Member Reviews
I didn't know where this one was going, so kudos to the author for keeping me off track.
This is a dark, character-driven thriller that delves into the relationship between twins Callie and Tilda. Told from Callie's POV, she is brutally honest about her obsession with all things Tilda. As in most twin stories, Tilda is the shining star: beautiful, charismatic, the center of attention. Callie is always in the background, just happy to be a part of her world.
But something isn't right with Tilda. Or is it Callie? The author does a really great job keeping the reader off balance and therefore always guessing as to who really is the one with issues.
Enter Felix, Tilda's new boyfriend. At first he appears to be the perfect match for her, if a bit eccentric when it comes to organization and order. But then things start to surface that indicate all is not as it seems with their relationship. Callie will do whatever it takes to protect her twin, so she starts doing her own investigation, or as others see it-she starts meddling.
I have to admit I was hoping for a more revengeful ending, but after thinking about it, I believe the author made a smart decision. It caused to me to think of how that one decision <spoiler>not to turn her sister in </spoiler> would forever affect her life and their future relationship.
This was a well crafted web of suspense that tied the truth and lies intricately together, completely throwing the reader for a loop and off balance. I didn't like either of the sisters, but they are so well written that I know I won't be forgetting them anytime soon.
For a debut book, Jane Robins has certainly grabbed my attention and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!
ARC provided by NetGalley
This is one of the most addictive books I’ve read in quite a while. You know the kind of story that pulls you in with the first page? This is that kind! Offbeat, envelope-pushing, and just plain odd. I was expecting this psychological thriller to be similar in nature to the typical thriller, but instead I was pleasantly surprised (and shocked) by the unique storyline, which is quite twisted. What I thought would be a story revolving around the special bond and love twins have for one another, ended up being about a much darker obsessive relationship. Some parts are quite disturbing, but in a fascinating way. I believe that’s why this book is so hard to put down.
WHITE BODIES is a nice change of pace for the thriller genre, making it an exciting and fantastic read. It’s deliciously addictive and heart-poundingly entertaining. A weird, but brilliant, read!
I don't really know where to start with this book. Bizarre would be the first word that comes to mind. This is definitely a psychological thriller that focuses on the relationship between two twin sisters who have always had a very different relationship! This book is a roller coaster of their two lives and an interesting mystery plot line.The thing that I enjoyed most about this book was that non of it was predictable! You would think you knew what was going to happen and then it would take a left turn which made reading this book very enjoyable! I would definitely recommend it to readers who love psychological dramas and thrillers!
3.5 stars. It was a 4 star right up until the last few pages when I wanted to scream "Are you F'ing kidding Me?"
So, I really enjoyed the book and I am still trying to figure out what I think of the ending.....
Callie and Tilda are twins. Since they were children, Callie appears to be obsessed with her sister (eating her things!?!) and Tilda seemed to be the twin in controlled. Tilda does not come off as the nicest person and was often mean to her sister growing up. But was she mean or was she creeped out by her sister's obsession? Tilda has the stronger personality and always had a group of people following her around. Callie was one of those people who followed her sister and went through her things. Callie thrived on any little bit of attention Tilda gave to her. So when Tilda moved in with Felix, Callie was naturally interested and happy to be included in their life. But then Callie noticed little changes in her sister - changes that alarmed her. Tilda seemed to be losing weight, she had bruises, and became defensive when Callie brought up Tilda's home life. Felix appears to be a neat freak and has a very tidy sterile living environment. His obsession with cleanliness and food preparation set off all of Callies red flags. Is there something wrong? Should she be worried? Callie wants to help and defend her sister. But how?
Concerned about her sister's well being, Callie joins an online chat group where women discuss the controlling and abusive men in their lives. As Callie begins to make friends online, things seem to be getting worse in her sister's life. Then one of Callie's online friends is murdered and Felix is found dead (no spoiler - we are told this in the book description). Just what the heck is going on?
For me this was a really captivating read up until a certain point. I loved that we see Callie as being concerned about her sister but in the back of my mind, I kept thinking about when she was younger and she would eat her sister's belongings. Is her concern real? Is she obsessed with her sister? Is she a reliable character? Are other things going on in this book? Is Tilda the victim of domestic violence? I really liked the not knowing. For me the question as to what was happening in this book came down to who is the reliable character. Seriously, I often wondered who can be trusted in this book. Who is the crazy one, who is the real victim and what will happen next.
I enjoyed the cat and mouse type game Callie and Scarlet, a woman she met through the online group, played with each other. Callie appeared to be obsessive, paranoid and anxiety ridden through most of the book. In the back of my mind I kept thinking, yes, she is unreliable but that doesn't mean that she is wrong, does it? This is where the book really worked for me. I liked not knowing who to trust, who to believe and not knowing what to make of everything...then when the big reveal happened, I thought "Seriously?" It wasn't a big shock really but at the same time I felt let down. The sisters and Felix watched a movie in this book, I was hoping that there would be a big show down like there was in the movie. Now that would have kept the book a solid 4 stars for me.
Nevertheless, this book was an extremely fast read. I kept turning the pages as I wanted to know the real truth about what was happening in this book. I felt a little let down by the ending as I stated but overall it was still a very enjoyable dark and mysterious read.
I received a copy of this book from Touchstone and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Touchstone and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
This book is perfect for Fall reading and I guarantee it will give you the creeps! The main character, Callie, is a bit twisted and has a (super) weird obsession/relationship with her sister, an up and coming actress named Tilda. The relationship between them is so strange that at times I was uncomfortable reading the book. In fact, I was uncomfortable 90% of the time that I was reading this book but that is what made it so good!! The book is a bit slow to start with but the writing is effortless to read so if you can make it past the first few chapters you're rewarded with a real page-turner. The summary of this book hails it as a modern day "Strangers on a Train" and it is but the author gives the familiar story a very interesting plot twist. The story will seemed cliche but then you read the last chapter and the book takes on a whole new tone. I found that after I finished the book I wanted to go reread it to see what "clues" I had missed because the ending totally blew my mind.
Put this at the top of your "to read" pile and you will not be disappointed!
New author to me. White Bodies is a suspenseful read. Twins Callie and Tilda have completely different personalities and throughout the book I wondered where this story was going. Tilda marries Felix and Callie becomes concerned for Tildas well being and safety.. This book draws you in and keeps you guessing as to who to believe.
Started out a little slow, but for the most part this book had me captivated; I couldn't stop flipping the pages of this book! The build-up for the plot was nice, the character development was very interesting too. The plot twists definitely caught me off guard. Highly recommended!
I didn’t know what White Bodies by Jane Robins was about when I started it. I saw it was a mystery and I liked the cover (I know, don’t judge a book by its cover!) and happily from page one I was into it.
I’m reading this on the heels of All The Beautiful Lies, so you know how it’s hard to go from one amazing book to the next without a break? Luckily I slid right into this story.
Here are the details:
Felix and Tilda seem like the perfect couple: young and in love, a financier and a beautiful up-and-coming starlet. But behind their flawless façade, not everything is as it seems.
Callie, Tilda’s unassuming twin, has watched her sister visibly shrink under Felix’s domineering love. She has looked on silently as Tilda stopped working, nearly stopped eating, and turned into a neat freak, with mugs wrapped in Saran Wrap and suspicious syringes hidden in the bathroom trash. She knows about Felix’s uncontrollable rages, and has seen the bruises on the white skin of her sister’s arms.
Worried about the psychological hold that Felix seems to have over Tilda, Callie joins an Internet support group for victims of abuse and their friends. However, things spiral out of control and she starts to doubt her own judgment when one of her new acquaintances is killed by an abusive man. And then suddenly Felix dies—or was he murdered?
I am telling you right now, this book is SO GOOD. I can envision it as a movie. But read the book first!
3.5 Stars. Callie usually only visits her twin sister Tilda once a month, but Tilda has been inviting her over more often since she started getting serious with her new boyfriend Felix. Callie is thrilled to be included in her sister's life. At first she finds Felix beguiling, but she begins to see signs that he's abusive and controlling. Her once vibrant sister seems to be withering away, but Tilda refuses to entertain Callie's concerns. Callie joins the ControllingMen.com forums for support, but the forum members are intense and she ends up getting in over her head. Her concerns about Felix are suddenly nullified when thirty-two-year-old Felix suddenly dies alone in his hotel room, just weeks after his and Tilda's wedding. The cause of death is determined to be heart disease, but Callie thinks the circumstances of his death are suspicious. She's convinced the police will be questioning her soon.
Tilda is a well-known actress, while Callie lives a quiet life and works at a bookstore. Tilda has always overshadowed Callie, even in childhood. It upsets Callie that people always assume that Tilda is her older sister. She’s been dominated by Tilda her entire life, but she wants to be seen as an equal.In the scenes from childhood, we see Tilda's subtle cruelty to Callie. It's obvious that she relishes in Callie's unconditional adoration. Tilda has always been the stronger of the two girls, but seeing that Tilda could be in danger gives Callie the opportunity to be the rescuer. Callie's idea of looking out for her sister is so creepy! She obsessively monitors her sister’s well-being and seems to want to literally consume Tilda’s essence. (You’ll see what I mean. Weird doesn't even begin to describe it!)
As disturbed as I was by Callie's behavior, I was also rooting for her! For all her odd quirks, she comes across as a sweet person. Callie has major self-confidence issues and is constantly comparing herself to Tilda. She berates herself for her social awkwardness and "vacant" life. She's constantly admiring Tilda and Felix's "fine bones, smooth, translucent skin, and shiny blond hair," while belittling her own "round pinkish" body. From other characters' statements, we see that Callie isn't an objective observer. Callie is consumed by anxiety and has a tendency to catastrophize everything. She sees danger lurking in every corner. I didn't know to what extent I could trust her perceptions, especially since she doesn't even seem to trust herself.
The aspects I liked most about this book were the creepy atmosphere, the odd characters, and Callie's codependent relationship with her sister. I enjoyed the first half, because I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the flashbacks to the twin's childhood gave me breaks from Callie’s hand-wringing. First-person perspective + a character with a single fixation can be exhausting! I enjoyed the overall quality and atmosphere of White Bodies, so I recommend giving it a shot if you don’t have the same issues with being trapped in an obsessive character’s head that I do. It’s a very quick read and I loved all the strange character quirks! I had an idea of where it was going to go from the beginning, but the winding path that followed led me with no idea of how it was going to get there.
I was initially very drawn into the writing style and weirdness of all the characters. How one ended up dead was of course an intriguing pull for the story. I think I felt disconnected from the story due to the slower pace as the story moved forward. Add to that the fact that all the characters are SO unlikeable and bland that I had a hard time connecting to them or the story. I didn't care for the past and present viewpoints and the super slow pace of the first 100 pages.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview Jane Robins' novel White Bodies.
Callie and Tilda are twins - Tilda is outgoing and interesting, while Callie is introverted and shy. The girls grow up and Callie is always in Tilda's shadow - but Callie is always watching, observing, and doing strange things - like eating Tilda's hair, baby teeth, or eaten food.
Tilda becomes a famous actress and meets a new man - Felix. Soon Callie believes that Felix is abusing Tilda and she starts to become obsessed with the couple. Always watching, waiting for something to happen, and she knows that something bad is going to happen eventually. And Callie will be ready to do whatever it takes to save her sister - even if it kills her!
Take the voyaristic journey and read this suspensful novel that will have you guessing till the end.
Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.
Twins. One dark, one golden. Callie feels overwhelmed by her twin, excluded. Tilda is exuberant, gregarious, the center of attention wherever she goes. Callie is just so . . . ordinary. Quiet and intense. And twisted. Note the differences between them, and the sameness. The obsession that lies within. Stalker or prey? Victim or monster? And how does Felix fit into the puzzle?
There's no better way to describe this book than dark, twisted, and creepy. I actually physically cringed while reading more than a few times. I read a lot of dark stories, and it's rare for me to have that reaction. Don't get me wrong: this story isn't graphic at all. The disturbing parts are more psychological. Just shy of 300 pages, it's easy to devour in a day... and if you have time, you probably will. I could hardly put it down. Suspense, twins, abuse, jealousy... it sounds like several books I've read recently, and if you enjoy psychological thrillers like I do, it probably sounds familiar to you too... but trust me, this one is different.
Tilda and Callie have always had a bit of an odd relationship. Tilda is beautiful, has a flair for the dramatic, blessed with confidence. She's the actress that despite not putting out new work in awhile, gets recognized on the street. Callie is the sister who blends in. She works at a bookshop, doesn't have a love life to speak of, and has a hard time making new friends. She's very different from her charming, enigmatic sister.
Tilda begins to change when she starts seeing a new man, Felix. He's well off and charming, but comes off as a little controlling. Tilda doesn't seem to see any of that. She's deeply in love. Callie is alarmed when her larger than life sister begins to shrink before her very eyes... she's always been slim, but now she borders on skeletal. She's lost her spark. She is drifting away from her sister, seemingly content to spend all of her time with Felix. And then there's those bruises on her arms. Whenever Callie tries to broach the subject, Tilda becomes angry and defensive, as if her concern is a personal insult.
We get flashbacks into their childhood, where it becomes obvious that Callie has always had a bit of an obsession with her sister. She always wanted to watch out for her, know what she was up to, figure out weird little things to do that reaffirms their bond in her head. Her concern for her now reaches a boiling point. She joins a website for women affected by abuse, at first just to see if she's reading the signs correctly. It's not long before she jumps into the site head first, registering and making new anonymous friends. Some are women who are being abused and see no way out, and some like Callie are watching from the sidelines as a loved one suffers at the hands of a man.
Their lives spin more and more out of control... jealousy and death, and an ending that you won't forget. I found this book to very unsettling and highly original. Recommended to readers who don't mind getting their head messed with a bit.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Touchstone, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Well this was a strange book, I've never read anything like this before, I don't mind odd characters but some of the things Callie did made me squirm, she was beyond odd and was quite unpleasant at times doing things like drinking her sister's urine and eating her hair.Neither twin seemed very well balanced or even likable, and I always have a problem if I don't like or connect to the characters,and I always feel guilty, because not everyone in real life is nice and maybe it is a truer representation to show someone warts and all, but I just didn't like either sister.The story was intriguing though and I wanted to find out what was going on so even though I didn't like Callie or Tilda I kept reading .I would give this book 3 and a half stars if I could but am giving it 3 stars as I can't give a half.it is worth a read and of all the books I've read in a while this is quite possibly the most original.Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.
WOW!!! Psychological suspense? Creepy? Yes, and then some!!! If ever there is a book that is FILLED with very strange people, doing very suspicious things (or are they?), this is it!!!
White Bodies is twisted, dark, beautifully written, psychological mind-f*** (can I say that? Hope so!) that had me taking myself down numerous paths trying to figure out who was really doing what to who, who was setting up who, and how this would all come together. I had some good ideas, but the author had better ones.
This is an absolutely fantastic read!! Kudos to Jane Robins on a wonderful book, and to Touchstone Publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read and enjoy an ARC copy.
Loved it!
Woo, started this yesterday evening and I just closed the book. I was lucky enough to win White Bodies from a Goodreads giveaway and also received a copy on my Kindle from Netgalley. Many thanks to Touchstone and Netgalley!
So what's it about? Two effed up twin sisters. Lol. The story is told from Callie's POV, mostly in present day. We are lucky to get a few chapters from the twins childhood, which I have to say we're the creepiest! I just about gagged at 13% in. Anyways, Tilda has met a new man, Felix, and has introduced him to her twin. Callie is excited when they all start hanging out. She is enamored. But, then Callie starts to notice things that are worrisome. Worrisome enough to join a website for controlling men. On the forum, she meets two ladies who become very important to Callie, in more ways than one. I thought White Bodies was going a certain way but it surprised me.
So, I really liked it. I felt like every character had something going on. Whether it was OCD, Pica, or just plain weird. The book made me feel weird that's for sure lol. I recommend it! 4.5 stars!
Actually 4.5 stars.
Callie and Tilda are twins but they couldn't be more different. Tilda is a quite new but successful actress and is married to Felix. Callie is more introverted and works part time in a book store. In a nutshell, Tilda is a do-er and Callie an observer. One of the things that Callie observes at great length is Tilda's relationship with Felix and how it is changing her. She immediately suspects abuse and, wanting to save her sister, joins an internet forum for abuse victims where she forges some rather interesting friendships as she opens up about her fears for Tilda and asks for advice on how best to help her. Told in the present day with flashbacks to the girls' pasts, it's a claustrophobic, nailbiting read that held my attention nicely throughout.
The relationship between the two sisters is nicely, if at times uncomfortably, described with the past explaining some of the present at key times. Some of the things that Callie did when young did get me squirming a tad at times but her reasons for doing what she did were, in the context of her psyche, strange but explained. I've read quite a few books with twins, some close, others notsomuch but never have I read of twins with this kind of s strange relationship and, although somewhat twisted, it was quite refreshingly different.
All the time throughout the book I was willing Callie to just let things go but I guess the nature of obsession, coupled with the close bond that I'm told twins have, meant that this wasn't to be. As I read on, I figured that there was much much more to the hold between the twins than at first met my eye and I read to the end completely transfixed, jaw dropped.
Characterisation was excellent. All the main players and the bit parts too were equally well described and congruent to the parts they played in the story. Pacing was equally as good, the creepiness of the main story being complemented well by other incidental scenes included for definition and, I imagine, respite for the reader. I sure needed some at times!
The plot was intriguing too, plenty of twists and turns to keep me on my toes but all perfectly credible within the context of the storyline. It's not the longest book, page-wise, sub 300 I think, but there is definitely a lot to it. There are very few wasted words which means that the story is still quite substantial and goes along at a fair lick.
All in all, a good solid read that I devoured in just a day. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
It was more that I was sick with knowing too much. On the day of his death, I’d waited for the police to turn up at my flat or at the bookshop. It was the same on the morning of the postmortem. And now at the funeral, it seemed certain that police officers were waiting for me outside the church, stamping their feet to keep warm, sneaking an illicit cigarette, and that as soon as I stepped out of the gloom into the autumn sun I would hear my name. Callie Farrow? Do you have a minute?
The Farrow twins really couldn’t be more different: Tilda seeks the limelight like a lizard trying to warm itself while Callie takes to the shadows, observing as the world turns. Despite their differences, they still share the unique closeness- that is until Tilda enters into a relationship with the commanding, reticent Felix.
People are drawn to her because she’s so pretty and committed to her talents, and she has that charming way of switching in an instant from dreamlike and ethereal to serious and focused.
When Callie finally meets this man who has so captivated her sister, she notices a change in Tilda that disturbs her. Tilda is subdued, pandering to Felix in a way that is unlike her usually superior sister. Callie begins to question Tilda following a cruel outburst from Felix and what she finds concerns her to the point of fixation.
In the dossier I write: I was shocked to see bruises on Tilda’s arms. Was Felix responsible?– I dont’ know. I can’t work out whether he’s a truly amazing person– organizing surprise holidays and improving her flat– or a deeply dangerous one. Either was, Tilda’s infatuated with him and I’m in pain. I don’t know whether I still feel the elation that came from adoring him, or whether I’m not terrified that I’ve been manipulated.
Motivated by this discovery, Callie joins an online support group for abuse victims and family and friends of the abused where she befriends two women who share her experiences. In a private chat, she is able to bounce her concerns off the group members and slowly feed her growing obsession. Callie becomes determined to unearth Felix’s violent behavior and save her sister. What she discovers in an unexpected blow that throws her world into a tailspin.
With the pacing and plot development of a Tana French novel, White Bodies by Jane Robins is a solid psychological suspense that examines the sibling bond and the ways obsession can be blinding.
4.5 stars Where to begin...this is most certainly a "twisted twin" story! Callie and Tilda, one adored and one a bit misunderstood. Callie is our narrator as she shares her concerns for Tilda who's in a new relationship, one that Callie thinks is destroying her sister. As Callie keeps trying to help, we are treated to flashbacks portraying the lifelong struggle between the two sisters.
Disturbing at times, it will certainly keep you turning the pages. Memorable characters and beautifully written. Kudos to Ms. Robins.
**Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.**
I can’t deny I was excited to hear that Jane Robins whose non-fiction books The Magnificent Spilsbury and the case of The Brides In The Bath and The Curious Habits of Doctor Adams I thoroughly enjoyed and which sit proudly on my bookshelf, was writing a psychological thriller. I also can’t deny that I am reading far fewer books in this genre, because many fail to delight me in the way that they once did. But boy did this one work. The plot was tight, the writing engaging and the characters were weird enough to be chilling but normal enough to be believable.
Callie and Tilda are twenty-seven year old twins with Tilda being the more outgoing and outwardly successful of the two, Callie somewhat hampered by an obsessive nature who dwells on every conversation, every look and every perceived slight to the nth degree. It is Callie that waits for invitations for movie nights with her sister but rarely meets up with Tilda’s fun-loving friends. So imagine her excitement when Tilda introduces her to her new man, Felix. But Callie’s overwhelming need to make sure her twin is safe means that she is on her guard.
It isn’t long before Callie hears and sees things that convince her that Tilda is in an abusive relationship and she trawls an on-line forum, obsessively, for confirmation and advice.
This is one of the creepiest psychological thrillers I have ever read. The premise is similar to many others in the genre – these are not people on the whole that you’d want to spend any length of time with, but there are so many aspects of their behaviour that you will have come across in your friends, family or colleagues that all the way through, I had a feeling that this could be true. This genre really does work best when you believe – a bit like fairies – and because it feels so real, as Callie goes searching for clues, it is impossible to separate the truth from the fiction. Added to that the bizarre but sadly only too believable on-line tales that draw Callie into endless discussions about abusive men, the story becomes not only claustrophobic but has a hue of ghastly inevitability.
White Bodies was absolutely compelling, it was one of those wonderful books which from the moment I read the first page I was sure I would enjoy. I don’t know what it is that makes some books far more ‘readable’ than others but this was one of them. What I do know is that this book is solidly underpinned with brilliant writing. Since childhood, I have been drawn to stories about twins, although I sincerely hope that some aspects of twin behaviour, mentioned in this book were dreamt up in Jane Robins’ imagination! Of course there are twists, that is what the genre is all about, but the author hasn’t gone all out to do a complete about face, the book hanging solidly together from the first to the last page and the book doesn’t rely on the twists for a great reading experience, there is much more to enjoy!
I’d like to say a huge thank you to the publishers Touchstone who granted my wish to read White Bodies which will be published in the US on 19 September 2017. UK readers apparently have to wait until after Christmas to read this book, which is somewhat bizarre as the author is British and the book is firmly set in the UK. Anyway despite the wait, if you enjoy a good psychological thriller, and live in the UK, mark this one down as To Be Read and if you are in the US please note your cover is different to the one above – enjoy!