The Pretty Sister: A dark psychological thriller

by Leila Hilkmann

How far would you go to take revenge?

Carlene Wilmore has it all.

A loving, devoted husband. A glamorous uptown apartment. Unparalleled, stunning beauty. More money than anyone would know what to do with. Life is good to Carlene Wilmore—she made sure of that.
But cracks are forming beneath the glamorous surface. First, her carefully handpicked psychiatrist husband, Glen, starts growing suspicious. Then, her secret lover, Tierry, becomes more and more obsessive. And then there’s Carlene’s shady business, the one that holds her together, that is slowly fraying at the seams - Carlene’s carefully manufactured life is slowly falling apart.

Abigail Gray has nothing.

Born with a birth defect in the boondocks of Texas, Abigail grew up knowing two things—she could never trust anyone but herself, and she would never be as loved as her younger, prettier sister, Lydia.
But there’s a sharp mind hiding behind Abigail’s disfigured face, a mind that makes a note of all the abuse she experienced by her family, and of the only truth that really matters in a world that treasures beauty over You’re either prey—or predator.
Abigail made her choice.
And she will have her revenge.

An utterly unputdownable psychological thriller with gripping twists at every turn, The Pretty Sister takes readers on a nonstop journey of love, hate, and lies that will make fans of the genre feel right at home.

Genres: Fiction

386 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2024

About the author

Leila Hilkmann was born in Israel and educated partially in London. After graduating from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in English literature and theater studies she spent several years in Europe and America.

Excerpts of her writings were published in ‘Crone’s Nest’, a literary magazine in Rhode Island, and in ‘Arc18-The Israel Association of Writers in English (IAWE).

The Mother You Knew is her first novel.

Reviews

[Barbara Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

pretty useless

Wow! A whole book about a deranged woman who screws a lot. I don’t know why I kept reading it, but I guess I wanted to figure out the plot.

[Rozebudzz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable

Longer than it needed to be, it dragged in the middle, and the dialog is disjointed and full of ellipses. Also very predictable esp if you’re used to reading these kinds of psychological thrillers.

[Kelly Goulding · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost gave up on this book after the first chapter; first impressions were poor. But I hate not finishing something I've started, and I was curious as to how it would go. The book does improve, but I felt no emotion to any of the characters, they were all horrid. The writing of Charlene's early years was monotonous and dragged.

I was glad when it was over, so I could start something new.

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sexual Psych Twister

Three stars, an average rating from me. As a psychological thriller it kept you reading more. But I was turned off by the ample use of vulgar sexual language and nearly quit reading several times.

[Píaras Cíonnaoíth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thrilling Tale of Deception and Revenge...

Leila Hilkmann's "The Pretty Sister" is a riveting dark psychological thriller that delves into the themes of revenge, obsession, and deception. The story contrasts the seemingly perfect life of Carlene Wilmore with the hardship-filled existence of Abigail Gray, who is driven by a lifetime of suffering to seek vengeance. As Carlene's life unravels due to her husband’s suspicions and a lover’s obsession, Abigail's transformation from victim to predator unfolds. Hilkmann masterfully intertwines these narratives, creating a relentless pace and unexpected twists. Her exploration of psychological manipulation and moral ambiguity keeps readers on edge. "The Pretty Sister" is an unputdownable thriller that offers profound insights into human flaws and desires, ensuring fans of the genre are thoroughly engrossed. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Alicia Beaudry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected.

Started out strong and then seemed to lose focus. The story came back on track at the end, but lacked substance. The final wrap up between the sisters was very disappointing. Nonexistent. I even checked to see if there was a sequel. There was so much more that could have been written about the sisters.

[Karenza Artman Corder · Rating 1 out of 5]

Decent story, terrible writing

While the story itself was decent, the amount of grammatical and spelling errors was overwhelming making it almost impossible to read. If the author continues to write, get a real editor and some beta readers.

[Tamika Fields · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyed

Good book, missing a major part of the sisters storyline and I'm guessing that's why the abrupt ending was so bad for me

[Angela Valerie Garratty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pretty sister

What a good book so many twists and turns kept me i n suspense the beginning was good the end was absolutely brilliant

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my favorite.

This book is way too all over the place for my liking. Back and forth with the stories between the people.

[Mark A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. Fast moving , good ending

[Shirley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t care for it. The main character seemed vapid and oversexed while the male characters were insipid, cardboard characters.

[Jenn Rush · Rating 3 out of 5]

build up

Decent story line. The story was built up but the ending was very rushed. I think the ending should have taken a bit longer and not done in less than 5% left of the book.

[Kelly Goulding · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost gave up on this book after the first chapter; first impressions were poor. But I hate not finishing something I've started, and I was curious as to how it would go. The book does improve, but I felt no emotion to any of the characters, they were all horrid. The writing of Charlene's early years was monotonous and dragged.

I was glad when it was over, so I could start something new.