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Double Identity (The Mélisende Thrillers) Paperback – January 5, 2021

by Alison Morton (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 110 ratings
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Deeply in love, a chic Parisian lifestyle before her. Now Mel’s facing prison for murder.
Three days ago, Mélisende des Pittones threw in her job as an intelligence analyst with the French special forces to marry financial trader Gérard Rohlbert. But her dream turns to heart-breaking nightmare when she wakes to find him dead in bed beside her.

Her horror deepens when Met Police detective Jeff McCracken leading the criminal investigation wants to pin Gérard’s death on her. But Mel will do anything to track down the real killer, even working with the obnoxious McCracken.

As she unpicks her fiancé’s past, she discovers his secret life in a web of international money laundering and terrorism. To dig out the truth, she goes undercover and finds everybody around her is hiding a second self.

Mel can trust nobody. Can she catch the real killer before they terminate her?

A stunning fast-paced thriller from the author of the award-winning Roma Nova series. Fans of Daniel Silva, Stella Rimington and Chris Pavone will love Double Identity.

"Slick and sophisticated, DOUBLE IDENTITY is an action-packed thriller that grabs the reader from the first page and doesn’t let go until the last. A cracking start to Morton’s new series!” – E.M. Powell, author of the Stanton & Barling medieval mysteries
B.R.A.G. Medallion winner
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Mélisende Thrillers
  2. Print length
    338 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    January 5, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.85 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-13
    979-1097310288
Next slide of product details
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The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Slick and sophisticated, DOUBLE IDENTITY is an action-packed thriller that grabs the reader from the first page and doesn't let go until the last. A cracking start to Morton's new series!" - E.M. Powell, International Thriller Writers

Selected for BookBub's Best Reads of March 2021

"This is one of those perfect thrillers that you just cannot put down and you keep turning the pages until you get to the end. Mel is a wonderful new protagonist who is as intelligent and tough as any of the male protagonists out there in other thriller series." - Avonna Loves Genres

"The French feel of the book was brilliant and you can instantly tell the author is from France with just how perfectly written dialogue is (not that I know any French!) This gave the book such a refreshing feel, and this didn't seem to stop the more we get into the book. The way characters are questioned and the way the investigation played out was rather addictive to read, and the author's character creation continued to impress me....A stunningly well put together thriller with just the right balance of action, suspense and even emotion. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!" - A Quintillion Words

"I don't often read thrillers, but when I do I wish they could all be like this one! I was completely hooked by this story and loved every minute. It's gripping and fast-paced, and once you start, you don't want to stop until the very end. I can't wait for the next book in the series!" - Christina Courtenay

About the Author

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers series featuring tough, but compassionate heroines. She blends her deep love of France with six years' military service and a life of reading crime, historical, adventure and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.

"Grips like a vice - a writer to watch out for" says Adrian Magson about Roma Nova series starter INCEPTIO. All six full-length Roma Nova thrillers have won the BRAG Medallion, the prestigious award for indie fiction. SUCCESSIO, AURELIA and INSURRECTIO were selected as Historical Novel Society's Indie Editor's Choices. AURELIA was a finalist in the 2016 HNS Indie Award. The Bookseller selected SUCCESSIO as Editor's Choice in its inaugural indie review.

Now Alison continues to write thrillers and drink wine in France with her husband.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08P1WJKNP
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pulcheria Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 5, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 338 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-1097310288
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.85 x 8 inches
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Mélisende Thrillers
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 110 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Alison Morton

Alison Morton

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Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. She lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her latest two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit.

Her eleven-book Roma Nova thriller series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue

Six years’ military service, a fascinating with ancient Rome and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction have inspired her writing. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.

For the latest news, subscribe to her newsletter and receive 'Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds’ as a thank you gift.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
110 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's pacing engaging, with one review highlighting the nonstop action involving Russian mafia. Moreover, the descriptions are vivid and informative, making it an entertaining read.

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PacingReadabilityDescription quality
4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, with one customer highlighting the nonstop action involving the Russian mafia.

"...The action never stops, the story never slows, and you never want to put the book down until you've finished...." Read more

"...As always, Ms Morton’s dialogue is crisp. As always, her action scenes are plentiful and intense...." Read more

"...The book takes place around the present day and is fast-paced with plenty of twists and turns in the plot...." Read more

"...Plenty of action, twists and turns...." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, with one describing it as an entertaining novel.

"...All in all, a wonderful novel that I can highly recommend." Read more

"...Gordon L I'll put in a plug for the Roma Nova Series. Great reads." Read more

"...The interesting and complex characters range from lovable to likeable to detestable; none are boring...." Read more

"Excellent new book by proven author..." Read more

3 customers mention "Description quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the vivid descriptions and find the book informative and engaging.

"...The author illustrates her characters well in colorful, nuanced descriptions - the ex-military heroine, the traitor, the hard-nosed cop, the..." Read more

"...As always, her action scenes are plentiful and intense. Her descriptions are vivid—from the worn vinyl flooring of the secret centre of operations..." Read more

"...The book is an entertaining and informative page-turned that I highly recommend." Read more

An Award Winning Read
5 out of 5 stars
An Award Winning Read
Double Identity by Alison Morton has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Award.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • A Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Action packed thriller
    Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This exhilarating new thriller from Alison Morton kept me glued to its pages from start to finish. It starts with a young woman, Melisende (Mel), who recently left the French military to marry her fiance, Gerard, but finds him lying dead beside her in bed. The story begins in London where the police initially suspect her of killing Gerard, but moves swiftly to rural France, Brussels, London, and other locations. Mel gets paired with the investigator, McCracken, tasked with finding Gerard's murderer. The action never stops, the story never slows, and you never want to put the book down until you've finished. The nonstop action involves Russian mafia, traitors, bombers, high finance, and illegal arms deals.

    The author illustrates her characters well in colorful, nuanced descriptions - the ex-military heroine, the traitor, the hard-nosed cop, the department head, the financier and his live-in gay lover, and even the French gendarmes who make brief appearances. I think I would recognize them if they walked in my front door.

    All in all, a wonderful novel that I can highly recommend.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Anna B
    4.0 out of 5 stars An adrenaline-laced escape
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The day Mel de Pittones wakes up to a dead man in her bed is the day her life takes a severe turn to the worse. Not only has her lover been murdered, but she is the obvious suspect—at least according to DI McCracken who seems to have taken as instant a dislike to her as she has done to him. They come from different worlds, those two: Mel has been brought up in a world of wealth in a chateau while McCracken fought his way up from a council estate.
    Hidden forces collude and soon enough McCracken and Mel find themselves on the same side, attempting to unravel a complicated net of crime in which, apparently, Mel’s lover played a central part. Or so Mc Cracken says, even if Mel holds out hope he’ll be proven wrong.
    Set mainly in London, this fast-paced story has us hanging on to Mel’s shirt-tails as this female force of nature batters her way through the obstacles between her and the truth. At times, Mel is too brash, too prickly. She is also too direct—but efficient. McCracken is mostly sturdy and surly—but quick-witted. At times, Mel's vulnerability shines through. At others, McCracken's obvious concern for her make her snarl defensively. Sometimes, these two firecracker personalities find themselves in total sync with each other. Which is fortunate, as together, they may have a chance of surviving the cesspool of deceit they must navigate.
    As always, Ms Morton’s dialogue is crisp. As always, her action scenes are plentiful and intense. Her descriptions are vivid—from the worn vinyl flooring of the secret centre of operations to the luxurious wealth of some of the less-than-moral members of the criminal world Mel finds herself obliged to enter undercover.
    Double Identity offers quite the adrenaline-laced escape from the world around us. I’d recommend making a big pot of tea before you sit down with it, as once you’ve started, you’ll likely want to finish it in one go.
    One person found this helpful
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  • SFC
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good read with a heroine who may rub you the wrong way
    Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2021
    I received a copy in exchange for a review. I give this one 3.5 stars for being readable and having a good plot. It’s clear the writer knows London, France and the military and she used that knowledge well.

    Melisande, nicknamed Mel, is an unlikeable heroine. She’s a poor judge of character, quick to overreact and attack people (including slapping a colleague across the face in a moment of uncontrolled rage), and thoroughly annoying.

    Despite that, I found myself drawn into the tale. It was a good story with a compelling plot.

    The heroine is also a mass of contradictions. Some were hard for this reader to reconcile such as her compassion for the domestic partner of one of the villain’s while she was undercover living in the same home as the villain and his mate, all while scheming to bring down the villain and destroy the life of this man she seemed drawn to and befriended on a visit to the market. I know she was undercover and had to lie, but the way the author wrote the villain in the beginning and how she wrote him while the heroine was living with him (as well as his partner) was also a big contradiction. The man seemed like two different characters in places. Kind when he was in his apartment or car and ruthless and cruel when he was at his office or in the street. It was a little off-putting and odd. On the one hand, he seemed like he could kill the heroine without a thought and then, on the other, he was chatting with her as if they were cordial colleagues.

    The heroine was also a contradiction in her dealings with her colleagues and other law enforcement members. Disrespectful to orders even though her actions ended up saving lives and just overall, someone who rubbed me the wrong way. I liked her partner, Jack McCracken as he reminded me of heroes who grow on the reader during the course of the story. He was unkind and annoying at the beginning, but he had motivation as he was investigating a murder where the heroine was a potential suspect. He eventually changed and softened.

    I liked the intricacy of the plot, starting with the death of Mel’s fiancé and heading into the adventure of her working with the agency to solve not only his death, but an international intrigue involving a large cast of characters. The ultimate villain was easy to figure out as the author seemed to bang the reader in the head with his behavior.

    This book made me angry in parts—mostly due to the heroine’s behaviors and attitudes—but ultimately, she seemed to have a straight moral compass and I liked that. She was adept at her job, a great shot, and savvy when it came to her military training, but she didn’t offer much in the way of interpersonal skills. She also didn’t appear to have any character growth at all during the course of the story. And I guess that was all right as I kept reading…
    One person found this helpful
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  • HF Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars WARNING: Totally Binge-worthy
    Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    First of all, confession-time. I haven’t read a thriller for ages. And I didn't realize how much I'd missed them until now. Since lockdown, however, I’ve been glued to every possible British crime series available on TV…and to be honest, reading Double Identity was the mother of all binge-fests! Fast-paced twists and turns, flawed and compelling characters, fabulous locations, and a plot with more than one gasp that I didn’t see coming. With Alison Morton, we are clearly in the hands of a master sleuth, who combines compelling inside experience and knowledge of police investigators along with a local’s confidence in navigating sensational locations. The story grips from the first page to the last. Totally satisfying, and thank you, Ms Morton, for re-introducing me to the pleasure of reading crime thrillers…and for hooking me into your world. I hope I don’t have to wait too long for Season Two. Unputdownable Five Stars.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Elizabeth Perrat
    4.0 out of 5 stars Highly entertaining and intriguing thriller.
    Reviewed in France on January 31, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    4.5 stars. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed several of Alison Morton’s successful Roma Nova novels, so was very keen to read Double Identity, her foray into the thriller genre.
    Dual nationality (English-French) military officer, Melisende (Mel) has left the French military to marry Gerard, her fiancé. But her life is immediately thrown into chaos when she wakes one morning to find him dead in the bed beside her, and is immediately tagged no. 1 suspect.
    As the story moves from London to France and Brussels, I was instantly engaged in the dynamics between Mel and McCracken, British cop on the case, as well as the intriguing plotline.
    This story lived up to all my expectations, from the author’s first-hand army experience (she was an army officer herself), her well-drawn, sympathetic characters, the break-neck pace, and engaging storyline. I would highly recommend Double Identity for readers who enjoy truly nail-biting thrillers with strong female heroines, and a taste for British and French culture.
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  • Maggie Christensen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Compulsive read.
    Reviewed in Australia on January 25, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this fast paced thriller.
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  • E who Reads a Thousand Mysteries
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting!
    Reviewed in Canada on October 21, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This contemporary Thriller is well written, features strong women in dangerous positions, and is the peak of high quality literature.
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  • Antoine Vanner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fast-moving and convincing thriller with a twist in every chapter
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2021
    Verified Purchase

    I’ve been a fan of Alison Morton ever since publication of her novel, Inceptio, in 2013. In a six-novel series since then, plus short stories and novellas, she has brought a credible alternate universe to life. In it she has set hard-boiled thrillers in which her protagonists are stretched to their limits as regards physical danger, political betrayal and loyalty to ideals of patriotism, citizenship and duty. She has proved expert in descriptions of action and in adding realism by accuracy in reference to weapons types, military operations, espionage and subversion. </p>


    In a new departure, Ms. Morton uses these same skills to set a thriller in the real world of the early 21st. Century. In the course of the story the lead character, an ex-member of French Special Forces, who has both French and British parentage, moves into a new career in the shadowy world of counterterrorism and counterintelligence. Fluent in each language, and familiar with each culture, she can function effectively in both countries. She is ruthless, driven and resourceful in her pursuit of her goals. Her intelligence, her cunning, her skills in both armed and unarmed combat make her a very formidable operator. She’ll need these qualities and abilities when facing the challenges that begin on Page One with wakening up in bed next to a corpse. And it gets worse . . .</p>


    The story is an exciting one and the plot involves twists in almost every chapter – but no spoilers here! What is particularly notable however is Ms. Morton’s ability to convey the “feel” of her settings. Whether the location is in central or suburban London, in the colourless anonymity of a British motorway service-area motel, in bureaucratic citadels in Brussels, in military camps or in rural France, all are brought to convincing life, often by only a few deft touches. In this, I am reminded of the same skill as employed by Len Deighton in his early espionage novels. Equally impressive is the taut description of “how to get things done” – whether climbing a drainpipe, felling an opponent (“she heard a crunch of bone”) or making effective use of a nightstick. A similar observation is applicable as regards weapons, data handling and security procedures. The characters, even the tertiary ones, are well-rounded – and though some might not be what they seem initially, later revelations never jar with what went before. Their emotional reactions are always convincing.</p>


    In summary, this is a splendid thriller, living up to the expectations created by Ms. Morton’s earlier works. I look forward to it being the first novel of a new series.</p>
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  • Elizabeth Ducie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Start To A New Series
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Melisande des Pittones, Anglo-French former military officer wakes to find her fiance dead in bed with her. Initially suspected of his murder, Mel is later drafted into the investigative team and gradually finds her life and her lover were not as she thought.
    Alison Morton has left behind Roma Nova for this contemporary story. But her trademarks - feisty female protagonist, well-researched geographical settings, detailed knowledge of Military and Police procedures, and a lead male character from a different class with whom relations are anything but smooth - are all here.
    This was a thrilling read that kept me gripped to the final page, and although the main baddie was obvious to me from early on, this didn't spoil the story in any way. I look forward to reading more about Melisande and Jeff McCracken. Highly recommended.
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