A would be solid murder mystery that hums along as one until it doesn't. I get that coming up with a good, air-tight murder mystery storyline can be tricky but when key elements are going to rely on magical realism then the marketing of the book should reflect that. Don't misunderstand, big fan of fantasy and the unexplained but I was disappointed that key plot points unexpectedly end up being explained as supernatural.

No spoilers but be forewarned the story starts off strong then gets a bit confusing when the main character, a failed actress turned fake psychic, investigates her doppelgänger's disappearance. Fans of the murder mystery genre will be able to track the clues to solve the murder and I was able to solve that mystery before the reveal but was well into the novel, so that was satisfying. What was unsatisfying were many barely tenable plot points and the use of otherliness to wrap things up.

Rate as a 2.5 but rounded up since half stars aren't on this site. .

Disclosure: Received an uncorrected ARC of this book from NetGalley and Alfred A. Knopf (Thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.

I was obsessed with the blurb for this book and it sounded perfect for me. Unfortunately the execution was off. The plot veered into strange directions and this became too much of an amateur sleuth novel for my taste

This novel was full of twists and turns that I never saw coming. I loved the concept of a doppelgänger and I loved reading how it progressed and wrapped up. I found myself gasping out loud at times.

I definitely look forward to more from this author!

The Divide is a thriller that starts off very strong, but eventually loses steam. When the story starts, Jenny is questioned by the police about leading a dual life. She previously starred in a movie by the director Surge Grumet and is a failed actress-turned-"psychic." Now, Serge has been murdered and this woman bears resemblance to Serge's ex-wife - who is now missing. Jenny is so angry that this ex-wife tried to steal her only glory, that she inserts herself into the investigation. As I mentioned, the plot starts out strong, and I liked Jenny a lot as a character, however it later veers off the main course and gets increasingly weird and out there and a bit unbelievable - and that's where it lost me. As a result, the ending didn't feel fully satisfying to me. My feelings on this one are mixed, and I'm not sure whether to recommend or not. But if you enjoy amateur sleuth-type-mysteries and don't mind out-there plots, you might enjoy this one!


Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf Pantheon Vintage & Anchor, and Morgan Richter for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I'm not quite sure what I think about this book. I found it very readable, with an interesting plot, but the ending left me wanting quite a bit more. The mystery element was enjoyable, and I felt like the characters were certainly well developed. I did guess who the murderer was, but it was still enjoyable to have it all tied up with a bow at the end. That being said, I feel hoodwinked because I was expected to have the Gena/Jenny plot line wrapped up as well and the author left the reader guessing. It does bring the score of the book down for me a half a point because it feels unfinished! Other than that, i felt like this was an easy and decently quick read, a little bit of a grungy Los Angeles story with ties to Hollywood and elements of the psychic realm. I give it a 3.5/5 overall.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Does everyone have a doppelgänger? What if they were in the same city as you? Would you worry about what they might be up to? I certainly am now!

love this genre of books , the failed LA/Actor Trope when done this well is one of my favorites. the protagonist is murky anti-hero, as are all the characters in this delicious novel and they're all engaged in the desperate states of their individual lives bashing violently into the same crumbling existence of those around them. A heartbreaking human story that brings readers down to earth where reality lives and movies are made amongst us. It's also a mystery and leaves things not in a neat tidy package, which worked for me and for the plot of this messy world created by the author. I can't wait to read more of Richter's work, she's superbly talented

This just didn't make any sense, which was annoying.
Thanks to #netgalley and #knopf for this #arc of #thedivide in exchange for an honest review.

*4.5 stars rounded up*

Have you ever seen someone who looks just like you?

Jenny St. John’s claim to fame was the leading role in a film called “The Divide”, & not many people know about it since the movie never got the theatrical release she expected. Both she & it faded into obscurity, & instead of returning to her hometown in Iowa she stuck it out in L.A. eking out a living as a psychic fraud. But when her unknown-to-her doppelganger disappears, the police think she’s the missing woman: Gena Santos. What comes next is a whirlwind of investigation & uncovering secrets within Gena’s circle of friends & business associates that Jenny is able to access due to her & Gena’s identical look. The longer Jenny digs, the more connections she finds between herself & the missing woman, & she soon realizes that she might end up being the next to vanish…

I am so glad I decided to read this book! I really enjoyed all the Iowa references (the college I graduated from, the HyVee grocery store chain, the cornfields) & the way the author worked the ideas about some of life’s unknowns (psychic abilities & parallel universes) into a story that includes the fabulously famous in Hollywood as well as the day-to-day Midwestern lifestyle; she somehow turned all of that into a cohesive story, & as a result I am definitely looking forward to reading her next book.

Thank you to NetGalley & Knopf for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Divide was an interesting read and different from others similar to the story line. I did find myself thinking the tale would go one way, but went in a different direction.

This is a captivating mystery with engaging characters. The intricate details keep you guessing and involved. I look forward to reading more from this author.

This book had a really interesting premise, and I thought it would be a case of stolen/mistaken identity. After reading, I'm not quite sure I understand exactly what the offense was...it seemed to want to lean toward a supernatural suggestion, but never fully committed. I think a bit more clarity would have made the plot a lot stronger and left more of a lasting impression.

Okay, wow. . . . In no way is this a typical mystery/thriller book. Sure, there are plenty of aspects of said "typical" books, but there is definitely an undercurrent of something. . . .different. Not of this realm. Strange. You get the picture. There is a lot of things I'd love to divulge about this novel, but to do so would probably give away too much, and I think it is one of those books that the reader needs to begin as blindly as possible. All I can say is that something involving lightening and the title happened in a corn field many years ago, and the ramifications of that night have altered the course of Jenny's (and Genevieve's???) life forevermore. There. I'll leave it at that, and suggest you pick it up. The fun cast of strange characters, the butterfly effect of the events of one night. . . . Yeah, just read it.
And I, for one, cannot wait to see what Morgan Richter dreams up next!

Wow, this was a fantastically tense thriller/murder mystery with some slightly fantastical elements, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Jenny was a really engaging protagonist; I liked seeing how even though her “psychic” abilities aren’t real (or are they), the skills she learned to pull off the gig helped solve the mystery. The other characters were interesting as well, and while the reveal wasn’t super shocking, I feel like that’s a good thing after being burned before by frustrating endings that come out of nowhere. The climax was so tense I kept skipping forward and back being like what is gonna happen!!

I also liked the casual references to the pandemic - Jenny wearing a mask to disguise her appearance when she goes to the art gallery, the fact that it’s why Jenny lost her apartment and her and Linus both being affected financially. I do wish the connection between Gena and Jenny had been explained more, but I guess it’s fun to think about the possibilities.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.

Thank you to Knopf Publishing and PRH Audio for the free copies to review.

I enjoyed this one, especially via audio which was narrated by Hillary Huber (a favorite of mine). The pacing was slow and steady, and I was really not sure how this was going to work itself out. 20 years ago Jenny St. John starred in an independent film, The Divide, and was on her way to ‘making it’, until the movie tanked and she instead found herself scraping by as a psychic life coach. Current day, the director of said film, Serge Grumet, has been murdered, and Jenny’s life is uprooted as his ex-wife Gena looks a lot like Jenny and the cops think she is one and the same and she has to prove that they are two different people. It took a little while to do this as well as to wrap everything up, and got a bit strange in doing so, but overall was a good read that held my attention the entire time.

A captivating noir thriller that blends elements of mystery, suspense, and dark humor. The writing is sharp and engaging with a cleverly crafted plot. There are well executed twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, and a vibrant cast of supporting characters. The pacing can be a little uneven at times with some sections dragging, but then picking back up.
Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was based on. AG ATH AC.H Rist. I. E! Murder mystery Novels. This was a modern twist to thi This woman named Jenny St. John's.
Move to l Los Angeles the star in the movie called the Divide. The director's name was SER GE AR.. The movie do not make anybody because it failed. He is found murdered and this week's too.The book really taking off. His ex-wife named g.E!N.E went missing as well. This was a real who done it book and everything ties up together in the end. Yes, everything actually plot. And suspense.

Morgan Richter has crafted an excellent modern-day whodunnit with a touch of supernatural elements in The Divide. Jenny St. John is down on her luck as a psychic. When she hears of the murder of an old friend and the disappearance of an alleged doppelgänger among the more affluent LA crowd, she seizes the opportunity to put her "psychic" skills to the test.

The book was full of twist and turns in a way that was much more unpredictable than I thought it would be, especially as things were wrapping up. The general whodunnit plot line was mildly predictable, but the addition of the supernatural elements and the doppelgänger aspect gave room for a wilder ending. I think there were a few minor plot holes towards the end, but otherwise it was a very satisfying read. I will add this title to my list of go-to recommendations for those looking for a murder mystery with a little bit more! Thank you to Morgan Richter, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!

Part noir, part thriller, this Hollywood-esque story will suck you in and not let go until the very end.

Jenny was in a failed movie when she was 19 and never saw her movie career take off, but a lifetime later, the director is dead and his wife, Gena, is missing. When the cops think Jenny is Gena, Jenny is thrown into Gena's world.

This is a twisty book, which I really appreciated it. I never really knew where the story was going. The setting is phenomenal- who doesn't love the rich and famous in Hollywood.

The characters were so interesting. Starting with Jenny, each character felt mysterious. Richter did a really good job of slowly revealing characters, mostly by ending chapters with a cliffhanger that will surely rob you of sleep.

The plot moves at different speeds- sometimes very fast and other times, it's a slow burn. The ending can be unsatisfactory for some, so if you're not ok with loose ends, it might seem like a let down. However, it does allow the reader to finish the story in their heads, which is always a win for me.

Thank you, @berkleypub for this gifted book!

The Divide follows a failed actress turned psychic who searches for her doppleganger who is missing. She winds up mixed up in a dark web of deceit and corruption among the Hollywood elite. But as Jenny gets deeper and deeper in her quest for the missing doppleganger, she discovers things about herself and her past that could ruin her life.