This rreview is written with thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for my copy of First Born via Netgalley.

Blurb:

Molly lives a quiet, contained life in London. Naturally risk averse, she gains comfort from security and structure. Every day the same.

Her identical twin Katie is her exact opposite: gregarious and spontaneous. They used to be inseparable, until Katie moved to New York a year ago. Molly still speaks to her daily without fail.

But when Molly learns that Katie has died suddenly in New York, she is thrown into unfamiliar territory. Katie is part of her DNA. As terrifying as it is, she must go there and find out what happened. As she tracks her twin’s last movements, cracks begin to emerge. Nothing is what it seems. And a web of deceit is closing around her.

Delivering the same intensity of pace and storytelling that made THE LAST THING TO BURN a word-of-mouth sensation, FIRST BORN will surprise, shock and enthral.

Review:

I’ve wanted to read First Born since it was first published nearly a year ago and I can honestly say now I have no idea why I waited so long! It’s difficult to say too much about this novel without spoilers. I’ll try my best but it is a story you need to experience for yourself. 

The protagonist of First Born is Molly, whose twin, Katie, is discovered dead in her apartment in New York. As Molly tries to find out what happened to Katie, we learn a lot more about both their characters. There are times when neither of them seem particularly likeable, but they are compelling and the dynamic between them is absolutely fascinating. I could not help but keep reading on to find out the answers. 

I have no idea how Will Dean has managed to pull this novel off, but the plotting is absolutely next level. Although First Born is completely compelling from the first page, it does take some time for the fireworks to come. However, when they do, it’s mind blowing and the novel becomes a dark, tense, thrilling ride that will stay with me for a while to come. 

First Born is available from Amazon.