Imposter Syndrome by Joseph Knox.is a thriller about Lynch, a conman who has left Paris and arrived in London luggage, Where he meets Bobbie who mistakes him for her brother who went missing 5 years ago.

This is one of those novels that tries to do two things at once and fails at them, leaving a mediocre novel which could have been so much better.

This is because Imposter Syndrome by Joseph Knox could have been a classic thriller with lots of action, that would have kept readers engrossed all the way through.

Or it could have gone the more literary way and developed into a well plotted novel which was more suspense than action.

There were times when the novel did both, however after reading the book while the premise was interesting. The actual execution was neither one or the other, meaning it felt a bit like what I have just read.

As the novel never gave me the action from a quick reading thriller or the cerebral enjoyment of a well crafted literary thriller.

In addition the setting of the novel was in London the week Queen Elizebet died again there seemed to be no reason for this that added to the story whatsoever.

As a reader if your going to give a book an Iconic moment in time then make it a significant part of the plot.

All this added to the general disappointment with Imposter Syndrome by Joseph Knox, a novel which offered so much but failed to deliver.

Imposter Syndrome by Joseph Knox reminded me a little of Isaka Kōtarō’s work (Bullet Train, The Mantis), with a con man as its main protagonist who gets entangled in an even bigger con; it is memorable for its fast pace and unreliable, eccentric characters, but doesn’t feel quite as clever as True Crime Story.

A first for me by Joseph Knox. I was really looking forward to this as the synopsis was really appealing. However, it became too convoluted and confusing about half way through and I found it quite a chore to keep up. In the end, I found it disappointing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers, Random House for this ARC.

I was really excited to get stuck into this one as I really enjoyed True Crime Story.
Sadly, it didn’t quite work for me. I initially set it aside after a few chapters because it didn’t pull me in, but I recently decided to give it another try and push through. Overall, the writing was great as you’d expect from Knox but it just didn’t work for me.

The plot seemed to drag at times and felt overly complex, which didn’t help. I also struggled to connect with any of the characters, so I wasn’t particularly invested in what happened to them. I think I may have set the bar too high after the author’s previous book, which only added to my disappointment.

I won’t rule the author out because I’ve loved their other stuff but this one wasn’t a favourite.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for ARC.

Grifter Lynch is down on his luck when he returns to the UK from France. Searching for something, anything, to keep him moving, when he bumps into a woman called Bobbie and she seems to mistake him for her missing brother, he's got an eye for the main chance.
When he gets sucked into the wealthy family's web, he doesn't need too much persuasion to impersonate the missing Heydon in an attempt to find out his fate. Needless to say, all is not what it seems and the danger to Lynch is very real.
There is a lot going on, possibly too much for the reader as well as the protagonist, and Lynch's motivation for his disappearance from his own previous life is sketchy which may allow the reader to reserve empathy for him. There is an awful lot of shadowy money and paramilitary style security, but for all I know that's how the 0.01% live. However, Knox excels at keeping the twists going as the plot plunges forward at dizzying rates.

Apologies for late review - previous post seems to have been lost in the ether.

Joseph Knox has done it again I loved it - the shades of Ripley made it such an engrossing read. Tense, clever and dark, just what I wanted in a thriller. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really wanted to love this as I really did love True Crime Story. Unfortunately this just didn't work for me. I started it weeks ago and gave up quite quickly as I just wasn't enjoying it. I picked it up again recently and forced my way through it but found it very much ok.. A bit gutted - maybe I just enjoyed his previous book TOO much so this eflt like a let down to me!

Have lived everything Jospeh Knox has written and this was no different. Great set up and premise, which leads you into a powerful pacy plot.

If you've read Joseph Knox before, you'll know one of the joys is that predicting his storylines is futile. Each path leads to unexpected places, connecting plot lines that take you in completely new directions, and revealing hidden layers where solid ground once seemed. It is also possibly the best opening chapter that I have ever read, bold statement I know!

I didn't get very far with this book. I do not like the style of writing and there are words missed out. It just didn't grab me.

This was quite a ‘busy’ book with a lot going on

I enjoyed the read but there was a lot of characters and what seems like different story lines
Quite complicated but I enjoyed it

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book 😊

“Imposter syndrome” is a thriller set in London, where a man named Lynch (who is also a con artist) is hired by Bobbie, an Heiress, to pretend to be her missing and presumably dead son, Heydon Pierce. In doing that, they will take part - against their will - in a series of twisted events…

Unfortunately, I struggled to finish this book and had to skim read the last 20% or so. I had trouble connecting to the characters: I didn’t find any specific personality traits that I could get attached to, thus had trouble differentiating them. I also felt very disconnected to this novel and did not really feel many emotions at all, which is a shame as I was very intrigued at the start.

I don’t think this book (and potentially this author) is for me, although if you like them, you might enjoy this book. I might give a shot to “True Crime Story”, the other book by this author, but it’s not my priority right now.

Very enjoyable thriller, with strong characters, and twisted plot. The story takes place over a short time frame which adds to the complexity of the narrative and keeps the book speeding forward. Recommended.

A con artist, an heiress, and a missing doppelgänger!

Lynch, a seasoned con artist, finds himself fleeing Paris in a rush, though the reasons for his hasty departure remain a mystery—for now. Arriving in London without a penny and no clear plan, he crosses paths with Bobbie, an heiress from an extremely wealthy family who struggles with addiction. Her brother Heydon also battled his demons before mysteriously disappearing five years ago.

When Bobbie sees Lynch, she’s stunned by his uncanny resemblance to her missing brother. On the verge of heading to rehab in the States, Bobbie presents Lynch with a curious proposition. It seems like a lucrative opportunity, especially given his desperate circumstances, but it soon leads him into dangerous territory—plunging him into a life-or-death situation.

This is a well-crafted and engaging story that keeps you hooked as the plot darkens and the stakes rise.

I loved True Crime Story so had been looking forward to giving this one a go!

The premise was very intriguing but unfortunately it felt like there was just too much going on to the point that I lost interest.

I think I had excepted something much more fast paced but actually, the slower pacing of this story is what lost me in the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Having loved true crime story, I thought the author had a unique writing style and this was proved correct with this book

Told from the viewpoint of Lynch, a conman, you get a real feel for the dark side of the story

This book made my head spin. There were so many twists and turns in this book and the author packed the book. Normally I’d like this. But studying for my exams I felt I didn’t truly appreciate the book for its worth so will definitely be rereading this very soon. It was such a clever book and I want to appreciate it for its fullest

It is a very twisty, dramatic con artist chasing novel!

Overall, despite my own brain, this was great psychological read and I would highly recommend

"Imposter Syndrome" by Joseph Knox is a dark, intense, and intricately plotted thriller that delves deep into the psyche of its characters. Knox’s writing is razor-sharp, capturing the tension and paranoia that comes with the constant fear of being exposed as a fraud. The novel brilliantly explores the theme of imposter syndrome, weaving it into a suspenseful narrative filled with unexpected twists and moral ambiguity. The protagonist’s internal struggle is palpable, making their journey through a world of deception and lies all the more gripping. Knox’s ability to create a sense of unease and dread keeps readers on the edge of their seats, making "Imposter Syndrome" a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers that explore the darker aspects of human nature. It's a story that will leave you questioning what is real and who can be trusted, long after you turn the last page.

An interesting read, Clever and intriguing. A con man escaping from his past gets caught up in a family tragedy and is encouraged to impersonate their son to find answers as to his alleged suicide.
It was a gripping read although I did get a little lost at times, there are so many characters so keeping track was a little confusing. On the whole it was worth reading to the end as the twists were intense.

I had mixed feelings on this book. The first half I enjoy a lot but my interest flagged more and more from then on. The ending was a bit of a disappointment. A big buildup in the storyline only to be let down by weak ending.

I am a big fan of the Adrian Waits series so was really looking forward to this new one .
It was a well written edge of your seat thriller . Kept you guessing right to the end
Thumbs up from me !

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review