The Echo Wife

An engaging and insightful near-future mystery, depicting a love story gone wrong. The question of what exactly defines a human is one of the central issues in this excellent novel.

An exciting near-future thriller describing the predicament of a woman who suspects her husband may have impregnated someone else, that shouldn’t be able to get pregnant, given what she is...

This book is a prime example of what a psychological suspense thriller should be! By far, it’s my favorite thriller read so far this year. Also, my brain is fried. SO GOOD.

This book poses an unthinkable question: what can you do when your husband replaces you with your identical clone? This is what happens to our protagonist Evelyn, a successful scientist who creates Martine, her genetically created clone. Evelyn's husband Nathan is unhappy with his wife's attitudes and how she prioritizes her work in science (where she kicks ass). So he ends up having an affair with the clone his wife created and wats a divorce, especially because the clone is pregnant!

And if that wasn't enough of crazy, Nathan gets seriously hurt and the identical women need to figure out the unthinkable...

This was insane. Fascinating page-turner and definitely a book that cannot be put down. There were so many puzzles, questions and twists I couldn't wait to uncover the truth!

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh this is such a good Domestic Thriller with the perfect blend of Sci-fi to keep you on your toes. Sarah Gailey really knows how to world build. First things first lets talk Science. I have made no secret that I am a Scientist and I get picky when science/scientists are portrayed in books and this books science is excellent. I usually find scientists portrayed in two ways, quiet and unobtrusive or insane. Evelyn our main character is neither of these she is nuanced and flawed and human. She engages in small talk, has friends - even if she shuns them. My only gripe is it does perpetuate the - you have to dedicate everything to your work as forgo all life and relationships in order to be successful in science - stereotype which as a research scientist myself, that is fighting against my life must be science and only science mentality, this is slightly harmful view. But this is my only gripe at this book.

The proposed science itself is beautifully crafted, described and believable without being overwhelming to those more interested in the domestic thriller aspects than the science fiction. The characters and there relationships are just as delicately sculpted. There is something so enticing about Evelyn and Martine's relationship as Martine is essentially a tweaked version of Evelyn. There is some real depth to Evelyn's backstory that parallels and plays into Martine's in a really gorgeous. It is just filled with emotional resonance.

I couldn't predict how the plot would play out and the dark depths it would explore. It really builds, taking its time, drawing out the suspense while asking some really deep questions of what it is to be an individual? I think it is an excellent book if you are a Domestic thriller fan or a sci-fi fan alike.

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2021/02/18/the-echo-wife-by-sarah-gailey/
My Five Word TL:DR Review : A Tardis of a Book!

Yes, this book, much like a Tardis (if such a thing existed) is an absolute wonder. Take roughly 250 pages and convert them into a fascinating and compelling, character driven story that is chillingly calculated, full of surprises and incredibly thought provoking. I simply don’t know how Gailey, did it. There aren’t enough pages here to fit in this amount of story the maths just doesn’t add up. So, yes, think Tardis and prepare to be surprised because once you open the cover to this number, you’re in for a real treat and plenty to explore.

I will keep my summary of the plot to the minimum. Evelyn is an ambitious woman, incredibly intelligent and successful in the scientific field of cloning. Her marriage to Nathan has lost some of it’s sparkle, the long nights and constant work eventually taking their toll and Nathan has ‘sort of’ moved on. By which I mean, he’s stolen his wife’s research to create himself the perfect wife. And, it’s not like he doesn’t love Eveyln, he does, enough to make his new wife a perfect replica just without a few bits and pieces here and there that he found irritating – like her work taking precedence over him for example. His new wife will not be confrontational, she will be the perfect homemaker and she won’t baulk at the idea of starting a family the way Evelyn did. Things are going to be just swell. Except maybe they won’t.

Now, to be fair to other readers I’m not going to elaborate further on the plot because I really do think that would spoil the fun. This is an easy read. Quite simple in many respects. A small cast of characters, a small world view because we pretty much stay within the confines of the the characters’ homes or workplace and some fairly thinly drawn science in a world set in a very close future to our own And, when I say ‘thinly drawn science’ I sincerely mean this as the deepest compliment because I don’t want to be overwhelmed about discussions regarding the whys and wherefores, I just want enough to help me form a picture and move on.

So, in no particular order (because I’m going to let my mind ramble at will) the following elements are what really worked for me.

Firstly, I really enjoyed that the story is told by Evelyn. I like the way she narrates and includes little pieces of childhood memories to help draw a clearer picture of who she really is. To be fair, she’s probably not the most lovable person in some respects. She’s very motivated and hasn’t taken the time over the years to foster other relationships. Basically, she has few relatives and fewer friends Nathan is the only person she has allowed in and so when the two split she has no one else to share her new found success with. But, and you will discover through the childhood memories that she shares, Evelyn has learnt to disguise her feelings, no crying, no apologising, no hysterics here. Instead, she is calm and calculated and perfectly in control.

Martine is not just ‘the other woman’ she’s a perfect copy of Evelyn and she needs help. You could be forgiven for thinking that Evelyn would be disinclined to help Martine in her hour of need, but, Evelyn’s research would be compromised if the sordid details of Nathan’s betrayal were discovered and so instead, Evelyn and Martine work together to find a solution. Martine is a wonderful creation and one of the many levels of deceptiveness within the story. She’s innocent, almost like a small child in terms of her naivety and experience. Created to be a docile ‘yes’ version of the original wife she should have no real agency or control and yet she reacts to events in ways that are unexpected and in fact puzzling in that they simply shouldn’t be possible. She raises a whole new world of questions and theories for Evelyn that warrant further investigation.

I think the pacing is excellent and I loved the way the opening chapters led me completely in the wrong direction. This is so much more than a book about failed relationships and extra marital affairs or divorce It’s about identity, it takes a look at how far a person might go in the pursuit of perfection and whether this might lead them to behave horrendously. It recognises that we are changing all the time, that we’re not the same person today that we were yesterday but at the same time it calls into question how much freedom of choice we really have, are we slowly becoming like our parents, their personalities becoming more obvious little by little. Can we, with the implementation of science truly make changes to a person’s character or will their real nature eventually break free. And, should we even be trying to make such advances? Is cloning ethical – and will it all boil down to the pursuit of perfection?

Basically, this book made me think so many things. Was Evelyn innocent in all this? Certainly reading about some of the practices that took place within the laboratory give me considerable pause for thought on that count. Nathan – well, the true extent of his moral decline eventually becomes shockingly apparent but I couldn’t help thinking that they’d both made hard choices – admittedly for different reasons and also, certainly for Evelyn, in the name of science – but still, very tough calls that maybe should never have been made.

Then there’s all the quirky little extras thrown in that you either pick up on or not – they don’t affect the story so much but I just like them even though I’m sure to have missed plenty along the way. Like Evelyn the first wife and the prototype of Nathan’s machinations – named for Eve?? And, I can’t really give away more but even Nathan’s name plays into later twists in the most ironic way.

I also loved the ending – and this might be me really reading too much into things but were Evelyn and Martine turning into strange versions of Evelyn’s parents?

In terms of criticisms. To be honest, I don’t really have anything except that in terms of the science and the plot you have to suspend your disbelief, a little bit. Don’t try to scrutinise things too minutely, just go with the flow and enjoy the intrigue.

Overall I found this a chilling tale. It’s a very entertaining read on the one hand, and on the other, it’s a story with a message. Once you set foot on the long and winding road of the morally dubious you may set into motion a series of events that become darker and darker with each successive step. Long story short, be careful what you wish for because no matter how good the science may look, nature always finds a way.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

It's more than just a thriller, it's about alienation and the oppression of marriage, and how to free yourself from it. Utterly excellent.

<blockquote>It was one of the things that made my work legal and ethical: each duplicative clone was an island, incapable of reproduction, isolated and, ultimately, disposable. It was bedrock. Clones don't have families. [loc. 468]</blockquote>
<p>Excellent, dark and thought-provoking novel from the author of <a href="http://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2018/02/201805-river-of-teeth-sarah-gailey.html"><i>River of Teeth</i></a> and <a href="http://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2018/02/201806-taste-of-marrow-sarah-gailey.html"><i>Taste of Marrow</i></a>. The first-person narrator of <i>The Echo Wife</i> -- a scientific genius and a woman who has put her career before everything -- is a compelling creation, and the story unfolds as weightily as a Greek tragedy.</p><p>Evelyn Caldwell has devoted her life to perfecting the process of human cloning. She's happiest in the laboratory, though her dedication has cost her her marriage. Nathan, her former husband, was also involved in Evelyn's research, but his work was slapdash and he didn't seem to appreciate how much science meant to his wife. Now he's left her for another woman ... or, rather, for another version of Evelyn herself. Martine, the clone, has been created by Nathan in secret, using Evelyn's research: he's taken shortcuts, and he's made one major variation to the template.</p><p>The cloning technology developed by Evelyn, and especially the mechanisms by which a clone's personality is written into their neurological framework, is described in vague terms: 'how' is not the focus of the story. The description of conditioning, the process of inflicting wounds on a clone to mimic the original's scars and fractures, is more germane, because <i>The Echo Wife</i> is, in part, a novel about the nature/nurture debate. Are humans simply the sum of their genetics and physiology, or are they changed by their environment and their history? The whole cloning industry implies the former, but the clones Evelyn creates are never intended to last for long, or to procreate. They're certainly not supposed to <u>change</u>.</p><p>Evelyn herself is the product of her experiences: a cold, emotionally (and physically?) abusive father, a self-effacing mother, and the tension between them; her marriage to Nathan, and her decision to abort a pregnancy; the long-healed fracture in her wrist. None of those factors should be able to affect Martine -- who didn't get the 'conditioning' that a standard, body-double clone would get -- and Martine should not be able to deviate from the way she's been programmed. Evelyn notes, with distaste, that Nathan designed Martine to need him, and to give him what the original Evelyn couldn't. Does that make Martine a different person? Is she a person at all?</p><p>One of the most interesting aspects of this novel is that it's a first-person narrative told by a complex, and not necessarily sympathetic, character. Evelyn keeps telling us (or herself) that she's not a monster, that she is rational and justified and objective: but she is the sum of her experiences, and the child of her parents. She can't help comparing herself to Martine, but she doesn't want to accept their similarities -- or their differences, which should not exist.</p> <p>The relationship between Evelyn and her clone is claustrophobic, mother/daughter, scientist/subject, abusive and loving. I'm not sure, even after rereading, which of them is the monster, which of them is human; which is the voice and which the echo; which of them has broken free of her conditioning. But I am certain that there are real monsters here.</p>
<p>Thanks to Netgalley for this advance review copy.</p>

I read this in one day, absolutely devoured it.

W O W.

Brilliantly done. Amazing characterisation is the foundation for this book, that and the incredible writing. Definitely one of my top reads of the year so far.

Thanks to the publisher an author as this was a free arc received on goodreads and it was amaze balls!

The Echo Wife is the kind of book that you don’t want to stop reading but also want to savour slowly. The start is slow, but as soon as Evelyn’s clone, Martine, is introduced this book became addicting. There was such an interesting relationship between the two that would have made the book worth reading even without the rest of the plot, and the way they interact with each other and react to each other makes for a very compelling read. There was multiple times whilst reading this that I thought the story had wrapped up, but the author really didn't hold back with the plot twists. So much of this book was an exploration of morals and ethics that has you questioning constantly who is in the right and whose actions are justified in an accessible sci fi setting, with twists that make it a very intense thriller.

I loved this quirky little tale .
Nathan has left his wife Evelyn for another woman - well not quite - increasingly unhappy because Evelyn doesn't want children - he decides to create a clone of Evelyn who will be more than happy to have a family with him. However all does not according to plan - Be careful what you wish for Nathan !!
Brilliant

Thank You NetGalley fir an ARC in return for an honest review

I absolutely gobble up anything by Sarah Gailey, and The Echo Wife was no exception. I read it in just under 24 hours, finding it hard to put down. It was deeply unsettling in places, but very intriguing - with contemplation given to the standard fare in cloning tales (what makes a human, how we come to be who we are). Whilst the plot is more medium-paced for a thriller, the intensity is character-driven - their evolution is what propels the reader along through the narrative.
I've seen some comparisons in other reviews to Blake Crouch, who I'm a big fan of - and this definitely gave me that same driving undercurrent of suspense, making this the type of book you want to read in one sitting.
4.5 rounded up to 5.

WOW!! This book triumphed all expectations! This is definitely my kind of story - a sci-fi thriller but with elements of horror.

Evelyn is an award winning scientist but her personal life is far from award worthy. Her husband is having an affair.. WITH A CLONED VERSION OF HER!! I know it’s crazyh right?? But trust me it gets crazier!

It’s difficult to review this without giving any spoilers or revealing too much about the plot. So I’m going to keep it short and just tell you to read this book. It will take you on a crazy journey full of twists, clones and murder.

This book would make an incredible (but creepy film). I can’t wait to read more from Sarah Gailey.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Martine is a genetically cloned replica made from Dr Evelyn Caldwell’s award-winning research, and her own DNA. Martine has been conditioned to be everything that Evelyn has been determined all her life to be the opposite of - gentle, soft and obedient. When Evelyn discovers that Martine has been having an affair with her husband, she vows to have nothing more to do with either of them. Until Martine phones her one day and begs for her help...

I was VERY pleasantly surprised with this story and it gets 5 well deserved stars from me! It reminded me a bit of Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter in that it’s futuristic yet super realistic and made me question life as we know it.

The plot of this story is so unique that it immediately piqued my interest and it’s delivered beautifully. Evelyn is a cutthroat, powerful boss that doesn’t take any shit from anyone and I really liked her character. I found it fascinating to compare Evelyn and Martine throughout as although they are genetically the same, their personalities couldn’t be more different. I also very much enjoyed reading about the process of genetic cloning - it blew my mind!

As well as being a generally intriguing read, there are some jaw-dropping twists and shockers that I absolutely didn’t see coming, there was just so much going on in this book and I couldn’t put it down. When I see a book with the genre of ‘sci-fi’ I don’t normally tend to reach for it as it’s not my thing but I’m SO glad I did with this one - it’s simply brilliant and I’m going to look into more of Sarah Gailey’s work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The book is more than it seems, a murder mystery waiting to happen! I like the fact it’s more to the story than meets the eye! Really enjoyed the read

A powerful, tightly-written story that expertly deploys its themes of abuse, trauma and personhood. I really enjoyed how Gailey used the theme of 'echoes'- not explicitly, but in showing the ways in which Martine, Evelyn and Nathan all leave their fingerprints on each other, and the ways in which their personalities grow and distort as they bounce off each other throughout the story. Evelyn especially is a wonderful creation- unlovable, spiky and hard with flashes of empathy and a clinical self awareness that explains, but does not excuse, her actions.

I enjoyed this immensely, and highly recommend it.