This book was a roller coaster of a ride.

Sienna has a lot on her plate. After she is home for awhile, she begins to wonder if she should have just stayed away.  From calming her mom down during her episodes, to the van that slowly drives by the house, and the mysterious caller saying it was supposed to be her that died that night.  The murder case has been re-opened, and Sienna has every intention of solving it.  However, it seems that everyone close to the case either ends up dead or injured.

Although her mom is not all there most of the time, she has a very strong will to protect her only daughter from everyone. There is also the fact that her mom says she was pushed down the stairs in her own home.  Due to her mental state, nobody believes her, but they soon find out that they should have listened to her.

I figured out who the killer was pretty quickly, but then I had doubts all throughout the book.  Everyone is a suspect.  From the cute neighbor next door whom Sienna can't seem to stay away from, to the step-brother who has run into financial trouble.  Even the step-brothers mom and ex-wife are suspects.  It seems they would have good reason to want Sienna gone.

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the digital ARC.

Loved it!!! From the start I was very suspicious of someone, but so many things happened and I would keep changing my mind. I always came back to the same person. Pretty much everyone Sienna talked to(neighbors, police, family members) were on my list of likely subjects. She was surround by crazy, actual crazy. Her mom was just over the top. I can't imagine growing up in that family. Pretty much everyone thought Sienna was going to turn out just like her mom. Vivienne was very unpredictable and so many things could set her off. Sienna got shipped off right after the murder and nothing ever got resolved. Loved the characters, story and writing style. There were so many twists and turns, I never knew who to believe. Loved the ending when the truth was finally revealed.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a great mystery/thriller. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It has been many years since I read a book by Erica Spindler and I was intrigued by the premise of this novel. The main character, Sienna, was not unlikeable but I didn't connect with her immediately and some of her actions didn't match her personality. The other characters, especially Vivienne, are well written and I thought the author did a good job showing the effects of mental illness and how it impacts family members. The plot has enough twists and red herrings to keep the reader's attention. In fact, all the elements of classic suspense are present but the book was not as fast paced as I'd hoped. It took me longer to read than I anticipated but I was engaged enough to stick with it until the conclusion which actually surprised me.

Wow! What a book! Loved it.

Plot - Sienna Scott grew up in the dark shadow of her mother’s paranoid delusions. Now, she's returned home to confront her past and the unsolved murder that altered the course of her life.

In her mother’s shuttered house, an old fear that has haunted Sienna for years rears its ugly head —that it was she who had been the killer’s target that night. And now, with it, a new fear—that the killer not only intended to remedy his past mistake—he’s already begun. But are these fears any different from the ones that torment her mother?

What an absolute rollercoaster of a book. It had me completely hooked and I just could not put the book down.
The author has done such a fine job with the characters that I was left guessing constantly who the murderer was since all the characters were untrustworthy.
Such an interesting, intriguing, fast-paced thriller. The short chapters had me racing through the pages to get to the end.
This is my first Erica Spindler book and it was amazing. I am a fan and will definitely be checking out all her other books.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Look Alike by Erica Spindler

A who-dun-it thriller.
Trying to guess who the killer was, was like bouncing around on a playground. Sure I had guesses but they kept changing as the book progressed.
This book has a focus on mental illness and it’s impact on family.

Overall a quick read, not to intense, but I didn’t want to read it home alone at night! What’s that noise? They say it’s a mental illness but could there really be someone there?
The heroine make some stupid decisions that made me care less than I might have otherwise.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

After finding the body of an acquaintance on her way home from the library, eighteen-year-old Sienna Scott was a confusion of emotions, especially once she started wondering if she had been the intended target. Sienna and Madi, the girl who was murdered, were wearing identical white ski jackets, with white gloves and their hoods pulled up to shield them from the snow. Campus police were nearby, and an officer responded to Sienna’s scream of horror. Within weeks, her mother’s paranoia spiraled out of control, and Sienna’s father sent her to London to protect her from the situation that was beginning to unfold.

Ten years later, Sienna returned home, determined to help her half-brother Brad care for her mother and possibly open a restaurant, in order to use her culinary training and make a living. She was shocked to learn that the murder case had been reopened, and that fact, coupled with Sienna’s presence, reawakened her mother’s rampant paranoia. Soon, Sienna notices strange things are happening, like the white van that passed the house at all hours, the new neighbor who always seemed to be watching the house, and the resentment that Brad was expressing.

Sienna was terrified she would become paranoid, like her mother, and as the story plays out, the reader wonders if that’s true. As she immerses herself in trying to solve Madi’s murder, she sees suspicious behavior in almost everyone, and she puts herself at risk numerous times. I was definitely caught up in the storyline and appreciated the intrigue and unexpected ending to Sienna’s story.

At the beginning of the novel, we find a girl murdered, only to realize maybe she was the wrong target. What happens next? A story filled with confusion, love, betrayal, and even a little bit of murder along the way. POTENTIAL SPOILER. It's sort of fascinating to think that anyone out there could be the target of a "take out" especially if they got the wrong person, and maybe took us out instead. I really can't imagine.

Moving on. The Look-Alike to me is unique, and fun with a little bit of mystery. Who is who? Who was the intended target? And why, of course? There's a neighbor who helps out our main character and honestly, he sounds like quite a guy. Mom is crazy, but then isn't at least one parent?

Anyway, I hope you love this book as much as I did!

The Look-Alike publishes 1.28.2020.

4/5 Stars

3.5 Stars

I owe Spindler an apology. I went into this book expecting I wouldn’t like it. The last few mysteries I’ve read have disappointing me and for the first few chapters I was determined this would end the same. But Spindler’s writing is compelling; she draws you into the story and keeps your interest.

I had an inkling of an idea who the murderer may be and even though I was correct, she did keep me guessing much of the time. I enjoyed how she kept the suspense of whether Sienna was being paranoid or if what she sensed and believed was real. I was afraid that having Sienna’s mom have persecutory delusion disorder may be used as only a plot device, but it didn’t feel that way and I liked the dynamic between Sienna and her mom.

The ending felt a little too tidy (I’m not a fan of the long killer monologues explaining everything) but overall a satisfying thriller.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I loved this book! It had me addicted so much that I had such a hard time putting it down. Luckily i carried it everywhere sho i was able to sneak in small reads whenever possibly. It was an easy to follow storyline which is just what I need. I was definitely surprised at the end. This is a must read!

I could not stop reading! Loved the story. I had a hard time stepping away from reading this book. Interesting characters and a multitude of ways it could have concluded. Great start to reading in 2020.

Super fast paced thriller with great character building. Storyline was a little predictable but that didn't take away from wanting to turn the pages. Read this in one sitting.

I have to say I didn’t really enjoy this book until half way through. I thought the mother’s illness was very repetitive for the first half and the romance was also a bit unrealistic. The storyline in the last half was brilliantly written and the pieces came together and the murderer was quite a surprise, although there were too many bad guy choices! Didn’t love or hate this book. It was just an ok read for me.

Erica Spindler always delights and The Look-Alike is no exception. She manages to keep you guessing even when you think you’ve figured it out.
Sienna stumbled on a girl that was murdered one night after study group and has always wondered if she was the one that was supposed to have been murdered. Her father sent her away so she could have a fresh start . Ten years later after her mother has an accident she returns home to help her out . She starts receiving strange phone calls and meets a new neighbor that makes her question her past once again. This story is full of suspense and betrayal .

This is my first book of the decade. Wow....bless it's heart...lot's of pressure for a lil book.

Did it live up to the hype I placed on it? Nope. I have these unrealistic ideals for thrillers. I know that they are unrealistic....yet, I set myself up every time.

Let's talk about The Look-Alike. I enjoyed it. The writing was well done. The pacing was ideal. The dual timelines were wonderfully executed. The fact that we had an unreliable narrator did not work for me. I also felt like the love interest was a little far fetched. I'm all about love...but this love seemed a little rushed and somewhat forced. The originality was not there either....sadly. I have read and or watched this story line multiple times.

I don't know. I didn't not like it...but I didn't love it either. Certainly middle of the road for me.

I know, I know, I had talked myself into the next best thriller. I know better lol.

Overall, it will be forgettable.

Sienna Scott grew up in the dark shadow of her mother’s paranoid delusions. Now, she’s returned home to confront her past and the unsolved murder that altered the course of her life.

In her mother’s shuttered house, an old fear that has haunted Sienna for years rears its ugly head—that it was she who had been the killer’s target that night. And now, with it, a new fear—that the killer not only intended to remedy his past mistake—he’s already begun. But are these fears any different from the ones that torment her mother?

As the walls close in, the line between truth and lie, reality and delusion disintegrate. Has Sienna’s worst nightmare come true? Or will she unmask a killer and finally prove she may be her mother’s look-alike, but she’s not her clone?



My Thoughts: A page-turner that kept me in its grip, The Look-Alike reminded me of every favorite thriller of mine. A story with many possible suspects, intense moments that kept me glued to the pages, and characters that felt like real people.

I liked Sienna’s voice and how she stood by her family, even those who were difficult, like her mother, and her brother Brad who seems to have betrayed her.

I had to work through it all for a while, sorting through the clues and setting aside the red herrings, but in the end, the reveal was perfectly orchestrated and allowed for Sienna to put the pieces together. Definitely a five star read.

***My ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley.

This latest mystery from Erica Spindler held my interest surprisingly well considering I really didn't like the heroine. Sienna stumbled across a murder scene years ago and has always questioned whether or not she was the intended victim of the unsolved murder. Is it because she was wearing the same coat as the victim or are her fears simply signs that she suffers from the same mental illness as her mother? Given this situation, I found it amazing how trusting the heroine is of everyone. I feel like if I were in her shoes I would have made very different choices than the heroine did, some of which almost put her in the too stupid to live category. That said, I did enjoy the mystery despite the heroine's behavior. In fact, I was a bit surprised at the end to see who the murderer actually was since I had picked out other suspects. All in all, an enjoyable suspense novel.

I really enjoyed this book and it was the first by Spindler that I have read. One thing I liked, and could have been done wrong, is how many theories you could have about who the "bad guy" was. I thought the exploration of mental illness or delusions along with mother/daughter relationships was done well, and added value.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler (Out January 28, 2020)

Thank you to St. Martins Press for an Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Ten years ago on her way home from a late night study session,Sienna Scott discovered a girl stabbed to death, lying in a pool of blood in the snow. Haunted by these memories and plagued with her mothers paranoias, Sienna has never been able to get let go of the feeling that it was supposed to be her killed that fateful night. Determined to prove that she is only her mothers look a-like and does not suffer from the same paranoias as here, Sienna is determined finally to unveil the girls killer.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book and breezed through it in a couple sittings, it’s definitely a quick, easy read. It was hard to put down because I was itching to get to the end and find out the truth, much like Sienna herself!

Fans of Final Girls by Riley Sager will enjoy this one, they both have a very similar feel! (And you guys all know how much I love Sager...) If you’re looking for the perfect fast paced thriller to cozy up with on a cold winter night, make sure to pick this one up when it’s released!

Somewhat predictable thriller. However, knowing what was coming did not make this book any less enjoyable. I thought that the introduction of Sienna's mom's illness lent an interesting bent on this novel. Recommended to fans of this kind of book.

So amazing, this book sucked me in from the get go. I don't typically like subdued main characters, but I understood why the main character was the way she was. I didn't think this was a psychological thriller, more of a suspense, but man oh man was it suspenseful.
There was a good flow within the book and it didn't drag on. The writing was beautiful and I would definitely read her work again.