Cover Image: The Look-Alike

The Look-Alike

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

The Look-Alike was such an unforgettable psychological thriller that I couldn't put down and easily finished within a day!

Erica Spindler has become a very steady favorite author of mine! I feel like I can always depend on an excellent read from her! She did a superb job of making the reader feel just as confused as the characters seemed to be! I must have gone through a dozen theories before the end just to find the ending was something totally different than all of thoughts that I had previously!

Overall, stellar book that I couldn't put down! It was a fast-paced, suspenseful read! Don't waste any time getting this book and devouring it! I absolutely LOVED this book!

I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Erica Spindler for providing me a copy of The Look-Alike in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

When I get the chance to read an Erica Spindler novel, I jump at the chance. I love her books and have been a fan for a while now. With her newest book The Look Alike, Erica does not hold back, nor does she disappoint me in any way. Sienna Scott did not grow up in a normal, happy-filled life, but in the shadows of her mom's paranoid delusions. However, is it her Mom's head or is there some truth behind it?
While Sienna was in collage, she stumbles upon a gruesome scene. A young woman was murdered just moments before hand. Like any normal person, Sienna had some nightmares over what had happened, not to mention the what if's,the could have and starting to have doughts about certain things.
Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, to feel shamed about, and Erica Spindler did a marverlous job with Sienna's mom and Sienna's own accord. Erica is truly a creative, spine-tingling, cannot put the book down, and who caused me to have some restless nights. Which is okay on my book. I love books like this one. The plot kept moving, characters grew when they needed to, and kept me at the edge of my seat.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me this opportunity for this this ARC. Thank you Erica Spindler for writing another spell-binding story. Love it.

Was this review helpful?

When Sienna Scott, a college student, stumbles upon the body of a fellow student on campus, her life is turned upside down.

I have read several other novels by Erica Spindler and I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. This novel was no different. I love reading thriller novels and this one was full of twists and turns that the reader never sees coming.

One irony of the novel is the setting. The city of Tranquility Bluffs is everything but tranquil for many years after the unsolved murder takes place.

One thing I loved about this novel is that the reader never knows who the killer is until the very end. Spindler keeps the reader guessing the entire novel and I personally never saw the end coming.

I will continue to be a fan of Erica Spindler and read any novel she publishes.

Was this review helpful?

Another thriller, bone chilling - can't pout down story from Erica Spindler! Sienna grew up in an alternative reality with her mom. Thinking her mom is delusional Sienna just wanted to escape but she has returned home now after being gone for many years. Soon Sienna begins to ask herself was her mom really delusional? or was someone really after them...Sienna in particular. A story you won't want to put down! Happy reading!

Was this review helpful?

The Look-Alike is suspenseful, and twisty, and everything I like in a thriller. I enjoyed this book completely, and read it in one sitting. Thank you, Erica Spindler, for a wonderfully entertaining novel!

Was this review helpful?

Loved it! I had never read this author before, but saw a friend recommend this book. I was not disappointed. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read and review this title!

Was this review helpful?

A big thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for originally giving me a chance to read and review THE LOOK-ALIKE by Erica Spindler. Unfortunately, I put it on the back burner for quite a while with more pressing library hold due dates and book club picks. I finally read this tense thriller thanks to my membership in Brenda Novak Book Club.
I am so glad I finally read this book in March. Erica Spindler was a new to me author, but after reading this book I have become a huge fan. I have even gone so far as to join her EPIC Facebook group.
Sienna is afraid that her mother's mental illness issues are affecting her just as she has inherited her mother's looks. Sienna moved away from her hometown after tragedy in the past, but now she is back again to care for her mother. The past seems back to haunt her and she fears a killer is out to get her and tie up loose ends from the past. Her next door neighbor is very attractive, but can she trust him?
Erica Spindler does an incredible job of crafting a thriller that will keep you going at a fast pace to find out whodunit. Psychological and domestic thrillers are all the rage now and only talented writers like Erica Spindler make them seem realistic and not contrived.
I will certainly be going back to read this amazing author's back list and looking for future novels.

Was this review helpful?

I received this book for free as an ARC for an honest review from #NetGalley.

This book is a lot mystery, some people might call it thriller), a little bit romance. I probably suspected each of the different characters at some point throughout the book. Well done, Ms Spindler!

I would definitely read another book by this author. Fully enjoyed it!

Was this review helpful?

THE LOOK ALIKE by ERICA SPINDLER was an entertaining, light, and quick read but it was one that I wasn’t always fully invested in.

I found the premise to be quite appealing and the story suspenseful enough even though I figured out quite early on who the killer was. I kept on reading though because I could never figure out what their motive was.

Overall it was an okay read and I’m glad that I read it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Erica Spindler for the opportunity to read an early copy.

Was this review helpful?

Amazing thriller! I had never read any of Erica Spindler's novels before, and now I want to read all of them. I loved all the twists and turns. It definitely kept me interested, and I just wanted to keep reading. I love novels that involve psychological illness. It makes the storyline so much more interesting to me. Highly recommend if you love a fast paced thriller!!

**Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the copy in exchange for an honest review.**

Was this review helpful?

Sienna comes back home 10 years after she discovered a murdered girl at her college campus. Her Mom suffers from delusions, certain everyone is out to get her and her family.
Sienna has always worried she might be like her mother and being home with these memories being drudged up, it might seem that way.

Though I guessed who the killer had been pretty quickly, I was still intrigued by the thought that I might be wrong.

Was this review helpful?

I tried to get into this book but it ultimately fell flat for me. The premise was unique but I found the writing stilted and a little boring. Not one of my favorites.

Was this review helpful?

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I’ve had some Erica Spindler books on my list for awhile- but something about this one caught my eye and I sat down to read it

I really enjoyed the pacing of this book- I did figure out some of the ending ahead of time- but that was ok- because I was really entertained by the story.

What I liked:

The cover. Memorable and creepy.

Mother/daughter dysfunctional stories can be my jam or they can be a disaster. This was my jam.

How everything was wrapped up- satisfactory!



Bottom line: Because I enjoyed The Look-Alike so much, I picked up another one of Erica’s books to read at some point- The First Wife.

Was this review helpful?

The Look-Alike
Erica Spindler
4 stars
What a ride! The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler is a fantastic psychological thriller that kept me turning the page. Sienna Scott stumbles on a murder 10 years ago, a murder that remains unsolved. Sienna has gone on to London, finished culinary school, and is now back in her hometown where the murder changed her life before. But someone has been waiting for her. Filled with suspense throughout, I really enjoyed this book. I did figure out who did it very early on, but there were so many twists and turns that I doubted myself throughout and had everyone on the suspect list at one point or another. Great read from Erica Spindler! I look forward to reading more from her.
Thank you to #Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced e-copy.

Was this review helpful?

there are two kinds of readers, those who like lots of description and those that want to get to the meat of the story. I'm in the second group. Although this was suspenseful, I thought too much had been added. As I reflect back on that perhaps that was needed for all the red herrings thrown out to distract us from the real culprit. The issue of mental illness and its treatment was well done. That, the red herrings and the understanding that all readers aren't like me, deserve the 4 stars. If you are more like me, its a 3 star.

Was this review helpful?

This was a really great book. It isn’t the type of book I normally read but I enjoyed it very much. I would recommend it to others.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler.

College student Sienna was taking her normal route home from class one night when she happens upon a victim of a violent crime. The most distressing part? The victim looked much like herself, with even the same jacket. Haunted all of these years by that fact, Sienna finally returns to her home town to get to the bottom of this unsolved murder, and hopefully preventing another one.

I liked the tug that the main character had between solving a murder, not knowing who to trust, and also protecting her mother who suffers a severe mental illness. There were a lot of dark twists and turns. The ending was a bit disappointing, it just didn't seem to fit the overall story, so it kind of lost me. But overall a fun read.

Was this review helpful?

I received a free e-copy of The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler from NetGalley for my honest review.

Ten years ago, Sienna left her study group like she does every Wednesday night to walk home. There was a blizzard so she has her head down; when she stumbles upon a dead body. Sienna recognizes the girl as one of her classmates who worked at the library. Sienna soon notices that the dead girl is wearing a white parka that exactly like her own. She starts wondering if she was the one the murder hand intended to kill. Her father decides that she should go live with her grandmother in London.

Present day, Sienna has decided to return home to Tranquility Bluffs, WI. She has returned to take care of her mother, Vivian who suffers from severe paranoid delusions. She also finds out that they have re-opened the case of the murder since there was never an arrest. Sienna starts getting weird phone calls and she starts freaking out thinking she was supposed to be the victim again. Is she starting to have the same delusions as her mother??

Was this review helpful?