Missing Sister

by Joshilyn Jackson

Revenge. It's all relative.

Born three minutes apart, Penny and Nix Albright grew up doing everything together, close as only twins can be. But when Nix dies in a tragic accident soon after college, she leaves behind a cryptic voicemail that has Penny guilt-ridden and desperate for justice.

Five Years Later

Penny has found new purpose as a rookie cop. She’s working to fulfill Nix’s dream of making the world a safer place, but following that dream becomes a nightmare when she’s called to her first murder scene. When she sees the victim, she knows him instantly. It’s Danny Bowery—one of three men she’s long blamed for Nix’s death—splayed in a pool of blood outside a posh Atlanta shopping center, almost as if she’d wished it so.

Stunned, Penny steps away to catch her breath and discovers a blonde in blood-drenched clothes gripping a box cutter. Before Penny can arrest her, the woman reveals that Bowery’s murder is part of a larger story that is far from over. A story about sisters. And with that, the killer disappears.

Now, Penny will stop at nothing to pursue this dangerous woman and learn why she’s avenging Nix’s death. The deeper she dives into the mystery, the less clear it becomes who is hunting whom in this captivating page-turner of hidden motives and deadly consequences.

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

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2026

About the author

Jackson's latest, MISSING SISTER, pubs MARCH, 3, 2026. Pre-order now!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson writes both page-turning domestic suspense and Southern book club novels that revolve around timely women’s issues, raising questions about justice, motherhood, career, class, and the thorny mechanics of redemption. Her critically acclaimed work has been translated into more than a dozen languages, and Jackson is also an award-winning audiobook narrator. She lives in a gently haunted 150-year-old Victorian Rowhouse in upstate New York with her family.

A recent expat from the American South, she lives in a mildly haunted Victorian row house in upstate New York.

Reviews

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deliciously dark, beyond twisted, and initially slow-burning, Missing Sister was a hard book to read…but an even harder book to put down. You see, between the morally gray characters and the thought-provoking themes, this story of guilt, justice, family, and love kept me flipping the pages late into the night. Yup. You guessed it. This was yet another one-sitting read. Thanks to the long-buried dark secrets, adrenaline-fueled climax, and delicious last page, I was hooked on this one despite the late hour. Taking me into the darkness of grief and revenge, it was both emotional and poignant even if it also required me to suspend all disbelief. After all, I can’t for the life of me see a police officer doing any of the things Penny did, no matter the reason. Then again, it was just dramatic enough to keep my eyes glued to the pages.

Taking the idea of justice and turning it on its head, in spite of Penny’s over-the-top behavior, I found myself rooting for her by the end. In fact, that finale just might’ve been the best piece of this novel. Teeing off for a much-wanted sequel, I can easily see more to this story. I mean, who wouldn’t love an extension to this twisty game of cat-and-mouse? A revenge thriller that easily had me caught up in the words, it made me think what I might do if I were in this impossible situation. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t have made any of Penny’s questionable choices. But then, with a handful of trigger-list-worthy serious topics on offer (you might want to check out mine), perhaps I’d change my mind if I was in her shoes. So if you love dark stories in the vein of Chevy Stevens, grab this one now. It was quite the tragic, wild ride. Rating of 4 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Born three minutes apart, Penny and Nix Albright grew up doing everything together, close as only twins can be. But when Nix dies in a tragic accident soon after college, she leaves behind a cryptic voicemail that has Penny guilt-ridden and desperate for justice.

Five years later, Penny has found new purpose as a rookie cop. She’s working to fulfill Nix’s dream of making the world a safer place, but following that dream becomes a nightmare when she’s called to her first murder scene. When she sees the victim, she knows him instantly. It’s Danny Bowery—one of three men she’s long blamed for Nix’s death—splayed in a pool of blood outside a posh Atlanta shopping center, almost as if she’d wished it so.

Stunned, Penny steps away to catch her breath and discovers a blonde in blood-drenched clothes gripping a box cutter. Before Penny can arrest her, the woman reveals that Bowery’s murder is part of a larger story that is far from over. A story about sisters. And with that, the killer disappears.

Now, Penny will stop at nothing to pursue this dangerous woman and learn why she’s avenging Nix’s death. The deeper she dives into the mystery, the less clear it becomes who is hunting whom in this captivating page-turner of hidden motives and deadly consequences.

Thank you Joshilyn Jackson and William Morrow Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: March 3, 2026

Content warning: drug overdose, rape, murder, grief, violence, trafficking, gun and knife violence, mention of: domestic violence

[Joshilyn Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now available for pre-order! MISSING SISTER launches March 3, 2026.

“Deliciously sinister, this exploration of the uniquely intense bond only twins share is a winner. Joshilyn Jackson’s twisty storytelling is not to be missed.” — #1 NYT bestselling author, Karin Slaughter on Missing Sister

"Penny is the perfect narrator: Whip smart, funny, flawed, big-hearted, and caught up in a wild ride of a story that kept me up way past my bedtime." — Sara Gruen, #1 NYT bestselling author on Missing Sister

"A thrill ride that kept surprising me, but the real treasure is the family at the heart of this fast-paced tale of sisters and revenge. I loved every breathless minute of it." — Abbott Kahler, NYT bestselling author of Where You End on Missing Sister

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a much darker and slower burning story than this authors other books. It did take me a little while to get into it, I wasn’t sure it was going to be for me but once it ramped up it certainly got interesting.

This is a story of family and revenge. Penny is a rookie cop when she makes a really bad decision, fuelled by grief. The victim of a murder scene she is called to is a man that Penny holds responsible for the death of her twin sister, Nix. A mysterious woman at the scene gets under her skin and starts a series of questionable acts that put her and her family in danger.

It is an emotional story, that has a wild ending.

Thanks to William Morrow for my early copy of this book to read. Publishes on March 3rd. 3.5 ⭐️

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy publication Day! March 3, 2026!! 🎈🎈🎈

Penny Penny Penny. Oh Penny.
More thoughts and rating to come! (2/25/26)

More thoughts 👇
Penny is on a call with her field training officer. When she sees who the victim is, she keeps it to herself that she knows of this individual. It’s someone from her twin sister Nix’s past. Someone who Penny blames for the death of her twin.
From this point on, Penny starts to make some very questionable decisions. Isn’t there some sort of cop rule: assume nothing? I swear I have read/heard that before, just can’t place from where (if anyone knows where I got that from, please let me know!). Penny assumes a lot of things in this book. And oh my sugarplums it was starting to irk me.

Partway through I needed to increase the speed to keep myself into this book. It started to really drag in parts. Eventually it drew me back in. And the surprises I was in for….consider me surprised! Glad I stuck around for it.

This story kind of went here there and everywhere. I don’t know if it’s just me, but did the ending leave things open to a possible follow up book featuring Penny?

The book is narrated by the author. She does a good job, but a few of the ‘Albrights’ had me turning down the volume and wincing. In order to hear Thailia’s (sp?) character, I often had to turn the volume up higher, in order to hear her.

My thoughts from 1:30am about this book didn’t come back to me. So the above is what you are left with! It was good, not great, but I am glad I hung in there.

Originally I was thinking 3.5⭐️’s, but after typing my review, it’s more of a flat 3 ⭐️ book for me. Without increasing the speed for a while in there, I may not have stuck it out, if I am being completely honest, which I am, so there we go.

Ps. I love that the dog was named Bosch!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the alc of this book, all thoughts are my own.

Ps again…thanks for putting up with my emails Darla!! 😊.

Rating and review posted: 2/25/26
Expected publication date: March 3, 2026
Reposted for publication date: 3/3/26

[Bkwmlee · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I’ve read several of Joshilyn Jackson’s previous novels and liked them all well enough, so I picked up her newest work, Missing Sister , with a certain amount of anticipation, especially after reading the interesting premise and understanding that this would be another novel in the thriller / suspense category, which she has been pretty solid in judging from past books I’ve read.

Indeed, this one started out fine – a bit slow burn, yes, but I was okay with that because I figured Jackson was setting up the backstory and the pace would pick up later once the action started happening (more on this later). Though with that said, I do have to say that, from the start, I honestly did not like the main character Penny Albright – not only did she come across to me as perpetually immature and frustratingly whiny, she was also entirely unconvincing as a police officer. The entire time I was reading, I couldn’t shake the impression of Penny as a petulant teenager playing make believe cop -- her character is actually in her late twenties, I think, but she talks like a 15 year old (sorry, but it’s hard for me to take a cop seriously who constantly describes another person as sitting “crisscross applesauce”). Of course, it also didn’t help that Penny as a character was written in a way that I typically can’t stand – the “damsel in distress” type who is forever justifying her every thought and action (which, because the story is narrated in first person, felt like she was endlessly debating with herself in her head), constantly berating herself and putting herself down (she actually calls herself “dumb” and “stupid” on multiple occasions), and then backing all that up with one nonsensical decision after another (after another, after another, ad nauseam). But Penny wasn’t the only annoying character – interestingly enough, every character in the story actually frustrated me in some way, which unfortunately made it difficult for me to stay invested in the story, since being able to connect with at least one of the characters (or, minimally, feeling like I want to root for them) is crucial for me and I didn’t find any of that here.

Annoying characters aside, I was hoping the story would at least be enough to make this a worthwhile read for me, but unfortunately, I also had issues there as well. Technically, the entire story didn’t work for me, but the plot was especially problematic, as it had way too many holes in it, to the point that it became distracting. Speaking of distractions, I also felt that there was a lot of unnecessary “fluff” that bogged the story down – things such as stretched out descriptions of minute details (there was one scene that literally spent paragraphs describing everything the character sees within the half second it took to turn their head), drawn-out conversations about irrelevant things that seemed to have nothing to do with the story, and weird scenes where characters seem to be hallucinating and blubbering nonsense one minute but then speak coherently and seem completely fine the next minute. Overall, so much of the story didn’t make sense and I found myself having to suspend disbelief for so long that I ended up skimming large chunks of the story because I couldn’t bear the ridiculousness any longer.

With all that said, there were some bright spots, such as the set up in the opening pages, as well as the reveal at the end, which I didn’t figure out – but as a whole, the story was difficult to follow (because the writing was all over the place) and the frustrating aspects outweighed the non-frustrating ones too much for me.

While this book was a definite “miss” for me, it hasn’t put me off from reading Jackson’s other works -- though admittedly, I will probably be more selective in terms of choosing which ones to read (maybe I’ll stick with the historical-themed stories instead of the mystery / thrillers).

Received ARC from William Morrow via NetGalley.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Missing Sister, by Joshilyn Jackson, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Penny and Nix are twins, Nix was murdered and the killer was never caught. This was a dark and heavy read, with unlikable characters.

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a slow-burning mystery that is dark, twisted, and very emotional. A constant, unsettling feeling runs through this disturbing story of revenge and grief. This character-driven thriller was gripping and haunting with a shocking conclusion. Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for my copy.

[OutlawPoet]

DNF @ 20%. I tried, but I found it slow and really hated the main character. Also, nothing about how the police work read as authentic. Not for me.

[RoosBookReviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐, rounded up.
As much as I wanted to, I just didn't find this story believable. There was too much on the "police" side that I didn't believe and besides Shadow I didn't care for the characters nor find them or their behavior believable. The narration was good, with the exception that at times it got so quiet I had to turn up the volume to hear what was being said, only to have my ears hurt 30 seconds later when volume came up again. While this book may be entertaining to some, there are better books regarding twins and police stuff.

thank you to NetGalley, the author Joshilyn Jackson, and Harper audio for my ARC of this audiobook.

[Kelly Veit · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ THIS BOOK NOW! All ✨the ✨stars✨ This will most definitely one of my top 5 mystery thriller reads this year. Joshilyn Jackson has knocked it out of the park! I read it in two sittings, and the only reason it wasn’t just one is that I had an appointment that I definitely could not miss. This story starts as a smoldering fire, but amps up into a roaring blaze.🔥🔥🔥 Once I got to about 40ish% in, there was no way I could stop reading for anything. The twists were so shocking, that I literally sat staring at the wall with my mouth open on more than one reveal!🤯The characters have great depth and are so well written they actually feel like family members. I don’t want to say any more about the story because you need to experience it for yourself. I highly recommend that when you finish whatever you’re reading right now, you immediately start Missing Sister! But be warned, you’ll need undisturbed hours because you will not want to put the book down. Huge thanks to William Morrow via NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[Mikayla Larlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a dark story and themes of female rage, so this one definitely caught my attention. There were some really interesting moments around female friendship and workplace solidarity, but I struggled a bit with the police procedure side of things and some details that slowed the pacing. I wanted to love it more than I did, but it was still a quick read with a few interesting twists.

[Micronova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
4.5 stars (rounded up.)

This is the first novel I’ve read by this author. I enjoyed it enough that I’ll be adding some of their backlist to my TBR.

I was sold by the synopsis indicating that this is a story about sisters and revenge with a dash of murder mystery.

Initially, this story was plugging along nicely. (I was holding at about a 3.5-4/5 rating.) We are introduced to the characters and given some backstory and build up to the present time. Some of us might identify with Penny Albright, changing careers mid life, surrounded by people that love us but we are still drowning in loneliness, struggling to know who we really are or where we belong in a world that has us so jaded.

Penny tragically lost her twin sister and finds herself wanting to effect some kind of tangible change in the world. She wants to be a good person doing good things. This leads her to the police academy, which she graduates from and we ride along with her during her last week with her training superior. Lucky Penny. She gets called to her first homicide. Unlucky Penny. She recognizes the victim. (Someone who victimized her sister Nix before she passed.).

This is the point in the story where things get more interesting. We are introduced to more characters. Her brother, Dand. Her niece, Shadow. Her parents. Delilah. Thalia. Michael. And of course, the spirit and voice of Nixxy that lives in Penny’s head. The pacing picks up and we start connecting some dots in this plotline. Characters are more fleshed out and we get a better idea of their personalties. There is enough mystery that leaves us somewhat questioning “whodunnit” while we secretly think that we have it figured out.

AND THEN! PLOT TWISTS. Revelations. MORE PLOT TWISTS. Things I never saw coming, things I wouldn’t have had the imagination to even anticipate happening. This is where my rating irrevocably changed to a definite 4.

This is great storytelling. Subtle trickery into safely thinking this is a slow creeping mystery. Characters with depth that you either despise or find yourself on their side, fighting for what’s right even if it’s morally wrong. Deep, heavy secrets and human emotion that you feel deep in your chest.

I felt set up to read another mediocre book and then was hit hard and knocked into a story where the planning, the intentional set up, the climax and delivery were all carefully orchestrated by the author. Color me impressed.

The ending made my spidey senses tingle (cue a half star addition to the rating!) and I’m left hoping that this might be the start of a series. It has the bones and the grit to pull it off, (in my opinion,) and I’m here for it.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow Publishing and the author for the digital advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Expected publish date: March 3rd.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penny’s entire existence has become a relentless pursuit of revenge. The murder of her twin sister, Nix, has left an indelible scar on her soul, and five long years have passed since that fateful day. Despite her becoming a police officer, Penny’s path is anything but law-abiding. One of the first crime scenes she attends is that of a victim she instantly recognizes. This victim is one of the men Penny has been tirelessly searching for ever since Nix’s murder. She is certain that he is one of the men responsible for her sister’s murder, and she is determined to prove it, no matter the cost.

Penny’s journey is a tale of love, loyalty, and obsession. Her unwavering devotion to Nix is evident, and she demonstrates her commitment in various ways. However, her obsession ultimately overshadows her judgment, leading to a series of unfortunate decisions. The audiobook, narrated by the author, captures the intensity and tension of the story, making it an immersive and captivating experience.

Many thanks to William Morrow and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Jennifer Rodriguez · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but had to DNF at 50%. The story line is there but I kept getting bored with the extra chunkiness of it. Why did I need to know a page and a half of her dating experience, I understand its unedited, and I've read enough thrillers/mysteries and police procedural. I feel like this could be a really good book. Also excessive on the full name of Thalia was a lot. I got lost in the excess details and I couldn't keep engaged.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a suspenseful read, but you need to stick with it. It's a slow burn, but it definitely picks up and it keeps on going. I love a good revenge thriller and this one delivered. Penny is a rookie cop who lost her twin sister, Nix, In a tragic accident. She shows up to a scene of a murder and notices the victim is one of the men she thinks was responsible. She sees a woman at the crime scene, bloodied, with a box cutter. This woman reveals there's a bigger picture, and things are not over. The woman gets away. Penny pursues the woman, and is on a mission to get to the bottom of all of this. I definitely questioned some of Penny's actions. But this whole story, once we got to the halfway point, was so engrossing. It's thought provoking and dark.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Cordelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

SYNOPSIS
-Penny and her twin, Nix, were inseparable until Nix died of an overdose shortly after college.
-Five years later, Penny’s a rookie cop trying to carry out Nix’s dream of making the world safer.
-On her very first murder scene, the victim turns out to be one of the guys she blames for Nix’s death.
-A blonde woman shows up covered in blood, hints that this killing is part of a bigger story about sisters and revenge, then disappears.
⸻
MY THOUGHTS
-Being in Penny’s head the whole time made it feel super personal.
-The mix of revenge, justice, and messy family stuff worked really well.
-Super easy writing style, which made it a quick read even when the plot got heavy.
-I stayed hooked and didn’t want to put it down.
-The ending actually paid off and felt worth the ride.
⸻
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4 stars. Fast, juicy, and all about sisters, revenge, and justice. I flew through it and liked the way it wrapped up.
⸻
THANKS: Thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on March 3, 2026.

[Gwen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m going go have to DNF this one at 50%. I’ve enjoyed a couple other thrillers by this author, but this one is really dragging for me and I don’t feel connected with the main character. I tried putting it down and coming back to it, and I just can’t make progress. I hope others like it more than me!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson is going to be one of my favorite thrillers this year.

"Penny Albright is still guilt-ridden from the death of her twin, Nix. Now she is a rookie cop called to her first murder scene. She is shocked to find that the victim is Danny Bowery - one of the men she holds responsible for her sister's death. She steps away to catch her breath and finds a woman in an alley, covered in blood and holding a bloody box cutter. Before Penny can arrest her she reveals that Bowery's murder is part of a larger story - a story about sisters. When she disappears into the night, Penny knows she'll do anything to find out this woman's story."

I think this is Jackson's best book. There's incredible tension straight from the beginning with the murder scene and Penny's decisions throughout. Jackson never hints at who the true psychopath is - and that character was truly an evil, desperate psychopath.
There are lots of great characters in this story. Penny's brother, Gand, is kind of woo-woo but still has secrets. (and a hilarious nickname) His daughter Shadow has legit hacking skills. And Penny wants to make the world better by being a cop, even with her animosity towards the men who hurt her sister.
And the mysterious Thalia, with the bloody box-cutter. Her backstory is even wilder.

A wild ending! I hope we get more stories from these characters. Thriller fans - don't miss this great story from Jackson.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out right away with a blindsiding murder, but not because of who the victim was. The first half was a slow burn, but then quickly picks up and jumps into action. A rookie cop makes a questionable choice that ultimately puts her in danger. It has the reader asking themselves “what would you do if you were in that position?”. A dark game of cat and mouse while filling up each page with mystery and a story all about revenge.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

If Joshilyn Jackson's name wasn't on the cover I would not believe she wrote this...this one read nothing like her previous books which I have enjoyed. The writing felt choppy, and the MC was oddly distant from the story she was telling.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fresh out of police training, Penelope is in her last few days of training with a partner before she is set off to be on her own. They roll up to a murder scene as one of the first on scene and Pen has moment of sheer panic. She knows this person laying the ground - and she's not one bit sad he's dead.

I do love dark stories and I love female rage. This had some really interesting moments of female friendship and workplace solidarity. But right from the get-go, I struggled with the police procedure stuff. Would the department really treat her like that? From there, I wanted to love it but it got bogged down in some odd details - little details of the brother's & Michael's lives - that seemed to slow down and studder the plot. It was a quick read and did have some interesting twists.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joshilyn Jackson, renowned Southern storyteller and "Queen of Twists," masterfully weaves a propulsive, gritty, and intricately layered psychological thriller in her latest work, MISSING SISTER, that delves deep into the complex relationship between twin sisters and revenge.

This compelling narrative plunges into the labyrinthine dynamics of twin sisters, unraveling their complex relationship with a blend of raw emotion and unforeseen plot turns. Jackson's masterful storytelling pulls readers into a gritty world where secrets lurk beneath the surface, leaving them breathless with each suspenseful twist and layered revelation.

Exploring themes of generational trauma, the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood, and a rookie cop’s relentless quest for vigilante justice. From the echoes of the past to the unfolding present, Jackson deftly prompts readers to grapple with the nuanced shades of morality on the often treacherous path toward redemption.

As always, the author skillfully crafts a tale that compels you to turn the pages voraciously, eager to uncover the choices her protagonist will ultimately confront.

Highlights...

Backstory:
Identical twins Penny and Nix Albright were inseparable until Nix was raped in college and subsequently spiraled into drug addiction. Five years before the novel's start, Nix died of an overdose, leaving Penny with a cryptic voicemail and immense guilt.

A Familiar Victim:
Now a rookie police officer in Atlanta, Penny is called to her first murder scene: a stabbing at an upscale shopping village. The victim is Danny Bowery, one of three men Penny blames for Nix’s downfall and death.

The Confrontation:
At the scene, Penny discovers a woman drenched in blood and holding a box cutter. The woman, identifying herself as Thalia Grey, whispers that this is part of a "bigger story about sisters".

The Choice:
Instead of arresting the prime suspect, Penny allows Thalia to escape and pockets the murder weapon. This decision leads to her suspension from the force but allows her to investigate Thalia's motives privately.

The Pattern of Revenge:
Penny discovers that Danny Bowery isn't the first of Nix's attackers to die; another man, Xav Castillo, was murdered around the second anniversary of Nix’s death. Now they are both in search of the third man in this twisty mystery.

The Investigation:
As Penny hunts for Thalia, the narrative explores whether Thalia is an "avenging angel" for Nix or if she has her own separate "sister story" involving the third attacker.

The Climax:
The story concludes with several rapid-fire twists in the final third, examining the "shades of morality" and the lengths sisters will go for one another, even after death.

My thoughts...

Twisty, provocative, gritty, and thought-provoking, the author cleverly uses short, sharp scenes to weave together past and present with a multi-layered mystery that moves the plot along with heart-pounding suspense.

As a devoted admirer of the author, for years, I have eagerly immersed myself in every one of her works. Each book is a delightful journey through her vibrant Southern storytelling, brimming with sharp wit, captivating suspense, and heartfelt emotions that linger long after the final page is turned.

Penny is an intriguing character and continues her investigation despite being suspended from operating as a private citizen who knows exactly where to look for clues that other police are ignoring.

Instead of hunting Thalia to arrest her, Penny seeks her out to understand her motives and the "sister story" she mentioned at the murder scene. With the help of her family, Grand (brother) and Shadow (niece), with her hacking skills.

Thalia is a complex character, a systematic killer who targets men involved in past assaults, framing her actions as a "story about sisters". Her character is built around themes of trauma-driven revenge rather than traditional villainy. She is highly intelligent and manipulative, using cryptic messages to convince Penny to let her go while at the first crime scene.

Despite her cold exterior, her motives are rooted in a fierce, protective sense of sisterhood. Both women have been "shaped by unfair and unjust life experiences," and their character arcs revolve around realizing they are not as alone as they believe.

As the mystery unfolds, it is revealed that "Thalia Grey" may be one of several aliases, including Polly and Clio, reflecting her ability to move through the world undetected. Penny is drawn to Thalia because she recognizes a shared loneliness and trauma. Thalia represents the path of violent justice that Penny—as a cop—is forced to choose between supporting or stopping.

In MISSING SISTER, the narrative focuses on the moral "gray areas" of justice and the messy bond between siblings. Penny carries immense guilt for not "saving" Nix. Her investigation is less about solving a crime and more about finding a way to forgive herself for being the twin who survived.

The audiobook...

I had the immense pleasure of immersing myself in both the written word and the captivating audiobook, expertly narrated by the author herself. As a devoted admirer of her audio performances, I find that she brings a remarkable depth of emotion and suspense to every word. Her vivid descriptions create a rich tapestry that draws listeners in, offering an unforgettable and engaging auditory experience. It's truly a journey that resonates long after the last note fades away.

Themes...

~The Weight of Sisterhood
~Vigilantism vs. Legal Justice
~Generational Trauma
~The Cost of Secrecy
~Redemption and Absolution
~The Dangers of Addiction
~Grief and Guilt
~Morality in a "Broken World."

The relationship between Penny and her niece Shadow (Nix’s daughter) serves as a mirror for Penny’s unresolved grief and a warning about the cycle of trauma. Penny’s major choice and the identity of the third attacker bring her journey from "rule-following cop" to "avenger" to a head. The climax forces Penny to reconcile her oath as a police officer with her personal need for retribution.

Sinister, chilling, and powerful!

The author focuses on the dark side of human nature, skillfully examining the "shades of morality" involved when good people make questionable decisions in the face of deep injustice. The duo finds common ground in their shared experiences of being shaped by an "unfair and unjust" world.

Jackson fans will eagerly immerse themselves in the gripping suspense of MISSING SISTER, a thrilling narrative that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats. As you delve into the story, you will be captivated by the dynamic duo of Penny and Thalia—two distinct characters whose extraordinary talents shine through in their quest for justice.

The anticipation of a potential sequel only heightens the excitement, leaving readers longing for further adventures with these compelling characters as they navigate the challenges that lie ahead.

The title...

The title is significant because it functions on multiple levels, referring not only to the physical absence of Penny's deceased twin, Nix, but also to the metaphorical missing parts of their lives and the introduction of a new, unknown "sister" in the form of the killer Thalia. The title, therefore, also refers to the universal, powerful, and sometimes dark bond that all sisters share, and the lengths they will go to for one another, even after death.

Recs...

If you’re digging the gritty, morally complex vibe of MISSING SISTER, these psychological authors hit the same notes of family trauma and vigilante justice in their novels: by Karin Slaughter, Sally Hepworth, Lisa Unger, Mary Kubica, Jennifer Hillier, and Lisa Gardner.

Special thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for graciously providing an advanced reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. Always a delight!

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Pub Date: Mar 03, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars

[Kelli Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so mixed on this one. I love Joslyn Jackson’s books, did not like the first half of this book at all - The plot revolves around Penny and Penny’s life revolves around the fact that she lost her twin to a drug overdose. Penny is a rookie police officer who lets murder suspect “Thalia” walk because she “feels a connection” with Thalia and steals the evidence in order to let Thalia go free. Just no.

Penny’s department then executes a search warrant on her residence - with no probable cause. Another rookie reported hearing Penny talking to someone at the crime scene and - tada! - that was enough to get a warrant. Ugh!!!! I even checked the credits and it stated Jackson consulted with a police department on this one…. Yes I know it’s fiction, but if you’re going to write crime, get it right.

However, once we are past that nonsense, the second half was a great story. The characters develop and become interesting and the pace picks up quite a bit. Penny discovers the murderer’s true identity, the motive, and the truth about her twin. I flew through the second half and would not be surprised to see a sequel. I would love a sequel focusing on Thalia (aka Polly, aka Clio) as I found her character much more compelling.

Big thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joshilyn Jackson repeatedly just delivers and I love it! This book was no difference. Along with murder, the book was really all about family and love. The sibling bond was beautiful (if not fully believable). But at its core it was still a revenge thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!

[Rebeckuh · Rating 5 out of 5]

pardon my french but FUCK this is such a good book, so absurdly well written, so unique and original and unpredictable and overall amazing. First thriller i’ve loved in a while, 5 stars through and through

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Born a mere three minutes apart, Penny and Nix were inseparable. The twins looked nearly identical, but their personalities couldn’t have been more different. Penny was the cautious one, always doing the right thing, making the logical choice, playing it safe. Nix was the wild one, unafraid to go against the grain simply because she could. As close as they were, their bond would end in tragedy. Nix succumbed to addiction, overdosing far too young, leaving behind only a cryptic voicemail and a hole in Penny that she would spend the rest of her life trying to fill.

“In the space between dreams and the waking world, I felt her with me, sleeping as we often had, turned toward each other like a closed set of parentheses.”

As if trying to keep her sister alive through imitation, Penny begins to abandon her lifelong caution. She ends her steady relationship with the man who would have made a perfectly safe husband. She quits her job in the culinary world. She enrolls in the police academy. And that’s where we first meet her—on her final shift as a police trainee, called to the scene of a brutal murder.

The blood shocks her. The violence overwhelms her. She struggles to comprehend how one person could do this to another human soul. But then Penny recognizes the victim—one of the men she holds responsible for Nix’s death—and another emotion cuts through the horror. Satisfaction. A quiet, unsettling sense that this man met the end he deserved.

Shaken, Penny steps away to catch her breath and stumbles upon a blonde woman drenched in the blood of that victim, gripping a box cutter. Before Penny can make the arrest, the woman calmly reveals that this murder is only the beginning. It's part of a much larger story that is far from over. A story about sisters. A story that Penny now finds herself a part of.

And then, just like that, the killer disappears, leaving Penny to decide how far she’s willing to go to see this story through to the end.

Joshilyn Jackson has long thrilled me with her inventive standalone novels that balance page-turning suspense with sharp, emotionally grounded character work. Missing Sister is yet another example of that skill. I’ll admit it’s a bit darker than her previous books, and it took me a few chapters to fully get behind Penny as a character. She’s complicated in her motivations, walking a thin line between her naturally cautious nature and her late sister’s more reckless, daring spirit. She makes frustratingly poor decisions at times, and it can be tough to watch her spiral into self-destruction. But at the same time, that’s grief, isn’t it? It pushes us toward choices we might never otherwise make.

Jackson populates the story with characters who feel authentic to the world she’s built, each wrestling with their own complicated relationship to Nix, whose shadow stretches over everyone she touched. All of it comes together in a tightly plotted, page-turning thriller with a twist ending I genuinely didn’t see coming. Sure, there are a few moments that require a small leap of faith, but I was so invested in the characters that I hardly minded. It’s a dark, fast read that proves Jackson isn’t afraid to explore new tonal territory. Missing Sister is another strong entry in her catalog and a reminder of why I keep coming back to her books.

[LindaPf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Main character Penny is a rookie Kennesaw, Georgia cop who has been called to the murder scene of a man who once violently assaulted her twin sister, Nix. Nix subsequently overdosed and died and a tormented, lonely death. The murder victim was actually one of three perpetrators and, maybe not so coincidentally, another one was recently beaten to death. As the police investigate the nearby crime scene, Penny encounters weirdly familiar Thalia, covered in blood and in possession of a box cutter, obviously a suspect, but in an eerie, unexplained, almost sisterly, moment, Penny tells her to “run!”

Joshilyn Jackson’s “Missing Sister” is about sisters,and much of the story about Penny’s family memories, including her quirky bad-parent brother Gand and oft-abandoned niece Shadow. Thalia said “sisters” to Penny as she escaped, so we are ready for another mysterious sibling story as well.

Guided by an inner voice resembling her sister’s, Penny risks her job as a policewoman, all the while questioning her own motives. Jackson writes beautifully and especially uses a language of scents, fragrances, and aromas (Penny was once a chef) to form an original trail of clues. Jackson also takes on the role of narrator for her own book — an absolute bonus since author-narrators can give the readers nuances about the deeper parts. Her voice is sort of a “cute girl” type and not normally expected for a woman cop, but that surprising inflection really became emotionally pitch perfect. I’ll definitely recommend this audiobook over the ebook for a fuller experience. 4 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Nix had hazel eyes, close enough and equally rare, and Shadow’s hazel eyes are flecked with green, while Thalia has impossible pale gold eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But a key item is a vape kit engraved with chrysanthemums.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

[Julie Maleski (juliereads_alot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to #partner William Morrow Books & #EpicTastemakers for the gifted book...this is my honest review.

📖 Missing Sister 📖
Author: Joshilyn Jackson
Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Publisher: William Morrow Books

MY RATING: 4/5⭐

Missing Sister, the upcoming release from author Joshilyn Jackson, is a fast-paced and suspenseful thriller full of mystery and twists that will keep you guessing!

This quick read grabbed me from the first chapter and held my attention until its twisty end. The character-driven story was filled with morally gray characters I couldn't help but root for once I heard their backstories, and I loved every questionable decision they made.

Twins Penny and Nix grew up doing everything together, but when Nix dies in a tragic accident soon after college, she leaves behind a cryptic voicemail that has Penny guilt-ridden and desperate for justice. Five years later, Penny is a rookie cop, and when she's called to her first murder scene, she realizes it's Danny Bowery—one of three men she’s long blamed for Nix’s death. Stunned, Penny steps away to survey the scene and discovers a blonde in blood-drenched clothes gripping a box cutter. Before Penny can arrest her, the woman reveals that Bowery’s murder is part of a larger story that's far from over. A story about sisters. And with that, the killer disappears. Now, Penny will stop at nothing to pursue this dangerous woman and learn why she’s avenging Nix’s death. But the deeper she dives into the mystery, the less clear it becomes who is hunting whom.

This captivating thriller is a suspense-filled read about the bonds of sisterhood and revenge -- and one that should definitely be on your TBR!

#MissingSister #JoshilynJackson #WilliamMorrowBooks #partner #EpicTastemakers #thrillerlover #thrillerreads #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

[Stacey Reads It All · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up! This was a good novel that kept me interested throughout. Joshilyn Jackson has a gift for building tension from the inside out — rooting her suspense in family secrets, fractured loyalties, and the kind of quiet dread that creeps under your skin before you even realize it’s there.

There were a few plot threads that felt underdeveloped by the time the ending arrived. It was the kind of book that promised a little more than it ultimately delivered — hence the half-star reservation — but it remained an engaging read overall.

As for the audio experience, Joshilyn Jackson narrated her own work. She clearly understood these characters on a deep level, and that came through in her performance. However, there were noticeable moments throughout where her vocalizations dropped off significantly, requiring the volume to be raised just to follow the narrative. It was a recurring distraction, and honestly, the audiobook would have been better served by a professional narrator who could have maintained consistent vocal projection throughout, and given nuance to the different characters. Jackson’s passion for the material was evident, but passion and technical narration skill don’t always go hand in hand. Still, Missing Sister was well worth the listen for fans of domestic suspense with heart.

Thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 out of 5 rounded up.

I didn’t end up enjoying this as much as I’d hoped. The premise sounded really interesting to me, I just don’t know that I fully bought this story. It was one of those books that I just found hard to believe. I also found the characters to be unrealistic in their actions. I don’t know, I just couldn’t get into it.

My favorite character in this book is Shadow. I almost wish she had a POV, because her character is so interesting! Beyond that, I didn’t get attached to any of the other characters sadly, besides maybe Thalia. Also, Gand…I didn’t vibe with the nickname. Then, our FMC is said to be “a good cop” but based on her actions, I would not agree. Now being a PI, I could see that for sure!

One thing I will hand to the author is the knack for writing intense scenes. The one with the parrot had me on edge! Also, the storytelling was there, it just felt like all the pieces were a little too much. I would like to read more by this author in the future, though!

Overall, it was good but not what I expected. I think there was a little too much going on to really dig into this story fully.

***Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Audio for an ALC as well as William Morrow for an eARC, both in exchange for an honest review.