Two identical twin sisters and former child actors have grown apart—until one disappears, and the other is forced to confront the secrets they’ve kept from each other in this suspense novel from the "New York Times" bestselling author of "Pretty Things."
Brown spools out the causes in suspenseful bits and pieces, which showcase her insights into family dynamics ... becomes less a story about estrangement, guilt and regret and more of an addictive thriller that will keep readers burning through pages to find out what happened. When the narration shifts to Elli’s point of view at a critical juncture in the novel, a twist genuinely surprises, as do Brown’s insights into the very different psychological makeup, perspective and needs of the missing twin. Particularly poignant are Elli’s take on childhood events and how GenFem has exploited her insecurities and weaknesses ... a sneakily hypnotic thriller that turns on how Elli’s naïve beliefs have been twisted and whether it’s possible for an estranged family to reclaim their lives and futures.
Brown infuses this twist-packed mystery with an intense story of creating one’s identity, rife with deep family trauma and a low-key, creepy depiction of the dark side of twin intimacy ... Brown seamlessly uses Sam’s retrospection into the twins’ childhood experiences impersonating and protecting each other both as character development and plot device, letting the latter flow naturally while never feeling cheesy. The perfectly paced emotional reveals of the twins’ shared history pull the reader toward fierce investment in Elli’s safety and the sisters’ reconnection. Brown has upped her game with this one.
Brown weaves together all these strands into a delicious work of intrigue and suspense. Sam narrates the first part of the novel, which deftly alternates between the present and the twins’ days of fame in the past. Elli narrates the second part, and while their voices sound rather too similar, Brown adroitly explores their individual psychologies—their very different interests, needs, motivations, and, ultimately, their reactions to their early careers. The prose is smooth and fluid throughout, and if the story occasionally gets bogged down in the twins’ backstory, that complaint is a minor one. Overall, the narrative sprints ahead. You won’t want to stop reading until you find out what’s happened ... Minor flaws don’t slow the forward propulsion of this compelling novel.
