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Megan O'Connor #1
Fool Me Twice
Book
293 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
13 people are currently reading
507 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Black
24 books278 followersStephanie Black has loved books since she was old enough to grab the pages, and has enjoyed creating make-believe adventures since she and her sisters were inventing long Barbie games filled with intrigue and danger or running around pretending to be detectives. She is a four-time Whitney Award winner for Best Mystery/Suspense novel.
Stephanie lives in California, in the Bay Area. She plays the violin in a community symphony (but never practices enough), enjoys homemade chocolate-chip cookies, and takes pictures of birds. Her favorite activity is spending time with her family, currently consisting of her husband, five kids, three kids-in-law, a cat, and three grandpets.
Stephanie lives in California, in the Bay Area. She plays the violin in a community symphony (but never practices enough), enjoys homemade chocolate-chip cookies, and takes pictures of birds. Her favorite activity is spending time with her family, currently consisting of her husband, five kids, three kids-in-law, a cat, and three grandpets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
April 11, 2013
I didn't think I was a fan of “suspense” as a genre, but this book pulled me in and kept hold for an incredibly fun ride. Maybe I'm just a fan of a good story well-told. Or maybe I just like Stephanie Black for having known her in college. Whatever the case, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and devoured it in more or less one big gulp.
I'm actually a little uncertain about the genre designation. I vaguely remember someone telling me that “suspense” is a mystery where you know who done it. If so, then this book mostly qualifies. i.e. we know from the start at least some of the “who”. Through the course of the novel we learn details (some as the protagonists learn them, some from alternate perspectives) until, by the end, we know all the whos as well as the whys and hows.
Black turns out to have a real talent for maintaining my interest by timing her reveals such that I a) know enough to ask the right questions without b) needlessly or cheaply withholding information to keep me in suspense. The story never lags as each reveal prompts new questions or introduces a logical twist or consequence that poses new dilemmas. Now, it may be that I'm just the ideal target audience for this book as the timing was pretty much perfect to keep me in the window of wondering without hitting the expiration of exasperation. I'd be interested to see how others see this dynamic, particularly with this book.
All that said, my real draw to the book is the character of Megan. I not only really liked her from the start, but I was thrilled with her development in the course of the story. She's unsure of herself and feels trapped by obligation and the needs of others. She is clearly being used by her mother in a co-dependent relationship and has sacrificed her dreams to meet her mother's needs. Black does a good job of keeping Megan sympathetic, even as you see that she has allowed herself to be trapped by her weakest impulses into following the easiest path (emotionally speaking). Seeing her learn to consider her own needs, and even wishes and desires, and to recognize her strengths was gratifying. Redemption through adversity and allowing good things to come from bad people doing bad things was a lovely creative twist, as well.
I do have one caveat with the book, and it's one that has prompted a new shelf for me here at GoodReads (my “LDS” shelf). Fool Me Twice is published by Covenant Communications and is targeted for an LDS readership. Certain aspects of LDS culture are very lightly painted here and Black didn't elaborate as much as she might have for non-LDS readers to catch all of the byplay between the characters. Trevor, in particular, has motivations and personality immediately recognizable to LDS cognoscenti that may not translate well to the uninitiated. I have to be careful here, though, because it's hard for me to say how it'd play for a non-LDS reader. I don't think it'd preclude someone parsing the full impact of events, but it might. Take it as a caution (and invitation for one of my non-LDS friends to pick up and provide feedback).
So I guess that’s twice I’ve asked for others to verify my perception here. I’m not usually so uncertain of myself, but I suppose that’s natural as I seldom read either suspense as a genre or specifically LDS targeted books as a category. I may need to reconsider both predilections…
I'm actually a little uncertain about the genre designation. I vaguely remember someone telling me that “suspense” is a mystery where you know who done it. If so, then this book mostly qualifies. i.e. we know from the start at least some of the “who”. Through the course of the novel we learn details (some as the protagonists learn them, some from alternate perspectives) until, by the end, we know all the whos as well as the whys and hows.
Black turns out to have a real talent for maintaining my interest by timing her reveals such that I a) know enough to ask the right questions without b) needlessly or cheaply withholding information to keep me in suspense. The story never lags as each reveal prompts new questions or introduces a logical twist or consequence that poses new dilemmas. Now, it may be that I'm just the ideal target audience for this book as the timing was pretty much perfect to keep me in the window of wondering without hitting the expiration of exasperation. I'd be interested to see how others see this dynamic, particularly with this book.
All that said, my real draw to the book is the character of Megan. I not only really liked her from the start, but I was thrilled with her development in the course of the story. She's unsure of herself and feels trapped by obligation and the needs of others. She is clearly being used by her mother in a co-dependent relationship and has sacrificed her dreams to meet her mother's needs. Black does a good job of keeping Megan sympathetic, even as you see that she has allowed herself to be trapped by her weakest impulses into following the easiest path (emotionally speaking). Seeing her learn to consider her own needs, and even wishes and desires, and to recognize her strengths was gratifying. Redemption through adversity and allowing good things to come from bad people doing bad things was a lovely creative twist, as well.
I do have one caveat with the book, and it's one that has prompted a new shelf for me here at GoodReads (my “LDS” shelf). Fool Me Twice is published by Covenant Communications and is targeted for an LDS readership. Certain aspects of LDS culture are very lightly painted here and Black didn't elaborate as much as she might have for non-LDS readers to catch all of the byplay between the characters. Trevor, in particular, has motivations and personality immediately recognizable to LDS cognoscenti that may not translate well to the uninitiated. I have to be careful here, though, because it's hard for me to say how it'd play for a non-LDS reader. I don't think it'd preclude someone parsing the full impact of events, but it might. Take it as a caution (and invitation for one of my non-LDS friends to pick up and provide feedback).
So I guess that’s twice I’ve asked for others to verify my perception here. I’m not usually so uncertain of myself, but I suppose that’s natural as I seldom read either suspense as a genre or specifically LDS targeted books as a category. I may need to reconsider both predilections…
February 1, 2016
Because I am the mother of twin girls, I was a little hesitant to read this one because of the good twin/bad twin plot point. But the twins in this book are identical twins, so it’s totally different from my fraternal twins and it didn’t bother me.
Black did a good job fleshing out the characters. The protagonist, Megan, was likeable. She allowed family members to manipulate her and sometimes because of that she made bad choices, but it was believable.
The plot was tense, especially the last 2/3rds. I won’t talk much about it for fear of spoiling it, but it was good enough to keep me glued to my kindle screen.
Written for and probably best enjoyed by an LDS audience.
4.5 stars, rounding up. There’s a sequel, and it’s on my to-read list.
Black did a good job fleshing out the characters. The protagonist, Megan, was likeable. She allowed family members to manipulate her and sometimes because of that she made bad choices, but it was believable.
The plot was tense, especially the last 2/3rds. I won’t talk much about it for fear of spoiling it, but it was good enough to keep me glued to my kindle screen.
Written for and probably best enjoyed by an LDS audience.
4.5 stars, rounding up. There’s a sequel, and it’s on my to-read list.
February 10, 2009
Just as the title Fool Me Twice alludes, readers can expect twists and turns in the suspense novel that will keep them guessing. Identical twins, Kristen and Megan, haven’t been close for years. Now in their twenties, they hardly ever speak to each other. But Megan wishes it were otherwise.
When Kristen suddenly comes back into Megan’s life with a daring plan of how they can both get rich—legitimately—Megan eagerly agrees. She’ll do practically anything to be in her twin sister’s good graces again. Plus it will be her ticket out of a stagnant town and get her away from her ex-boyfriend. The only thing Megan has to do is spend a couple of months taking care of an elderly aunt who is terminally ill. To pull it off, Megan and Kristen switch places, and Megan assumes her twin’s identity. Simple, right?
But soon the guilt and confusion set in. Things are not as Kristen described them, and Megan discovers she really likes her new “friends.” Megan also realizes the last thing she wants to do it hurt the people who she's grown close to, let alone deceive her own aunt.
When Megan’s friend is violently kidnapped, Megan learns that beneath the carefully laid-out plan to gain a fortune, there is a web of deceit and lies. Much more than she ever bargained for.
I’ve read a lot of suspense, and most of the time I have the ending figured out at least half-way through. But Stephanie Black kept me guessing until nearly the end. There were several parts that were down right creepy, and I don’t think I’ll ever think of the name “Evelyn” the same again.
I enjoyed the way the author created the characters and effortless way she wove the tale of suspense, keeping me interested on every page. The writing was wonderful and the story tight and well-plotted. I look forward to reading what this author produces next.
When Kristen suddenly comes back into Megan’s life with a daring plan of how they can both get rich—legitimately—Megan eagerly agrees. She’ll do practically anything to be in her twin sister’s good graces again. Plus it will be her ticket out of a stagnant town and get her away from her ex-boyfriend. The only thing Megan has to do is spend a couple of months taking care of an elderly aunt who is terminally ill. To pull it off, Megan and Kristen switch places, and Megan assumes her twin’s identity. Simple, right?
But soon the guilt and confusion set in. Things are not as Kristen described them, and Megan discovers she really likes her new “friends.” Megan also realizes the last thing she wants to do it hurt the people who she's grown close to, let alone deceive her own aunt.
When Megan’s friend is violently kidnapped, Megan learns that beneath the carefully laid-out plan to gain a fortune, there is a web of deceit and lies. Much more than she ever bargained for.
I’ve read a lot of suspense, and most of the time I have the ending figured out at least half-way through. But Stephanie Black kept me guessing until nearly the end. There were several parts that were down right creepy, and I don’t think I’ll ever think of the name “Evelyn” the same again.
I enjoyed the way the author created the characters and effortless way she wove the tale of suspense, keeping me interested on every page. The writing was wonderful and the story tight and well-plotted. I look forward to reading what this author produces next.
August 2, 2009
ear Stephanie Black,
Can I please be you?
Love, Jordan
Let me tell you, after reading Fool Me Twice, it’s little wonder that it won the Whitney Award for Best Mystery/Suspense, despite stiff competition. The basic plot is that Megan’s identical twin sister, Kristen, convinces Megan to trade places for a share in an inheritance. But that’s just the beginning of the evil twin’s machinations—and even Kristen doesn’t know who’s ultimately pulling the strings, and how far her puppeteer will take them all.
I can't praise it highly enough (without sounding ridiculous). I think the thing I liked the most about it was the in-depth view of each character’s motivation. In a mystery, you have so many characters that do things beyond the pale, or who do things that might seem stupid without a good, believable motivation. But Stephanie built each character’s motivation and story arc throughout the story so that even the most unwise decision (like running into the house of a woman who you think is a dangerous con) made sense for that character at that moment.
See my full review of Fool Me Twice for more details!
Can I please be you?
Love, Jordan
Let me tell you, after reading Fool Me Twice, it’s little wonder that it won the Whitney Award for Best Mystery/Suspense, despite stiff competition. The basic plot is that Megan’s identical twin sister, Kristen, convinces Megan to trade places for a share in an inheritance. But that’s just the beginning of the evil twin’s machinations—and even Kristen doesn’t know who’s ultimately pulling the strings, and how far her puppeteer will take them all.
I can't praise it highly enough (without sounding ridiculous). I think the thing I liked the most about it was the in-depth view of each character’s motivation. In a mystery, you have so many characters that do things beyond the pale, or who do things that might seem stupid without a good, believable motivation. But Stephanie built each character’s motivation and story arc throughout the story so that even the most unwise decision (like running into the house of a woman who you think is a dangerous con) made sense for that character at that moment.
See my full review of Fool Me Twice for more details!
April 4, 2016
I love a good mystery and picked this book up hoping that I would enjoy this novel as well as I enjoyed Black's first novel, The Believer. I was no disappointed. The story is about two sisters--one conniving and one just really wanting a relationship with the other. We get to witness clever plot twists, growing characters, and intense action as the story continues. One point I was particularly impressed with was that this book involved twins, which is rather cliche in stories. However, I have truly never read it so well done. Black put her own spin on it and pulled if off beautifully. This book is a great read
August 30, 2024
So many twists and turns! Is everyone conspiring against each other? Kidnapping, murder, twin sisters stepping in for each other, manipulation, even by loved ones, and so much more. Scary and real at the same time. Clean. References to Mormon doctrine and culture but not central to the plot, however, helpful to understand some of the things Megan learns and understands. Enjoyed the book, reading the sequel now.
March 28, 2008
This was a good read - difficult to put down. I was near the end of the book on my lunch break and ended up being late because I just had to finish it!
The general synopsis is that you have two twin sisters - one of which is kind and hard-working, but stalled in life, and the other, who is adventurous, but carefree. The latter one has a plan to make some money that just involves getting the former to switch with her for a little while.
Everyone seems to have their own agenda, though, as things get complicated by a kidnapping and an old, old grudge that needs to be settled.
The characters are well-developed and it's easy to relate to the main viewpoint sister, Megan. There's a mild romance and some investigation into the LDS church, but nothing too heavy-handed.
All in all, a very enjoyable book that I would happily recommend.
The author maintains a blog with 5 other LDS authors here, if you're interested:
http://sixldswriters.blogspot.com/
The general synopsis is that you have two twin sisters - one of which is kind and hard-working, but stalled in life, and the other, who is adventurous, but carefree. The latter one has a plan to make some money that just involves getting the former to switch with her for a little while.
Everyone seems to have their own agenda, though, as things get complicated by a kidnapping and an old, old grudge that needs to be settled.
The characters are well-developed and it's easy to relate to the main viewpoint sister, Megan. There's a mild romance and some investigation into the LDS church, but nothing too heavy-handed.
All in all, a very enjoyable book that I would happily recommend.
The author maintains a blog with 5 other LDS authors here, if you're interested:
http://sixldswriters.blogspot.com/
September 27, 2008
Just a little too bleak for my normal taste; although, the story was decently written. The motivation of both Megan and Aunt Evelyn seem contrived. Kristen seems like a caricature. Not great suspense but not the worst I've read either.
November 11, 2015
Fun read
What did I like? This was a fun read.
What did I dislike? That I stayed up until 1:40 in the morning to finish it. It was fun though! Now I'm off to bed so I can get up in less than 4 hours!
What did I like? This was a fun read.
What did I dislike? That I stayed up until 1:40 in the morning to finish it. It was fun though! Now I'm off to bed so I can get up in less than 4 hours!
set-aside
October 15, 2014With apologies to Jacob, and not a bad "set-aside", really. The decent person getting pulled into a not-so-decent scam was just hitting some button for me, so I might well go back to it.
April 5, 2019
I only give 1 star to REALLY awful books, and truly this book was just "meh" for me...so maybe a 1.75? I rounded up! :D
Reasons I really wanted to love this book...
1. A couple of my friends really like this author (Hi, Sierra!)
2. I am always looking for new authors that I can rely on to write a clean, but great read (Thanks Sarah Eden, Tracy Abramson, and Melanie Jacobson)
3. The story sounded like it had a lot of potential (Thanks to whoever wrote the "blurb")
Reasons I ended up not really liking the book...
1. The author is one I can rely on to write a clean novel...can't say it was a great read (sorry, Sierra!)
2. Everyone is so dumb! (SPOILERS COMING)
Evelyn is dumb...wrote down/recorded every single thing. Here you go, law enforcement...have some evidence...although you can sort of write that one off because she is also totally nuts.
Kristin is dumb because...well...she does a lot of dumb things.
Megan is dumb. For someone as book smart as she is supposed to be, she certainly lets everyone around her manipulate her and she is very good at justifying pretty much everything...and she does make some really stupid choices.
Even the neighbor...Hey! a girl talking crazy and with a gun in her pants is freaking out and begging me to call the police...I think I will go directly to where she came running from and see what's up. Who needs the police anyway?
The Drake family is all pretty dumb. Sandra...for not contacting the police, her husband for allowing Sandra to call the shots and for not insisting on contacting the police, Trevor for not contacting the police and for justifying doing/not doing almost every choice he makes.
Gail Ludlum is also dumb for allowing most of what occurs to happen/continue to occur in the story...but she does get her comeuppance.
Megan's mom...well...she is mostly just annoying.
Rachel Drake isn't really dumb...just an airhead. She is important to the story, but not really IN the story...
3. Josh Drake...the 16 year old brother who is the only one in the family NOT stupid. He alone wants to contact the police, checks up on/has doubts about Kristen/Megan's story, and pushes his family to stop being idiots. He is finally the one that keeps Trevor from finally figuring some things out.
4. We are supposed to believe that Megan is going to overcome an elderly lady with a gun (maybe...that was almost plausible) and not one, but TWO, baddies with weapons...AFTER she is shot in the shoulder and then sliced with a knife. For someone who apparently has no training in anything except being a waitress or a college student...I think not.
5. The characters have very little depth. Every quality/personality trait of every character seemed extremely superficial, making it difficult for me to really like any of them.
6. It is tricky to be an LDS writer...If you are writing to a strictly LDS audience, then make it a completely LDS book. Frankly, I like books written by LDS authors (see #1 above), but I like it best when they don't throw a lot of religion into the story. When there is just a smattering thrown around, but not actually in, the plot (like this book), it seems pretty out of place and limits the audience as most non-LDS folk may be turned off by the LDS lingo etc.
7. The "romance" that could have blossomed fell flat. I noticed there is a sequel, so maybe it develops there...although I don't know if I care enough to try to read it.
8. The plot itself seems a little confusing and a bit convoluted until the end. I had to go back several times and try to sort out a few places that left me going "huh?"
Overall...I don't know that I am inclined to read more of this author...unless someone out there can convince me why I should.
Reasons I really wanted to love this book...
1. A couple of my friends really like this author (Hi, Sierra!)
2. I am always looking for new authors that I can rely on to write a clean, but great read (Thanks Sarah Eden, Tracy Abramson, and Melanie Jacobson)
3. The story sounded like it had a lot of potential (Thanks to whoever wrote the "blurb")
Reasons I ended up not really liking the book...
1. The author is one I can rely on to write a clean novel...can't say it was a great read (sorry, Sierra!)
2. Everyone is so dumb! (SPOILERS COMING)
Evelyn is dumb...wrote down/recorded every single thing. Here you go, law enforcement...have some evidence...although you can sort of write that one off because she is also totally nuts.
Kristin is dumb because...well...she does a lot of dumb things.
Megan is dumb. For someone as book smart as she is supposed to be, she certainly lets everyone around her manipulate her and she is very good at justifying pretty much everything...and she does make some really stupid choices.
Even the neighbor...Hey! a girl talking crazy and with a gun in her pants is freaking out and begging me to call the police...I think I will go directly to where she came running from and see what's up. Who needs the police anyway?
The Drake family is all pretty dumb. Sandra...for not contacting the police, her husband for allowing Sandra to call the shots and for not insisting on contacting the police, Trevor for not contacting the police and for justifying doing/not doing almost every choice he makes.
Gail Ludlum is also dumb for allowing most of what occurs to happen/continue to occur in the story...but she does get her comeuppance.
Megan's mom...well...she is mostly just annoying.
Rachel Drake isn't really dumb...just an airhead. She is important to the story, but not really IN the story...
3. Josh Drake...the 16 year old brother who is the only one in the family NOT stupid. He alone wants to contact the police, checks up on/has doubts about Kristen/Megan's story, and pushes his family to stop being idiots. He is finally the one that keeps Trevor from finally figuring some things out.
4. We are supposed to believe that Megan is going to overcome an elderly lady with a gun (maybe...that was almost plausible) and not one, but TWO, baddies with weapons...AFTER she is shot in the shoulder and then sliced with a knife. For someone who apparently has no training in anything except being a waitress or a college student...I think not.
5. The characters have very little depth. Every quality/personality trait of every character seemed extremely superficial, making it difficult for me to really like any of them.
6. It is tricky to be an LDS writer...If you are writing to a strictly LDS audience, then make it a completely LDS book. Frankly, I like books written by LDS authors (see #1 above), but I like it best when they don't throw a lot of religion into the story. When there is just a smattering thrown around, but not actually in, the plot (like this book), it seems pretty out of place and limits the audience as most non-LDS folk may be turned off by the LDS lingo etc.
7. The "romance" that could have blossomed fell flat. I noticed there is a sequel, so maybe it develops there...although I don't know if I care enough to try to read it.
8. The plot itself seems a little confusing and a bit convoluted until the end. I had to go back several times and try to sort out a few places that left me going "huh?"
Overall...I don't know that I am inclined to read more of this author...unless someone out there can convince me why I should.
September 25, 2020
Kristen and Megan are identical twins. Kristen hatches a plan to make them both wealthy and release Megan from the manipulative demands of their mother, but at what cost?
Kristen has been caring for a wealthy older woman named Evelyn, and has tired of the tedium. Kristen is convinced she can wheedle her way into becoming heir to Evelyn’s fortune. As identical twins, Kristen has convinced Megan they can successfully switch places so Megan can do the daily work of caring for Evelyn while Kristen does the “behind the scenes work” to make the plan come to fruition.
However, Kristen’s plan seems more deadly by the minute, as the true nature of her intent slowly becomes clear. The hamster wheel of lies Megan must spin to keep Kristen’s plan in motion, soon starts wearing on her and causing genuine remorse, as she begins to truly care for the people she is deceiving.
There are many twists and turns in this tale. Some worked well, and others felt contrived.
I liked the whole Evelyn angle and what the author did with that character. I wish there had been a more flushed out explanation/description of Evelyn’s background, history and motivations. I found her to be a fascinating character.
An interesting premise, but not as engaging as I’d hoped.
Kristen has been caring for a wealthy older woman named Evelyn, and has tired of the tedium. Kristen is convinced she can wheedle her way into becoming heir to Evelyn’s fortune. As identical twins, Kristen has convinced Megan they can successfully switch places so Megan can do the daily work of caring for Evelyn while Kristen does the “behind the scenes work” to make the plan come to fruition.
However, Kristen’s plan seems more deadly by the minute, as the true nature of her intent slowly becomes clear. The hamster wheel of lies Megan must spin to keep Kristen’s plan in motion, soon starts wearing on her and causing genuine remorse, as she begins to truly care for the people she is deceiving.
There are many twists and turns in this tale. Some worked well, and others felt contrived.
I liked the whole Evelyn angle and what the author did with that character. I wish there had been a more flushed out explanation/description of Evelyn’s background, history and motivations. I found her to be a fascinating character.
An interesting premise, but not as engaging as I’d hoped.
October 25, 2019
I must admit I was a little surprised and uncomfortable with this particular book of Stephanie's. Having been in the abuse arena for over 30 years, the thought process and detail that went into building this book and the characters in it is nothing short of disturbing. While she tells a good story and you and curious how it ends, I am disappointed in the darkness of Fool me Twice. And not by just one character but several. I would expect this kind of stuff from Stephen King, only his would go much deeper in the details. If you like twisted, this is it. While I believe Stephanie's main interest was to take a character that was weak in several ways, and show how in the end she became strong, it was lost to me in the chaos. If the direction had been more about the main character and not about depicting the sordidness of the other characters, that might have shown through. Or even if she had given as much attention to that as the others. But it sadly fell short. I won't be reading this one again.
July 21, 2024
ex-mormon here. I picked up this book along with a similar one from the library, knowing nothing about them other than their titles and blurbs. when the other book turned out to be heavily Christian-themed - something I felt was to the detriment of the story and led to me writing a negative(ish) review - I looked this one up and was disheartened to find it tagged as LDS fiction. it's already hard for me to escape its grasp in Utah, so I was dreading the inclusion of gospel elements in the plot. to my surprise, the Mormon influence is minimal and, where it crops up, contributes to rather than hurts the plot. there are a few semi-preachy parts where the Book of Mormon is quoted or where the main character's conversion to Mormonism is touted, but the book doesn't suffer for it. it didn't always draw me in the way I would expect a five-star book to, but it's a good book that I enjoyed reading in a four-hour-straight fun romp.
February 13, 2018
This was a fun book. The kind that when you start reading you now that it feels like everyday conversations but really things are being set up that will be majorly important later. It was suspenseful fun and the last 1/4 of the book was really hard to put down. I admit to giving people a impatient expression when they tried to talk to me when I was reading that last 4th. lol. Megan is a delightful character and her sister Kristen not so much. I loved how woven the plot was and how everything fit together! Bravo Stephanie Black!!
August 12, 2021
This story had so many twists and turns it was almost hard to follow, but overall it provided a great read. I love a good interwoven plot line, and just when I thought I had all the details, the author had more interconnecting parts. My only problem was I listened to it as an audio book and I didn’t pay as close of attention to it as I needed to. If I could go back I would just read it. Well done! Content - clean
April 19, 2022
I read this book for the 52 books in 52 weeks April 2022 mini challenge. I used the prompt read a book with a foolish character. (the challenge rules said you could also look for the word fool/foolish in the title) Like the other book i read this year, she creeps me out a little. It was good and they aren't super scary mysteries although somewhat twisted. I recommend this author if you're into cozy thriller.
May 17, 2022
Suspense and intrigue. Megan was a little too gullible to be real and her mother was over the top manipulative but the story certainly sucks you in and keeps you turning the pages. Kristin was crazy. I never quite got how one twin could be so kind and one so evil but with Pamala as the mom I guess anything could happen. The ending was a little strange and a little abrupt but overall this was a good book.
May 9, 2017
What a wonderful pair of novels: Fool Me Twice and Played for a Fool. I read Played for a Fool first, not knowing that there was another story. I then went back and read Fool Me Twice, and am now reading Played for a Fool again. It makes much more sense, now, but was very enjoyable on its own. I look forward to reading more Stephanie Black novels.
March 5, 2024
4.5 stars.
Talk about an intense mystery! I can't even give a description without ruining parts of the plot. Suffice it to say there are multiple layers to the story, and it had me hooked from the beginning to the end. It wasn't cliche or sappy or predictable, which was nice. There was a Christian element to it, but it wasn't heavy handed.
Talk about an intense mystery! I can't even give a description without ruining parts of the plot. Suffice it to say there are multiple layers to the story, and it had me hooked from the beginning to the end. It wasn't cliche or sappy or predictable, which was nice. There was a Christian element to it, but it wasn't heavy handed.
June 29, 2024
A fun, engaging read. The pacing is excellent in keeping things moving and interesting. I loved Megan and her development.
Geared for LDS readers, but Black doesn’t belabor any of those bits, so I don’t know if it would detract from the story as a whole for non-LDS readers.
This was my second book by this author. I will definitely read more.
Geared for LDS readers, but Black doesn’t belabor any of those bits, so I don’t know if it would detract from the story as a whole for non-LDS readers.
This was my second book by this author. I will definitely read more.
June 9, 2020
What happens when your identical twin ask you to pretend to be her to swindle money out of an old lady. Then you find out that you have been setup to take the fall for a murder?
This is what happens to Megan when reunited with her twin Kristen.
This is what happens to Megan when reunited with her twin Kristen.
May 29, 2018
This was good, back when I read it years ago. I liked it at the time, but I can't remember enough to give a proper review on it.
August 15, 2018
Unbelievable.
Has all the elements of a perfect mystery.
Has all the elements of a perfect mystery.
October 10, 2018
A great, suspenseful read! It was a little hard to get into, but after about 20% into the book, it was hard to put down!
June 29, 2019
Awesome story line, full of thought and a great read!
September 15, 2019
Exciting mystery!
December 30, 2019
I loved this book! So many twists and turns! Stephanie Black is truly an amazing author. Highly recommend!
July 29, 2020
A great read with a good pace. It keeps you guessing.
May 3, 2021
Entertaining and suspenseful. The plot was a bit unbelievable at times but might make a good TV drama.
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