What do you think?
Rate this book
In Another Light
“A riveting psychological thriller…[will] keep you guessing till the very end.” —Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author
The death of a look-alike stranger leads a grieving woman down a troubling path in this riveting novel by A. J. Banner, bestselling author of The Poison Garden.
Three years ago mortuary cosmetologist Phoebe Glassman lost her husband in a tragic accident. No longer the hopeful wife and mother she once was, Phoebe is disappearing into her grief and into the quietude of her job—restoring to the dead the illusion of life. Then the body of a woman named Pauline Steele arrives in the mortuary, and for Phoebe, everything changes.
Pauline is unmistakably Phoebe’s mirror image and bears an alarmingly familiar tattoo. Even more startling is that among Pauline’s effects is a faded photograph of Phoebe. Aided by an eccentric colleague, her curiosity sparked, Phoebe investigates her doppelgänger’s life and death—and uncovers surprising clues to a shared past.
Phoebe’s emotional journey soon leads to shocking revelations about those closest to her…and even herself. When she’s driven to the brink, how much of what she discovers can she trust?
The death of a look-alike stranger leads a grieving woman down a troubling path in this riveting novel by A. J. Banner, bestselling author of The Poison Garden.
Three years ago mortuary cosmetologist Phoebe Glassman lost her husband in a tragic accident. No longer the hopeful wife and mother she once was, Phoebe is disappearing into her grief and into the quietude of her job—restoring to the dead the illusion of life. Then the body of a woman named Pauline Steele arrives in the mortuary, and for Phoebe, everything changes.
Pauline is unmistakably Phoebe’s mirror image and bears an alarmingly familiar tattoo. Even more startling is that among Pauline’s effects is a faded photograph of Phoebe. Aided by an eccentric colleague, her curiosity sparked, Phoebe investigates her doppelgänger’s life and death—and uncovers surprising clues to a shared past.
Phoebe’s emotional journey soon leads to shocking revelations about those closest to her…and even herself. When she’s driven to the brink, how much of what she discovers can she trust?
239 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 2021
371 people are currently reading
6303 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Banner
8 books1,075 followersA. J. Banner is the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and #1 Kindle bestselling author of six novels of psychological suspense. She grew up reading Agatha Christie, Daphne du Maurier, and other masters of love and mystery. She always dreamed of writing gripping stories in which nothing is what it seems. She's hard at work on her next novel in her home office overlooking a Pacific Northwest forest.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 590 reviews
June 10, 2021
Phoebe Glassman works at Fair Winds Funeral Home.
The new brochure reads:
Ms. Glassman is an expert at styling and cosmetology. Educated at the University of Washington, she is a former artist and sculptor. She will beautify your loved one...
Phoebe approves the brochure with some pause... her photo is four years old, from happier days and she is still an artist. She used to take better care of herself. That was before, now she is only a ghost of herself as she works on those who live only in the memory of their loved ones.
An unusal transfer comes in from the coroner's office and she is warned, "This one might freak you out." She says she can handle it.
Phoebe is a character that touched my heart. She popped to life right off the pages and I wanted to whisper to her that everything would be okay, she was strong enough, things would get better! The author does a picture perfect job bringing her to life.
The plot thickens....
Such a page-turner, the pacing on point, thoughtful and engaging with numerous layers and twists and a had to finish it ending that pulls everything together in a satisfying way.
Recommend to those who love domestic suspense filled with emotion and plenty of second guessing. Genre is Adult Fiction.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy! OUT on October 5, 2021
The new brochure reads:
Ms. Glassman is an expert at styling and cosmetology. Educated at the University of Washington, she is a former artist and sculptor. She will beautify your loved one...
Phoebe approves the brochure with some pause... her photo is four years old, from happier days and she is still an artist. She used to take better care of herself. That was before, now she is only a ghost of herself as she works on those who live only in the memory of their loved ones.
An unusal transfer comes in from the coroner's office and she is warned, "This one might freak you out." She says she can handle it.
Phoebe is a character that touched my heart. She popped to life right off the pages and I wanted to whisper to her that everything would be okay, she was strong enough, things would get better! The author does a picture perfect job bringing her to life.
The plot thickens....
Such a page-turner, the pacing on point, thoughtful and engaging with numerous layers and twists and a had to finish it ending that pulls everything together in a satisfying way.
Recommend to those who love domestic suspense filled with emotion and plenty of second guessing. Genre is Adult Fiction.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy! OUT on October 5, 2021
September 9, 2021
Phoebe Glassman, a mortuary cosmetologist, is still reeling from the tragic deaths of her husband and daughter. I can't imagine working in a funeral home help matters any. Neither does having a dead woman brought in who is her doppelganger. That would freak me out. Phoebe is warned that it might freak her out as well. What it does is light a fire under her to learn more about this woman and her connection to her own life.
The plot as they say, begins to thicken. It sucked me in with the emotional aspects of this book.
What would you do when your look alike shows up in the funeral home where you work? That's a HUGE question. Phoebe must know all that she can and those in her life begin to worry even more than they already did about her. Poor Phoebe has a sad existence. You will either root for her or have difficulty connecting with her. I felt for Phoebe and yet had difficulty connecting with her as well.
This was a fast read. I wanted to know what Phoebe would learn. I wanted to know more about what her mother might divulge, what secrets and painful truths are lingering just below the surface? What family secrets are being kept hidden away? What will Phoebe learn about the dead woman?
I found this book to be enjoyable and hard to put down. Having said that, although I was compelled to keep reading, this book failed to completely "wow" me. It was good but there was something lacking here to make it great for me. Others are enjoyed this book more than I did so please read their reviews as well.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
The plot as they say, begins to thicken. It sucked me in with the emotional aspects of this book.
What would you do when your look alike shows up in the funeral home where you work? That's a HUGE question. Phoebe must know all that she can and those in her life begin to worry even more than they already did about her. Poor Phoebe has a sad existence. You will either root for her or have difficulty connecting with her. I felt for Phoebe and yet had difficulty connecting with her as well.
This was a fast read. I wanted to know what Phoebe would learn. I wanted to know more about what her mother might divulge, what secrets and painful truths are lingering just below the surface? What family secrets are being kept hidden away? What will Phoebe learn about the dead woman?
I found this book to be enjoyable and hard to put down. Having said that, although I was compelled to keep reading, this book failed to completely "wow" me. It was good but there was something lacking here to make it great for me. Others are enjoyed this book more than I did so please read their reviews as well.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
October 8, 2021
In a Nutshell: Read this as a psychological drama and not as a thriller. Then you’ll like it better.
Story:
What I liked about the book:
✔ The author’s writing skills in terms of language are pretty good.
✔ Phoebe’s mental struggles are nicely depicted. The way the book highlights mental health after grief was surprisingly well-written.
✔ This is a decently quick read if you know what to expect. It was good but not always “unputdownable”.
✔ Many chapters end on a minor cliff-hanger. So if you're the kind who thinks "I'll go to sleep after this chapter", not gonna happen every time! Pick your ‘keep-aside’ point wisely.
✔ The cover is gorgeous! 👀
What I found ‘okayish’:
❌ It starts off very well. After all, if you were working in a mortuary and found a dead body who was your doppelganger, wouldn’t you be intrigued? But very soon, things become unnecessarily convoluted and illogical. While the ending was a little bit of a surprise, it didn’t cause me to open my eyes wide and go “Wow”. All I could manage was a “Huh” and a shrug.
❌ You could label this book as having an unreliable narrator. But honestly, that label works only if you believe the narrator and later find that they were mistaken/misleading. In this case, anyone with enough common sense could see that Phoebe was going down the wrong path. Except for the ending, everything else just went down the predictable, formulaic track.
❌ There are way too many coincidences for the plot to be enjoyable.
❌ For a supposed psychological thriller, the thrills are quite meagre in the first half. The real action begins only after 50% but by then, logic goes for a toss. The book didn’t keep me wanting more.
Overall, I guess this book would better suit novice thriller readers because it does spring a few surprises that are otherwise predictable for thriller buffs. Also, it would be better to read this as a psychological drama than a thriller because your expectations would match what the book delivers. I was under the impression that this was a thriller (The quote by Lisa Gardner that is right at the start of the Goodreads blurb is to be blamed for this.) So I ended up slightly disappointed. I don’t regret this read much, but it would be a strict one-time read for me, and definitely not a must-read.
3 stars from me.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Story:
Phoebe, who used to be warm and friendly and outgoing a few years back, is now just a shell of her former self. After losing her husband in an accident three years ago, she is merely existing, not living. However, her work as a cosmetic mortician leads her to a surprise: the latest corpse is a dead ringer for Phoebe herself, though she’s a complete stranger. Phoebe starts digging in the available information and soon finds that there are many clues that point at a shared past. Where will this dead newcomer lead Phoebe? Is her picture of her happy past going to be shattered?
What I liked about the book:
✔ The author’s writing skills in terms of language are pretty good.
✔ Phoebe’s mental struggles are nicely depicted. The way the book highlights mental health after grief was surprisingly well-written.
✔ This is a decently quick read if you know what to expect. It was good but not always “unputdownable”.
✔ Many chapters end on a minor cliff-hanger. So if you're the kind who thinks "I'll go to sleep after this chapter", not gonna happen every time! Pick your ‘keep-aside’ point wisely.
✔ The cover is gorgeous! 👀
What I found ‘okayish’:
❌ It starts off very well. After all, if you were working in a mortuary and found a dead body who was your doppelganger, wouldn’t you be intrigued? But very soon, things become unnecessarily convoluted and illogical. While the ending was a little bit of a surprise, it didn’t cause me to open my eyes wide and go “Wow”. All I could manage was a “Huh” and a shrug.
❌ You could label this book as having an unreliable narrator. But honestly, that label works only if you believe the narrator and later find that they were mistaken/misleading. In this case, anyone with enough common sense could see that Phoebe was going down the wrong path. Except for the ending, everything else just went down the predictable, formulaic track.
❌ There are way too many coincidences for the plot to be enjoyable.
❌ For a supposed psychological thriller, the thrills are quite meagre in the first half. The real action begins only after 50% but by then, logic goes for a toss. The book didn’t keep me wanting more.
Overall, I guess this book would better suit novice thriller readers because it does spring a few surprises that are otherwise predictable for thriller buffs. Also, it would be better to read this as a psychological drama than a thriller because your expectations would match what the book delivers. I was under the impression that this was a thriller (The quote by Lisa Gardner that is right at the start of the Goodreads blurb is to be blamed for this.) So I ended up slightly disappointed. I don’t regret this read much, but it would be a strict one-time read for me, and definitely not a must-read.
3 stars from me.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
July 9, 2022
What first drew me to this book was protagonist Phoebe Glassman's job as a mortuary cosmetologist, someone who makes the decedent (a new word for me!) look how they did in life. That's something I could NOT do, but I find it fascinating. The funeral home where Phoebe works specializes in "green burials," the eco-friendly alternative to traditional cemeteries, which is something else I'd recently discovered. Again, fascinating!
When the body of a woman looking exactly like Phoebe arrives at the mortuary, she ends up down a rabbit hole investigating this identical stranger's past. This book is also about the heavy burden of her grief from losing her husband and daughter a few years earlier. IN ANOTHER LIGHT is a suspenseful mystery and journey of coming to terms with the past. It's a very quick, engrossing, and emotional read. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When the body of a woman looking exactly like Phoebe arrives at the mortuary, she ends up down a rabbit hole investigating this identical stranger's past. This book is also about the heavy burden of her grief from losing her husband and daughter a few years earlier. IN ANOTHER LIGHT is a suspenseful mystery and journey of coming to terms with the past. It's a very quick, engrossing, and emotional read. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2022
Phoebe Glassman, a mortuary cosmetologist, lost her husband and young daughter in a horrific car accident 3 years ago and is still having difficulty coming to terms with her loss. One day the body of a woman named Pauline Steele, Phoebe's mirror image, arrives in the mortuary and starts Phoebe on a journey that takes her to the edge.
This book moved at a nice pace with many surprises and a sense of foreboding throughout although I wouldn't classify it as a thriller, more of a psychological or domestic suspense. There were times when I was questioning what was real and what was imagination. The characters were relatable and the ending was very satisfying to me. All in all, an enjoyable read. I'd definitely read another book by this author.
I'm now heading into my November Netgalley reads! Woo Hoo!
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. Publication Date: October 5, 2021.
This book moved at a nice pace with many surprises and a sense of foreboding throughout although I wouldn't classify it as a thriller, more of a psychological or domestic suspense. There were times when I was questioning what was real and what was imagination. The characters were relatable and the ending was very satisfying to me. All in all, an enjoyable read. I'd definitely read another book by this author.
I'm now heading into my November Netgalley reads! Woo Hoo!
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. Publication Date: October 5, 2021.
July 9, 2021
Books about doppelgangers have always intrigued me. Imagine that there is a mirror image of you out there and you’re both living your lives, unaware of one another ... it’s almost like a parallel universe in which anything is possible. And yet nothing good can ever come out of being confronted with a body that bears an uncanny resemblance to yourself, especially when there are so many questions that now cannot be answered.
Artist and sculptor Phoebe Glassman works in a mortuary where she restores the faces of the dead to make them presentable for viewing by their loved ones (gruesome, yes, but someone’s got to do it, and Phoebe is excellent in her job). She is shocked when a young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Phoebe ends up on the mortuary table, especially once Phoebe realises that she recognises the woman’s tattoo from a photo she once saw on her husband’s phone. From here follows a quest that will not only reveal some of Phoebe’s tragic history, but will also send her on a quest that may very well be her undoing ...
IN ANOTHER LIGHT was a story very much driven by emotion, which added a depth often missing in other mysteries. In fact, the mystery element here was firmly rooted in Phoebe’s own past rather than the death of her doppelganger. There was something particularly heartbreaking about the image of a woman not only restoring the faces of the dead, but constructing a very unique piece of artwork every year on the anniversary of a loved one (I am treading very carefully here so I don’t give too much away, so don’t worry if it doesn’t make much sense – it will, once you read it).
In fact, “heartbreaking” was one of the main themes of this novel for me, besides the fact that I was almost as invested as Phoebe herself in solving the mystery of the young woman’s identity, especially when the stakes started to become very high indeed. Emotions drove me to read this book almost in a single sitting, and though the ending wasn’t what I had expected it was a satisfying tying up of threads with a couple of surprise elements.
IN ANOTHER LIGHT will appeal to readers who enjoy character and emotion driven mysteries unveiling family secrets and past trauma. Phoebe was a well-rounded, sympathetic character perfect for driving this type of story, and the events will tug on even the most hardened reader’s heartstrings. I loved it and can’t wait to read more from this author in future.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
Artist and sculptor Phoebe Glassman works in a mortuary where she restores the faces of the dead to make them presentable for viewing by their loved ones (gruesome, yes, but someone’s got to do it, and Phoebe is excellent in her job). She is shocked when a young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Phoebe ends up on the mortuary table, especially once Phoebe realises that she recognises the woman’s tattoo from a photo she once saw on her husband’s phone. From here follows a quest that will not only reveal some of Phoebe’s tragic history, but will also send her on a quest that may very well be her undoing ...
IN ANOTHER LIGHT was a story very much driven by emotion, which added a depth often missing in other mysteries. In fact, the mystery element here was firmly rooted in Phoebe’s own past rather than the death of her doppelganger. There was something particularly heartbreaking about the image of a woman not only restoring the faces of the dead, but constructing a very unique piece of artwork every year on the anniversary of a loved one (I am treading very carefully here so I don’t give too much away, so don’t worry if it doesn’t make much sense – it will, once you read it).
In fact, “heartbreaking” was one of the main themes of this novel for me, besides the fact that I was almost as invested as Phoebe herself in solving the mystery of the young woman’s identity, especially when the stakes started to become very high indeed. Emotions drove me to read this book almost in a single sitting, and though the ending wasn’t what I had expected it was a satisfying tying up of threads with a couple of surprise elements.
IN ANOTHER LIGHT will appeal to readers who enjoy character and emotion driven mysteries unveiling family secrets and past trauma. Phoebe was a well-rounded, sympathetic character perfect for driving this type of story, and the events will tug on even the most hardened reader’s heartstrings. I loved it and can’t wait to read more from this author in future.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
November 29, 2021
In Another Light by A.J. Banner is a family drama, a mystery and a psychological thriller all rolled into one. Phoebe is a mortuary cosmetologist who finds her work to be just what she needs: three years ago, her family was killed in an accident. She is living a quiet life while trying to get through the days. Until a body is brought to her mortuary and the woman looks just like Phoebe. She has a tattoo that she has seen before and she finds a photograph of herself in the deceased’s personal effects. What is going on? The rest you must read for yourself. This is a book with a storyline that cannot be anticipated. Phoebe’s search for explanations will take her to more confusion than answers. And nothing will be as it seems. The plot is like a maze that takes the reader along for quite a ride. There is nothing predictable here and I really enjoyed following the clues even if I was unable to guess the outcome. This mystery will stay with readers for a long time. Well done, Ms. Banner. Highly recommended. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2021
In Another Light by AJ Banner is the kind of book where you'll find yourself awake at 2am furiously flipping pages just to finish and see what happens. No? Just me? It's a quick read both in terms of plot pacing and actual length, and right from the beginning Banner crafts a character you can't help but sympathize with in Phoebe. Your heart will break for her, not just because of the tragedy of her losing her husband and toddler in a car accident years ago, but also because as she digs deeper into her husband's past, perhaps things are even more tragic and full of deceit than she ever could have imagined.
In a stroke of bad luck for this author, I got the ARC of this book at the same time The Likeness by Tana French became available off of my hold list at the library. Why is this bad luck you might ask? Because both books open with a female protagonist being confronted by the dead body of her doppelganger, and then follow her down the rabbit hole of investigating this strange occurrence. Now, had I not already been hyper-aware of the direct comparisons to another (I'm sorry to say better) book, I may not have been so attuned to the fact that many of the other twists were nearly exactly the same as some other popular books and movies in the genre (I will not say which to avoid spoilers), but alas...
I will say this was a page turning and a gripping read. For readers who are new to the genre and not as familiar with some of the more common recent twists/tropes, I think this would be full of surprises and a lot of fun. I'm not really sure how I feel about the last 10% of the book and think it may have actually been stronger if it ended sooner, but I'm also a notorious ending-hater. It somehow felt like both too much information and not enough resolution all at the same time. There were loose ends I wanted tied up that weren't, and others tied into a too pretty of a bow in ways that didn't really work for me. Based on some of the other reviews I've seen, a lot of people really liked the ending though, so I hope other readers will enjoy it as well.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this fun book in exchange for an honest review.
In a stroke of bad luck for this author, I got the ARC of this book at the same time The Likeness by Tana French became available off of my hold list at the library. Why is this bad luck you might ask? Because both books open with a female protagonist being confronted by the dead body of her doppelganger, and then follow her down the rabbit hole of investigating this strange occurrence. Now, had I not already been hyper-aware of the direct comparisons to another (I'm sorry to say better) book, I may not have been so attuned to the fact that many of the other twists were nearly exactly the same as some other popular books and movies in the genre (I will not say which to avoid spoilers), but alas...
I will say this was a page turning and a gripping read. For readers who are new to the genre and not as familiar with some of the more common recent twists/tropes, I think this would be full of surprises and a lot of fun. I'm not really sure how I feel about the last 10% of the book and think it may have actually been stronger if it ended sooner, but I'm also a notorious ending-hater. It somehow felt like both too much information and not enough resolution all at the same time. There were loose ends I wanted tied up that weren't, and others tied into a too pretty of a bow in ways that didn't really work for me. Based on some of the other reviews I've seen, a lot of people really liked the ending though, so I hope other readers will enjoy it as well.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this fun book in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2021
Phoebe Glassman's life has been on hold for three years, ever since her husband Logan died in a car accident. Phoebe continues to work at the funeral home they co-owned, where she restores dead bodies. Then one day a deceased woman comes in who bares a startling resemblance to Phoebe. Her name is Pauline Steele, and she has a tattoo that Phoebe finds familiar: she once saw it on her late husband's phone. As she investigates further, Phoebe finds a photo of herself in Pauline's belongings, and her world stops. Who is this woman--what is her tie to Phoebe, and to Logan?
"She prefers to remain in limbo, to act as if she too, has died. She walks the earth, but she might as well be a phantom flitting through her life unnoticed, disturbing the air but barely registering her presence."
This excellent read is not quite what I expected--at times it's more emotional and character driven than pure thriller, but it does not matter: it's quite good. I tore through it, and I'm quickly realizing that I really enjoy A.J. Banner's books. They are reliable page turners and typically quite mesmerizing.
IN ANOTHER LIGHT kept me guessing from the beginning. Is Phoebe crazy from grief and simply obsessed with this lookalike woman? Or is there more to it--as she delves into Pauline's life, we truly wonder if we can trust Phoebe, yet you cannot help but root for this broken and grief struck woman. While she does not always make the best decisions, she's a fascinating character. The book balances touching moments with mysterious ones, and there are plenty of twists along the way. I appreciated Banner's deft touch and something different from the usual thriller. 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing in return for an unbiased review.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Smashbomb ~ Instagram
"She prefers to remain in limbo, to act as if she too, has died. She walks the earth, but she might as well be a phantom flitting through her life unnoticed, disturbing the air but barely registering her presence."
This excellent read is not quite what I expected--at times it's more emotional and character driven than pure thriller, but it does not matter: it's quite good. I tore through it, and I'm quickly realizing that I really enjoy A.J. Banner's books. They are reliable page turners and typically quite mesmerizing.
IN ANOTHER LIGHT kept me guessing from the beginning. Is Phoebe crazy from grief and simply obsessed with this lookalike woman? Or is there more to it--as she delves into Pauline's life, we truly wonder if we can trust Phoebe, yet you cannot help but root for this broken and grief struck woman. While she does not always make the best decisions, she's a fascinating character. The book balances touching moments with mysterious ones, and there are plenty of twists along the way. I appreciated Banner's deft touch and something different from the usual thriller. 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing in return for an unbiased review.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Smashbomb ~ Instagram
November 26, 2021
Being a mortuary cosmetologist is not a job I would ever want. Yet, this is the job that Phoebe Glassman does. Phoebe has had a very difficult time for a number reasons having lost her husband and her young daughter in a horrific car accident. Having the job, she does, where she is reminded of death on a daily basis, she is beyond appalled when a young woman is brought in who looks exactly like herself. Imagine what turmoil erupted in her mind, especially when her boss tried to hide this death from her. It doesn't take much for Phoebe to spin out of control, putting her mental state in a condition from which it might never recover.
The dead girl, Pauline Steele, sparks remembrances in Phoebe's mind especially when she sees a tattoo on Pauline that Phoebe's late husband had on his phone. This sends Phoebe on a hunt to find out exactly what all of this means. Along with this, we learn of Phoebe's mental state which understandably is unstable, and leads her to many conclusions which place her closer to a mental breakdown.
The book was written to keep one guessing, but it had many convoluted scenes and experiences so that it became difficult to follow it all as Phoebe descends down a rabbit hole of sadness, misery, and hard decisions. It was an easy read, but one that the reader needed to suspend judgmental calls on its authenticity.
Thank you to A.J. Banner, Lake Union Press, and Netgalley for a copy of this story.
The dead girl, Pauline Steele, sparks remembrances in Phoebe's mind especially when she sees a tattoo on Pauline that Phoebe's late husband had on his phone. This sends Phoebe on a hunt to find out exactly what all of this means. Along with this, we learn of Phoebe's mental state which understandably is unstable, and leads her to many conclusions which place her closer to a mental breakdown.
The book was written to keep one guessing, but it had many convoluted scenes and experiences so that it became difficult to follow it all as Phoebe descends down a rabbit hole of sadness, misery, and hard decisions. It was an easy read, but one that the reader needed to suspend judgmental calls on its authenticity.
Thank you to A.J. Banner, Lake Union Press, and Netgalley for a copy of this story.
October 15, 2021
Double trouble!
Phoebe Glassman works as mortuary cosmetologist. When Pauline Steele is brought in to be cremated, she questions everything she knows to be true. You see, Pauline is her doppelgänger and has a photograph of Phoebe in her purse! She recognizes her distinct tattoo and thinks she was having an affair with her husband, Logan. She recently found a photo of the same tattoo on his phone! However, Phoebe can’t confront Logan because he died in a tragic accident. She is determined to figure out the mystery woman’s connection to her family at all costs.
I am always drawn to A.J. Banner’s books because her premises are unique and very fast reads (all are under 300 pages!). The fast-paced writing and short chapters had me quickly turning the pages. She successfully casts doubts on many characters and has you questioning everything. Phoebe is a good amateur sleuth, but the clues are obvious if you read a lot of thrillers. While I was invested in the plot, I did figure out most of the twists before she did. The romance also felt slightly forced and unnecessary. Finally, I was left with several lingering questions at the end and wish that all of the plot holes were explained.
All that being said, I will most likely read more of Banner’s thrillers. I just can’t resist!
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Phoebe Glassman works as mortuary cosmetologist. When Pauline Steele is brought in to be cremated, she questions everything she knows to be true. You see, Pauline is her doppelgänger and has a photograph of Phoebe in her purse! She recognizes her distinct tattoo and thinks she was having an affair with her husband, Logan. She recently found a photo of the same tattoo on his phone! However, Phoebe can’t confront Logan because he died in a tragic accident. She is determined to figure out the mystery woman’s connection to her family at all costs.
I am always drawn to A.J. Banner’s books because her premises are unique and very fast reads (all are under 300 pages!). The fast-paced writing and short chapters had me quickly turning the pages. She successfully casts doubts on many characters and has you questioning everything. Phoebe is a good amateur sleuth, but the clues are obvious if you read a lot of thrillers. While I was invested in the plot, I did figure out most of the twists before she did. The romance also felt slightly forced and unnecessary. Finally, I was left with several lingering questions at the end and wish that all of the plot holes were explained.
All that being said, I will most likely read more of Banner’s thrillers. I just can’t resist!
3.5/5 stars rounded down
May 27, 2021
A masterful depiction of skewed perceptions wrapped in a pulse-pounding, compulsively readable mystery. This one kept me up late because I didn’t want to stop reading.
May 6, 2023
Atmospheric, heart-rendering, gripping!
LOVE THIS AUTHOR AND BOOK! Talented storyteller and favorite author A. J. Banner returns following The Poison Garden with her latest compelling hit; a raw, visceral, and emotional multi-layered spellbinding tale of suspense, IN ANOTHER LIGHT.
A grieving woman takes a mysterious psychological journey as she uncovers secrets, lies, and betrayal in her quest for the truth about her past.
A massive fan of the author for many years, I am always in awe of her talent and mesmerizing writing. When you start an A.J. Banner book, you are assured to be immersed, pulling you into the setting with vivid descriptions and characters that come alive on the page. Unputdownable.
Set in a fictional coastal town (Bayport, WA) —we meet Phoebe Glassman. She has not been herself for some time. At one point, she was a carefree wife and mother. However, now she resides in isolation. A recluse buried in her grief and guilt.
After a car accident three years earlier, she is grieving her two-year-old daughter, Ava, and her husband, Logan.
Phoebe is a mortuary cosmetologist at Fair Winds funeral home, her husband’s business with his partner. For the patients on Phoebe’s table, there will be no recovery, no waking up which feels like her own grief weighing her down.
Her husband had many secrets, and he was always restless. However, she had no clue how many secrets and lies, until her lookalike- a younger version of herself in the form of a corpse, showed up on her mortuary table with shocking evidence.
A butterfly tattoo. The same one Phoebe recalled seeing on her husband’s phone. In addition, she also finds a small photo in her purse of herself taken years earlier.
In her intense quest for answers, Phoebe begins an extensive emotional search for the truth. She learns the woman’s name was Pauline Steele, and there was a suicidal drug overdose. The woman was in her early thirties, younger than Phoebe, who is forty-three.
What was she doing in this town? Was she looking for her or something more sinister?
What happens next is an intricate web of lies and deceit that takes Phobe down a deep rabbit hole. She is unsure she will like the answers, but she is obsessed with this mystery. She must learn the truth.
What is reality, and what is the truth? Who can she trust?
Does anyone believe her, or will everyone think she is crazy? She must step out of her comfort zone to find the truth. Was her husband living another secret life? Is her family really dead, or is this some conspiracy? What else was her husband hiding, and what does this woman have to do with her life?
In her sleuthing, uncovers a girl that looks like her Ava with a nanny. Could it be her daughter? If so, what has her husband done, and what does Pauline have to do with their life?
Sharply written and psychologically rich, Banner skillfully keeps readers on edge, gripped to the pages with her twisty plot, keeping you guessing- what is factual or speculation? Trust me; you will not see this twist coming.
I am a big fan of the author, having read all her books -this is one of my favorites. A tantalizing mystery and a protagonist you will root for from beginning to end.
Anything revolving around a mortuary is always eerie, creepy, and mysterious. However, the secret behind the corpse, the husband’s weird behavior, his disappearances, and the mysterious pull of the little girl added to the intensity and intrigue.
IN ANOTHER LIGHT will captivate, surprise, and satisfy you with its action-packed suspense. Rich in character and plot, fans of Lisa Gardner’s Frankie Elkin series Before She Disappeared will devour this one. Highly recommend and top books of 2021. I really enjoyed the ending and the character, Mike.
A.J: You should open an antique store, but you must never stop writing! I anxiously await the next.
Check out my fun #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A with A.J. Banner where we will go behind the scenes of the book and the author. Plus, all the fun updates about her love of vintage typewriters and more!
Blog Review:
#JDCMustReadBooks
@JudithDCollins
Pub Day: 10/05/2021
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to #LakeUnion and #Netgalley for an advanced reading copy and this beautiful autographed paperback!
LOVE THIS AUTHOR AND BOOK! Talented storyteller and favorite author A. J. Banner returns following The Poison Garden with her latest compelling hit; a raw, visceral, and emotional multi-layered spellbinding tale of suspense, IN ANOTHER LIGHT.
A grieving woman takes a mysterious psychological journey as she uncovers secrets, lies, and betrayal in her quest for the truth about her past.
A massive fan of the author for many years, I am always in awe of her talent and mesmerizing writing. When you start an A.J. Banner book, you are assured to be immersed, pulling you into the setting with vivid descriptions and characters that come alive on the page. Unputdownable.
Set in a fictional coastal town (Bayport, WA) —we meet Phoebe Glassman. She has not been herself for some time. At one point, she was a carefree wife and mother. However, now she resides in isolation. A recluse buried in her grief and guilt.
After a car accident three years earlier, she is grieving her two-year-old daughter, Ava, and her husband, Logan.
Phoebe is a mortuary cosmetologist at Fair Winds funeral home, her husband’s business with his partner. For the patients on Phoebe’s table, there will be no recovery, no waking up which feels like her own grief weighing her down.
Her husband had many secrets, and he was always restless. However, she had no clue how many secrets and lies, until her lookalike- a younger version of herself in the form of a corpse, showed up on her mortuary table with shocking evidence.
A butterfly tattoo. The same one Phoebe recalled seeing on her husband’s phone. In addition, she also finds a small photo in her purse of herself taken years earlier.
In her intense quest for answers, Phoebe begins an extensive emotional search for the truth. She learns the woman’s name was Pauline Steele, and there was a suicidal drug overdose. The woman was in her early thirties, younger than Phoebe, who is forty-three.
What was she doing in this town? Was she looking for her or something more sinister?
What happens next is an intricate web of lies and deceit that takes Phobe down a deep rabbit hole. She is unsure she will like the answers, but she is obsessed with this mystery. She must learn the truth.
What is reality, and what is the truth? Who can she trust?
Does anyone believe her, or will everyone think she is crazy? She must step out of her comfort zone to find the truth. Was her husband living another secret life? Is her family really dead, or is this some conspiracy? What else was her husband hiding, and what does this woman have to do with her life?
In her sleuthing, uncovers a girl that looks like her Ava with a nanny. Could it be her daughter? If so, what has her husband done, and what does Pauline have to do with their life?
Sharply written and psychologically rich, Banner skillfully keeps readers on edge, gripped to the pages with her twisty plot, keeping you guessing- what is factual or speculation? Trust me; you will not see this twist coming.
I am a big fan of the author, having read all her books -this is one of my favorites. A tantalizing mystery and a protagonist you will root for from beginning to end.
Anything revolving around a mortuary is always eerie, creepy, and mysterious. However, the secret behind the corpse, the husband’s weird behavior, his disappearances, and the mysterious pull of the little girl added to the intensity and intrigue.
IN ANOTHER LIGHT will captivate, surprise, and satisfy you with its action-packed suspense. Rich in character and plot, fans of Lisa Gardner’s Frankie Elkin series Before She Disappeared will devour this one. Highly recommend and top books of 2021. I really enjoyed the ending and the character, Mike.
A.J: You should open an antique store, but you must never stop writing! I anxiously await the next.
Check out my fun #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A with A.J. Banner where we will go behind the scenes of the book and the author. Plus, all the fun updates about her love of vintage typewriters and more!
Blog Review:
#JDCMustReadBooks
@JudithDCollins
Pub Day: 10/05/2021
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to #LakeUnion and #Netgalley for an advanced reading copy and this beautiful autographed paperback!
September 16, 2021
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: October 5, 2021
After losing her husband and her young daughter in a tragic car accident, Phoebe is trying to get her life back on track. Burying herself in her job as a mortician is keeping her distracted, but then a dead woman is brought in, and Phoebe fears herself losing control. The woman, named Pauline, bears a striking resemblance to Phoebe and the coincidences don’t stop there; the woman has a very familiar and unique tattoo that Phoebe has seen once before- on the arm of the woman who was sleeping with her husband. If this woman was her husband’s mistress, why has she come to their town? What secrets was she keeping?
A.J. Banner, author of “After Nightfall” and “The Poison Garden” among others, returns with her newest psychological thriller, “In Another Light”.
Phoebe is a unique character for Banner (and for this genre as a whole), an un-stereotypical protagonist who, after suffering great loss, also struggles with mental illness and a subsequent breakdown following the death of her family. In “Light”, the mystery is not only who Pauline is and what she wants, but whether Phoebe is losing her grip on reality. “Light” depicts a deeply human character who is strong for many reasons, none of them typical of protagonists in this genre, and Banner creates a fast bond between Phoebe and readers.
Of course, there is a twist in this novel, one that has been done before but Banner manages to pull it off so well. It comes out of nowhere, and turns the entire plotline on its head. There are quite a few convoluted character connections, and some questions remain, once the twist is revealed, and it took me a few minutes to catch up and follow, but I enjoyed how it played out.
I have been a fan of Banner almost from day one, and have enjoyed her other books, so it wasn’t surprising that “In Another Light” was entertaining and full of twisty suspense. “Light” adds an emotional element through the realistic and heartbreaking depiction of grief and loss, as well as the devastating effects of mental illness. I enjoyed the characters in this novel and wanted nothing more than a good outcome for Phoebe, and the ending provided the resolution I craved. Banner delivers another psychological fiction novel with a unique plot, and fans will adore “In Another Light”.
Expected publication date: October 5, 2021
After losing her husband and her young daughter in a tragic car accident, Phoebe is trying to get her life back on track. Burying herself in her job as a mortician is keeping her distracted, but then a dead woman is brought in, and Phoebe fears herself losing control. The woman, named Pauline, bears a striking resemblance to Phoebe and the coincidences don’t stop there; the woman has a very familiar and unique tattoo that Phoebe has seen once before- on the arm of the woman who was sleeping with her husband. If this woman was her husband’s mistress, why has she come to their town? What secrets was she keeping?
A.J. Banner, author of “After Nightfall” and “The Poison Garden” among others, returns with her newest psychological thriller, “In Another Light”.
Phoebe is a unique character for Banner (and for this genre as a whole), an un-stereotypical protagonist who, after suffering great loss, also struggles with mental illness and a subsequent breakdown following the death of her family. In “Light”, the mystery is not only who Pauline is and what she wants, but whether Phoebe is losing her grip on reality. “Light” depicts a deeply human character who is strong for many reasons, none of them typical of protagonists in this genre, and Banner creates a fast bond between Phoebe and readers.
Of course, there is a twist in this novel, one that has been done before but Banner manages to pull it off so well. It comes out of nowhere, and turns the entire plotline on its head. There are quite a few convoluted character connections, and some questions remain, once the twist is revealed, and it took me a few minutes to catch up and follow, but I enjoyed how it played out.
I have been a fan of Banner almost from day one, and have enjoyed her other books, so it wasn’t surprising that “In Another Light” was entertaining and full of twisty suspense. “Light” adds an emotional element through the realistic and heartbreaking depiction of grief and loss, as well as the devastating effects of mental illness. I enjoyed the characters in this novel and wanted nothing more than a good outcome for Phoebe, and the ending provided the resolution I craved. Banner delivers another psychological fiction novel with a unique plot, and fans will adore “In Another Light”.
August 27, 2021
3/5 stars
”Grief can play with the mind…”
An intriguing mystery gives way to a heartfelt emotional journey about grief and loss in the latest novel by thriller-author A.J. Banner
In Another Light starts off with a hook that always manages to grab my attention from the start. We follow Phoebe Glassman, a woman in the depth of grief over the loss of her husband and daughter in a tragic car accident, a little under 3 years ago. A ghost of her former ambitious and creative self, she now spends her days working as a mortuary-cosmetologist, tending to the bodies of the deceased. Her escape into work is uprooted one day when she discovers a mysterious woman on her table, who appears to be her mirror image. The identity of this woman leads Phoebe down an path that eerily crosses her own, and stirs up memories and grief that she thought she’d buried.
Although it’s primarily shelved as a mystery/thriller, In Another Light is a bit of a genre-bender that blends together mystery fiction with contemporary drama. And it does so with great success, managing to synergize the two together into more than the sum of its parts. Rather than focussing on a murder-mystery plot like many mysteries with the “Doppelganger-trope” do, we delve deep into the deceased woman’s life, instead of her death. It makes for a more emotional and personal story, which was a welcome addition to the mystery-elements.
That being said, emotional stories stand or fall with their characters to me, and unfortunately I didn’t relate to Phoebe the way I wanted to. Something about her characterization felt distant and it made it hard for me to fully invest myself into her as a character, especially when she makes some irrational and emotionally-driven decisions as the story progresses. What did come across strongly was Phoebe’s desire to uncover the truth, no matter the cost. It made the novel into quite the page-turner, that had me burning midnight oil.
Overall: a very enjoyable thriller, with surprising emotional depth that makes up for some more predictable and cliché parts and an ending that wasn’t 100% satisfying to me.
If, amidst your Halloween-thrillers you’re looking for just that, I recommend you give this novel a try.
Many thanks to the publisher Lake Union for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
”Grief can play with the mind…”
An intriguing mystery gives way to a heartfelt emotional journey about grief and loss in the latest novel by thriller-author A.J. Banner
In Another Light starts off with a hook that always manages to grab my attention from the start. We follow Phoebe Glassman, a woman in the depth of grief over the loss of her husband and daughter in a tragic car accident, a little under 3 years ago. A ghost of her former ambitious and creative self, she now spends her days working as a mortuary-cosmetologist, tending to the bodies of the deceased. Her escape into work is uprooted one day when she discovers a mysterious woman on her table, who appears to be her mirror image. The identity of this woman leads Phoebe down an path that eerily crosses her own, and stirs up memories and grief that she thought she’d buried.
Although it’s primarily shelved as a mystery/thriller, In Another Light is a bit of a genre-bender that blends together mystery fiction with contemporary drama. And it does so with great success, managing to synergize the two together into more than the sum of its parts. Rather than focussing on a murder-mystery plot like many mysteries with the “Doppelganger-trope” do, we delve deep into the deceased woman’s life, instead of her death. It makes for a more emotional and personal story, which was a welcome addition to the mystery-elements.
That being said, emotional stories stand or fall with their characters to me, and unfortunately I didn’t relate to Phoebe the way I wanted to. Something about her characterization felt distant and it made it hard for me to fully invest myself into her as a character, especially when she makes some irrational and emotionally-driven decisions as the story progresses. What did come across strongly was Phoebe’s desire to uncover the truth, no matter the cost. It made the novel into quite the page-turner, that had me burning midnight oil.
Overall: a very enjoyable thriller, with surprising emotional depth that makes up for some more predictable and cliché parts and an ending that wasn’t 100% satisfying to me.
If, amidst your Halloween-thrillers you’re looking for just that, I recommend you give this novel a try.
Many thanks to the publisher Lake Union for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2021
Phoebe Glassman is a cosmetologist/artist at a funeral home. She restores the dead to make them look like they did when they were living. She is still grieving after losing her husband and daughter in an accident 3 years ago. She now busies herself in her work. One day a woman, Pauline, is brought in. Phoebe is astounded when she notices this woman is a mirror image of herself. She also discovers a photo of herself Paulines belongings, and recognizes a tattoo Pauline has that was on Phoebes husbands phone. What you get after this point is phenomenal. Phoebe is on a mission to figure out what is going on. Phoebe follows the clues, and you will need to know what secrets are going to be exposed. Very suspenseful and I loved every minute. A definite page turner!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!
November 14, 2021
Phoebe Glassman is a sculptor who joined her husband, Logan McClary, in his mortuary business as a cosmetologist. As such, not only does she do hair and makeup for the deceased prior to viewings, in many cases she must restore parts of the person’s face that is missing because of disease, accidents or gunshots.
After her husband passed away three years ago, Phoebe stayed on and worked in the mortuary, even though a part of her would like to return to her true passion of sculpting. In order to satisfy that longing, she spends her days working on cadavers and occupies her free time in her home studio sculpting faces.
Right now she’s working on just one face --- that of her daughter, Ava, who also died in the car accident that claimed Logan’s life. Phoebe makes sculpture after sculpture that shows what she believes her daughter would look like now, which in some way helps to keep Ava alive.
Phoebe is so caught up in the past that she has trouble dealing with the future. She trudges through her days, trying to make peace with something that won’t let her go. But when Phoebe sees the body of a woman named Pauline Steele in the mortuary, her world is turned upside down.
The storyline deals with family secrets and cheating spouses, and includes many fascinating tidbits about the art of mortuary cosmetology.
Author A. J. Banner writes in her usual fast-paced style that will keep you turning pages and wanting more. She doles out vital information a little bit at a time, unfolding the plot in such a way as to make it nearly impossible to guess what will happen next. I’m betting the ending will surprise you and make you look at the entire story "in another light."
Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin
After her husband passed away three years ago, Phoebe stayed on and worked in the mortuary, even though a part of her would like to return to her true passion of sculpting. In order to satisfy that longing, she spends her days working on cadavers and occupies her free time in her home studio sculpting faces.
Right now she’s working on just one face --- that of her daughter, Ava, who also died in the car accident that claimed Logan’s life. Phoebe makes sculpture after sculpture that shows what she believes her daughter would look like now, which in some way helps to keep Ava alive.
Phoebe is so caught up in the past that she has trouble dealing with the future. She trudges through her days, trying to make peace with something that won’t let her go. But when Phoebe sees the body of a woman named Pauline Steele in the mortuary, her world is turned upside down.
The storyline deals with family secrets and cheating spouses, and includes many fascinating tidbits about the art of mortuary cosmetology.
Author A. J. Banner writes in her usual fast-paced style that will keep you turning pages and wanting more. She doles out vital information a little bit at a time, unfolding the plot in such a way as to make it nearly impossible to guess what will happen next. I’m betting the ending will surprise you and make you look at the entire story "in another light."
Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin
October 15, 2021
My fourth Banner novel and by far my favorite. Her books are quick reads at under 300 pages so it's easy to fly right through them. This novel sheds light on the process of grief and we get to deep dive into Phoebe's ups and downs as she struggles to deal with the loss of her husband and young daughter. I mean, if you worked in a mortuary and a woman shows up on your table looking almost identical to yourself and bearing a tattoo that you've seen on your husband's phone... well, wouldn't that get you spiraling?
Doppelganger books are always fun for me because you just KNOW something weird is happening. Secrets will be unleashed... curiosity doesn't just kill the cat. When Phoebe really loses it in one part of the book, my heart just went out to her. While love can make you do some crazy things, it has absolutely nothing on grief and I believe the author does a great job of showcasing that struggle. I definitely did not figure out certain parts of it and I certainly was unsure as to the credibility of what Phoebe was seeing. I applaud her tenacity but also cringe at some of her actions.. while also still understanding them..
Really the only thing that didn't quite work for me was the ending - and not in the whole ending part but in a teeny, tiny romance part that I felt was just unnecessary. I also felt like there were some plot holes but honestly, it didn't really take away from the read.
Go hug your loved ones.
Doppelganger books are always fun for me because you just KNOW something weird is happening. Secrets will be unleashed... curiosity doesn't just kill the cat. When Phoebe really loses it in one part of the book, my heart just went out to her. While love can make you do some crazy things, it has absolutely nothing on grief and I believe the author does a great job of showcasing that struggle. I definitely did not figure out certain parts of it and I certainly was unsure as to the credibility of what Phoebe was seeing. I applaud her tenacity but also cringe at some of her actions.. while also still understanding them..
Really the only thing that didn't quite work for me was the ending - and not in the whole ending part but in a teeny, tiny romance part that I felt was just unnecessary. I also felt like there were some plot holes but honestly, it didn't really take away from the read.
Go hug your loved ones.
December 3, 2021
I didn’t think I’d find a book I truly hate in 2021, but I was proven wrong.
The dialogue is so awkward, childish, and slightly archaic/too formal at times (who even says “whom” when speaking to friends!?). The characters are also like 40 year olds, but they still talk like their teenagers at some parts.
The whole point of this book was the fact that Phoebe found Pauline, who looks exactly like her, on the table at her job where she works to help reconstruct dead people’s faces after they die. Which sounds great, right? What a mystery!
Nope. The majority of the novel is then spent trying to set up a paranoid vibe, with grief and mental health being used as ways to make it seem more “thrilling”, all with a young child being involved after Phoebe fixates on her, determined that her husband somehow didn’t die in the car crash, and took her daughter to live a new life elsewhere. Like, what happened to the Pauline storyline? It COMPLETELY drops off until the last 15 pages…. Seriously!?
This book was just not written well, the atmosphere it was trying to set failed miserably, and the characters were so 2D, they had no depth or charm to even make me want to root for them, or sympathize with their situation.
It was easy to guess the ending, and wow, a happy ending. Yay. So worth the read. *eye roll*. Trash.
The dialogue is so awkward, childish, and slightly archaic/too formal at times (who even says “whom” when speaking to friends!?). The characters are also like 40 year olds, but they still talk like their teenagers at some parts.
The whole point of this book was the fact that Phoebe found Pauline, who looks exactly like her, on the table at her job where she works to help reconstruct dead people’s faces after they die. Which sounds great, right? What a mystery!
Nope. The majority of the novel is then spent trying to set up a paranoid vibe, with grief and mental health being used as ways to make it seem more “thrilling”, all with a young child being involved after Phoebe fixates on her, determined that her husband somehow didn’t die in the car crash, and took her daughter to live a new life elsewhere. Like, what happened to the Pauline storyline? It COMPLETELY drops off until the last 15 pages…. Seriously!?
This book was just not written well, the atmosphere it was trying to set failed miserably, and the characters were so 2D, they had no depth or charm to even make me want to root for them, or sympathize with their situation.
It was easy to guess the ending, and wow, a happy ending. Yay. So worth the read. *eye roll*. Trash.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
A.J. Banner spins a tale and knows how to suck you in and not let you go until the end. This book is unique, a mystery like no other. Phoebe is a mortician. Dealing with so much pain and anguish since the loss of her family. Then a doppelgänger comes across her table and a mystery evolves that she needs to unravel. Who is lying? Who is telling the truth? Smoke and Mirrors?
Twists and turns for sure, but also an honest look at dealing with grief, mental health, deception. Phoebe is a totally sympathetic protagonist, someone you can’t help rooting for. While some events are a little too neatly wrapped up, it doesn’t take away from this story. This domestic thriller is well written, with an eye opening and compassionate look at mental illness. For me, this author never disappoints.
Thanks to Ms. Banner, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
A.J. Banner spins a tale and knows how to suck you in and not let you go until the end. This book is unique, a mystery like no other. Phoebe is a mortician. Dealing with so much pain and anguish since the loss of her family. Then a doppelgänger comes across her table and a mystery evolves that she needs to unravel. Who is lying? Who is telling the truth? Smoke and Mirrors?
Twists and turns for sure, but also an honest look at dealing with grief, mental health, deception. Phoebe is a totally sympathetic protagonist, someone you can’t help rooting for. While some events are a little too neatly wrapped up, it doesn’t take away from this story. This domestic thriller is well written, with an eye opening and compassionate look at mental illness. For me, this author never disappoints.
Thanks to Ms. Banner, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
June 15, 2021
3.5 Stars
Phoebe Glassman, a mortuary cosmetologist, lost her husband Logan three years ago. She’s been more dead than alive since then, drifting through days in a haze while completing her job at Fair Winds. On the day of the third death anniversary, a body arrives at the mortuary, changing Phoebe’s life forever.
Pauline Steele, the dead woman, is around a decade younger than Phoebe and looks like a long-lost twin. The resemblance between them is too striking to ignore. Phoebe is still in shock when she spies a unique butterfly tattoo on the woman’s arm. She knows exactly where she last saw the design.
Fueled by curiosity, Phoebe digs through the dead woman’s belongings and finds an old faded photograph of herself from a few years ago. Phoebe is now determined to unravel the mystery that binds her and Pauline together. The more she tugs at the tangled threads, the complex things get. It doesn’t help that she’s close to losing her sanity and sometimes wonders if she’s already gone crazy.
But she fights on and finally finds answers to some of her questions. Does she find peace too?
The premise and the cover of the book were intriguing enough for me to request it. The beginning is strong, and the narration picks up speed as we read on. There are hints scattered from the beginning to give us a glimpse of the secrets kept hidden from Phoebe.
There are several twists and turns, doubts, questions with no answers, and whatnot to take the story forward. Phoebe’s emotional state weakens, and that should have made me feel sad for her. Somehow, from start to finish, I couldn’t connect with Phoebe on any level. Sure, I don’t relate to her. Still, I could have empathized with her.
Sadly, I could feel only a wee bit sad when reading about her pain. It’s a devastating loss on many levels, and yet, it didn’t touch me as I wanted it to. There was a thick glass between us that refused to let us connect.
It’s only the fast pace and my desire to see if my analysis was correct that made the book interesting. I did get it right, so I would give the author a few brownie points for not bringing a twist I didn’t expect.
The ending is quite satisfactory, that’s another plus because I like happy endings. There are still some left-out loopholes, but at least the last page didn’t leave wondering about everything.
It does look like I’m a minority, and most people liked the book (until now). I’m glad for them. Personally, it didn’t offer anything new or exciting.
Overall, In Another Light is a fast-paced story about a traumatic women’s quest for truth while battling her pain and loss.
On a side note, I don’t why I thought this was listed as a thriller somewhere. NetGalley says it is women’s fiction, and I call it a psychological family drama. Oh, well, it’s not a thriller per se despite the pace and suspense.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#InAnotherLight #NetGalley
Phoebe Glassman, a mortuary cosmetologist, lost her husband Logan three years ago. She’s been more dead than alive since then, drifting through days in a haze while completing her job at Fair Winds. On the day of the third death anniversary, a body arrives at the mortuary, changing Phoebe’s life forever.
Pauline Steele, the dead woman, is around a decade younger than Phoebe and looks like a long-lost twin. The resemblance between them is too striking to ignore. Phoebe is still in shock when she spies a unique butterfly tattoo on the woman’s arm. She knows exactly where she last saw the design.
Fueled by curiosity, Phoebe digs through the dead woman’s belongings and finds an old faded photograph of herself from a few years ago. Phoebe is now determined to unravel the mystery that binds her and Pauline together. The more she tugs at the tangled threads, the complex things get. It doesn’t help that she’s close to losing her sanity and sometimes wonders if she’s already gone crazy.
But she fights on and finally finds answers to some of her questions. Does she find peace too?
The premise and the cover of the book were intriguing enough for me to request it. The beginning is strong, and the narration picks up speed as we read on. There are hints scattered from the beginning to give us a glimpse of the secrets kept hidden from Phoebe.
There are several twists and turns, doubts, questions with no answers, and whatnot to take the story forward. Phoebe’s emotional state weakens, and that should have made me feel sad for her. Somehow, from start to finish, I couldn’t connect with Phoebe on any level. Sure, I don’t relate to her. Still, I could have empathized with her.
Sadly, I could feel only a wee bit sad when reading about her pain. It’s a devastating loss on many levels, and yet, it didn’t touch me as I wanted it to. There was a thick glass between us that refused to let us connect.
It’s only the fast pace and my desire to see if my analysis was correct that made the book interesting. I did get it right, so I would give the author a few brownie points for not bringing a twist I didn’t expect.
The ending is quite satisfactory, that’s another plus because I like happy endings. There are still some left-out loopholes, but at least the last page didn’t leave wondering about everything.
It does look like I’m a minority, and most people liked the book (until now). I’m glad for them. Personally, it didn’t offer anything new or exciting.
Overall, In Another Light is a fast-paced story about a traumatic women’s quest for truth while battling her pain and loss.
On a side note, I don’t why I thought this was listed as a thriller somewhere. NetGalley says it is women’s fiction, and I call it a psychological family drama. Oh, well, it’s not a thriller per se despite the pace and suspense.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#InAnotherLight #NetGalley
May 29, 2021
I adore A.J. Banner's books so of course I had to have this one and it did not disappoint! Phoebe works in a mortuary as a cosmetologist and when a body comes in who looks almost identical to her, she is thrown for a loop! She's still grieving the loss of her husband and young daughter who died in a tragic car accident but once she sees the tattoo on this woman's arm, she recognizes it as one she once saw on her husband's phone. What? And so begins her journey...how did her husband know this woman? Why do they look alike? And what else was he hiding if that's the case? And was anyone in the mortuary complicit in any of this? It's a wild ride for sure; Banner has us along with Phoebe as she desperately tries to recreate the past and wonder where (and if) things went south! Don't even try to figure it out...just enjoy the ride like it's Disneyland!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
September 17, 2021
I read and loved The Poison Garden and HAD to get my hands on In Another Light. I'll tell you right now, it did not disappoint!!
As a mortuary cosmetologist Phoebe Glassman is surrounded by death daily. In this line of work she's confident she's seen it all. That is until the body of a woman arrives, a woman that looks exactly like Phoebe and bears a very similar tattoo. A discovery that has the power to send Phoebe into an emotional collapse.
This was such a quick read and the pacing was absolutely perfect! I flew through it. I'm already looking forward to Banners next book!
Huge thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for my copy!
As a mortuary cosmetologist Phoebe Glassman is surrounded by death daily. In this line of work she's confident she's seen it all. That is until the body of a woman arrives, a woman that looks exactly like Phoebe and bears a very similar tattoo. A discovery that has the power to send Phoebe into an emotional collapse.
This was such a quick read and the pacing was absolutely perfect! I flew through it. I'm already looking forward to Banners next book!
Huge thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for my copy!
December 21, 2021
So, here’s a problem I have with a lot of books. It takes awhile to get into them. I’m not able to really connect with the characters because they aren’t outlined well enough. The plot drags. The ending is rushed. I can tell you that NONE of that happens with this book. What a FANTASTIC story from start to finish, the writing full of puzzle pieces, each very well thought out and really brought me into the life of our main character, Phoebe as well as the supporting characters. The author did a great job in not only telling the story but the development of the characters as well, and then that ending - love love love!! I will definitely be reading more from this author. 😍📚
October 31, 2021
A.J. Banner's new thriller,
In Another Light
, asks, how well do we really know those we love?
Phoebe has been trying to pull her life back together since a tragic accident killed her husband, but it’s not easy. She keeps some semblance of normalcy by continuing her work as a cosmetologist at a mortuary, where she helps grieving families get one last bit of comfort before saying goodbye to their loved ones.
She is rocked when the latest body to arrive at the mortuary is a young woman who could be her twin—and she has a distinctive tattoo Phoebe remembers seeing before. But stranger than that, the woman has a picture of Phoebe among her personal effects.
Who is this doppelgänger? Why did she come to town, and what did she want? Phoebe is determined to get answers, but they make take her down some paths she doesn’t want to explore, and her investigation threatens to jeopardize her own life and her own already-tenuous grip on reality.
I got hooked pretty quickly on this. Banner definitely threw some twists and turns into the story, and while ultimately I had a feeling what would happen, I also suspected a lot of crazy things that didn’t happen, so even a stopped clock is right twice a day, lol.
What I liked about In Another Light was that, while obviously some things were exaggerated, grief does make people do crazy things, so you could see some of this story actually happening. This was a good thriller to curl up with for a bit!
Thanks to Get Red PR Books and Lake Union Publishing for a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Phoebe has been trying to pull her life back together since a tragic accident killed her husband, but it’s not easy. She keeps some semblance of normalcy by continuing her work as a cosmetologist at a mortuary, where she helps grieving families get one last bit of comfort before saying goodbye to their loved ones.
She is rocked when the latest body to arrive at the mortuary is a young woman who could be her twin—and she has a distinctive tattoo Phoebe remembers seeing before. But stranger than that, the woman has a picture of Phoebe among her personal effects.
Who is this doppelgänger? Why did she come to town, and what did she want? Phoebe is determined to get answers, but they make take her down some paths she doesn’t want to explore, and her investigation threatens to jeopardize her own life and her own already-tenuous grip on reality.
I got hooked pretty quickly on this. Banner definitely threw some twists and turns into the story, and while ultimately I had a feeling what would happen, I also suspected a lot of crazy things that didn’t happen, so even a stopped clock is right twice a day, lol.
What I liked about In Another Light was that, while obviously some things were exaggerated, grief does make people do crazy things, so you could see some of this story actually happening. This was a good thriller to curl up with for a bit!
Thanks to Get Red PR Books and Lake Union Publishing for a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
September 5, 2022
This was very slow burn but it worked for me. Intensely. Perhaps it is because of the grief components done so well. But I would not at all describe this novel as a thriller. And also it is far more emotional than I am apt to enjoy in a "can't put it down sense". But this one, I could not. I actually read a great portion of it while nearly nodding off. Not from boredom, but because it kept me up at night.
The job Phoebe does was intriguing. I have know someone who didn't do reconstruction in the mortuary but did hair and makeup. This always made me wonder why the posit wasn't set into a good novel. And could it be. Well, here it is.
Banner has become a go to author for me. My library system doesn't hold much, but I'll read the rest I have not read so far regardless. But this one was excellent. And with a subject too that I seldom abide well- lost or passed or stolen or no longer here children. Mothers of essential missing. And the myriad of emotional obsession was handled in 4 dimensions here. Dialogue not as well, though. It loses a whole star in the conversations at points, IMHO. 36 or 40 year old girlfriends don't talk like they are 19. Not even in crux stresses.
Something published in 2021 without revolving times or switching narrators or huge time lapse voids. Will miracles never cease!
This was a good book for a holiday weekend night (Labor Day USA) when all the crazy people were attending out of doors parties and shrieking loudly way past the usual.
I'm sure I couldn't do Phoebe's job. Not even if I was a sculptor artist.
The job Phoebe does was intriguing. I have know someone who didn't do reconstruction in the mortuary but did hair and makeup. This always made me wonder why the posit wasn't set into a good novel. And could it be. Well, here it is.
Banner has become a go to author for me. My library system doesn't hold much, but I'll read the rest I have not read so far regardless. But this one was excellent. And with a subject too that I seldom abide well- lost or passed or stolen or no longer here children. Mothers of essential missing. And the myriad of emotional obsession was handled in 4 dimensions here. Dialogue not as well, though. It loses a whole star in the conversations at points, IMHO. 36 or 40 year old girlfriends don't talk like they are 19. Not even in crux stresses.
Something published in 2021 without revolving times or switching narrators or huge time lapse voids. Will miracles never cease!
This was a good book for a holiday weekend night (Labor Day USA) when all the crazy people were attending out of doors parties and shrieking loudly way past the usual.
I'm sure I couldn't do Phoebe's job. Not even if I was a sculptor artist.
September 19, 2021
In Another Light is an engaging suspense read that will keep you flipping pages till you get to the end.
The story is interesting and I liked the characters. The protagonist, Phoebe, is relatable as her thoughts and emotions have been described very well in the book.
I wish the story shared some light over other characters and depth in terms of the overall story. The first half was fun and I enjoyed it, the second half however was a bit low and felt like it ended in a haste.
I would recommend In Another Light to readers who like psychological thriller and suspense novels. It's fast paced and a light read.
Thank you Netgalley, publishers and author, A. J. Banner for the ARC.
The story is interesting and I liked the characters. The protagonist, Phoebe, is relatable as her thoughts and emotions have been described very well in the book.
I wish the story shared some light over other characters and depth in terms of the overall story. The first half was fun and I enjoyed it, the second half however was a bit low and felt like it ended in a haste.
I would recommend In Another Light to readers who like psychological thriller and suspense novels. It's fast paced and a light read.
Thank you Netgalley, publishers and author, A. J. Banner for the ARC.
February 4, 2022
I wanted to like this book more than I did, but something about it felt off. As much as I sympathized with Phoebe's loss and feelings of grief, I couldn't make an emotional connection with her character. All the characters, in fact, felt underdeveloped to me. There were several parallels to another popular book dealing with a similar theme (I won't spoil it for anyone by naming the title), so I was able to guess where the story was headed very early on. Maybe a surprise or two along the way, but still the book fell flat toward the end, which I feel dragged on a bit too long.
Read
September 22, 2021I still don't understand the title—
December 30, 2021
TITLE: IN ANOTHER LIGHT
AUTHOR: A J Banner
PUB DATE: 10.05.2021 Available Now
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I tore through this fantastic thriller by one of my favorite thriller writers A J Banner.
The story is about a mortuary cosmetologist Phoebe Glassman whose life is just a shadow of herself swallowed by her grief as a widow. One night, a doppelgänger arrives in the mortuary by a woman named Pauline and in whose effects had her photograph. Phoebe gets drawn into the mystery of this woman’s death and tries to find out more about her life and what she discovers is a life altering truth about what she thought she knew about how their lives crossed.
This book was so well written, completely engrossing, and a thrilling page turner that I was immersed in. Such a great book I highly recommend.
AUTHOR: A J Banner
PUB DATE: 10.05.2021 Available Now
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I tore through this fantastic thriller by one of my favorite thriller writers A J Banner.
The story is about a mortuary cosmetologist Phoebe Glassman whose life is just a shadow of herself swallowed by her grief as a widow. One night, a doppelgänger arrives in the mortuary by a woman named Pauline and in whose effects had her photograph. Phoebe gets drawn into the mystery of this woman’s death and tries to find out more about her life and what she discovers is a life altering truth about what she thought she knew about how their lives crossed.
This book was so well written, completely engrossing, and a thrilling page turner that I was immersed in. Such a great book I highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 590 reviews