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A Perfect Likeness
She looks just like me. She thinks I stole her life.
Isobel lives a life enviable to most. Beautiful house. Good career. A loving family.
Veronica thinks that life is hers. She’s spent years stalking Isobel and her family. And now she’s ready to take it back.
But then one of them shows up dead.
A Perfect Likeness is an unputdownable psychological thriller that will have you turning the pages all night to reveal the secret of Isobel and Veronica’s connected life.
Isobel lives a life enviable to most. Beautiful house. Good career. A loving family.
Veronica thinks that life is hers. She’s spent years stalking Isobel and her family. And now she’s ready to take it back.
But then one of them shows up dead.
A Perfect Likeness is an unputdownable psychological thriller that will have you turning the pages all night to reveal the secret of Isobel and Veronica’s connected life.
- GenresThriller
ebook
First published May 28, 2020
26 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Renee Kira
3 books15 followersI'm a writer who lives on the Australian coast with my family. We like to travel whenever we can. If I'm not writing, I'm probably reading. Coffee is life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 5, 2020
This was set in Australia which I liked. It was a very quick read for me. I can’t begin to describe the plot without spoilers but suffice it to say I found the plot engaging and there was enough menace building and secret keeping to make it all very mysterious. But I am a victim of my reading choices and while I thought the book was good I also found it quite predictable. Those of you who don’t read as many thrillers as I do will no doubt find it more enthralling. I would still recommend it though, and I did enjoy it.
March 9, 2021
A Perfect likeness drew me in right away and kept me interested till the very end.
September 9, 2020
What would you do if you found a dead body that looked a lot like you? That is the dilemma faced by Isobel. Her life is turned upside down after her discovery. Everything she thought she knew comes into question as the circumstances surrounding the mysterious Veronica's death begin to unfold. Isobel is compelled to solve the mystery behind the person with an uncanny resemblance to her. Why is Veronica dead, and will Isobel be next? Thank you BookSirens for my ARC.
October 25, 2020
"Love isn't binary. People say you fall out of love like you might fall out of bed. Love is different every day. Like a tree, it can bloom and flourish or it can die over the course of a long winter."
Love makes people do strange, terrible, and wonderful things. And love isn't always directed where we expect it.
This was a refreshing change to my reading lately. A Perfect Likeness is easy to read, mysterious, and pretty well written.
I thought for sure I knew what was going on but I turned out to be wrong, which was nice. Figuring out the solution at the beginning of a thriller is not my idea of a good time.
Definitely check this book out if you want a good weekend read. It kept me guessing page after page.
There are a few plot holes but I can't really hold that against Renee Kira because I thoroughly enjoyed the read. And I'll let the confusion over homonyms slide as well since she is far from the only author to suffer from the problem. Since the book is already out, I guess I can say that specifically the word "bare" is used when it should be "bear" more than once. It's something I can't understand proofreaders not catching before publication but like I said, I see that kind of thing a lot.
I received a free ebook for review through Book Sirens.
Love makes people do strange, terrible, and wonderful things. And love isn't always directed where we expect it.
This was a refreshing change to my reading lately. A Perfect Likeness is easy to read, mysterious, and pretty well written.
I thought for sure I knew what was going on but I turned out to be wrong, which was nice. Figuring out the solution at the beginning of a thriller is not my idea of a good time.
Definitely check this book out if you want a good weekend read. It kept me guessing page after page.
There are a few plot holes but I can't really hold that against Renee Kira because I thoroughly enjoyed the read. And I'll let the confusion over homonyms slide as well since she is far from the only author to suffer from the problem. Since the book is already out, I guess I can say that specifically the word "bare" is used when it should be "bear" more than once. It's something I can't understand proofreaders not catching before publication but like I said, I see that kind of thing a lot.
I received a free ebook for review through Book Sirens.
November 2, 2020
First of all, thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for the ARC.
I’ll start out by saying my favorite thing about this book is the quick pacing. This book doesn’t spend a lot of time beating around the bush, which I appreciate. The pacing coupled with the length make this a quick read that can easily be devoured in a day.
I also enjoyed the plot. Isobel finds a woman dead on the beach and afterwards realizes there are a lot of similarities between them, not just looks.
I was able to see the twist coming however this could be due to the fact that I read so many thrillers it’s not easy to pull one over on me.
There were more than a few grammatical errors and spelling errors and it’s hard to fault the author for that. Isn’t that the proofreaders job?
My biggest complaint was that I didn’t feel attached to any characters besides Isobel. Especially maya, for some reason her character felt flat to me which was a shame since she had a very compelling arc.
Overall this a quick read and while it may not be one I would read again, it is one I could recommend to others.
I’ll start out by saying my favorite thing about this book is the quick pacing. This book doesn’t spend a lot of time beating around the bush, which I appreciate. The pacing coupled with the length make this a quick read that can easily be devoured in a day.
I also enjoyed the plot. Isobel finds a woman dead on the beach and afterwards realizes there are a lot of similarities between them, not just looks.
I was able to see the twist coming however this could be due to the fact that I read so many thrillers it’s not easy to pull one over on me.
There were more than a few grammatical errors and spelling errors and it’s hard to fault the author for that. Isn’t that the proofreaders job?
My biggest complaint was that I didn’t feel attached to any characters besides Isobel. Especially maya, for some reason her character felt flat to me which was a shame since she had a very compelling arc.
Overall this a quick read and while it may not be one I would read again, it is one I could recommend to others.
July 24, 2020
I really love to pick a book by a new to me author, start reading it and realize in the first couple of sentences: It's gonna be a good one. I had my assumptions about the plot and I'm glad it went a different way. The story flowed nicely and the revelation at the end was quite unexpected. I'd never guess who the killer was either. I enjoyed reading and finished in less than a day which is the best proof of a great book.
I received an ARC copy of this book via Book Sirens.
I received an ARC copy of this book via Book Sirens.
February 12, 2024
This could have been an excellent book. There were scenes that didn't really advance the plot. Other scenes were much more interesting but were cut short and never mentioned again. Those factors, plus writing only slightly above Young Adult level, made the book just barely tolerable for me. Your mileage may vary.
January 16, 2021
I have always been fascinated with stories where the characters look similar and the twists of why. In A Perfect Likeness, we meet Isobel who has just moved back home after living in Melbourne for the past decade. After failed relationships and pregnancy, she has decided to live the quiet life in a house she inherited from her grandfather and the trust fund she has just come into. One morning whilst running on the beach, Isobel finds a dead body whom she later finds out is called Veronica. The eerie thing for Isobel is that she looks similar to Veronica, is this just a coincidence? As the book goes along, Isobel feels drawn to helping discover who Veronica is and what happened to her? However, will Isobel like what she finds especially when she learns that Veronica's ex-partner and father of her child is none other than her high school boyfriend Liam and that one of her old high school friends Maya was besties with Veronica? Soon Isobel's father is called in for questioning and her mum is keeping secrets - this draws Isobel and makes her more determined to find out who she is and how she is connected. This was a good fast-paced read and had a strong feeling the way the book was going to go and when the twist was discovered as I love the themes the author took - I just wish it would have gone into a bit more detail as closure for all characters involved. If you are looking for a good Aussie mystery, then check out A Perfect Likeness by Australian author Renee Kira.
June 16, 2020
This is a well paced novel, sort of in the genre of domestic thrillers but more of a mystery novel. Two similar women but they have never crossed paths until one, Isabel finds the other, Veronica dead at the bottom of the cliff outside her home. The similarities pile up, same birthday, same looks, same friends, same ex-boyfriend. Hmm, so of course Isabel feels the moral and curious urge to find out the killer and the reasons. While we think we know where it’s going, the ending was a surprise and rather shocking. Will certainly read another novel by this author. I received an advance review copy and leaving the review voluntarily.
March 1, 2021
This was a quick read for me, a woman is found dead on the beach by another woman named Isobel and it quickly spirals into so much more. Who was this woman? Why do they look alike? The further in you get the more you want to know what happened. I can tell you now that the ending will take you by complete surprise!
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
April 30, 2021
After the first few pages, I knew this was a book I wasn’t going to be able to put down, until I got to The End. If you like absolutely unpredictable, twisted suspense as much as I do, you can't go wrong with this book!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
March 29, 2021
I read this after enjoying Renee’s short story “Her Last Winter” and this did not disappoint. It was an engaging read with lots of plot twists that kept me entertained.
I liked Isobel and could understand her reactions and the progression of her actions. I also liked Liam and Maya and where the story went with them, nothing was just black and white. The location descriptions and the relationships were done really well and I felt immersed in the story.
The main reason I knocked a star off was that I struggled to believe that Isobel knew absolutely nothing about Veronica given they were the same age, in the same small town, and lots of friends knew both characters. There were a couple of other smaller parts where I also had to suspend my disbelief.
I will be checking out other works by Renee Kira as I enjoy her style of writing and the unusual directions her books take.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I liked Isobel and could understand her reactions and the progression of her actions. I also liked Liam and Maya and where the story went with them, nothing was just black and white. The location descriptions and the relationships were done really well and I felt immersed in the story.
The main reason I knocked a star off was that I struggled to believe that Isobel knew absolutely nothing about Veronica given they were the same age, in the same small town, and lots of friends knew both characters. There were a couple of other smaller parts where I also had to suspend my disbelief.
I will be checking out other works by Renee Kira as I enjoy her style of writing and the unusual directions her books take.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
April 25, 2021
This is an honest review. I would have given this book five stars but for the following two issues:
1- Most people that do not edit or beta read probably would not pick up on the spelling and punctuation errors.
2- The initial slow pace of the book . I loved the excerpt. I was not prepared to have a slower start. It took time to sort out the characters and determine who was whom.
I don't want to provide any spoilers. Instead, I will tell you this is a psychological thriller unlike others I have read in this v. This is to the author's credit; I will be reading others she has written.
The characters are complex, and by taking the time in the beginning, the author fully developed the characters. Renee did a wonderful job getting us invested in the characters. It was as if we had relationships with the main characters.
Once the pace increased, I was fully invested in how their lives intersected with each other. I begaśśn fearing for the characters and rooting for certain developments.
At this point, I could not read fast enough and the book took off like a rocket. As Isobel, one of the main characters said, "I feel like all the pieces of a puzzle are in front of me, but I have no way to put them together." Thus, I was rapidly trying to determine the questions the main characters presented.
Some books provide you nuggets that I call life lessons. The author states in the book one that I will take with me. "But if I've learned anything, it's that things are rarely normal. If you wait for the right timing, it will never happen."
I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy this genre and want to become submerged ðr4rr Australia with characters that seem larger than life.
*is*I received an advance review copy for free. I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.*******
1- Most people that do not edit or beta read probably would not pick up on the spelling and punctuation errors.
2- The initial slow pace of the book . I loved the excerpt. I was not prepared to have a slower start. It took time to sort out the characters and determine who was whom.
I don't want to provide any spoilers. Instead, I will tell you this is a psychological thriller unlike others I have read in this v. This is to the author's credit; I will be reading others she has written.
The characters are complex, and by taking the time in the beginning, the author fully developed the characters. Renee did a wonderful job getting us invested in the characters. It was as if we had relationships with the main characters.
Once the pace increased, I was fully invested in how their lives intersected with each other. I begaśśn fearing for the characters and rooting for certain developments.
At this point, I could not read fast enough and the book took off like a rocket. As Isobel, one of the main characters said, "I feel like all the pieces of a puzzle are in front of me, but I have no way to put them together." Thus, I was rapidly trying to determine the questions the main characters presented.
Some books provide you nuggets that I call life lessons. The author states in the book one that I will take with me. "But if I've learned anything, it's that things are rarely normal. If you wait for the right timing, it will never happen."
I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy this genre and want to become submerged ðr4rr Australia with characters that seem larger than life.
*is*I received an advance review copy for free. I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.*******
November 10, 2020
Isobel Franco had recently moved back to her home town after spending several years in Melbourne. She was running on the shore, as she did every morning, and suddenly she realized that something was there. She found the dead body of Veronica Hayes, a determined real state agent and single mother who she had never met. However, after she found her, Isobel realized there were many strange coincidences between Veronica and her.
Maya has a new house that she decorated, two sons, and a husband that works very hard so they can help Maya's father with his medical bills. When she heard that her best friend died, her mixed feelings about her life become more and more intense as guilt, regret, and fear start to haunt her. Through the perspectives of these two women, the mystery behind Veronica's life and death is revealed.
What I liked: I enjoyed this book because it was easy to read and I wanted to know more. It is perfect for a relaxing night after work. I liked the characters and how Isobel and Maya realized the importance of honesty and communication to maintain healthy relationships (even when we know that secrets are the key component for a thriller haha). Maya's marriage was an interesting element because it had some dynamics that people don't usually talk about, and I believe it is necessary to discuss those patterns and the effect they have.
What I did not like: Some of the "mysterious parts" were kind of predictable, but not in an annoying way, so it was not the best thriller I have ever read, but it was a nice read.
(I want to thank BookSirens, Renee Kira Books, and the author for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.)
Maya has a new house that she decorated, two sons, and a husband that works very hard so they can help Maya's father with his medical bills. When she heard that her best friend died, her mixed feelings about her life become more and more intense as guilt, regret, and fear start to haunt her. Through the perspectives of these two women, the mystery behind Veronica's life and death is revealed.
What I liked: I enjoyed this book because it was easy to read and I wanted to know more. It is perfect for a relaxing night after work. I liked the characters and how Isobel and Maya realized the importance of honesty and communication to maintain healthy relationships (even when we know that secrets are the key component for a thriller haha). Maya's marriage was an interesting element because it had some dynamics that people don't usually talk about, and I believe it is necessary to discuss those patterns and the effect they have.
What I did not like: Some of the "mysterious parts" were kind of predictable, but not in an annoying way, so it was not the best thriller I have ever read, but it was a nice read.
(I want to thank BookSirens, Renee Kira Books, and the author for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.)
May 14, 2021
This book started out promising, but fell flat near the end. The writing is smooth and flows nicely, the author also handles conversation well.
To me, a lot of the downfall came from believability. I figured the twist about Veronica/Isobel out about half way through which was fine, but the final twist about who exactly the murderer was just wasn’t believable and didn’t seem possible.
Other issues just landed in irrelevant facts. It’s briefly mentioned and slightly explored near the end of the book that Isobel’s father was a prisoner of war & tortured for his involvement with communism in Chile. Interesting...but it also added absolutely nothing to the story.
Overall, a lot of the things in the plot seemed predictable and I often felt myself missing that feeling of suspense when reading. I would’ve preferred something a bit more plausible for the twists and Veronica’s motives which I felt didn’t hold up. Good debut novel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
To me, a lot of the downfall came from believability. I figured the twist about Veronica/Isobel out about half way through which was fine, but the final twist about who exactly the murderer was just wasn’t believable and didn’t seem possible.
Other issues just landed in irrelevant facts. It’s briefly mentioned and slightly explored near the end of the book that Isobel’s father was a prisoner of war & tortured for his involvement with communism in Chile. Interesting...but it also added absolutely nothing to the story.
Overall, a lot of the things in the plot seemed predictable and I often felt myself missing that feeling of suspense when reading. I would’ve preferred something a bit more plausible for the twists and Veronica’s motives which I felt didn’t hold up. Good debut novel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 22, 2021
A Perfect Likeness by Renee Kira follows the story of Isobel Franco finding the body of Veronica Hayes one morning. The two women have incredibly similar lives from their looks to the friends they have yet they had never met. We follow along Isobel's journey of finding out why their lives were so similar and Maya, Veronica's best friend's POV of coming to terms with the death of her friend and the issues in her marriage.
I had already read one of Renee Kira's novels before which I really enjoyed so I had high hopes for this one and it did not disappoint. There was a good amount of mystery and thriller moments whilst also being easy to read and very emotional. I thought the ending was fantastic as it was not super obvious but still realistic enough for me to guess what was going to happen right before it did.
4/5 stars. Thank you to BookSirens and Renee Kira for this copy to review.
I had already read one of Renee Kira's novels before which I really enjoyed so I had high hopes for this one and it did not disappoint. There was a good amount of mystery and thriller moments whilst also being easy to read and very emotional. I thought the ending was fantastic as it was not super obvious but still realistic enough for me to guess what was going to happen right before it did.
4/5 stars. Thank you to BookSirens and Renee Kira for this copy to review.
August 11, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. For much of the book I thought it was a good solid read but not great. I wasn't a big fan of most of the characters at first but towards the end I really started to see them differently and feel strongly for them. I wasn't expecting to dislike Veronica so much in the end but I really grew to love Isobel, Maya, and Liam. Poor Heather probably needed psychiatric help even before her daughter was murdered. I am so glad things worked out well for little Max in the end and even though he's been through a lot he is well loved. Overall I would say it did turn into a pretty great read but it does start out pretty slow. It takes a bit to really connect with the characters and become immersed in the story.
March 22, 2021
32-year old Isobel Franco is back in her hometown of Cape Cross, living in limbo after suffering from a miscarriage. On her morning run, she comes upon the body of Veronica Hayes, a young woman who has eerie similarities to Isobel herself. Veronica and Isobel looked alike, both of them had red hair, shared a birthday and even dated the same man at different points in time. While Isobel has never met Veronica, she learns that Veronica had been asking about her around town. Now it seems that whoever killed Veronica is out to kill Isobel.
This was a well-structured and intriguing book. The twists in the plot build up with every page keeping me hooked till the very end. The dual POVs of Isobel and Maya, Veronica’s best friend added to the suspense. The climax was totally unexpected leaving me stunned.
The plot was quite refreshing, though I did pick out a few loopholes. It was interesting how the author portrayed all the characters as flawed and yet worthy of love.
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a well-structured and intriguing book. The twists in the plot build up with every page keeping me hooked till the very end. The dual POVs of Isobel and Maya, Veronica’s best friend added to the suspense. The climax was totally unexpected leaving me stunned.
The plot was quite refreshing, though I did pick out a few loopholes. It was interesting how the author portrayed all the characters as flawed and yet worthy of love.
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 4, 2021
I really enjoyed this suspenseful thriller. This is a newer author for me, I look forward to reading more from her. I enjoyed being pulled into the story with ease and it held my attention to the end. It is a well rounded story that has twists and turns that kept me turning pages to the end. I had no problem relating to the characters and they kept the story engaging. They truely made the story for me. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, something else would. What happens when someone who looks like you takes over your family? I highly recommend this book.
June 19, 2020
I really enjoyed this book based in Australia about a woman returning to her home town, finding a body at the bottom of a cliff who looks so much like herself they could have been sisters. As a member of the ARC team I am presented with a nunber of books to be reviewed and the summary of this one just struck me that I needed to read it and it didn't let me down.
July 22, 2020
When Isobel moves back home she believes it’s for the best. But then she discovers the dead body of a young woman that eerily resembles her on the beach. After that Isobel starts to uncover secrets from the past that someone wants left in the past as she reestablishes old relationships. Good read
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 1, 2021
This was a pretty good read. It felt a little like Nancy Drew. The story begins with Isobel finding a body being found on her morning run. The body (veronica) has a strong likeness to her. Isobel needs to find out who she is. The ending wasn't that surprising but entertaining. The author did a good job of conveying the angst that Isobel feels. She knows that there is a connection with Veronica but what?
Thank you #BookSiren for giving me the opportunity to read #APerfectLikeness by #ReneeKira
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you #BookSiren for giving me the opportunity to read #APerfectLikeness by #ReneeKira
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 17, 2021
This book had a well written plot and enough mystery and secrets to keep it interesting. This author is new to me and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. I did have a good idea what the outcome would be as I was reading but there were some twists that kept it interesting for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
June 2, 2020
The story line was great, the character work was terrific and the book had a smooth flow to it. This was a good read and kept me entertained from beginning to end. I look forward to more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 2, 2020
Great book - was a real page turner with a great twist. Had me hooked from the start with great character development and a suspenseful story. I look forward to reading more from the author.
September 19, 2020
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
March 13, 2021
Great read! I enjoyed getting to know the characters. Nice spin at the end, wasn’t expecting that ending.
I am leaving a review voluntarily for receiving a free copy
I am leaving a review voluntarily for receiving a free copy
June 7, 2020
A body appears on a beach and the police are summoned. Thus, Isobel and Maya get caught up in the investigation of what happened to Veronica. Did she jump off the cliff? Was she murdered?
Early on, I am hooked. The writing is descriptive, the words simple. Immediately, you get a sense of where this is happening. How Maya and Veronica met, their friendship, and Isobel, the first person to see Veronica dead. They never knew each other, but they share the same birthday. They also look alike. Eventually, they will become linked in a devastating way.
Isobel goes to visit her parents, who, strangely enough, know more about Veronica Hayes than she does. She was a real estate agent with a six-year-old son. Isobel decides to go to Veronica’s funeral, and runs into Maya. They are friends but Isobel, who admits she’s not good with friendship, hasn’t seen her in a while. They sit together for the service and chat. When Isobel goes to her car, she sees a message from her mother. Isobel’s mild-mannered, quietly determined father, who enjoys fishing, has been arrested.
Isobel continues to be fascinated by the dead Veronica, finding out they have mutual ex-boyfriends. All three, Maya, Veronica, and Isobel find their lives becoming intertwined with each other. Isobel is warned by Veronica’s mother to stay out of the investigation, and stay away from Maya. Isobel so closely resembles Veronica physically that they could be sisters. How can Isobel completely distance herself from a woman she didn’t know, but is so similar to her? How did she know Isobel’s mysterious grandfather, who put Isobel through law school and left a trust fund to her? Why did he leave Isobel’s mother out of the will?
Isobel visits Maya, who happens to have Veronica’s computer in her possession. Handing it to Isobel, she goes through it looking for answers. An email leads her to a deserted hospital, where she discovers Veronica’s birth certificate. However, Isobel is not alone. Hiding in the morgue, she listens as another intruder enters. It’s Liam, the father of Veronica’s son, Max. He needs documentation, which is why he’s at the hospital. While trying to hide, Isobel cuts herself badly, and Liam offers to take her to a functioning hospital, but requests she not tell anyone he was there.
A visit with a doctor leads Isobel further into her own history, and calls Liam for help. As time passes, more and more people are connected with Veronica? Who murdered her? I found out, but I never saw it coming.
This book reminded me a bit of Big Little Lies. It also takes place in Australia, and the descriptions of people and places are incredibly vivid. The pacing of the novel is top notch, and each chapter ends in a way that you want to know what’s happening next. Relationships and people are intertwined, sometimes in a painful way, but always realistic. The multiple storylines and mysteries all get wrapped up nicely before the end. This is a book I literally read in one day, basically in a few hours. It was an incredibly pleasant way to spend my Saturday. Author Renee Kira has written one hell of a whodunit! Reading this book was like drinking a glass of ice cold water on a very hot day. It just tastes so good, and each sip seems better than the last. This novel ranks right up there with the popular bestsellers. Definitely give this one a chance. You won’t be disappointed. I look forward to Kira’s next novel. After reading A Perfect Likeness, I think you will too.
Early on, I am hooked. The writing is descriptive, the words simple. Immediately, you get a sense of where this is happening. How Maya and Veronica met, their friendship, and Isobel, the first person to see Veronica dead. They never knew each other, but they share the same birthday. They also look alike. Eventually, they will become linked in a devastating way.
Isobel goes to visit her parents, who, strangely enough, know more about Veronica Hayes than she does. She was a real estate agent with a six-year-old son. Isobel decides to go to Veronica’s funeral, and runs into Maya. They are friends but Isobel, who admits she’s not good with friendship, hasn’t seen her in a while. They sit together for the service and chat. When Isobel goes to her car, she sees a message from her mother. Isobel’s mild-mannered, quietly determined father, who enjoys fishing, has been arrested.
Isobel continues to be fascinated by the dead Veronica, finding out they have mutual ex-boyfriends. All three, Maya, Veronica, and Isobel find their lives becoming intertwined with each other. Isobel is warned by Veronica’s mother to stay out of the investigation, and stay away from Maya. Isobel so closely resembles Veronica physically that they could be sisters. How can Isobel completely distance herself from a woman she didn’t know, but is so similar to her? How did she know Isobel’s mysterious grandfather, who put Isobel through law school and left a trust fund to her? Why did he leave Isobel’s mother out of the will?
Isobel visits Maya, who happens to have Veronica’s computer in her possession. Handing it to Isobel, she goes through it looking for answers. An email leads her to a deserted hospital, where she discovers Veronica’s birth certificate. However, Isobel is not alone. Hiding in the morgue, she listens as another intruder enters. It’s Liam, the father of Veronica’s son, Max. He needs documentation, which is why he’s at the hospital. While trying to hide, Isobel cuts herself badly, and Liam offers to take her to a functioning hospital, but requests she not tell anyone he was there.
A visit with a doctor leads Isobel further into her own history, and calls Liam for help. As time passes, more and more people are connected with Veronica? Who murdered her? I found out, but I never saw it coming.
This book reminded me a bit of Big Little Lies. It also takes place in Australia, and the descriptions of people and places are incredibly vivid. The pacing of the novel is top notch, and each chapter ends in a way that you want to know what’s happening next. Relationships and people are intertwined, sometimes in a painful way, but always realistic. The multiple storylines and mysteries all get wrapped up nicely before the end. This is a book I literally read in one day, basically in a few hours. It was an incredibly pleasant way to spend my Saturday. Author Renee Kira has written one hell of a whodunit! Reading this book was like drinking a glass of ice cold water on a very hot day. It just tastes so good, and each sip seems better than the last. This novel ranks right up there with the popular bestsellers. Definitely give this one a chance. You won’t be disappointed. I look forward to Kira’s next novel. After reading A Perfect Likeness, I think you will too.
March 31, 2021
A enjoyable quick read. Wonderfully well written and had a engaging plot that flowed nicely! Well thought out believable characters. Read! Enjoy!
I received an ARC free from BookSirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
I received an ARC free from BookSirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
June 6, 2020
Isobel Franco’s seemingly normal life turns upside down when she finds a dead body while jogging by the beach. The body she finds belongs to Veronica Hayes, a spirited real estate agent who was known for stopping at nothing to get what she wanted. Despite never having met Veronica before and knowing close to nothing about her, Isobel can’t shake the feeling of wanting to know more. She begins to conduct an investigation of her own and questions Veronica’s family and friends hoping to uncover some answers. But with every lead she pursues, things just seem to become more and more unclear. What begins as a simple fascination about Veronica and the cause of her murder quickly unravels into something more, revealing hidden connections between the two girls and their intertwined pasts leading Isobel to question everything she knows and loves.
In A Perfect Likeness by Renee Kira, readers will thoroughly be hooked on the mystery-filled tale of Isobel and Veronica. In relation to that, elements of drama, suspense, mystery, action and even romance are all elements that are excellently interwoven in this crime fiction book from start to end. Furthermore, the characters and the dialogue in the book feel natural and realistic in a way that helps readers to truly connect and understand the characters. In my opinion, the storyline about Isobel being completely unaware of her past and identity was a little unrealistic and could have been strengthened a bit more. Apart from that, although this book mainly focuses on crime fiction, it also explores several other intriguing themes including the non-physical, lesser-known type of abuse that takes place in marriages, the fear of fully accepting one’s sexuality and familial love going deeper than simply who you share blood with. In short, if you are looking for a new suspense and mystery-themed book to fill up your time, this book might just be the perfect fit.
In A Perfect Likeness by Renee Kira, readers will thoroughly be hooked on the mystery-filled tale of Isobel and Veronica. In relation to that, elements of drama, suspense, mystery, action and even romance are all elements that are excellently interwoven in this crime fiction book from start to end. Furthermore, the characters and the dialogue in the book feel natural and realistic in a way that helps readers to truly connect and understand the characters. In my opinion, the storyline about Isobel being completely unaware of her past and identity was a little unrealistic and could have been strengthened a bit more. Apart from that, although this book mainly focuses on crime fiction, it also explores several other intriguing themes including the non-physical, lesser-known type of abuse that takes place in marriages, the fear of fully accepting one’s sexuality and familial love going deeper than simply who you share blood with. In short, if you are looking for a new suspense and mystery-themed book to fill up your time, this book might just be the perfect fit.
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