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The Riverview Mysteries #2
Mirror Image
There is a serial killer out there.
A serial killer targeting young men.
A serial killer who appears to be Linda’s sister Elizabeth.
Linda's dead sister Elizabeth.
But it can’t be Elizabeth. She's dead.
Right?
Could she still be alive? Or somehow back from the grave?
Or, maybe something even darker is happening … something that threatens Linda's life, as well.
Something that has been buried for years in the secrets and lies of her twisted family history. Can she discover the truth before it's too late?
A serial killer targeting young men.
A serial killer who appears to be Linda’s sister Elizabeth.
Linda's dead sister Elizabeth.
But it can’t be Elizabeth. She's dead.
Right?
Could she still be alive? Or somehow back from the grave?
Or, maybe something even darker is happening … something that threatens Linda's life, as well.
Something that has been buried for years in the secrets and lies of her twisted family history. Can she discover the truth before it's too late?
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2016
325 people are currently reading
1092 people want to read
About the author
Michele Pariza Wacek
62 books1,408 followersA USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years old because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but now she does spend much of her time writing stories. Mystery stories, to be exact. They're clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn't enough, she posts lots of fun things on her blog, including short stories, puzzles, recipes and more, at MPWNovels.com.
Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and currently lives there after spending nearly 30 years living in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona, with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.
When she's not writing, she's usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she's an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she's not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)
Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and currently lives there after spending nearly 30 years living in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona, with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.
When she's not writing, she's usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she's an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she's not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
May 24, 2016
Young single men are being brutally murdered. They are found in their beds, hands lashed to the headboard, naked, and with cut throats. There is a look of terror on their faces.
Linda is not having a good life. Her sister, Elizabeth, committed suicide 6 months earlier, and even though her body has never been found, there were witnesses. Linda isn't exactly grieving ... she feels guilt and maybe some relief for the most part.
It's really taking a toll on her health. She's lost so much weight, she's starting to look like a scarecrow. She eats less than a bird.. she's just never hungry. But the nights are the worst. Nightmares plague her to the point where she sleeps very little, even with the help of pills and alcohol.
She's having blackouts where hours disappear and she has no idea where she's been or what she's done. But when she starts seeing the dead men in her nightmares, that's when she gets really scared.
A former friend ... one who dated her sister ... is now a detective and he's buzzing around Linda asking all kinds of questions. Are you sure your sister is dead? Seems like someone closely resembling Elizabeth was seen with both the men who have been murdered recently. And now she's seeing Elizabeth every time she turns around.
Has Elizabeth returned from the dead? Did she fake her death in order to murder? Or, as Linda is afraid of ... is someone impersonating Elizabeth? And is it her?
This was a super story! Every other chapter or so tells about Elizabeth's home life and how if affected everyone around her. By the time the ending was near, I couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't.
The first chapter was terrific ... grabbed hold and didn't let go until the very end. I read this one in one setting .. just could not put this one down.
Many thanks to the author / Love-Based Publishing / NetGalley who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Linda is not having a good life. Her sister, Elizabeth, committed suicide 6 months earlier, and even though her body has never been found, there were witnesses. Linda isn't exactly grieving ... she feels guilt and maybe some relief for the most part.
It's really taking a toll on her health. She's lost so much weight, she's starting to look like a scarecrow. She eats less than a bird.. she's just never hungry. But the nights are the worst. Nightmares plague her to the point where she sleeps very little, even with the help of pills and alcohol.
She's having blackouts where hours disappear and she has no idea where she's been or what she's done. But when she starts seeing the dead men in her nightmares, that's when she gets really scared.
A former friend ... one who dated her sister ... is now a detective and he's buzzing around Linda asking all kinds of questions. Are you sure your sister is dead? Seems like someone closely resembling Elizabeth was seen with both the men who have been murdered recently. And now she's seeing Elizabeth every time she turns around.
Has Elizabeth returned from the dead? Did she fake her death in order to murder? Or, as Linda is afraid of ... is someone impersonating Elizabeth? And is it her?
This was a super story! Every other chapter or so tells about Elizabeth's home life and how if affected everyone around her. By the time the ending was near, I couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't.
The first chapter was terrific ... grabbed hold and didn't let go until the very end. I read this one in one setting .. just could not put this one down.
Many thanks to the author / Love-Based Publishing / NetGalley who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
April 5, 2022
Intense psychological thriller, most of the book I was convinced I knew who the killer was.... and I am happy to report that I was caught off guard. I was wrong!! Definitely good suspense, character development and a plot that keeps moving!
December 15, 2017
Young single men are being tortured and murdered in bed and founded naked in their bed. Such a havoc and terror situation in the town.
Linda - the main character grew up in an abusive household along with her four brothers and little sister Elizabeth, who committed suicide six months ago, even though her body is never been found and there were witnesses. Linda was mentally disturbed as she feel guilt about Elizabeth's suicide in result she eats like a bird and she is having nightmares plague her to the point where she sleeps little even with the help of pills and alcohol which leads to major weight loss.
Steve, a guy she knows from school, who once dated Elizabeth has come back into her life, is investigating the brutal murders and he believed at some points by the evidence he got from the victim's place Elizabeth faked her suicide and doing these murders, at some point even Steve also believed that the murders and Linda has a connection. Even 1 case Linda saw the victims face in her nightmare and the murder are happening on the same period of time when she had blackouts. She's unsure, but things keep happening - time she can't remember, nightmares, and police officers that act like she's hiding something - all leading her to feel (and act) more guilty.
Can Linda be the murderer Or Its Elizabeth who faked her death and still alive and doing this heinous crime or someone who disguised as Elizabeth and doing this murders to make Linda look guilty and criminal?
I really enjoyed this book and totally recommend this book to who like the suspense. This book maintains the suspense throughout, constantly keeping you guessing as to the true identity of the serial killer.
This one is sure to hold your attention from beginning to end.
Linda - the main character grew up in an abusive household along with her four brothers and little sister Elizabeth, who committed suicide six months ago, even though her body is never been found and there were witnesses. Linda was mentally disturbed as she feel guilt about Elizabeth's suicide in result she eats like a bird and she is having nightmares plague her to the point where she sleeps little even with the help of pills and alcohol which leads to major weight loss.
Steve, a guy she knows from school, who once dated Elizabeth has come back into her life, is investigating the brutal murders and he believed at some points by the evidence he got from the victim's place Elizabeth faked her suicide and doing these murders, at some point even Steve also believed that the murders and Linda has a connection. Even 1 case Linda saw the victims face in her nightmare and the murder are happening on the same period of time when she had blackouts. She's unsure, but things keep happening - time she can't remember, nightmares, and police officers that act like she's hiding something - all leading her to feel (and act) more guilty.
Can Linda be the murderer Or Its Elizabeth who faked her death and still alive and doing this heinous crime or someone who disguised as Elizabeth and doing this murders to make Linda look guilty and criminal?
I really enjoyed this book and totally recommend this book to who like the suspense. This book maintains the suspense throughout, constantly keeping you guessing as to the true identity of the serial killer.
This one is sure to hold your attention from beginning to end.
June 25, 2016
(3 1/2 stars)
Linda grew up in an abusive household along with her four brothers and little sister, Elizabeth, who committed suicide six months ago. Everyone in the family has handled the death differently, and it (as well as behavior by her family) hit her hard. Lately, though, she's been having dreams about Elizabeth - and is even sure that she saw her one day while she was on her way home from work.
Maybe it's the fact that Steve, a guy she once knew, has come back into her life, investigating a string of murders and believing, at least on some level, that Elizabeth did not die. Maybe it's the stress of the first family dinner (and holiday) since Elizabeth's death, and the fact that at least one of her brothers blames her for what happened. She's unsure, but things keep happening - time she can't remember, nightmares, and police officers that act like she's hiding something - all leading her to feel (and act) more guilty.
Can she be the murderer? Or is Elizabeth still alive? Who would go through all of this trouble to make Linda look (and feel) guilty?
I am a big fan of psychological thrillers, so when this was suggested to me, I decided to give it a go. The book description drew me in and the title of the novel had my brain working from the very first page, wondering how the two go together. As the story went on, though, it felt more like a cozy mystery with a little bit of paranormal thrown in, and the way things worked out just seemed a little too easy with "facts" that, up until the end, were just things Linda believed without much question.
The characters are written well, and I enjoyed the fact that sometimes I wasn't sure if she should be trusting the person or not. (I went back and forth several times with who I thought was behind everything.)
The two characters I liked the most were Mrs. Jensen and Don Shimon. Unfortunately, they were not actual characters in the story, but more like side people who had known the family once upon a time. I'm still not really sure what they were there for, other than the fact that we find out a lot of the background on the family - through memories and observations - from these two. For some reason, the family popped into their heads at some random time (or at least that's the way it seemed), and through that, we find out answers to some nagging questions, things that didn't make sense. Had they been actual characters in the story, I would have thought this was a great idea, but to just throw in two chapters (one for each) where they share all this information about what has happened in the past just seemed a little too easy.
The two characters I disliked the most were the cops that questioned Linda. They really had no part in the story either, other than to play bad cop to Steve's smitten cop, and were also the cause of things being put into Linda's head, making her believe that she had done this. The attitude and behavior of the female one just seemed really off and uncomfortable... and, as the story continues towards the end, they seem like VERY secondary characters. (In fact, I was pretty convinced when we first meet the female cop that she was framing Linda - possibly being jealous about Steve's feelings for her - because the hatred of her seemed SO extreme that I couldn't think of any other reason why she would loathe someone she didn't even know.)
The story itself has a lot of good points. Most specifically, the information dumps I spoke of above. They didn't feel like information dumps, even though that was what they were, and gave us a different look at Elizabeth, all from things that they had noticed from afar. I also enjoyed the way the story worked itself out at the end.
I would recommend the book if you want some light reading with a little bit of suspense, and it would be nice to see the author do an additional story with some of these characters - I think Terri would make a great private investigator.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Linda grew up in an abusive household along with her four brothers and little sister, Elizabeth, who committed suicide six months ago. Everyone in the family has handled the death differently, and it (as well as behavior by her family) hit her hard. Lately, though, she's been having dreams about Elizabeth - and is even sure that she saw her one day while she was on her way home from work.
Maybe it's the fact that Steve, a guy she once knew, has come back into her life, investigating a string of murders and believing, at least on some level, that Elizabeth did not die. Maybe it's the stress of the first family dinner (and holiday) since Elizabeth's death, and the fact that at least one of her brothers blames her for what happened. She's unsure, but things keep happening - time she can't remember, nightmares, and police officers that act like she's hiding something - all leading her to feel (and act) more guilty.
Can she be the murderer? Or is Elizabeth still alive? Who would go through all of this trouble to make Linda look (and feel) guilty?
I am a big fan of psychological thrillers, so when this was suggested to me, I decided to give it a go. The book description drew me in and the title of the novel had my brain working from the very first page, wondering how the two go together. As the story went on, though, it felt more like a cozy mystery with a little bit of paranormal thrown in, and the way things worked out just seemed a little too easy with "facts" that, up until the end, were just things Linda believed without much question.
The characters are written well, and I enjoyed the fact that sometimes I wasn't sure if she should be trusting the person or not. (I went back and forth several times with who I thought was behind everything.)
The two characters I liked the most were Mrs. Jensen and Don Shimon. Unfortunately, they were not actual characters in the story, but more like side people who had known the family once upon a time. I'm still not really sure what they were there for, other than the fact that we find out a lot of the background on the family - through memories and observations - from these two. For some reason, the family popped into their heads at some random time (or at least that's the way it seemed), and through that, we find out answers to some nagging questions, things that didn't make sense. Had they been actual characters in the story, I would have thought this was a great idea, but to just throw in two chapters (one for each) where they share all this information about what has happened in the past just seemed a little too easy.
The two characters I disliked the most were the cops that questioned Linda. They really had no part in the story either, other than to play bad cop to Steve's smitten cop, and were also the cause of things being put into Linda's head, making her believe that she had done this. The attitude and behavior of the female one just seemed really off and uncomfortable... and, as the story continues towards the end, they seem like VERY secondary characters. (In fact, I was pretty convinced when we first meet the female cop that she was framing Linda - possibly being jealous about Steve's feelings for her - because the hatred of her seemed SO extreme that I couldn't think of any other reason why she would loathe someone she didn't even know.)
The story itself has a lot of good points. Most specifically, the information dumps I spoke of above. They didn't feel like information dumps, even though that was what they were, and gave us a different look at Elizabeth, all from things that they had noticed from afar. I also enjoyed the way the story worked itself out at the end.
I would recommend the book if you want some light reading with a little bit of suspense, and it would be nice to see the author do an additional story with some of these characters - I think Terri would make a great private investigator.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
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October 18, 2023A serial killer is targeting young men. A serial killer who appears to be Linda’s sister Elizabeth. But it can’t be Elizabeth, she’s dead. Right?
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Available on ebook and paperback on all major retailers.
Direct: https://mpwnovels.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/mirro...
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mirr...
Kobo (and Kobo Plus): https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mirr...
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
June 9, 2016
Linda can't eat or sleep and is plagued by vivid nightmares in which she sees men getting killed before reading about them in the paper. Detective Steve Anderson - Linda's high school crush and her sister Elizabeth's ex-boyfriend - seeks Linda out with the possibility that Elizabeth might be committing these crimes. The only problem is that Elizabeth died six months ago. Then Linda starts having blackouts and losing time. Could she herself have something to do with the deaths?
Mirror Image is a combination of family drama and psychological suspense, with a slight supernatural element. The story is told mainly from Linda's perspective. However, the first chapter is told from the point-of-view of the victim, and there are a couple of chapters in which past acquaintances detail the strangeness of Elizabeth as a child. The author uses scent to great effect, as well as the recurring symbolism of mirrors and reflections. She deftly maintains the suspense throughout, constantly keeping you guessing as to the true identity of the serial killer.
This one is sure to hold your attention from beginning to end.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post: https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...
Mirror Image is a combination of family drama and psychological suspense, with a slight supernatural element. The story is told mainly from Linda's perspective. However, the first chapter is told from the point-of-view of the victim, and there are a couple of chapters in which past acquaintances detail the strangeness of Elizabeth as a child. The author uses scent to great effect, as well as the recurring symbolism of mirrors and reflections. She deftly maintains the suspense throughout, constantly keeping you guessing as to the true identity of the serial killer.
This one is sure to hold your attention from beginning to end.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post: https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...
July 2, 2016
THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER ABOUT A HIGHLY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY WITH A VERY UNUSUAL CHILD. THE WHOLE FAMILY SEEMS MESMERIZED BY ELIZABETH EXCEPT FOR LINDA...ELIZABETH ALWAYS GOT LINDA IN TROUBLE AND THEN SEEMED TO ENJOY SEEING HER ABUSIVELY DISCIPLINED. ELIZABETH DIED...OR DID SHE? SIX MONTHS LATER, LINDA IS SUFFERING WITH EXTREME NIGHTMARES, IS LOSING WEIGHT RAPIDLY AND IS NEEDING TO HIDE THE DARK CIRCLES AND PALE SKIN WITH MAKEUP. AFTER SOME BIZARRE SITUATIONS, LINDA FEELS SHE IS LOSING HER MIND! WHO CAN SHE TALK TO?WHO CAN SHE TRUST? THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN THE WORLD SHE CAN CONFIDE IN IS HER OLDER BROTHER AND TERRI, HER FORMER COLLEGE ROOMMATE. HER BROTHER, CHAD, HAS HIS OWN SERIOUS ISSUES SO LINDA TURNS TO TERRI TO CONFIDE IN.
THE VARIOUS WEIRD DREAMS AND STRANGE OCCURRENCES, KEEPS THE READER "ON THE EDGE OF HIS/HER SEAT". WITH THE STORY SLOWLY BUILDING TO THE CLIMAX, THE READER ISN'T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT...IS LINDA INSANE?
THE BOOK COVER AND TITLE WERE CLEVERLY DESIGNED...SIMPLE, YET EFFECTIVE.
THE CHARACTERS WERE VERY WELL DEVELOPED AND THE BACKGROUND SCENES EASILY VISUALIZED.
THE MAIN ISSUE I HAVE WITH THIS BOOK IS ELIZABETH IS NEVER TRULY DEFINED. THE READER IS LEFT WITH QUESTIONS UNANSWERED.
**READER BEWARE, THERE IS A LOT OF PROFANITY AND CRUDE REFERENCE TO SEXUALITY. IT IS A SHAME BECAUSE WITHOUT IT, IT WOULD, ALSO, BE A GREAT YA BOOK.
THE VARIOUS WEIRD DREAMS AND STRANGE OCCURRENCES, KEEPS THE READER "ON THE EDGE OF HIS/HER SEAT". WITH THE STORY SLOWLY BUILDING TO THE CLIMAX, THE READER ISN'T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT...IS LINDA INSANE?
THE BOOK COVER AND TITLE WERE CLEVERLY DESIGNED...SIMPLE, YET EFFECTIVE.
THE CHARACTERS WERE VERY WELL DEVELOPED AND THE BACKGROUND SCENES EASILY VISUALIZED.
THE MAIN ISSUE I HAVE WITH THIS BOOK IS ELIZABETH IS NEVER TRULY DEFINED. THE READER IS LEFT WITH QUESTIONS UNANSWERED.
**READER BEWARE, THERE IS A LOT OF PROFANITY AND CRUDE REFERENCE TO SEXUALITY. IT IS A SHAME BECAUSE WITHOUT IT, IT WOULD, ALSO, BE A GREAT YA BOOK.
June 10, 2016
Have you ever grown up in a family where you have felt like the odd one out , the black sheep ? For Linda, growing up in her family she was always the one to get into trouble as her sister Elizabeth was the golden child and the one who could do know wrong . If something went wrong, it had to be all Linda's fault. Six months ago, Linda's sister Elizabeth disappeared and was said to have committed suicide and at the funeral once again , it was Linda's fault that she had died and that Linda must have been the one to kill her or play a part in her death , no-one else. Since the funeral , Linda has lost weight, she has had blackouts and not being her usual self. When she gets a call from an old friend Steve , to say that there is a Serial Killer on the loose that matches her sister Elizabeth's description , right down to her distinctive silver eyes. How can this be when Elizabeth was supposed to have died six months ago , but with no body - can she really be alive ? I shall leave this review at this part, as it was such a good psychological thriller filled with plenty of twists and turns and OMG that ending , I definitely did not see that coming . This put a whole new spin on sick and twisted games. If you love books that mess with your mind and through you all about , then check out Mirror Image by Michele Pariza Wacek today.
May 27, 2016
WOW!! This book took you on a roller coaster ride. I meant to start this book on takeoff of a plane trip to California. Put it down to watch the scenery and then pick it back up for the descent. That didn't happen. I ended up finishing it on the plane. The story of family history and how it can lead to enough psychological trauma to make a serial killer with a dose of the supernatural thrown in for affect makes for a bumpy ride that left you satisfied but wanting more.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 20, 2023
That was intense. It is amazing what one person can do to a family. Years of contempt and anger. I wonder about the people around those families. I wasnt sure of the era this book was written in . I am finding it interesting how so many places are still dingy and yellowing because of smoking. People havent been able to smoke in some buildings for a while now.
Linda I felt so sorry for her. Her whole mind was chaos and she didn’t have a clue. The feelings that were going on in her were awful. Elizabeth I really want to know her backstory. That has to be unreal. I find it odd about her mom. Knowing something wasn’t right but letting all the madness happen. There was a lot to absorb in this book .There was more I want to say but am afraid of giving things away. I enjoyed and will read more of Michele Pariza Wacek .
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Linda I felt so sorry for her. Her whole mind was chaos and she didn’t have a clue. The feelings that were going on in her were awful. Elizabeth I really want to know her backstory. That has to be unreal. I find it odd about her mom. Knowing something wasn’t right but letting all the madness happen. There was a lot to absorb in this book .There was more I want to say but am afraid of giving things away. I enjoyed and will read more of Michele Pariza Wacek .
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 2, 2018
This is the first psychological suspense thriller I have read and kept reading page after page. This is well written with interesting characters. I thought I had it figured out but I was very surprised at the end.
August 5, 2022
This book seriously messed with my head. Sibling rivalry, ghosts from the past and murder make for an amazing story with an ending you can’t predict (even though I thought I did)….I was wrong.
February 8, 2017
Mirror image
Great storyline and all the crazy characters, this was a real well written mystery. I enjoying how the flow of the writing kept your interest page after page. Thank you for a wonderful read.
Great storyline and all the crazy characters, this was a real well written mystery. I enjoying how the flow of the writing kept your interest page after page. Thank you for a wonderful read.
June 11, 2016
This review is also posted on my main blog, English Blonde.
Mirror Image follows our main character Linda, who is not exactly having the good life she hoped for. She came from an abusive home, and her sister, Elizabeth committed suicide earlier this year, leaving no body behind. Due to her sister’s death, part of her feels guilt for never noticing anything wrong, and also relief due to the trials and tribulations that she put her through as both a child and an adult. Due to all of this Linda’s health is on a downward spiral, causing her to significantly lose weight and for her mental health to decrease. Which cause her to have blackouts, where hours disappear, causing her to have no idea where she has been or what she has done. And when men are getting murdered in her town and she starts seeing the dead men in her nightmares, she can’t help but freak out. And when a former friend turned detective arrives back in time and starts asking questions, which Linda doesn’t want to know the answers to, she can’t help but get more stressed.
Mirror Image is not a long book, however it took me quite a while to get into it, however as soon as I was about 60% in, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. I loved the tension the book created, as it even left me guessing on what the genre really was. The writing was overall good, and I thought the point of view change on the chapters was quite refreshing, as the book was predominately in Linda’s point of view, however every few chapters there would be a character from different points in Elizabeth and Linda’s life, giving further insight into their lives and what Elizabeth really was like as a child. And another point is that I did not guess the plot twist at the very end, which recently I have been doing an awful lot of. One of the only negatives I have for this book is that there was some unanswered questions at the end, these could be simply due to me missing the part or it was meant to be left open.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book as I really enjoyed the writing and hopefully I shall be reading more of Michele Pariza Wacek's books in the future.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes psychological thrillers with hints of the supernatural and a whole lot of suspense.
Mirror Image follows our main character Linda, who is not exactly having the good life she hoped for. She came from an abusive home, and her sister, Elizabeth committed suicide earlier this year, leaving no body behind. Due to her sister’s death, part of her feels guilt for never noticing anything wrong, and also relief due to the trials and tribulations that she put her through as both a child and an adult. Due to all of this Linda’s health is on a downward spiral, causing her to significantly lose weight and for her mental health to decrease. Which cause her to have blackouts, where hours disappear, causing her to have no idea where she has been or what she has done. And when men are getting murdered in her town and she starts seeing the dead men in her nightmares, she can’t help but freak out. And when a former friend turned detective arrives back in time and starts asking questions, which Linda doesn’t want to know the answers to, she can’t help but get more stressed.
Mirror Image is not a long book, however it took me quite a while to get into it, however as soon as I was about 60% in, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. I loved the tension the book created, as it even left me guessing on what the genre really was. The writing was overall good, and I thought the point of view change on the chapters was quite refreshing, as the book was predominately in Linda’s point of view, however every few chapters there would be a character from different points in Elizabeth and Linda’s life, giving further insight into their lives and what Elizabeth really was like as a child. And another point is that I did not guess the plot twist at the very end, which recently I have been doing an awful lot of. One of the only negatives I have for this book is that there was some unanswered questions at the end, these could be simply due to me missing the part or it was meant to be left open.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book as I really enjoyed the writing and hopefully I shall be reading more of Michele Pariza Wacek's books in the future.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes psychological thrillers with hints of the supernatural and a whole lot of suspense.
June 8, 2016
This is a psychological thriller and suspense novel where men who frequent bars are no longer safe and could end up the next murder victim, bound and in their beds and butchered to death with a knife.
Linda was born into a dark family of 8, which included herself, her parents, and her brothers, Peter, Mark, Mike, and Chad, as well as her younger sister Elizabeth. Linda and Chad were outsiders and
seen as weak beings, bearing the brunt of physical attacks from their father, as well as their 3 other brothers. Growing up, Linda always saw the power that Elizabeth held not only within her family but with all men that came into her path. Linda also found that her power was used to torture Linda, whether it be ensuring that she was always blamed and beaten at home, or knowing that she could have any guy that Linda fancied.
It has been six months since Elizabeth took her own life, and Linda is living in auto-pilot when Linda's high school crush, now detective Steve, has put the notion in her head that Elizabeth is the main suspect of their serial murder investigation. When the questions turn to near accusations, Linda and her friend Terri try to make sense of Linda's nightmares, the ongoing murder investigation, and its connection to her deceased sister.
This is a haunting tale that I could not put down, not until I knew the full story of not only who the murderer was, but what brought about such violence. This tale challenges society's perceptions of who is deemed weak and who is deemed strong when faced with adversities. This is my first novel by Michele Pariza Wacek, and I will gladly read more of her books in the future.
Linda was born into a dark family of 8, which included herself, her parents, and her brothers, Peter, Mark, Mike, and Chad, as well as her younger sister Elizabeth. Linda and Chad were outsiders and
seen as weak beings, bearing the brunt of physical attacks from their father, as well as their 3 other brothers. Growing up, Linda always saw the power that Elizabeth held not only within her family but with all men that came into her path. Linda also found that her power was used to torture Linda, whether it be ensuring that she was always blamed and beaten at home, or knowing that she could have any guy that Linda fancied.
It has been six months since Elizabeth took her own life, and Linda is living in auto-pilot when Linda's high school crush, now detective Steve, has put the notion in her head that Elizabeth is the main suspect of their serial murder investigation. When the questions turn to near accusations, Linda and her friend Terri try to make sense of Linda's nightmares, the ongoing murder investigation, and its connection to her deceased sister.
This is a haunting tale that I could not put down, not until I knew the full story of not only who the murderer was, but what brought about such violence. This tale challenges society's perceptions of who is deemed weak and who is deemed strong when faced with adversities. This is my first novel by Michele Pariza Wacek, and I will gladly read more of her books in the future.
June 4, 2016
Losing a sibling takes a hard hit on a person. Linda is bearing the brunt of her sister Elizabeth's suicide - she's lost a ton of weight and begins having nightmares about the men who have started showing up brutally murdered. Linda feels guilty about her sister turning to suicide but she's also feeling a sense of relief which causes her even more troubles - especially with sleeping! Her sister's body was never found and even with witnesses, it's hard not to wonder if she's still alive when witnesses place her with the men who were murdered.
Linda's high school crush shows up as a detective on the murders of the young men adding another complicated dynamic to the story. While he's not necessarily convinced that Linda or Elizabeth is responsible, his line of questions puts doubt into Linda's mind. She's having period of blackouts and even believes that she's seeing her sister out and about. The weight of either couldn't be an easy burden to bear. Several times, I had chills running down my spine!
The psychological terror of the unknown keeps you reading page after page. Dealing with the suicide is more than any one person should have to handle but when you think your sister may have faked it and is now a serial killer, can you imagine how that would make you feel?! The mystery is held together with a little bit of supernatural attributes that, if heightened, could have added another dynamic to the book.
I received a free copy via Worldwind Virtual Book Tours - all opinions are 100% my own!
Linda's high school crush shows up as a detective on the murders of the young men adding another complicated dynamic to the story. While he's not necessarily convinced that Linda or Elizabeth is responsible, his line of questions puts doubt into Linda's mind. She's having period of blackouts and even believes that she's seeing her sister out and about. The weight of either couldn't be an easy burden to bear. Several times, I had chills running down my spine!
The psychological terror of the unknown keeps you reading page after page. Dealing with the suicide is more than any one person should have to handle but when you think your sister may have faked it and is now a serial killer, can you imagine how that would make you feel?! The mystery is held together with a little bit of supernatural attributes that, if heightened, could have added another dynamic to the book.
I received a free copy via Worldwind Virtual Book Tours - all opinions are 100% my own!
June 3, 2016
Michele Pariza Wacek has a winner on her hands with Mirror Image. This novel is a psychological thriller that is set in small town Wisconsin. Linda has lost her sister to suicide and has spent six months trying to deal with her grief. When murders begin happening, a high school crush turned cop comes to visit. He doesn't believe Linda committed the murders but her dead sister has been sighted at the bars with the victims prior to their deaths.
Wacek penned a suspenseful novel that had me hanging on until the last page trying to figure out what would come next. If the book had been more focused on the police department and Linda's high school crush Steve, I would anticipate a series of novels based on Steve but truthfully, Linda carries the book.
I loved the book as I could not figure out the mystery as I read it. At first, I followed the logical thinking of who was doing the killing but I was wrong. It was the final pages that finally had me getting the right killer, just a page before Wacek revealed the same.
I strongly recommend you pick up Mirror Image.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Worldwind VBT and Author Solutions in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.
Wacek penned a suspenseful novel that had me hanging on until the last page trying to figure out what would come next. If the book had been more focused on the police department and Linda's high school crush Steve, I would anticipate a series of novels based on Steve but truthfully, Linda carries the book.
I loved the book as I could not figure out the mystery as I read it. At first, I followed the logical thinking of who was doing the killing but I was wrong. It was the final pages that finally had me getting the right killer, just a page before Wacek revealed the same.
I strongly recommend you pick up Mirror Image.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Worldwind VBT and Author Solutions in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.
June 3, 2016
I received this book from the publisher and now choose to give an honest and fair review. This book grabs you at the very beginning and refuses to lessen its grip through the very last page. The story begins with a female, silver eyes, named Elizabeth who is murdering young single men. The book is filled with psychological suspense. It shows us a family of violence, bitterness, and post traumatic stress of the victims. The story revolves around one daughter/sister in the family who is as beautiful as an angel, but as manipulative and deceptive as a devil. And a 2nd daughter who takes the brunt of the punishment. It's filled with hints of fantasy and lore, either dissociation or hallucinogens, or possible delusions. It's a thriller, and a mystery with a wee touch of romance. All I know is when you pick the book up, you cannot put it down until you're finished. Hoorah to the author. Lifetime needs to make this into a movie.
May 31, 2016
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy to review!
Which would be worse, knowing that your dead sister has come back to life and is now a serial killer or that someone else is the killer….and that person is you?
That first line of the description immediately grabbed my attention and made me want to read this one! The storyline unique and unlike anything I've read before. For the most part, I felt like there was great suspense and intrigue. The ending was completely unexpected which is always a plus!
I did feel like a few of the narratives could have been much shorter; some parts were pages long and very descriptive, while others were quick and straight to the point. It lacked some consistency. I also think it would be more powerful written from the main characters point of view instead of a third person point of view.
Overall this was a good read and I would recommend it to readers who love a good mystery!
Which would be worse, knowing that your dead sister has come back to life and is now a serial killer or that someone else is the killer….and that person is you?
That first line of the description immediately grabbed my attention and made me want to read this one! The storyline unique and unlike anything I've read before. For the most part, I felt like there was great suspense and intrigue. The ending was completely unexpected which is always a plus!
I did feel like a few of the narratives could have been much shorter; some parts were pages long and very descriptive, while others were quick and straight to the point. It lacked some consistency. I also think it would be more powerful written from the main characters point of view instead of a third person point of view.
Overall this was a good read and I would recommend it to readers who love a good mystery!
June 8, 2016
WOW! This book starts out with a bang and just keeps going!
This story is edge-of-your-seat suspenseful, a little creepy, and even sad in spots. A definite page turner, I didn't want to put it down.
Oh I tried so hard to figure this one out. I thought I had it once but I was way off. This was a story that was expertly woven right up to the perfect wrap-up at the end. The author never misses a beat.
Excellent character development. I loved Linda and Steve (the cop) and Elizabeth (who was supposed to be creepy) was great as well. They were all portrayed to perfection.
This is what a thriller/suspense is supposed to feel like! It was so intense - parts of this book gave me goosebumps and parts of it made me cry! This would seriously make an excellent, but creepy, movie! A huge Brava for Michele Pariza Wacek, I would love to read more by this author.
Thank you "Worldwind Virtual Book Tours" for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This story is edge-of-your-seat suspenseful, a little creepy, and even sad in spots. A definite page turner, I didn't want to put it down.
Oh I tried so hard to figure this one out. I thought I had it once but I was way off. This was a story that was expertly woven right up to the perfect wrap-up at the end. The author never misses a beat.
Excellent character development. I loved Linda and Steve (the cop) and Elizabeth (who was supposed to be creepy) was great as well. They were all portrayed to perfection.
This is what a thriller/suspense is supposed to feel like! It was so intense - parts of this book gave me goosebumps and parts of it made me cry! This would seriously make an excellent, but creepy, movie! A huge Brava for Michele Pariza Wacek, I would love to read more by this author.
Thank you "Worldwind Virtual Book Tours" for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
December 18, 2016
Ok so I was not ready for this awesome suspense thriller mystery. Totally blew me away with all the craziness and clues. I would give so many spoilers if I tried to explain everything I thought was actually going on from beginning to end. All I know is Linda almost had me convinced she was guilty subconsciously, but it was too easy for that! I figured after Chad's incident he wasn't the one to look at, but one of the clues being about brother's who might be a suspect. I really am so happy Elizabeth really died rather in this world or the next, because human or not she needed to go. And to be honest I believe in all the myths and legends mentioned in this story pertaining to evil or powerful women. So being that said I'd recommend this book to be read with a chill glass OG Chardonnay and a bowl of extra buttery popcorn under a blanket because it's that intriguing!
June 2, 2016
I received this book from the publishers for exchange of giving a honest review.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading uncanny books because the author Michelele Pariza Wacek, does an excellent job writing a sinister and mysterious story. The story honestly made my nights a little terrifying after reading a few chapters before bed or a night out. I do not want to give any bits of the story away, so if you do see this book in the library or store it definitely is something you should pick up and read during your spare time. Lastly, but not very importantly the paper quality of the book is quite good compared to your more common paper books.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading uncanny books because the author Michelele Pariza Wacek, does an excellent job writing a sinister and mysterious story. The story honestly made my nights a little terrifying after reading a few chapters before bed or a night out. I do not want to give any bits of the story away, so if you do see this book in the library or store it definitely is something you should pick up and read during your spare time. Lastly, but not very importantly the paper quality of the book is quite good compared to your more common paper books.
June 9, 2016
This book was a huge disappointment. I purchased it based on reviews that compared it to Gillian Flynn's writing. However, I found the quality of the writing to be poor and repetitive and the mystery itself to be bogus, relying on mystical connections. The reviewers all misled me.
This was a huge disappointment. I purchased it on the basis of the reviewer's suggestions that it rivaled the quality of Gilian Flynn's work. However, I found the quality of the writing to be amateurish and repetitive. The Mystery itself was bogus and depended on mystical connections. Overall, I felt misled by the reviewers.
This was a huge disappointment. I purchased it on the basis of the reviewer's suggestions that it rivaled the quality of Gilian Flynn's work. However, I found the quality of the writing to be amateurish and repetitive. The Mystery itself was bogus and depended on mystical connections. Overall, I felt misled by the reviewers.
July 21, 2016
Well to start with I really liked this story line, I thought it was different and I've never read anything similar to it.
Its a psychological thriller set in Wisconsin. Linda's sister comitted suicide 6 months ago and she's struggling to deal with her grief and come to terms with it.
Single men are been hunted and murdered, and Linda is having blackouts where hours disappear and she has no idea where she's been or what she's done.
Is kinda the murderer? Twists and turns galore in this book, really enjoyable I didn't figure it until the author decided to put it on a plate....!
Great read
Its a psychological thriller set in Wisconsin. Linda's sister comitted suicide 6 months ago and she's struggling to deal with her grief and come to terms with it.
Single men are been hunted and murdered, and Linda is having blackouts where hours disappear and she has no idea where she's been or what she's done.
Is kinda the murderer? Twists and turns galore in this book, really enjoyable I didn't figure it until the author decided to put it on a plate....!
Great read
October 30, 2016
Solid hit in the psycho-thriller line
This book fully deserves its rating, with no allowances for being a new writer or for the mass of stuff published on Kindle. The book is well written, the characters interesting and realistic, the dialog is believable and the story is compelling. Michelle PW has arrived! I have to admit I didn't get the final plot twist by which the story reaches its conclusion, but the outcome makes sense so it's not a jarring ending. In another edition (thank goodness for the flexibility of self-publishing), I'd hope for a few more clues in this direction so I could spend the last third of the book with that resolution as a nagging possibility.
This book fully deserves its rating, with no allowances for being a new writer or for the mass of stuff published on Kindle. The book is well written, the characters interesting and realistic, the dialog is believable and the story is compelling. Michelle PW has arrived! I have to admit I didn't get the final plot twist by which the story reaches its conclusion, but the outcome makes sense so it's not a jarring ending. In another edition (thank goodness for the flexibility of self-publishing), I'd hope for a few more clues in this direction so I could spend the last third of the book with that resolution as a nagging possibility.
July 4, 2016
I won a copy of this book in a giveaway on goodreads. Leaving a review was option.
Everyone has already described this book so I see no need to be repetitive .
After my last several reads, this one was welcomed. It's a rather easy book to get wrapped up in and on the first day of reading , I read past lunch and dinner without realizing it. I've no responsibilities at home other then a cat so it wasn't an issue lol.
I'd certainly recommend this book to my friends.
Everyone has already described this book so I see no need to be repetitive .
After my last several reads, this one was welcomed. It's a rather easy book to get wrapped up in and on the first day of reading , I read past lunch and dinner without realizing it. I've no responsibilities at home other then a cat so it wasn't an issue lol.
I'd certainly recommend this book to my friends.
June 11, 2016
I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
OKAY
First things first, this had that creepy myterious vibe up until the last pages. I'm crying. This is how psychological thriller-mystery should be.
Second, when you're writing a psychological thriller-mystery, make sure you put a lot of action and drag the climax in an action-packed way. It all happened ssooo fast I didn't know what to do after I read that "The End"
LIKE AMSDNVBGRUHE
**full review to come**
OKAY
First things first, this had that creepy myterious vibe up until the last pages. I'm crying. This is how psychological thriller-mystery should be.
Second, when you're writing a psychological thriller-mystery, make sure you put a lot of action and drag the climax in an action-packed way. It all happened ssooo fast I didn't know what to do after I read that "The End"
LIKE AMSDNVBGRUHE
**full review to come**
February 21, 2018
Linda is from a violently abusive family, yet her younger sister Elizabeth was worshipped as a princess by their father and brothers. After Elizabeth commits suicide a serial killer resembling her begins haunting Linda's life.
As this story plays out you, along with Linda, try to figure out what's really going on. Is she having a breakdown? Is Elizabeth somehow still alive? Is something supernatural happening?
You'll have to read it to find out.
As this story plays out you, along with Linda, try to figure out what's really going on. Is she having a breakdown? Is Elizabeth somehow still alive? Is something supernatural happening?
You'll have to read it to find out.
Read
July 31, 2018 This book was absolutely exceptional. It had just the right amount of suspense to keep me wondering and to keep me trying to solve the mystery. Another thing that I really enjoy about this author is the dynamic between her characters and all of the layers they go through in discovering who they are to themselves and to each other .
May 17, 2016
Thank you NetGalley and Love-Based Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
At first I wasn't sure what this book was about. It seemed like some supernatural factors going on... it definitely kept me guessing until the end, Great suspense novel.
At first I wasn't sure what this book was about. It seemed like some supernatural factors going on... it definitely kept me guessing until the end, Great suspense novel.
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