I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started this book, but I can say that while I wasn’t blown away by it, I definitely enjoyed the ride. This is largely due to the captivating characters the author has created.

The story mostly focuses on Jane Pool, a seemingly content woman living a comfortable suburban life in New York. She has a husband and a young daughter, and she hates her mother-in-law. She works a ho-hum job at a university where her aging father is a professor. From the outside, everything appears ordinary; however, beneath this facade, Jane carries the weight of her tumultuous past, largely due to a mother who was rarely present in her life and an estranged twin sister with whom she hasn’t spoken in years.

When said sister, Lila, contacts her with information about their long-lost mother, Jane’s curiosity is piqued. Desperate for answers and yearning to reconnect with someone who truly understands her, Jane agrees to join Lila on a journey that takes them across the United States and then to South America. As they dig deeper into their mother’s secrets, they are confronted with deception and darkness that has always loomed over their family.

What I liked most about this book was the structure. We flip between the present as the twins search for their mother and the past when we gradually learn about their tumultuous childhood and how it affected their adult lives. The reveal is gradual, and I loved watching the pieces fall into place. Lennon crafted a narrative that is both propulsive and mysterious. With each turn of the page, the tension builds, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the next revelation.

I also liked that there were several elements in this novel. It’s part mystery, part thriller, and another part family drama. This fusion worked well and kept me engaged, but I think what really makes this novel interesting is Jane and Lila Pool – the twin main characters. I think my only gripe was that the book’s primary focus is on Jane, and I wanted a little more info on Lila. That said, this wasn’t enough to ruin the book for me. I found them both very compelling.

As readers delve into Jane’s psyche, they witness her transformation from a woman trapped in a mundane existence to a fearless and determined seeker of truth. We know that Jane did prison time, and finding out why really adds to the complexity of her character and has quite an impact on the relationship between the twins.

Lila, with her enigmatic personality and unwavering determination, brings a sense of intrigue to the story. Lila had a lot of tricks up her sleeve, and I think that is why I wanted to know more about her, though I think a lot of her charm was the secrets she held, and I wonder if I’d have been as intrigued by her if I knew all of her secrets. The complex relationship between the twins is one of the book’s most captivating aspects as they navigate their shared past and the secrets that have kept them apart.

Supporting characters such as the twin’s father, Henry, Chloe (Jane’s daughter), Chance (Jane’s husband), and Susan (Jane’s mother-in-law) were also interesting and served a distinct purpose in the overall story. I think the only character that I felt distanced from was the twin’s mother, but then again, so did they, so I guess that worked.

Overall, I felt this was a great blend of genres and a gripping tale of family secrets and identity. With its unforgettable characters and captivating plot, this book will appeal to anyone who likes a fast-paced and complex story.