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whatsclairereading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
erinnejc's review against another edition
4.0
Thrilling story with a plot that kept me turning the pages, really well written with great characters. Highly recommend to everyone who is a fan of this genre.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
Her Sister's Lie by Debbie Howells is a suspense-laden mystery that is chock full of tension and secrets.
Hannah Roscoe is still dealing with the emotional fall-out from the inexplicable end of her relationship with her boyfriend, Matt when she learns her estranged older sister, Nina Tyrell, is dead. The two sisters were once extremely close but they have not been in contact for ten years. Hannah suddenly finds herself the guardian of Nina's fifteen year old son, Abe, and the two are soon uncomfortably sharing a home. After Abe moves in, Hannah gets the eerie feeling someone is watching her and her fear intensifies after discovering a stranger lurking nearby. She grows more fearful after the police rule Nina's death a murder and raises an interesting question: are the events occurring in Hannah's life connected to Nina's death?
Hannah and Nina's childhood is an absolute nightmare of abuse and cruelty at the hands of their parents. Nina escapes as quickly as possible and she, along with her children, Summer, Jude and Abe, live a very unconventional and isolated life. Hannah, too, leaves home at a young age and Nina's home becomes her refuge as she sorts out her future.
In the present, Hannah is less than forthcoming about the rift between her and Nina. She is quickly frustrated by Abe's moodiness and disdain for her and their relationship quickly deteriorates. Hannah manages to alienate just about everyone in her life and even when it is her best interest to tell the truth, she clings tightly to the pact she and Nina made before their estrangement.
Unfolding through Hannah's point of view, a series of letters, and passages from other different characters' perspectives, Her Sister's Lie is an intricately-woven, riveting mystery. Hannah gradually becomes such an unreliable narrator that it is virtually impossible discern whether her version of events can be trusted. Abe is grieving, sullen and resentful as he thrust into life with a virtual stranger but is there more his antipathy than meets the eye?
With plenty of clever twists and shocking turns, Debbie Howells gradually peels away the mistruths and prevarications and exposes the stunning secrets the sisters have kept hidden for years. Savvy mystery readers will most likely guess some of the surprises that are revealed at the novel's conclusion, but the ending is still quite satisfying. A well-written domestic mystery that fans of the genre will enjoy.
Hannah Roscoe is still dealing with the emotional fall-out from the inexplicable end of her relationship with her boyfriend, Matt when she learns her estranged older sister, Nina Tyrell, is dead. The two sisters were once extremely close but they have not been in contact for ten years. Hannah suddenly finds herself the guardian of Nina's fifteen year old son, Abe, and the two are soon uncomfortably sharing a home. After Abe moves in, Hannah gets the eerie feeling someone is watching her and her fear intensifies after discovering a stranger lurking nearby. She grows more fearful after the police rule Nina's death a murder and raises an interesting question: are the events occurring in Hannah's life connected to Nina's death?
Hannah and Nina's childhood is an absolute nightmare of abuse and cruelty at the hands of their parents. Nina escapes as quickly as possible and she, along with her children, Summer, Jude and Abe, live a very unconventional and isolated life. Hannah, too, leaves home at a young age and Nina's home becomes her refuge as she sorts out her future.
In the present, Hannah is less than forthcoming about the rift between her and Nina. She is quickly frustrated by Abe's moodiness and disdain for her and their relationship quickly deteriorates. Hannah manages to alienate just about everyone in her life and even when it is her best interest to tell the truth, she clings tightly to the pact she and Nina made before their estrangement.
Unfolding through Hannah's point of view, a series of letters, and passages from other different characters' perspectives, Her Sister's Lie is an intricately-woven, riveting mystery. Hannah gradually becomes such an unreliable narrator that it is virtually impossible discern whether her version of events can be trusted. Abe is grieving, sullen and resentful as he thrust into life with a virtual stranger but is there more his antipathy than meets the eye?
With plenty of clever twists and shocking turns, Debbie Howells gradually peels away the mistruths and prevarications and exposes the stunning secrets the sisters have kept hidden for years. Savvy mystery readers will most likely guess some of the surprises that are revealed at the novel's conclusion, but the ending is still quite satisfying. A well-written domestic mystery that fans of the genre will enjoy.
soletka's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This novel goes against all my pet peeves - there is an unreliable narrator who is hiding parts of what has been really going on for themselves; general eerie atmosphere of something shifty happening; nothing solid to put your trust in plot on. I simply do not like this kind of plot! Yet - having said that, I liked the novel. Because there are my favourite tropes at play, too - authoress who knows where she is taking her novel from A to Z; believable psychological story (yes, one subplot is not so believable, but not impossible and it is vital to the overall arc of the book); believable emotions and even an interesting message! And what this message is, pray tell; the reader of this review of a murder mystery is might ask - so, the message is if you start to build on a lie or even ill intents, your future is deemed to crumple around you like a house of cards. The very last chapter indicates this to happen for the next generation, the circle is continuing. This was what hit me like a stone and this is why I am going for 4-star review. Because the authoress has shaken me with how well she has had her story thought of. So, even with all the unreliability I find this novel being actually standing strong on their legs. Well done.
mandylovestoread's review against another edition
5.0
Last year I read The Death of Her and loved it, so when Her Sister's Lie came out I jumped at the chance to read it. And I was not at all disappointed - I devoured this book in an evening. The story twists and turns so many times you really have no idea what is happening until the very end - just how I like it.
Sisters look out for each other don't they? Hannah and Nina used to be close - but for the last 10 years they have been estranged but we don't know why. Hannah has just been dumped by her boyfriend when she gets a call from the police to tell her that her sister Nina has been found dead in what appears to be an accident. Hannah immediately races to her sisters house and tries to comfort her 15 year old nephew Abe. She brings him home with her but doesn't get an awful lot out of him.
Strange things begin to happen to Hannah in the village where she lives. The police are still looking into Nina's death and it is ruled to be murder - and Hannah is their number one suspect. her past is coming back to haunt her and she has to try to clear her name.
This is a page turning story of an extremely dysfunctional family. Highly recommend to fans of psychological thrillers. Thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Sisters look out for each other don't they? Hannah and Nina used to be close - but for the last 10 years they have been estranged but we don't know why. Hannah has just been dumped by her boyfriend when she gets a call from the police to tell her that her sister Nina has been found dead in what appears to be an accident. Hannah immediately races to her sisters house and tries to comfort her 15 year old nephew Abe. She brings him home with her but doesn't get an awful lot out of him.
Strange things begin to happen to Hannah in the village where she lives. The police are still looking into Nina's death and it is ruled to be murder - and Hannah is their number one suspect. her past is coming back to haunt her and she has to try to clear her name.
This is a page turning story of an extremely dysfunctional family. Highly recommend to fans of psychological thrillers. Thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
beth0603's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
nickieandremus's review against another edition
2.0
***I received an advanced e-copy of the book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
Hannah hasn't seen her sister in ten years when she gets a call saying her sister has died and she needs to come pick up her nephew Abe. Since she is the closest living relative, Abe is to live with her. As more facts come out, it is discovered that her sister was murdered. Strange things start happening, and Hannah becomes convinced that someone is out to get her and reveal all of her and her sister's secrets.
I am a huge fan of Debbie Howells' thrillers, so I was so excited to read this one. I was a little disappointed.. Hannah was too disengaged to be realistic, even in her altered state. Abe was incommunicative at best, and angry and sullen the rest of the time. Hannah ran off every person in her life, so there was a complete absence of likeable characters. The story felt flat and it was hard to keep my attention on it.
Hannah hasn't seen her sister in ten years when she gets a call saying her sister has died and she needs to come pick up her nephew Abe. Since she is the closest living relative, Abe is to live with her. As more facts come out, it is discovered that her sister was murdered. Strange things start happening, and Hannah becomes convinced that someone is out to get her and reveal all of her and her sister's secrets.
I am a huge fan of Debbie Howells' thrillers, so I was so excited to read this one. I was a little disappointed.. Hannah was too disengaged to be realistic, even in her altered state. Abe was incommunicative at best, and angry and sullen the rest of the time. Hannah ran off every person in her life, so there was a complete absence of likeable characters. The story felt flat and it was hard to keep my attention on it.
lily_phaeton's review against another edition
4.0
*4.5 stars
oooooh this was goooodddd.
the only reason i think it didn’t get five stars was because i felt it was kinda slow at the beginning, but it was SO QUICK when you hit the halfway point, and from them on it was a whirlwind and i couldn’t put it down.
creepy, mind-bending, and i had no idea how it was gonna pan out the entire way through. i loved all the plot twists, they worked perfectly and were executed so well.
really enjoyed :)
oooooh this was goooodddd.
the only reason i think it didn’t get five stars was because i felt it was kinda slow at the beginning, but it was SO QUICK when you hit the halfway point, and from them on it was a whirlwind and i couldn’t put it down.
creepy, mind-bending, and i had no idea how it was gonna pan out the entire way through. i loved all the plot twists, they worked perfectly and were executed so well.
really enjoyed :)