First Born by Will Dean

Hello everyone.  I hope you are having a great day.

I've mentioned way too many times that my sisters are triplets.  You know what would have been nice growing up? A brother, especially one with hot, available friends.  Now that I'm more...ahem...mature, hot is a man that is comfortable in his skin.  Someone who can buy female hygiene products without the least bit of embarrassment.  A man who despite his size and dominance is so sweet with a little dog.  When you're a teen though, the male ideal is somewhat different. While my knees are not happy for maturity, my opinion of men is far better.  Anyway, I was left without a beloved brother and instead got three bratty sisters.  They all have similar personalities, but two look nearly identical.  Yes, they look "different" to me (read that sarcastically), but a stranger would think they are twins. I think they were one egg that split, and the other triplet was her own egg, or quite possibly had her own twin that she no doubt strangled in a game of umbilical cord jump rope, just so she could have all the attention. Did you know that twins occur naturally in one in 250 pregnancies, but triplets are only one in 10,000.  Figures, one simple brother, was that too much to ask? No, I had to have the one chance in 10,000 to get Satan's spawn for siblings (joking, don't write me).  

I recently read First Born by Will Dean.  This is the story of twins, Molly and Katie Raven.  Katie has been found dead in her apartment in NYC where she lives far away from her family in England.  When twin, Molly, discovers that Katie has been murdered she vows to find out who killed the sister she loved so much.  Molly finds that Katie's life was much different than she thought, despite being a college student, she was into things that seem to be much darker.  As with most fiction, you must accept things that aren't likely or practical, but it is fiction, a story, an escape from the everyday. 

This psychological thriller is an easy, quick read.  The fast pacing is full of twists that you'll never see coming.  For thriller readers, this has everything including loads of suspense and constant questions that need urgent answers.  The author supplies answers and an ending that will leave you smiling and satisfied.  Get some snacks and a big cup of coffee, once you start reading First Born, you won't stop.

If only my sisters were as clever as this book. I can hear the phone calls now!

The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle

Hello everyone.  I hope you're doing well.

When I was little, really little, like two years old, I remember my parents telling me that there were going to be siblings.  Doctors first told my mother she was having twins, so my parents purchased two of everything they would need.  Along comes delivery and surprise...there is a third baby.  It was completely natural and an oddity in those days.  (Please insert a sarcastic statement about my sisters being odd here, I'm trying to be nice, so Santa won't bring me coal.) I recall the day the local newspaper came to take pictures of the triplets, I got to be in the photo standing behind them presenting them with my arms like some sort of possessed Vanna White. I still have the newspaper article that goes with the photo where they ask my dad if he planned for any more children he responds "negative". So very Dad, who worked on some of the country's biggest secrets, yet flunked his computer class so badly they begged him to go back to a legal pad and pencil. Anyway, yes, I have a point that relates to the book, hold your horses.  My parents wanted a boy and got me and triplet girls.  My dad would tell people he would try to get to the bathroom mirror, but it was a blur of mascara wands.  Poor guy.

I recently read The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle.  This is the story of a set of twins, whose wealthy, miserable father dies.  He wills his money and assets to the girl who gets married and has the first baby.  The twins Iris and Summer are very different personalities but are otherwise identical.  When Summer and her husband are having problems halfway across the world and need help sailing the family's boat home, Iris dutifully jumps in to help.  She tries to maintain a positive attitude even after discovering Summer is pregnant and will inherit everything.  But as you would expect with a thriller, trouble ensues.  

I loved the idea of this book.  So many thrillers take place in neighborhoods, one of those "I didn't know my neighbor was a serial killer" things.  This takes the action to a wealthy family and out onto the open sea.  It was really interesting seeing the differences exposed between the twins. The story moves quickly and is a pleasant read.  I liked this book, but I didn't love it.  Would I buy and read it again?  Yes.  However, if you are a long-time thriller or mystery reader you will guess the ending very early on.  In addition, there aren't many twists and those that there are seem predictable.  If you don't read these types of books a lot, you'll likely be shocked and love this book.  Since this is Rose Carlyle's first book, I look forward to many more from her.

My dad probably cheered when we moved out of the house, finally getting the mirror to himself.