Imposter Syndrome

by Joseph Knox
Imposter Syndrome cover
Good Books rating 4.12
Thriller/Suspense
Technical:
  • ID: 288
  • Added: 2025-09-07
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9781529927474
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2024-07-11
  • Formats: 20
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99 Hardback • £18.99

Lynch, a broken con-artist, arrives in London trying to escape his past but is drawn into a perilous game when Bobbie, a rehab-bound heiress, mistakes him for her missing brother. Offered a chance to assume the brother's identity to uncover a deadly secret, Lynch finds himself caught in a web of lies and danger he cannot con his way out of. Joseph Knox delivers a razor-sharp, fast-paced psychological thriller with sharp dialogue and Ripley-like vibes. The story explores themes of deception, identity, and trust, with richly crafted characters and unexpected twists that keep readers hooked from start to finish.

Reviews
FullyBooked2017 · 2025-09-07
compelling 4.10

The novel is appreciated for its Chandleresque complexity and blend of conspiracy, crime fiction, and psychological thriller elements, with intriguing plot twists and a gritty atmosphere.

This reviewer draws attention to the intricate, complex plot filled with crime, conspiracy, and cryptocurrency scams, praising Joseph Knox's ability to weave a Chandler-style noir with modern elements. They admire the protagonist Lynch's reluctant immersion into a dangerous game involving powerful enemies and shadowy organizations, highlighting the tension and moral questions raised by the story. The reviewer also reflects on Lynch's motivations and the realistic portrayal of his decisions under pressure, which adds depth to the thriller.

Quick quotes

    The plot is of Chandleresque complexity ... conspiracy, Crypto Currency, Englisg Crime Fiction, Imposter Syndrome, Joseph Knox, Thriller.

    Lynch makes no claim to be the missing Heydon, but Miranda has a use for him.

    He has discovered that he is dealing with some very powerful and resourceful people who... will find him and settle scores.

Life With All The Books · 2025-09-07
gripping 4.00

The book is a gripping thriller filled with secrets, danger, and deception, where the protagonist is drawn deeper into a perilous identity game with deadly consequences.

The reviewer is captivated by the tension and complexity of the story, noting how Lynch’s journey into impersonating a missing person leads to a web of danger he cannot simply talk his way out of. They emphasize the emotional and psychological depth Knox achieves, as Lynch navigates a family embroiled in secrets and dark forces, making the stakes feel truly life or death. The reviewer found this aspect compelling and appreciated the layered storytelling that keeps readers hooked.

Quick quotes

    We are thrown into the life of Lynch and suddenly caught up in a web of secrets, lies and danger.

    When Bobbie leaves for rehab, he finds himself drawn to her luxurious family home, and into a meeting with her mother, the formidable Miranda.

    For the first time, Lynch is in a life or death situation he can’t lie his way out of.

BooksThatSlay · 2025-09-07
intriguing 4.25

The novel is praised for its taut psychological thriller elements revolving around identity, deception, and the need to belong, with a chilling meditation on truth and performance.

This review highlights how Joseph Knox masterfully builds 'Imposter Syndrome' as a psychological thriller that blurs reality and identity. The narrative's focus on a drifter assuming another's life draws readers into a tense exploration of desperation and moral ambiguity, set against a backdrop of wealth and emotional dysfunction. The reviewer appreciates the atmospheric settings between Paris and London and the slow transformation of the unnamed narrator, emphasizing the novel's deep themes about truth and the dangers of being truly seen.

Quick quotes

    Imposter Syndrome by Joseph Knox is a taut, psychological thriller built on the slippery terrain of identity, deception, and the need to belong.

    Knox crafts a chilling meditation on truth, performance, and the danger of being seen.

    The story moves through exclusive mansions and broken family histories.

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