Amazon.ca:Customer reviews: The Other Twin

There are 0 reviews and 0 ratings from Canadawith 4 star

Chanatkins

Thrilling and complex

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2017

Poppy returns to her home-town of Brighton when she hears that her younger sister India has committed suicide by jumping from the bridge at the station. Once home, Poppy discovers India's blog and the entries lead her to believe that her sister did not commit suicide. Determined to get to the truth, Poppy finds she is thwarted at every turn. Her mother and stepfather are acting strangely, and there is obviously history with their family friends the Temples, whose twins Matthew and Ana seem to dislike Poppy immensely. Then there is Jenny, a girl linked to India's blog and one who seems very frightened whenever Poppy speaks to her. The chapters jump from blog posts, Poppy's narration and the narration of an unknown male. He seems a dark and foreboding figure, so I began to imagine he was involved somehow. Towards the end, I did guess who he was. I didn't work out what had happened to India though, as that was all far more complicated than I could have ever anticipated.I enjoyed this book, as it kept me guessing and the chapters were all very dramatic and seemed to put everyone under suspicion at some point. I couldn't really warm to Poppy, though I did envy her courageous attempts to find out the truth. As with a lot of psychological thrillers, I did feel the characters weren't for me, but I do appreciate the plot-driven nature of the storyline, and admire the author's ability to weave such a complex tale! Highly recommend this for fans of the genre and anyone who wants to be kept guessing.

3 people found this helpful

Rocking up in BRIGHTON... a social media thriller

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 6, 2017

Verified Purchase

3.75

Another cover from Orenda Books that is utterly eye-catching and well designed.

Poppy’s sister India has jumped to her death from a bridge in Brighton and Poppy immediately decamps down to her mother’s house in the seaside resort of Brighton, to be with mum and her partner Tim. She just cannot believe it and although the sisters have not really been in contact over recent time, Poppy knows that suicide was just not part of her sister’s character.

Everyone is in such shock, no-one is thinking straight. So Poppy is drawn to look deeper into her sister’s death. Matthew is a young man with whom she once lived, a relationship that had a tricky ending, yet she approaches him for background on her sister’s life. Both Matthew and his own sister are the off-spring of a nouveau-riche couple, the Spences – with their own noveau family crest – who own the Obelisk, a hotel complex that towers over Brighton. Her own history with the Spence family muddies already dark and sulphurous waters, and the further Poppy probes, the more she is rebuffed. Dead ends are everywhere, it seems.

Chancing upon her sister’s blog, she pays to have India’s computer unlocked. There she discovers more evidence that India’s death is not all it seems. The author sets her story very much in the present day of the internet and Social Media age, it’s sharply observed and stark in its reality. Does Jenny, active in the blog dialogue discovered on India’s computer, really exist and if so, where might she be found?

The novel has a good pace and an interesting ending. The author has a creative, confident and sound writing style. Brighton is certainly a good backdrop, with colour, references to the LGBTQ community which has a strong in the town…mention of the Lanes, the beach… and the darkness of the Winter months, appropriate to this rather bleak storyline.

The book has received many accolades, there are inumerous 5* reivews out there. For me it didn’t quite hit the high notes which it clearly has for others. The aspect that didn’t work for me is the added texture of the narrative in the form of the bit part players who have been consigned to “type” – often with ugly attributes – who are woven into the story. Women on a hen party fall over and are sick – for sure, an everyday occurrence but perhaps hardly worth noting; Cerise, another character “grabs the label ‘chav’ and wears it as a badge of honour“. These set the context but felt just a little contrived and to my mind didn’t aid progression of the plot.

Poppy, although very much adult, has some very immature ways of being and thinking, and sometimes – (especially with the short chapters, which I liked, I hasten to add, it gave a crisp feel to the narrative and reflected the channel-hopping nature of the internet which is a very strong theme in the book) – there was a slight patina of the Young Adult genre overlaying the story. Overall, an interesting plot from an author who has talent, who handles sensitive topics with aplomb, and clearly goes for hard hitting plots.

It will be really interesting to see where she goes next.

One person found this helpful

A cracking read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2017

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed the idea of this title and the themes, but I felt that there was an awful lot of discussion and the pace was so fast I couldn't keep up with the characters so I didn't feel I got to know them very well. I think it's great that the author has described race, gender, and sexual orientation in the title, but I felt there was a lot of it for just one book. I feel it could have been lengthened a bit to give me longer to absorb the issues raised. But in all, I enjoyed the author's originality, her voice, and thought it would make a cracking TV series/film adaptation.

One person found this helpful

Janma

Emotionally charged.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 20, 2017

Verified Purchase

Writing as fluent as ever, topic current, story development pacey, emotionally charged. A damned good book, so why didn't I award that final star? This is a personal preference, but I thought Lucy's love of description got in the way of a story that very much told itself. For me, there wasn't the need to give every last detail of every minor character. But that is only a very tiny criticism of this book that expands comprehension of a difficult subject. Lucy has become an author whose work I can pick up and trust. That is high praise from me.

One person found this helpful

AJ Sendall

Much more than just another psychological thriller.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 18, 2019

Verified Purchase

The Other Twin is much more than just another psychological thriller, it's an engaging and refreshingly different read with well formed characters, great dialogue, and enough twists to satisfy any lover of mysteries.
Highly recommended!

One person found this helpful

Deb

Good twist

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2018

Verified Purchase

It was a little slow in places, and whilst it did all tie up with a good twist, it was a decent read but not brilliant.

One person found this helpful

Mr. Oliver Dj Page

A page turning 'whodunnit' for the social media generation

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2017

Verified Purchase

'The book piqued my interest and I'm glad I can say it didn't disappoint (without having to keep my fingers crossed).

It was a very easy read that pulled me in within the first few pages. Like any good 'whodunnit' I found myself second guessing and changing my answer with every plot development. Luckily for the masses, I'm not a detective.

Would I recommend reading it? Yes!

One person found this helpful

Mrs Owen

A good read.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 28, 2019

Verified Purchase

Enjoyed this story.

One person found this helpful

sassy

Good book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2018

Verified Purchase

No problem with seller the book was good but a bit slow in places . However it soon has you gripped.

One person found this helpful

Paula Nicolson

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2018

Verified Purchase

Very enjoyable - not predictable and a fun read

One person found this helpful

5 star		41%
4 star		33%
3 star		17%
2 star		3%
1 star		6%

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