The Likeness (Dublin Murder Squad Book 2) by Tana French

A friend gave me a copy of this book. It is most definitely a keeper. From the first page, I was fascinated with this story. It’s a story with so many twists and turns, and I was kept on the edge of my seat until the end, trying to figure out who did it. (I can usually guess who the killer is by midway through.) Author Tana French weaves a complex puzzle of a tale with her masterful storytelling and sympathetic and believable characters, from the protagonist herself to the quirky cast of multiple characters that fills these pages.

The story is told in the first-person point of view of the protagonist, Cassie Maddox, and the author takes readers deep into the psychological effects of working undercover and the toll it takes, physically and emotionally. I very much enjoyed the style of writing, the pace, and the Irish history woven into this story, but most of all, the labyrinthine-like plot that kept me engaged until I reached the end. In my humble opinion, this would make a terrific television drama. This can be read as a standalone. I have not yet read Book 1, but I intend to. I highly recommend.
Short Story Summary:  Burnt-out detective Cassie Maddox has transferred out of the Dublin Murder Squad and though she is not happy in the domestic violence unit, she at least feels safer and less stressed. An urgent phone call from her fellow detective and boyfriend brings her to a crime scene that can only be described as eerie when she discovers the victim is a twin to herself in looks. But more unsettling is the ID found on her, identifying the victim as Alexandra Madison, an alias Cassie once used as an undercover cop and had been assured was put to rest long ago. With little other clues to go on, and despite the objections of her boyfriend and the current head of the murder squad, her former boss convinces her the once and only chance they have of solving this case is for Cassie to go back undercover and assume the persona of Alexandra Madison once more to discover who the murderer is, but equally of importance who Alexandra really was.

In order to do this, Cassie must move into a house the victim has been living in with four other college students whose main objective seems to be the house itself and keeping to themselves. She must walk a fine line, pretending her memory is damaged from the attack and that she does not really remember how the stabbing happened, let alone who did it. 

I recommend this book! Click HERE to purchase it on Amazon.