The Likeness
Encyclopedia
The Likeness is a 2008 mystery novel by Tana French
. The story follows the efforts of Cassie Maddox, a character from French's 2007 work In the Woods
, to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of a young woman who is her doppelgänger
. In 2009 the book was shortlisted for the first annual Ireland AM Crime Fiction Award
.
praised the "elegance and insight" of French's writing and described the book as "a brilliant thriller, beautifully written." Laura Miller of Salon.com
included the book among the ten on the Salon Book Awards 2008, writing that "The hypnotic prose and eerie atmosphere conspire to make this ostensible mystery novel much, much more than it appears to be." In a more critical vein, Janet Maslin
of the New York Times commented that French "could have achieved the same effects much more succinctly in a more tightly edited version of this same story. But Cassie herself remains a strong enough character to sustain interest."
Tana French
Tana French is an Irish novelist and theatrical actress. Her debut novel In the Woods , a psychological mystery, won the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity, and Barry awards for best first novel...
. The story follows the efforts of Cassie Maddox, a character from French's 2007 work In the Woods
In the Woods
In the Woods is a 2007 mystery novel by Tana French about a pair of Irish detectives and their investigation of the murder of a twelve year old girl...
, to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of a young woman who is her doppelgänger
Doppelgänger
In fiction and folklore, a doppelgänger is a paranormal double of a living person, typically representing evil or misfortune...
. In 2009 the book was shortlisted for the first annual Ireland AM Crime Fiction Award
Irish Book Awards
The Irish Book Awards is an annual Irish literary award given to books and authors in various categories. It is the only literary award supported by all-Irish bookstores. First awarded in 2006, they grew out of the Hughes & Hughes bookstore's Irish Novel of the Year Prize which was inaugurated in...
.
Critical Reception
The Irish IndependentIrish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
praised the "elegance and insight" of French's writing and described the book as "a brilliant thriller, beautifully written." Laura Miller of Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
included the book among the ten on the Salon Book Awards 2008, writing that "The hypnotic prose and eerie atmosphere conspire to make this ostensible mystery novel much, much more than it appears to be." In a more critical vein, Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin is an American journalist, best known as a film and literary critic for The New York Times. She served as the Times film critic from 1977–1999.- Biography :...
of the New York Times commented that French "could have achieved the same effects much more succinctly in a more tightly edited version of this same story. But Cassie herself remains a strong enough character to sustain interest."