Someone Like Me

In this paranormal thriller, narrator Robin Miles takes on the challenge of portraying two distinctly different versions of the main character. Liz Kendall is a domestic abuse survivor who, after a burst of violence, meets Beth Kendall--a hardened alternate version of herself who is out for revenge. Miles's performance of Beth is delightfully edgy, even incendiary during times of stress, but laid-back and snarky as she makes plans to silence her abusive husband. Liz and Beth are also entwined with Fran, a fellow trauma survivor with an unusual companion of her own, a cartoon fox whose lisp and animated voice are given great care and detail by Miles. This is a standout performance of a twisty tale in which the characters' worlds collide. J.E.C. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Starred review from November 5, 2018
A single mother battles the seduction of her dark side in this gripping and easily devoured novel from Carey (The Boy on the Bridge). Liz Kendall’s ex-husband, Marc, is a violent abuser, and gentle Liz is forced to physically retaliate against him in order to protect herself and her two children, six-year-old Molly and 16-year-old Zac. Following that incident, a newfound rage boils over each time she is under pressure, and this side of her gradually develops into a vicious second personality called Beth. While seeking help from a doctor, her family meets Fran Watts, a kidnapping victim who’s grappling with hallucinations and memory loss. Fran, sick of feeling debilitated, befriends Zac and enlists him to help her research her kidnapper and restore her shaky memory. Fran’s own coping mechanism arrives in the form of an imaginary friend who directly opposes Fran’s confrontation of her painful past. When Marc threatens Liz again, Beth expels Liz and takes control, with devastating consequences. Both Liz and Fran must find a way to bridge the fissures of their minds before Beth causes irreparable damage. Carey’s mastery of tension and diversity of voice will keep readers engaged until the well-earned ending, and his handling of mental illness is nuanced without romanticizing or sensationalizing trauma. This intense thriller shows human nature in all its grimness and glory.

March 1, 2019

In Carey's (The Girl with All the Gifts) latest novel, Liz Kendall tries to raise her two children while dealing with her abusive husband, Mark. When he attacks her, she retaliates. This flips an internal switch, bringing out a violent streak to her character in the form of a polar opposite personality named Beth. Beth encourages Liz to protect herself when Mark pressures her to drop the assault charge. This results in a brutal confrontation in which Beth kills Mark. Eventually, Beth becomes the dominate force in Liz's life. At the same time, Gil Watts deals with his troubled daughter Fran, who was abducted and abused during childhood. In therapy, taking medication, and regularly interacting with an imaginary fox-like creature, Fran runs a fine line between sanity and madness while coming to grips with her assault. The two families' lives intertwine while they battle their inner and outer demons as Fran becomes involved with Liz's son Zack. The work explores personal identity and sanity. Reader Robin Miles does an excellent job telling the story. VERDICT Recommended to all listeners with an interest in speculative fiction. ["A dark, supernatural thriller that blurs the edges of the world we know": LJ 10/15/18 review of the Orbit: Hachette hc.]--Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Parkersburg Lib.

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