Does a truly creepy thriller HAVE to take place in the woods? Honestly, yes, and you can’t convince me otherwise. When She Was Me by Marlee Bush adds in even more creepiness with twin sisters, a sordid and messy past, and a missing teenager. And the creepiest part is the secrets we learn as we switch between each sister’s point of view.
From the first chapter, Bush’s description of the woods and small campground the sisters stay adds to the creepy atmosphere. The isolation that each sister feels seemed to reach out the pages and pull me in instantly. Adding in the missing teenager immediately increased the tension that was already there, and fully grabbed my attention.
This is the kind of thriller that oscillates between psychological and physical. It’s hard to distinguish what’s real and what isn’t, and even harder to determine which sister to trust. There are so many different ways the story could’ve gone, which made it ALMOST impossible to see the twists before they popped. Overall, I think the balance of insane twists and believable outcomes was handled well, but could’ve easily tipped into being absolutely ridiculous.
Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!