The Bang-Bang Sisters

by Rio Youers

From critically acclaimed author Rio Youers, an action-packed crime novel featuring three kick-ass heroines—bandmates who moonlight as vigilantes.

Blood. Bullets. Rock and roll.

Meet the Bang-Bang Sisters: Brea, Jessie, and Flo. Together, they’re a kick-ass rock band with an unbreakable bond.

But that’s only half the story. Offstage, they’re highly skilled vigilantes, traveling the country in their beaten-up tour van to exact justice on criminals who have slipped through the system. Part rock stars, part assassins, they’re a force to be reckoned with.

Drawn by a tantalizing lead, the sisters head to Reedsville, Alabama—a city crawling with destitution and corruption—where they close in on a notorious serial killer known as “the wren.” But they soon discover that they have walked straight into a trap set by Chance Kotter, a ruthless mobster with a personal vendetta.

Bruised and beaten, the sisters find themselves at the mercy of Chance and a sadistic game of survival that will pit them against each other: Forty-eight hours. One city. Three sisters. Only one of them can survive.

Full of gripping action and shocking twists that come at a breakneck pace, The Bang-Bang Sisters is a relentless, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that will leave you breathless.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Adult

400 pages, Hardcover

First published July 16, 2024

About the author

Rio Youers is the British Fantasy and Sunburst Award–nominated author of Lola on Fire and No Second Chances. His 2017 thriller, The Forgotten Girl, was a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel. He is the writer of Refrigerator Full of Heads, a six-issue comic series from DC Comics, and Sleeping Beauties, a graphic novel based on the number-one bestseller by Stephen King and Owen King. Rio’s latest novel, The Bang-Bang Sisters, was published by William Morrow in summer 2024.

Reviews

[Roxane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a rip-roaring delight of a novel--pulpy, fast-paced, and absolutely unputdownable. I had no idea what to expect, went in with no knowledge of the story or the author, and spent two days devouring the book. Three sisters (it's complicated), are in a rock band, traveling the country in their van, but they're also vigilantes who work with The Trace, a secret network of hackers committed to righting wrongs and avenging those who have suffered. And then they're called to Reedsville, Alabama to catch a serial killer, and all hell breaks loose. There are wild and I do mean WILD plot holes. For one, how does a town like Reedsville, AL, have a small skyscraper in it? Make it make sense! I can't really talk about the other plot holes because I will give some of the story away. It doesn't matter. If you're looking for a fun, thrilling read, look no further.

[Wayne Fenlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Tarantino-esque Charlie's Angels, rammed with brutality and banging tunes, all rolled up with a deep and genuine understanding of the human psyche. As always, Rio Youers digs in and makes you care. Even for the bad guys, strangely enough. No mean feat.
This one is equally nostalgic and fresh, and would make a damn good TV series if you ask me. Maybe one day some ballsy producer will take a chance. God knows it's about time.
You know what else? Every time I picked up this book, that Nancy Sinatra song kept popping into my head. Anyways, it made me smile.

Great work.

An easy five stars.

[Lisa Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you ever said to yourself: "I want John Wick in book form, except make him into a team of female vigilantes who moonlight as a rock and roll cover band," then this book might be for you.

Despite that sounding like just the kind of girl-powered ass-kicking I'd enjoy, I need to admit that this book wasn't for me.

Perhaps if the three protagonists had had more back story and more unique personalities I would have liked them better. Perhaps if we had spent more time with them in calm moments, character building, than in moments full of whiplash-inducing action, I would have cared about them.

Tbh, my biggest complaint here is that I just didn't care about anything.

Because this book is like, ALL action. From the jump, straight through to the end, pedal to the metal. This reading experience felt like being hit by a train. And some people will like that, sure, I actually hope that many do. I really like Rio Youers and think the guy is a very talented writer.

But unfortunately, I never felt connected to the women I was supposed to be rooting for in this book. I also never felt the connection between them as "sisters" that would have made them believable and endearing. In fact, there were better characterizations of the villains in this narrative, and I appreciated that, I really did. However, they were a bit too cartoonish and goofy for me to get behind.

By the end, I found myself wishing that ALL of them would die, both the good guys and the bad.

I mean, first we have not a mustache-twirling, but an oxygen tank cannula-twirling villain who writes haikus. And then the sisters are quickly forced into a situation where they "have" to kill each other and they agree to do so SO quickly, it had me questioning why they were even a team to begin with.

And yes, the action in this book moves quickly. But it's also unending. I swear, the length of this book was palpable and it seemed to go on and on and on forever.

It was as if the train that had hit me from the start couldn't figure out how to stop.

Also, there was like one scene in the beginning of them playing as a band together and that was a shame.

The last thing I'll say about The Bang-Bang Sisters is that this needs to be made into a movie. The book didn't do it for me, but I'd break the sound barrier flying so fast to watch this on the big screen.

3 out of 5 stars.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

These have to be some of the most naive assassins in the game. Maybe I've just been spoiled by cinema and characters with fewer morals, but go for the headshot when you can get it.

I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone who focuses on the details. There are a lot of things that just didn't make sense and pulled me out of the story.

[Sjgomzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if Josie & The Pussycats were paid vigilante assassins? If you’ve ever asked yourself that, then this is the book for you! Explosive and fast paced. This book frayed my nerves and had me actually yelling and screaming at the book throughout. I loved it!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** Happy Publication Day ***

I discovered Rio Youers a few years ago with his rollicking good book Lola on Fire. His follow-up novel, No Second Chances, was even better, but this, The Bang-Bang Sisters, is the icing on the cake.

Jessie, Brea, and Flo are sisters—Jessie and Brea by blood—but blood is only part of the bond. Together, they are a rock band touring clubs and dive bars across the country, but that's just a sideline; they are also vigilantes seeking justice where the courts have failed. Working with grey-hat hackers, the three women mete out their brand of justice. All is going smoothly until they get a tip that a serial killer known as "the wren" has been found in Reedsville, Alabama. Unable to pass up the opportunity to put paid to this killer, the women head to Reedsville and into the arms of wealthy mobster Chance Kotter, who has a personal interest in seeing them dead. Pitting sister against sister in a deadly game where only one sister will survive tests their love for each other.

This story is a roller coaster ride from start to finish. It is action-packed with memorable characters—good and evil—and twists I didn't see coming. It is intricately plotted and perfectly executed. It is a story about vengeance and the strength of love, and as the body count rises, it becomes a satisfying read that left me wanting more of the sisters. 5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is July 16, 2024.

[Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brea, Jessie, and Flo are in a rock band called The Bang-Bang Sisters. They’re rockstars by day, assassins by night. They specialize in vigilante justice, providing justice to those who slipped through the cracks. Following up on a lead of a notorious serial killer known as “the wren,” the trio realize they’ve been set up by Chance Kotter, who has a vendetta against them. Chance sets forth a merciless game on them: only one can survive.

This was such a rollercoaster of suspense! Despite it being 400 pages, the novel felt so fast-paced with so many twists and turns. This isn’t my typical genre, but I have to say it was a fun deviation! The trio are all complex with distinct personalities, and it’s sinister to see how things shake out when they’re forced to turn on one another. There’s definitely a lot of blood and bullets, nothing short of what you’d see in a Quentin Tarantino movie. While not necessarily the most mind-blowing psychological thriller, it definitely kept me turning the page, wondering what would happen next. You’ll love the grit AND the heart.

Reviewed as part of #GoodreadsGiveaway. Many thanks to William Morrow Books for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Read this book if you:
😈 ever envisioned KPop Demon Hunters set in the American South
😇 stand by Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore as Charlie’s Angels
🔪 love the vigilantism of Kill Bill

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[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I would like to give a big thank you to William Morrow Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this fantastic novel!

I was browsing upcoming titles on Amazon and stumbled across a book called “The Bang-Bang Girls.” Based on the title and summary of the book, my curiosity peaked. I read up about the author, Rio Youers, and it turns out that he is a pretty damn good writer. I have since purchased several of his previous novels, but I’m here today to talk about The Bang-Bang Girls.

This absolute off the rails bullet train of a novel focuses on 3 “sisters” (2 by blood, 1 best friend) who tour as a kick ass cover band. That by itself would make for a compelling read in the right hands, but what makes these sisters so special is that they moonlight as assassins for hire who go after the most vile offenders that currently have bounties on their head. The hits for hire are arranged by a mysterious band of dark web hackers known as “The Trace”. Everything for the Bang-Bang girls has gone according to plan until an extremely wealthy relative of one of their previous victims tracks them down and looks to extract revenge in a seriously twisted manner. Oh, and there’s also a creepy serial killer known as “The Wren” ties into everything somehow.

I don’t want to talk about the plot too much as there are some nice twists (the big one got me good), but I will put out there that there is a nunchuck battle against a vicious attack dog.

This honestly wasn’t exactly what I was expecting the book to be, but in the best way possible. Youers does a great job humanizing all of the characters, even the baddies, which makes you care about the stakes and eventual outcome.

This book is F-U-N and is bound to be adapted to the big or small screen in the future. The ending also leaves me hoping that the author plans to turn this into an ongoing series. 5 stars, get out and read this bad boy!!

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

These sisters are legit. Do NOT mess with them. The most fun I've had with a thriller in a bit. Rio Youers has my attention 👀

[Geonn Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

As violent and bloody as you'd hope from the premise. After the first 1/3 or so, there's nowhere near as much about them as a band as I would've liked (but the story really didn't allow for it). Hard to imagine a better executed (wordplay!) version of the old well-worn "trio of women in a rock band moonlight as vigilantes like John Wick" story (I mean, you've read one of those you've read all of them :D).

[thevampireslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a rip roaring rock n roll delight of a book, much like a gig of your favourite band this will leave you breathless and sweating and/or possibly doing finger guns shouting PEW PEW, my spidey senses tell me that this will definitely be picked up to be made into a movie, this book oomphed, is that a word? It OOMPHED violence and emotion, a fun high octane crime thriller that explores the bonds of sisterhood, the writing was fantastic and the characters authentic, I love when music and horror are combined, it makes the genre more GRITTY if that makes sense?, fans of Fever House/Schraders Chord will enjoy this!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced, action-packed thriller very much in the Kill Bill style. Sisters, singers and assassins for hire, Brea, Jessie and Flo love find themselves running for their lives and forced to play a sick game where only one of them is supposed to be left alive. This was my first book by Rio Youers and while I found it a tad long and overly dramatic, it was definitely entertaining and unique. Good on audio too narrated by a fav, Kristen Sieh!

CW: lots of blood and a bit of gore, might not be for the light of heart

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serial killer. Good ol' boys. Three women musicians who have SF skills. Sure to be a movie with its outrageous title and high body count. Lots of violence and misogyny. Way longer than it needed to be. Avenging vigilantes get a toast of their own medicine in Alabama.

[Brandy S. Spoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! I did not want to stop reading this book. I feel like the author left it open enough for a sequel. Like Carrie Wheaton, I felt this book had a John Wick/Charlie's Angels/Kill Bill vibe! READ THIS BOOK!

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
The most high-octane, adrenaline-fueled book you're ever likely to read. By night, sisters Brea and Jessie along with their friend and "sister" Flo are a rock band performing at clubs and bars across the country. By other nights they're also a band of vigilantes, taking contracts over the dark web, removing despicable people from the Earth. When they're given a lead on a notorious serial killer calling himself "the wren", they find themselves in Reedsville, AL, the site of their very first killing. But unbeknownst to them, the most powerful man in town is waiting for them, looking to exact his own vengeance. Soon, they're pitted in a game of survival - against each other.
Rio Youers writes a unique style of crime novels. This one has aspects of 70s style grindhouse action flick mixed with modern day John Wick non-stop action. The story hits the ground running and never takes its foot off the gas. It's intense and exciting throughout and has one of the most jaw-dropping plot twists I've ever read - one it doesn't wait until the end to show. Somehow, Youers just gets better and more inventive with each book he puts out.

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like The Bang-Bang Sisters but it was just TOO hard to suspend disbelief for.

It started out strong; I liked the sisters and how they played in a band and their quirks and flaws.

Then the action started and read like a mishmash of movies by Tarantino and John Wick and even a Marvel movie here and there.

And then, it got even sillier, believe it or not.

But that's not the characters' fault, it's the author's.

As the narrative progressed, I dropped all pretense in believing the sisters were these hot shot assassins and hoped they would focus on their day jobs instead because assassins they are not.

[Alicia Torrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camp, pulp, action, music... I LOVED this book!

[Kayla B · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you need a reason - The Bang-Bang Sisters gives the vibes of the love child between Sucker Punch and Kickass. Recommended to listen to your favorite female-fronted punk bands while reading.

I absolutely LOVED this bad ass action thriller and am happy the door is left open for a sequel. I hope to get into the weeds more about the dynamic between our 3 bandmates. I think Youers did a great job of showing some aspects of that dynamic, such as Brea being the only black member amid their book-long battle in the Southern US, but I wanted a little more. Being members of an all-women, queer(?), punk rock band opens the door for the characters to actually have these thoughts and conversations on the page. Which I think would add to the overall buy-in over their issues as a unit.

That being said. I’m so glad I cover bought this book.

[Shannon Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thrilling ride! Nonstop action, twists I didn't see coming, a body count that might rival a Tarantino movie and excellent characters--even the bad guys had depth and made me care about (some of) them. This would be a perfect book to start on a rainy weekend morning so you can rip through the pages with wild abandon. I resented having to put it down to live my life. These sisters were bad asses and I was sad to leave their world.

[Christen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An all-female rock band of vigilantes? How is this not a TV series? The action pulses so intensely, I was practically glued to the edge of my seat, desperately hoping the story wouldn't come to a halt. Tracking these badass sisters as they dispense justice like it's an encore performance, while a sinister serial killer subplot simmers in the background? Genius. And when these narrative threads collide? I sure didn't see that coming.

[Giovanareadshere · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 As I read, I imagined this book as a movie and needs to be made into one or limited series. The plot was original, and I loved each of the sisters; Flo was my favorite, especially in the middle of the book; she handled shit like a G. I screamed, “yesssss fuck you!!” when the bad guys were killed 😂😂. Another gem from the local library accomplished with the audiobook.

[Georgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe the buzz. Ass kicking, vigilante justice courtesy of 3 sisters who are rockers most of the time, and take down criminals the rest of the time. Throw in a haiku obsessed serial killer, a shady Alabama town, and a mobster on the take and you really do imagine this to be a Tarantino film. Except- I liked this better!

[Kourtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - it was an entertaining read, good plot and enjoyable characters. Some pretty big plot wholes and stretches, but a nice escape and good book club book for friends to read together!

[Clare Rayment · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was some of the worst writing I’ve ever read, but the plot was fun and action-packed so we made it through.

[Will George · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an adventure. And a page turner. I really enjoyed this journey. It read so cinematically. I can absolutely see this as a Quentin Tarantino movie!

[Will McAneny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bang bang into the room! This was a fun romp, creative take on the fast-paced action thriller genre.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my usual read at all but fun to see tough women taking out bad guys. Felt like I was watching a Tarentino movie.

[Harmony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really torn between 3 or 4 stars. The writing was good, it was fun, sometimes I even laughed out loud and the fighting scenes were amazing but then the fighting scenes went on too long and then they were never ending… even though they were written so well so that’s why I’m conflicted. It was still a blast but maybe needs to be a bit shorter. No need to go all “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum”, cut some of that fighting out.

[Cally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall enjoyed this book, it was clever and kept me reading. But also I think I just don’t like violent books. There was so much violence just for the sake of violence lol whatever

[Tali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read!