Entertaining and enjoyable mystery suspense with some feel good romance at the end.I questioned some of Avery’s actions, but I’m not sure what I would have done differently.You need to suspend disbelief that the husband would not sense differences in his wife: her walk, talk, mannerisms, body parts, and scars. Especially since Avery had not studied Carole’s talk and mannerisms. The weakest part was probably the main bad guy. I cannot imagine any person planning, waiting, and doing what he did. But again if you can suspend disbelief, it makes a good story. It’s good because it’s different and not predictable. It’s not the same kinds of good guys and bad guys that so many other books have.One set of events felt contrived. The hotel operator wouldn’t put through calls to Avery that she wanted to get. And, Irish didn’t tell his assistants that he wanted to take all calls from Avery and Van. And then during a critical time, Irish put himself in places where he couldn’t be reached. If they had cell phones it wouldn’t be a problem. But this book was written before cell phones were common.I don’t know why a killer shot a certain person at the end. I wish the author was clearer about that.Some readers felt the book was too long. I didn’t notice that, probably because I did this as an audiobook. I’m fine with long audiobooks.STORY IDEA FOR OTHER AUTHORS - A STUPID SECONDARY CHARACTER THAT I’D LIKE TO SEE AS A HEROINE:At first, I did not like Francine. But later I was hoping she would uncover something. When that didn’t happen, I realized I’d like to read a story about someone like her. Here she is a minor character. She’s flawed and does stupid things, but her stupidity could be entertaining. Her mother was an alcoholic and never gave enough love and support to Francine. Francine picks up guys in bars and sleeps with almost anyone. She is currently obsessed with Eddie, a cold and remote guy 20 years older. He wants nothing to do with her and insults her. She has no shame and throws herself at him, sneaking into his bedroom and suggestively touching herself and him, wanting sex. One day she bribes a hotel maid to let her in. When he walks in, she says Boo. When he does have sex with her he is rough leaving injuries. She doesn’t seem to mind, probably thinks she deserves it since she was never properly loved by her parents. She searches through Eddie’s things because she is nosy. He can’t get rid of her. He throws her out one day and she’s back and rubbing against him the next. I’d like to see a story where he is keeping secrets, and she finds incriminating evidence about him and doesn’t plan to turn him in but ends up causing him all kinds of trouble, even though she never intends to.In this book, Avery is understanding and kind to Francine which surprises and unsettles Francine. No one has ever treated her that way, but she hesitantly goes along with things Avery suggests. Then she messes up, but then she makes good. One scene made me laugh. While everyone is in a hotel waiting for the next event. Francine is coloring with her 3-year-old-cousin. It surprised me, yet it fit. Here’s this slutty 20-year-old with the emotional maturity of a toddler, doing something a toddler would do - coloring. I don’t remember Francine’s exact age - something over 18.NARRATOR:The narrator Dick Hill was good in this book. Very different from his reading Slow Heat in Heaven. I did not like his interpretations in that book.DATA:Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 14 hrs and 51 mins. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words, but rarely used. Sexual language: moderate, but not often used. Number of sex scenes: about 9, short with not much detail. Setting: 1990 Texas. Book copyright: 1990. Genre: mystery suspense with some romance.
Overall, I loved this story and the main plot. Mistaken identity made in a plan crash and the crash victim (Avery) undergoes reconstructive surgery and ends up taking someone else's identity. Before she can reveal her identity, she finds that the woman's husband (Tate), a senatorial candidiate is an assasination target. His wife (Carol, her new identity) was in on it. During her recovery, Tate is there daily, giving her encouragement and Avery finds Tate as the center of her world. He's very caring and respectful, but not affectionate toward the woman whom he thinks is his wife.Carol was not a nice person and was horrible to her Tate and their daughter Mandy and Mandy shows signs of emotional abuse from her mother and from the crash. That part is heartbreaking and when Avery decided to assume the identity of Carol to save Tate, she takes on the responsiblity of helping the troubled child, which is very touching.Tate is very skeptical of Carol's (Avery's) intentions and is downright rotten to her (but with Carol's past actions, it's warranted). He knows there's something different and finds himself falling for her, but keeps resisting because of Carol's horrible past actions. The way that Avery is treated is downright cruel at times and while she understands it's Carol, it's tough to hear at times. There's an attraction between Avery and Tate, but Tate's confused by it and often thinks it might be just physical and acts accordingly, which is also difficult to read. (listen)I saw a few comparisons in the reviews, to the characters in the show Dallas and I have to say, it's spot on. Actually, if you visualize those characters, it's funny to see how the story takes shape in your head. In the book, they actually visit South Fork ranch.....so there is a connection.I listened to the audioversion by Dick Hill and he did a stellar job telling this story. He does a great job portraying those with a Southern accent. The only thing that I had trouble with was motive behind the murder plot. It just seemed so far fetched and so out in left field that it just wasn't believable. Aside from the motive, I really enjoyed the book and it held my interest and enough so that I went through several passages again. Overall, I would recommend it.
What do You think about Mirror Image (1990)?
Me gustan esos libros que me hacen equivocarme en todas las hipótesis que me formulo a lo largo de la historia. La trama puede parecer para algunos poco creíble. Una mujer que tras un accidente aéreo sufre una transformación física a causa de una cirugía, lo cual la lleva a usurpar el lugar de otra. Sin embargo, en mi caso no llego a incomodarme y logro engancharme. ¿Por qué? Creo que una de las razones fue Tate Rutledge y su tormentosa relación con la mujer que cree su esposa. Me mantuve tejiendo hipótesis sobre como Tate descubriría la verdadera identidad de Avery y al menos me acerque un poco a lo que sucedió. Por otro lado, el gran misterio de la historia es ¿Quién quiere asesinarlo? Como dije, me gusta que me sorprendan y este libro increíblemente lo logro. Además, la relación entre Tate y Avery me la disfrute desde su primer encuentro. Nunca deje de preguntarme como hubiera actuado de haberme sucedido algo parecido.
—Marielis
This is one of the most amazing books I have read in a very long time. Avery Daniels is a has-been television reporter on her way to cover a story in Dallas when her plan crashes almost immediately after take-off. Also on the plane are Carole Rutledge and her 3 yr old daughter Mandy. Carole's husband, Tate, is running for the senate seat in Texas.Avery manages to evacuate the burning plane with Mandy in tow and is mistakenly identified as Carole Rutledge. Unable to immediately communicate and tell everyone she's not who they think she is Avery is forced to take on the roll of Carole Rutledge in order to save her own life, the life of Tate Rutledge and help Mandy recover from the horrifying plane crash. This book has it all: action, romance, suspense and mystery, aggravation at certain characters' behavior, sympathy...you name it.And to beat it all, I had no clue who was behind the threats made against Tate; I never saw "that" coming nor the reasons behind the character's actions.This is definitely a book I will probably check out again!
—Stacey
I didn't expect this book to be stellar, but I also didn't expect it to be so terrible given that so many people have rated it five stars. The plot was so implausible that it was hard to become immersed in the story. Avery is a completely unethical, pathetic, disgusting human being. She, a stranger, inserted herself into a family's life in order to get a good scoop (which no paper would run for fear of a massive lawsuit) and to stay close to a man she decides she loves after a couples of weeks of one-sided interactions with him. She then moves into his family's home and spends a lot of time alone with his three year old child. Extremely creepy.Tons of plot holes. Why did the plastic surgeon not notice how Avery's teeth differed from Carole's dental records? How did he not notice that Avery's bone structure differed from Carole's photographs? The reveal of who was behind the murder plot was also beyond belief.At least the purple prose of the sex scenes was amusing. Nubbin. ugh.
—Stephanie R
