The Sister-in-Law

by Joanne Ryan

When Megan loses her beloved husband, Rick, in a tragic car accident, she feels like it’s her own life that has ended. She feels too young to be a widow. Walking around the house that had been their home – so quiet without him – nothing feels the same.

But at his funeral, she sees a face she doesn’t recognise. A heavily-pregnant young woman, with a sweet heart-shaped face that is somehow a little familiar. This stranger introduces herself as Emily, Rick’s estranged sister. She explains how she’s been searching for her brother for years, but – as she bursts into noisy sobs – she knows she’s too late now.

Megan finds herself taking pity on the sister-in-law she’d never met. And quickly Emily becomes more and more a part of her life, even moving into the spare room of her house.

It feels less empty than before. And at first it’s comforting to Megan. But – even when it’s a relative of the man you loved more than anyone – can you trust a stranger?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 27, 2025

About the author

Joanne Ryan lives in the south of England and has always loved writing. Her novels concentrate on the darker, secret side of life of seemingly ordinary people.
She also writes under the pen name of Marina Johnson https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let "The Sister-In-Law" into your home.

WARNING:
The sister-in-law is a sinner but the book is a winner.

THE BOOK BEGINS WITH A BANG:
A young couple's car veers off the road and plunges into a river.

The husband dies.

Miraculously, the wife swims to safety.

When the husband's estranged sister appears at his funeral, this intricately plotted thriller takes on a life of its own.

Primarily unfolding from the two POVs of the wife and the sister-in-law, this twisty thriller never misses a beat.

Author Joanne Ryan writes about the darker, secret side of the lives of seemingly ordinary people and this book is my favorite Joanne Ryan book to date.

I listened to the audiobook read by Sophie Mackall, Gemma Lawrence, and Julie Maisey.

I always enjoy multi-cast audiobooks and all three narrators did a superb job with the narration.

Five shining stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Sister-in-Law by Joanne Ryan. This book fell a little bit short for me. It was a quick and easy read and kept me engaged while I was reading it but I wasn't totally engrossed in it. It was entertaining enough that I would recommend this book to others, but it won't be my top pick for 2025. The ending was unexpected for me so that alone is a plus. A 3 star rating from me.

[Diane Dachota · Rating 3 out of 5]

Megan wakes up in the hospital with vague memories of fighting over a steering wheel with her husband when their car went into the water. Her husband Rick dies but Megan survives. At his funeral, Megan meets Emily, Rick's sister who he hasn't seen in many years. Before too long, Emily who is pregnant, is living with Megan and after her money. But is everything what it seems?

I have enjoyed the previous novels of this author but this one falls a bit short for me. I liked the dual narratives from Megan and Emily and liked the relationship Megan had with her late mother's best friend who tried to look out for her. This was a quick read and didn't guess all of the twists that came about towards the end. I did find that all of the characters were very unlikable and I was wishing for one person to root for in the story. Megan was very cold and didn't appear to have any friends or interests besides her job. The author seemed to suggest perhaps Megan was on the spectrum since she did not like physical contact, had trouble with empathy and was obsessive in how her house was kept, but then it ended up differently. Emily was just awful and if would have been more impactful if she had different motives than what she was really after. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC for review.

[Danielle-Gemma💜 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book and twist had so much promise and then just didn’t deliver at all

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a decent read that got better as it continued. The story centers on Megan and Emily and is told in alternating POVs. Megan has lost her husband Rick in a car accident and Emily shows up at the funeral, claiming to be Rick’s sister. The two end up getting to know each other better in the subsequent months but they both have secrets they are hiding.

The dynamic between the characters is interesting because it’s clear something is off but the author slowly draws the reader in to what each is thinking. I did feel that the narrative was a tad repetitive, as often the same incident is described by both characters. I was wary in the first part of the book as to why the characters did some of the things they did, but I really liked the second half of the book where things became more clear. There were some good twists in the book, most of which I did figure out, but some that were surprises. The end was ok for me- I didn’t expect it to go that way, which I appreciated, but I didn’t totally love it.

Overall, I ended up enjoying this book and thought it was a unique take on a common storyline. Despite being a little repetitive, it was an interesting and fast-paced story. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Sister-in-Law" by Joanne Ryan is a gripping psychological thriller that will have you hooked from the very first page. The story follows Megan, who is struggling to cope with the loss of her husband when a stranger appears at his funeral claiming to be his estranged sister. As Megan welcomes this woman into her life, she soon realizes that she may have made a terrible mistake. The author weaves a tale of suspense, with twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of surprises. The ending is fantastic and ties everything together and it was NOT what I was expecting.

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book begins with a tragic car accident, setting the perfect tone for this thriller. A couple were on their way home, they were going too fast, then their car went off the road and plunged into a river. Only one of them survived…Megan wakes up in the hospital with some scrapes and bruises, but her husband Rick didn’t make it.

Megan doesn’t know what to do with herself. Her parents are gone, his parents are gone, and her closest friend is her dead mother’s best friend, Elaine. Elaine and her husband Keith promised to always watch over Megan, and though she’s heading towards thirty, she’s glad to have them in her corner as they set up the funeral arrangements and make sure Megan is taking care of herself.

At the funeral, as we know from the synopsis, Megan sees a very pregnant young woman. The woman approaches Megan and introduces herself - she’s Emily, Rick’s estranged sister, and she read the news of his death and came to pay her respects. Rick did have a sister he hadn’t seen in many years, and Megan is not wanting to be alone in the house they shared. After talking to Emily, she finds out that the young woman has left an abusive relationship and has been living in a hotel, but is running out of money. Megan invites Emily to come live with her, at least until the baby is born and Emily can get government assistance. They’re family - and family helps family.

Then, as expected, things get crazy. Emily turns out to be a slob who doesn’t mind mooching off her sister-in-law, but Megan is doing her best to help the young woman in honor of her dead husband. This books starts off being from Megan’s point of view, but when it switches to Emily’s, the reader is in for quite a few shocks. The book bounces back and forth between the two women as the story rolls along, and it’s all very entertaining. I can’t think of much I’d change about this dark, yet fun, novel! 4.5 stars, rounded up.

(Thank you to Boldwood Books, Joanne Ryan and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on January 27, 2025.)

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Psychological
Release date: 01-27-25
Narrated by Sophie Mackall, Gemma Lawrence, Julie Maisey
Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins

Would you invite a stranger in?

Megan (28) recently lost her mother to cancer but then she met Rick who soon became her husband. During one rainy night they had the car accident that took Rick's life but somehow Megan survived. Megan feels again lost and alone after her husband's death. So when Rick's estranged sister Emily shows up, heavily pregnant and distressed, she want to help the stranger and invites Emily to stay at her home. But can she trust the sister-in-law and is all as it seems?

I've read Don't Let Her In (gave it 3 stars) and Alone in the Dark (4 stars), and enjoyed those, so I really looked forward reading her newest. The beginning was a bit slow but when Megan met Emily, The-Sister-in-Law, things became more interesting. It felt strange that Megan seemed so calm and emotionless, when she learned that her husband was dead. No tears. No feel of deep loss. She didn't take care of the funeral arrangements, leaving it all for her dead mother's best friend. Then she purposefully packed Rick's clothes, took them to the charity shop. In comparison she still kept her mother's room like it was when she was alive.
I had my doubts about Megan. I was certain that she knew something shady about Rick! So when story switched to Emily’s, and the more I read about her, the more I was shocked by Emily's arrogance and how she started to milk off from Megan, arrogantly believing she was owned all those things and even part of Megan's home. In a way I could understand why Megan did what she did, although it was all so wrong, so the ending was quite satisfying.

I predicted some of the twist but that didn't spoil my enjoyment, and I kept guessing where author will take us next. This story was quite a thought-provoking, allowing reader to see both sides, and wonder how they would have acted in similar situation. My only complaint was that some of the things got repetitive thanks to multiple POVs. Despite that, this was engaging and gripping domestic thriller that reminded us that you can never be too careful and sometimes even the closest to you can not be fully trusted...

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Megan awakens in a hospital bed, only to discover that her husband has tragically passed away in the accident she miraculously survived. Despite the immense pain and grief she feels, she recognizes the urgent need to move forward with her life.

When a stranger approaches her, Megan is shocked to learn that the woman is Rick’s sister. Emily introduces herself and reveals that despite their years-long estrangement, she’s always wanted to reconnect with her brother. Now that it’s too late, she’s eager to get to know Emily. As Megan starts to get to know her, she begins to notice some concerning behaviors in Emily. However, she might be even more shocked when she discovers the true extent of Emily’s issues.

Knowing that this was a psychological thriller didn’t prepare me for the unexpected twists that unfolded as I read this captivating novel. It’s one of those books that you simply can’t put down.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!!!

After losing her husband Rick in a car accident, Megan meets his estranged pregnant sister, Emily, at the funeral. Emily moves in with Megan, bringing comfort but also raising questions about trust.

This was my initial experience with this author, and I found the ending to be quite enjoyable as the story unfolded. However, it did take some time to reach that satisfying conclusion. The book had a slow burn for me, which made it a bit challenging to fully engage with.

The characters in the book were not easy to connect with. One character came across as too cold, while the other was portrayed as naive and somewhat annoying. The pace of the book was inconsistent, with moments of intensity followed by slower sections. Despite this, the ending was strong and unexpected.

If you appreciate a story with an unexpected twist and a moderate pace, this book may be a good fit for you. While I personally did not connect with the story, I would still recommend giving it a chance, as reviews on this book are mixed.

Thank you, Boldwood Books, for the ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Diane Merritt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprising ending. The only thing about this book that bothered me was telling the same thing from different people. Like repeating what was just written.
Other than that was a fairly good read.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow build up to a gripping story, this is the great thing about Netgalley that it introduces the reader to new authors and I will be checking out other books by the author, so back to this one, none of the characters were particularly pleasant but that added to the storyline and the ending surprised me as I could see it finishing differently. A definite 5 star rating for me.

[VickydpBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Megan loses her beloved husband in a tragic car accident, she feels like it’s her own life that has ended. She feels too young to be a widow. Walking around the house that had been their home – so quiet without him – nothing feels the same.

But at his funeral, she sees a person she doesn’t know. The heavily-pregnant young woman introduces herself as Emily, her husband’s estranged sister. She explains how she’s been searching for her brother for years, but – as she bursts into noisy sobs – she knows she’s too late now.

Megan finds herself taking pity on the sister-in-law she’d never met. And quickly Emily becomes more and more a part of her life, even moving into the spare room of her house.

It feels less empty than before, which at first is comforting to Megan. But – even when it’s a relative of the man you loved more than anyone – can you trust a stranger?

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this gripping e-ARC.

Megan's world shatters when her husband, Rick, dies in a tragic car accident. While grappling with her grief, a pregnant stranger named Emily appears at Rick’s funeral, introducing herself as his estranged sister. Distraught and seemingly vulnerable, Emily claims she has nowhere to go, prompting Megan to invite her into her home.

But as the days unfold, Emily’s presence begins to unsettle Megan. What starts as an act of kindness spirals into suspicion and tension, with secrets lurking beneath the surface of both women’s stories. Is Emily who she claims to be? And how well did Megan truly know her husband?

Joanne Ryan masterfully constructs a suspenseful, layered thriller. The dual POVs of Megan and Emily add depth and intrigue, revealing the motivations and hidden truths of each character. The twists are perfectly paced, with revelations that kept me glued to the page. Emily’s manipulative charm is both chilling and fascinating, while Megan’s vulnerability makes her journey deeply relatable.

This isn’t just a tale of deception and mistrust—it’s also a poignant exploration of grief, identity, and the lengths people will go to protect their truths. The final twist was jaw-dropping, rounding out a rollercoaster of a story.

The Sister-in-Law is a psychological thriller that fans of Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden won’t want to miss. With its sharp writing, unpredictable plot, and richly drawn characters, this is one you’ll want to devour in one sitting.

Thanks again to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.

[Emma book blogger Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @rararesources for letting me be part of this tour and reviewing this book. The Sister in law is a psychological thriller and, as everyone one knows, I love this genre and this book did not let me down, it was brilliant. I was hooked from the start and I could not put it down. I read in one day. The sister-in-law is gripping read and there is great amount of tension and suspense running through the book. I thought I got the twist and I did, but didn’t get all of it right and was shocked with the ending. This book is a page turner. There are two narratives Megan whose husband (Rick) has died, and she is feeling lost until Emily walks in to the funeral pregnant and tells Megan she has been looking for her brother Rick for a while, and now he’s died. I did like the characters and I did like Megan and her mum Friend Elaine who is always there to help Megan through her sadness. The sister-in-law was straightforward to read, and the plot was brilliant. A fantastic read strongly recommend.

[Angela Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a little torn about this book. Overall, I did enjoy it and found it to be a quick read but there were a couple things about it that caused me to only give it 3 stars. First, I found that although the perspective shifts between Emily and Megan was good in the sense that it helped the reader see both POV right throughout the book, it was extremely repetitive at times and I found myself rushing through or skipping over some details that the author already covered in the first POV. Secondly, the story dragged on with lies and deception and was reaching a climax and it’s almost as if the author was done with writing or wanted to clue it up quickly so she just wrote Emily confessing everything, Megan confessing everything and then Elaine confessing everything. I didn’t see Megan’s character change coming because all along in her own POV she wasn’t like that, so I felt it was abrupt and out of character and I just didn’t like how it ended.

[Kayla Chard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed with this book if I'm being honest. Usually when a book is written from different points of view, I enjoy it, but this one was written in a way where I felt like there was alot of repetition going back and forth from the 2 main characters. It sometimes felt like I was reading the exact same chapter over again, down to every detail. I also felt like the twists, although I didn't expect them, didn't pack as much of a punch as the author might have intended. It seemed as if once the twists were told to us, the aftermath and ending was a little rushed and it didn't tie the storyline together enough for me. Although the book was still interesting enough to finish, I didn't feel like it grabbed me in the way I look for psychological thrillers to do, which was a bit of a let down

[Emma Minazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second book by Joanne and another good thriller! This book really got me thinking about the characters, how looks can be deceiving or how you think you know someone but you don't really.

I felt sorry for Megan at first but wasn't sure it was warranted as the story progressed. The car accident at the start gets you into the action from the first chapter and I wondered why Rick and Megan were speeding during a thunderstorm and nearby a swollen river but all is explained.

I like books with not a lot of characters and this one has a handful which is great. I did like Elaine but felt she could be a bit overbearing if she was my friend although her heart is in the right place.

Well worth a read and the twist was great!

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy read with a simplistic storyline. The book is written from two points of view; Megan and Emily. Megan just endured the tragic loss of her husband, Rick. At Rick's funeral, Emily shows up pretending to be his long-lost sister.

Megan portrays herself to be a giving and gullible, trusting person, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Emily is annoyed by Megan's attentiveness but has zero issues with taking advantage of her.

I found the second half of the book to be very repetitive, with the story being told from two points of view. I figured out the main plot twist but can honestly say I was surprised by the last chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

[Rainelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whoa! What was I reading?? I thought that I was reading a psychological/ thriller. I don’t think I got that. First of all the story is told in a third person perspective. They introduce a dramatic scene with characters and in interesting scene. They then fast forward without ribbon to stretch them to the next. They have this narrative that loses easily from the story. Where is the beginning of the story? Where’s the introduction of the character? What’s the plot twist? The book missed so much for me. For me the book is not a JK Ellem or a Robert Swartwood. I dare not say Jeneva Rose.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this was quite a twisted read about a young woman who turns up to a funeral and claims she is the long lost sister of the diseased. Only problem is she’s actually his heavily pregnant mistress and is there because she wants a slice of his estate and will play dirty to get it. As she gets closer to his widow she is invited to stay for awhile and as she settles in she knows she will do what it takes to get what is hers no matter what the cost. A great read that I couldn’t put down!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely flew through this book. Megan and Emily are the main characters and each tells their POV. Megan is grieving after the death of her husband when Emily shows up claiming to be his sister. Emily is an entitled girl and is so easy to hate. She thinks she deserves more than she has and is very self centered. The book is very weak written and I felt as if I was in the house with Emily and Megan. When you read the twist you will be blown away. A highly enjoyable read!

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an early copy of The Sister-in-Law. What a PLOT!!!! Amazing, who would have thought of it! Unfortunately the characters were sleazy (Keith and Emily) and their conversations were unrealistic but WOW I NEVER saw the ending coming. FANTASTIC LIKE HOLD ON FOR THIS THRILL OF A RIDE!!! Very fast reading and lots of WHAT moments towards the end.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a novel. Tense and gripping and with some great twists, it certainly kept me in my toes. The plot builds with pace and with each turn of the page, you are even more immersed. Great characters that you love to hate, I couldn’t put it down. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review.

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts with a tragic accident, Megan has just lost her husband in a car accident, at the funeral his sister turns up pregnant and Megan wants to help. This is a twisty thriller that really heats up at the end. I really liked this plot, it’s a well written book with a twist. A 5 star read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Megan’s husband Rick dies in an accident, she finally meets his estranged sister at the funeral. She’s pregnant and running away from an abusive boyfriend, so Megan offers her a place to stay for a while. Megan has no idea that the sister is really her husband’s mistress. Or does she? A great twisty read!

[Sommer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I wish it was longer, and had a more definite ending and not just boom. It definitely kept me on my toes as i was reading, and it took about 3 days to read because it was mainly audio.
The story was amazing, and I never saw the ending coming and I love the different character perspectives.
I read this as an early release through net galley, look for it in stores this March!

[Angela Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller

Lots of twist and intriguing storyline. Megan loses her husband on the second anniversary of losing her mom utterly devastated of course during the funeral she meets her late husband's sister. Noone is who they seem and when you think you can figure it out there's another twist.

[Robyn Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

This is my second Ryan book I have read and in this case I would say I devoured it. The plot was amazing and I was so blinded by my dislike towards Emily that I couldn’t have foreseen the massive twists that had me reading on in shock. The writing was brilliant, characters developed just the right way and a punch of a realisation. 5/5.

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of The Sister in Law intrigued me, and I approached the book with the anticipation of an engaging thriller. One of its most compelling aspects was the use of multiple points of view. The narrative was told from the perspectives of different characters, creating a sense that the truth resided somewhere between these viewpoints. This approach added a distinctive layer to the story that I'm not sure I have experienced before, and I really enjoyed that. Additionally, several plot twists were executed effectively, adding to the book’s appeal.

However, I found the writing style to be somewhat juvenile and at times overly simplistic. Some chapters were weighed down with excessive detail, including long passages describing Megan's wealth or Emily's thoughts on Megan and Ricky's relationship. While I understand that these repetitive elements may convey the characters' obsessive thoughts, the execution felt repetitive to the point of distraction. Furthermore, certain significant plotlines were left unresolved by the conclusion—not in a thought-provoking way, but in a way that felt more like an oversight. These loose ends left the story feeling somewhat incomplete, and I found myself wishing for a more thorough ending.

In terms of overall expectations, I found the book lacking in certain areas. Fans of Colleen Hoover and Freida McFadden may appreciate the story, but the writing style and certain narrative choices did not resonate with me.

I received an advanced reader copy of The Sister in Law in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing the ARC!