THE OTHER TWIN
by L V Hay
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?
L V Hay’s debut novel, The Other Twin, is a contemporary psychological thriller that’s full of secrets.
Poppy receives a phone call telling her that her younger sister India has died. On hearing the news, Poppy returns to her home town of Brighton for the first time in years, and begins to investigate what happened. It seems innocent enough, if you believe that she fell from a bridge over a railway with suicidal thoughts in her head. Unconvinced with official verdict/explanations Poppy begins her own investigation and uncovers a series of hidden secrets that will change everything.
Having not seen her sister for ages Poppy must first find out about her life, friends and troubles. The presence of an online blog/diary blog may help, if she can crack its secrets and access them. With her mother in pieces over India’s death, Poppy locates an ex-boyfriend of India’s at a bar. He has powerful, wealthy parents and a twin sister who also has links to another influential family. Just what's going on?
With characters such as the wolf and ‘the one who must be obeyed’ there’s plenty of darkness and intrigue in a book set among the social media generation. With revelations and deceptions around every corner - all delivered by the characters and never forced by the plot – it’s a gripping yarn.
Issues of control and identity are explored, as are LGBT issues in a Brighton setting. The flawed and sad characters show how easily lives can be ruined by lies.
A strong debut, indeed.
About L V Hay:
L. V. Hay is a novelist, script editor and blogger who runs a writer's consultancy. She is the associate producer of the films Deviation and Assassin, head reader for the London Screenwriters' Festival and the author of Writing & Selling Thriller Screenplays and Writing & Selling Drama Screenplays.