Review: The Ice Twins – by S.K. Tremayne

Synopsis: A year after one of their identical twin daughters, Lydia, dies in an accident, Angus and Sarah Moorcraft move to the tiny Scottish island Angus inherited from his grandmother, hoping to put together the pieces of their shattered lives.
But when their surviving daughter, Kirstie, claims they have mistaken her identity – that she, in fact, is Lydia – their world comes crashing down once again.

As winter encroaches, Angus is forced to travel away from the island for work, Sarah is feeling isolated, and Kirstie (or is it Lydia?) is growing more disturbed. When a violent storm leaves Sarah and her daughter stranded, Sarah finds herself tortured by the past – what really happened on that fateful day one of her daughters died?

Title: The Ice Twins
Author: S.K. Tremayne
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pub Date: 29^th January 2015
Pages: 384
ISBN:  9780007563036

Rating:

I’ve not really been in the Christmas spirit this year – even after decorating the Christmas tree, wrapping presents, and attempting the high notes of ‘All I want for Christmas’, I just wasn’t feeling it. So this proof came at a very welcome time, I figured if I read something weird and twisted, it would somehow snap me out of my blue mood.

Unfortunately, it didn’t get me into the Christmas spirit (the mulled wine did!); but boy did The Ice Twins get me hooked. I was addicted to the extent of frantically trying to finish chapters before guests arrived for Christmas lunch (they spotted me through the window). I may also have escaped cleaning after the guests left to run upstairs, lock myself in the spare room and finish the book – I think it’s safe to say I’m getting coal next year!

Things I loved about this book were:

1. The setting: you can’t beat a desolate and hauntingly beautiful setting of the Scottish isles.
2. The twins: is it Kirsty? Is it Lydia? The character was incredibly written, I almost didn’t want to read about her she freaked me out so much.
3. The pace: Tremayne drops in just enough mini bomb-shells to get keep you racing through; partly from excitement, partly from frustration. I may have shrieked/growled whilst shaking the book a few times…
4. The end: Did not see that one coming.

There’s not much else to say on this; it’s quite simple, really. If you want a quick, easy, and bloody brilliant read this Christmas that isn’t full of sparkle and glitter, this is the book for you.