The Likeness

The Dublin Murder Squad books by Tana French always highlight a different protagonist from the Murder Squad, and this time it's Cassie Maddox, who I really liked in the first book In the Woods. I liked her far less in this book with the weirdest of premises. A dead woman is found, and she's basically a total lookalike for Cassie. Cassie then goes undercover to live with her housemates, to find out who murdered her. The housemates live in a fancy mansion, all attend university, and are all weirdly attached to each other. Cassie manages to blend in, and falls in love with the manor and kinda the housemates too.

I got such bad vibes from the housemates, and I don't know why anyone would solve a murder like this. Regardless, Tana French knows how to beautifully write, and despite not loving the story, I turned page after page.

Once again, a Tana French mystery kept me up late, stole my attention, and had me clinging to every word. She writes pleasingly, and creates such realistic people and relationships that I still think about them for weeks after the pages have run out.

The plot of The Likeness was as rich as the characters. There is so much to think about, I don't know where to begin--except to recommend that you begin. A murder, an interesting victim, some unusual friends, the zany murder squad, the strange locals, and a most unusual undercover operation await you.

This story is haunting and thought-provoking. I recommend it, in case that's not clear.