This was an interesting read that I wanted to enjoy more than I actually did. It centers on Adam, whose estranged twin brother Brandon, is killed by 2 masked gunman in London (where Adam lives and had no idea Brandon was there). Adam lives a pretty insular life and spends his time building a massive model city that has taken over his entire apartment. He finds out about Brandon's death from Brandon's girlfriend, who he didn't know existed, and because he is drawn to her, gets deeply involved in trying to find out what happened as well as finish what Brandon started.

The book was written in a very literary manner, and jumped around from Brandon's journals/tapes that Adam found to the current time in Adam's voice. The descriptions of things that I knew nothing about, like the model city and the various musical references, invoked a strong imagery that helped me "get it". That being said, I couldn't fully immerse myself in the book because it just felt so far-fetched to me, from Adam dropping his whole life and moving into a hotel Brandon was living in, then impersonating Brandon who he hadn't even seen in years; to Brandon's motivation and subsequent actions around the music he was trying to make and successfully getting others to go along with him. This is a world that just didn't feel real to me- it had a vibe of one of those literary type movies where there was beautiful imagery but not situations that I could put myself in easily. It actually felt like a Quentin Tarantino movie to me, if the author is looking to make it into a movie one day!

All in all, I think this was a very good book, just not the right book for me. I'd recommend it to those who are interested in the music industry, want to try something different, or are looking for a deeper and more literary read than the psychological thriller books I identify with.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Repeater Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Ruins’ by Mat Osman in exchange for an honest review.

London, 2010. Shy, bookish Adam Kussgarten lives in a Notting Hill flat surrounded by the miniature model kingdom he has created. He is shocked to be contacted with the news that his estranged twin brother, Brandon, had been shot a few streets away by two gunmen wearing Donald Duck masks.

As far as he knew Brandon was living in California and can’t understand what he was doing in London where apparently he’d been for a couple of weeks before his death. His brother’s girlfriend, Bea, enlists Adam’s help to discover what Brandon was involved in and who killed him.

Adam soon finds that Brandon’s visit was linked to his former career as a member of a London band that had found moderate fame in the 90s. Adam even assumes Brandon’s identity to question his former and current associates and finds himself getting drawn into his brother’s world of deception, violence, and forgery. The stakes quickly become very high.

I was quickly drawn into this intriguing, intelligent, multilayered tale. It certainly had its moments of strange, most supplied by the files that Brandon left behind.

There is a great deal within its pages about the music industry, which Osman knows from the inside being a founder member of the iconic British band Suede.

Certainly recommended for those looking for something different in the field of crime noir.

I wanted to like this much more than I did! Intriguing concept, but I found the introductory chapters hard work, and rather than being drawn into the mystery I was increasingly alienated. The world that Osman describes feels real but unconvincing at the same time (which is a skill in itself I guess) and this added to the general sense of slight dislocation. Fundamentally I didn’t buy the relationship shops early on (the first third at least) and I struggled to come back from that.

It’s worth ploughing on with, and the characters are all interesting if generally unlikeable, but I can’t say I felt engaged.

This book is like nothing I have read before. It is bizarre in a very good way and although when I started to read it I wondered what I was reading it grabbed me until the very end. The basis of the plot is very simple Adams twin brother who he has had no contact with for years has been murdered and he sets out to solve his brother’s death but what he discovers is mind blowing.
So take a chance and give this book a go you won’t regret it

A well written complicated story. There is a lot to this story and it is all cleverly written. I feel that I need to read this book again to fully grasp every aspect of it.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Wow - it's so difficult to review this book, it's definitely genre bending, but definitely brilliant! My only suggestion would be start it with an open mind and enjoy the journey.
Thank you to netgalley and Repeater books for an advance copy of this book

Mat Osman sues his knowledge to bring his first book to life. The author creates characters that might not be likable but if readers have siblings they will be able to connect with the lead characters desire to find the truth of what happen to his brother.

The list of characters makes for a duel identity that the characters is living and while it takes time for the action to happen readers will be willing to hang on because different characters that they will connect with.



Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a advance copy of Mat Osman The Ruins.