I’m the first to admit I had an ulterior motive when I requested The Reconstruction. I’ve lately been watching Bones and when I read the blurb for this, I wanted to know if I would enjoy reading about this type of thing as much as I was enjoying watching it.

I’m not certain how I felt about this book. Technically, there was nothing wrong with it: the writing is good, there are characters with complicated pasts that add depth to them and a mystery for the reader to get their teeth into.

But it all felt a bit cliché and a bit too nice.

Jessica is a forensic sculptor, reconstructing faces from skulls in order to identify remains. When she finds herself looking at her own face during an investigation, she realises that her murky past (adopted as a toddler, never knowing her real family) has a few complicated twists thrown in: the murdered woman could be her long-lost twin.

I felt this was just too much of a coincidence, but as it was the premise of the entire book, I accepted it. However, Jessica soon starts the hunt to identify the woman and find out if she is indeed her sister. What didn’t work for me is that everyone just happened to know someone else and all the pieces fell neatly together. Nicole – the sister – had no close friends, but there were enough people coming forward with the right clues that the mystery can be resolved. It didn’t work for me.

I also had a few problems with Jessica’s character. She’s bisexual, but it felt just enough attention was given to that fact it was the author’s way of pointing out that they weren’t following the usual heterosexual romance.

Jessica’s girlfriend, Maria, starts become too needy for Jessica and the reader is witness to those mood swings. There was a moment, however, when Jessica completely blanked Maria confessing to potential money difficulties and only focused on her own mystery. We get the impression Maria is selfish, but that moment flipped the cards and Jessica appeared to be the one who didn’t care – it wasn’t as if Maria was complaining about the weather.

I couldn’t relate to Jessica’s character and felt she lacked development.

The book lacked in tension and the pace was slow, interrupted too many times with descriptions of food, wine and long bike rides in beautiful settings. I felt the author had done their research into the areas and was determined to put all this detail in. Too much focus was placed on where Jessica was going to eat and drink.

The ending infuriated me. There was absolutely no closure and just a wide-open ending that clearly said “there-should-be-another-book”. Cliff-hangers work when they serve a purpose but this felt like it was put there for the sake of it.

It was an easy read and if you wanted to disconnect, enjoyable enough. I couldn’t accept all of these supposed coincidences though and it didn’t hold my attention.

I really liked the thought of people reconstructing faces of those who have passed in order to find out who they are and what their story was.

It was a really unfortunate way of finding out about a person's existence but at least Jessica found one of the biggest missing pieces in her life.

I wanted Jessica to find out about what Nikki had been doing during her last moments and who she was with.

The only thing I was disappointed about was how it ended. I guess I wanted to find out more about what was going to happen after she meets them.


Thank you for this novel! This was the reason I looked forward to my train rides XD

I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest review. I found this to be a very well-written puzzle with new elements of forensics added. It was a multi-faceted story with good characters. I will be looking for more from this author.

8 stars- This is the first time I have even heard of the author and I am so glad I chose this book. It was unlike anything that I have read in a really long time. I loved it. The idea of a this book was so intense and fascinating. The plot development and details made this such a suspenseful book. Who is the person behind the reconstruction? Is it solve a old crime or add suspense to a new one? Thank you for allowing me to read this book and write ab out it NetGalley and Karl Wiegers.

What would you do if you were doing a forensic reconstruction and the face that came up was........you? Jessica was adopted when she was a child and is now an adult who never knew who her biological parents. She finds she has a twin sister who was murdered. Trying too find the killers, she puts herself in danger. The killers are looking for her and they have found her. What now. Will she get away or will she die like her sister? This book was well written with a lot of suspense and mystery. It does end in a cliff hanger. Awaiting the next book. I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review and no compensation

I didn't think I was going to like it based on the first chapter but boy the rest of the book was intense. I really enjoyed reading this book, The only complaint that I have is that the author ended it with Jessica unknowingly in danger & no clues as to what happens next.! Does Jessica live, are the killers caught, do they kill Jessica? So many questions... I can't wait to read the next book which hopefully answer these questions. #TheReconstruction #NetGalley