This dark, suspense filled <b>3.5 Star</b> novel is a mainly thriller but has sci-fi and family drama elements.
<b>SUMMARY</b>
Evelyn is a award winning scientist who has created a technique for cloning humans. These clones are used as tools, mostly for experimental purposes in a laboratory setting, not to live among people and mix into society.
Career wise, Evelyn is at the top her game. She is highly respected, maybe even revered. But, her personal life is another story, it say it's in shambles is an understatement. He husband (also a scientist, but not of her caliber), not only left her for another woman, but he left her for a clone he secretly created of her! Only a "better" version of her. She's stuck because she cannot report him or tell anyone because it would ruin her reputation as a scientist and as a person. It all leaves her feeling very alone and isolated. And, she's not exactly a warm and fuzzy person anyway so she doesn't have many close friends to begin with. Her husband, Nathan, was really her best friend so now she is feeling beyond betrayed.
Evelyn has not exactly had an easy time in life. In addition to her recent troubles with her husband, her childhood was <i>troubled</i>. The book slowly introduces the reader to the undertone of a darkness or a danger in her childhood home. We don't learn the full extent of it until the very end but it explains why she was a guarded person.
Not long after Evelyn learns of Nathan's new <i>fiance</I>, Martine, she receives a call from Martine begging for her help and that's when things began to get complicated.
This book explores a lot of issues including abuse and sticky moral questions.
<b>WHAT I LOVED</b>
In general this is a well written, thought provoking novel with a unique premise and interesting characters.
The whole concept of clones creates a unique plot for this story. It creates its own set of moral issues and dilemmas. It was quite interesting and made me think about what constitutes a life.
I like that our heroine, Evelyn, is kind of prickly and cold. She is not a sweet wounded little woman we would typically see in this kind of story. I generally found her relatable but the way she ran through her assistants made me realize must be a nightmare to work with and the way she dealt with the clones she created brought up so many questions.
The plot itself had well thought out twists.
<b>WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE</b>
There were a few loose ends that were never tied up. I don't want to go into detail and ruin the plot but there are a couple of small details that would be huge issues.
I found it hard to believe that a woman as smart as Evelyn would have neglected to notice several potential issues. There were times when she overlooked something that was glaringly obvious and it caused problems foe her. I know she could be a bit of an <i>absent minded professor</i> but she was always complaining that Nathan was sloppy but she made some ill thought out decisions herself.
<b>OVERALL</b>
This book has a unique plot concept which leads to some deep questions. It turned out to be much more than just a thriller. Note: there are some triggers such as abuse, grooming and it can be pretty dark at times.
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Reviews with images
My worst fear regarding clones!!
"From that moment, I was the only one who knew what I truly was. I was the only one who knew what I had done.To be alone with that knowledge was the most dreadful thing I had ever felt."I finally read THE ECHO WIFE because it was voted as the October pick for the Wine & Crime Book Club. It had been on my Want to Read list ever since I first saw it reviewed by Angela on the Literature Science Alliance YouTube channel.This domestic thriller is about Evelyn Caldwell - we meet her as she is receiving a crowning achievement for the work she'd accomplished in the field of genetic engineering in regards to clones. The moment where Evelyn should be riding the waves of accolades - she's instead drowning in despair. Her life had recently become a shambles in the wake of discovering her husband had been cheating on her. What's worse is that her husband, Nathan, was cheating on her with an illegally made clone of Evelyn. What's even more worse - Nathan ends up dead and now it's up to Evelyn and her clone to handle the dilemma that his death presents.I have a confession to make. Clones, the idea of them - what they could do or be capable of - scares the stuffing out of me. My imagination just takes off. I had so many questions that I was hoping would be answered in some form by the end of the novel, but sadly were left open. I was interested in seeing what the author would come up with, but alas! I loved the constant fear that the clone, Martine, would be discovered and really wanted to know how Evelyn would handle the situation. So while I loved the idea behind the story, I felt a little let down in the execution of it - I wanted more involving the questions raised in regards to the clone research.The main characters we spend time with: Nathan, Martine, Evelyn and Seyed - I did empathize with Martine and her situation she found herself in as she had no say, but Seyed I was neutral on and the other two turkeys I downright did NOT like. Maybe that was the intent here. My personal opinion is this book was the a fictional representation of the long term effects of abuse, in the case of Evelyn Caldwell, child abuse. It sounds as though it was left untreated and while she functioned, she was never able to really form any type of meaningful relationships.I did enjoy the story, it's worth the read but not one that I could see myself rereading.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2022
To be alone with that knowledge was the most dreadful thing I had ever felt."
I finally read THE ECHO WIFE because it was voted as the October pick for the Wine & Crime Book Club. It had been on my Want to Read list ever since I first saw it reviewed by Angela on the Literature Science Alliance YouTube channel.
This domestic thriller is about Evelyn Caldwell - we meet her as she is receiving a crowning achievement for the work she'd accomplished in the field of genetic engineering in regards to clones. The moment where Evelyn should be riding the waves of accolades - she's instead drowning in despair. Her life had recently become a shambles in the wake of discovering her husband had been cheating on her. What's worse is that her husband, Nathan, was cheating on her with an illegally made clone of Evelyn. What's even more worse - Nathan ends up dead and now it's up to Evelyn and her clone to handle the dilemma that his death presents.
I have a confession to make. Clones, the idea of them - what they could do or be capable of - scares the stuffing out of me. My imagination just takes off. I had so many questions that I was hoping would be answered in some form by the end of the novel, but sadly were left open. I was interested in seeing what the author would come up with, but alas! I loved the constant fear that the clone, Martine, would be discovered and really wanted to know how Evelyn would handle the situation. So while I loved the idea behind the story, I felt a little let down in the execution of it - I wanted more involving the questions raised in regards to the clone research.
The main characters we spend time with: Nathan, Martine, Evelyn and Seyed - I did empathize with Martine and her situation she found herself in as she had no say, but Seyed I was neutral on and the other two turkeys I downright did NOT like. Maybe that was the intent here. My personal opinion is this book was the a fictional representation of the long term effects of abuse, in the case of Evelyn Caldwell, child abuse. It sounds as though it was left untreated and while she functioned, she was never able to really form any type of meaningful relationships.
I did enjoy the story, it's worth the read but not one that I could see myself rereading.
My worst fear regarding clones!!
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2022
"From that moment, I was the only one who knew what I truly was. I was the only one who knew what I had done.Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2022
To be alone with that knowledge was the most dreadful thing I had ever felt."
I finally read THE ECHO WIFE because it was voted as the October pick for the Wine & Crime Book Club. It had been on my Want to Read list ever since I first saw it reviewed by Angela on the Literature Science Alliance YouTube channel.
This domestic thriller is about Evelyn Caldwell - we meet her as she is receiving a crowning achievement for the work she'd accomplished in the field of genetic engineering in regards to clones. The moment where Evelyn should be riding the waves of accolades - she's instead drowning in despair. Her life had recently become a shambles in the wake of discovering her husband had been cheating on her. What's worse is that her husband, Nathan, was cheating on her with an illegally made clone of Evelyn. What's even more worse - Nathan ends up dead and now it's up to Evelyn and her clone to handle the dilemma that his death presents.
I have a confession to make. Clones, the idea of them - what they could do or be capable of - scares the stuffing out of me. My imagination just takes off. I had so many questions that I was hoping would be answered in some form by the end of the novel, but sadly were left open. I was interested in seeing what the author would come up with, but alas! I loved the constant fear that the clone, Martine, would be discovered and really wanted to know how Evelyn would handle the situation. So while I loved the idea behind the story, I felt a little let down in the execution of it - I wanted more involving the questions raised in regards to the clone research.
The main characters we spend time with: Nathan, Martine, Evelyn and Seyed - I did empathize with Martine and her situation she found herself in as she had no say, but Seyed I was neutral on and the other two turkeys I downright did NOT like. Maybe that was the intent here. My personal opinion is this book was the a fictional representation of the long term effects of abuse, in the case of Evelyn Caldwell, child abuse. It sounds as though it was left untreated and while she functioned, she was never able to really form any type of meaningful relationships.
I did enjoy the story, it's worth the read but not one that I could see myself rereading.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
PrideOfNottingham
Well written, chilling and thought provoking
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2023
