I stayed up late last night finishing up The Likeness and what can I say, I loved it. I thought it was just as good as In The Woods or even better. Especially if you like endings that are a bit more tidy then this was definitely more satisfying. In this novel detective Cassie Maddox, who is still reeling from what happened in the investigation of In the Woods, is asked to go undercover.
Now I admit at first I just didn’t think this was going to work out because you see, Cassie is supposed to become Lexie. A woman who is found murdered who happens to be identical to Cassie. To make matters more complicated, Lexie is found with an ID of an alias Cassie and her former boss created back when Cassie was working undercover. Sounds a bit confusing and implausible right? If you can just put any doubts aside you’ll be fine. You’ll get swept up into the investigation and the engrossing story. You can read more about the book here.
Being that I enjoyed this story I had to dig around in the internet to see if the author is writing another story because what I’d really like to see is some of the characters from the first book come back. I found a couple of articles and it looks like she is working on a third book but this one will focus on Detective Frank Mackey. I can’t say he was my favorite character but I’ll still want to read the book. Oh, and this book also counts as one of my reads for the 2nds Challenge.
My other read was just as character-driven but I’d say even more intense. This Japanese novel takes the reader deep into the lives of four women who are feeling oppressed and want a way out of their situations.
I remembered picking up this book several years ago and setting it aside because I was finding it too gritty and just not something I wanted to read at the time. I’m so glad I finally went back to it. It is gritty, it is oppressive and sometimes makes for a very hard read but I really liked it. This is not your typical formulaic crime novel. You can read more about the book here.
And, this one also counts as a challenge read – both for the Japanese challenge and the Orbis Terrarum challenge.
Still not caught up on my reviews but I’m getting there. Now it’s back to some time spent with my books.
I really want to read In the Woods and the Likeness. Would they be good for the readathon?
Great reviews, Iliana! I’ve already linked both of yours to mine. 🙂
I can’t wait to read Tana French’s next releases… and Natsuo Kirino’s as well.
I’ve been thinking about adding In the Woods to my list. I think this post just bumped it up on my list. Thanks!
Really great reviews! I’m not loving Grotesque quite as much as Out. It’s much slower and I think I was expecting something along the lines of Out in terms of the depth of the characters and being suspenseful. It’s still interesting though.
I’m definitely going to have to get In the Woods soon. It’s at the top of my wishlist.
I keep on putting off reading In the Woods and I don’t have any reason why. I’ll have to put this on the BookMooch wishlist.
I’ll definitely check out French’s next book – thanks for the info! Don’t know about Frank as the main character but we’ll see.
When I read about Japanese women, they are usually not factory workers, but wives, intellectuals, geishas, richer women.
OUT seems to give a view of the middle class world.
Amy @ My Friend Amy – Oh I think they’d be perfect! These aren’t fast-paced books though but the stories are engrossing. I liked the characters.
Melody – Thanks girl! I know I’ll want to read more by Kirino that’s for sure. I think thought that if her other books are just as intense then I do need to save those for a while then 🙂
aka Nik – Yea, you gotta read it!
tanabata – That’s interesting… I thought Out was kind of slow paced too or maybe it was just that I needed some time away from it – it could get a bit oppressive. That sounds bad but I think it just shows what an incredible job she did with it. Definitely looking forward to more of her books.
Mike B. – Hope you can mooch it soon! 🙂
Tara – See, I’m a bit skeptical with him being the main character too but that’s probably because I’m still so hung up on Rob & Cassie as main characters.
Isabel – That’s true for me too and I hadn’t thought about that. I think some of the last Japanese setting books I read were some of the Sujata Massey books – which were so great (the ones set in Japan not the later ones in the series). This one feels nothing like those though even though it’s the same country.
They both sound great! Especially Out…I’ve read a lot of great reviews of that one lately. I don’t think I’ll be able to resist getting it for much longer.
Out is a wonderful read, isn’t it? So glad you liked it. It’s such an unusual book — morally repulsive, in many ways, but you end up feeling such empathy with the murderers.
I’ve been hearing a lot about Out lately. I wasn’t sure it was something I would enjoy when I first heard about (enjoy might not be the right word), but now I’m beginning to think I need to try it!
I thought the last paragraph of The Likeness was astounding writing. It really affected me! I’ve been wanting to know if anyone else was similarly affected. The whole book was excellent (and you’re right, better than In The Woods)–but after I read this last little bit, I was amazed at French’s writing.
Nymeth – I think you’d really enjoy Out. The detail into the characters is fantastic!
kimbofo – Exactly! Towards the end, I’d have to take stock of what I was thinking – rooting for the “bad” guys sort of thing 🙂
Andi – Oh I think you’d like it! Well, you are right, enjoy is a bit of a weird word when we talk about murder right? haha.
Judy – I had to go get my book to read that again and you are so right. It was so powerful. On the whole this ending was just so satisfying. I did like the ending to In The Woods although I had to sort of sit with that one for a while. I wasn’t too sure at first but then was won over. But this one, wow, just great. I really can’t wait to see what her next novel will be like.
I saw Likeness on the new book shelf yesterday, picked it up, and then went into the stacks to find In the Woods! That makes about 15 books in the stack labeled “eager, eager, eager to read!”
I’m so glad you enjoyed ‘The Likeness’ so much. I thought it was a more accomplished novel than ‘In the Woods’ and I find it really exciting when a writer seems to be on an upward curve. I can’t wait to see where she goes next.
jenclair – I know what you mean! I have quite a few books I want to get to NOW. I think I’m going to join in on the Read-a-thon this weekend and maybe I’ll make a dent in the pile 🙂
Ann (Table Talk) – The beginning I wasn’t quite sure if I was going to enjoy it because of the whole premise but I think it goes to show what a great writer she is that I thoroughly got into the story and put aside my doubts. I am really eager to read her next book!
I think I am Finally going to get to In the Woods as soon as I finish reading the mystery I am working on now!