When an unknown driver hits and kills a student, Detective Marlitt Kaplan happens to be on the University of Georgia campus. The victim, Jay Kemp, is a member of the Kappa Phi Omicron fraternity. While his fellow Kap-Os insist that they are shocked and grief-stricken, Marlitt is convinced they all have something to hide. The story is part police procedural, and part general critique of the college fraternity system. Marlitt has a long-standing grudge against fraternities and all of the avoidable tragedies that happen under their watch. “I collect them,” Marlitt says... “these horrendously sad and never-ending accounts all across the nation, pile up in my memory, and I want to bury the thing at its core.” Her obsession keeps the investigation, and the plot, moving along at a fast pace, even as her fellow officers begin to try and discourage her. She has such a vendetta against the frat brothers, for example—from the “golden boy” chapter president, Tripp Holmes, to Michael Williams, the charming but ruthless son of the university’s president...that her narration tends to become a bit disconcerting. The are a lot of suspenseful scenes, such as the ill-conceived undercover mission at the “Hawaiian nights” party, that keeps the story interesting and the pages turning. There are also many questions that need to be answered. Why did the driver look exactly like the victim? Why was he driving the victim’s car? Why, during the novel’s shocking midway point, does Marlitt wake in the night screaming a language she doesn’t understand or speak? I found this a bit hard to digest but the answers are very surprising, and at times unsatisfying. Overall, it’s a fun read with some surprising twists that will keep you on your toes. It received a 4-star rating because of some of the difficult to believe things that took place...but in no way was it a bad story. I believe the title will offer some clues as you read along. ( )

Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Genre: Thriller

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑰𝒇 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆:
🏫 Dark Academia
👮🏻 Police Procedurals
🏛️ Greek Life (The underbelly)
🤫 Secrets

𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
Wow! First of all, can we talk about cover appreciation?? Such a beautiful book that just is screaming all the fall vibes! Second of all, what a good debut novel! I loved seeing the ugly under belly of Greek life in this one. I was never part of this world when I was in college (I truthfully never understood it), but always imagined it was shiny on the outside but so much lingered under the surface. This book captures just that! I really was invested in what happened to Jay. There were so many potential motives and suspects.

I’m just also in love with Marlitt. Her character was skeptical, aware of her surroundings but also her bias, and oh so determined to discover the truth even when her life and job were on the line! Just bravo!

I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading THE PROFESSOR which just released!
Edit Review ( )

There has been a hit and run on the University of Georgia campus. All of the witnesses say the driver of the vehicle looked just like the victim. Detective Marlitt Kaplan is the first on the scene. She immediately feels there is just something off about this case. Her superior fights her tooth and nail about her theories.

Marlitt is a tough lady. She knows the history of the crimes on campus and the problems with the Greek system. She actually has a past issue with the Greeks and she may be a tad bit biased. Now, there were several times I questioned Marlitt’s judgement. She is definitely on the right track and following her gut. But she just seems to be going against her own self, or rather, she is self destructive.

I loved the setting of an SEC university. And of course…all the fraternity secrets. Made this whole novel for me. Give me a good southern murder, and I am hooked!

I enjoyed the narrator, Saskia Maarleveld. I recently listened to another one with this narrator. She is very talented and did not try to kill a southern accent. HUGE PLUS!

Need a good mystery with a kick…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. ( )

Finally! A book that lives up to its blurb!
Atmospheric? ✓
Reminiscent of The Secret History and The Likeness? ✓ ✓

The Resemblance is a suspenseful police procedural / thriller that explores the dark side of campus Greek life. It has the kind of plot that pulls you in to read just one more chapter, and then another because the tension keeps ratcheting higher with each page turned. There was no point in this where I thought I knew who did it and the ending was a complete surprise.
My thanks to the publisher and Goodreads Giveaways for an advance copy to review. ( )