The Twin's Daughter

The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

But Which Sister Is Which?

Part I. In which an aunt is introduced. It was quite a shock for Lucy to see her mother on the doorstep, dressed so poorly. It was quite another shock to learn that this was not her mother at all but a sister, a twin, which no one had ever known existed. What could they do but invite her in, accept her as one of the family, and once living among them educate her in the ways of the upper-class.

Part II. In which a new friend is made. Lucy is not accustomed to other young people in her life, being an only child and almost always surrounded by adults. But meeting her new neighbours and their son Christopher, or Kit as he is known, has given her the opportunity for friendship. Something that she is very much thankful for after the tragic incident on New Year's Day, the murder of a twin.

Part III. In which love is declared. It is only after Kit has left to take up his commission and serve in Africa, do Lucy and Kit declare their love for each other, both knowing that there is every possibility that Kit may not return alive. It is also a time of great changes in Lucy's home life, ever since the murder her father has been changed, over eating, drinking more, taken up smoking, it is little wonder at the consequences of these actions.

Part IV. In which the truth is finally revealed. Lucy, convinced that she knows the identity of the surviving twin, has come to terms with the events of that horrific New Year's Day, where she stumbled upon the bloody scene of the twins, one dead, one alive. However after a slip of the tongue, Lucy must admit she is no longer sure and so takes drastic action to uncover once and for all the events of that tragic News Year's Day and learn which twin survived.

The Twin's Daughter has her world shaken upside down when she can no longer recognise her own mother from her identical aunt. Lucy's sheltered childhood, with only her mother for a friend, and wealthy upbringing has done little to educate her in the ways of the world, her knowledge of such things coming only from books. A story of jealousy that slowly builds into a murderous mystery, culminating in a dark, twisted ending in which happiness is found.

Lauren Baratz-Logsted @ Bloomsbury Australia

On sale: 01 February 2014
Price (AU): $12.99
ISBN: 9781599906614
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Twins
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: yes
Star rating: three out of five
xx