieved an ARC and chocolate in exchange for an honest review. **

[megs_bookrack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ten years ago, Sienna Scott, stumbled across the body of a murdered girl just outside her college library.

It turned out, the dead girl was a classmate, someone she saw at the library every week.



Understandably traumatized by this event, Sienna has a hard time moving on.

In fact, she has analyzed it so much, she begins to believe she may have been the actual target that night, not the poor girl who ended up dead.



This coupled with some family issues, leads to Sienna getting shipped off to live with her Grandmother in London, where she becomes a professional chef.

Now upon returning to Tranquility Bluffs, a decade later, Sienna immediately begins to fixate on the murder. They never caught the killer. He could still be out there and after her.



Sienna's mentally unstable mother is a huge part of this narrative. Her delusional disorder makes it close to impossible for her to be around Sienna, as Sienna's safety is one of her biggest triggers.

I have to be honest and say, this whole dynamic made me super uncomfortable. Something about it just did not work for me.



I would actually say, overall, the author's writing didn't work for me.

There were entire aspects to the plot that drove me crazy. Number one being the relationship with the neighbor.



There were a lot of red herrings and plot twists. At times, I felt myself sort of getting into it, then something wonky happen and it would kick me right out of the story again.



I would put this in a low-to-middling category for Adult Thrillers.

With this being said, there is a reader for every book and just because this didn't work for me personally, doesn't mean you won't love it!

If the premise sounds interesting to you, give it a try. Don't let me sway you!



Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review.

Even though this one wasn't necessarily for me, I still appreciate the opportunity so much!

[MarilynW · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chef, Sienna Scott, has grown up under the cloud of her mother's paranoid delusions and has spent her thirty years fearing that she also suffers from the same mental disorder as her mother. As an eighteen year old college student, she trips over the body of another girl, who is wearing a coat just like hers. As a murder investigation begins, Sienna fears that she was the intended stabbing victim and those fears, added to her mom's insistence that she was the intended victim, leads to her father sending Sienna to London, to live with her grandmother.

Ten years later, Sienna is back to make a career and life, in her hometown, ready to help care for her mom and move on from the past. But at the same time, the murder investigation is opening again and there are a slew of suspects and a ton of red herrings. Sienna is once again fighting against her mother's claim that she was the intended victim and her own belief that she was the intended victim and she is getting mysterious, threatening phone calls, claiming just that very thing.

This story has a lot of things that I do not like. Insta-love, the main character doing very unwise things, a murderer that seemed way to obvious to me, and a clunky resolution, so many things left unsaid and unasked...the list goes on and on. At the same time, I could not put the book down. Even as I was rolling my eyes, I was enjoying the story. This was pure entertainment to me, no need to overthink things, just go with the flow and find out how it ends.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/2.75 stars

On a dark winter's night, Sienna Scott comes across a young woman who was just murdered. She soon begins to believe that she was the intended victim as that was the path, she always took home after her study group. Plus, the dead woman was wearing a coat that looked just like hers. Sienna's mother who suffers from Mental Illness, also believes her daughter was the intended target.

After spending ten years living away from home, Sienna has returned to learn that the murder investigation has been re-opened and soon begins receiving phone calls telling her she was the intended victim. So, was she the intended victim? Is she being paranoid? Is someone toying with her? Will she ever learn the truth?

This one fell a little flat for me. I figured out the killer right away but not the motive. I appreciated how the author tried to point the reader in other directions, but I just knew whodunit. Even when the motive was revealed, I just didn't care. This is not one I will think about or remember in months to come. I enjoy when books shock, surprise or trick me, this one did none of those things. I'm in the minority here, but this one just didn't live up to my high hopes for it. It won't keep me from reading this Author in the future, this one just wasn't for me.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Michelle]

It was only at the 10% mark before I thought to myself "This book sucks."

It has been awhile since I've read dialogue this cheesy and repetitive. There is no way that I can endure this for another 300 pages. I'm out!

No rating and will not be included in my reading challenge.

[Sumit RK · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Look-Alike is an exciting psychological drama with lots of thrilling elements, intriguing characters, and clues that push you harder to solve the case.

After an absence of 10 years, Sienna Scott is returning home to confront her past and the unsolved murder that altered the course of her life. An old fear has always haunted Sienna for years—that it was she who had been the killer’s target that night. And now she fears—that the killer will return to kill her. But as the lines between truth and lie, reality and delusion start to blur, Sienna is in a race against time to unmask a killer. But, Is it all her delusion?

The story revolves around Sienna Scott confronting her past with an unsolved murder and her suspected mental illness adds another dimension to the story. This is a fast-paced read with short chapters which will keep the readers captivated. The highlight of the story was the author’s ability to keep the readers engaged by feeding them clues and guiding them into directions that often end in dead ends. Just when you feel that you have zeroed in on the killer, the story takes another turn.

The characters were well developed with a lot of intriguing characters. Sienna is an intriguing character. Though she is likable, you never know if Sienna is a reliable narrator which adds to the confusion. The relationship between Sienna and her family was interesting. It is possible to solve the mystery early if you pay attention but the narration keeps you engaged till the finish.

The romantic relationship in the story was completely unrealistic and too convenient for me. Also, the story tends to repeat certain portions and is unnecessarily detailed at times which slows down the flow of the story. If you have read a lot of mysteries, you may find some parts predictable.

Overall, The Look Alike is a well-written psychological thriller, full of surprises and an unexpected ending. The characters are well crafted and it has a solid mystery at its core. If you love mysteries, you will enjoy this one. Three and a half stars.

Many thanks to the publishers St. Martin's Press and Edelweiss for the ARC.  

[Kaceey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
After spending years abroad, Sienna Scott is returning home. The time is right - time to settle down. Maybe even realize her dream of opening her own restaurant in the town she grew up in.
Her older brother whom she adores, still lives there. As does her mother, who’s been battling mental illness for all of Sienna’s life. Maybe she can take over her mother’s care and give her exhausted brother a much needed respite.

Perhaps nothing more than mere coincidence, upon Siennas’ return, a murder investigation into a cold- case murder of a college girl is reopened. This may have been the wrong time for her to come back home. Primarily, due to the fact that Sienna was the one to discover the body of the coed!

This was a solid, light mystery in true Erica Spindler style. If you’re a fan of this author you’re in for a treat! Though having enjoyed her books for years, I was still hoping for something a bit deeper and darker.

A buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Erica Spindler for an Arc to read and review.

[Paula K · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Look-Alike is a psychological thriller about a mother and daughter relationship. Sienna Scott comes back from England after living with her grandmother for the past 10 years. She was sent away after finding a murder victim at her college years ago. Meanwhile, her mother has been diagnosed with a paranoid disorder that has left her unable to cope with the world.

Sienna starts feeling paranoid herself when strange things start happening to her upon her return. Was she the target that was supposed to be murdered years ago and not the girl she discovered?

I found the treatment of mental illness to be over simplified in the book. It is an easy read with simple dialogue and plot. Personally, I prefer my thrillers to have more intensity and could not get engaged.

2.5 stars out of 5

I received a free ARC of The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date - January 28, 2020

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here I go again, wondering again if I have become a picky thriller reader because another thriller didn't work out for the way I thought it would.

The Look-Alike was an easy, fast-paced, suspenseful read for me, and I do feel it is worth the time I put into it. It's easy to skim parts of it because it gets a bit repetitive, and you don't miss much by skimming.

The story revolves around Sienna Scott confronting her past with an unsolved murder and her mother's mental illness. The whole thing around the "look-alike" is an interesting concept for a story, however here I found that all to be drama worthy with no real substance to it. And of course, the mental illness storyline missed the mark for me as it often does. I did find it fuels the drama, and that might be something that works for someone else.

I found the story to be suspenseful even though I figured out who the killer was right off the bat by those not so layered clues, and I kept reading to find out if I was right. Which I rarely am. I did doubt myself a few times as I was reading.

The ending wraps quickly, and even though my eyes were rolling, I do think I am one tough cookie lately, and this one will appeal to many thriller lovers who like things light, brisk, entertaining with drama to drive the story forward.

I received a copy from the publisher on NG

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book doesn't always have to be filled with twists and turns for it to be a good read. I enjoyed this one because I had so many theories floating around in my head as to who killed the young woman but I never knew for sure what happened until the author revealed everything at the end. It was definitely a page turner. If I hadn't had some real life stuff going on, this is the type of book I would normally have finished all in one day because I was so into it.

Ten years ago when Sienna Scott was in college she found the body of a murdered classmate. The murder remains unsolved and given some similarities with the victim, Sienna has often wondered if she was killer's intended target. Her mother suffers from paranoid personality disorder and Sienna is worried she might inherit the same condition. After years away, Sienna is back in town and staying with her mother. She is determined to solve the murder but mysterious stuff keeps happening to her. What's going on? Is there a reason for Sienna to be afraid or is it just paranoia?

This book belongs in several genre categories such as mystery, thriller, psychological thriller, etc.. But regardless of what you want to label it as, it's a good read. As I mentioned before, you aren't completely sure what's going on until the final chapters. You don't know if Sienna is a reliable narrator which adds to the confusion and there's a handful of suspects. The author doesn't lay down her cards until the end so the many directions the story could go in remain until everything is finally revealed. Some readers might feel the ending isn't anything special or exciting, and in some ways I can agree with that. This probably would have been a perfect, 5 star read had I been caught completely off guard with the ending. My 4 star rating indicates though I do consider this a very good book and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

I received a free copy of The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review!

[preoccupiedbybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intense psychological thriller about an unsolved murder, mental illness and a mother/daughter whose dysfunctional relationship is affected by it all.

(⭐️⭐️1/2 stars)

Sienna, a chef, was sent away to live with her grandmother in London 10 years ago after a stumbling across a brutal murder. After growing up with a mother suffering from paranoid delusions that someone was after them, Sienna was plagued with thoughts that she was the intended victim. Now back in town, to reconnect with her mother and brother, and to face her fears over the still unresolved murder, she starts getting suspicious calls, and starts to question the murder again. Was she the intended target? Or is she suffering from delusions like her mother?

This story was told using a dual timeline, alternating between the present and 10 years ago, when the murder took place.

I was really excited by the premise of this book, but it had a very slow start, and I didn't really feel engaged until about the 50% mark. I was reluctant to pick it up, and could only manage a few chapters at a time. It was almost a DNF for me! I think the third person narrative didn't really help here, as I felt quite disconnected to the characters. Around half way through, the pace picked up, it became more enjoyable, and I decided that I wanted to finish the book.

Now I thought that the mental illness was used quite effectively here, because when Sienna's mother (Vivian) had delusions, I didn't know what was real or not. Vivian was actually a very well written character, and it felt disorientating to read about her. Her relationship with her daughter was extremely dysfunctional, not helped by the fact that they looked so alike.

Unfortunately, I actually guessed who the killer was from very early on, and I felt that there were some really obvious clues, but there were plenty of red herrings along the way to make me doubt myself, which I liked. I wanted to read on to find out if I was right, or if there was a different ending.

Sienna, the main character was very unlikeable. She was immature, and made really silly decisions like having unprotected sex with a stranger who seems to be watching her, and meeting shady characters by herself I also thought her relationship with her brother was a bit...odd? Do people really call their brothers and sisters sis and bro in real life?! I've definitely never called or been called that by my siblings! Overall I found the characters to be a little bland and two dimensional.

Whilst the plot was quite enjoyable, I found details like what Sienna's childhood, or the last ten years she spent in London a little vague, and just couldn't really visualise them. And details we were given like the murder, were repeated over and over, which was tiresome! Another thing that irked me was the use of the dreaded line "I let go of a breath I didn't know I was holding" three times!!

The insta-love was pretty awful too! Love at first sight blah blah blah, but then zero chemistry with the love interest! I feel like the romance was thrown in just to have some romance in the book, not to further the plot, and it was a very unrealistic romance too.

The epilogue was so cringe, and I rolled my eyes so hard, that they almost fell out! I really dislike it when authors feel the need to tie up every loose end, and in this case it was unrealistic and a bit too sickly sweet.

Overall, this felt a bit average to me. It was an okay read, but not one of my favourite thrillers.

Many thanks to Edelweiss for making this e-arc available as a download!

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minutes past midnight. A blinding snowstorm. Sienna Scott leaves the college library after study group and follows her usual shortcut, an isolated cut-through, to return to her dorm. Losing her balance, falling near a dead girl in a white parka...blood everywhere in stark contrast to the white snow. "...odd, that Madison Robie and I were wearing the same coat...Our jackets. They were almost identical...Maybe it was supposed to be Sienna that was supposed to die?"

Vivienne Scott, Sienna's mother suffered from persecutory delusional disorder. Viv was "...on guard all the time...see[s] the world and everyone in it, as dangerous." "I have enemies...And they'd love nothing better than to hurt me through Sienna."Sienna worries. Will a police inquiry into Madison's death set off a "full-blown paranoiac episode" for Viv? Is Sienna like her mother? Has she inherited her mental illness?

Going on ten years, Sienna has been living in England with her grandmother. "One did not forget the unforgettable, but time and distance diminished its impact...Sienna had...spent all those years running away from who she might be instead of enjoying who she was. Years wasted on fear." She flies back to Tranquility Bluffs, Wisconsin to stay with her mother in her childhood home. Strange...the TBPD had recently reopened the cold murder case. Police Chief Thompson was set to retire in one year but was determined to solve the case. Sienna got entangled in the new investigation. Who dun it? Was it the new neighbor living directly across the street? He constantly looked out his window. Whose vehicle kept driving by? Was Sienna safe? Any one of a cast of characters could have committed the crime. Author Erica Spindler teases the reader by misleading and pointing to a potential murderer then changing direction. Who could be trusted? This reader was kept guessing. Great stuff!

I received a free "The Look-Alike" by Erica Spindler from Macmillan in an exchange for an honest review.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
I enjoyed reading this psychological thriller. Sienna Scott returns home to fictional Tranquillity Bluffs, Wisconsin. She has been living in London, England, for 10 years. Her father sent her there after she was traumatized by the discovery of a murdered college classmate. Sienna is haunted by the possibility that she was the intended victim. Her father is dead and her mother suffers from persecution delusions.
While dealing with the unsolved murder and her mother, she starts a romance with a mysterious neighbor. There are enough false clues that I wasn't sure who the killer was until near the end.
The story was a little slow at times. Since there were only 2 deaths and no graphic violence, it would be ok for cozy mystery fans.
One quote: "You're right, Mom. I don't see what you see. And I don't want to. I love you, but I can't live my life in fear."
" For a long moment, her mother was quiet. When she finally spoke, the words broke Sienna 's heart. 'You can't live in fear. And I can't seem to live without it. "
Thanks to Erica Spindler and St.Martin's Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has interesting ideas. The mental health on paranoid delusional is a new read for me. Going through life with constant worry that someone is out to get you is tough. At times I’m annoyed that it’s the focus of this book instead of the killer potentially killing the wrong girl and so it takes away the thrill. On the other hand, I do like how this delusional affect Sienna’s thinking. Anytime she thinks something is not right, she afraid to voice out because she doesn’t want people to think she’s crazy like her mom. I’m liking that I get to learn of different types of mental health from this book. There is suspense in this story because the present day deal with her mom and the past deal with police not yet catching the killer. I’m just not patience enough to wait. I prefer cliffhangers at the end of each chapter and there seems to be a couple with Jonathan about to tell Sienna something as she drift off to sleep and when she left the house unlocked and not noticing a car slowly drive by but there were no follow up on the next chapter. So most times I lose interest in the story.

This book started with a prologue, told in the third person point of view following Sienna, 18. She got freaked out when she saw a dead body on her way back to her dorm. Then the story begins 10 years later with Sienna, 28, (somehow the story indicates she’s 29 going on 30) a chef, now coming back home from London. She looks like her mom who has mental health issues and growing up she afraid that she will be like her mom. The story switches back and forth, then and now, more now than then. Now the police reopen the case of the dead girl to find her killer. Back then, what’s freaky was that the dead girl had on the same winter jacket as Sienna was wearing because then a wrong girl could have been killed.

The Look-Alike has the idea that makes me want to read. I used to want more details in stories but now I’m not so sure because this story is very detailed. An example is about Sienna turning on the car, “she let it run a few minutes, then backed out of the garage, down the drive, and into the street.” I never noticed step by step like this before. Because of the details, the read is slow going for my liking. I’m feeling so-so with Sienna. She seems to take precautions with one person but not the other. I guess nobody can fight off their hormones. That being said, I don’t like instalove. That man to man bicker between Randy and Jonathan is awesome. I do like that I couldn’t guess who the killer is. I also learned a lesson about siblings, to treat both children fairly and that the older one need as much love and protection as the younger one.

***Disclaimer: Many thanks to St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.

xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Look Alike by Erica Spindler

A who-dun-it thriller.
Trying to guess who the killer was, was like bouncing around on a playground. Sure I had guesses but they kept changing as the book progressed.
This book has a focus on mental illness and it’s impact on family.

Overall a quick read, not to intense, but I didn’t want to read it home alone at night! What’s that noise? They say it’s a mental illness but could there really be someone there?
The heroine make some stupid decisions that made me care less than I might have otherwise.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler takes place in the present and also twenty years in the past. Sienna Scott was first at the scene of the brutal murder of a female college student twenty years ago. She moved back in with her father and her mentally ill mother who suffered from paranoid delusions. Fearing that the murder might affect Sienna’s mental health, her father sends her to live with her grandmother in London, where she stays for twenty years. Upon her return, she begins to look into the unsolved murder, thinking that maybe the victim was mistaken for herself. Up to that point, this was a great mystery. But by then, there were too many characters, the plot lines were all over the place and, after a while, I stopped caring what happened. However, I did stay with it till the end. This is strictly my own opinion and it may be that this book just was not a good fit. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

Her mother released her and held her at arm’s length, studying her. It was like looking in a mirror, Sienna thought. One that bent time — herself thirty years from now.

She found each step akin to another crank of a jack-in-the-box, and with each a growing anxiety for what was going to jump out at her.

For a long moment, her mother was quiet. When she finally spoke, the words broke Sienna’s heart. “You can’t live in fear. And I can’t seem to live without it.”


My Review:

This was my first exposure to the devious word-stylings of Erica Spindler and I chose an excellent start point, if I do say so myself ~ well, honestly, how else could anyone recognize my genius if I don’t point it out? I instantly fell into this diabolically and ingeniously crafted, tautly written, and brain itching tale of intrigue, murder, family drama, and card-carrying mental illness. I conjured and cast aside a bevy of questionable and brilliant theories, as everyone was suspect at one time or another. The writing was stellar and the storylines were maddeningly paced and cunningly crafted while cast with a wide assortment of curiously compelling and brain-tickling characters. Now that I have had a taste of her word voodoo, I am greedy for all of Ms. Spindler’s clever words. I was provided with a review copy of this wily written book by Macmillan Publishing.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

But then looks can be disceiving, can't they?

The Look-Alike hones in on a mother/daughter relationship that has suffered from deep wounds throughout the years. Sienna Scott has a very similar reflection in the mirror to that of her mother, Viv. But that's where the similarity dies on the branch.

Sienna has lived in London for the last ten years as a successful chef. She left her midwestern town of Tranquility Bluffs, Wisconsin at the insistence of her father. You see, while attending college Sienna had come upon the bloodied dead body of one of her fellow students late one night. She'd taken a short-cut behind some of the buildings to get back to her dorm. Traumatized, London was the next destination for her.

Mom Viv has suffered from multiple delusional episodes throughout the years especially after the death of Sienna's father. Viv, with a history of not taking her medications, feels that she is being spied upon at all hours. Sienna's half-brother, Brad, has tried to care for her. It's been a hit and miss situation.

But Sienna decides to move back to her home town. She's even got her eye on buying a local restaurant. Normal living sounds about right. Doesn't seem to be in the cards for Sienna after all. And we'll soon become aware that the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree as Sienna starts to become paranoid herself. Is she becoming her mother after all?

I kicked this one up from a 3.5 stars to 4 stars. While the story started off well, it soon became a bit predictable. Coincidences occur left and right and eyebrows just automatically go up. Returning home after ten years from big-time London to small town Wisconsin was a smidge of a stretch. But the writing is well done and the interest factor still sails in this one. I'd like to see Erica Spindler take on a more complex and quirky main character in the next one. A few trap doors here and there and a nice left hook would be just the right combo next time.

I received a copy of The Look-Alike through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Erica Spindler for the opportunity.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler is a psychological drama read. This one is fast paced and does deal with a character with mental illness. The story starts with a prologue from ten years before then jumps to the present moving around some in time.

Ten years before Sienna Scott had been walking home from studying at college when she stumbled across the victim of a brutal murder. Sienna could not get that night out of her mind so she left home and spent the next ten years in London trying to forget that night.

Now Sienna has returned home to help care for her mother who is struggling with mental illness. Sienna’s mother lives in fear that someone is going to harm her or her family which only brings that brutal night ten years ago back into Sienna’s mind. Sienna finds out that the case was never solved and now it back open which only leads to Sienna’s own paranoia.

As someone who has goals to read all the books I can get my hands on I love nothing more than fast paced books that seem like I fly right through them in the blink of an eye which was the case here. It didn’t take long to become engrossed in The Look-Alike and the pages began to fly by right after. There were also plenty of twists and turns along the way to hold my attention. I would definitely read this author again after finishing.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Susanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

A Campy Psychological Thriller

Upon stumbling on a body near the college library, Sienna Scott is terrified. The murdered girl looks just like Sienna and is wearing a coat that looks just like the one SIenna has on. Her murder is never solved. Sienna’s mother (who she is also the spitting image of) is suffering from mental illness and this causes even more problems for Sienna and has for her whole life. Traumatized, Sienna takes off for London.

Ten years later, Sienna returns to her hometown to care for her ailing mother and make peace with the past. Her mother is a shut in and refuses medication for her mental illness which would help her tremendously as every day is a struggle. Little does Sienna know that the Police have re-opened the murder investigation from years ago. Talk about bad timing. Thank goodness Sienna falls madly in love with her new neighbor, which makes everything better.

My oh my. “The Look Alike” was a campy thriller that was an entertaining read even though it made my eyes roll from the very beginning. While it wasn’t my favorite book, I suggest reading other reviews as there are a lot of other more positive reviews out there and in this case, I think I am simply the wrong reader for this novel.

A buddy read with Kaceey.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Erika Spindler for the arc.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 4.5.20.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

After spending ten years exiled to London, Sienna Scott has returned to her hometown. With dreams of running her own restaurant, the young chef hopes to reunite with her mother and half brother. However, Sienna finds her beloved mother more than ever consumed by dark delusions and her brother, Brad, a local real estate agent, hostile and secretive. Added to her homecoming is the local police department's re-opening of an old cold case, the death of a young woman who bore startling similarities to Sienna. As Sienna tries to begin a new life, a series of terrifying phone calls tell Sienna that the killer is still out there and he isn't finished with her yet.

I couldn't tear myself away from this suspense novel that felt a bit like a Mary Higgins Clark story. There were loads of suspects and I begin to worry that I was as delusional as Sienna. As the tension built, I was increasingly concerned that a white van might be driving around outside my apartment building.

Overall, an excellent read that has me wanting to watch out for this author.

Goodreads review published 23/01/20
Publication Date 28/01/20

[Bridgett · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent little romantic thriller which focuses heavily on mental illness, and how it affects those we love most.

This is my first Erica Spindler novel, and I was mostly satisfied. It was a quite different take on the thriller genre, which I appreciated. I'd say it's a little long-winded, as evidenced by the superfluous details throughout, but I was still absolutely engaged while reading.

Told strictly from Sienna's point of view, she has just arrived back home after a decade overseas in London. She's justifiably concerned about her mother's mental illness, and how their close proximity might affect her day-to-day life. Nevertheless, she's still happily making plans for her future in Tranquility Bluffs. That is until she discovers the local police force is reopening a homicide case from 10 years earlier...a case in which she was a key player.

Thankfully, Sienna and the rest of the gang were all well-developed and interesting characters. Although the red herrings were quite good, I did manage to pick up a few clues which pointed to the killer almost immediately. For that reason, I deducted a star from my rating. While a few people may miss the clues, I doubt most will as they're glaringly obvious.

Overall, I was a fan, and I definitely plan to read more of Ms. Spindler's books in the future. Recommended.

3.5 stars rounded down

**Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

[Julie (JuJu) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A romantic thriller that goes down the rabbit hole of mental illness...one of my favorite subjects.

It was hard to rate this book and write the review. But I think it’s more about me and my timing, than the book itself. The mental illness element was the big draw for me. Reading about Viv’s paranoid delusions, and how her family members are the focus of her issues, was the highlight of the book.

I was excited to get this ARC and my expectations were very high! It’s been several years since I’ve read this author and I’ve loved her previous work. I enjoyed this one, but not as much as I’d hoped. But I understand why her fans are drawn to her suspenseful stories, filled with romance and thrills.

I try to stay away from romantic thrillers, but Ms. Spindler is one of the few author’s that I’ll read, even though I’ll have to plod through the wretched romance! The whole “love at first sight” isn’t my thing!!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Erica Spindler for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!

My Rating: 3.5 ⭐️’s (rounding down)
Published: January 28th 2020 by St. Martin's Press
Pages: 320

Recommend: Yes, if you don’t mind the “love at first sight” element.

#TheLookAlike #NetGalley #RomanticThriller

[Erin (from Long Island, NY) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5! & I absolutely recommend the audio. I really, really enjoyed this 1 from start to finish!

[Silvanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, well paced story, but a kinda predictable and all-too-neat ending.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

Publication date: January 28, 2020.

Sienna Scott has forever lived under the shadow of her mother’s mental illness; not only of the illness symptoms themselves but of the constant fear that she may one day suffer the same fate. After witnessing a murder, Sienna is sent away to live with a grandmother in London, to try and escape her past. After ten years living away from home, Sienna returns to redevelop her relationship with her mother and try and move past the painful memories she tried to leave behind. However, when the murder she witnessed is re-opened, and family members close to her are being examined as possible suspects, Sienna begins to wonder if there have been some truth to mother’s delusions after all.

This novel is unique and intriguing, depicting an honest yet horrible picture of living with mental illness, without being belittling or condescending. Both Sienna and her father live in a constant state of anxiety and worry, forever wary of when Sienna’s mother will have an episode, and tiptoeing around what they know to be triggers. That mixed with Sienna’s fear of the biological transference, and it is difficult to not sympathize with the Scott family, Vivienne (the mother) included.

None of the characters in this novel can be trusted, and it is no wonder Viv trusts no one. Absolutely everyone Sienna is in contact with in this novel is keeping secrets, and none of them are who they claim to be.

As the story unfolds, there are several characters throughout the novel who become a prime suspect to the reader; that being said, in the next chapter, a new character takes centre stage. Some are too obvious to be the culprit, some too vague, but the real ending of the novel is not completely unsurprising but still shocking enough to provide satisfaction.

Right on par with Spindler’s other novel, The Other Girl (the only other novel I’ve read of hers to date), “The Look-Alike” features suspense, intrigue, and paranoia (both mental illness related and legitimate) and will definitely keep readers engaged right to the end.