By Jessica R. Patch

When I read the premise, it brought me back to one of my favorite childhood movies, The Parent Trap (Haley Mills or Lindsey Lohan, both are good). The added ingredient of suspense and I was all in. 

Wow, what a twisted ride!

Charlotte Kane lives in a miserable apartment in Chicago. No job, no family, no future. When her abusive drug addict mother finally dies, Charlotte discovers she has a twin. Acelynn Benedict looks identical to Charlotte, but her life is one of luxury. She has a picture-perfect family, a handsome boyfriend, and is an influencer and designer in Savannah. When the women meet, it seems as if Charlotte will finally have the sister and family she has always wanted. But within hours, a night of reunion and celebration turns to tragedy and Charlotte flees to Savannah disguised as her twin sister. 

But as Charlotte steps into her sister’s shoes, she realizes that Acelynn’s glittering life was hiding something much more sinister. Caught in a web of deceit, backstabbing, and blackmail, Charlotte has no choice but to remain as Acelynn. Because Charlotte Kane of Chicago is dead.

Pros: I loved the gritty and realistic writing style. The characters and events stayed with me long after I put the book down because it felt like I was part of their messed-up world – and that was if I could put the book down! There were plenty of cliffhangers and twists and turns!

Friendships, family, and the mystery filled up the plot with only a tiny thread of romance, so that was something else I could get behind.

Cons: My only personal mark against the book was the twist in the big reveal. It took a believable storyline and pushed it a bit too far. I would have preferred my working theory.

Note: This is not your grandmother’s Christian fiction book. I would call it “clean” in the fact that there is no language and no sex on the page. However, if you prefer your books as pure as the driven snow, this one might not be for you. Depraved minds, drugs, and side characters’ hookups are a big part of the mystery. The faith element isn’t preached, but is mainly brought to the surface with questions about finding true peace, love, and truth.

Bottom Line: A grown-up version of Parent Trap gone wrong in this twisted, clean southern suspense novel.