A prequel murder mystery to In the Woods. Interesting plot premise and twists will keep you guessing. Like her first novel, the characters are very likable and draw you deeper into the plot. Protagonist was a main character in first novel, but carries the tale more heavily in this book.

In this follow-up to her debut In the Woods (which I loved), author Tana French changes up the narrative voice, writing this time from the perspective of Detective Cassie Maddox. The Likeness picks up several months after the event of In the Woods and it begins with a bang. Having transferred out of the murder division and into domestic violence, Cassie is confused when her boyfriend, murder detective Sam O’Neill, calls her to a scene. But she is blown away when she discovers that the victim not only looks just like her but is carrying IDs with the name Lexie Madison, an identity Cassie invented (and thought she destroyed) for undercover work several years back.

Cassie’s spitting-image resemblance to the victim offers the murder squad an opportunity they’ve never had before: to solve the murder from the inside out. Telling the victim’s housemates and the media that Lexie did not die but was instead in a coma, they buy some time and learn as much about the enigmatic girl as they can. Then Cassie, doing something she swore she would never do again, goes undercover as Lexie Madison and moves into the home she shared with four other graduate students.

From the original premise to the complicated relationships between the housemates to the gorgeous writing and incredible suspense, The Likeness is a riveting, can’t-put-it-down, unforgettable read that mystery lovers and lit fic cross-over readers alike will appreciate. Whether it’s the female perspective or simply the experience that comes with no longer being a first-time author, French seems more comfortable and agile in Cassie’s voice, and her grasp of the psychological complexities makes this much more than your typical mystery. ( )

Compelling plotting and intricate characters in Dublin police procedural setting. First rate psychological thriller. ( )

Not a great read. The only mystery here is how the author managed to publish this story. ( )

For such an absurd premise, this book is so well-written that you very willingly suspend your disbelief to follow it through to the end. I listened to the audio up to the last 150 pages, and then switched to the book because I was becoming impatient with the amount of time it was taking up. However, I loved the audio production, and it was nice to still have all of the great Irish accents knocking around in my head as I finished reading it. ( )