The Imposter was a fantastic thriller that takes the reader into a mother and daughter’s rocky relationship and descent into confusion while uncovering some past secrets. Sibley and her mother, Deborah, are both keeping secrets from each other and cannot repair their relationship until they have hashed out the truth about what happened when Sibley’s father was killed. The story takes us into both women’s perspectives of the past and how that is affecting their current relationship and problems.

My favorite part of this thriller, and any thrillers that use this plot device, was the choice of having the main characters be unreliable. I love when there is so much craziness happening, but you don’t know if it’s actually happening because the characters don’t even know if it’s real!

Liked:
-the eerie farm/small town setting
-the twists & didn’t guess the biggest twist at the end
-that the ending was wrapped up neatly & didn’t leave much ambiguity

Disliked:
-the “bad guy’s” whole “let me reveal by plan and what I did” at the end - I know this is typical for thrillers but I thought it was just a little too easy in this one
-Sibley, she was unlikeable with a lot of issues and I wasn’t really rooting for her, more for Deborah

Thank you #netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read this ARC. The description of the book was intriguing. I liked the beginning of Deborah’s story and of Sibley’s. One problem was I didn’t like or sympathize with either of them. I have to like at least one character in a book to keep me fully engaged. After Sibley went to see Deborah, I started to get bored because things did not seem realistic. I started to skim because I always hope a book will get better. Well this one really did! The end was so good. The problem was after the skimming and there were so many characters I had problems keeping everyone straight. But the end of the book was really good. I think if liking characters is not important to you, you will like this book, 3.5 stars.

This is a slow-burning suspenseful novel filled with plenty of twists. The writing was good and I really enjoyed this book

This was one twisted tale with a lot of red herrings along the way. Who is unstable? Deborah or Sibley? If you like psychological thrillers then this is for you.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is an interesting mystery focused on family drama, secrets and lies. It took me about a day (7hrs) to read, which I love.

I wasn’t sold on the epilogue or part one, Deborah’s POV was hard to get into but once I started part two I got into the flow of this story and became hooked. I think starting with Deborah in the third person jarred me, I prefer first person stories. Some third person continues through this story but it’s spaced well and I became used to it, it ended up breaking the POVs up nicely.

This is a slow-burn and the suspense builds slowly. It’s a good mystery cross family drama, with the occasional eerie feels. There is a lot of vague back story, which is worth it in the end.

Halfway through I was confused but intrigued as to what was coming next. By part three I was hooked and there were a couple of twists I wasn’t expecting. Part three was exceptional.

It wrapped up well.

Overall the writing was great. I really enjoyed Sibley’s chapters.

Trigger warnings for: alcoholism, domestic violence.

I think this is a 3.5 star rating for me, rounded down to 3 only because I personally don’t enjoy third person narrative and starting with it almost stopped me continuing. I’m glad I kept reading though.

I would read another book by Marin Montgomery.

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and most of all Merin Montgomery for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Honestly- this book sounded pretty intriguing, which is why I wanted to read it in the first place.
However, I couldn’t finish it. I tried, I really did. I started it twice and got a little more read the second time around- but there wasn’t enough happening at the very beginning of the book to keep me hooked.
I’d love to try something else this author has written, but this one was just not it for me.

I enjoyed the overall plot, and the writing was excellent. Repeat cliffhangers make it hard for me to stay invested in a story. That's a personal preference, not a critique.

Throughout the story, the point of view keeps switching back and forth between mother and daughter. This in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, in this story it helps us see just how misunderstood they each are. As each chapter ended, I grew more and more confused. I didn't appreciate how that confusion aided the story until I got to the end, then I realized if the reader is confused it helps accentuate how confused the two main characters really are. And, boy oh boy are they confused on what is real versus what is imagined.

This story has murder (maybe), ghosts (probably), manipulation (very possibly), misunderstanding (definitely), and family drama (of course).

Arc provided by NetGalley and Marin Montgomery. In return for my honest thoughts and my review. I will be honest I have never read a book by this author. After reading this book I will be checking out more of her books. This book is set to be released March 9, 2021 and highly recommend this bool to anyone who loves a good thriller and some crazy twist and turns, I went in not knowing or didn’t want to know to much about this book. This book is amazing I would think the story would go a way and then it totally took me by surprise.
About book-
Deborah is a lonely old woman living in the country with things hidden in her past. She feels like there are things there that she cant seem to wrap is it real or not. She has a big farm which she runs alone. Since her husband was killed many years ago and her daughter she hasn’t spoked to in many years. Sibley is a divorce attorney who has problems of her own drinking and trying to keep her marriage together. When Sibley is forced to make some changes. But she has to make a stop home. Again amazing book highly recommend...

The beginning was very slow doing the back story and establishing the main characters. I did find myself very intrigued with the main charter Sibley. Her life is wild and has a lot going on.
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The story goes between 2 different POV and I enjoy reading different perspectives of the story. This twisted tale was a psychological thriller between a mother and a daughter.
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There were many secrets and lies throughout the story. I was very shocked at the ending. To me there were two shockers for one for each character. Definitely kept me going to see what happened.

This was messy. The writing is repetitive and the dialogue occasionally unrealistic, and it needed some serious editing. With about 50-75 fewer pages, this could have been a tight, disorienting thriller, but its bloated length sap the story of energy and propulsion.

The Imposter by Marin Montgomery
Pub date March 9, 2021 by Thomas & Mercer
This was the first book I’ve read by Marin Montgomery, so I didn’t know what to expect. What I got was a wild ride that kept me guessing until the very end. The book features two narrators, Deborah, the mother, and Sibley, her adult daughter. They have been estranged for 14 years, since the time that Sibley’s father died in an accident on their farm that was considered suspicious by some in their small town. It was always suspected by local gossips that Deborah was having an affair at the time, and in some way helped to cause the accident, but there was never any proof to back up this blame. Shortly after the accident, Sibley graduated from high school, packed up and left for good. She worked her way through college and law school, became a successful attorney and got married, all with very limited contact with her mother. In the present day, Sibley is struggling with depression and an alcohol addiction and seems to be suffering from blackouts when drinking – she sometimes can’t remember where she’s been or what she’s done. She is accused of sleeping with a client, and her law firm puts her on probation until she completes rehab. After a heart-to-heart talk with a friend, she can’t shake the gnawing feeling that she needs to resolve her issues at home with her mother before she can move on and heal. She crosses the country and shows up unannounced at her mom’s house, who still lives on the farm where Sibley grew up. Deborah is also struggling. Her relationship with her husband was not what Sibley always thought, and she is dealing with her own depression, anxiety and guilt over events surrounding her husband’s death years ago. To make matters worth, she suffers an attack one dark night outside her home which has long lasting physical and mental impacts. She has finally decided to start seeing a psychiatrist to work through some of her issues when Sibley arrives home. It becomes clear that both mother and daughter have been keeping secrets from each other for years. Together, they slowly begin to unravel the mysteries of their family.
I liked this book. It was entertaining. Both narrators were unreliable and confused at times, so it really kept the reader guessing about what had happened in the past and what was happening in the present. I liked the part when Deborah saw a strange man sitting in her living room – that really got my attention and had me wondering – is it a ghost or is she hallucinating? How serious are her mental issues? There were several interesting twists that I didn’t guess, and the ending was satisfying – the loose ends were tied up and questions were resolved. I gave this book 3 ½ stars – rounded up to 4.
It was a good, solid domestic thriller. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Sometimes, what we forget is more important than what we remember"

Deborah and her daughter Sibley have been estranged for 16 long years. Deborah is a mother who has developed extreme mental issues because of the tragedy after tragedy she had to suffer. Sibley is the daughter whose family and career is on the verge of destruction due to her alcoholism. When Sibley decides to head home to her mother instead of to a rehab, she does so in hopes of finding the truth about that unfortunate event that seperated her from her mother years ago. But when Sibley reaches her 'home', she no longer connects with it, nor does she like being in her mother's presence. And thus, the daughter who came back to find answers to her questions find herself faced with more and more questions. What really is the truth? Will she be able to seperate the truth from the intricate web of lies?

This book starts out slow, but its pace increases once you get engrossed in the story. It is narrative from two POV's - Deborah's (in third person) and Sibley's (in first person). I am a fan of different POV's and I absolutely love how the author has eloquently written the perspectives. The chapters make you confused as to who is lying with its unreliable narration (which is brilliant!)

If I am to classify the twists into three, I could only figure out one of them. The other two were unforseen, and it made the story even more interesting! And I loved how all the actions, which seemed pretty 'why is this happening now' to me, made sense by the end of the book!

Overall, I extremely enjoyed reading this one, and I especially loved the ending. I highly recommend this to all who loves a good psychological thriller!

Thanks to the author, Marin Montgomery and Netgalley for provding me with an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I had some trouble getting into this book in the beginning--I wasn’t interested in the first few chapters from Deborah’s point of view, but once the narration switched to Sibley’s POV the story began to gain traction.

It immediately becomes evident that both narrators are unreliable. Sibley is an alcoholic, frequently experiencing blackouts and misremembering prior nights. Deborah is a source of much rumor and speculation in town, and seems to have some kind of memory issues as well. Scenes are often repeated from each character’s POV with the facts greatly differing. I was excited to get to the end to figure out who was telling the truth.

At times the writing was a little bit confusing, with all of the secrets and lies and misremembering. It was difficult to figure out who to believe, which was obviously the intent, but the confusion made it somewhat harder to connect with the storyline and the characters. The plot was compelling, though, and it all became clear in the end.

The Imposter.

Deborah and Sibley are mother and daughter who have been estranged from each other for many years. Living on completely different sides of the country and living lives neither knows anything about. One day after having an accident, Sibley decides in order to get her life turned around she needs to put things right with her mother. She returns home only to find things aren’t quite as they seem. Deborah is heavily medicated and seeing a psychiatrist. She is seeing and hearing things that aren’t quite there. Sibley isn’t sure what’s happening, but she’s determined to find out what’s going on and try to reconnect with the woman who raised her.

This was a psychological thriller that kept me guessing and wanting to know what was coming around the next bend. It’s a great reminder that the truth is always better than a lie, no matter the pain it may cause and always listen to those you love, even if it seems unbelievable.

I will definitey recommend this book to my friends!
Read this book! You will not be disappointed!

5/5 stars!

I am <i>shaking</i>. Really, trembling.

<b>The Imposter</b> hit me from left field, but in the best way possible.

I am speechless. It took me the better part of an hour to write this review, simply because I couldn't think of how to do it justice. The last book I read in 2020 may possibly be the best one.

Who is <b>The Imposter</b> for? Anyone who loves a good psychological thriller. Montgomery writes a truly spell-bounding story that leaves you feeling simultaneously confused, as well as with a sense of being ahead of the story, slowly piecing it together. Truthfully, I never was right about what was happening...which is probably why the grand reveal was so satisfying for me.

So let's get into the nitty-gritty. <b>The Imposter</b> is told in two perspectives, the first being Deborah, told in the third person. The second in the voice of Sibley, told in the first person. It sounds weird to have two sides of the story told in different points of view...and I can definitely see how an author could go dangerously wrong incorporating both into the same work, but Montgomery does it seamlessly. It truly works for the story.

Essentially, <b>The Imposter</b>, is Sibley's story, where her professional life, as a successful divorce attorney, and her personal life collide, leaving her trying to reconcile with her estranged mother and her past. As more secrets from the past are revealed, the danger and confusion ramp up for both mother and daughter, leading to the inevitable climax and wrap-up.

Can I say, I've never experienced two narrators who were both so equally lost and confused? You never knew who was telling the reality or living their imaginations. While that may seem like a negative aspect, I mean who likes unreliable narrators? I actually really got into it and it really added a certain charm to the story.

A twisted tale, starting as a slow burn while you get acquainted with the story and the characters, that leads into the wildest ride. I truly did not expect the ending and how it all played out. An excellent way to finish of 2020, no doubt about it!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! I will also be posting my review to Amazon Canada upon publishing.</i>

I didnt what to expect when I picked this one up! Its a fast paced psychological thriller which keeps us guessing right till the end. I had my doubts about a few things which turned out to be right but the final reveal was definitely not something that I could guess.
Though I couldn't relate to or end up liking the mother-daughter duo, I was definitely absorbed into the tale of their family.
I would definitely recommend this one for a quick, engaging thriller which keeps us on our toes!

Wow what a twisting, suspenseful tale! This story had me gripped from the beginning and kept me entranced throughout. At some point I wasn't sure I could continue, as it began to really spook me but i persevered and I'm glad I did!

This is a psychological thriller that describes the lives of an estranged mother and daughter. They each have many demons hidden away. The tale slowly unravels their mysteries and secrets as they confront each other and the ghosts of their shared past. It is a very haunting (sometimes a bit too literally!) story and it twists into an Intricate web of lies, addiction, deceit and suspense. At times I did get a little lost as there was so much detail and a lot of backstory attached to each character. This is the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars.

However a little confusion aside, this was one amazingly clever book and had me gripped to the end. I thought I had predicted the end with my distrust of one character but I was wrong and the author took It another way. It was a satisfying end to a clever tale!

I will look forward to reading this authors books in future.

Thank you to the author for the ARC. This is my first book by Marin. Wow! I went blindly into reading this so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Holy guacamole.
I felt like I was in a fog/trance and I was feeling what Deborah was feeling. I was totally immersed and finished most of the story in one sitting. It just pulled me in!
I will definitely will be checking out more from this author!

Had a tough time getting into this one but I want to read it still so I'm gonna put it down and try again in a few weeks! Will update then!

The Imposter - Marin Montgomery

☞ An eerie and mysterious story about troubled relationships, buried secrets, and wounds that never healed.

The Imposter was an interesting read. I was never quite sure what direction it was going to take. I believe it’s classified as a thriller but I would describe it as psychological fiction. The end is suspenseful and full of twists, but the bulk of the story is about a dysfunctional mother-daughter duo that both have a lot of issues.

Deborah is a woman with a difficult past. Her husband died 16 years ago in a freak accident and there are rumours that she may have had a hand in his death. Sibly left home after her father’s death and never looked back. She struggles with alcoholism and her life is imploding. She heads back home to face her mother and tackle her past.

The story is told through the varying perspectives of Deborah and Sibly. They both are struggling with their mental health for different reasons, which distorts their realities and leaves the reader unsure if their perspectives can be trusted. I found myself flipping back and forth between which one of these women was deranged and which was the victim.

The Imposter is a slow-burn thriller. Marin Montgomery takes her time painting the landscape and getting the reader ready for her explosive ending. There is a lot of mystery and confusion, the reader is never really sure what is imagined and what is real. Neither woman trusts the other and both have closets full of skeletons. It took me a little while to get into this one but about halfway through it really started to get interesting and the end blew me away!