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Liked It5 of 5 members found this review helpful “I read this book searching for emotional closure from Tana French's first novel, "In The Woods," and, much to my surprise, I got it. Irish Police Detective Cassie Maddox, a character in "In the Woods," is the protagonist and narrator of "The Likeness." She seems a much more reliable narrator...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “This was quite possibly the dumbest book I've ever read. |
Newest Reviews
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“I love her writing style this books theme of trying to find the place where you belong added a great layer to the story.”
Rachel S wrote this review 16 hours ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“ Six months after the events of In the Woods , Detective Cassie Maddox is still trying to recover. She’s transferred out of the murder squad and started a relationship with Detective Sam O’Neill, but she’s too badly shaken to make a commitment to him or to her career. Then Sam calls her to the scene of his new case: a young woman found stabbed to death in a small town outside Dublin. The dead girl’s ID says her name is Lexie Madison—the identity Cassie used years ago as an undercover detective—and she looks exactly like Cassie. With no leads, no suspects, and no clue to Lexie’s real identity, Cassie’s old undercover boss, Frank Mackey, spots the opportunity of a lifetime. They can say that the stab wound wasn’t fatal and send Cassie undercover in her place to find out information that the police never would and to tempt the killer out of hiding. At first Cassie thinks the idea is crazy, but she is seduced by the prospect of working on a murder investigation again and by the idea of assuming the victim’s identity as a graduate student with a cozy group of friends. As she is drawn into Lexie’s world, Cassie realizes that the girl’s secrets run deeper than anyone imagined. Her friends are becoming suspicious, Sam has discovered a generations-old feud involving the old house the students live in, and Frank is starting to suspect that Cassie’s growing emotional involvement could put the whole investigation at risk. ”
Nisareen - So Much To Read So Little Time wrote this review 4 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I found this book tedious and long. I just wanted to get to the end. There weren't any surprises. I think the premise was ludicrous and that no matter how well you had studied someone, you would have been caught out right away trying to pass yourself off in a housemate situation. I really didn't care who killed the girl Lexie by the end. It was anticlimactic. I didn't care much about Cassie Maddox either and got tired of hearing about Operation Vestal and Rob and what went wrong, etc. I don't think I will read any more of these novels, just don't care. Skip it. ”
TERESA V wrote this review 5 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Mary B said: 3 stars
Play Book Tag Shelf wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This partially didn't thrill me because I looooved In the Woods. I've passed it on to a dozen people and have been discussing it. I don't know that it had a chance. The good news is that it confirmed that she can write and has a marvelous imagination for relationships. Eventually I did like this book. But it took me a long time to get over how stupid the premise was. Cassie goes to a murder scene of a woman who looks exactly like her and borrowed an identity Cassie used years ago while working undercover. She feels responsible for the girl's murder and... no really.... learns to mimic her voice and goes undercover amongst her roommates pretending to be the dead girl to find her killer. Apparently we have exact doubles out there that are not related to us at all. I'm not all sciencey but NO. BAD. And the coincidence of the stolen identity also bothered me for most of the book. Once I understood where she was going and that the premise was just a means of getting there, it wasn't so bad but srsly. Seriously.
”“A bit tedious in parts but the premise is interesting and it was well written”
Dan M wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I enjoyed reading this book, but it did get a bit tiresome. The Likeness had a very interesting plot premise. Its premise of a twins or double has become a common theme in serious literature, taking on powerful implications about the meaning of identity. Also there are some creative twists and turns. However, I believe that she could have economized her words. She used flowery, extensive descriptions of settings. Somehow the laboriously long sentences did not quite conger up images in my mind. The lack of rhythm in her sentences often requires rereading. At times the plot takes too long for the next development. However, I may have taken this book too seriously for a mystery. I am used to reading Nobel Prizes of literature, which is perhaps not a fair comparison.”
Hal S wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I loved this book, but I admit I had to suspend my belief to accept the plot. I really enjoyed the Maddox character and how she interacted with all of the suspects in the house.”
Michael B wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This was quite possibly the dumbest book I've ever read.
Dez wrote this review Tuesday, November 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Very disappointing. Really like Cassie Maddox character.
Just wish the plot was some what believable.”
“I liked this book better than In The Woods. French's writing is so good, you actually feel like you're there with the characters.”
Elizabeth E wrote this review Monday, November 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It has taken this second book by Ms French to be able to fully characterize her style. She is a masterful story teller. Her use of English is a rare and beautiful thing. Her characters are very realistic. But it is her pacing that is her most unique aspect. I realized three-fourths of the way through this book that reading her is like putting together a large jigsaw puzzle where you only have a hint of what the actual final picture is. I won't summarize the plot; read the information available on Amazon if you want that.
Superb Curmudgeon wrote this review Saturday, November 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Her story-telling is like a jigsaw puzzle because you only get small pieces assembled at a time. You get the edges; you get similar pieces starting to fit together without knowing just where they fit and, after much patience, the picture comes together. By that time, the pacing is so rapid you can't put the book/puzzle down.
This is not just mystery writing, this is literature of high order. I cannot recommend either of her books highly enough.”
