The Look-Alike

Erica Spindler

Jan 2020 · Macmillan + ORM

About this ebook

From Erica Spindler, the New York Times bestselling author of The Other Girl and Justice for Sara comes The Look-Alike, a thrilling psychological drama about a woman who believes she escaped a brutal murder years ago—but does anyone else believe her?

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?

Ratings and reviews

I received an ARC of The Look A-Like by Erica Spindler, and loved every page turning minute of it. It was an outstanding book and Erica Spindler is an amazing storyteller. The Look A-Like is the story of Sienna Scott and her return home to Tranquility Bluffs, Wisconsin from London, where she has been for the last ten years. The story takes place in current day, but some chapters detail the events from ten years ago. Ten years ago, when Sienna was a freshmen in college, she found the body of a fellow student, Madison Robie, who had been murdered on campus. Sienna believed that Madi was murdered instead of her, same color coat along the path that Sienna took to her dorm after study group. Sienna's mother, Vivienne suffers from mental illness. Sienna's father, Dan sent her to London to live with his mother, because he was concerned about Sienna's mental health. Upon her arrival home, Sienna hears that Madison Robie's murder case has been reopened. Sienna soon notices the new neighbor across the street, Jonathan Hart. He is fixing up the house to flip it. Sienna and Jonathan become romantically involved and Sienna believes she is falling in love with him. That is until Sienna does the unthinkable and accuses him of murdering Madi. As the police get closer to solving the murder everyone is a suspect, including Sienna's mother, and half brother, Brad. Love how Erica always keeps you guessing who did it. Not sure how many times I flip flopped between Jonathan, Brad, Vivienne, and Randy, campus police officer first on the scene of Madi's murder and now a detective for the Tranquility Bluffs Police Department. Love the details and all the characters in the story. It was a phenomenal story. So happy that The Look A-Like includes my favorite surprises and plot twists that I have come to expect in Erica Spindler's books. She truly did not disappoint. I loved the ending, wasn't sure how she was going to tie it all together, but she did it magnificently. (less)

Yikes! I haven't read an Erica Spindler book for a while and forgot how they keep you on the edge of your seat. The Look-Alike is no exception, this old woman had to learn edge of the seat balance again. Ms. Spindler has created a book that is well-written and populated with a phenomenal cast of characters. Sienna was in college when she came across a murdered woman. After ten years in London with her grandmother, she returns home, just as the case is opened again. Sienna is inundated with thoughts about the murder, her mother's illness, Jonathan the new neighbor and worries about having the same illness as her mother. This book is loaded with drama, humor, sizzle, action and suspense. I enjoyed every word and will be working on catching up on the Erica Spindler books I haven't read yet. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first exposure to the devious word-stylings of Erica Spindler and I chose an excellent start point, if I do say so myself ~ well, honestly, how else could anyone recognize my genius if I don’t point it out? I instantly fell into this diabolically and ingeniously crafted, tautly written, and brain itching tale of intrigue, murder, family drama, and card-carrying mental illness. I conjured and cast aside a bevy of questionable and brilliant theories, as everyone was suspect at one time or another. The writing was stellar and the storylines were maddeningly paced and cunningly crafted while cast with a wide assortment of curiously compelling and brain-tickling characters. Now that I have had a taste of her word voodoo, I am greedy for all of Ms. Spindler’s clever words.

About the author

New York Times bestselling author ERICA SPINDLER has written more than thirty novels, including The First Wife, Justice for Sara, Watch Me Die, Blood Vines, Breakneck, and Last Known Victim. She lives just outside New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband and two sons.