Phoebe is barely functioning. She has lost her husband and daughter in a car accident three years ago and now forces herself to get through the day in her job at the mortuary as a cosmetologist. Her prior career as a sculptor provides a skill that is appreciated by all families and she is in great demand.
   But now someone arrives in the morgue that makes everyone in the morgue do a double take. This woman could be her twin. What’s more she has a picture that ties her with her dead husband. Why was she here and how did she die? Did her parents have a child that she didn’t know of?
   This story offered so many twists and turns. There were histories within her family that couldn’t be confirmed nor denied but were pivotal to who this person was in the morgue and discovering facts about her deceased husband. Phoebe becomes distrustful of everyone because each has their own little secret they aren’t sharing.
   Phoebe becomes her own advocate and detective and after connecting all the dots, rediscovers herself and a new life with new family.
   It was an exciting thriller that shouldn’t be missed.

First and foremost, I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for making this book available for review.

I was a bit worried that the book would go in a direction that I didn't particularly like, but I did end up thinking that this was an okay book.

The plot is simple but I think the author does a good job at crafting a story about someone who is suddenly faced with an alarming revelation. I can't really say more that as it is better to just read the book yourself and immerse yourself in the story. The only minor issue I really had with the narrative was that it did take a bit to connect all the storylines together. I will say though that while Phoebe was a bit frustrating at times as she makes rather questionable decisions, I also think that because of that, she was an interesting character to follow.

One minor detail that I have a personal gripe with is the fact that it spoiled (I think) the plot for Flowers for Algernon which I didn't really appreciate. I have yet to read it and wanted to go into it without knowing anything but...that's not happening anymore. If you haven't read the book yet either, then watch out if you don't want to be spoiled.

If you are looking for a mystery thriller book that is a bit lighter on both aspects then I would say give this a try. Or, if you enjoyed something like Orphan Black and are looking for something with fewer sci-fi vibes, maybe this will work for you as well.

This is truly one wild story and I loved it!
I actually was so certain that I knew where the plot was leading,! I was SOOOO wrong!
Phoebe works in a mortuary, making people look as they were in life. She does a good job!
She is trying to "hold herself together" every single day following a family tragedy that took place three years ago.
However- when a young woman's body comes in to the morgue, she is almost an exact lookalike to Phoebe, This creates an extensive, suspenseful mystery that will keep you on the edge of your chair!
This is definitely a fast, intense read! Perfect for the beach!

I loved this book! Enjoyable from the very beginning - I really felt for Phoebe, the main character, and found her story relatable. A very well thought out mystery, bringing the story from one page to another in no time; I devoured the whole book in just 2 days! Definitely didn't see the ending coming, and I love that it kept me guessing until the very end. Will definitely be recommending!

***3.5 stars***Wow, what an emotional page-turner! So much death, but I guess that's expected when you work at a mortuary.

I felt genuine pity for Phoebe and my heart was so broken for her. Her life is in shambles after a horrific car accident that claims the lives of those closest to her, causing her to live through a mother's worst nightmare.

She's having a really hard time coping with the grief. Three years after the accident, her doppelgänger shows up dead at her workplace and sends her down a rabbit hole to uncover truths and help her receive closure.

I did not give this book more stars because I felt like the ending was rushed and should have wrapped up differently than it did. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

In Another Light by A.J. Banner
Once again, AJ Banner hits it out of the park with this story. “What a tangled web we weave,” isn’t that how the saying goes? Not everything is how it seems. What happens when the lines between reality and surreal blur? How do you know what to believe? Can you trust what your eyes are seeing?
AJ Banner is able to weave together bits and pieces of Phoebe’s life to tell a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Phoebe has an unusual job. She is the one who prepares the bodies for viewing. Her artistic skills are quite useful. However, you will never believe who shows up on her table. This is a story that will keep you wanting to read one more chapter until you are at the end of the book! The reader will be surprised at the end. I know I was! Clear your schedule. Plan to stay up late or call in sick to work. You will not want to put his book down!! Enjoy!!!

This book started off strong but lost its way somewhere in the middle. The plot was all over the place and many of the characters were downright unlikeable.

Books about doppelgangers have always intrigued me. Imagine that there is a mirror image of you out there and you’re both living your lives, unaware of one another ... it’s almost like a parallel universe in which anything is possible. And yet nothing good can ever come out of being confronted with a body that bears an uncanny resemblance to yourself, especially when there are so many questions that now cannot be answered.

Artist and sculptor Phoebe Glassman works in a mortuary where she restores the faces of the dead to make them presentable for viewing by their loved ones (gruesome, yes, but someone’s got to do it, and Phoebe is excellent in her job). She is shocked when a young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Phoebe ends up on the mortuary table, especially once Phoebe realises that she recognises the woman’s tattoo from a photo she once saw on her husband’s phone. From here follows a quest that will not only reveal some of Phoebe’s tragic history, but will also send her on a quest that may very well be her undoing ...

IN ANOTHER LIGHT was a story very much driven by emotion, which added a depth often missing in other mysteries. In fact, the mystery element here was firmly rooted in Phoebe’s own past rather than the death of her doppelganger. There was something particularly heartbreaking about the image of a woman not only restoring the faces of the dead, but constructing a very unique piece of artwork every year on the anniversary of a loved one (I am treading very carefully here so I don’t give too much away, so don’t worry if it doesn’t make much sense – it will, once you read it).

In fact, “heartbreaking” was one of the main themes of this novel for me, besides the fact that I was almost as invested as Phoebe herself in solving the mystery of the young woman’s identity, especially when the stakes started to become very high indeed. Emotions drove me to read this book almost in a single sitting, and though the ending wasn’t what I had expected it was a satisfying tying up of threads with a couple of surprise elements.

IN ANOTHER LIGHT will appeal to readers who enjoy character and emotion driven mysteries unveiling family secrets and past trauma. Phoebe was a well-rounded, sympathetic character perfect for driving this type of story, and the events will tug on even the most hardened reader’s heartstrings. I loved it and can’t wait to read more from this author in future.

I received an ARC from #NetGalley in exchange for my honest review of #InAnotherLight by A.J. Banner.

I was absolutely riveted by this story. From page 1 to the end, I could barely read fast enough to satisfy my curiosity.

At its heart, this is a book about grief and how fragile our lives and balance can be when everything is ripped tragically away from us. My heart went out to Phoebe as little by littler her tragedy is revealed to the reader. By the end of chapter 8, I was absolutely gutted for her. I’m being very careful not to give spoilers, since the plot is a maze of slowly unfolding details right up to the final chapters. As we reach the climax of the plot, it becomes clear that this is not going to end happily for Phoebe. You’re watching the train wreck, but helpless to avert it.

Just at the darkest point, the epilogue gives us the happy & healthy ending that seemed so hopelessly out of reach only pages earlier.

I finished the book with a sense of relief and joy - so happy that Phoebe was able to finally emerge from the guilt and tragedy with a second chance at happiness.

I highly recommend this book and hope you’ll try it when it releases in October 2021.

A woman shows up in the morgue that is the doppelganger of a mortuary cosmetologist sending her down a rabbit hole. Her perceived perception of what happened to her husband and daughter three years ago leaves her questioning everything. What is the truths and what has been lies?

The plot grips you from the beginning and you'll stay up late finishing it. Full of betrayl, grief, loss, deception, lies and finally truth and acceptance.

Thank you Aj Banner and netgalley for an ARC of this book!

This book had me on the edge of my seat, up until 3 am trying to figure out what the heck was going on.

Phoebe McClary works at a funeral home and she prepares the dead for their viewings. She is a sculptor, so she sees the reconstruction that she does as art. She feels as dead as the people that she works on, though, ever since the accident that took her husband, Logan, from her three years ago. One day, Mike (a last responder) tells her that he is going to do an unusual pickup and that she might want to avoid this one. This piques Phoebe's curiosity, though, and leads her on a journey to figure out what really happened three years ago.

I really enjoyed this book and the peek into the mind of a person going through such deep grief was very interesting. It is written in a way that makes all of the actions of our main character seem to make sense. I am interested in looking more into Banner's other works.

This book really pulled me into the story quickly. It felt there were a lot of things going on to pay attention to. There were lots of twists and turns. It was even better than I expected from the description. You liked Phoebe and were rooting for her. Plus, the ending was very satisfying, not leaving you wondering what happened to the characters. I really appreciate that. Good plot and good suspense.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this interesting book.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of “In Another Light” through NetGalley.

Phoebe Glassman, a university trained Sculptor turned Mortician, begins the novel on the third anniversary of the tragic day she lost both her husband and her daughter just attempting to make it through the day. That is, until her doppelgänger is transferred to Fair Winds Funeral Home from an apparent overdose - with a photo of Phoebe in her wallet and a tattoo that matches her husbands old phone screensaver. While Phoebe follows a trail of breadcrumbs, we the reader are also left wondering, “are we being gaslighted? Or is Phoebe an unreliable narrator.

Personally, this novel was heading a little too close to being the plot of “Double Jeopardy” so when then next big twist hit, I couldn’t stop reading until I found out what really was going on. Unfortunately, I did figure out the ending a little too soon (I even highlighted a paragraph thinking it was the giveaway point and found myself say “I KNEW IT” in the last paragraph but readers not unaccustomed to this genre would get a great kick out of this read!

“In Another Light” is now the third novel I have read by A.J. Banner, and I must say Banner is starting to come into their own as an author; but they still have a way to go to compete with the big names of “Psychological Thrillers” (Hawkins, Moriarty, Flynn, etc). Half the delay in reaching to that point could be that Banner works with one of Amazons Kindle’s imprints - with the support of a larger publishing company’s editors Banner could be the next big thing.

This book was twisty and suspenseful, definitely grips you on the edge of your seat. It's pretty unpredictable and I think that is why I enjoyed it so much!

This isn't your momma's usual thriller. A.J. Banner's latest release "In Another Light" is yet another masterful thriller for the author, out in October.
Readers follow Phoebe, a mortuary cosmetologist, amid her never-ending grief after her husband and daughter were killed in a car crash three years ago. While Phoebe's life is now a quiet observance of her past, her life upends itself when the body of a woman named Pauline Steele arrives at the mortuary.
There is no denying it once Phoebe looks at Pauline–the woman could be Phoebe's twin and bears a familiar tattoo. On top of their resemblance, Phoebe discovers a faded photo of herself among Pauline's things–sending her on a journey into the life and death of her doppelganger. Revelations unearthed, secrets uncovered, and Phoebe's past is cracked wide open by the lies her husband, friends–and even herself created.
From the first page, "In Another Light" absolutely astounds with Phoebe's palpable grief and hope. The frighteningly realistic suffering Phoebe experiences and the wayward actions she takes resulting from her grief are a reminder of grief's vastness and the manifestations it can take on. Banner masters the art of going beyond the thriller genre to weave a fascinating–yet dark–story of a mother's grief with the heart-pounding essence of a thriller.
Banner is the master of unreliable narrators, and Phoebe doesn't disappoint. Banner's false sense of security asserts that the first half of the novel forces readers to question their sanity and hearts as Phoebe investigates the woman's past and memories. Just as you think you've solved the origins of the young woman, Banner comes in with a big 'gotcha!' moment and throws the reader into a self-questioning spiral for the ages.
The only gripe I have with Banner's latest is it could've been heavier with the suspense and dive deeper into Logan's deceptions. True, this isn't a story about a husband's lies beyond the grave, but there are plenty of questions left unanswered once readers finish the novel. If only Banner had expanded on his history of lies, the story would feel an ounce more complete to readers.
A riveting page-turner that doesn't reveal all of its secrets until the last page, "In Another Light," will clench your heart between its fists and make you stay up all night to finish it.

In Another Light by A.J. Banner is a surprising and twisty novel. Phoebe is a mortuary cosmetologist who gets rocked to the core when someone who looks just like her is brought in to the mortuary. She begins a surprising and dangerous trip to uncover the truth.

The book grasps your attention from the very first chapter and continues to hold it throughout the book. Each chapter was so well crafted that it kept the suspense going. Nice read and a definitely 5 star deserving book. Great work by the author.

Engaging, suspenseful, full of intrigue, page turner. You won’t want to put this one down. It’s not as predictable as you think! It’ll keep you guessing.

In Another Light was one of my quickest reads so far this year. It’s a page turner and the start of this novel does a wonderful job at captivating the reader. I really didn’t want to put it down. The setting – a mortuary – is different and I enjoyed learning about the art of preparing a body for a viewing. The natural burial ideas were interesting too. Phoebe’s grief is very real and as takes on a journey towards figuring out who she was married to and what happened to her family.
The reader is never sure how reliable a narrator Phoebe is as she has a history of mental illness. We’re never sure who is on her side and who isn’t. I did identify and empathize with her and even if I wasn’t sure what was going on I was rooting for her the entire time.
The pace of the book seemed to slow for me midway and the ending wasn’t as satisfying as I’d have liked. Some events were predictable, and some were a bit of a surprise. It felt rushed and I didn’t feel as invested in the characters as I was earlier in the novel.
This was my first book by this author and I will definitely pick up another one.
If you’re ready for an easy to read, page- turner, psychological family drama, this might be a good next book.
Thanks, Lake Union!

This was a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish with a great storyline, interesting cast of characters and all capped off by skilful writing. It's well worth your time if you appreciate great storytellers.