24 November 2025

When I started reading this book, I did not know that Amy Carver is a pseudonym used by Sam Carrington: I only discovered that when I finished the book.

From the very first chapter, the author creates a creeping sense of unease that slowly tightens its grip as the story unfolds. What begins as a relatable struggle—a mother feeling disconnected from her own child—quickly spirals into something far darker and more disturbing.

Louise is such an intriguing character to follow. She’s raw, flawed, and emotionally frayed, and Carver captures her inner turmoil with unsettling realism. Watching her navigate her complicated feelings toward Alfie while forming an immediate and instinctive bond with Jacob made the whole book feel like an emotional tug-of-war. I found myself both sympathetic and deeply unsettled by her—exactly what you want in a psychological thriller.

The premise itself is deliciously twisty: two boys born at the same hospital on the same day, both resembling Louise’s husband, and a slow drip of clues that make you question absolutely everything. The more Louise suspects, the more I found myself sharing her paranoia. Is she right? Is she imagining things? Or is there something much bigger happening beneath the surface? Carver plays with these questions brilliantly.

If I have one small critique, it’s that a few moments felt slightly over-the-top, but honestly, the tension and emotional stakes more than make up for it. The pacing is tight, the atmosphere is gripping, and the final reveal lands beautifully.

This was a fantastic read —dark, emotionally layered, and impossible to put down. A gripping, clever psychological thriller that earns a solid four stars from me.