Your Life is Mine has everything I love in a book - good writing, compelling characters, and some nice twisty bits. I’m fascinated by cults, and the cult leader, Chuck, found here is perfectly created by Ripley. He has a very Manson-esque quality while remaining unique to this story.

Seeing how multiple lives are ultimately affected by this man’s ideas and manipulation is heartbreaking and fascinating all the time, especially when connections you don’t see at first come to light. I really enjoyed this book and have every intention of reading more by Nathan Ripley in the future.

I received a free e-copy of Your Life is Mine by Nathan Ripley from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my review. ( )

Your Life Is Mine by Nathan Ripley is an engrossing mystery.

Blanche Potter is the daughter of a notorious cult leader who went on a spree killing then committed suicide. She no longer has contact with her mother, Crissy, and Blanche has changed her name in order to keep anyone from knowing her true identity. Which is why she is so angry when Crissy tracks her down in New Orleans where Blanche and her best friend and business partner Jaya Chauhan are filming their latest true crime documentary. Then a few weeks later, she is furious when she is broadsided by a journalist Emil Chadwick who essentially tries to blackmail her into co-operating with his current project. But what really takes Blanche off guard is discovery that Crissy was murdered in her home right after her visit to her daughter. Blanche returns to Stilford, CA where she meets with Officer Dan Maitland to try to learn more information about Crissy's death. But can she trust that Maitland is being completely forthcoming with her? And if he is not, what reason does he have for withholding information?

As a child, Blanche is extremely close with her murderous father, Chuck. He indoctrinates her with his crazy ideas and theories and she is present when he goes on his killing spree in the local mall. Despite numerous visits by social services and police, Blanche remains living with Crissy after Chuck's suicide where her mother continues brainwashing her with her father's philosophies. Blanche's life finally becomes normal in her late teens when she moves in with Jaya and her mother. Blanche wants nothing to do with those long ago events but with Crissy's murder, she has no choice but to try to understand if her mother's death is the end or the beginning of another killing spree.

Blanche has always been very closemouthed about her childhood. She has kept much of her past a secret from Jaya and she tries to keep her friend from becoming mixed up with Crissy's murder. She returns to Stilford by herself and she is immediately assailed by horrifying memories from her childhood. Blanche has no doubt that her mother's murder is tied to the cult, but Dan is quite evasive when she tries to get information from him. Despite not having all of the details, Blanche has absolutely no doubt that Crissy's death is meant to draw her back to Stilford. While waiting to see what will happen next, Jaya unexpectedly shows up and Blanche is eventually forced to tell her friend the painful and devastating truth about her life with Chuck and Crissy.

Although a little slow-paced, Your Life Is Mine is an intriguing mystery with a suspenseful and somewhat dark storyline. Blanche is an interesting character who has worked hard to rise above her tragic childhood. Does the truth about what is happening in the present lie in the detritus of her shattered past? Nathan Ripley provides the answer that this very pivotal question in the novel's absolutely stunning dénouement. I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this compelling mystery to fans of the genre.
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Nathan Ripley's debut novel Find You in the Dark was deliciously dark and creepy. His second novel, Your Life is Mine, is just as dark.

Blanche Potter ran from her past and never returned - until the murder of her mother Crissy. She finally returns to her home - to the town where her father, Chuck Varner, went on a killing spree in a crowded mall. He saw himself as a leader - the head of a self created cult. Blanche grew up listening the doctrine her mother and father espoused. And it looks like Crissy continued the 'teachings' after Chuck's death, keeping Chuck's legacy alive.

Blanche's arrival is immediately met by a police officer who seems intent on not investigating Crissy's death. I was a little surprised that Blanche didn't push harder here. A journalist named Emil who knows who knows Blanche really is, is also there - intent on using Blanche's life to write an exposé.

Your Life is Mine is driven by Blanche, but Emil is also given a voice. He too has more than a few issues with his parent.

Blanche ran, but you can't escape that kind of upbringing. She is mentally scarred, scars she has kept hidden from her best friend Jaya. Ripley does a good job of imagining how a survivor of such an upbringing might turn out. How her outlook on life might be, what paths in life she might choose, what relationships might look like after such trauma. The relationship between Blanche and Jaya goes into much detail. Despite her past, I did find it hard to connect with Blanche. I found myself drawn more to Jaya.

Just as disturbing are the 'lessons' and 'wisdom' that Chuck preached. But they are topped by those willing to buy into his vision. This is unfortunately not far-fetched at all.

Ripley gives us some twists along the way to the final conclusion. There are some clues along the way, so they weren't completely unexpected. The build up to an inevitable, final confrontation keeps building and takes most of the book. I did find the resolution happened much quicker than I expected and the speed of those final chapters left me slightly underwhelmed with the conclusion.

Ripley's writing is very readable. I liked the first book better, but will absolutely read what he writes next. ( )