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Dead Ringer
Get ready to meet the other you.
Just upload your photo to get started. Using the latest facial recognition software, plus your votes, MeetYourDouble will find your doppelganger.
START NOW.
The idea is simple, vain, exciting. Tap the app, upload a picture, find your #deadringer – and if you like, set up a meeting in real life.
When Ella and Jem connect, the resemblance is uncanny, but their lives are polar opposites. One is stagnating in her Northern hometown, while the other, an aspiring actress living in a multimillion-pound mansion, is a Chelsea socialite who knows she’s skating on thin ice.
Other than their looks, their only similarity is the desire to escape. Is it possible to hide in your double’s skin? And at what cost? Dead Ringer is an all-too-believable, twisty, compelling story that will leave you reeling.
Just upload your photo to get started. Using the latest facial recognition software, plus your votes, MeetYourDouble will find your doppelganger.
START NOW.
The idea is simple, vain, exciting. Tap the app, upload a picture, find your #deadringer – and if you like, set up a meeting in real life.
When Ella and Jem connect, the resemblance is uncanny, but their lives are polar opposites. One is stagnating in her Northern hometown, while the other, an aspiring actress living in a multimillion-pound mansion, is a Chelsea socialite who knows she’s skating on thin ice.
Other than their looks, their only similarity is the desire to escape. Is it possible to hide in your double’s skin? And at what cost? Dead Ringer is an all-too-believable, twisty, compelling story that will leave you reeling.
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2020
4 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Martin
4 books11 followersNicola Martin is an award-winning author of psychological thrillers, short stories and non-fiction.
Her debut novel, Dead Ringer, a thriller about meeting your doppelganger, won the Fiction Prize at the 2021 Lakeland Book of the Year Awards. Her second novel, The Getaway, is a murder-mystery set on a private island in the Caribbean, published by Bloomsbury Raven.
Following a 15-year career in PR/marketing, Nicola is now a full-time writer. She studied literature at the University of East Anglia and the University of California, Berkeley.
In addition to novels, she has had more than 40 short stories published in magazines like The People’s Friend, Best, and the Sunday Express. She is also the co-author of a non-fiction book, Defeat Dyslexia!: The Parents’ Guide to Understanding Your Child’s Dyslexia.
Nicola was brought up in Bristol and returned there as an adult. She’s happy to bore you to tears telling you about what a great city it is. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her poking around an art gallery, in the audience for a piece of weird theatre, or playing board games with friends.
Her debut novel, Dead Ringer, a thriller about meeting your doppelganger, won the Fiction Prize at the 2021 Lakeland Book of the Year Awards. Her second novel, The Getaway, is a murder-mystery set on a private island in the Caribbean, published by Bloomsbury Raven.
Following a 15-year career in PR/marketing, Nicola is now a full-time writer. She studied literature at the University of East Anglia and the University of California, Berkeley.
In addition to novels, she has had more than 40 short stories published in magazines like The People’s Friend, Best, and the Sunday Express. She is also the co-author of a non-fiction book, Defeat Dyslexia!: The Parents’ Guide to Understanding Your Child’s Dyslexia.
Nicola was brought up in Bristol and returned there as an adult. She’s happy to bore you to tears telling you about what a great city it is. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her poking around an art gallery, in the audience for a piece of weird theatre, or playing board games with friends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 27, 2020
Ella and Jem meet because of their physical likeness – they get to know each other via MeetYourDouble, an app which promises to 'find your doppelganger'. Yet as individuals, they couldn't be more different. Ella has led a sheltered life in a small community on Walney Island, Cumbria; she's downtrodden, lonely and mostly broke. Jem is an actress and musician with mega-rich parents, a loving boyfriend, and a party-hopping London lifestyle. Due to her coke habit and its attendant debts, she also has a dodgy character named Carlo hot on her trail.
An initial meeting between the two women awakens something in Ella: a hunger for a different kind of life. Then Jem finds she needs to get out of London, quickly. Suddenly the idea of the two lookalikes swapping lives doesn't seem all that far-fetched. And so the stage is set for the 'doubles' to play a pretty dangerous game.
The premise is high-concept; I wondered at first whether I'd be able to accept the idea of these two completely unrelated people looking so alike that they could change places without anyone noticing. Yet it works, because a) some people do notice and b) the story is very much driven by its characters. It's an emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows as both Ella and Jem, in their very different ways, run away from their problems and into one another's lives. When I left the book at home and found myself wondering what the characters were doing as if I'd left them somewhere – that's when I knew I was hooked.
I had such a great time with Dead Ringer. It's compelling and twisty and all those other good-thriller words. There's unexpected depth to the story, especially Ella's thread, which delves into issues surrounding mental health, unexamined trauma and family support (or lack thereof). Finally, the ending is fantastic – I won't say any more than that, but it's one you'll want to talk about.
I received an advance review copy of Dead Ringer from the author.
TinyLetter
An initial meeting between the two women awakens something in Ella: a hunger for a different kind of life. Then Jem finds she needs to get out of London, quickly. Suddenly the idea of the two lookalikes swapping lives doesn't seem all that far-fetched. And so the stage is set for the 'doubles' to play a pretty dangerous game.
The premise is high-concept; I wondered at first whether I'd be able to accept the idea of these two completely unrelated people looking so alike that they could change places without anyone noticing. Yet it works, because a) some people do notice and b) the story is very much driven by its characters. It's an emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows as both Ella and Jem, in their very different ways, run away from their problems and into one another's lives. When I left the book at home and found myself wondering what the characters were doing as if I'd left them somewhere – that's when I knew I was hooked.
I had such a great time with Dead Ringer. It's compelling and twisty and all those other good-thriller words. There's unexpected depth to the story, especially Ella's thread, which delves into issues surrounding mental health, unexamined trauma and family support (or lack thereof). Finally, the ending is fantastic – I won't say any more than that, but it's one you'll want to talk about.
I received an advance review copy of Dead Ringer from the author.
TinyLetter
February 14, 2020
I was really intrigued by the premise for "Dead Ringer" and Nicola Martin has written a genuinely compelling thriller here, featuring two engaging and divisive female characters who may look the same but have very different lives...
I'm not sure I'd even download an app that could find my lookalike and I'm absolutely positive I'd not go and meet them, but that's what Jem and Ella do. Ella lives a quiet life, Jem is vibrant and seemingly has it all but of course looks can be deceiving...
An entanglement of lives, A sense of entitlement, those two themes run through the narrative and it is less predictable than you might think, as the story twists and turns it's way to an emotional confrontation and a cleverly woven conclusion.
Overall thoroughly enjoyable and really well written and plotted. Recommended for psych thriller fans.
I'm not sure I'd even download an app that could find my lookalike and I'm absolutely positive I'd not go and meet them, but that's what Jem and Ella do. Ella lives a quiet life, Jem is vibrant and seemingly has it all but of course looks can be deceiving...
An entanglement of lives, A sense of entitlement, those two themes run through the narrative and it is less predictable than you might think, as the story twists and turns it's way to an emotional confrontation and a cleverly woven conclusion.
Overall thoroughly enjoyable and really well written and plotted. Recommended for psych thriller fans.
March 6, 2020
So little story. When I was in college, several people, including a close friend, had commented that I was I had ignored them on campus. My best friend stated she saw me walking across the quad and waved, and I looked straight at her like she was crazy. We then figured out there was someone on campus who resembled me. I personally was never able to run into this person but I was a tad curious, not to mention a little freaked out. I mean really, one of my close personal friends didn't know it wasn't me? So you can see why even years later, this book appealed to me.
So Ella and Jem are individual who live miles apart yet meet up through an app because they resemble each other so closely. On the surface one seems to have it all while the other leads a rather boring life she feels is headed nowhere. Together they decide to switch places which the reader just knows isn't going to turn out well. After all, Jem has some shady things going on in her life and certainly Ella's life can't be completely dull and boring. This trade provides a wild ride for both the characters as well as the reader and there were times I really didn't know where things were headed.
While I honestly don't know that I ever really connected with either person, in this case, I didn't need to. It's kind of like watching a train wreck. You know you shouldn't be so fascinated and should look away, but you just can't do so. I read this book basically with 24 hours because honestly, I had to know what happened next. I loved the dark nature of this novel which leads the reader to question what they would do in a similar situation.
So would you trade places with your double? Definitely pick this book up and see what possibilities might lie ahead if you chose to do so. I will warn you - choose carefully.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
So Ella and Jem are individual who live miles apart yet meet up through an app because they resemble each other so closely. On the surface one seems to have it all while the other leads a rather boring life she feels is headed nowhere. Together they decide to switch places which the reader just knows isn't going to turn out well. After all, Jem has some shady things going on in her life and certainly Ella's life can't be completely dull and boring. This trade provides a wild ride for both the characters as well as the reader and there were times I really didn't know where things were headed.
While I honestly don't know that I ever really connected with either person, in this case, I didn't need to. It's kind of like watching a train wreck. You know you shouldn't be so fascinated and should look away, but you just can't do so. I read this book basically with 24 hours because honestly, I had to know what happened next. I loved the dark nature of this novel which leads the reader to question what they would do in a similar situation.
So would you trade places with your double? Definitely pick this book up and see what possibilities might lie ahead if you chose to do so. I will warn you - choose carefully.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
February 29, 2020
The synopsis to this book drew me in instantly. Imagine having an app that would find your exact double, and then you could go and meet your own doppelganger. What would you do?
I found this concept very eerie yet intriguing. There's so much good that could come from finding your Dead Ringer, however, there are so many bad things that you could get up to.
When Ella signs up for the app MeetYourDouble little does she know what she's landing herself into. Ella lives in a small community on Walney Island, where everyone knows everyone. She's fed up and feels like she's missing out on life. Most of her friends have moved on either settled down and had kids or gone on to pastures new.
Will MeetYourDouble spice up her life?
Then there's Jem, Ella's doppelganger. She is very outgoing and loud. Lives in London and is cruising through life without a real end journey in sight.
Will meeting Ella give her a different insight into life?
When reading this there was an undercurrent that something bad is going to happen. I couldn't put my finger on what it would be or how sinister but it just made me feel anxious as to what would happen.
We read the story from both perspectives, here we get to see that despite having completely different personalities. These two girls are very similar in how they view life. Their views is what draws out the dark and eerie side of this story. Without sounding cheesy, you really go on a journey with these two. Where that will lead is for you to find out.
A dark and intriguing tale of two different girls brought together by their looks.
I found this concept very eerie yet intriguing. There's so much good that could come from finding your Dead Ringer, however, there are so many bad things that you could get up to.
When Ella signs up for the app MeetYourDouble little does she know what she's landing herself into. Ella lives in a small community on Walney Island, where everyone knows everyone. She's fed up and feels like she's missing out on life. Most of her friends have moved on either settled down and had kids or gone on to pastures new.
Will MeetYourDouble spice up her life?
Then there's Jem, Ella's doppelganger. She is very outgoing and loud. Lives in London and is cruising through life without a real end journey in sight.
Will meeting Ella give her a different insight into life?
When reading this there was an undercurrent that something bad is going to happen. I couldn't put my finger on what it would be or how sinister but it just made me feel anxious as to what would happen.
We read the story from both perspectives, here we get to see that despite having completely different personalities. These two girls are very similar in how they view life. Their views is what draws out the dark and eerie side of this story. Without sounding cheesy, you really go on a journey with these two. Where that will lead is for you to find out.
A dark and intriguing tale of two different girls brought together by their looks.
March 2, 2020
There is so much that I could write about this intriguing and compelling debut psychological thriller from Nicola Martin. It's not a short book at over 450 pages in my print proof copy, but it's packed with a multitude of issues.
Let's think about the concept. MeetYourDouble is the latest App on the market. Just upload your photo and the App will find your doppleganger. So, we've all seen people posting their Celebrity Doppleganger on Social Media. I'm positive that most of us will have been told at some time that we look just like XXXX. MeetYourDouble takes this to the next level. Not only do you see a photo of someone who looks like you, you can meet them, in real life.
Whoaaa! Maybe lots of people would do that. In fact, I'm positive that many many people would do that. I wouldn't, and especially not after reading Dead Ringer.
No Way, Jose.
Ella and Jem are matched. They look alike but their worlds couldn't be further apart. Ella lives on Walney Island, a windswept island off the coast of Cumbria. It's a beautiful place, but it's dead. For a young woman, there's nothing. Ella lives in a caravan, with little money and no hope.
Jem, on the other hand, lives the life of an almost-celebrity. Glamour and glitz could be her middle names. She's wealthy and beautiful, with friends and a boyfriend. There are lots of parties, and there's a lot of bad behaviour too.
Of course, Ella and Jem meet and that first meeting, wonderfully described by this clever author is almost embarrassing to read. Ella; the poor girl from up North meets Jem, the confident, outgoing rich girl from the South. Ella is swept along by Jem who treats her as little more than a plaything.
They may look alike, but they have nothing in common. Or do they?
It's not my job to tell the story. The author does this very well. Be prepared for a sometimes intense, but always compelling look at the lives of GenZers, and the contrast between them. You'll also notice that there are actually a lot of similarities too. As the story progresses and we learn more about Ella and Jem, we come to realise that they do actually have quite a lot in common, other than how they look.
The author deals with issues that include mental health and the impact of social media and over exposure, along with the seedier side of celebrity here, and she does it very well. It may be a stretch of the imagination to think that these two women could actually swap places, and get away with it. It's an intriguing suggestion and it's actually far more complicated than they could ever realise.
Twist and turns aplenty will keep fans of psychological thrillers happy, whilst the underlying darker themes add a depth that bring this novel up a notch. Fine writing and a great debut from an author to watch.
Let's think about the concept. MeetYourDouble is the latest App on the market. Just upload your photo and the App will find your doppleganger. So, we've all seen people posting their Celebrity Doppleganger on Social Media. I'm positive that most of us will have been told at some time that we look just like XXXX. MeetYourDouble takes this to the next level. Not only do you see a photo of someone who looks like you, you can meet them, in real life.
Whoaaa! Maybe lots of people would do that. In fact, I'm positive that many many people would do that. I wouldn't, and especially not after reading Dead Ringer.
No Way, Jose.
Ella and Jem are matched. They look alike but their worlds couldn't be further apart. Ella lives on Walney Island, a windswept island off the coast of Cumbria. It's a beautiful place, but it's dead. For a young woman, there's nothing. Ella lives in a caravan, with little money and no hope.
Jem, on the other hand, lives the life of an almost-celebrity. Glamour and glitz could be her middle names. She's wealthy and beautiful, with friends and a boyfriend. There are lots of parties, and there's a lot of bad behaviour too.
Of course, Ella and Jem meet and that first meeting, wonderfully described by this clever author is almost embarrassing to read. Ella; the poor girl from up North meets Jem, the confident, outgoing rich girl from the South. Ella is swept along by Jem who treats her as little more than a plaything.
They may look alike, but they have nothing in common. Or do they?
It's not my job to tell the story. The author does this very well. Be prepared for a sometimes intense, but always compelling look at the lives of GenZers, and the contrast between them. You'll also notice that there are actually a lot of similarities too. As the story progresses and we learn more about Ella and Jem, we come to realise that they do actually have quite a lot in common, other than how they look.
The author deals with issues that include mental health and the impact of social media and over exposure, along with the seedier side of celebrity here, and she does it very well. It may be a stretch of the imagination to think that these two women could actually swap places, and get away with it. It's an intriguing suggestion and it's actually far more complicated than they could ever realise.
Twist and turns aplenty will keep fans of psychological thrillers happy, whilst the underlying darker themes add a depth that bring this novel up a notch. Fine writing and a great debut from an author to watch.
January 10, 2020
Review coming on the blog next week.
April 4, 2020
We’ve all been tempted by those games on social media that work out which famous celebrity we look like, so this idea that with an app we could find our doppelganger and even meet them was intriguing. I really loved the premise of this book so much. The match between Ella and Jem could not have been more different. They looked like one another, but came from very different lives, and were very different personalities too. Ella was an introvert living in Cumbria who had been dealing with depression for some time, Jem was an extrovert based in a multimillion pound apartment in London who had the world at her feet.
When they first meet, Ella has her mind opened to a life she could have only imagined. Although both women are so different, when Jem needs to get out of London in a hurry, it becomes a spur of the moment decision for them to swap places. I loved the way both Ella and Jem adapted to their surroundings, although I struggled a little with the concept that their parents could not tell the difference. As a parent I think I would be able to tell the difference, but who knows? Maybe I wouldn’t.
There were plenty of highs and lows throughout the story, and it was beautifully twisted too. The main characters were incredibly flawed people, and I found it hard to warm to either of them. Katsu on the other hand, Jem’s sometime boyfriend, was a shining light amidst the primarily flawed side characters in the book. I really enjoyed his role within the story.
This book was an exciting and gritty psychological thriller, and it kept me wanting to come back to it to read more, never quite knowing where it was going to take me. The ending of book was the perfect ending to this rollercoaster ride in that it left me wanting to know more! This was a great debut novel for Nicola Martin, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.
When they first meet, Ella has her mind opened to a life she could have only imagined. Although both women are so different, when Jem needs to get out of London in a hurry, it becomes a spur of the moment decision for them to swap places. I loved the way both Ella and Jem adapted to their surroundings, although I struggled a little with the concept that their parents could not tell the difference. As a parent I think I would be able to tell the difference, but who knows? Maybe I wouldn’t.
There were plenty of highs and lows throughout the story, and it was beautifully twisted too. The main characters were incredibly flawed people, and I found it hard to warm to either of them. Katsu on the other hand, Jem’s sometime boyfriend, was a shining light amidst the primarily flawed side characters in the book. I really enjoyed his role within the story.
This book was an exciting and gritty psychological thriller, and it kept me wanting to come back to it to read more, never quite knowing where it was going to take me. The ending of book was the perfect ending to this rollercoaster ride in that it left me wanting to know more! This was a great debut novel for Nicola Martin, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.
April 23, 2024
Not bad but confused by a lack of DNA testing...
Also you can look alike and act alike but again... DNA testing!
Otherwise 3.5 out of 5!
Also you can look alike and act alike but again... DNA testing!
Otherwise 3.5 out of 5!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2021
Maybe this was better than I’ve rated, but my pup ate the last 13 pages so I can’t really say for sure. It was average at best anyway.
March 12, 2020
Nicola Martin has a way with words. Her characters spring to life off the page and draw you into their mixed-up world. The premise of this novel is fascinating, and Martin runs with it in unexpected ways all the way up to the gripping climax.
March 20, 2020
Review on my blog, The Reading Fairy
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for the blog tour; this does not affect my opinion.
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars!
TW: Suicide, micro-racial aggression (mentioned), cheating, poverty, drowning, blood, death, murder
Rep: Asian Side Character
Thrillers aren't usually my thing, but I'm always willing to give them a chance. I had no idea what to expect until I read the synopsis and it just sounds so creepy and true.
I'm just really surprised that the world hasn't got to the point where someone actually made an app to see who your doppelganger is, met you could actually meet them. That's exactly how this book started. Ella signing up for the MeetYourDouble App, and meeting your doppelganger and realizing her doppelganger is nothing like her-but merely in looks.
I actually really applaud the author in adding in the dark side. There's always a dark side in everything especially meeting strangers online. They could always try to impersonate you, which is exactly what happened.
I like how the concept was really explored. It was entertaining, and I could see the author expanded on the idea.
I love how developed the characters! They each have something different about them, and it's really easy to tell how different the characters are in this book!
-Ella: Ella is the more introverted type of person going to London to meet her doppelganger. She also just wants more in her life after living on a small island for most of her life, she's determined to make the best of being in London. Her character is so fleshed out! I also love that we're learning more about her backstory. I also really appreciate the mental health aspect that she has.
-Jem: Jem is the opposite of Ella. She is very outgoing, loud and cruising through life in general. She is really interesting, and I have to admit; I wasn't sure I was going to like her-but I do!
I wasn't aware that there is mental illness in this story. I have suffered from depression for a while and it sucks quite a bit. Depression is a silent killer physically and mentally. I do feel like the mental illness could be better, and showing signs of having it instead of just having it in last minute.
I read that, and I wanted to cry. It was so true. Mental Illnesses always start very little, barely showing any signs until it starts eating you away slowly. Everyday, it gets harder. Some days, you could feel like you're okay, some days, you feel like you're unable to leave the house. It's how it is. It's my reality and I already accepted I have anxiety and that I can't ever get help.
This book was really slow. Nothing happened until the last 50 pages, and I couldn't really get where the plot was.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for the blog tour; this does not affect my opinion.
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars!
TW: Suicide, micro-racial aggression (mentioned), cheating, poverty, drowning, blood, death, murder
Rep: Asian Side Character
"Part of me was waiting to see if the character who looked like me might get up from her chair and flip over the desk."
Thrillers aren't usually my thing, but I'm always willing to give them a chance. I had no idea what to expect until I read the synopsis and it just sounds so creepy and true.
I'm just really surprised that the world hasn't got to the point where someone actually made an app to see who your doppelganger is, met you could actually meet them. That's exactly how this book started. Ella signing up for the MeetYourDouble App, and meeting your doppelganger and realizing her doppelganger is nothing like her-but merely in looks.
I actually really applaud the author in adding in the dark side. There's always a dark side in everything especially meeting strangers online. They could always try to impersonate you, which is exactly what happened.
I like how the concept was really explored. It was entertaining, and I could see the author expanded on the idea.
I love how developed the characters! They each have something different about them, and it's really easy to tell how different the characters are in this book!
-Ella: Ella is the more introverted type of person going to London to meet her doppelganger. She also just wants more in her life after living on a small island for most of her life, she's determined to make the best of being in London. Her character is so fleshed out! I also love that we're learning more about her backstory. I also really appreciate the mental health aspect that she has.
-Jem: Jem is the opposite of Ella. She is very outgoing, loud and cruising through life in general. She is really interesting, and I have to admit; I wasn't sure I was going to like her-but I do!
I wasn't aware that there is mental illness in this story. I have suffered from depression for a while and it sucks quite a bit. Depression is a silent killer physically and mentally. I do feel like the mental illness could be better, and showing signs of having it instead of just having it in last minute.
"On my best days, I felt that my mental (un)health was a tiny part of who I was. But, regardless of what David said, for everyone who knew me, it had become my defining feature. It cast a permanent shadow of suspicion across my behavior."
I read that, and I wanted to cry. It was so true. Mental Illnesses always start very little, barely showing any signs until it starts eating you away slowly. Everyday, it gets harder. Some days, you could feel like you're okay, some days, you feel like you're unable to leave the house. It's how it is. It's my reality and I already accepted I have anxiety and that I can't ever get help.
This book was really slow. Nothing happened until the last 50 pages, and I couldn't really get where the plot was.
March 26, 2020
The pitch for this book slays - an app to match you with your double is an increasingly believable idea in this day and age, and intriguing as hell. The occasional newspaper article inclusions were just enough to increase the sense of looming dread, and drive home just how cavalierly people would treat a concept like this despite widespread news about the potential consequences.
I read a lot of thrillers (seriously, look at my shelves - pretty much 3/4 of my reading material is thrillers written by women), but this one really stands out from the pack. There's something about this genre that can result in works that are more about plot and twists than anything else, which is all well and good and easy to devour but doesn't leave much sticking around in your mind once you move onto the next. This one, though. This one!!
The characters are just incredibly drawn, Jem and Ella feel so real it's almost claustrophobic - with Ella especially, who is so trapped by her circumstances that it aches to experience it, and makes it utterly understandable why she would be so desperate to claw her way out. And I loved Jem, which feels strange to say when she has so many awful qualities to her, but she was so clearly characterized that I just got it, got the appeal of her and her lifestyle. She's magnetic in a way that some of the worst people can be (not to over-relate, but I kept wondering if she's an Aries), that type of whirlwind of glittering chaos that's as dangerous as it is incredibly alluring.
But it wasn't even just them, every character felt real, no matter how much or how little time we spent with them. I really felt for Ella stuck with her godawful family. Another thing this book did really well was the setting - it seems like lazy praise to be like "the book had great characters and a great setting" but honestly like I said I read a lot of books in this genre, and it's amazing how many of them you finish up and are like, I guess the protagonist had some traits, and she definitely lived in a house in a...town? This one was a full movie from the shabby caravans to the sinking sands to Jem's London apartment, which I can somehow still picture absolutely perfectly in my head.
This book truly delivered on the twists and turns I'd hoped for, and I know I'll be thinking about it for a long time. I can't wait to read what Nicola Martin comes up with next.
I read a lot of thrillers (seriously, look at my shelves - pretty much 3/4 of my reading material is thrillers written by women), but this one really stands out from the pack. There's something about this genre that can result in works that are more about plot and twists than anything else, which is all well and good and easy to devour but doesn't leave much sticking around in your mind once you move onto the next. This one, though. This one!!
The characters are just incredibly drawn, Jem and Ella feel so real it's almost claustrophobic - with Ella especially, who is so trapped by her circumstances that it aches to experience it, and makes it utterly understandable why she would be so desperate to claw her way out. And I loved Jem, which feels strange to say when she has so many awful qualities to her, but she was so clearly characterized that I just got it, got the appeal of her and her lifestyle. She's magnetic in a way that some of the worst people can be (not to over-relate, but I kept wondering if she's an Aries), that type of whirlwind of glittering chaos that's as dangerous as it is incredibly alluring.
But it wasn't even just them, every character felt real, no matter how much or how little time we spent with them. I really felt for Ella stuck with her godawful family. Another thing this book did really well was the setting - it seems like lazy praise to be like "the book had great characters and a great setting" but honestly like I said I read a lot of books in this genre, and it's amazing how many of them you finish up and are like, I guess the protagonist had some traits, and she definitely lived in a house in a...town? This one was a full movie from the shabby caravans to the sinking sands to Jem's London apartment, which I can somehow still picture absolutely perfectly in my head.
This book truly delivered on the twists and turns I'd hoped for, and I know I'll be thinking about it for a long time. I can't wait to read what Nicola Martin comes up with next.
February 24, 2020
Social media is developing by the day and Dead Ringer by Nicola Martin looks at a fictional app, MeetYourDouble. Just upload a photo and the app will find your doppelgänger, it could be someone famous, or not. Sounds easy, but there is always a chance of danger in these ideas, and for Ella and Jem there is a darkness lurking. Fast paced, addictive and compelling, this book is a fascinating read.
This maybe one of my shorter reviews as I really don’t want to give anything away. So, what I can say is I thought the concept for this book absolutely brilliant. Reading it was like watching a social experiment that you couldn’t look away from, you had to stay to the conclusion no matter how it ended. Many moral questions are raised, how greed and covertness can eat away at you, and is the grass really greener on the other side. There are also the thought provoking questions on social media, how it can connect us with people we would never normally meet, and put us in situations we wouldn’t normally put ourselves in. Nicola Martin builds the tension gradually, slowly drawing you in to Ella and Jem’s lives and taking you in to the darkness of their minds.
As characters, neither Ella or Jem come out if this shining. Nicola Martin, plays on, and emphasises their differences, Ella from Cumbria, living in a caravan, no money and not much of a future. Jem on the other hand lives in London, and her luxurious lifestyle is funded by her rich parents. But both have something to run away from, a life they want to escape, but is swapping lives the answer, even for a few days. Neither are fully aware of the consequences, especially when things turn dark recesses of their minds, and the lies they tell each other and those around them.
Dead Ringer is a psychological thriller, that draws on our fascination with other people’s lives, comparing them with ours and wanting more. The detailed psychological insight into the characters minds, the gritty realism of their situation and the darkness that encroaches makes this such a captivating read. Dark, tense and utterly compelling, this a brilliant read.
This maybe one of my shorter reviews as I really don’t want to give anything away. So, what I can say is I thought the concept for this book absolutely brilliant. Reading it was like watching a social experiment that you couldn’t look away from, you had to stay to the conclusion no matter how it ended. Many moral questions are raised, how greed and covertness can eat away at you, and is the grass really greener on the other side. There are also the thought provoking questions on social media, how it can connect us with people we would never normally meet, and put us in situations we wouldn’t normally put ourselves in. Nicola Martin builds the tension gradually, slowly drawing you in to Ella and Jem’s lives and taking you in to the darkness of their minds.
As characters, neither Ella or Jem come out if this shining. Nicola Martin, plays on, and emphasises their differences, Ella from Cumbria, living in a caravan, no money and not much of a future. Jem on the other hand lives in London, and her luxurious lifestyle is funded by her rich parents. But both have something to run away from, a life they want to escape, but is swapping lives the answer, even for a few days. Neither are fully aware of the consequences, especially when things turn dark recesses of their minds, and the lies they tell each other and those around them.
Dead Ringer is a psychological thriller, that draws on our fascination with other people’s lives, comparing them with ours and wanting more. The detailed psychological insight into the characters minds, the gritty realism of their situation and the darkness that encroaches makes this such a captivating read. Dark, tense and utterly compelling, this a brilliant read.
September 22, 2024
What if you could meet your doppelgänger with just the tap of an app?
Dead Ringer by Nicola Martin takes that fun (and slightly creepy) idea and turns it into a rollercoaster of a psychological thriller that will keep you second-guessing everyone.
The premise is deliciously simple: upload your photo to the MeetYourDouble app, and voilà!
You can find your exact look alike somewhere in the world. When Ella and Jem meet, they’re stunned by how identical they look, but that’s where the similarities end.
Ella is stuck in her small Northern town, feeling like life’s passing her by, while Jem is living it up as a wealthy socialite in Chelsea. One’s a dreamer with nowhere to go, and the other? Well, let’s just say she’s in way over her head.
The twisty fun begins when the two women realise they both want out of their current lives. Why not trade places for a bit? Seems harmless, right? Wrong! What starts as an intriguing experiment quickly spirals into a dark and dangerous game of deceit. Jem’s glamorous life hides sinister secrets, and Ella’s about to find out that stepping into someone else’s shoes can have serious consequences.
Martin does a fantastic job building tension with each chapter, as the stakes get higher and the lies become more tangled. You’ll constantly be asking yourself: Who’s really in control here? And more importantly, how far would you go to escape your own life?
Dead Ringer is a clever, fast-paced thriller that explores identity, obsession, and the cost of wanting more. It’s modern, chilling, and all-too-believable in our social media-driven world where appearances can be deceiving.
A huge thank you to Saraband for gifting me this title in exchange for an honest review.
Dead Ringer by Nicola Martin takes that fun (and slightly creepy) idea and turns it into a rollercoaster of a psychological thriller that will keep you second-guessing everyone.
The premise is deliciously simple: upload your photo to the MeetYourDouble app, and voilà!
You can find your exact look alike somewhere in the world. When Ella and Jem meet, they’re stunned by how identical they look, but that’s where the similarities end.
Ella is stuck in her small Northern town, feeling like life’s passing her by, while Jem is living it up as a wealthy socialite in Chelsea. One’s a dreamer with nowhere to go, and the other? Well, let’s just say she’s in way over her head.
The twisty fun begins when the two women realise they both want out of their current lives. Why not trade places for a bit? Seems harmless, right? Wrong! What starts as an intriguing experiment quickly spirals into a dark and dangerous game of deceit. Jem’s glamorous life hides sinister secrets, and Ella’s about to find out that stepping into someone else’s shoes can have serious consequences.
Martin does a fantastic job building tension with each chapter, as the stakes get higher and the lies become more tangled. You’ll constantly be asking yourself: Who’s really in control here? And more importantly, how far would you go to escape your own life?
Dead Ringer is a clever, fast-paced thriller that explores identity, obsession, and the cost of wanting more. It’s modern, chilling, and all-too-believable in our social media-driven world where appearances can be deceiving.
A huge thank you to Saraband for gifting me this title in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2021
Ooh yessss…
I kind of loved this!
Okay Ella is a bored, introverted girl who signs up to meet her “double” through a facial recognition app. From that she finds obnoxious, extroverted Jem whose glamorous life is enticing and inviting. The rest seems like it should be:
100% recommend!
I kind of loved this!
Okay Ella is a bored, introverted girl who signs up to meet her “double” through a facial recognition app. From that she finds obnoxious, extroverted Jem whose glamorous life is enticing and inviting. The rest seems like it should be:
100% recommend!
March 18, 2020
Starting out with two girls with very different problems and lives, this slides into a tension-packed ride, which grabs until the last page.
Elle and Jem meet over an app, which claims to find your doppelganger. And it works—at least, for these two. While they look uncannily similar, their lives are polar opposites in every way. Elle soon wishes she had a different life, where Jem's desire to suddenly switch comes after an incident, which has her wanting to flee. But switching lives is more than just looking alike...especially this time.
The idea of two people, who look alike, switching places is nothing new. Yet, this book does a fairly good job at bringing it over more convincingly than is often the case. First, the reader gets to know both young women a little, as the book switches from one POV to the other. The personalities are very different, but each is likable and easy to connect to in their own way. To make it even more believable, the two actually don't look one hundred percent alike, and there are some who notice the difference.
The pacing is well done. While the thriller, high-tension side doesn't come in right away...which I appreciated...there is the slight hum of something dark hanging in the background. It's exactly this which hooks in and creates an interesting read.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed diving into the tense scenes and being dragged away by the characters and plot.
Elle and Jem meet over an app, which claims to find your doppelganger. And it works—at least, for these two. While they look uncannily similar, their lives are polar opposites in every way. Elle soon wishes she had a different life, where Jem's desire to suddenly switch comes after an incident, which has her wanting to flee. But switching lives is more than just looking alike...especially this time.
The idea of two people, who look alike, switching places is nothing new. Yet, this book does a fairly good job at bringing it over more convincingly than is often the case. First, the reader gets to know both young women a little, as the book switches from one POV to the other. The personalities are very different, but each is likable and easy to connect to in their own way. To make it even more believable, the two actually don't look one hundred percent alike, and there are some who notice the difference.
The pacing is well done. While the thriller, high-tension side doesn't come in right away...which I appreciated...there is the slight hum of something dark hanging in the background. It's exactly this which hooks in and creates an interesting read.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed diving into the tense scenes and being dragged away by the characters and plot.
March 1, 2020
Jem and Ella meet afternoon being matched on the MeetYourDouble app. They may look alike but they are from different worlds.
Jem is a bold, brash party girl, an aspiring actor and singer with wealthy parents and has a flat in Chelsea.
Ella, is quiet, a cleaner in a hotel and whose parents run a failing caravan park and she lives in a tiny, shabby caravan in Cumbria.
Ella travels to London to meet Jem and Ella sees a different life. She returns home but Jem soon travels to Cumbria to visit. They decide to swap lives for a short holiday from their own messy lives……what on earth could go wrong?
I won’t say much more about the plot for fear of spoiling it, but I can this is a psychological thriller with a unique edge. It brings to life the destructive nature of envy and the reality that happiness is more than material things.
Dark, tense, thought provoking and yet incredibly sad too. An utterly compelling thriller from the first to last page.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Jem is a bold, brash party girl, an aspiring actor and singer with wealthy parents and has a flat in Chelsea.
Ella, is quiet, a cleaner in a hotel and whose parents run a failing caravan park and she lives in a tiny, shabby caravan in Cumbria.
Ella travels to London to meet Jem and Ella sees a different life. She returns home but Jem soon travels to Cumbria to visit. They decide to swap lives for a short holiday from their own messy lives……what on earth could go wrong?
I won’t say much more about the plot for fear of spoiling it, but I can this is a psychological thriller with a unique edge. It brings to life the destructive nature of envy and the reality that happiness is more than material things.
Dark, tense, thought provoking and yet incredibly sad too. An utterly compelling thriller from the first to last page.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
March 1, 2020
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the concept of this, and how Ella and Jem interacted throughout. I would definitely be intrigued by the app, and I see the attraction of it all.
Ella is slightly more likeable at first, if a lot more withdrawn, where Jem is in perfect contrast - overwhelming and obnoxious.
However as the book goes on, the lines blur beautifully between them. Especially in that last chapter - no spoilers, but that definitely was perfect.
I did struggle to connect with either girl, but I do think that the point of the story is to leave you feeling a little disconcerted by it all! It also feels a little bleak - perhaps intentionally, but left me not quite as drawn in as I wanted to be.
Overall though, this is such a well conceived idea, and really well executed. A very enjoyable read, 3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed the concept of this, and how Ella and Jem interacted throughout. I would definitely be intrigued by the app, and I see the attraction of it all.
Ella is slightly more likeable at first, if a lot more withdrawn, where Jem is in perfect contrast - overwhelming and obnoxious.
However as the book goes on, the lines blur beautifully between them. Especially in that last chapter - no spoilers, but that definitely was perfect.
I did struggle to connect with either girl, but I do think that the point of the story is to leave you feeling a little disconcerted by it all! It also feels a little bleak - perhaps intentionally, but left me not quite as drawn in as I wanted to be.
Overall though, this is such a well conceived idea, and really well executed. A very enjoyable read, 3.5 stars.
March 15, 2020
I had the absolute privilege of reading this novel pre-publication, and I can safely say that it has quickly earned its place among my favourite thriller titles. In our current climate of and catfishing cases and other social media scares, Nicola Martin's concept of the MeetYourDouble app is gripping and viable. 'Dead Ringer' is a modern-day Princess and the Pauper story, in which the worlds of a 'Chelsea screw-up' and a 'quiet northern lass' collide in full colour. The characters are not without their quirks or complications; as such, every interaction in the novel is tense, engaging, and leaves you wondering when they will be found out. With the coverage of very current topics and exploration of two starkly different settings, you're sure to be entertained.
October 5, 2020
This is a cliff hanger thriller with an interesting concept. With an app and by uploading your picture you get the to see the person in the world who looks most like you. The story follows two women who thus meet. One a social lite whose hedonistic drug taking and selfish ways are rather objectionable and a mousy depressive whose life is so awfully depressing that I felt I needed psych-meds myself. What develops it a great story with a cliff hanger end which will have you guessing and re-guessing your own judgment. Loved it. Want more!
August 6, 2023
Well written and started well but honestly I could see no point to this rambling story. There is no story arc, no mystery to solve, no problems to tackle. Its just the two miserable moaning characters wandering about in drug fuelled London or a depressing northern town being relentlessly horrible to each other. Ditched at 30%, checked the end and still more misery the two women being spiteful to each other, swearing and shouting and both full of hate over what and why I have no idea.
Ghastly.
Ghastly.
January 14, 2020
What can I say? A cracking debut! Tense, thrilling and thought provoking. I sped read the last 90 pages because so much was happening!
I loved this book. I won’t give away my thoughts about the premise or characters as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone but trust me, it’s the kind of book that will pull you in and stay with you afterwards. What if?
September 23, 2020
I wish I could give 3.5 stars. The book definitely kept my interest and I was interested to know how it would play out. However, it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting due to what the synopsis said. I also thought the transitions within the story could have been a bit smoother. I definitely wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen though.
May 17, 2020
Closer to a 3.5. Martin offers complex and interestingly drawn characters in an often fascinating plot. She deftly explores class, mental illness, and alienation. Ultimately though, it just didn’t grip me the way that I wanted it to.
November 17, 2020
excellent refreshing thriller from a new writer
I was attracted by the synopsis and the novel didn't disappoint. The two lead characters worked really well and I couldn't put the book down. I am looking forward to her next novel
I was attracted by the synopsis and the novel didn't disappoint. The two lead characters worked really well and I couldn't put the book down. I am looking forward to her next novel
February 14, 2020
2.5 stars. Review coming up on 27th February (blog tour)
February 18, 2020
This was such a great read. A twisty, creepy psychological thriller. An app. to meet your double sounds great but it has it's pitfalls. More to come on the blog tour.
November 13, 2020
I picked this thriller at random as I thought the idea of finding your doppelganger was interesting, but I didn't find it thrilling at all.
Read
December 16, 2024DNF
April 17, 2020
“Get ready to meet the other you. Just upload your photo to get started. Using the latest facial recognition software, plus your votes. MeetYourDouble will find you doppelganger. Start now.”Dead Ringer
Is there someone in the world that looks like you? What would it be like to meet them – would they act like you; be like you?
This is what our characters Ella and Jem must think in Dead Ringer. An app where you can upload your picture, it then matches you with a number of other users who bear the most resemblance according to their software. Users of the app then vote who is most like you.
I love the concept of this book. It’s intriguing and could be somewhat realistic. Our main characters are Ella and Jem who could not be more opposite if they tried. Ella is from a small town ‘up north’, lonely, broke and struggling with who she is. Jem is from London, an aspiring actress, with wealthy family, living the party lifestyle and a drug habit.
We learn more about each character as the book develops. I was drawn into each ones life wanting to know more. It starts fairly innocent but as it’s a thriller, you know there is more to come. Each character has a past; while vastly different, they both have an impact on the story. Drama follows from their first meeting as the plot progresses. The author creates a fascinating, compelling read with twists and turns (typical thriller term, I know) throughout. The book is easy to read and to follow which I think is important in a book with more than one point of view. It’s an impressive debut, and I would certainly read more by this author.
This book was received for a book tour on Instagram and Twitter. This review is honest and in no way influenced by this. Thanks to Ruth Killick and Saraband for this copy of dead Ringer.
Is there someone in the world that looks like you? What would it be like to meet them – would they act like you; be like you?
This is what our characters Ella and Jem must think in Dead Ringer. An app where you can upload your picture, it then matches you with a number of other users who bear the most resemblance according to their software. Users of the app then vote who is most like you.
I love the concept of this book. It’s intriguing and could be somewhat realistic. Our main characters are Ella and Jem who could not be more opposite if they tried. Ella is from a small town ‘up north’, lonely, broke and struggling with who she is. Jem is from London, an aspiring actress, with wealthy family, living the party lifestyle and a drug habit.
We learn more about each character as the book develops. I was drawn into each ones life wanting to know more. It starts fairly innocent but as it’s a thriller, you know there is more to come. Each character has a past; while vastly different, they both have an impact on the story. Drama follows from their first meeting as the plot progresses. The author creates a fascinating, compelling read with twists and turns (typical thriller term, I know) throughout. The book is easy to read and to follow which I think is important in a book with more than one point of view. It’s an impressive debut, and I would certainly read more by this author.
This book was received for a book tour on Instagram and Twitter. This review is honest and in no way influenced by this. Thanks to Ruth Killick and Saraband for this copy of dead Ringer.
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