Book Review: Identical by Saskia Sarginson

I’m pleased to be welcoming Saskia Sarginson to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel,  Identical

‘Please, I need your help. You’re the only person I can turn to. The only person who can pretend to be me…’

When Alice gets a desperate message from her estranged identical twin sister Cecily, she can’t help herself. She has to say yes. Pushing down the memories of the terrible childhood that ultimately tore them apart, she arrives at her sister’s house.

Cecily has left instructions: how to work the oven, what to cook for supper, what to say to her husband.

She says she’ll only be gone a week. She just needs to contact a lawyer, sort her head out, and work out how to get away from her marriage safely.

Alice barely knows why she’s agreed. But as she puts the key in the door, she wonders if – in coming to help her sister – she might be putting herself in the most terrible danger.

Because when Cecily stops replying to messages, and the words ‘die, die, die’ appear scrawled in lipstick on the bathroom mirror, Alice realizes – someone is out to get Cecily. And now they think Alice is her…

*****

Alice doesn’t hesitate when she gets an urgent message for help from her identical twin, Cecily. All she has to do is live as her sister for a week. That’s not too hard right? Except things are not what they seem. Alice begins to feel she’s in danger and she can’t get hold of her sister.

I’ve not previously read anything from Saskia Sarginson so I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for her latest novel, Identical and intrigued to get going on the book.

Told from the point of view of Alice in the present and Cecily in the past, this novel effortlessly goes between the two time lines. From the start, the author plants seeds of discord. There is a bubbling suspense and tension as it’s clear something is wrong. I just couldn’t put my finger on it and that made me want to continue turning the page.

Alice has stepped up to help her sister and that is admirable. You can see that she wants to do what she can. I felt there is a part of her that’s closed off. She only has a rucksack with her. She’s been out of the country for years. There’s a story there for sure.

Cecily is also clearly hiding something. Even separated, they seem to be the same.

Ahh, it’s so hard to talk about this book without giving a lot away. Haha.

The plot unfolds at a great pace as each woman steps further toward the danger they’ve been running from all their lives. And I REALLY did not see that end coming.

Identical is a dark, compelling, intriguing psychological thriller full of secrets and lies. It’s a story that really sends you on a bit of a mental rollercoaster. I couldn’t put it down.

About Saskia Sarginson –

Saskia Sarginson was awarded an M.A. in creative writing after a B.A. in English literature from Cambridge University.

Before becoming a full-time author, she was a health and beauty editor on women’s magazines, a ghostwriter for the BBC and HarperCollins, and a copywriter and script editor.

She lives in south London with her partner and four children. Her first novel, The Twins, was chosen for the Richard & Judy autumn book club 2013 and received outstanding international review coverage.

Say hello to Saskia on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to her newsletter. 

Identical was released by Boldwood Books on 28th May 2024. Click to buy on Amazon, Apple Books and Barnes and Noble. Click to buy on Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.