Debut author Marlee Bush bursts onto the scene with a purpose in this lightning bolt of a psychological thriller. It is obvious that Bush is a fan of the genre and is well-read in it as she takes some seemingly common tropes from these types of stories and turns the tables on them in WHEN SHE WAS ME.

Twin sisters Cassie and Lenora are extremely close. They have experienced some traumatic events that have bonded them even further than one normally would expect from twins. Their past weighs so heavily on their present that they have chosen to live a clandestine and sedentary life in a cabin located in the middle of the wilderness.

"Bush tells this story with a deft hand and maintains a cryptic, suspenseful narrative that appears to come from a writer with years of experience."

Their new home is simply known as Cabin Two, and the intimate chapters are told primarily from either Cassie or Lenora’s point of view. They have settled into their new lives but fear change. Unfortunately for them, change will come in a big way. They learn that the recently deceased owner of the property has had the entire Tennessee campground sold off by family members. Although their new landlord, Sarah, seems okay, they have no guarantee that she will allow them to stay there.

A family of three who are complete outsiders temporarily occupy Cabin Three. Cassie and Lenora take a liking to the teenage member of the family in different ways. Cassie is a bit more outgoing and interacts with Tilly, while the more reclusive Lenora watches her mostly from afar. There is one thing that both sisters can agree on: they don’t trust Tilly’s parents. And when news of Tilly’s sudden disappearance becomes public knowledge, they are more than ready to share their concerns with both Sarah and local law enforcement.

Suspicion will fall in the direction of Cassie and Lenora, especially when anyone who uncovers their past makes it a news item. Lenora still sees a therapist regularly, which is an obvious concern to her overprotective sister. Throughout the book, we explore chapters that detail some past history between Cassie and Lenora and the dark experience that may impact this missing person's case in negative ways.

Bush tells this story with a deft hand and maintains a cryptic, suspenseful narrative that appears to come from a writer with years of experience. WHEN SHE WAS ME tackles many great elements of both mysteries and psychological thrillers, and she makes the most out of each and every one of them. Whenever you have protagonists or antagonists who are twins, there always will be that air of suspicion and knowledge that you may be getting their version of what is to be taken for reality rather than what is actually happening. Bush is at her best in these moments as readers are sure to feel for Cassie and Lenora while trying to figure out what roles they might have played in this confounding crime.

This tense story, full of atmosphere and deep wilderness claustrophobia, will please mystery and thriller fans to no end.