After finding the body of an acquaintance on her way home from the library, eighteen-year-old Sienna Scott was a confusion of emotions, especially once she started wondering if she had been the intended target. Sienna and Madi, the girl who was murdered, were wearing identical white ski jackets, with white gloves and their hoods pulled up to shield them from the snow. Campus police were nearby, and an officer responded to Sienna’s scream of horror. Within weeks, her mother’s paranoia spiraled out of control, and Sienna’s father sent her to London to protect her from the situation that was beginning to unfold.

Ten years later, Sienna returned home, determined to help her half-brother Brad care for her mother and possibly open a restaurant, in order to use her culinary training and make a living. She was shocked to learn that the murder case had been reopened, and that fact, coupled with Sienna’s presence, reawakened her mother’s rampant paranoia. Soon, Sienna notices strange things are happening, like the white van that passed the house at all hours, the new neighbor who always seemed to be watching the house, and the resentment that Brad was expressing.

Sienna was terrified she would become paranoid, like her mother, and as the story plays out, the reader wonders if that’s true. As she immerses herself in trying to solve Madi’s murder, she sees suspicious behavior in almost everyone, and she puts herself at risk numerous times. I was definitely caught up in the storyline and appreciated the intrigue and unexpected ending to Sienna’s story.

At the beginning of the novel, we find a girl murdered, only to realize maybe she was the wrong target. What happens next? A story filled with confusion, love, betrayal, and even a little bit of murder along the way. POTENTIAL SPOILER. It's sort of fascinating to think that anyone out there could be the target of a "take out" especially if they got the wrong person, and maybe took us out instead. I really can't imagine.

Moving on. The Look-Alike to me is unique, and fun with a little bit of mystery. Who is who? Who was the intended target? And why, of course? There's a neighbor who helps out our main character and honestly, he sounds like quite a guy. Mom is crazy, but then isn't at least one parent?

Anyway, I hope you love this book as much as I did!

The Look-Alike publishes 1.28.2020.

4/5 Stars

3.5 Stars

I owe Spindler an apology. I went into this book expecting I wouldn’t like it. The last few mysteries I’ve read have disappointing me and for the first few chapters I was determined this would end the same. But Spindler’s writing is compelling; she draws you into the story and keeps your interest.

I had an inkling of an idea who the murderer may be and even though I was correct, she did keep me guessing much of the time. I enjoyed how she kept the suspense of whether Sienna was being paranoid or if what she sensed and believed was real. I was afraid that having Sienna’s mom have persecutory delusion disorder may be used as only a plot device, but it didn’t feel that way and I liked the dynamic between Sienna and her mom.

The ending felt a little too tidy (I’m not a fan of the long killer monologues explaining everything) but overall a satisfying thriller.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I loved this book! It had me addicted so much that I had such a hard time putting it down. Luckily i carried it everywhere sho i was able to sneak in small reads whenever possibly. It was an easy to follow storyline which is just what I need. I was definitely surprised at the end. This is a must read!

I could not stop reading! Loved the story. I had a hard time stepping away from reading this book. Interesting characters and a multitude of ways it could have concluded. Great start to reading in 2020.

Super fast paced thriller with great character building. Storyline was a little predictable but that didn't take away from wanting to turn the pages. Read this in one sitting.

I have to say I didn’t really enjoy this book until half way through. I thought the mother’s illness was very repetitive for the first half and the romance was also a bit unrealistic. The storyline in the last half was brilliantly written and the pieces came together and the murderer was quite a surprise, although there were too many bad guy choices! Didn’t love or hate this book. It was just an ok read for me.

Erica Spindler always delights and The Look-Alike is no exception. She manages to keep you guessing even when you think you’ve figured it out.
Sienna stumbled on a girl that was murdered one night after study group and has always wondered if she was the one that was supposed to have been murdered. Her father sent her away so she could have a fresh start . Ten years later after her mother has an accident she returns home to help her out . She starts receiving strange phone calls and meets a new neighbor that makes her question her past once again. This story is full of suspense and betrayal .

This is my first book of the decade. Wow....bless it's heart...lot's of pressure for a lil book.

Did it live up to the hype I placed on it? Nope. I have these unrealistic ideals for thrillers. I know that they are unrealistic....yet, I set myself up every time.

Let's talk about The Look-Alike. I enjoyed it. The writing was well done. The pacing was ideal. The dual timelines were wonderfully executed. The fact that we had an unreliable narrator did not work for me. I also felt like the love interest was a little far fetched. I'm all about love...but this love seemed a little rushed and somewhat forced. The originality was not there either....sadly. I have read and or watched this story line multiple times.

I don't know. I didn't not like it...but I didn't love it either. Certainly middle of the road for me.

I know, I know, I had talked myself into the next best thriller. I know better lol.

Overall, it will be forgettable.

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 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?



My Thoughts: A page-turner that kept me in its grip, The Look-Alike reminded me of every favorite thriller of mine. A story with many possible suspects, intense moments that kept me glued to the pages, and characters that felt like real people.

I liked Sienna’s voice and how she stood by her family, even those who were difficult, like her mother, and her brother Brad who seems to have betrayed her.

I had to work through it all for a while, sorting through the clues and setting aside the red herrings, but in the end, the reveal was perfectly orchestrated and allowed for Sienna to put the pieces together. Definitely a five star read.

***My ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley.

This latest mystery from Erica Spindler held my interest surprisingly well considering I really didn't like the heroine. Sienna stumbled across a murder scene years ago and has always questioned whether or not she was the intended victim of the unsolved murder. Is it because she was wearing the same coat as the victim or are her fears simply signs that she suffers from the same mental illness as her mother? Given this situation, I found it amazing how trusting the heroine is of everyone. I feel like if I were in her shoes I would have made very different choices than the heroine did, some of which almost put her in the too stupid to live category. That said, I did enjoy the mystery despite the heroine's behavior. In fact, I was a bit surprised at the end to see who the murderer actually was since I had picked out other suspects. All in all, an enjoyable suspense novel.

I really enjoyed this book and it was the first by Spindler that I have read. One thing I liked, and could have been done wrong, is how many theories you could have about who the "bad guy" was. I thought the exploration of mental illness or delusions along with mother/daughter relationships was done well, and added value.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler (Out January 28, 2020)

Thank you to St. Martins Press for an Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.

👯‍♀️👯‍♀️👯‍♀️


Ten years ago on her way home from a late night study session,Sienna Scott discovered a girl stabbed to death, lying in a pool of blood in the snow. Haunted by these memories and plagued with her mothers paranoias, Sienna has never been able to get let go of the feeling that it was supposed to be her killed that fateful night. Determined to prove that she is only her mothers look a-like and does not suffer from the same paranoias as here, Sienna is determined finally to unveil the girls killer.

👯‍♀️👯‍♀️👯‍♀️

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and breezed through it in a couple sittings, it’s definitely a quick, easy read. It was hard to put down because I was itching to get to the end and find out the truth, much like Sienna herself!

Fans of Final Girls by Riley Sager will enjoy this one, they both have a very similar feel! (And you guys all know how much I love Sager...) If you’re looking for the perfect fast paced thriller to cozy up with on a cold winter night, make sure to pick this one up when it’s released!

Somewhat predictable thriller. However, knowing what was coming did not make this book any less enjoyable. I thought that the introduction of Sienna's mom's illness lent an interesting bent on this novel. Recommended to fans of this kind of book.

So amazing, this book sucked me in from the get go. I don't typically like subdued main characters, but I understood why the main character was the way she was. I didn't think this was a psychological thriller, more of a suspense, but man oh man was it suspenseful.
There was a good flow within the book and it didn't drag on. The writing was beautiful and I would definitely read her work again.

Fast paced thriller! Family dysfunction and mental illness. The author was a master of weaving a spider web and totally throwing me off the scent of the killer...just when I really thought I figured it out. Have never read this author before, but definitely will again.

Sienna stumbles across a dead body, and has a sinking feeling that it was suppose to be her. She is tormented so much, and rightfully so, she leaves for London for 10 years, leaving her step brother to care for her Mom. She returns ready to care for her mom and restart her life, only to have the unsold murder case be reopened.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone!


**** Will leave review on Amazon and B&N on pub day.

In this psychological thriller we follow the relationship between Sienna Scott and her mentally ill mother Evelyn. Years ago a college resident wearing the same coat as Sienna is brutally murdered, due to her injuries the police say it was done by someone the victim knew. Ever sense that night Sienna has been shook up and her mother has been claiming Sienna was the killer's intended target. Living with her grandmother in England, Sienna has been away from the darkness caused by that night and her mother's intense delusions. Now she is back and the case is reopened. Finally she will find out if her mother is right and if she really was the target that night so many years ago.

I found the beginning of the story difficult to get into. It wasn't boring, it just wasn't captivating at first. However, once I was drawn in, I was completely sucked in until it was over. It was definitely thrilling and the mystery aspect of it was really good. At one point I thought I knew who had done what, but then I started second guessing myself. I was going around in circles trying to figure out who the killer was. I was kept guessing until the reveal at the end. I thought the writing was really good. Spindler was just amazing at making you see only what she wants you to see.

The characters were fine. I thought they were fleshed out well. They seemed like just normal, average everyday people I didn't think they were spectacular or anything, but they were done well for the purpose of the book.

Overall, I think was a great read. I'm really glad I took the time to read it. I absolutely loved the way I was pulled in and able to get lost in the story. If you like thrillers where you're constantly second-guessing who you should trust than you'll probably enjoy this book.

This started really good, was a little ok in the middle and then pucks up at the end. All in all a good solid suspense story, I think the writing was quite good at making many characters look suspicious but it also could be a little unrealistic at times.

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 a small town in 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.

This story, the characters and the setting didn't come across as real to me. The twist at the end was good but I really had a hard time suspending my disbelief. Characterization and pacing needed a bit mire work.