PINTEREST
BLOGLOVIN
GOODREADS
Published by Killer Reads/Harper Collins
Ebook : 18 August 2017 | Paperback : 5 October 2017
400 pages
Source: Review copy
| About the book |
A unique, exciting psychological thriller that will tug at your heartstrings, and keep you guessing until the very last page!
A MISSING GIRL…A SECRET TO BE UNCOVERED.
Edie and her identical twin Laura have always been best friends. So when Laura surprises Edie at the Mediterranean holiday resort where she’s working, Edie can’t wait for the partying to start! But then, Laura vanishes without a trace…
At the same time, in a country on the other side of the sea, Fatima and her twin daughters set out on a harrowing journey that only the strongest – and luckiest – survive.
Edie and Fatima’s lives are worlds apart, but now, their paths are set to collide, with devastating consequences. When Fatima hovers on the brink of survival, Edie must risk her own life to save her, and finally discover the truth about her missing sister.
| My thoughts |
The Missing Twin is the story of two women – Edie, a 23 year old working in a Mediterranean holiday resort and Fatima, a woman trying to escape a war torn country to safety and a new life. At first, it seems difficult to imagine how their lives will connect as their backgrounds are so different but Alex Day has woven a dramatic and suspenseful tale which expertly combines the two strands.
I have to admit that when I first started this book, Edie irritated me so much that I was ready to throw the Kindle across the room. I found her immature, selfish, self-centred and quite frankly for a 23 year old, just plain stupid – part of me was wishing that it had been her who had disappeared and not her twin Laura but I guess that’s the reaction the author intended. It was Fatima’s story that kept me reading. The tragedy and suffering that families like Fatima have to endure is heartbreaking to read. Widowed, homeless and penniless she joins forces with her brother in law and they, together with their respective children, make the perilous journey to find sanctuary away from the bombing of their country.
Edie’s obsession with the odious Vuk, was hard to stomach, and every time he treated her badly I was willing her to see his true colours. I did find the names confusing at times and frequently got my Vlad (the resort manager) and Vuk’s mixed up!
Fatima’s story was a real eye opener into the immense difficulties and danger that refugees have to suffer to get to safety; being constantly ripped off by people traffickers, struggling to find food, water and shelter. Having to deal with illness, my heart was in shreds whilst travelling with Fatima. She was definitely my favourite character – her resilience and bravery was tremendous and I was so hoping throughout that everything would turn out well for her. There was part of her story that I did correctly guess quite early on – however this aspect was quite cleverly done.
Despite my feelings about Edie, there was a point in the story when she redeemed herself and I actually felt a bit guilty for disliking her so much earlier. Once I knew more about her background, I did begin to see her in a different light. Again, I had already guessed part of the final outcome but this didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment.
In my opinion, if an author is able to invoke a strong reaction in readers to fictional characters, then they have done their job well. Whilst The Missing Twin was suspenseful, I’m not sure that it could be called a psychological thriller, but it was a well structured and emotional read, making me think about the people behind the newspaper headlines and the struggles they face.
My thanks to Killer Reads and Netgalley for the opportunity to review.
| About the author |
Alex Day is a writer, teacher, parent and dreamer who has been putting pen to paper to weave stories for as long as she can remember. The Missing Twin is her first psychological thriller but she is a bestselling author of fiction under the name Rose Alexander.
Inspired by a real pair of identical twin girls, The Missing Twin also draws on Alex’s experience of teaching newly arrived refugees, migrants and asylum seekers in a London comprehensive school.
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