From Erica Spindler, the New York Times bestselling author of The Other Girl and Justice for Sara comes The Look-Alike, a thrilling psychological drama about a woman who believes she escaped a brutal murder years ago–but does anyone else believe her? Sienna Scott grew up in the dark shadow of her mother’s paranoid delusions. Now, she’s returned home to confront her past and the unsolved murder … to confront her past and the unsolved murder that altered the course of her life.
In her mother’s shuttered house, an old fear that has haunted Sienna for years rears its ugly head–that it was she who had been the killer’s target that night. And now, with it, a new fear–that the killer not only intended to remedy his past mistake–he’s already begun. But are these fears any different from the ones that torment her mother?
As the walls close in, the line between truth and lie, reality and delusion disintegrate. Has Sienna’s worst nightmare come true? Or will she unmask a killer and finally prove she may be her mother’s look-alike, but she’s not her clone?
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Twisty plots, chilling suspense, true-to-life characters — Erica Spindler’s taut thrillers are a must read.
In a word: riveting. An intense psychological thriller about love, betrayal, mental illness, and fear; a twisty, atmospheric suspense that will have you questioning the troubled heroine and flipping pages to find out what happened. Spindler is at the top of her game.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Be prepared for nerve tingling suspense in the newest Erica Spindler book! I thought I had it all figured out in the first several chapters but, boy, was I wrong! This is one thriller you don’t want to miss! Enjoy!
A stellar mystery from one of my all-time favorite authors, THE LOOK-ALIKE is classic Spindler, murderous twists and turns and a hot romance. What’s not to love! I’ve been reading Erica since well before I was first published. Her work influenced my writing tremendously. And as happens so often in our industry, our heroes become our dear friends. She’s been a mentor, a shoulder to cry on, a sounding board, and a co-author. I adore her and her work. You’ll love her latest!
The Look Alike by Erica Spindler
What a story! You’ve got murder, her mothers mental issues and a hot mysterious neighbor ingredients for hours of solid reading. This was an excellent psychological thriller that grabs you and carries you through to the very end. Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for allowing me to read this ARC book and give my honest opinion.
The Look-Alike was a great read by Erica Spindler. Sienna grew up in her mother’s shadow of paranoid delusions. She has been away tens years at the hand of her father. She returns to confront her past and the murder she stumbled upon years ago, that always went unsolved. Sienna is back in her mom’s house and her old fears creep back to haunt Sienna. She still fears that she was the killers intended target. Sienna has a hard time separating reality and the delusions. She fears that she is more than just her mother’s look-alike and has the same paranoid delusions. I loved reading this book and can’t wait t9 read more by Erica Spindler.
I could not put this book down. I was sure I had the killer all figured out then Spindler would throw something out there and make me question myself all over again. Every time I was ready to stop for a moment I’d turn the page and Id find myself 50 more pages in the book. I was right on my initial assumption of the killer but had no clue as to why. So, if you figure it out early I promise you it is worth it to finish the book. You will be surprised as to why.
I have not read an Erica Spindler book for many years. I know my mom used to gobble them up like hot chocolate chip cookies on a snowy day. After reading The Look-Alike I have decided to get my mom’s books and read them. I will definitely be getting this one for her.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above are entirely my own.
Dynamic, suspenseful, intriguing read!!!
Ten years after the murder of a young
woman on the college campus in the
small town of Tranquil Bluffs, Wisconsin,
Sienna Scott returns from England. She
has been living in England with her
grandmother after her father sent her
away. Now she is back to Wisconsin to
live with her mother. Her mother has a
delusion disorder. Her mother and Sienna
look alike. Does Sienna share her disorder?
The cold case of the murder has been
reopened because the Chief of Police is
retiring. Sienna still feels that she was the
one to be murdered as the young woman
had on white coat like the one Sienna wore
that night. The young woman was taking
the out of the way short cut that Sienna
took every week after her study group.
It was a blinding snowstorm that night.
Did the killer murder the young woman
thinking she was Sienna? Dressed in the
white coated was this the murder of a
Sienna look alike?
Sienna starts her own investigation. She
finds this situation challenging plus wants
the satisfaction of seeing the culprit brought
to justice!!!
Mix a tangled web of clues, secrets revealed
and lies uncovered for a well written, captivating
and emotional read. The plot is interesting
with twists where the main character goes back
and forth from past to present effortlessly trying
to solve the mystery.
The main character and the supporting characters
are all well developed, multifaceted and cleverly
crafted.
A Highly Recommended Read!!
I volunteered to read The Look Alike. Thanks to
the Review Crew for the opportunity. My opinion
is voluntary and my own.
The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler is a very good mystery with a bit of suspense. Stumbling across the body of a murdered student on campus ten years earlier has Sienna Scott with unanswered questions. She was sent away by her father to live in London with her grandmother after she had given her statement to the police, but now she has come back home. The murderer has never been caught, which leaves Sienna wondering if she should have been the target. The white parka she was wearing on that snowy night as she cut across a deserted campus matched the same one Madi was wearing.
Sienna’s mother suffers from a psychosis which is Persecutory Delusions with paranoiac episodes when she fails to take her meds. She feels there are people out to get her and she is obsessive about staying in the confines of her home. Sienna’s half brother, Bradley, has carried the load of responsibility for her care since his fathers’ death.
I won’t post spoilers, but there are several suspects for the murder of Madi. Several characters have their own secrets which causes Sienna to become suspicious of them all for differing reasons. Or is Sienna becoming like her mother Vivienne, looking for killers in each person she sees?
The story is very good, but it I did get aggravated with Sienna for going to the police with each theory she had for each person caught up in this investigation. She did seem to become manic with her suspicions. Once you accuse a person of a possible murder, you break part of your personal connection to them and it is hard to repair a relationship after such distrust.
Publication Date: January 28, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
A psychological thriller with a great cast of characters, romance, and a surprise twist you don’t see coming!
4 1/2 STARS!
Surprises around every corner! Erica Spindler drew me in from the very first page of THE LOOK-ALIKE when the depiction of a brutal crime scene started to unveil. With lots of surprises and twists, she kept me guessing and held my attention right up until the end.
Sienna’s plight of returning home a decade after stumbling upon a crime scene changed her life is well documented as we travel through the various characters she reconnects with and new ones who have an unknown connection to the past.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a psychological thriller that has a hint of romance and lots of characters who we’re not sure if they are involve in what’s going on or not. I enjoyed it!
I enjoyed the book. I had it figure out from the beginning but kept doubting myself. Puts you through a lot of twists and turns.
Wow! This whole book had me guessing from start to finish. Once I started I just wanted to keep reading and so would have but being a wife and mom does take precedence. Lol.
Erica Spindler told an amazing story that will suck you in and keep you an pins and needles from start to finish. If you haven’t read her work (this is my first) you so need to. You won’t regret it!
Spindler has created a twisty tale with complex characters that will keep you guessing until the very end. A must read for fans of complex thrillers.
4.5 stars
This is my very first book by Erica Spindler and I am now a HUGE fan! I love her writing and it is so eerily addictive! What a thriller read that literally had me from the first to the very last page. I enjoy a great psychological thriller that has plots with twists upon twists that kept me on edge and my attention focused. I enjoyed the characters and did cover issues of paranoia and mental illness and worked well within the story line. My only advice is do not start this too late or I promise you, you will not sleep a wink. Totally amazing read that I highly recommend.
A thriller to the end. My first Erica Spindler book and and can’t wait to read more!
This was definitely a page turner trying to find out the truth of what happened a few years ago. The story is presented in current time with flashbacks to when the incident occurred. I think this style was appropriate in keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.
I do not read many books that are thriller/suspense/mystery, and have not read this author prior to this book, but I do plan on reading her other books at some point.
This author has never disappointed me in her writing and this was one of my favorites of hers. There were so many twists and turns and I could not figure out the murderer until the very end. I loved the characters and how she wrote about the troubles that Sienna’s mom lived with for much of her life. There was so much suspense and a little bit of romance. I could not put this book down. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
What a great book. The thrills and suspense are guaranteed to keep you reading while the twists and turns will keep you guessing at what is going to happen next. I loved how easy it was to follow the storyline as it told the story in the present time and the story from the past. The stories twisted together perfectly without missing a step and took the reader on one wonderful, twisted, thrilling ride.
One of my favorite things about Erica Spindler’s book is the location that sets her books. I am from the Midwest, right near Rockford, IL, and that is an area that is mentioned in her books often. She talks about places that are familiar to me, things that we are known for (sock monkeys), and towns that are nearby. I love when I read a book and can see where the book is taking place.
I’d recommend picking up your own copy of The Look-Alike and enjoying the ride Erica Spindler takes you on.
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.