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A review by theboundless_bookworm
The Good Twin by Diane Saxon
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNINGS:
In this compelling psychological tale, twin sisters Summer and Skye hold contrasting views on how to cope with their mother's recent death. One sister, left behind to keep their remaining family together, expresses her disappointment as her twin ventures off to college. As the good twin, Summer hates the idea of Skye leaving her, but she acknowledges that her twin chose to move on with her life. Then, she meets LJ - a stranger she met online with whom she has shared her frustrations and everything about her family. But what seemed a harmless meet-up took an unexpected and frightening turn. The question looms: Can Summer's family rally to rescue her from captivity, or will her abductor keep her trapped indefinitely?
The story switches between Summer and Sky at different times, hinting at the possibility of an unreliable narrator. The dual perspective may sometimes be confusing, and the reader may need to reread the chapter's first few lines to know which POV it was.
The kidnapping trope isn't new in mystery novels; still, there's an intriguing promise as the plot unfolds. Good aspects are seeing the abductor's point of view and the unique telepathic connection between the twins.
Of course, a mystery novel isn't complete without its twists. This book certainly has its share of twists and turns - some predictable, while a few quite surprising.
Yet, it's not without its faults. The author tends to suspend an engaging scenario by interjecting backstories and lengthy descriptions to develop the characters, which can become dull, causing the reader to lose track of the gripping storyline. While I understand that introducing flashbacks within a present storyline is necessary for insight and backstory, the author had created rather long ones. By the time the flashback ended, I forgot a prior scene was being told - even one meant to create tension. An entire chapter even describes one character's step-by-step makeup application used as successive dialogue tags. I find such execution of procedural descriptions too tedious. Typically, repetition in novels creates resonance, but in this case, it was excessive. This particular writing technique contributed to the book feeling monotonous. It was in the middle that the structure became more polished despite the confusing POVs, yet the narrative detours and repetitions crop up intermittently. It would have been better to build up the other characters to create more vital false leads than utilize recurring lines.
Overall, it was an okay read. I love that the book dealt with themes of Stockholm Syndrome and trauma bonds. A poignancy to the story, particularly on sisterhood, left me hopeful. Once revealed, the "motive" gave a satisfying ending that could have been phenomenal if the writing structure had been better. If you're crazy about plot twists, this book is for you.
"Thank you #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for this complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Pregnancy, Rape, Kidnapping, Murder, and Death