The Likeness (2008) – Tana French
The Likeness is the second novel in Tana French’s acclaimed Dublin Murder Squad series, blending psychological suspense with literary depth. The story follows detective Cassie Maddox, who is drawn into an unsettling undercover operation when a murdered woman is found bearing an uncanny resemblance to her—and using an alias Cassie once invented. As she infiltrates the victim’s tight-knit circle of friends in a secluded Irish manor, the lines between identity, obsession, and reality blur.
French’s lush prose and slow-burn tension evoke Gothic undertones, while her exploration of friendship, alienation, and the masks people wear elevates the novel beyond traditional crime fiction. The 2008 paperback edition often features haunting, atmospheric cover art, reflecting the book’s eerie duality.
If You Enjoyed The Likeness, Consider:
- The Secret History (Donna Tartt, 1992) – A similarly immersive tale of academia, secrecy, and moral decay.
- In the Woods (Tana French, 2007) – The first Dublin Murder Squad book, starring Cassie’s partner, Rob Ryan.
- The Truants (Kate Weinberg, 2020) – A suspenseful academic thriller with psychological twists.
