Not Who You Think

by Arbor Sloane

The copycat of a killer made famous by a true crime author kidnaps a classmate of the author’s daughter in this twisty thriller, perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins.

Amelia Child has devoted her life to researching Gerald Shapiro, the Catfish Killer, a man who pretended to be other people online to gain women’s trust before meeting and killing them. Her book on the Catfish Killer, Into the Glass, earned wild success and a legion of true crime fans. Years later, Amelia is pulled back into the case when a girl from her daughter’s high school disappears, and all signs point to a copycat killer mimicking the Catfish Killer’s every move. 

As Amelia meets with the detective that helped her study Gerald Shapiro years ago and they become suspicious of Shapiro’s son, Amelia’s daughter Gabby receives a letter from the kidnapper threatening that she might be next. Desperate to find the culprit before her classmate is killed or she becomes the latest victim, Gabby conducts her own search for the missing girl. 

With Amelia’s own family at risk and the entire true crime world obsessing and investigating online, the stakes have never been higher. Everyone wants to find the killer–but when his modus operandi is to pretend to be someone else, he’s not going to be easy to catch.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

304 pages, Paperback

Published August 26, 2025

About the author

Arbor Sloane grew up in the Midwest and earned her master’s degree in English at Iowa State University. She now teaches community college courses and resides with her family in the Des Moines area.


source: Amazon

Reviews

[TheConnieFox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is in the mystery, thriller genre. It gave me more mystery vibes though. I think it was a reasonable read, but it didn’t get me all hyped up to give it more than three stars. This book goes back and forth, to the present time and back in 2019. It captured my attention throughout most of the book and had a great ending. I feel like if you are someone who wants to dip their toes into the thriller genre, this book would be a good start. It has steady pacing, a great plot and found it to be an easy to read book! This does come with a twist you don’t see coming!

Not Who You Think is about an author who wrote a true crime book about the catfish killer. Amelia Child wrote this book and it became very popular and successful. The catfish killer is well known as someone who pretends to be other people on the internet, in order to gain the trust of their victims. After writing this book in 2019, a girl from her Daughter’s school goes missing in 2024. Her daughter Gabby ends up receiving a letter from the copycat killer and she might become the next victim! As the story unfolds, it becomes more clear who the suspect is. However, with a twist that I didn’t see coming, I had no idea who the real copycat catfish killer was! Be sure to read the content warnings of this book before reading it. Overall, I found this to be a great mystery with a dash of thriller to it. I give this a solid 3 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Arbor Sloane and Crooked Lane Books for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on August 26, 2025!

[linda hole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was it fast paced? Yes
Was it a popcorn thriller? Yes
I think it is a excellent book for those who have just started reading psychological thrillers
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

[Kurryreads (Kerry) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6qR2aRo/

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Years after Amelia Child writes a bestseller about the Catfish Killer, a copycat seems to have popped up and taken a girl from Amelia’s daughter’s school. Amelia joins forces with the police detective on the Catfish Killer case to try and stop the copycat before it’s too late.

I think this started off really strong but as the story went along, it devolved. Multiple times I caught small discrepancies in the story. There were also multiple points of views, all in the first person, that had the same tone and syntax , making it difficult to decipher whose POV we were currently in. And perhaps the most egregious were the decisions Gabby, Amelia’s teenage daughter. Each one induced more eye-rolling and created multiple unnecessary situations.

Overall, though, I do think this was a quick and entertaining read. It’s a decent debut, and I would read a future book from Sloane.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[tay · Rating 1 out of 5]

“not who you think” more like i knew exactly who the whole time 🫠

[Joanna Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Who You Think is a fast-paced and entertaining story. It has an interesting plot and compelling characters. Ultimately, I found it to be a very strong debut and would recommend to fans of mystery suspense/thriller, especially if you also enjoy true crime stories.

This story centers around an apparent copycat of a well-known serial killer in the Iowa City area. There is quite a bit of lore surrounding the serial killer due to a true crime book written by the daughter, Amelia, of one his victims, released 5 years before present day. The serial killer is behind bars, but he has many fans. When a new abduction occurs, Amelia notices the similarities to the true crime story. She also notes the similarities of the new victim to her own daughter of the same age. This causes Amelia to dive back into investigating to lend her expertise, helping the same FBI investigator she worked with previously, and protect her daughter.

This story has many moving parts and players, as well as featuring excerpts from the true crime book. My main critique is that it was too much going, so there were some loose ends. There were some head-scratching moments by some of the main characters, and I would have appreciated more story build up and character development. However, the short chapters and easy pace detract from those questions/critiques. It was a very consumable and enjoyable read.

Overall, it is a good read. I was impressed by the debut story from Arbor Sloane and hope to check out more in future

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. Views are my own.

[Mohammad Anas · Rating 4 out of 5]

[NetGalley Read #40]
3.5 ⭐️

"Sometimes we cling to things that don't serve us anymore because we mistakenly believe that things will change. When you know deep down that they won't."

Quite good. A little rough around the edges. Could have been longer.

It's a great premise. Structure is also quite good, weaving in 3 POVs with excerpts from the fictional book 'Beyond the Glass'. It could have done with more pages. There are good themes but it feels like whenever the story tries to linger and explore that theme or try to flesh out the characters a bit more, the chapter ends.

Characters are good. Relationships are well written. The themes of love, loss, betrayal, abuse, and fear are all covered with our main characters. And the scene where Gabby sees her parents back together for a moment and the whole analogy with two branches of the same tree growing apart is just heartbreaking and beautifully written.

I liked the twist. There are enough red herrings thrown around to keep you guessing. I couldn't. So I liked it when it was revealed. Made sense. Wasn't too outlandish. Props for that.

It is easy to read. Fast paced. Short (220+ pages). Lots and lots of chapters (75, to be exact). Again, it could have done with more pages to flesh out the characters a bit more and explore the themes in more depth.

Recommended. 👍

[Aisha Virk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt like a very childish book very ABC. Follow the plot of a mystery if that makes sense.

[Kathy]

I’m not usually a reader of thrillers, which makes it hard for me to give this book a rating, but I found it hard to put down, and devoured it quickly! I really liked the different timelines in the story, and also how each chapter was a different character’s viewpoint. I was kept guessing until the end!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Crookes Lane Books for the ARC of Not Who You Think.

This thriller grabbed my attention right away with its haunting forest setting and chilling premise. The story alternates between two timelines, weaving the past and present together in a way that kept me on edge and turning the pages quickly. The back-and-forth structure added suspense and tension, and while at times it moved very fast, that pace really worked to keep the stakes high and the secrets building.

The dual timelines allowed for intriguing character development, showing how past decisions ripple into the present. I enjoyed how each reveal tied the two storylines closer and closer until the truth could no longer be hidden. Arbor Sloane’s writing style is direct and vivid, and I could easily picture the eerie, atmospheric scenes.

Overall, this was a quick, engaging read with twists that delivered and a structure that kept the story fresh. A solid thriller for anyone who enjoys timelines colliding and secrets that refuse to stay buried.#ArborSloane #CrookedLaneBooks #NetGalley

[Ryder Close-Foley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable twist, but the writing is pretty good.

[Krys · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

Let me preface this by saying that the book is told between several different years, and points of view. One of these points of view is through the book that Amelia wrote called Behind the Glass which detailed the life and subsequent kills of the original Catfish Killer.

Now, before I jump in, let me just say that I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this novel so it very well may be that the issues I am about to address have been corrected between the time I read it, and the final publication.

There were several inconsistencies that I came across while reading this one. In an earlier chapter of "Behind the Glass" it is said that Gerald aka the catfish killer never took to breastfeeding as an infant. No matter how often (or for how long), his mother tried, the baby simply wasn't interested. However, that directly conflicts with information we are given prior to that which says that his mother didn't produce enough milk to keep him satisfied so he was wanting to feed every forty-five minutes, causing her to become overwhelmed. Then later on in another excerpt from Behind the Glass, it talks about how Gerald went on to punish his own son for "lying about cookies". Only, the boy didn't lie. He refused to eat the lunch that his mother had prepared for him, saying he wanted cookies instead. So Gerald let him eat cookies, until became physically ill from them. The one final mistake I noticed was near the end in chapter 61 when the sentence reads "teachers who said Jack that she'd left his classroom crying." I'm still trying to figure out just what the author meant by that.

Again, those are things that I noticed in my Advanced Copy, so while they may have been fixed before publication, however, I pride myself on my honest reviews so I would be remiss if I did not include those things and then others noticed them later on.

Moving on, I have to say I was super confused as to why Amelia, an author, was allowed to accompany the lead detective to interview potential suspects, much less why she was allowed to accompany him when they finally had a solid lead on the killers whereabouts. I get that her daughter was involved, but that is all the more reason why she shouldn't have been allowed to go. Also, considering the local PD was on scene then the address was discovered, why did they not immediately take over especially considering how close Amelia was to what was going on? I mean for crying out loud when the detective takes her to interview Gerald in jail about the copycat killer, she lets her emotions get the better of her to the point she spits on him.

And then we have her sixteen-year-old daughter Gabby. Who not only realizes pretty early on that she looks like the kidnapped girl, but also receives a threatening letter and that still doesn't stop her from making some of the stupidest mistakes that I have ever seen. Although, considering she IS only sixteen, I suppose I can forgive that, but it leads me to another question. If the police knew this website existed (which I'm sure they did all things considered, and if they didn't Amelia certainly did), why weren't any of them keeping an eye on it? Why did it take two teenagers to break the case? A minor detail to be sure, but still a pretty blatant one. I will say that I was pleased by the twist on who was involved as that was something that I definitely had not expected.

Considering this appears to be an author's debut novel, I would give them another read down the line as I do see the potential in their story-telling abilities.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Arbor Sloane’s Not Who You Think is a psychological scalpel, slicing through the skin of identity to expose the raw, twitching nerves beneath. The novel opens with a deceptively simple premise: a woman wakes up in a hospital with no memory of who she is, surrounded by people who insist they know her. But Sloane doesn’t play this for cheap suspense. Instead, they orchestrate a slow, cerebral unraveling that feels more like a philosophical interrogation than a whodunit.

Sloane’s prose is taut and clinical, almost sterile in its precision—until it isn’t. Moments of emotional rupture are rendered in jagged, fragmented syntax, mimicking the protagonist’s fractured psyche. The structure itself is a puzzle box: nonlinear chapters, unreliable narration, and shifting perspectives that force the reader to question not just what’s happening, but how they’re being told. It’s a masterclass in narrative disorientation.

The protagonist—known alternately as Mara, Elise, or “Jane Doe”—is a cipher whose identity is constructed through others’ projections. Sloane resists the temptation to make her sympathetic; instead, she’s unsettlingly blank, a mirror reflecting the fears and desires of those around her. Supporting characters—especially the enigmatic Dr. Kessler and the obsessive journalist Theo—are rendered with chilling ambiguity. Are they saviors, manipulators, or something worse?

Not Who You Think is a meditation on the instability of self. Sloane probes the idea that identity is not fixed but performative, shaped by memory, trauma, and external narrative. The thriller elements—missing persons, hidden files, cryptic messages—are scaffolding for a deeper existential dread: what if the person you think you are is just a story someone else told you?

Not Who You Think is not for readers seeking tidy resolutions or conventional thrills. It’s a literary labyrinth, where every turn leads to another hall of mirrors. Arbor Sloane doesn’t just twist the plot, but the reader’s perception of reality itself. This is a thriller for those who crave intellectual vertigo.

Best For: Fans of Gone Girl, The Silent Patient, and philosophical thrillers that leave you questioning everything—including yourself.

[Lazymum · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This review is for an ARC received through Netgalley!"
__

Wow! What a thrilling ride that was! The book discusses an issue of our times—the risks caused by online predators who can easily take advantage of the information we share online. It serves as a reminder to be cautious about what we post online, raising awareness of the potential dangers that come with our digital footprints. The author highlights these concerns well, effectively making us think twice before posting.

From the blurb, I was utterly hooked. I found myself on the edge of my seat, with my toes curling in suspense. While the plot may have some predictable elements—especially if you read between the lines—I still found it to be engaging and engrossing. The suspense was palpable throughout, keeping the excitement alive and making it difficult to put the book down.

Moreover, the end was wrapped up quite nicely. It's a book that not only entertains but also leaves a lasting impression, reminding readers of the importance of vigilance in our online lives. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend it.

[Mary Polzella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amelia Child is both loved and hated after writing a true crime book about Gerald Shapiro, the Catfish Killer. Years later, a young girl from her daughter's school is kidnapped and everything points to a copycat who seems to be imitating Gerald Shapiro's MO. As Amelia teams up with the detective who helped her gain access to Shapiro for her book, she becomes convinced that the copycat meant to kidnap her daughter but took the wrong girl in error. When Amelia's daughter finds someone she suspects is the copycat on an online forum, she intervenes in an effort to help save her classmate. Amelia meanwhile is desperate to get to the bottom of who is responsible for the recent kidnapping before the victim is hurt, or worse.

This thriller is written across two timelines with excerpts from Amelia's book interjected into the story. While the behaviour of some of the characters was frustrating, the overall storyline (with a twist!) and reasonably short chapters made for an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I would be more drawn into the book Not Who You Think by Arbor Sloane. The story presents Amelia Child, a dedicated researcher who finds herself in familiar yet unsettling territory when a copycat killer emerges. The exploration of online personas and the dangers of trusting strangers is timely and relevant, especially in today's digital age.

However, the story's execution left a bit to be desired for me. The pacing also fluctuates throughout the novel as the story is told by Amelia, Gabby (Amelia's daughter), the killer, and excerpts from Amelia's book about serial killer Gerald Shapiro. The subplot involving Amelia's daughter Gabby conducting her own investigation had potential, but it often felt like a distraction rather than a cohesive addition to the main story.

Overall, Not Who You Think has interesting moments and raises important themes about trust and identity. However, its execution sometimes falters, making it an average thriller for me.

#NotWhoYouThink #NetGalley @crookedlanebks

[Al Kratz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thriller takes off in the first sentence and locks the reader in until the end via the suspense of a copy cat kidnapper who is way too close to home. The stakes are obviously maximum for the kidnapping victim, but for the main character Amelia Child they take the form of many dimensions: an intimate history with the original serial killer, the danger and paranoia of motherhood and how to live in a world where our children might just not make it home some day, the impact of these things on a marriage. All the past relationships and the new complications of a criminal world much too close to home keep the thrills on high in this twisty twisted thriller.

The book is drawn to the question of nature versus nurture. What makes a serial killer? The book never gets to an answer but perhaps no-one really has. Perhaps this isn't the job of the thriller and these types of desires are fated to be unresolved.

If you like the thriller genre and being compelled to turning the page to find out how it all ends up, you should like Not Who You Think.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia wrote a book about the notorious serial killer, The Catfish Killer. One day, what looks to be a copycat pops up and Amelia's daughter Gabby is the target.

Not Who You Think moves fast and keeps your attention. There are times that I want to shake Gabby for being a reckless teenager but I think that just speaks to how well written the character was. There were little tidbits thrown in throughout the book that had me convinced it was going one way. Shortly after, I'd be convinced it was headed a different direction. No matter which way I thought it was going, I wasn't anywhere close to predicting the end and I love that! Well written, quick enjoyable read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lillian Gaskill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Who You Think by Arbor Sloane 4/5⭐️ 
 
Amelia Child has spent years researching infamous serial killer Gerald Shapiro, also known as the Catfish Killer. She even wrote a book about him, which gained her success. When a student from her daughter’s school goes missing, signs point to a copycat killer. Amelia wants nothing more to help detectives locate the missing girl, especially when her own daughter receives a letter.  
 
🪾🪾🪾🪾🪾 
 
I really enjoyed this book. I was intrigued by the multiple character perspectives and it reminded me of a crime drama. The excerpts from the characters own novel was an added bonus as well. There were twists I did not anticipate and it held my interest the whole time. 

[Tiffany K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always game for a whodunit type mystery novel, and I enjoyed the premise as well as the organization of the story. It was unique in telling as it followed multiple POVs, and I seeing the different perspectives of multiple characters created more depth in the story for sure. I also thought the two different timelines were effective in building out the plot and suspense. For me it was a fun read, and I pinned the wrong bad guy! So that makes for a good tail twister! If you are looking for an easy thriller read, it was entertaining and provided a novel brain break in the crazy that is life!

Recommendation: Quick read for busy thriller lovers and worth the read!

[Charity Lounsbery · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thrilling read! I was fortunate to get an ARC! Amelia is a relatable character and Iowa connection really added to the intrigue. Amelia is pulled back into a nightmare when serial killer behind bars it has a creepy copycat at a time when he daughter Gabby is a teen. The story moves back and forth through time from parts of book written about serial killer to current events . Several probable copycats kept me wondering until the end! Story quickly drew me in and kept me reading past my bedtime!

[Mehva · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fast moving book with an interesting premise. A copycat killer is at work and he may be targeting the daughter of a woman who wrote a book about the original killer. I was interested enough to keep reading but the writing felt pretty naive to me and that was in sharp contrast to some of the more detailed sections describing the brutality, so it kept feeling off to me. I did finish it and I know others liked it more than i did.

[Tabathareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

I saw a review that said go into this blind and don’t read the blurb, so I did, and I’m glad for it. This thriller was such a ride. As someone who reads a ton of thrillers, I’m rarely caught off guard, but this one shocked me. The tension was steady, the twists well placed, and the true crime angle gave it that extra layer of obsession and unease I love in the genre. I really enjoyed this one and will definitely be picking up more from this author.

[Jennifer TW · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of a serial killer, locked away, and a current copycat killer. Amelia wrote a book about it, her own mother being a victim. But now it seems this new copycat killer is targeting Amelia’s family again. A gripping read, and I didn’t spot the killer until the last minute. Kept me guessing nicely! Recommended. Thanks to the Author & Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Lisa E · Rating 4 out of 5]

After writing a book about the Catfish Killer, Amelia finds herself embroiled in a copycat case, where a girl from her daughter's school has been kidnapped. Is the copycat in contact with the original? Is Amelia's daughter next?

This book was an easy read, with a nice twist at the end.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Arbor Sloane for the early read!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley for honest review.

Fast paced and tense from the very beginning. The author captures both the past and the present with the book within a book, and its ties to the events happening in the book at the time. I had some suspicions, but I was happy to not be completely right.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly might be closer to a 2.5 ⭐️ …. Disappointing bc the concept is so interesting but it was not executed great. The writing felt a bit juvenile at times, the characters didn’t act or think like real people (everything was thought of in extremes, no grey area for thinking), and the pacing was just so rushed

[Cortney Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am big fan of true crime so this book really interested me. I liked how it went from passages in the book the mom wrote to the different characters of the mom and daughter. It was a good story line and had a twist I didn't see coming.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book. I'm not much of a thriller reader, and I enjoyed it. It was fast-paced and easy to read. The short chapters go back and forth between characters, time, and excerpts from a fictional book, which I found to be a neat way to unfold the plot line.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good! As an avid murder mystery/thriller reader I was able to predict the twist but the book kept me locked in and invested in the characters which is all I can ask for! A solid 4 star for me.