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Kit Caldwell's twin sister, Cat, mysteriously disappears at the age of seven. Besides being convinced that fairies kidnapped Cat, Kit's only other recollections of her twin's cryptic departure are etched in recurring nightmares. Fifteen years later, Kit attends a Halloween party and meets a gal who calls herself Cat, relays confidential information—including Kit's serious health issues—and then warns her of impending danger. Kit also meets David, and the two seem to hit it off until David's behavior shifts into that of "a crazed, obsessive stalker." To complicate matters, Kit keeps receiving bone-chilling riddles linked to her sister. Tired of all the suspense, Kit determines to find the truth about Cat, even if it means risking her own life.
Michelle Pariza Wacek spins a page-turning and twisted tale in her debut paranormal thriller novel. Readers will soon discover that her main character is not the only one shrouded in mystery. Indeed, Wacek's first-person narrative is replete with quite an elusive, but well-defined, cast. While there is a small handful of players who appear to have their act together, many are designed not only as foils intended to bring out the best as well as the worst in Kit, but also as red herrings. They have passive-aggressive issues, vacillating between genuine kindness and concern to downright patronization, greed, and, in some cases, blatant manipulation. Readers undoubtedly will find themselves in a quandary when attempting to identify culprits. Wacek adds even more to the confusion by setting the plot's backdrop to a consistent foreboding mood, which is reflected in the seasons, weather, and time of day. Well-written and gripping from beginning to end, The Stolen Twin is a must read mystery.
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