The Look-Alike

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This book is less of a psychological thriller than a airport purchase suspense novel. The heroine is very passive and the mystery seems to happen around her, which doesn’t necessarily take away from the plot, but it is kind of distracting if you’re the kinda lady that prefers the company of more ballsy females. 3.5.

Erica Spindler is the master of writing thrilling psychologically books
The Look Alike Is ho different

It is about a woman who thinks she escaped from a murderous attack, many years ago.
Does this represent reality or is it just a delusion?

Now, the past seems to be creeping back into her life..
Is she the potential victim?
I am not giving away any spoilers
Just read this book, but make sure the doors are locked

This is a stand alone mystery. I love when authors write books in a series but sometimes you just want to sit down and read a good stand alone and not have to worry about sequels. This book really shows how mental illness can disrupt the lives of a whole family and how this family deals with the fallout. A very good mystery with lots of twists and turns and lots of suspects to choose from

Sienna Scott grew up with a mentally ill mother who made he life a living hell. Now Sienna is back to look into the murder that changed her entire life. As she digs into the past she begins to worry that she’s the killer’s next target, that he’s back to finish the job he started. All the signs are there, aren’t they? Or is Sienna suffering from the same paranoid delusions that destroyed her mother? And which scenario would be worse?

Oh man, this one was really good. It kept me guessing the entire time. My theories changed every few pages and I was never sure who to trust. The included details of mental illness were really unique and made for excellent twists.
I liked Sienna as a character, she was interesting and intelligent. I liked the little town and all the snowy scenery that kept me feeling chilled and freaked throughout the book. I liked the flashbacks and that the entire story comes from only Sienna’s viewpoint, which made it easier to connect with and root for her.
I’d recommend this to any thriller fan and anyone interested in mental illness, murder mysteries, or police investigations.

Wow, I loved this book! I felt like my head was spinning and my body was in chills many times. The author did well at developing the story in a manner that had me hooked, as well as making sure the characters were well developed! Will definitely be reading more by Spindler. Highly, highly recommend!
I will make sure I highly, highly recommend!

Erica Spindler will definitely be listed as one of my new favorite authors. ”The Look-Alike” kept me reading long into the night. This was a a who-dunn it type mystery of a murder that had occurred many years prior when the main character (Sienna) whom discovered the murder was a young 18 year old. Sienna’s mother has mental issues and Sienna was always afraid that she would also be saddled with the same issues later in life. Sienna’s father sends her to London to live with her grandmother to remove her from the controversy surrounding the murder. When Sienna finally returns circumstances push her into trying to solve the yet unsolved murder. The story moves at a rapid pace which I prefer. Erica keeps you guessing between characters as to whom did this dirty deed. The story definitely kept me engaged and I totally appreciated the opportunity to read an advance copy from Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an honest opinion. Thank you so much! I will be recommending this book to my friends and book club.

This book starts out with our main character (Sienna) coming back home to look after her ailing mother with the help of her two siblings only to be informed that the murder investigation that she ran away from years ago has been reopened. The more that Sienna in town the more that she digs into the murder investigation that is taking place. And the more coincidences seem to be popping up. Why did her and the deceased girl look so similar? Why were they in the same spot at the same time? Was she the real target? After our main character escapes a murderous attack years ago she starts taking a look at what happened and starts to become convinced that the madman is back to finish off what he started in the first place. This book was really intense but more of a suspense novel that leaves you guessing and on the edge of your seat the whole time. I found the characters in this book to be very interesting and well written and the plot just kept pulling me in deeper and deeper until I couldn't close the book even if I wanted to. There was so much going on in this book that it is hard to talk about in one review however all of it was amazing! It really pulled you in as a reader and when everything was finally laid out in the end it gave you a moments pause to go back and think about everything that led up to it and to see the clues with a new set of eyes. Very good book and I'm glad that I got the chance to check this one out. Not only was the story line something that ever thriller thrives to be but I found the characters to be amazing! Even the ones that I didn't like I found were well written and I loved to hate them. I can't say enough good things about this book! Everyone must read this one. It was like a roller coaster that I never wanted to get off of..

The Look-Alike is a hard to put down and hard to forget novel. The story haunted me for days after I swiped the last page. Full of twists and turns, completely unpredictable. An amazing read!

What an ending... This was a truly good psychological thriller. Spindler wove a tapestry of past and present and had me captivated from page one.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was absolutely hooked in right from the start and it kept getting better with the development of other characters in the plot. I liked how Jonathan’s characters played out in the whole plot and also as a boyfriend/suspect, I kept looking for clues. The clues to the murderer were available as bread-crumbs in earlier portions of the book but it was interesting as everything comes together only at the end. I did feel Sienna made quite a few stupid choices but her difficult circumstances can be considered as a justification

I read this one in two sittings so I can assure it kept up the intrigue level for me. The whole angle of - whether Sienna inherited her mother’s mental illness brought in lot of twists and confusion to keep the reader guessing on how far was Sienna and her family was involved in the murder.

It is a great fast-paced whodunnit mystery with good plot-twists and a little romance!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced copy!⁣

I’d like to thank NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book. This is my first time reading anything by Erica Spindler. I enjoyed her style of writing, and had to know what happened next. Every time I thought I had it figured out, a curveball threw me off again. I highly recommend this book!

I have read every single one of Erica Spindler's books. I am a huge fan and I always get very excited to see a new release from her, especially since apart from those, I finished all her previous books years ago. As always she holds the title in a fast paced, yet slow burning, atmospheric thriller. Sienna returns home after many years away. She left because she found a dead body and her mental health was drifting down toward mirroring her mother's fragile psyche. Not much has changed with her mother's mental health, if anything things have gotten worse. The case into the murdered girl she found has been reopened. This takes us on a wild ride of trying to figure out if Sienna was the target of the original girl that was murdered or if she is going down the path of inheriting her mother's illness. A lot about mental health and being the caretaker or loved one of someone with this particular condition is discussed and plays a well thought out central role in the book. Let's see if you can guess the ending or if you were wrong like I was. Don't miss out on yet another thriller by the Queen of Suspense.

Ten years ago, Sienna Scott stumbled onto a gruesome crime scene -- the body of another college student, brutally stabbed to death. The scene alone would unnerve anyone. But when Sienna realizes that the dead girl was wearing the same coat, and walking the same path that Sienna takes every Wednesday night, she begins to wonder if SHE was actually the target of the violent attack? Ten years later, Sienna returns to her hometown and begins to search for the truth.

The Look-Alike was a captivating thriller. What I liked most about this book was the lack of predictability. Erica Spindler sprinkles countless red herrings throughout the book, making her reader second guess every move. This was a great read with lots of twists and turns!

Psychological thrillers have always interested me. I enjoy reading them, trying to get into the characters’ heads and solve the mystery. So, when I was offered the opportunity to review The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler, I jumped at the chance.
Sienna Scott’s mother has been suffering from paranoid delusions from the day Sienna was born. It was one reason she was sent away to live with her grandmother in London. Another reason, was the unsolved murder that Sienna stumbled upon while in college. The fact that the Madi, the young victim, was wearing the same style coat as Sienna and walking the same path home that Sienna always took after studying did nothing to lessen those paranoid delusions. In fact, they grew, with her mother – and eventually Sienna herself – believing that somehow she might have been the intended victim.
Now, a decade later, Sienna has returned to her hometown…returned to her mother and her paranoid delusions…and returned to that unsolved mystery that has been recently re-opened. Sienna’s dream of returning to her old stomping grounds to make a fresh start opening a new restaurant in town are shattered as she realizes her mother’s illness has not gotten any better and her finances are not what she expected them to be. Couple that with a mysterious stranger that she finds herself drawn to and the unsolved murder that has come back to haunt her and Sienna finds herself on the verge of moving back to London.
The longer Sienna stays, the more the past catches up with her and she begins to second guess her sanity. Could it be that she is not only her mother’s look-alike, but that her paranoid delusions have passed from mother to daughter? Or are Sienna’s nightmares about the killer’s intended victim be true?
When I started this book, I thought I had the murder mystery solved right away, but then author Erica Spindler had to throw me for a loop, throwing in characters who are hiding secrets, making the brother less than likeable, adding in jealousy factors and some violent tendencies with the mother. While still in the middle of the book, I was so confused (in a good way) that I had no idea who the killer was. Three quarters of the way in, I thought, “I got this!” But then the author said, “Nuh-uh!” and threw in another twist.
Needless to say, The Look-Alike definitely had my attention from start to finish…a credible finish at that which took me full circle to the person I originally thought was the killer. Not to shabby on my part! The Look-Alike is a great page-turner with interesting characters, plot twists, a little romance and more. Can’t wait to read more from this author.

Another creepy, twisty, scary work of art by Erica Spindler.

This was one of those stories where I was genuinely creeped out the entire time I was reading the book (which to be fair was like four hours over two days - I devoured it) and then the answer was SO obvious the entire time that I didn't know how I missed it. That's one of the hallmarks to me though of an insanely good book - when the author is pulling you alongside the characters on this journey and you think you know, but you never actually figure it out, and then the big reveal happens and everything adds up.

A good thriller is one of my favorite reads, and I'm sure this is going to be one of those ones that shoots to the top of everybody's must read lists!

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This is my first time reading a book by Erica Spindler but it will not be my last! This thriller had me glued. The storyline was engaging and the characters were relatable, you couldn't help but feel for the protagonist throughout the story. This story will have you guessing and re-guessing until the final chapters. Thank you much for the opportunity to read The Look-Alike, I highly recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller.

Ten stars to this author! I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. Unusual and riveting plot, excellent writing and terrific characters. I was sorry I finished it. Wish it were another hundred pages--absolutely loved it and highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for the ARC.
From the first page until the last this story held me under its spell. Instead of watching tv at night I read and then couldn’t wait to pick this up again.
The story was compelling, such a wonderful murder mystery. I never quite figured out the ending until the main character put all the pieces together.
I highly recommend this book.

I have read and loved all of this Author's books. I was invited to read The Look-Alike by the Publisher. I enjoyed it immensely. A chilling mystery with an ending I didn't see coming. (I usually don't.) Read it. You won't be disappointed. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

i get so excited with Erica Spindler comes out with a new book! The Look Alike did not disappoint..... twists turns and an ending I didn’t see coming. This might be one of her best books yet!!!!!

This was a great book! I have read every book by Erica Spindler and have never been disappointed in any of them. This book was very well written and had great descriptive characters that were easy to follow along with. The book was a very easy read and I didn't want to put it down when I started it. I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to read a great book!

“The Look-Alike” by Erica Spindler is an exploration into several aspects of mental illness and the way it affects a family. Sienna Scott has come home after being away for 10 years creating a life for herself as a chef. Missing her mother and brother was part of the reason she is back, but she soon realizes that many of the reasons that she departed had not changed and life is not going to be easy. Ms. Spindler does a first rate job of portraying mental illness with a depth of compassion and understanding that allows the reader to see a snapshot into the constant struggle that many people face. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Taut, dramatic, slightly scary and a darn good read! I thoroughly enjoyed #thelookalike from beginning to end and highly recommend it. The stage is set by going back to the past and then switching to the present and this back and forth continues as needed to keep the story developing. The characters are not all as they seem but you are drawn in as they develop and reveal themselves along the way. A classic thriller! Thank you to #netgalley for the ARC to read and review.

Another absolutely amazing, suspenseful and fast paced book by Erica Spindler. Having read all of her novels, each one gets better and better! I thought I had this one figured out, then thought I didn't, then went back to original thought (and so on and so on).. Way to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. This is a book I will absolutely recommend. Thank you for the advanced copy!

Wow! This was such a captivating read! The author does a great job of dealing with the issue of mental illness and the stereotypical misconceptions. The mystery and subterfuge was wonderful. I kept looking at all the characters trying to figure out who it was. I wasn’t surprised by who the evil villain was, but it kept me guessing to right before it was revealed. The writing is phenomenal. This is truly a wonderful piece of psychological suspense. The author should be very proud of herself for creating this masterpiece!

I love reading thrillers that have me guessing until the end and Erica Spindler is a master at them!!!

The Look-Alike centers around Sienna Scott who at age 18 was at the scene of a vicious murder. Not remembering what had transpired that horrific day has haunted Sienna for 10 years! Sienna has avoided her hometown for the last decade for a couple of reasons—the unsolved murder being #1, but her mother instability and metal illness had also played a huge part in wanting to escape. Now back in her hometown, Sienna is determined to help solve the murdered that rocked her to her core as well as face the fears she’s buried about her mother! Wowzer!!!

As I write this review I am still waiting for my racing heartbeat to slow down lol! I found this edge of your seat thriller completely captivating! Erica Spindler has a real talent for placing unforeseen twists and turns in exactly the perfect spots! The storyline was well paced and I promise you won’t be able to put this book down (and if you do, you will be non-stop thinking about it 😂)! The Look-Alike is a 5 star gem that I recommend every mystery/thriller fan!

I really loved this book!! It had so many twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next!! This was my first book by this Author, and it won’t be the last!! Quick read!! Highly recommended!! You won’t be disappointed!!

Yikes! I haven't read an Erica Spindler book for a while and forgot how they keep you on the edge of your seat. The Look-Alike is no exception, this old woman had to learn edge of the seat balance again. Ms. Spindler has created a book that is well-written and populated with a phenomenal cast of characters. Sienna was in college when she came across a murdered woman. After ten years in London with her grandmother, she returns home, just as the case is opened again. Sienna is inundated with thoughts about the murder, her mother's illness, Jonathan the new neighbor and worries about having the same illness as her mother. This book is loaded with drama, humor, sizzle, action and suspense. I enjoyed every word and will be working on catching up on the Erica Spindler books I haven't read yet. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.