Next Book Review: RELEASE DAY: The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler

The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler

Release Day: January 28th

THE LOOK-ALIKE, written in Erica Spindler’s trademark style — fast-paced, with twists and turns that lead to a final, shocking conclusion — proves once again why she has legions of fans around the world and has been dubbed the Queen of the Romantic Thriller.

Sienna Scott, who grew up in the dark shadow of her mother's paranoid delusions, returns home to confront her past and the unsolved murder that altered the course of her life.

In her mother's shuttered home, an old fear rears it ugly head. One that had taken root inside Sienna all those years ago - 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.

As the walls close in, the line between truth and lie, reality and delusion disintegrate. Has Sienna's worst nightmare come true? Has she inherited more than her mother's beautiful face? 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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I’m always so thrilled when Erica Spindler comes out with another book. I found The Look-Alike to be a good story. Even though I guessed the “bad guy” early on and stuck with it throughout I still found it to be an enjoyable plot. Knowing, or thinking I knew, the culprit from the beginning isn’t really a letdown for me personally. I still enjoy the story being unfolded bit by bit. It adds to the development and answers all the questions I might have.

Sienna was a college student living on campus but still close to home. Her mom has some mental issues and they all revolve around Sienna. She’s determined to not be her mother and to live life without fear… until she literally stumbles over a dead body. Sienna can’t help but notice the dead girl and she both have very similar white jackets and she was murdered in Sienna’s normal route home. It’s all pointing to someone meant to have killed her… or is it? Her father sends her to live in England with her grandmother. After 10 years, Sienna decides it’s time to return home. Sienna can’t seem to figure out if someone is messing with her/her mom or is her mom’s illness hereditary?

I was thoroughly intrigued with the way Erica Spindler misleads her readers. She excels at misdirection and pushes us to question our initial thoughts. However, there was one misdirection in particular that I saw coming a mile away! I knew it was going to happen but she did throw in a curve ball and I was left slightly stunned. Sienna was so scared of becoming her paranoid mother that she had a hard time believing herself. The characters were interesting. I do like my women heroine’s to be a bit stronger than Sienna so she was a bit difficult as a lead character when she was missing that steal spine I like to see. The sexy neighbor was always there when she needed him and almost seemed too good to be true! The half brother was obvious jealous and I wasn’t sure how Sienna missed that one. I guess it’s easier to see things’ looking in than it is looking out. The cop friend was over-eager and way too giving with details.

That’s it! No spoilers spilled here! If you like putting on your detective hat and piecing together the clues than this is a book you’ll love! I listened to an early audiobook and it felt compulsive! That storyline, mixed with Tavia Gilbert’s narration was great! I keep wondering what I would have felt had I just read the book… I don’t think it would have been as good for me. I really feel like Gilbert’s emotional responses heard through the voice added to it. You could feel it all… not only is that helpful in an audiobook but it makes the storyline feel dimensional! I’d happily recommend listening to this audiobook!

ERICA SPINDLER

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING 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. Published in 25 countries, her stories have been lauded as “thrill-packed page turners, white- knuckle rides and edge-of-your-seat whodunits.”

SUSPENSE – ERICA’S TRUE CALLING

Raised in Rockford, Illinois, Erica had planned on being an artist, earning a BFA from Delta State University and an MFA from the University of New Orleans in the visual arts. In June of 1982, in bed with a cold, she picked up a romance novel for relief from daytime television. She was immediately hooked, and soon decided to try to write one herself. She leaped from romance to suspense in 1996 with her novel Forbidden Fruit, and found her true calling.

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 three-time RITA® Award finalist. 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 and is busy at work on her next thriller.

Follow Erica Spindler here