Callie and Tilda are twins, but it seems they couldn’t be more different - Tilda is the doer, the attention getter, forging a successful acting career; Callie the observer, the quieter one, drifting into a job at a bookshop, existing around the edges of her sister’s life.

When Tilda enters a relationship with the wealthy and controlling Felix (he’s something to do with hedge funds... I don’t think I’ll ever understand what a hedge fund actually is), Callie’s anxieties for her sister’s safety cause her to be lured down some dark paths.

It’s apparent from early on that there are doubts as to Callie’s reliability as a narrator - she appears to have an unhealthy and certainly abnormal obsession with her golden girl sister. The relationship between the twins is complex and really rather twisted. Though intelligent, Callie has a naïveté and inexperience about her which render it doubtful as to how accurately she might interpret things at times; the author keeps us skilfully on the back foot, uncertain as to how well founded Callie’s fears about Felix are.

This is an incredibly addictive, often unsettling and very cleverly constructed read which constantly keeps the reader guessing as to where it is going; I really had no idea until very near the end, although with hindsight clues were there. The narrative voice of Callie is a triumph - she is an unusual but at the same time very believable character and you’re never quite sure what she’s going to do next. What this book kept reminding me of, and I’m not even sure why as they are very different, was the equally excellent Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough - something about the tone, perhaps.

Highly recommended.

Having finished this psychological thriller, I find it quite hard to review. That is, similarly to another crime novel I read lately, “The Woman in the Window,” it gives more than a nod to a famous book/film. With, “The Woman in the Window,” the film was, “Rear Window,” but throwing out the title linked to this book would just give out too much of a hint about where the plot goes, so I will you discover that for yourself.

Like so many current crime novels, our main character, Callie, is a twin. She is dark, while her twin, Tilda, is fair. Callie has a rather nondescript job in a bookstore and feels frumpy next to the delicate, fragile bloom of her actress sister. Overshadowed from childhood, Callie obsesses about Tilda, to the extent that there is some very unusual obsessive behaviour. Not only does Callie document her every interaction with Tilda, but there is some very weird instances of her wanting to inhabit her sister’s space – her very essence - that is, frankly, very strange…

When Tilda get a boyfriend, the wealthy and handsome Felix, Callie is concerned by his controlling behaviour. Her sister’s messy flat becomes tidy to the point of cling-film wrapped bowls (there is some VERY odd behaviour in this novel. Tilda becomes withdrawn and her acting roles seem to dry up, while Callie turns to the internet for solace, advice and understanding.

Overall, this is a very well written novel, with an interesting premise. Although part of the plot does revolve around the aforementioned book/film plot, it is certainly not just based on that. Previously, I knew author Jane Robins as the author of well researched, historical true crime books, but she is certainly very able to join the ranks of those writing twisted and unusual crime fiction.

Best of all in this novel was the voice of Callie – whose very normal love interest, estate agent and part-time gardener, Wilf (normality in this novel is ‘Wilf-world’) – is perhaps not initially as enticing as the glamour and fame in the world that Tilda inhabits. There is a sense that Callie does not believe herself special enough to find happiness, that she is afraid of having a life apart from her twin and the author writes that very well. The author makes Callie’s concerns come alive, as her desperate attempts to ‘help’ her sister, and the dangerous, dark world of the internet, collide to end in death and danger. A very good novel and I look forward to reading more by Robins – whether fiction, or non-fiction.

This was a gripping read. Centres on twin sisters, usual sibling rivalry and a whole lot more.. There is a real Machiavellian feel to the actions of the key player and the characters are well drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I found this read compelling. it is well written and the reading of it is easy. the characters are deep and beguiling and I was intrigued the whole way through, moving from person to person trying to decide who I thought was guilty.. This is a strong read however the ending was a bit of a let down for me personally. Having said this I thought this book was a page turner that kept me hooked.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I found this a really good but disturbing read. Absolutely recommend for other readers.

This book is quite complex which I found compelling and challenging.
It starts off slowly but quickly becomes intriguing and beguiling.There are many twists and turns in this mystery thriller,with a few red herrings along the way too.If you want a book that keeps you guessing then this is the one for you.Relationships of varying kinds feature heavily in it, which only adds to the complexity of it all.
A good read which will make you think.

I love these psychological thrillers that leave me complete stunned with every twist. This is an absolute twister, to be sure. Realistic. Gritty in places.

Gosh, this is a good read. The protagonist is likeable and relatable and the story is compelling. The twists that the story takes mean you can’t work out what will happen next, but you want to know. If you like psychological thrillers, you’ll love this.

Incredibly mixed up muddled up story.Not very likeable characters who behave very strangely.

The book description sounded great but sadly I couldn't get into the book

This was a gripping story but as someone who really needs people to get their comeuppance, ulttimately unsatisfying. It's a challenging book to review for me because I found the protagonist unlikeably and disturbingly strange, perhaps more alienating even than the villains of the novel, and yet I read it pretty avidly, so perhaps the pace, the writing and the need to unravel the mystery outweighed my lack of engagement with the characters?

Ultimately I would recommend it, but I think there's a problem with the recent slew of 'Gone Girl-alikes' in that I am so attuned to possible twists that I spoil all potential avenues for them by second guessing everything - a bit like reading Snow White and every five minutes thinking 'I bet it was Bashful who killed her!' or 'What if the prince is a transgender reincarnation of the wicked stepmother??'

Have a read if you like a dark, twisty, tense tale without needing to bond with any of the characters.

Jane Robins’ debut, White Bodies, is a dark, twisted psychological thriller. At points I found the obsessions described described as unsettling. Not that the book is graphic in that way. I felt that that story would have worked better had the sisters not been twins. In some ways they are complete opposites but they are both ver obsessive characters.
I found this a very modern thriller and I enjoyed it. Not too happy with the ending though.

Callie and Tilda are twins, but not necessarily as close or similar as people expect them to be. Tilda is a drama queen, whilst Callie is quiet, lacking in confidence, often observing from the sidelines; she is, however, completely obsessed with Tilda, and has some peculiar if not revolting, habits with she uses in order to feel closer to Tilda. She also keeps a dossier on Tilda, recording every tiny detail of her sister's life.

They are now twenty-seven years old – keep repeating that to yourself - Callie works in a bookshop, Tilda is an actress who has now married rich, handsome Felix, with whom she is besotted. Felix, however, is a control freak, which worries and torments Callie, who suspects Felix of being physically violent towards Tilda.

So here we have a triangle, and we know it's going to end in tears; the clues are all there, sprinkled in among the often clunky writing. I had to keep reminding myself that this was written by an adult for an adult audience, as so often it's quite juvenile in its writing. I also had to keep in mind that these twins are twenty-seven years old, as their behaviour, Callie's especially, is more like that of teenagers. Callie, although she suspects Felix of harming her sister, jumps at his invitation to dinner in the poshest hotel in London, and this is what she says to him (bear in mind her age):

“Working with nice people is high-up....and not being stressed.....” Can anyone explain what the first part of that sentence means?

Why is there a need to explain that an American pronounces the word British is “Briddish”? Totally unnecessary. Later on Callie has a “riveting idea”. Yes, really. Callie tells us that Tild and Felix are off to Santorini for a week, then adds “It's a Greek island, apparently.” She's twenty-seven!

“Do you work at a hospital? Is that why you have to work on a Saturday?” - this is the question Callie asks an old schoolfriend who is now a doctor. This is something a five year old might say, not an adult. When Callie learns that her Boss's new boyfriend's works in marketing at a pharmaceutical company, her reply is:

“With a beard...?”
Seriously?

We are overloaded with detail right down to the brand of make-up Callie uses, her clothes and on and on.

I was totally disinterested in her conversations online with victims of domestic abuse, and why, oh why, would a grown woman pay £120 just to ask a few questions online! I wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled. She is so stupid, and sneaky, nosey and irrational. This tale is told in the ever popular back and forth in the first few chapters; always in present tense, always from Callie's point of view.

Stilted dialogue, cardboard characters, clunky writing, several inconsistencies and a see-through plot all make for a silly book with a silly title

This book had me hooked from the start as I like reading about sibling relationships especially when the main characters are twins. It was obvious from the start that Callie and Tilda had an unusual and complicated relationship,

I particularly enjoyed the many twists and turns in the story and was satisfied that all the loose ends were tied up. I loved the references to Strangers on a Train and thought that the author kept it all within the realms of possibility. I’d definitely recommend White Bodies and would read more by Jane Robbins.

Written with a pace of prose, this novel is based on twin sisters, Callie and Tilda. Callie is dominated by self-doubt, stuck in an undemanding job without prospects, and has lived from childhood trying to absorb shadowy fragments of her sister’s vibrancy. In contrast, Tilda is socially adept, confident, and a successful actor on the cusp of international acclaim. When Tilda introduces Callie to her new boyfriend, Felix, a rich American who is totally in control of even the minutest detail of his life, it appears to be the perfect context in which a bout of sibling jealousy could lead to disastrous consequences. And consequences there inevitable is. In the prologue the reader is given a brief glance of those consequences: Felix is lying in his coffin and Callie is expecting an invitation anytime soon from the police to help "assist them with their enquiries".
However, the author isn’t going to allow the reader off that easily. Callie is rather too fond of her cans of beer, and increasingly exploited by a belief in the infallibility of Internet postings made by women obsessed with violent misogyny. Whereas Tilda’s world is methodically dismantled and rebuilt to Felix’s exacting standards.
Suddenly, at least in Callie’s estimation, it is her sister who is the vulnerable half of the twinship.
Told from the perspective of Callie, the narrative catches you on a hook, and relentlessly pulls you into the murky depths of mental instability until you are totally submerged in an ocean of despair, not knowing who is holding you down on the seabed, or who is throwing you a lifeline of hope. It’s a conundrum that won’t be resolved until the last sentence, and it is a journey that will take you along a path that will have you questioning every turn until the final destination is revealed.
If you liked "The Girl on the Train" then you’ll love "White Bodies". But don’t be mistaken into thinking that Jane Robins has written just another formula genre book. She hasn’t. This is a carefully crafted novel. It will have even the most ardent psychological thriller aficionado unsure of the principal character’s motives, and as each subtle plot twist unfolds, reality and the musings of a troubled mind entwine to become indistinguishable. Your fingers will be itching to turn the page.
In the United Kingdom this novel is scheduled to be released on 28th December 2017. Pre-order it today, you’ll enjoy the read — and realise how lucky you are.

Plenty of twists and thought provoking moments around the unsettling relationship between two sisters.

‘He’s so handsome and clever and romantic. I just wished he hadn’t forced Tilda under the water and held her there so long.’
If that doesn’t grab you and make you want to read this book immediately then I don’t know what will. This is essentially the story of the relationship between. sisters Callie and Tilda and having sisters myself I could relate to much of it but not the creepy, obsessive behaviour of young Callie which made me feel quite queasy. From the opening chapter you know where the story will be headed but the journey there is well worth taking and may not go the route you expect. This was an absorbing read and very credible, which is a chilling thought.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book covers the obsession between two sisters, Callie and Tilda. Callie is obsessed with her attractive and successful sister. As children Callie would eat things that were Tilda's but as they became adults she was able to suppress this need and instead she documents her sister every move, following and examining her life and decisions. One day Callie's life is disrupted when Tilda's new boyfriend Felix is thrown into the mix. Callie fears that Felix is bad for her sister and she gets drawn into the dark world of domestic violence chatrooms and internet Trolls.

Before I started this book I checked out the reviews on Goodreads which were quite mixed so I was a little hesitant. However not long into the book I could see that the story was good and very well written. I didn't spot the twist until it was upon. If you are unsure then give this book a go and you may be surprised.

Good book. Would recommend it. I liked the storyline and the strong characters. A real page turner.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Jane Robins for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

I enjoyed this book immensely - I thought it was a well written, twisty tale. I didn't really like either of the twins and some of the actions of one of them made me cringe. I found it very readable and was satisfied with the conclusion. Recommended.