A suspenseful account of twin sisters and their secret lives. Sam and Elli are identical twins who spent their childhood years, and then their teenage ones, as actors. Now grown, they've also grown apart--Elli in the direction of a husband, a career as a florist, and an upper-middle-class life; Sam in a downward spiral of addiction. Then Sam, one year sober--a year in which she hasn't spoken with Elli--gets a call from their parents: Elli has gone away to some sort of spa; could Sam help out with the little girl she adopted? Sam arrives to find everything slightly awry: Elli's incommunicado, their mother's in denial, and meanwhile, Sam finds some worrying paperwork at Elli's house. What's this organization Elli's been giving large sums of money to? 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. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

As child stars, identical twins Sam and Elli learned that they could seamlessly assume each other's identity to circumvent strenuous filming schedules and daunting social situations. As adults, however, their respective modes of self-destruction could not be more different; Sam succumbs repeatedly to addiction, while Elli cannot overcome her desperate need to please others. Their conflicting desires--fame versus family--create a rift between the once-inseparable pair, but their paths are thrust back together when Sam learns that Elli has disappeared into the folds of what may be a dangerous cult. Narrators Julia Whelan and Kate Rudd both have steady, silvery voices, which are similar enough to suggest the sororal connection, yet different enough to distinguish Sam's edgy, outgoing nature from Elli's quiet compassion. By splitting the narrative between both sisters, author Brown (Pretty Things) creates cliffhangers that will leave listeners breathless, compelled forward to reach the next thrilling twist. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an intricate plot that is both moving and menacing, a fast-paced roller coaster of suspense and surprises. Recommended for fans of Lisa Jewell, Holly Seddon, and Bev Thomas.--Lauren Hackert

Bestseller Brown (Pretty Things) 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. Samantha Logan's dream-worthy stint as a child TV star depended highly on her identical twin Elli's initially grudging participation, which eventually created deep bonds between them. In adulthood, Sam's alcohol addiction and Elli's traditional lifestyle in Santa Barbara, Calif., has left the two women estranged. So when Elli disappears after going to a mysterious spa in Ojai, with her husband having left her and their parents calling Sam in to help with the toddler Elli has recently adopted without informing her family, Sam feels sure that something is profoundly wrong in her sister's life. 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. (Apr.)