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Synopsis
A stunning, dark and sexy debut thriller set in the winding lanes and underbelly of Brighton, centring around the social media world, where resentments and accusations are played out, identities made and remade, and there is no such thing as the truth
When India falls to her death from a bridge over a railway, her sister Poppy returns home to Brighton for the first time in years. Unconvinced by official explanations, Poppy begins her own investigation into India’s death. But the deeper she digs, the closer she comes to uncovering deeply buried secrets. Could Matthew Temple, the boyfriend she abandoned, be involved? And what of his powerful and wealthy parents, and his twin sister, Ana? Enter the mysterious and ethereal Jenny: the girl Poppy discovers after hacking into India’s laptop. What is exactly is she hiding, and what did India find out about her? Taking the reader on a breathless ride through the winding lanes of Brighton, into its vibrant party scene and inside the homes of its wellheeled families, The Other Twin is startling and up-to-the-minute thriller about the social-media world, where resentments and accusations are played out online, where identities are made and remade, and where there is no such thing as truth…
Review
The Other Twin is Lucy V Hay’s debut novel, and a brilliant debut it is. Set in Brighton and the LGBT community, this is a fast paced psychological thriller that deals with important and in some case difficult issues effecting young people in today’s society. In keeping with the zeitgeist theme the internet, and in particular Social Media, are central to the plot, in particular how you can be who you want to be on the internet and how it makes people braver in expressing their opinions.
The plot follows Poppy’s search for the truth about India, and also her return to Brighton and her family after being estranged from her family and friends for five years. The reader follows Poppy’s thoughts as she puts the pieces together and as such puts herself in danger whilst searching for the truth. There is also an unknown male narrator, who alludes to something darker going on in Brighton. He is controlled by an unknown woman, he comes across as uncomfortable with his role in this story but too frightened to disobey ‘she who must be obeyed’. Through him the tension builds as the plot comes to a thrilling and emotional conclusion.
The characters in this book are multi faceted and have a depth to them. Lucy V Hay creates a plausible and believable back story, to all the characters. On the surface they look like any normal family but deep down they are flawed and harbouring secrets and lies.
I really connected with the central figure Poppy. I admired her dogged determination in trying to find out the truth of what happened to her sister; at no point does she believe that India committed suicide. Through the plot we are drip fed small details about why Poppy left Brighton and her rift with her family.
The Other Twin is a well written, atmospheric psychological thriller. The plot has so many twists and turns as secrets and lies are revealed turning the characters and their lives upside down. A brilliant debut that I highly recommend to those who like and intelligent, dark thriller.