The Other You

DI Silas Hart #2

by J.S. Monroe

Kate used to be good at recognising people. So good, she worked for the police, identifying criminals in crowds of thousands. But six months ago, a devastating car accident led to a brain injury. Now the woman who never forgot a face can barely recognise herself in the mirror.

At least she has Rob. Young, rich, handsome and successful, Rob runs a tech company on the idyllic Cornish coast. Kate met him just after her accident, and he nursed her back to health. When she's with him, in his luxury modernist house, the nightmares of the accident fade, and she feels safe and loved.

Until, one day, she looks at Rob anew. And knows, with absolute certainty, that the man before her has been replaced by an impostor.

Is Rob who he says he is? Or is it all in Kate's damaged mind?

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

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2020

About the author

J.S.Monroe is the pseudonym of British writer Jon Stock, author of The Sleep Room and Dead Spy Running. As J.S.Monroe, he is the author of five psychological thrillers, including the international bestseller, Find Me, which has been translated into 14 languages. Dead Spy Running was optioned by Warner Bros. The Sleep Room, his first non-fiction book, is about the British psychiatrist Dr William Sargant, and will be published in the UK (Little, Brown) on 3 April 2025 and in America (Abrams) on 22 July 2025. It is currently being developed for TV.

No Place to Hide, Jon's latest psychological thriller, was published by Head of Zeus (Bloomsbury) in April 2023 and came out in paperback in March 2024. A standalone, contemporary novel set in London, Wiltshire and Cornwall, it's a loose retelling of Dr Faustus. “Clever, convincing and wickedly twisty - Highly recommended,” according to Mick Herron. "Compelling, relentless and genuinely frightening," says Simon Russell Beale. "A must-read for psychological thriller fans."

Jon's previous book, The Man On Hackpen Hill (Head of Zeus, 2021,) was the third J.S.Monroe thriller to feature DI Silas Hart (head of Swindon CID) and DS Strover. "Original and brilliantly plotted, with not so much a twist as a seismic shifting of the ground under your feet ... Amazing." - Rosamund Lupton; “Impeccably researched… An unusual mystery told with exceptional skill” – Daily Mail; “A kind of Wiltshire Da Vinci Code, with crop circles, mathematical equations and shadowy figures from Porton Down. A real page turner.” – Tom Bradby.

The Other you (Head of Zeus, 2020) was the second in Jon's DI Hart series. "I doubt many other psychological thrillers published this year will be as propulsive and fun" - Daily Telegraph; "A clever mash-up of psychological thriller and police procedural with a dash of sci-fi" - Daily Mail; "You won't be able to turn the pages fast enough" - Heat Magazine; "Brilliantly original and intriguing ... Kept me hooked, enthralled and guessing to the very end" - Peter James.

Forget My Name (Head of Zeus, 2018) was the first thriller to feature DI Hart. It was published in America as The Last Thing She Remembers (HarperCollins, 2018). “An absorbing novel full of unexpected twists, topped by a savage climax” – The Times; “A book that will send thrills down your spine, even on the hottest beach” – Sunday Express.

Find Me (Head of Zeus, 2017), Jon's first J.S.Monroe thriller, was a standalone set in London, Cornwall, Cambridge and Norfolk. It has sold more than 150,000 copies and been translated into 14 languages. “Intricately woven and heart-stoppingly believable, this has bestseller written all over it” – Clare Mackintosh; “The most ingenious thriller you will read his year.” –M.J.Arlidge. "Cunning, captivating and creepy" – JP Delaney.

Dead Spy Running (HarperCollins, 2009) has been published in five languages and was the first in the Daniel Marchant Trilogy. It was followed by Games Traitors Play and Dirty Little Secret (2012). The movie rights to Dead Spy Running were acquired in 2008 by Warner Bros and the film was later in development with the director McG. Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan wrote the original script.

Jon is the author of two other spy thrillers: The Riot Act (Serpent's Tail, 1997), which was shortlisted for the Crime Writer's Association debut crime novel award, and The Cardamom Club (Blackamber/Arcadia, 2003). Both titles were republished in the UK as ebooks by Head of Zeus (The Cardamom Club as The India Spy). He has also written a spy novella, To Snare A Spy (2018), which was commissioned by the Nare Hotel in Cornwall and features a 15-year-old spy.

Reviews

[Kylie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was one hell of a ride! Kate was a super recogniser working with the police, meaning she never forgot a face, picking criminals out of CCTV footage, until one night she had a car accident and suffered a brain injury. In the months since she has been working with a psychiatrist to try to get her former recognition skills back. Her new man Rob, who she met in the hospital while she was recuperating, has been nothing but supportive and loving. Plus he's rich to boot! Then one day, when she's on the mend, Rob comes home, except it isn't Rob, but someone that's his double...

I really don't want to give anything away, so I'm not going to say too much. This one really had me guessing, and I did work some things out. However the end game was something else again. I couldn't put this book down and read it in a day. Recommended for all lovers of psychological thrillers.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCERPT: 'We've all got a double out there somewhere, watching, waiting. Shadowless.' He looks around the cove, up at the clifftop behind them. The man with the binoculars has gone. 'And I've already met mine, a long time ago.'

'When?' she asks. He doesn't answer.

'They say it's bad enough to see your double once, but it's meant to be much worse if you meet them a second time.' He pauses. 'The day I see him again will be my last. He'll take over my life, me, you, the house, my company, all that I've achieved, everything that's precious to me.'

He pauses, eyes welling as the Cornish sun disappears behind a solitary cloud, casting the beach into sudden shade. 'He'll steal my soul.'

ABOUT THIS BOOK: You are waiting for your husband to join you on holiday. But when he arrives, you know it's not him...

This clever, twisty psychological thriller explores identity and pretence, paranoia and the disturbing notion that we are all, at some level, impostors.

MY THOUGHTS: Clever. Twisty. Chilling. I won't be sleeping any more tonight.

This is the second book I have read by this author, and he continues to stun me with his unusual plots and his ability to totally creep me out. I love to be creeped out. I can't remember the last time I had a sleepless night because of it.

This book is edgy and tense, The. Whole. Way. Through. If you are looking for a relaxing read, this isn't it. This is heart-pounding paranoia. This will have you looking twice at anyone acting a little out of character. This will have you doubting and questioning everything you know about everyone. This will give you sleepless nights...

A 'couldn't bear to put it down' read.

😱😱😱😱😱

#TheOtherYou #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: J.S.Monroe is the pseudonym of the British author Jon Stock. Jon is the author of five spy novels and a new standalone psychological thriller, Find Me, to be published in 2017 under the name of JS Monroe. He lives in Wiltshire with his wife and three children.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Head of Zeus via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Other You by J.S. Monroe for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Snjez]

dnf @ 52%

This started off well, I liked the idea of doppelgängers and I liked that Kate had this special ability.
But at some point the story started dragging for me and became very repetitive.

It doesn't help that I find the characters very bland, especially Kate, and it's hard for me to connect to them. I just started losing interest and I feel bored. The audiobook is 13 hours long, and I can't listen to 6-7 more hours of this.

[Nina (ninjasbooks)]

DNF

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a different and intriguing read that managed to grip me and capture my attention from the very start.
A psychological thriller and a good one at that.
Not only did it keep me guessing it also felt so fresh and had such a unique storyline running throughout.
Kate a former super-recogniser once employed by the police to identify criminals is left with a brain injury after a recent car accident.
Her new boyfriend Rob is everything she could ever want successful, attentive, loving and rich.
He is also super invested in her recovery and doing everything he possibly can to aide Kate's returns to full health.
she has never felt more content and secure until that is one day Rob returns home from the city to the house they share in Cornwall and Kate is convinced that the man she loves has been replaced by an imposter.
Told from various POV's Kate herself, her ex-boyfriend Jake and also her Ex employer Silas this is a race to uncover the truth.
Is something sinister afoot here or is it all in Kate's mind caused by her recent head injury.
So this was chilling and mysterious and all sorts of suspenseful.
I changed my mind constantly with what I actually believed was happening here.
No sooner had I decided then I swerved directions again.
Great characters and plenty of intrigue and also a really unique read.
This one really was a packed read and that final end-game was just superb.
A great read that I am happy to recommend.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of The Other You.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

[Brooke - One Woman's Brief Book Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
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The Other You by J. S. Monroe. (2020).

Kate was a 'super-recogniser'; identifying criminals in crowds of thousands. Until she had a car accident 6 months ago which led to a brain injury. But at least she has Rob. She met Rob after her accident and he has nursed her back to health in his modernist house. With him she feels safe and loved. Until one day she looks at Rob and knows with certainty that he has been replaced with an imposter...Is she right? Or is it all in her damaged mind?

This one sounded really intriguing but it just didn't really work for me. My major issues with it were that it was waaaay too long and too slow; I think it would have had much more impact and not felt as repetitive if it was about half/two-thirds of the length. I also thought that the sentences were really abrupt, for me that was quite odd and I couldn't help noticing it a lot. I also found the end annoying (don't worry, I will give no further details than that, no spoiler zone here!). On the positive side, it was good that the chapters alternated between Kate, Silas (her old boss) and Jake (her ex); this allowed the reader to get a bigger picture other than just Kate's confusion over Rob. Also the concept was definitely interesting and not one I'd forget in a hurry!
This book actually has a quite high average rating on Goodreads (as of writing this, 84% of readers have given it 4 or 5 stars out of 5) so I'm clearly in the minority with my opinions here. It's definitely worth a go if the synopsis sounds interesting to you.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Other You is J.S. Monroe's latest standalone psychological thriller and boy what a rollercoaster ride of thrills and spills it was. I even had chills at certain points. The premise of the book doesn't bear thinking about and is terrifying to ponder. It centres around Kate who used to be so effective and efficient at recognising faces in a crowd that she used to help the police with their work. However, that ability has been all but deadened by an accident which impacted her head. Luckily, she had her wealthy boyfriend Rob to nurse her back to health but she never regained any of her amazing superhuman abilities. Now she fears that Rob has somehow been replaced by a doppelganger and this niggles away at her eating away her sanity piece by piece. Is she losing the plot or can her worst fears be confirmed? Why would Rob need to be replaced and who called for it to happen?

This is one of the best domestic-based psychological thrillers I've had the pleasure to read in a while and I feel that the synopsis really does the story a bit of a disservice. Once I had picked it up I devoured it in a mere few hours and then scolded myself for reading it so rapidly instead of savouring it. There are twists, turns and red herrings aplenty and I must admit that I certainly didn't see the conclusion coming despite reading hundreds of these books per year; that is the mark of a great author. My only criticism is that at just under 500 pages long I think it could've been tauter and tighter in terms of plotting if it was cut down a little. That said, it didn't impact me enough to really worry about it and I raced through it anyway. A highly entertaining, addictive and engrossing thriller with an original and completely captivating plotline. Many thanks to Head of Zeus for an ARC.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m usually not overly fond of books that immediately slap you in the face with a whole line-up of coincidences and rather unsubtle clues to introduce their often quite farfetched premise. It makes me feel like I’m getting set up on some disastrous blind date where the allegedly handsome young man turns out to be a thrice divorced 70 year old with a gambling habit and a penchant for twirling his wiry moustache. So it was with some trepidation that I entered a story where the main character is a “super-recogniser” (or facial profiler) for the police (who knew such a thing even existed?), who has lost her gift in a tragic accident. She coincidentally lives with a rather creepy (but reportedly handsome) guy whose worst fear is that his life will be stolen by his doppelganger, and who is suddenly acting weird. Hmmm, yes. Totally believable. “Not impossible, though”, said the other little voice in my head. “This is FICTION remember?” Oh yes, suspension of disbelief, my old foe, you got me once again!

Once I allowed myself to go with the flow, however, I found I quite enjoyed the story that unfolded. I certainly learned a lot. There were facts about super-recognisers who never forgot a face (I am on the other end of the spectrum I’m afraid), and the way police use them for spotting faces in surveillance footage. Interesting! Then there also was the fascinating statistics about your odds of having a doppelganger somewhere out there, which led me down a google rabbit hole looking up photos of random strangers who look identical. S.J. Monroe spun quite a tale out of all these little morsels, and I was soon engrossed. Had it not been for whiney Kate, who annoyed me, I would have really loved the way the story played out, blindsiding me several times and still offering a satisfying surprise at the end.

Like in his previous novel, FORGET MY NAME, J.S. Monroe likes to explore the often unrecognised possibilities of our amazing brains, and uses these facts to spin an intricate web. Once again he offers us a long list of characters who may or may not be trustworthy, and it is up to you to figure it all out. After twists and turns galore, I had some of it worked out, but other plot elements came out of nowhere. It’s one of those books where you need to dive in, suspend disbelief, and let yourself be carried away with the flow of the story. I found it entertaining and often fascinating, and will be left wondering if I am the one in 135 people who has a doppelganger out there. Like having a twin. This could be fun! Or not .....


Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

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[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.S. Monroe has previously written two psychological thrillers before “The Other You” which I haven’t read but after thoroughly enjoying this latest gripping thriller, I will definitely be looking to read his earlier books.
“The Other You” focuses on the main protagonist Kate, a Police ‘super recogniser’ who after suffering brain trauma following a suspicious serious car accident, can barely recognise herself in a mirror. When she starts believing her new successful techpreneur boyfriend Rob isn’t who she thinks he is, she doesn’t know whether he has been replaced by his doppelgänger, which has always been Rob’s worst fear, or whether she’s suffering from a condition called Capgras Syndrome, where you truly believe a loved one has been replaced by an imposter. Using a doppelgänger as a theme for the story was very ingenious and has you really thinking about how alike these people can be to yourself.
I loved the storyline to the book, the wonderfully developed characters and the fantastically written plot. I’ve never heard of ‘super recognisers’ before and was intrigued to find they are actually used by the police to track criminals and I thought to use this as the basis for a main character, was very clever. The denouement was exceedingly tense and well thought out, with a twist that I didn’t see coming. I particularly liked how the author explained everything at the end, unlike so many books which leave you to put the pieces together yourself. Part police procedural, part psychological thriller, with many layers intertwined, I enjoyed reading the story told through alternating chapters of Kate, her ex boyfriend Jake and her old boss from the super recogniser unit, Silas.
Unique, gripping, addictive, at times chilling and wholly very entertaining, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book and author. Featuring paranoia, deceit, distrust, identity, memory, emotions and relationships, there’s just so much to keep you turning the pages and I’d be very surprised if you didn’t find this as enjoyable as I did. I’d love to read more from DI Silas Hart and his DC, Strover, I think they’d make a great series and I could easily see this book being made into an excellent movie.
5 wonderfully entertaining stars.

[Melissa Souza · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars!!!

Unpopular opinion ahead - You have been warned!!!

I'm honestly surprised at the rave reviews for this book. Maybe it just wasn't up my street. I'm a huge fan of crime and psychological thrillers, but this was a fairly average read for me. When I first got into this book, I was pretty excited. The first couple of chapters were really engaging. I hadn't read a psychological thriller in quite a while and I was looking forward to it. However, I found many parts of this story completely far-fetched and implausible. Let me elaborate further.

Firstly, I found the concept of doppelgänger's and doubles quite unique. I enjoyed reading about super recognisers and facial recognition. I also found the aspect of technology that helps with this process interesting. Initially, as I was introduced to the character, Kate, and learned about her backstory; how she felt her partner, Rob, might be an imposter, I was psyched to see how it would turn out. I also found the POVs from DI Hart/Silas made for a great addition to the plot as it showed the police procedural aspect of this thriller. Unfortunately, as the story progressed, I found that many elements or scenarios didn't make sense. Like the wearable technology that was introduced was something that would occur in a sc-fi novel much less realistic fiction. In addition, although a double might have existed that resembled the main character. The person can't be exactly like them even if they are more or less alike. A person's abilities or skills is unique to them. We are born original and no one can be an exact replica of us. A look-alike is not a clone. This part of the plot was exceptionally bizarre to me because it made the characters come across as completely naive and irritating especially when they couldn't tell apart the real from the fake. If this was a sci-fi technological thriller, it would have passed but not for realistic fiction as there are limitations on plausibility.

Secondly, I found some of the side plots to be distracting from the main storyline like the part about Connor and Silas. I felt that this was a rather useless subplot that just took up chapters and did nothing to add dimension to the story. Moreover, I found the police to be rather incompetent. The story hinges on mostly Kate's ex figuring out most of things instead of the actual police. This made the read quite irritating as I would have liked to have seen more of the actual police work done. I think this would have elevated the novel further.

Last but not least, although the book was structured for a brisk reading pace, I wasn't able to really connect with any of the characters in the book. I wasn't really invested in what happened to them halfway through. On a positive note, there was plenty of action and the descriptions of the places was engaging. The storyline had twists and turns, and the progression was fairly seamless. The last few chapters were decent enough but the ending felt rushed and was not explained in a detailed way. But, I did enjoy them more than the middle chapters. I guess I was expecting the story to take on a different route than it did and I feel it could have ended earlier on that being dragged for 500 pages or so. Overall, an okay read. I guess I have just read better novels. In my opinion, the book had the potential to be something greater but it wasn't. I would recommend it if you wish to just pass the time.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What did I think?!? WHAT DID I THINK?!? I thought this book was absolutely bloody brilliant and that the books of 2020 have A LOT to live up to. I’ve been told before that readers of my reviews can tell how much I love a book by the amount of exclamation marks and capital letters I use so be prepared for quite a few here! I loved this book so much that as soon as I finished those unexpected and brilliantly written last few pages, the first thing I did was to go onto Amazon to order his other books. I just love it when you find an author who’s writing style you gel with straight away and the feeling you get when you know they have more books for you to discover!! Anyway, back to why I loved The Other You so much!

What drew me initially to The Other You was the premise of Kate being a super recogniser. I find the idea completely fascinating after having read a book previously covering the same subject, so much so that I took a test and found out that I’m also a super recogniser (please send all well paid job offers to my email address!!!) But unfortunately Kate was involved in a serious car accident that has wiped her super ability. Then one day she looks at her partner Rob and is convinced that it’s no longer her boyfriend! Does Rob have a doppelgänger or is Kate suffering from complex side effects from her accident? With the help of her best friend, her ex boyfriend and the police officer she previously worked with, Kate is thrown into a world where she no longer knows who to trust.

The tension throughout this book kept me awake until the wee small hours of the morning as I just refused to put it down! Once all the threads started to pull together, there were plenty of shocks in store for all of our characters and they all played their part helping Kate work out why she was being targeted. Jake was a favourite character for me personally, I just loved his determination and quiet devotion to his ex. The narrative divides itself between Kate, Jake and Silas the police officer who has his own problems that add to the mix as well and who’s a character I wouldn’t mind meeting again at some point in the future.

The Other You is a great read, an original and gripping thriller with its themes of identity, obsession and self deception. It’s a lengthy book at nearly 500 pages long but not once did the suspense let up or the narrative drag at all and I loved every single minute that it was in my hands!

Highly recommended by me!

[Rachel (not currently receiving notifications) Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive in scope, an original plot and a lightning fast pace in a thriller with so much to hold attention!

The Other You is the first of J.S. Monroe’s novels that I have read and throws everything but the kitchen sink into a original plot with an impressive scope. Surprisingly it works and makes for a hugely engaging thriller with more than enough substance to keep the reader fully occupied, despite an inauspicious start and protagonist Kate’s new boyfriend coming out with a bizarre speech about a doppelgänger potentially stealing his soul! Persevere however as there are rewards aplenty, twists to match and a well-crafted plot that spans four intense days, even if suspension of disbelief from the off is pretty much a necessity.

Thirty-three year old Kate worked as a civilian super recogniser in Wiltshire before a near fatal car accident resulting in a traumatic brain injury changed her life. Having left her old job and split with her partner of over a decade, Kate is five months into a new relationship with Rob Colwan, a handsome and wealthy twenty-nine year old techpreneur and living in his cutting edge Cornwall home. With Rob’s company working on direct neural interface technology and a neuro physician monitoring Kate’s recovery via a piece of wearable technology that Rob’s company developed, she is feeling stronger by the day and regaining some of her recognition skills.

That is until Rob opens up and tells Kate about meeting his doppelgänger in Thailand and his fear that a second sighting will result in his life being taken over by his malevolent spitting image. When Kate turns to Rob one morning and knows with absolute certainty that he has been replaced by an imposter her immediate fear, soon dismissed, is that his unsettlingly story might have played on her mind. Is this the result of the injuries she sustained, a delusion or has Rob’s evil doppelgänger really turned up? If this doesn’t sound wacky enough, throw in some intel that Kate could be a target for revenge by a gang she was largely responsible for identifying after some heavy convictions and mix liberally!

As Kate confides her fears in best friend, Bex, and eventually talks to her doctor. the narrative provides the reader with enough basic neurological information necessary to understand what makes a super recogniser and how facial recognition software operates. The arrival of Kate’s old boss, DI Silas Hart, asking her to make one final spot and with serious concerns for her safety sees the two threads collide as Kate’s ex-boyfriend, Jake, digs into Rob’s background and brings to light some worrying discoveries. As the narrative rotates between the points of view of Kate, Jake, and DI Silas Hart with each chapter edging their individual components further along it intuitively reads well and I really enjoyed the overlap which makes their endeavours feel like a real team effort. Admittedly much of the novel isn’t really in plausible territory and the premise primes the reader to suspect Rob is up to no good from the off, but it also makes for an infectious thriller read!

I was particularly impressed by the scope of the novel which covers so much territory and between the short chapters and fast pace, several elements to the story and three points of view it serves to keep momentum high and the pages turning. Whilst I never felt I really connected with the character of Kate or got a good sense for her emotions, I found the wider cast - notably Jake and DI Silas Hart - far more believable and sympathetic. Between the fascinating snippets of medical information on the brain, Rob’s suspicious behaviour and DI Silas Hart’s personal issues, the novel is part police procedural and part psychological thriller with never a dull moment despite weighing in at nearly 500 pages and providing a satisfying conclusion.

If you can overlook an opening that cries out for the reader to be immediately suspicious of Rob and suspend disbelief for the exhilaration of a rollicking good thriller with characters to care about, then The Other You comes highly recommended. Well-written and impressively researched with the science and technology know-how made accessible and a clever twist in the tail, J.S. Monroe is an author I intend to read more of!

With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Q&A with J.S. Monroe to mark publication of his previous book, Forget My Name, he revealed “My next thriller is a modern, high-tech take on an old trope: the doppelgänger.” Well, he was as good as his word because The Other You is an incredibly clever blend of the bang up-to-date – drones, facial recognition software, wearable and smart technology – and older superstitions about doppelgängers, doubles and changelings.

Despite being just under five hundred pages long, The Other You zips along at a breathless pace thanks to the short chapters and the fact that events unfold over the course of only a few days. The author is also the master of the punchy final sentence of a chapter or cliff-hanger ending.

The story is told from three points of view, the first of which is Kate herself so the reader witnesses her doubts and uncertainties first hand. I think it’s fair to say the reader may have their suspicions awakened about certain individuals a little earlier than Kate does.

Then there’s Kate’s ex-boyfriend, Jake, a former crime reporter and now not entirely successful author – although he can lay claim to being ‘big in Finland’. I loved the self-deprecating humour as Jake encounters someone who’s read one of his books only to find out they picked it up for 10p in a charity shop. Jake’s never forgotten the happy times he and Kate had together and how one reckless action ended their relationship.

Finally, there’s DI Silas Hart, Kate’s former boss when she worked as a super-recogniser who still feels guilty that his desire to make the unit a success may have pushed Kate beyond her limits and contributed to her accident.

Events unfold in a seemingly never-ending stream of twists and turns including some distinctly dystopian elements before the book reaches its heart-thumping, nail-biting climax.

The Other You is an expertly crafted page-turner that kept this reader guessing right to the end. Touching on issues such as the impact of AI, concerns about infringement of civil liberties and current criminal activity such as county lines gangs and modern slavery, The Other You is a thriller for the modern world. Oh, and by the way, it also proves humankind definitely has no need for a refrigerator that can spontaneously switch itself to ‘diet’ mode.

[Mellisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate is, or was, a super recogniser. A super recogniser is someone born with the ability to remember a face forever, even from a single glance. However, ever since the crash that nearly cost Kate her life, Kate has lost this ability. But she has found love with Rob, who she met in hospital and nursed her back to health. After a conversation about Rob's deepest fear, Kate starts to feel something is different with Rob. He sounds the same, looks the same - but she is certain this is not Rob, that he has been replaced with an imposter. Now Kate has to determine whether this a consequence of her damaged mind, or whether Kate's instincts are trying to warn her... of danger.

This was a thrill ride I never saw coming. An intriguing story that slowly build suspense, looping through small twists and then throwing in a huge one in the last few pages. Wow. An incredible intense book, I loved reading every second of it and I'm gutted it's finished. I need to read more of this author's work!

[Victoria Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the first that I've read by this author and I wasn't disappointed and neither will you be.
From the beginning, from the very first page this story, this book pulled me in like a magnet and I couldn't put it down. This book is a real page turner.
This book is told from three points of view which I always like, I seem to prefer this way.
I loved the characters especially Kate and how the author describes everything.
Kate was a confident, high flying woman who led an exciting life. She worked with Silas a detective in the police department, she worked as a super recognizer that identified criminals and people from there faces. Kate was exceptional at her job and worked a lot. It was extremely exhausting what she did but also very rewarding.
One day everything changes after Kate has a terrifying car accident which leaves her with a terrible brain injury, and now she can hardly recognize herself never mind anyone else. Kate meets Rob, Rob helps Kate to heal, and they fall in love and start a life together.Rob is a millionaire tech man who's home is very high tech very modernization and way ahead of it's time. Rob can technically do everything from an app on his phone, oven turned on, remotely locking door's etc, that's when all is working properly.Jake is Kate's ex who's a writer that is struggling and broke,he lives on a house boat, when one day someone sends him something about the accident.
All of a sudden everything changes for Kate and things start to happen and alot of questions start popping up. Kate thinks she's losing her mind.
Is Rob who he says he is??
Is it actually Rob or someone else??
Is Kate getting her ability back to recognize faces or is it and imposter ??
I don't want to give anymore of the story away.
This book is absolutely brilliant it deserves every single one of those stars and if I could give more I would. The author has written this book brilliantly and I loved that you could never guess what was going to happen next, quite nail biting. It had me gripped from the very beginning and it has you playing detective yourself. This book is spine tingling good thriller and it is going to be a best seller of 2020, and I will be recommending this book to everyone when it gets released early January 2020.
Thank you to readers first and the publishers for allowing me to read this early copy.
Thank you

[VNerdbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good read, I sat on the sofa and finished the whole thing in one sitting, I nearly forgot to eat!

Following Katie, a "super recogniser" who used to work for the police, we learn that she has been in a car accident, that may have damaged her ability to recognise faces like she used to.

Until one day, she looks at her husband Rob, and realises that it isn't him at all, it is an impostor, or is it? She doesn't really know, and the more she tries to work out if it is her or her brain injury, the more crazy she starts to sound to herself, and everyone around her.

But could it be true? Could Rob be someone else? And if he is, how has it happened, and why?

A great thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat.

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"Scientists found that there's about a one in 135 chance that a pair of complete doppelgängers exist somewhere in the world. But the likelihood of someone walking around looking identical to you, specifically, in all eight facial features is only one in 1 trillion. Creepy, but not very likely." - Science Alert

In college, friends told me there was a girl that looked exactly like me running around. That they would go up to her and say hi and then realize she wasn't me after the fact. Even when I got my hair cut or changed, it seemed she would too. I never ran into her but I heard it from several people and yes, it was creepy! So yes, I found the premise of this book VERY intriguing. And I've always found the thought of a doppelganger very interesting. Don't you?



While this book is fast paced, it did seem to be a bit long winded towards the end. However, it was all so interesting to see how Kate was questioning everything around her. Is Rob Rob, or is he someone else? Or is it something stemming from the car crash that she had? There are definitely times where you'll need to suspend some reality. I still have questions about how some things could have possibly happened. But I also think that's part of the charm of this read. You just never really know because it's just so far out of what could be... but it COULD be. Get me? Haha.

The plot is complex and the author does do a good job taking it in a different direction than expected. However, I do think it could've been tightened up just a bit. Some things didn't quite add up and the police procedural aspect of it seemed to lack. For all the build up, the ending felt a bit rushed. Besides these points, I did enjoy the read. I found the subject matter fascinating and was intrigued in the other direction it decided to take. My third book by this author and I would definitely read more.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author J. S. Monroe has done it again, combined science and technology using other part of the brain as the focus.

Kate was a super recognizer, she could never forget a face and identify a partial one or just a smudge of a face. She was the human face detector. Post her accident, she lost this capacity and life resumed as normal as she could manage with a new man Rob in a house which was managed electronically. Until one day, she felt the man with her was not Rob. Was it really a doppelganger?

My second book by this author, I was gripped into the pathways of his brain as the story unfolded. What really did go on in his mind to belt our such a captivating book? I was as confused as the main character about the man being an imposter. The story flipped on itself so many times, where the subplots rushed by me like the latest Tesla cars.

The story went into technical details and in depth parts of the police work, which kind of made the suspense go down for me. But the rest of the book was a banger of a thriller. The twists made me dizzy, and the final reveal was so macabre that I had to go back to my textbooks to see if it were possible.

Whew... Another one of my great midnight reads.

[KiKi The #BookNerd KBbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Impression. Based on the extract offered by ReadersFirst in order to enter the draw. I adore the idea of doppelgangers, and this books plays right on it. I love the concept that meeting one’s own look-alike breeds misery, an old myth that I hardly see play out. This book looks equally fascinating and psychologically terrifying, after all as humans we all fear our own capabilities and this is a physical manifestation of it!

Synopsis. When Kate, a ‘super-recogniser’ who worked with the police, is involved in a terrible car accident, she suffers a serious brain injury resulting in her losing her ability to recognise any face no matter when or where she had seen it before. But then, while recovering in hospital, Kate meets Rob. The rich and handsome technology grenius soon falls for Kate and she moves in with him.

As Rob nurses her back to health in their high-tech Cornish home, they discuss their worst fears. Kate is afraid of never regaining her ability to recognise faces so she can paint again, Rob is deathly afraid his doppleganger, whom he has met once before, will return and take over his life.

Kate dismisses his fear as impossible, until one day Rob returns home from work and she is positively certain that the main before her is not Rob at all. Is Kate delusional, has her brain sufferred more damage than first thought? Or have her abilities returned and the man before her truly is a stranger?

— Gripping And Intriguing —
The Writing Style And Narrative. J.S Monroe certainly knows how to write a gripping and intriguing thriller. His writing style balances between descriptive and direct, managing to be incredibly impactful and chilling. Through his writing he creates a distinct atmosphere of fear and entrapment, isolation versus safety, insanity versus certainty. The balance between each of these emotions supports the thriller and the fear and discomfort it breeds. I felt incredibly connected to the story through the writing and found it was excellent at maintaining the tension throughout the story.

The narrative itself rotates between three main characters; Kate (the main character), Jake (Kate’s ex-boyfriend), and DI Hart (Kate’s old boss). Despite the three separate perspectives, the story is never confusing. Monroe masterfully weaves the narratives together and creates distinct perspectives ensuring there is no confusion.

Each of these perspectives work wonderfully together. Kate’s is perfect for the thriller aspect of the novel. Her previous injury means her perspective is not entirely trustworthy meaning you are also uncertain as to whether or not Kate is correct in believing Rob has been replaced. Moreover, her lack of insight into Rob’s mind and what is actually going on leaves us in the dark too, creating a tense atmmosphere full of suspense. This perspective also allows us to connect with the character, her stress, her emotions and her fears.

Jake’s perspective is very interesting. His is almost a mix between mystery and thriller. Having been broken up with Kate for a while he is relatively disconnected from her. Thus, when they do communicate it adds a great dynamic to the story. Jake, still in love with Kate, is determined to work out what is wrong with her and even digs into Rob’s past to work out the truth. His perspective allows us to learn things before Kate, adding more to the tension when we return to her perspective, but it also means we learn more about Jake too so we can easily connect with his character.

Finally, DI Hart’s perspective is more police procedural with a hint of thriller, and yet it aids the thriller aspect magnificentally. DI Hart, devestated at having lost Kate from the force, needs to ask her to make one more spot (one more identification). DI Hart believes there is more to Kate’s story than they realise but he isn’t prepared for this spot to draw their stories tgether. As DI Hart learns more about Kate’s story and any possible crime relations, we also learn of his own life and how it impacts the rest of the story allowing a strong connection to his character.

— Full Of Suspense And Tension —
The Plot/Story. This is a fascinating thriller, full of suspense and tension. While the book starts of relatively slow, it does a brillaint job at setting up the story and creating the perfect scene. The story then very quickly begins to pick up the pace and maintains it right up until the the end.

The story is based around Kate and her injury. The idea that her brain injury could be why she believes Rob has been replaced adds a fantastic element to the story because, as a reader, you question her views. On the other hand, you are also in suspense because Rob may be a doppelgänger and if he is you want to know what he will do next and why he is with Kate.

The idea of doppelgängers is at the core of the story and is brilliantly done. I have adored the idea of dopplegangers since Jekyll and Hyde, and Frankenstein, but these take a more monstrous manifestation. What makes this story truly chilling is that the idea is the dopplegangers are identical, and what do we fear more than ourselves? To have monstrous identical is terrifying, a reflection of what you could have been and it adds a thrilling depth to the story as Rob is a nice guy, accomplished and even charitable, but his supposed doppleganger is cruel and threatening making him all the more terrifying.

The story is also very unpredictable, despite the mention of dopplegangers early on, while you may guess certain elements there is a lot more to the story than you first think. The plot is very unique and original, it definitely kept me gipped and intrigued. The twists and turns are well crafted, chilling and thrilling- and the ending, the truth, is just horrifying and incredibly well done. I loved this story idea and felt it was executed very well.

— Interesting And Complex —
The Characters. The characters in the story are interesting and complex. I loved following each of the characters, and their perspectives, because they were all very unique and different from one and other. They had dynamic and individual personalities and were incredibly eemotional and easy to connect with.

Kate. The main character, the ‘super-recogniser’, has moved away from her previous home and employment after a tragic accident that left her unable to utilise her skills. Her character is introduced halfway through her recovery, she is stronger and less symptomatic of having a brain injury. But, she is still trying to recover completely, atempting to recover her skills so she can paint again. Kate is intelligent and creative but has become more reserved after the incident, however, she is strong willed and headstrong. Though at times I questioned her decisions, they were understandable in light of the situation, at least from her perspective. I liked her character and enjoyed watching her develop.

Rob. The ruch, charitable and handsome boyfriend of Kate. Rob is kind, caring and obsessed with Kate’s safety to the point that he has almost completely turned their home into a tech driven safe house. He has been by Kate’s side and helped her through her recovery and her fears. Rob is on truly scared of one thing, his doppleganger who he truly believes will take over his life, should they meet again. Rob’s character is incredibly interesting and we only get a little window into him through Kate, making him more intriguing. I enjoyed his character development and the idea of his doppleganger taking over. It was truly thrilling and chilling trying to determine whether Rob was Rob.

Bex. Kate’s slightly chaotic but kind best friend. Bex comes to stay with Kate for a little while and tries to help her come to terms with Rob’s identity. I loved Bex’s character, she felt like a no nonsense, straight talking person with a heart of gold making her extraordinarily interesting. My only problem was I wanted more of her in the later part of the bok. She was a super fun character who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind but also genuinely cared and I loved reading about her.

Jake. Kate’s ex-boyfriend who happens to still be in love with her. Jake finds himself drawn in to the story without realising but he is determined to help Kate find out what is wrong. I loved Jake’s character. He is undoubtedly flawed but is so easy to connect with and is so well crafted that you can’t help but love him by the end of the story. His involvement, his behaviour everything was so fun to read about because while he is not perfect he does genuinely care about those close to him.

DI Hart. Kate’s old boss who is devestated at her departure. DI Hart finds himself entangled in a much larger case than he first anticipated when he goes to ask Kate to make one more ‘spot’. Hart is a good and clever detective and has a soft spot for those close to him, which happens to be an advantage at times. I liked Hart’s character, he was kind, strong-willed and smart but also highly aware of his own mistakes and guilt comes easily to him. He does make mistakes, and is relatively realistic making him easy to relate to and like.

Overall. The Other You, by J.S.Monroe is an amazing thriller with a uniquely chilling story and wonderfully developed characters. This story is such a great read and is a brilliant psychological thriller full of twists and turns!

A brilliant thriller, perfect for fans of the genre. Definitely would recommend, particularly if you enjoy the idea of dopplegangers and love unpredictable and horrifying twists!

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kate was a super recogniser, someone who has exceptionally high facial recognition skills, & worked with the police to identify criminals & missing persons until she was involved in a car accident six months ago. She had recently split with her long-term partner, Jake, after catching him kissing another woman on CCTV footage she was reviewing for a case, but she has moved on with Rob. She is almost back to full health now & there are small signs that maybe her facial recall is returning, but one day she looks at Rob & has a feeling of fear because she knows he is an imposter. His voice sounds the same, his touch feels the same, it's just when she looks at him. Has Rob's "evil twin" replaced him or is Kate still suffering the aftereffects of the accident?

The synopsis drew me to this book, I couldn't resist the set-up of a person with exceptional facial recognition skills fearing that their partner has been replaced by an evil doppelganger - or is it Capgras syndrome resulting from the car accident? I didn't even mind that it was the trope of an 'unreliable female main narrator' as at least this one isn't self-medicating with alcohol &/or pain meds. This anticipation is what makes this so disappointing. This should have been a tightly plotted thriller, but there are too many side plots & these take away from the impact of the main story. At 448 pages, the extraneous waffle could have done with some trimming. There was also a problem with pacing, along with telling rather than showing, before it kicks into high gear around 60% of the way through.

The ending was all a bit preposterous but if you've stuck with the book that far, it doesn't really matter. If this had been 350 pages with fewer side plots, then I would have rated it a 3.5 or maybe even 4 just for sheer audacity of the plot, but as it is I can only rate as 2.5 (rounded down). I would, however, read more of the author's work.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.S. Monroe has previously written two psychological thrillers before “The Other You” which I haven’t read but after thoroughly enjoying this latest gripping thriller, I will definitely be looking to read his earlier books.
“The Other You” focuses on the main protagonist Kate, a Police ‘super recogniser’ who after suffering brain trauma following a suspicious serious car accident, can barely recognise herself in a mirror. When she starts believing her new successful techpreneur boyfriend Rob isn’t who she thinks he is, she doesn’t know whether he has been replaced by his doppelgänger, which has always been Rob’s worst fear, or whether she’s suffering from a condition called Capgras Syndrome, where you truly believe a loved one has been replaced by an imposter. Using a doppelgänger as a theme for the story was very ingenious and has you really thinking about how alike these people can be to yourself.
I loved the storyline to the book, the wonderfully developed characters and the fantastically written plot. I’ve never heard of ‘super recognisers’ before and was intrigued to find they are actually used by the police to track criminals and I thought to use this as the basis for a main character, was very clever. The denouement was exceedingly tense and well thought out, with a twist that I didn’t see coming. I particularly liked how the author explained everything at the end, unlike so many books which leave you to put the pieces together yourself. Part police procedural, part psychological thriller, with many layers intertwined, I enjoyed reading the story told through alternating chapters of Kate, her ex boyfriend Jake and her old boss from the super recogniser unit, Silas.
Unique, gripping, addictive, at times chilling and wholly very entertaining, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book and author. Featuring paranoia, deceit, distrust, identity, memory, emotions and relationships, there’s just so much to keep you turning the pages and I’d be very surprised if you didn’t find this as enjoyable as I did. I’d love to read more from DI Silas Hart and his DC, Strover, I think they’d make a great series and I could easily see this book being made into an excellent movie.

5 wonderfully entertaining stars.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate has a unique ability to recognise people, so much so that she works for the police helping to recognise criminals amongst crowds of thousands of people. That is until one day she has an accident which leaves her with a brain injury which means that not only has she lost this ability, but she can barely recognise herself. Recuperating with her boyfriend, Rob in his luxurious house on the Cornish coast, one day she looks at Rob and is convinced he has been replaced by an imposter. Is she right, or is it her mind playing tricks on her?

This is the second book I’ve read by this author, so I knew I was going to be in for one hell of a thriller! The story, for me, begins a little slow, but sets the scene nicely for what has happened to Kate. As you begin to move through the chapters, the pace picks up and before you know it, the story has you hooked! I’ve heard of people who lose the ability to recognise people, and always found it intriguing, yet really scary, that you could look at someone who you’ve know all your life and not recognise them! The story is told from the points of view of different characters and as it switches effortlessly between these characters you begin to doubt whether your idea of where the book is going is right!!

There is a strong technological theme running through the book, which on its own is really interesting but coupled with the storyline gives you one gripping read!! Without giving away any spoilers, there are lots of twists and turns which will keep you guessing and most definitely keep you on the edge of your seat with anticipation! Thrilling…chilling…exciting!!! What more could you want with a book!! Would definitely recommend!

[Danielle-Gemma💜 · Rating 1 out of 5]

At times I really enjoyed this but at others it was a slow read. There was a twist at the end but it came in the last few pages, wasn’t explored and honestly I was just relieved to have finished the book so didn’t really take it in!

Will this book slump ever end?

[my bookworm life · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw a lot of 5 star reviews for this one buzzing around Bookstagram so i was excited to get stuck into it, but for me it was just a 3. I did like it, but the main problems i had were the fact i didn't like the characters much, i just couldn't connect or have any emotion towards them really, which i feel you do need to properly enjoy a book otherwise you won't care what happens to them ha. Also just the length of this, i do love a chunky read!, i have read quite a few but to me they haven't felt that long, with this one i think easily about 100 or more pages could have been taken out and the story wouldn't have been affected, it just seemed to be repetitive in places and drag on, so it really did feel too long for me, but on the flip side if you read this and really enjoyed it and found yourself gripped then i'm sure you wouldn't feel that way at all.

I liked how it was original, i haven't ever read anything with a main character who has such a job as Kate did so that was quite interesting. Also the medical side, with her condition and everything, again that was quite interesting. I did feel like the twists and reveals turned up too late the party in my opinion, because well before then my attention had wandered off home, that's why i feel a shorter book would have been better.

I would however still recommend this one, to any thriller fans who want something different, something interesting and one where they won't really know where things are going.

Thank you to the publisher HeadofZeus who kindly sent me this book to read and review.

[booksbytheboats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping and engaging right from the start, no slow introductions or too much scene setting, this book jumped straight into the plot and boy was it good!

It’s a big book, just under 500 pages but the short chapters broken up into different characters perspectives make this a quick read. This genuinely kept me guessing all the way through, I knew there were characters I didn’t trust nor like but I couldn’t work out how the link was going to form - even when other smaller links came together!

This was not at all what I was expecting from this book and I did not predict how this book would end. I thought I had it sussed by ‘reading between the lines’ and then right in the very last chapter, the author threw us another curveball.

Released this week, buy it, rent it, add it to your wishlist!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Identified as a “super-recogniser”, someone with the very rare ability to immediately identify someone on the basis of a split-second glance, Kate used to work with the police, enabling them to bring many criminals to justice. As no computer-generated technology came close to matching her skills, her expertise was as valued by the detective team she worked with as it was feared by the criminals. However, six months ago a serious car crash left her with a devastating brain injury and now, the woman who never forgot a face is barely able to recognise herself when she looks in the mirror.
When still recovering in hospital she meets Rob, who helps to nurse her back to health when he moves her down to live with him in his luxurious, high-tech house in Cornwall. He is a handsome young millionaire, running his own successful tech company and currently working on direct neural interface technology, something which may be of benefit to Kate’s recovery. Their relationship has grown ever closer and when she’s with him her nightmares begin to recede; she feels loved and safe and hopes that her memory will, in time, be fully restored.
However, she feels disturbed when Rob shares that many years earlier, in Thailand, he had met his double and seems to be obsessed with a fear that, if he ever sees him again, this doppelgänger will take over his life and soul. So, it becomes clear that she is not the only one who fears the future, that Rob too is living with a nightmare scenario of his own. Maybe that’s one reason why every single feature of life in his high-tech home can be controlled, by him alone, via apps on his phone. Then one day, Kate looks at Rob and becomes convinced that the man in front of her is not the man she loves and trusts but is an imposter who looks almost, but not quite, like him. Can she possibly be right? Have her old skills returned, enabling her to detect some subtle differences in appearance? Or maybe it’s all in her damaged mind? Who can she trust to help her sort it out?
This complex and compelling story is told from the perspectives of Kate, her ex-boyfriend Jake, from whom she had split up after a ten year relationship but who is still in love with her, and Silas, her old boss, who feels some responsibility for her accident, believing that by pushing her too hard in his determination to bring criminals to justice, she had been stressed and exhausted when she crashed her car. These separate narrative strands added a satisfying depth to the developing story, gradually revealing the backgrounds of each of the characters and the various events which have brought them all together. These main characters all felt very credible so I found it easy to identify with them, to understand their different motivations as they tried to resolve the crises they were facing, and to quickly start to care about what happened to them.
It soon becomes apparent that the threats to Kate’s sanity, as well as to her life, are coming from multiple directions, especially when something happens which appears to indicate that she has become targeted by members of a criminal gang who are, apparently, seeking revenge after her identifications led to a successful criminal prosecution. Hardly any wonder then that she is struggling to know who is trustworthy! The author’s use of a doppelgänger to help drive the story was a clever device to increase the tension Kate was feeling about whether or not she should trust, or doubt, her own instincts. It also made me reflect on whether we do all have a double somewhere and how we would react if we came face to face with our mirror-image … or is the idea merely a defensive projection of the darker side of ourselves which we all fear?!
Although there are moments when certain aspects of the plotting did require some suspension of disbelief, on balance the development of the story felt reasonably plausible, particularly when taking into consideration the rapid technological advancements which affect so many aspects of modern-day living. I enjoyed the various ways in which the author used his research into the functioning of the human brain, the latest developments into facial-recognition software (it was heartening to discover that human beings remain much more reliable than machines … for now, at least!) because not only did this add interest to the story, it also increased my knowledge … something I always appreciate in my reading!
With themes which include the reliability (or otherwise!) of memory, identity, paranoia, deceit, loyalty, friendship, the use, and abuse, of modern technology (to name just a few!) this is a story which is likely to provoke lots of interesting discussion in reading groups.
Full of an ever-increasing tension and some surprising twists and turns, this is a dark and disturbing psychological thriller, one which is likely to make any reader just that bit more suspicious about the impact modern technology has, and is increasingly likely to have, on our lives! This is the first of J.S. Monroe’s novels which I have read but his ability to tell a good story means that I’m now keen to seek out his two earlier ones, “Find Me” and “Forget My Name”.
With thanks to Readers First and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll start off by saying a huge thank you to Readers First + Head of Zeus for giving me the opportunity to receive this ARC!

As soon as I read the synopsis, my mind was immediately intrigued. In fact, as soon as I saw the cover I was totally drawn in. The Other You is essentially a domestic based psychological thriller at heart, but it's also so much more than that. The premise itself is original, utterly plausible and just downright creepy. It also brought up the subject of doppelgangers; something that's never really crossed my mind. But after reading this, I think I'll be dwelling on the possibility A LOT more frequently.

The only real downfall for me was the lack of connection and empathy I felt for Kate. There wasn't really anything about her to evoke any feelings of warmth or concern for her well-being. I did however respect her greatly, what with everything she'd been through, was going through as I turned the pages + her amazing recognition skills. I just didn't really like her all that much...

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the blurb for The Other You it gave me chills and I knew instantly that this was a book I wanted to read. There is something really quite frightening about the idea of questioning the identity of a loved one - especially if you're not even sure whether you can trust your own suspicions. This is the position Kate finds herself in as she tries to figure out whether her unusual talent for facial recognition is returning - meaning she is correct about her boyfriend not being who he claims to be - or the brain damage she sustained following a terrible car accident has left her with a condition which means she irrationally believes people have been replaced by impostors. If Rob is the same man she has grown to love since they met in hospital when she was recovering, Kate has to hope that she is delusional; if however, she is of sound mind then what has happened to her boyfriend and what does the man who has apparently replaced him want with her?
The idea that everybody has at least one doppelgänger (apparently we all have seven) is a fascinating, albeit rather unsettling thought and it's one which particularly disturbs Rob who is terrified of the bad luck which will befall him should he come into contact with his lookalike. The story is told through the perspectives of three of the characters - Kate herself, her ex-boyfriend, Jake and DI Silas Hart, whom she worked with prior to her accident. Silas and his partner, Strover are concerned when evidence comes to light which suggests that Kate's work for Swindon CID brought unwelcome - and potentially deadly attention - her way. Kate is an engaging protagonist and I thought her inner conflict was handled beautifully as she wrestles with her fears about her own state of mind and her growing acceptance that she has to know the truth, regardless of what that means. She is fortunate to have a number of people on her side; Jake is a real stalwart and her best friend, Becky wants to support her but understandably can't help wondering whether somebody who suffered a devastating brain injury can be considered in full control of their thoughts and beliefs. Meanwhile, the guilt Silas feels regarding Kate's accident means he is prepared to go the extra mile for her. Rob is an enigmatic figure and as the novel progresses, readers experience the same inconsistent feelings about him as the characters.
The Other You is a compelling and seriously unnerving novel which crosses genre boundaries as J.S.Monroe combines the drama of a psychological thriller which perceptively explores identity, trust and obsession as it deftly casts doubt on the reliability of Kate's experiences, with an increasingly terrifying exploration as to what the future may hold with regards to surveillance. I read a lot of thrillers and while I'm often shocked and surprised by the revelations within them, there aren't that many which actually scare me but I found The Other You really alarming; there are some scenes which are truly creepy but the whole premise is deeply disquieting. This is a fairly long book at almost 500 pages but it is so addictive, I begrudged having to put it down. I loved The Other You, it's is a clever, original and intricately plotted story which kept me reading long into the night - and then I couldn't sleep afterwards! Very highly recommended.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a stunning read, totally gripping, unpredictable and very original and although it is just the beginning of the year it will take a lot of beating.
It is six months since Kate had a horrific car accident which had taken away her unusual gift of being one of the top facial recognition people in the world. With help from Rob, a self-made millionaire, that she met while she was in the hospital and now lives with, it is showing signs of returning. Kate had worked with the police on high profile cases for a year leading up to the accident but had no intention of ever returning to it, even if she did make a full recovery. Her twelve year-long relationship had ended when she spotted her partner Jake on CCTV on the same day her accident occurred.
Rob was the perfect partner, attentive, loving, and a genius where technology had been concerned, becoming a millionaire at only 21. Now at 29, he had a thriving business and three multimillion-pound properties in England and France. Only a few weeks before Rob had told her about his fear. He had met a guy, years before in Thailand, that had been his spitting image, his doppelganger, who told him that one day he would take over his life and soul. It seemed that the day had come when Kate began to get her gift back because she looked into his face and knew it wasn’t Rob, it was an imposter.
The story alternates between three of the characters, Kate, her ex-partner Jake and DI Silas Hart, who had headed the facial recognition unit where Kate had worked. Bex, Kate’s best friend, DC Strover Hart’s partner and Rob rank very highly in the book. This makes the story so easy to follow as it isn’t weighed down with unnecessary sidelines that over-complicate the real story. The pace is incredibly fast, with a feel of urgency and dread as each short chapter takes another step towards the truth. The technology in the story made me take a breath and wow at each incredible ‘tomorrows world’ gadget, in Rob’s properties, even with their teething troubles…………..
The characters just sprang to life to become real to me, making my heart race, my skin calmy and a feeling of wanting to know the end but not wanting these characters stories to end when I closed the book on the last page. And what an end! Very highly recommended read from me.
I wish to thank Amber Choudhary of Midas PR for inviting me on this tour and the publisher for a copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

[Jacqueline sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, what a read, this is absolutely brilliant, I have read other books by this author but this has to be my favourite to date, just short of 500 pages but they flew by, maybe because of the short chapters, but also because of the brilliantly fast paced, engaging, engrossing storylines, told from three points of view, Kate, Jake and Silas.

Kate is a super recogniser she only has to see someone’s face once, she would then be able to pick them out of a crowd, she never forgets a face, she’s also a portrait artist, but that doesn’t pay the bills, so she begins working with the police DI Silas Hart, Swindon CID, Kate’s work is invaluable to them, she helps to catch people smugglers, but she is pushed hard, as well as the fact her long term relationship with Jake is all going wrong, she saw him kissing another female on CCTV, ending their 12 year relationship. Going home one night Kate crashes her car into a tree, it’s an old car no airbags, she has head injuries, which for Kate are life changing, as she can no longer remember faces, she also struggles to paint anymore.

Six months after her accident she is living in an ultra modern tech controlled house, with Rob a high tech entrepreneur, she had met him at the hospital whilst she was recovering from her accident, romance had blossomed, Rob spends weekends at the house in Cornwall, but most of the week he has to be in London to run his business, he is always on the go, he has arranged for a Dr Varma a neuropsychologist to monitor Kate, with some ultra technical headgear that shows whether Kate’s brain is recovering. He seems to be a very caring loving partner, always making sure she double locks the doors, the house is like Fort Knox. He confides in Kate one day about his biggest fear, which is that his doppelgänger will come and steal his life, and everything in it, he tells Kate that for his 21st birthday he had gone with friends to Thailand and he had met his doppelgänger, and theory is if you see them a second time that’s it your life is over. Kate is happy he has shared his concerns with her, after all she doesn’t really know much else about him, except for his business.

The problem with living in a tech controlled house is that random things can start happening, or are they random, Rob is convinced that Kate’s brain is healing, and that she will be painting again soon. But then Kate starts thinking Rob is not Rob, but if it’s not Rob who is it?

This is a brilliant psychological thriller crossed with a police procedural, I love the main characters in this Silas and D.C. Strover who works with him, Bex, Kate’s best friend. The characters are relatable, likeable and believable which for me is a big part in making a book work, if you are rooting for characters the author has done a good job, if you don’t care for any of them it makes it hard to engage with the whole story.

I very highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #HeadofZeus for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.