Twin souls... 4 stars

Callie and Tilda are twins but are very unlike each other. Tilda is beautiful with a kind of fragile quality that brings out the protective instinct in Callie as well as in many of the men she meets. She's a young actress with one hugely successful role behind her and the prospect of a glittering career ahead. Callie is quieter, always having felt herself somewhat in Tilda's shadow, though she loves her sister devotedly – too devotedly, perhaps. So when Tilda introduces Callie to her new boyfriend, Felix, Callie is quick to start worrying that Felix seems to exert an unhealthy hold over Tilda. And soon she's seeking advice from an online forum set up by victims of controlling men...

I have loved Jane Robins' true crime writing in the past, so was intrigued when I heard she was bringing out her first crime fiction novel. I knew the writing would be excellent – and it is – but how would she do on plotting and characterisation? Factual and fiction writing are two very beasts, after all. I'm delighted to say I needn't have worried – Robins has given us a well above average psychological thriller that flows so smoothly I read it in a couple of lengthy sittings, unwilling to put it down.

It's told in my pet hate first person, present tense, but since that seems to be obligatory in this genre, I took a deep breath and tried to ignore it. At least Robins does it well, unlike many of the dreadfully clunky books I've shuddered over in recent years. Callie is either a totally reliable narrator in which case we should be deeply worried about Tilda; or else Callie is nuts... in which case we should still be deeply worried about Tilda! The joy in the characterisation is that it's not at all clear till very late on – I found myself swaying back and forwards, sometimes thinking Callie's fears were well founded and then wondering if in fact she'd got the whole thing wrong. Because we see Tilda and Felix through Callie's eyes, we can't be sure how accurate the portrayal of either of them is, all of which allows for a lovely sense of unease to build up.

I'm going to admit there's nothing very original in the plot and I had a good idea where we were headed from a fairly early point. In part, this is because there's yet another of these prologues that tells you what's going to happen much later in the book, but mainly it's because both the blurb and the early chapters make a direct reference to a book and film famous for a particular plot point. I appreciated that Robins acknowledged her debt to that book and film, but personally think it would have been more suspenseful if the acknowledgement had been made in an afterword. However, the book has its own twists that stop it from being too similar, and despite feeling that I knew the destination, I still enjoyed the journey.

Mostly, this is because of Callie. It's a fascinating study of a woman who has always been outshone by her twin, and although her behaviour is more than odd on occasion, I found her strangely likeable. Robins uses a lot of subtlety in showing us that Callie's own perception of herself is different from other people's – not easy to do in the first person. I found myself hoping more and more that somehow she would find a happy ending and I think my interest was mostly in finding out what happened to her than in the plot regarding Tilda and Felix, in truth. *TBR alert* Book people will enjoy that Callie works in a bookshop and has a love for contemporary crime fiction, so there are lots of mentions of authors and books that the reader may have read or will probably end up wanting to read.

Even though the book has some of the elements that have put me off this genre – present tense, the prologue, etc. - I thoroughly enjoyed it because of the quality of the writing and characterisation. It's not an angst-filled tale of woe despite the subject matter – in fact, there's a reasonable amount of humour in it and even a nice, rather under-stated little romance in the background. In that sense, though the storyline is very contemporary, it feels more like an old-style psychological thriller than the modern misery-fest domestic thriller. And is all the better for that, in my opinion! A strong début, and I look forward to seeing where Robins takes me next...

NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Touchstone.

Felix and Tilda are a perfect couple. He works in finance, she is a beautiful actress. But, as it often is, things are not what they seem.

Tilda's twin sister has obsessed over her sister for their entire life. Creating dossiers of Tilda's activities, her likes and dislikes, her loves and her downfalls. Callie watches as Tilda changes - stopping work and eating, becoming a neat freak. She knows about Felix’s rages, and knows about the bruises on her sister’s arms.

Callie joins a support group (on the internet) and quickly becomes involved in the drama of two other lives. What happens here.....would be complete spoilers.

This book did not turn out the way that I thought it would. There are twists in every chapter that make you question what you are reading. Callie, herself, needs deep, DEEP, intensive therapy, but she's not the only one.

This is a Thriller, yes, with the capitol T.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I’m really struggling with what to say about this book.

I liked the plot. It was really interesting and the characters are so out there that’s it’s like a riddle trying to figure out what’s going on and who’s telling the truth.

But the ending sucks. Like really bad. I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s just....not good. That kind of tainted things for me.

The narrator is Callie, who has a complicated bond with her twin sister, Tilda. Suddenly, Tilda gets a new boyfriend, Felix, and begins changing almost overnight. Callie becomes convinced he’s abusing Tilda and gets sucked into an online self-help forum for victims of controlling men. When things turn deadly, Callie needs to figure out what’s going on before she ends up insane, dead, or both.

The plot was really interesting- Callie is a really interesting character and her issues add a layer to the story that ups the suspense. Tilda is also hard to get a read on, which keeps you guessing. And I really did! I hadn’t added up all the pieces before it was revealed!

But it seems like the plot just suddenly stops. And the book ends. I didn’t like that, especially since the book had such great action up until then. But I suppose that’s real-life; you don’t always get a great ending.

I would say, read with caution. It’s got a great plot and characters, but you could end up frustrated by the ending.

If you have a different take on the ending, I’d love to hear from you! Let me know what you all thought!

3.65 Stars* (rounded up).

Weird, Wild and Completely Freakish.

“White Bodies” by Jane Robins - this is a book that will make you uncomfortable. You will shift in your seat & get hot under the collar. Yet you will not be able to stop reading it and it will feel somewhat obsessive. Let’s dig in.

Obsessive - just like Callie, one of the main characters in “White Bodies.” Callie is Tilda’s twin sister. She is consumed by her sister Tilda, a self-centered actress, who has smooth, translucent skin and beautiful blond hair. Callie has, in fact, always felt somewhat overshadowed by Tilda, as she is plain, “round and pinkish” and works in a bookstore. Callie’s love for her sister is quite sinister – and well eerie. At a young age, Callie develops a disorder centered around her sister that is truly disturbing yet quite evocative. If you want to know more about it – well, you must pick up the book.

When Tilda starts dating Felix, things start to change. At first, in a good way. Both Felix and Tilda begin including Callie more, making her feel precious. Then Callie notices Tilda withdrawing, becoming waifish, showing up with bruises and Callie begins to worry. She fears that Felix is controlling, menacing and even dangerous. Worried for her sister, Callie gets involved in a website for controlling men – as she tries to figure out ways in which she can help Tilda. Felix and Tilda find her involvement and obsession with them ridiculous. Slowly things spiral out of control: Felix is found dead - with no sign of foul play. Tilda, his wife of a few weeks, is beside herself. But what happened? Was Felix murdered or did he die of natural causes? Is your interest piqued yet? It should be!

I had no idea what to expect when I got to the end of “White Bodies.” I was on high alert. Racing to the finish. And Jane Robins got me. I was stunned. Eyes Wide Open. That being said, the sheer weirdness of certain parts of this thriller, caught me off guard, I couldn’t get past them. In short, the novel was freakish as all get out. At times, I cringed, closed my eyes and felt crazy uncomfortable. If you like safe reads, then this is not for you. If you want to take a chance and read something that doesn’t fit into a neat little box and will get underneath your skin and make you itch just a little bit, then this is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kelsey Manning, Touchstone and Jane Robins for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley, Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter and Facebook on 10.28.17.

What a mind bend! I wasn't prepared for the wrench thrown at me toward the end.

In a spine tingling, suspenseful story, White Bodies, embodies what it means to be psychologically twisted. I was on the edge of my seat, heart pounding, palms sweaty. . .

Will she? Won't she?

My emotions rode a roller coaster full of ups and downs and a few roundabouts for good measure.

Love can be dangerous, and it can come in any form. . . family, friendship or intimacy, it can destroy. It sparks little flames inside of us until a full blown fire is raging and we find ourselves doing things and saying things we never dreamed of. Some might say it breeds obsession.

White Bodies will always hold a special place in my heart because of the massive #creepyreads buddy read that Jennifer and I hosted on Instagram! I really appreciate everyone who joined the discussion. And a special thank you to Jane Robins for surprising us and answering our questions! We had so much fun!

Summary:

Callie and Tilda are twins with a most unusual bond. Tilda is beautiful, blonde, and a free spirit, while Callie is an observer and blends in. Tilda is an actor who received some acclaim from the film Rebecca, while Callie works part time at a bookshop. They could not be more different, yet they have a strange obsession with each other.

Tilda starts dating a financier named Felix and appears to be happy. But once they move in together, Callie sees less and less of her sister and things begin to change. Tilda stops working, she loses weight, and becomes withdrawn. The relationship between Tilda and Felix is not what it seems. Worried about Tilda, Callie joins an internet support group and that’s where things start to spiral out of control!

“‘Of course you’re right, Callie, about the murder plot, but these days you wouldn’t have to travel on trains to meet another murderer, you could just find someone on the internet, in a forum or a chat room.’
‘I’ll bear that in mind.’
‘I suppose it’s true,’ says Tilda. ‘The internet is where psychos find each other.’”

My Review:

Let me just start by saying, I have read a ton of psychological thrillers but this novel is extremely different from any of the others I have read. Especially because of the unique personalities of these characters. I felt paranoid, uncomfortable, and completely creeped out while reading it. And that has everything to do with how these characters are written. The novel isn’t a “thriller” per say, but the minds of these characters are thrilling.

Tilda and Callie are so incredibly strange and honest about who they are - it’s brilliant! Callie has a very dry personality and is completely unaware of the inappropriate things she says and does, which at some points made me laugh out loud. That being said, there are several extremely disturbing parts that I am not going to spoil for you. Trust me, you’ll want the element of surprise. And think what you will about them, I feel it is those parts that are necessary to the story and make it stand out from the rest. As I was reading some of these disturbing parts, I really grew to love Callie which is a feat that Robins is able to pull this off!

A few of the chapters are from the girls’ childhood, which provides a great deal of insight into who they are as adults. If you don’t like these two characters, you won’t be able to deny that they’re interesting. Overall, this was a slow-build, character driven story that keeps you thinking. I found it impressive that Robins could write very unlikable characters yet somehow make the story addictive! It was the perfect October read and I really enjoyed it!

I rated this INSANE book 4 / 5 stars! Loved it!

When I started reading this I noticed a blurb that it was being compared to Strangers on a Train and I was super bummed. I thought the plot line was completely blown. But I was wrong. This book is super twisty and really kept me guessing throughout to figure out who was telling the truth and who was lying. It's one of those books that makes you constantly second guess yourself, where you are going back and re-reading sections to make sure you didn't miss something or you are realizing you made assumptions that weren't accurate at all. That's one of my favorite reads.

When I was offered to read and review a “creepy and addictive” psychological thriller by the publisher, I jumped at the opportunity and I was not disappointed! If I had to describe White Bodies in two words, it would be “disturbing” and “original”. On starting this book, I had no idea where it was headed, except that it could not possibly lead to anything good. There is a constant tension underlying the story that created a sense of dread and foreboding, and yet had me totally hooked, to a point where I sat up way too late into the night reading.

Love or obsession? In a nutshell, White Bodies centres around the sister relationship between twins Callie and Tilda. Tilda has always been the successful, beautiful and self-confident sister, overshadowing the slightly awkward Callie, who desperately tries to be part of her twin’s life at all costs. As the girls grow into women, this dysfunctional dynamic leads to some quite bizarre events!

I admit that in the beginning I found the narrator and main protagonist Callie strange and disturbing, and was worried that this would prevent me from bonding with her and enjoying the story. But my fear was unfounded. Whilst Callie definitely has problems, I warmed to her as the story went along, even though I was questioning how reliable she was as a narrator. Just when I thought I could trust her, she would be off on another tangent that had me questioning everything I had read! In fact, each and every character in this book is flawed, and some are downright unlikeable. I had a few “Ewwwww!” moments of disbelief and surprise, and believe me, I see a lot of weird things in my job as RN in an emergency department, so am not easily shocked. Anyway, I certainly won’t spoil the surprise here, you will have to read it yourself to find out the gory details! This is not a cosy, feel-good twin mystery, but a solid psychological thriller that certainly packs a punch!

In the vast sea of books that call themselves “psychological thrillers”, this one stood out from the fray with a concept that is as original as it is disturbing, not afraid to tread where others wouldn’t. Yet it always managed to maintain a sense of empathy for the characters, pulling back at the very moment when I felt it may go too far. It is this art of subtlety that created the “psychological” aspect, the thrill, the suspense for me. Robins proves that a creepy thriller doesn’t need blood, guts and gore to shock and confront. In fact, there was none of that, as the story in all its head-shaking horror was purely character driven. I just love it when a book messes with my mind like this!

If you are looking for a character driven, disturbing and original psychological thriller that stands out from the rest, this book is perfect for you. Even for those sleuth readers who may have an inkling of the whodunit aspect, the journey to the conclusion is well worth the effort. And I dare anyone who thinks they know how it will all end! White Bodies messed with my mind like few thrillers can, and I fully recommend it to all lovers of the genre.

Callie and Tilda. Twins. That twin connection. But ... is it?

Callie thinks her sister might be in a dangerous relationship. She comes across a website called controllingmen.com. She ends up meeting others with family or friends in similar situations, which only feeds her theory that Tilda is in trouble. She is sure she is being abused - both emotionally and physically. And gets very involved with others and caught up in their drama on this site.

Callie is certain Felix is bad for Tilda. That he is not treating Tilda well. She voices concerns and is pretty much exiled from their life. But she doesn't give up.

Callie tells the story. There are many twists and turns and issues and we watch her try to "save" her sister.

There were times I even wondered if they were really even two people or if she was just crazy!

The story is good, interesting and it keeps you guessing. We are along with her during her "investigation" and I found myself gasping at times.

Thanks to Touchstone and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book for an honest review!

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Touchstone, and Jane Robins for the opportunity to read and review her first novel!

This is a great psychological read - creepy, lots of obsessions, and of course the necessary twists and turns. Callie and Tilda are twins - Tilda has always been the shining star, an actress, while Callie works part-time in a bookstore, content to be in Tilda's shadow.

Tilda meets a new man, Felix, and quickly becomes obsessed with him. Callie becomes worried about Tilda - she stopped working, has bruises on her bodies, tells Callie about Felix's violent tendencies. Callie likewise becomes obsessed with trying to save Tilda from Felix. She joins an internet group about controlling men and gets entrenched into the stories. So much so that lines start blurring between what's real and what's not.

I don't want to say any more - definitely a big to read and discover the secrets on your own. I couldn't put it down!

When I started reading this story it felt slow in the beginning as it developed. I figured it just needed to set itself up for the rollercoaster drop that would entangle me in suspense, however, it never quite built up to that. The story was definitely interesting and once I got going I wanted to see it through to find out if my guesses were right, which for the most part, were.

Both of the sisters were disturbing. While Tilda was more deranged in her narcissism, Callie had her own cobwebs of creepy with obsessing over Tilda to the point of eating her things. So the creepy factor was definitely there, especially in their relationship, example, at the end when Tilda is naked in bed and Callie is cuddling with her. It totes the line of incest, without ever really crossing it.

In the end, I felt let down by it. All of this buildup and discovery of what really happened and then nothing... everyone goes back to same as usual. Tilda being a narcissist and being the clever, manipulating actress and Callie going back to her normal, simple life. But maybe that was just it? Callie would never turn on her sister. Their relationship is too sickly intertwined that she would rather live with the knowledge of what Tilda did than to turn her in. Yet, even knowing this, I felt that it ended without me feeling satisfied. As if maybe there could've been more to the story since it rushed in the end, and wrapped up so quickly.

Overall, I was entertained by the story and the troubled relationship between the sisters, but I just wanted a little something more. It would be very interesting to see how this played out as movie though and I would go see it :)

A bit of a painful read for me I'm sorry to say. Feels like it's been done several times before.

I love a good thriller about a dysfunctional family (as long as it's not my own)! Even though Tilda and Felix seem like the perfect couple, Tilda's twin, Callie senses there is something not quite right about their relationship and suspects that Felix is controlling to the point of being dangerous. But of course Tilda assures her sister that she's in love and nothing is amiss. Alternating between past and present, we see the two girls growing up, Callie's jealousy and Tilda's narcissistic personality. As Callie tries desperately to find a way to help Tilda, she befriends other women on a website designed to help victims of abuse and is then drawn into another web of deceit and betrayal. Lots of "Oh my!" moments and twists and turns--even on the final page!

Great read! Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend!

A book about jacked up twins? When I'm supposed to be reading some October horror.


Callie and Tilda are those twins. Callie has always been the unassuming sister that blended into the background so that star Tilda could shine.
Callie has some issues though..when she was growing up she wanted some of Tilda's shine to come her way and so she devised ways for that to happen. Including swallowing some..ah well you'll have to read it.

You think that's weird? It gets even weirder when Tilda forgets to flush the toilet


Which led up to a phone conversation with my bookish bestie where I was explaining how I feel about this book...


She started smelling the oven that she left on after that.

Back to the book, This wassss goooood! The sisters grow up and they both have some issues. Tilda has found her some man candy in the form of Felix. Felix is rich and good looking and has 'a touch' of the OCD. Callie knows something isn't kosher and sets out to stalk show concern for her sister.
After awhile she knows that she needs support..so she joins a internet support group for abused women and their helpers. Then she starts questioning everything.

I don't want to give away anymore than I probably already have. I liked this one enough that I almost five starred the sucker. The ending deducted a star for me but I just about hate all thriller endings so I'm a sucky judger. Not that it ever stops me.

Booksource: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. They didn't ask for a review but I'm assuming they wanted one. AND surprise surprise I LIKED it!

At first I thought this was going to be another predictable, boring thriller. But I was wrong. This was creepy and full of tension!

Unfortunately I did not finish this book, there are a few reasons as to why.
The first is that this is too much of a slow burner for my taste. I can't warm to Callie as a narrator and I understand that this is based around the fine line between love and obsession however I find some of the scenes disturbing and uncomfortable to read.

You don't have to be a book lover to like Callie, or a film buff to enjoy the easter eggs (Strangers on a Train, Single White Female); but if you are, you will be rewarded. Callie has always lived in the shadow of her more beautiful, more popular twin. When she starts finding clues that her sister Tilda may be involved with a controlling psychopath, she does all she can to help. But, unfortunately, Callie is not all that balanced, so maybe she is making everything worse. She is so obsessed that she jeopardizes her own life, and a budding relationship with an adorable Jo Nesbo fan, to try to save Tilda. This could be another psychological thriller with an unreliable witness, but its freshness makes it really compelling and interesting. The more we know Callie, the more we fear she is going off the deep end. Or she may be the only one noticing signs that other people miss. As such, you need to pay attention. Small, almost insignificant clues eventually pay off. The ending is simply excellent. This is a very solid novel.

Have you ever found yourself reading a book - when suddenly you find yourself slowing down to enjoy a minor scene?.... noticing how refreshing it was?

Even though the plot was the driving force for my desire to keep reading ( find out how the story ends) - the complexion of the characters were too smooth. If there had been a little more texture to each of them- more dimensional complexity- it would have made them more compelling - more cerebral attributes. Although ‘Callie’ is the ‘most’ standout interesting character.
Yet....the plot is definitely the strongest force - overshadowing character development. I was still curious to know the final outcome.

The BREAK SCENE I CHERISHED ....a little earthy moment:
Wilf, a real estate agent, who loved gardening -visits the bookstore in London where Callie has worked for six years. He asks her if she is interested in spending a day gardening with him.
Wilf picks Callie up in his beaten down Volkswagen ( I’m smiling over this) filled with gardening equipment. Callie is ready for the day, dressed in her Wellington Boots.
They are both cutting - clearing - digging - pushing a spade - great mounds of earth - pulling weeds.
But ...
Then - true to Callie’s questionable character - she volunteers a ‘turd-type’ memory ....she tells Wilf that she remembers finding a sheep skull buried under a bush years ago. “Really? Did she have to spoil the moment with her yucky visual?”....
I wasn’t too surprised by Callie’s response - because by the time I had gotten to this moment in the story - ‘almost halfway’ - Callie had shared other tidbits of distasteful information about her past. As a child not only did she have a strong urge to eat her twin sister’s things....( not food have you) .... but she once drank her sisters pee ( after a time she didn’t flush the toilet). I had a hard time shaking that image away —

I love a great thriller, one that keeps me on the edge of my seat wondering what happens next and White Bodies definitely delivered on the suspense. I was captivated by the narrator, Callie, who herself seemed to be an unreliable character who just might be a little too cukoo to be trusted.

The book centers on twin sisters, Callie and Tilda, who are extremely close and have been since birth. While Tilda is a "shining star", Callie is a little darker, more reserved, and takes care to observe everything around her intently, especially when it comes to Tilda. Callie, who is concerned that Tilda's new relationship with her boyfriend Felix is becoming violent, begins to wrap herself TOO closely into her sister's life, thinking she is protecting her from him. But does Callie have all the pieces to the puzzle, is it all in her head, or is her sister really being abused by Felix? Callie's solution: Join an online chat group, controllingmen.com, and see what the rest of the world has to say...

Overall, this book was suspenseful and kept me guessing, but if I am honest, was a little too predictable toward the end. I would have liked a little more BANG in the plot, but it was a quick read and I enjoyed the weirdness and "what the hell did I just read..?" that came along with it. Overall a 3/5 stars from me!