This was surprisingly… well, not “fun”, as it’s kind of heavy and involves loss of agency and misogyny and death—but certainly engaging and interesting in its framing in the interrogation of those issues.

Basically, our protagonist here has pioneered the creation of clones, who are both more advanced than you typically see, so maybe reflective of what we now know of the possibilities regarding gene therapy and science behind stuff? No idea, I am not up on these technologies. Regardless, she has chosen work over her husband, who is an asshole, but their relationship is expounded on and is far more complex than is initially divulged to the reader.

Because, as she discovers her now estranged husband has a clone of her, and is now planning to marry her, things go sideways in her life rather quickly, spiralling her into memories of her life with him. This creates the duel narrative. The unfolding present day thriller spiral, and the reflections on her life she hasn’t really allowed herself to dwell on, which characterizes her and her husband and grants much more context to the fallout of the relationship.

While murder and betrayal ensue, we discover the psychology behind the choices being made in the present, all while a foil of herself is present, forcing her to constantly regard herself as though looking in a mirror; noticing the unnoticeable.

Very consumable and fast-paced. I found it clever in it making a pretty straight forward thriller much more compelling and nuanced, while making it all but impossible to make the reader reflect on systemic issues themselves and the hypocrisy of workplace dynamics and gender dynamics. I was pleasantly surprised with this one.