The stand in by A.J. Rushby

The stand in is an engrossing thriller that I finished in one sitting. Lena is amazed to find out that there is a girl who looks exactly like her. She and Saskia could be twins, but their lives are completely different. Saskia is rich and the daughter of a wealthy criminal, while Lena’s mother is a single parent, living in a care home funded by a family friend who has been extradited to Poland. This means that the money will run out. When Saskia offers to pay Lena to stand in for her at family events she does not want to attend, Lena finds it hard to turn her down, but each payment means that her mother can stay in her care home and receive the medical attention that she desperately needs. As Saskia’s stand in, Lena finds herself wearing beautiful clothes, attending a wedding in a castle and meeting Saskia’s boyfriend Rhys who she finds very attractive. But her one last job leads her into danger. Will she be able to survive?

Lena is a standout character, who is bright and very loyal to her mother, who has gone through terrible things when she and her cousin went to Amsterdam to work as young women. It is easy to relate to Lena’s decision to play the part of Saskia, as funding her mother’s care is her priority. Lena has never known her father, described as ‘a nothing of a man’ by her mother and is relieved when Saskia orders a DNA test and the doctor reports that they are not related. Rushby’s narrative is suspenseful, leaving the reader worrying about what is going to happen next, and whether Lena will be safe playing the part of a deceitful Saskia while trying to fool her manipulative crime boss father.

This was a very enjoyable, quick read that is not too graphic and one that younger teens are sure to enjoy. The action is fast paced and twisty. Readers who liked The stand in could try The inheritance games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus.

Themes: Thriller, Deception.

Pat Pledger