I've tried to read this a couple of times, but I've decided it's just a little too creepy and disturbing for me.

Quit an enjoyable story with a mystery that kept my curiosity going. The author knows how to write characters that are quirky yet sympathetic. I have to admit - I did not guess the mystery at all! And while I did enjoy it, I didn't give it 4 full stars because once the mystery was revealed, the remaining pages were rather anticlimactic IMHO (don't want to say more and spoil the fun). But that aside, if you are looking for a fun thriller, I would recommend checking it out! 3.5 stars! Many thanks to Touchstone Publicity/Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of an e-copy!

Eh. This book was not my favorite suspense thriller. I found the story telling to be too stream of conscience and hard to enjoy.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

I am constantly blown away by the ingenuity of psychological thriller writers. This has to be one of the most twisted, craziest books I've ever read and I loved every minute of it, as weird as that sounds, and I am so mad I waited so long to read it.

This is the type of book where nothing is as it seems. Every time you think you have it all figured out, something happens to throw you off the trail and it got to the point where I just gave up trying to work it out and just enjoyed it for what it was - a really good, twisted story! There's just something about the characters that draws you in - between the obsession, the strange sister/twin relationship - I can't really say if I liked the characters or not, but I did find the need to know what was going to happen to them.

I especially loved the chapters from the sisters' childhood, though at times there are parts that are a little creepy. This whole book is written in such a way as to pull you in more and more until you can't walk away until you know the final resolution - a resolution that will completely surprise you.

This book had me on edge and more than a little creeped out but it was addicting and I had a hard time putting it down once I started reading it.

This was a really good book. It can be tough to read at some points because of the abuse aspect. I love the bond between the sisters and that she will stop at nothing to help. This is a great mystery and kept me engaged.

***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this opportunity.***

This was a great book. The story was captivating and kept me interested throughout. Can’t wait for more from this author.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: An addictive fast moving psychological thriller that will have you questioning which sister to really believe.

I will not lie to you all, I was instantly attracted to this book because the book cover was stunning. I know. I know. Never judge a book by it cover, but seriously, this one is stunning. However, it what was on the inside that made WHITE BODIES such a compelling read.

One of the tropes that I love in psychological suspense novels is the unreliable narrator. By playing with the reader's perception of the characters, the author manages to keep the reader in a constant state questioning. Who should you believe? Who twisting the story for their own gain? If done well, this will make a book. WHITE BODIES is one that got it right.

This dark and twisty tale of two sisters adds to the suspense by incorporating elements of obsession and manipulation. Robins expertly constructs a narrative that takes the love we have for our family and pushes it to another level. I loved the way that with each page, I fell further into the story of these two woman. The reality of their life coupled with their flaws come alive as they are thrust into a story you will not be able to put down.

I guess in this case, judging a book by its cover paid off.

This novel has a decidedly bleak and gloomy, unsettled atmosphere hanging over it, with a noir quality that is subtle, but evident. Combine that with twins and the “murder exchange” trope and you’ve got yourself something that can only fail in its cliches.

This is Strangers on a Train meets Single White Female. And as long as you’re not involved personally, those are some pretty fun plots.

Robins had the differing personalities of these twins down to a fine art. What I liked the most about these ladies was that even though they were (almost) forcing the reader to understand that were two completely different people with nothing in common – barely acting like twins at all – in the end their neurosis were what connected them. Crazy bitches. Literally, their character arcs made me giddy.

I love a book that keeps you on your toes, where you don’t know which way is up; if a character is on the level or fucking around. When the plot seems predictable and linear, but then something happens to rock you, and your grasping for anything to hold onto to get yourself upright again. That’s what this book tries to pull off, and while it wasn’t done perfectly, it was still a really great effort and I can’t complain about its content in its own right.

There were moments that shook me a little bit. There were moments I found clever, cringeworthy and creepy. Nothing was 10/10, but it’s worth reading if you’re into creepy noir suspense. Jane Robins has a tonne of promise as a writer.

I wouldn’t call this a thriller, it’s not action-packed or heart racing, but I don’t think Robins wanted it to be either. I think she wanted it to be menacing, to make you a little uncomfortable even if you aren’t sure why.

Robins has created a page turning experience, in my opinion. Honestly, this is not what I thought this book would be going into it, but I actually enjoyed it quite a bit until the ending. It threw off my whole experience. I don’t know if I hated it or if it was just so abstract that I haven’t fully come to terms with it yet.

3.5 stars.

This book was just not my cup of tea and I was not able to finish it. Thank you for this opportunity, though!

As a twin myself and a huge fan of all things Hitchcock and Strangers on a Train, I was immediately hooked into reading this book. It was rather dark and disturbing regarding the relationship between the twins and I felt that something had to be going on that was not predictable and indeed there was! I recommend this if you like a page turner!

This book kept me wondering up until the very end. The main character Callie certainly had some hang ups of her own (eating things of her twin sisters. ie. hair, teeth, lipstick.) that were very strange and a little hard to accept. All the people in this book had their own strange personalities but it was the kind of story that, as it's unravelling, you have to keep wondering what's the truth. Definitely a read for anyone into suspenseful thrillers.

There’s been much buzz surrounding this book and its high level of creepiness. So I went in with a little trepidation. And yes, it does start out very disturbing, but soon settles in to a good old fashioned, twisty thriller. So enter with caution, but if you enjoy creepy thrillers, chances are you’ll really like this one!!

Callie and Tilda are twin sisters, yet couldn’t be more different. Where one shines the other is hidden. Tilda has a new boyfriend Felix. She hopes Callie will like him and approve. But when Callie finally meets him, something is off. Way off! Is it his behavior? Tilda’s behavior? Just what’s going on in this relationship? Callie is driven to get to the bottom of this! Now she finds herself caught up in a whirlwind of deception and mystery.

Strangers on a train....

This book provided everything I look for in a twisty, psychological thriller. I was surprised by the ending...but not totally shocked. However, there were some very clever turns along the way. I was so anxious to get my hands on this book, and wasn’t disappointed! If you can move past the startling creepiness in the beginning then you will be treated to a cleverly plotted thriller.

A delightful hair-raising (Lol!!) Traveling Sister read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Touchstone and Jane Robins for an ARC to review in exchange for an honest review.

For this review and our Full Traveling Sister review please visit Norma and Brenda’s fabulous book blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereading.wordpress.com

WOW!! This book!!! Abby (Crime by the Book) recommended this book, and, well, when it comes to psychological thrillers, she knows what she's talking about, so I read everything she tells me to. :) This was no exception... she said I would love it, and I DID!! It was so twisty, suspenseful, and had me guessing from the very beginning. This book was truly amazing to read, and I can't recommend it enough.

(Thank you to Touchstone for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

This was a good read but it can make you feel upset at the way some things play out. This is a book about twins, and at times you want to shake them for their behaviour. To me,there was no real understanding of why Callie acted the way she did. It was not hard to figure out the ending. This was an ok read for me. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

I struggled to get into this one. There are things that Callie does that is just plain disturbing without giving us a really good way to process the why. The outcome and plot seemed obvious from the beginning. That could have been managed tighter. Nevertheless this book will sure to get people talking and opinions flying!

Two strange sisters, twins, Tilda supposedly the brilliant, intense one. Callie, enthralled with her twin, unusual habits, to get closer to understanding her, wanting to be her, consume her essense. In my opinion both of these girls could have used mental health intervention when they were younger. Now grown, Tilda is said to be a well known actress, in a new relationship with a fabulous man. Callie, just biding time, still hanging on her sisters coattails, but now worried about her too, concerned about the controlling nature of her sisters new man. Secrets, schemes, websites and in the end a death.

I sometimes think I expect too much of these psychological thrillers. Yes, this was twisty, and yes there are surprises, but after the middle of the book I could see where this was going. It was a easy story to get caught up in, the pace quick with constant revelations, detours, making me wonder if I was right. The sisters though, seemed one dimensional, really wish they had been fleshed out more, deeper. I did like this in a weird way, but the ending was a let down, it was unsurprising by that point, especially with everything that had gone before. A different ending might have provided the wow factor I felt this was missing.

A sisters read and as always interesting reading everyone's different views.

ARC from Netgalley.

This was my first book by this author, but it certainly will not be my last. I want to thank the publisher and author for the opportunity to review this book and let my readers know about it ahead of time.
This book was deliciously creepy and twisted. Thankfully, this is a book that is called a psychological thriller that actually lives up to the hype and genre. In a time when everything is given that title, this stands as a beacon of hope for those of us who want just that. Yes, there are characters that are unlikeable, and you might feel like cheering against, all for different reasons, but you cannot stop yourself from reading. This is a book that takes you on a trip, and it is not a smooth ride. You may guess some of the plot twists ahead of time, but you (or at least I was) be still pleasantly surprised and happy with the end.
It has all the things you crave, twins, little plot twists, big plot twists, and do not forget the creepy factor and dread while reading. This is a must read!

When Tilda starts dating Felix, things seem perfect. Felix is charming, handsome, and well off, and Tilda's twin sister Callie immediately likes him. It's not long before Callie witnesses an incident that makes her question Felix and whether or not Tilda is safe with him. 

After seeing bruises on Tilda's arms, Callie joins an internet support group for women who are in abusive relationships, or people who know someone in an abusive relationship. Callie immediately bonds with two of the other women in the group, and they take turns sharing about the controlling men in their lives. When one of them is killed, Callie's life starts to spiral, especially when Felix is found dead not long later. Things are not always as they seem, and Callie is determined to find out the truth once and for all. 

I was really intrigued by the premise of White Bodies, and was immediately hooked! The book is told through Callie's point of view, which I really enjoyed, especially since so many domestic thrillers are told through the perspective of the battered spouse or abusive partner. This was a unique twist on a familiar trope, and really gave some insight into what it must be like to see someone you care about deteriorate from being in an unhealthy relationship. 

That said, Callie was nuts. She longs to be close to her sister, and the book alternates between the past and present, and some of the things Callie did in the past (and still has urges to do in the present) to feel close to Tilda are beyond creepy and unhealthy! I have to say, most of the characters in the book were unlikeable, which can sometimes work for me, but in this one I wasn't quite sure who to root for because of how awful all of the characters were. 

The book was really easy to read, and the writing flowed smoothly, which I loved. Once I started it, I had a hard time putting it down, which is always a good sign. There were some twists toward the end of the book, and the end left me questioning how I felt about it. I wasn't expecting it to go to the way it did, and I felt like it ended a little abruptly, and not in a good way. After thinking it through, I ended up rating the book three stars, because of how easy it was to binge read and how compelling the story was, but also because of the unlikeable characters and odd ending. 

I'd like to thank NetGalley, Jane Robins, and Touchstone for my copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

To be honest, I am not sure how I felt about this one. While reading it, I felt flashbacks to Strangers on a Train - and then it was mentioned!

It was an interesting story, with a twist at the end, but it didn’t quite build enough for me.

White Bodies by Jane Robins is a 2017 Touchstone publication.

Unconventional, incongruous, and macabre-

Callie and Tilda are twins, but are polar opposites, in appearance and personality. Tilda, an actress, is on the cusp of stardom, while Callie stands in the shadows, living a quiet life as a bookstore clerk.

But, when Tilda becomes involved with Felix, Callie begins to worry that Tilda is withdrawing, losing weight, maybe abusing herself or being abused by Felix, putting her career in jeopardy, all due to Felix’s controlling obsessive compulsiveness.

Callie joins an online support group for women who are trying to extricate themselves from abusive and controlling relationships. She even participates in chat room conversations hoping to find a way to understand the hold Felix has over her sister and to seek help in finding a way to rescue Tilda.

In the meantime, Callie keeps tabs on Tilda, looking for signs of abuse or clues to her sister’s mental state, when all the while she fails to see the irony in her own increasing obsession with Tilda.

The further entangled she becomes with the online support group, the deeper her obsession grows until she finds herself embroiled in their plans to free those trapped in controlling relationships by any means necessary.

This book is messed up. Really, really messed up. Callie relates the series of events from her own first person narrative, so we see things from her perspective and only through her eyes.

The insight comes from the background information provided about the twins’ upbringing and the type of bond they formed early in life. Callie’s unusual methods of feeling close to Tilda are one of the most troubling aspects of the book, and one you won't forget anytime soon.

I thought the story was highly imaginative, with a nice nod to ‘Strangers on a Train’, a setup that is as effective today as it was back then. The creation of such a fraught and unsettling atmosphere is very well done and even has a slight noir quality to it that I really liked, but also had an edgy type of dark humor, that may have simply been in my imagination, but I honestly found myself delighted by some of the twists, even if they were mostly untenable.

Tensions rose on several fronts, and all them are beyond twisted. Obsession is definitely the word of the day in this book and it can come in many different forms, especially when it comes to family bonds, which can be the most complex of all relationships, perhaps more so with sisters, who can often have thorny connections, but Cassie and Tilda take that to an entirely new level.

The novel kept me entranced and fascinated, but also kept me off balance, and on my toes. No reading on auto-pilot.

But as the book wound around to its final moments, the pacing began to slow down, causing me to let down my defenses a little, but, beware of that lull. There is still one final revelation. Now, normally, I love one last turn of the screw, but this one nearly derailed the entire book. Seasoned readers of psychological thrillers will have to stifle a groan, because everything good that went before fell into a predictable trap, resulting in an epic fail.

Despite that one big faux pas, and overdoing it in a few spots, this is an admirable fiction debut from an author accustomed to writing historical non-fiction. There were many elements I liked about the story, which mostly made up for the missteps. So, although it is a little rough around the edges, it is still worth checking out, especially if you enjoy psychological thrillers.

3 stars