The Imposter by Marin Montgomery had me hooked from page one. It’s a gripping psychological thriller that keeps you questioning everything as secrets slowly come to light. The story of two estranged sisters whose lives unravel as the past resurfaces is packed with tension, and Montgomery builds suspense with perfect pacing.

I loved how well-developed the characters were. You really feel their fear, doubt, and paranoia, which makes each twist even more impactful. The ending was satisfying, wrapping up the mystery without being too predictable.

If you’re into thrillers that keep you guessing until the last page, The Imposter is a must-read. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to read more of Marin Montgomery’s work.

I've been in such a mood for thrillers recently and thought this sounded like the perfect one to pick up since I had left it on my NetGalley shelf for so long. While it certainly had its addicting qualities - especially in the lack of knowability and the secrets among the characters - I mostly felt as though this book was trying to do too much. It felt very chaotic, and there were times when I wasn't quite sure what I was supposed to be focusing on. Every time I picked it up, I wanted to keep reading, but I felt like I couldn't quite place myself into the story because I had wondering questions about Sibley's case and the secrets she almost found out about the wife before she took her trip, Deborah's sudden mental shift, and the truth of the past and how it all connected.

CW for murder, abuse (in past, heavy part of story), addiction/alcoholism, mentions of divorce, stalking, and drugging.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Imposter by Marin Montgomery.

Thanks to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

This is one that has a bit of a slow start but if you stick with it, starts to pick up (crazy) speed as you go and delivers some pretty wild twists and turns along the way. You will need to enjoy super unreliable narrators to get into this, and if you stick with it, you are rewarded with drama tenfold.

Entertaining thriller for those who don't mind a bit of a slow burn start.

"The Imposter" by Marin Montgomery is a riveting psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Montgomery's characters are intricately crafted, with each one contributing to the web of deceit and suspense that drives the plot forward. Set against the backdrop of a small town with its own secrets and shadows, the atmospheric setting adds an extra layer of intrigue and tension to the narrative, immersing readers in a world where nothing is as it seems.

Montgomery's writing style is crisp and evocative, with prose that crackles with tension and suspense. The plot of "The Imposter" unfolds with a perfect blend of twists and turns, as the protagonist delves deeper into the mystery surrounding the identity of the imposter in her midst. While the logic behind some of the characters' actions may feel a bit far-fetched at times, the overall intrigue and suspense of the novel make for an enjoyable read. The relationships between the characters are complex and dynamic, adding emotional depth and resonance to the narrative.

Overall, "The Imposter" is a gripping and addictive thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Montgomery's skillful storytelling, richly drawn characters, and heart-pounding plot make for an unforgettable reading experience. Whether you're a fan of psychological suspense or simply love a good mystery, "The Imposter" is sure to satisfy your craving for a thrilling read.

A bit slow to begin, but by the end I was hooked wanting to find out what happened. I love a good twisty book and this one def had that

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

Unfortunately, although I really wanted to love this book after reading the blurb, it did not do much for me. It was a very slow start, the way the writer entered into another chapter/year was not very easily understood, and finally….the characters really need to be developed a little more where even if they are unlikable they have some redeeming quality that helps the reader understand their motives.


2.5 out of 5 stars


Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

This book started off a little slow, and then the end even though, very twisty and clever, seemed a little rushed. Overall, this book was surprisingly good! I will be on the lookout for this author in the future. 3.5 rounded up to 4

This book started off strong from the first chapter. I love how it didn’t take long to get into the meat of the story. The mother/daughter relationship was sketchy but well executed. It doesn’t take long to feel creeped out by this one!

I lost count of how many times I tried to get through this book. I finally made it, but it was only my own personal quirk of needing to finish a book once I've started that got me through - on a personal note, I am improving on that. I wish I'd just let this one go because it never did get any better than the confusion I found from the beginning. Funnily enough, the end was too easy to figure out, even with the confusion. I'm fine with unreliable narrators as long as we have a cohesive storyline to go along with them, but this one did not, and the more I read, the more annoyed I became. Obviously, there are others who enjoyed this one much more than me. I guess that's the beauty of opinions, right?

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! Slow read and hard to go back to. I didn't like the story or many of the characters. I rate the book a 2.1

A really different way of introducing the reader to two characters who were not likable but came together as a family unit to try and solve their personal demons. Marin Montgomery built the back story for each character seperately then joined them together mid book to insure the reader knew the characters well, but it didn't quite work, leaving many questions and false leads. The book as a whole was worth my reading time but it just seemed to take a long time to get the story built.

I found the start of this quite hard to get into it. It was quite confusing. The twists and turns really made up for that though and overall I enjoyed it.

Sibley tries to go back to her Midwestern town to reconnect with her mother and bury their past. But can mother and daughter really do that? As both women struggle to piece together the deceit and lies, and the shocking circumstances that caused Sibley to leave in the first place, it becomes clear there are secrets rooted deeper than either mother or daughter could ever have imagined.
I really liked this book. It was well written and the characters were very well developed. I will definitely read more from this author.

Sibley left home after a tragedy, but has to return years later. She is no longer the same person, neither is her mother. The book frequently switches between Sibley and her mother's point of view, which gives the reader a better understanding of the book and the plot its working towards. The twists and turns keep you entertained until the end.

I enjoyed this one. The twist at the end was good and the story flowed well. I will definitely be recommending this one and I will be checking out more from this author.

I was a bit disappointed with this thriller and expected a lot more from it, I didn’t really connect that well with the plot or the characters

The Imposter took me forever to get the hang of. The characters drove me nuts. I understand some people just have some issues, but I just really struggled to like the characters. I was also left with a lot of unanswered questions such as, what happened to the life insurance from Sibley's dad (Jonathan)? Sibley also mentions that she wanted to tell the truth about Nico, but yet she never did. I'm not sure. I just struggled. I did enjoy that ending, it was impossible to put down when it came down to the last few chapters.

I requested this book hoping for more.

The description was vague and could be placed on any recent thriller and worked so I wasn't surprised that this book wasn't unique at all. It read nicely and had a few twists and turns but for someone who reads thrillers it will fall into the cracks

I'm sorry I didn't review sooner!

But I'd like to say that I really enjoyed this book and I read threw it in a day, I was hooked.

I look forward to reading other releases from Marin Montgomery!