Review: First Born

First Born by Will Dean
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 



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Ugh, how I despise being a lone wolf! I know that many truly LOVED this book, but for me First Born, by Will Dean, is a akin to a rollercoaster ride that, though it leaves you nauseous and disoriented, is nonetheless an “experience”.

The novel opens with an introduction to Molly—a British woman with overwhelming situational anxiety. She fears everything, is OCD when it comes to protecting herself and lives in a state of constant angst. Molly’s identical twin sister, KT, is murdered whilst attending Columbia in New York, and is found in her bed by her parents, who are visiting her from England. The story follows Molly as she attempts to battle her insecurities in order to first get “across the pond” to her parents and deceased sister, then to help police solve KT’s murder.

The first chapters of the book reminded me of being out on the ocean in a speed boat. You know there are all these beautiful things to see just below the surface, but your boat is moving so fast, you’re lucky to skim the water. When reading, I felt as if I was missing something important and found myself retracing my steps and rereading passages to be sure I hadn’t. I wanted a deep dive to see what was lurking below and was instead treated to what felt like a cursory overview. That feeling intensified as I read, particularly in one scene in which Molly was traveling on a bus and sharing episodic flashbacks. It was like simultaneously viewing individual cells on two different movie reels—confusing and not particularly enjoyable. Additionally, I never fully understood character James Kandee, his “foundation” or his sponsorship, nor did I see the need for Bagby. His backstory added nothing to the plot, and the character development of Bagby tested the limits of just how far I was willing to stretch my suspension of disbelief. In the end it seemed like every character in some way betrayed who they had been portrayed to be: none remained true throughout to the original character as written, and some of their actions were downright ridiculous. Instead of coming across as “growth”, this lack of continuity, and the author’s tendency to step outside of what could be considered realistic, detracted from the plot in a way that nullified any attempted investment. 

Definitely a quick read, but not necessarily one that will leave you longing for any more.

I’d like to thank Atria Books and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC for review. Publication is slated for July of 2022.