Number 63- Birthright- Charles Lambert

 

I read a couple of Lambert's novellas earlier this year and was impressed enough to order a couple of books from his back catalogue, including this one.

This is a psychological thriller about twins separated at birth, with a large inheritance and shady conmen thrown in for good measure.

When rich girl Fiona, who's due to come into a large amount of money on her 21st birthday, finds a photograph in her mother's drawers of a girl who looks just like her, she becomes obsessed with finding her. A few years later, she tracks her mysterious double to Rome and moves there.

Maddie, her estranged twin, has had a neglectful and abuse filled life. She lives in Rome with her alcoholic mother and is suspicious of Fiona. She can't understand why someone like her is jealous of her life.

The tension between them builds and Fiona's behaviour becomes more erratic. Meanwhile, the men in their lives are all less than trustworthy.  Who is playing what games and who is going to win?

The book opens in the 21st century with a couple watching a show about people who've disappeared. This is a clever use of foreshadowing telling us that something is on the horizon.

Lambert expertly keeps us guessing as to which of the twins features in the current day segments and what was the fate of the other.  

I can think of no higher praise for this book than to say it reminded me of a Patricia Highsmith novel. we know the crime is going to happen, but we have no idea what crime or who will commit it.  

Lambert is a maser of building suspense. He effortlessly drops us in the heads of the different characters allowing us to see their clashes and switch sympathies as he wishes us to.

I raced through this book in two days despite the fairly substantial length.  It's an easy read but one that will keep you guessing. Lambert is yet another name on my collect everything they've written list.

If you can find a copy of this, buy it.