The Sister

by Valerie Keogh

Don't miss this pulse-pounding psychological thriller from NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER Valerie Keogh, author of The Wives and The Nurse. Perfect for fans of Frieda McFadden and Lisa Jewell!

You’d trust your sister with your life—wouldn’t you?

Twin sisters Ellie and Tia were torn apart the day their parents died. Ellie was given the picture-perfect life—marriage, a home, security. Tia was cast aside, growing up in the shadows, unwanted, unloved, and never quite belonging.

Now, after years apart, fate brings them together again. Ellie is desperate to believe this is a chance to rebuild their bond. To finally have the sister she always longed for.

But Tia hasn’t come back to play happy families. She knows the secret Ellie is hiding— a secret that could shatter her perfect marriage and destroy everything she’s built.

Because Tia has been waiting her whole life for this moment. And she isn’t going to let Ellie escape the past—or the truth.

Another brilliant psych thriller from number one, million copy bestselling author Valerie Keogh. Perfect for fans of Frieda McFadden, J.A.Baker and Keri Beevis.

Please note - this book was previously published as The Secrets Betwen Us

‘Keogh is the queen of compelling narratives and twisty plots’ Jenny O'Brien

'A wonderful book, I can’t rate this one highly enough. If only there were ten stars, it’s that good. Valerie Keogh is a master story-teller, and this is a masterful performance.' Anita Waller

'Keogh is no. 1 for a reason, and this is another perfect slice of domestic noir. A definite 5 stars.' Keri Beevis

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller

352 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2025

About the author

Valerie started to write several years ago. She self-published eight crime novels and one psychological thriller before signing a two book contract with Bookouture in March 2018. The first of these, Secrets Between Us, is available now and the second is due in Feb 2019. She is a registered nurse with a degree in English and a Masters in American Literature. Recently she has given up nursing to concentrate on her writing career.

Reviews

[Sandra S Walters · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has to be about the worst book ever written. Totally predictable, utterly boring!! The only reason I finished it was to meet my reading challenge. It is touted as “unputtabledown” which I dare say is not a word. It did lure me in to reading the book but I can’t see how anyone would ever rate this book a 4. Just horrible!

[Louise Leonard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too easy to figure out.

[Aishy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sister is a slow-paced psychological thriller that takes its time building atmosphere and tension. At times, it felt like the story could have been shorter and tighter, and the twist was fairly easy to predict if you’re familiar with the genre.

That said, I still enjoyed it.

Valerie Keogh has a very simple, accessible writing style, which makes her books easy to read and easy to get through, even when the pacing is slower. The characters are clear, the emotions are easy to follow, and the story flows smoothly without feeling heavy or overly complicated.

If you’ve read a lot of her work before, you’ll know what to expect — and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While this isn’t her strongest or most surprising book, it’s still solid and enjoyable, especially for readers who like calm, character-driven thrillers rather than fast, twist-every-chapter plots.

[Devi Tailor · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good, I predicted the ending about half way through the book but nonetheless it was a quick read

[eva დ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i saw that ending coming miles away

[Vivien Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book full of intrigue and so compelling it was impossible to put down. Valerie Keogh has an incredible gift in her storytelling. Wonderful read

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Patsy Metz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writes like Frieda Mc Fadden. Good thriller between twin sisters

[Heather Freeman · Rating 1 out of 5]

What you think is going to happen, is definitely going to happen. This is probably one of her most predictable books.

[Natasha Fulcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I loved this. The only down side is I predicted every twist which dropped it from five stars to four!

This was totally unique, not like any storyline I’ve ever heard of, and it was a really good plot. I loved the characters and how you heard various sides of the story and I just generally enjoyed listening to it. I feel like the ending was quite poor with a lack of detail. I understood it because I had already thought of that ending being an option however if I hadn’t thought of it first I felt like it didn’t make it very clear or make much sense!

Ellie and Will are happily married, the only down side is that having a baby wouldn’t be possible for them. Whilst Will is keen to look down other avenues that will lead to their own child, Ellie isn’t so sure this is the right choice for her. In the mean time, they have just found out Ellie’s twin sister, Tia, will no longer be able to stay in the supported living accommodation she is currently at due to it shutting down & reluctantly allows Tia to move in with her & Will temporarily until another place is ready for her. Immediately Will confuses Tia with Ellie which just makes an uncomfortable situation for Ellie even worse. Ellie thinks it can’t get any worse but she’s soon proven wrong when she finds out Tia is pregnant.

[Nicki · Rating 1 out of 5]

The star is for the narrator (listened to on audiobook).
I generally enjoy listening to Valerie Keogh’s books, but this one was insulting. I wouldn’t recommend anyone with fertility issues read this one, because they’re going to have a great time hearing the main character Ellie refer to herself as barren and question her value as a woman or even if she is a women since she’s “failed” her main function. As a childfree woman, it peed me right off.
The minute Ellie’s twin sister, Tia, who has been in a home for her special needs most of her life is released to Ellie’s care, I had a sinking suspicion where this was going and while I wasn’t 100% right, it still gave me the s&$:s.
Ditto Ellie’s husband. Couldn’t stand him either.
No. Just no.

[Megan Averill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook, and while I really enjoyed the narrator, that’s unfortunately where it started and ended for me. I figured out the twist pretty early on, many of the characters were unlikeable, and there were so many unanswered questions by the end, including the biggest one surrounding Tia’s disability.

Also, another thing that really irked me: Will getting confused about which twin he was married to??? You’re telling me you spent all that time with Ellie, and the second Tia shows up you suddenly can’t tell them apart? Absolutely not. 🫠

Overall, this one just wasn’t a win for me.

[Sn · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the characters were rude, selfish and annoying but Tia and Will annoyed me so much.
I am so mad that Tia took over her life she was so weird and disturbing.
The plot was very predictable though could have made Ellie become a killer that would have been interesting.
Also alot of unexplained questions like I am confused on Tia's disability and I am confused on what she intended to do as the ending was not written well.

[NdG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots to ‘critique’ here. I audio read this and the narrator is absolutely excellent. It is hard like/relate to characters one simply cannot understand nor with whom one cannot sympathize. Of course, this is a psychological thriller… thus the author wrote the book in this manner intentionally….Maybe not so bad after all …..

[Sara Pohl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this thriller at the beginning and slowly lost them the more I read. The final outcome is apparently an third of the way through the book, the characters were shallow without that being an advantage to the plot, and there were so many opportunities to make this a genuinely captivating read. All in all a good weekend read, but not really remarkable.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyable thriller about twins. Ellie and Will are not likeable characters. Self interested rich entitled people. Tia is an inconvenience to them. I love all of this author’s stories but this was very predictable. I liked the ending though. Justice prevailed in its own way. Denise x

[Dusty Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book! I’m just stingy with my 5 star ratings. I would’ve given this one a 4.5 if possible. I thought I had it figured out once - nope, then I was pretty sure I had it figured out again but she kept me second guessing myself until the end. Must read 🤩

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie has a twin, Tia, who comes to live w Ellie and husb.Tia becomes pregnant when the husband one night mistakes Tia for Ellie. He wants to keep baby bc Ellie can’t get pregnant. Now what? So many twists.

[Jenna Chambers · Rating 3 out of 5]

While engaging, the domestic aspects of this novel dragged a bit and the plot could have been more snappy and fast paced. The twist was somewhat obvious and the ending could have explored the ‘why’ more fully. Enjoyable enough but not mind blowing.

[Cassie C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little predictable, but very well written!

[Amy Kearton · Rating 1 out of 5]

well that was predictable and pointless

[Jen Chipperfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too predictable.

[Helen Shrapel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was going to give this one star but then thought that the storyline was good to start with but then it was so predictable. Not really a fan I’m afraid

[Thundyr Myah · Rating 1 out of 5]

long winded

Twister returns. It took absolutely forever to get Ing that was very obvious at the very beginning what was going to happen.

[Sanjeev Chhabra · Rating 5 out of 5]

My best of the year and my best Valerie Keogh. Its the full package- emotions, questions- a psychological thriller very well told.

[Sandy Cleveland]

Good read

Enjoyed reading this, but the ending is predictable....takes a while to get there. Like this author but this story doesn't quite hold up.

[Janet Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful thriller

Enjoyed this one. Suspected the ending, but I couldn't put it down until I knew how it finished....
Highly recommended.

[Alexandra Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to figure out the twists and turns but still interesting. And a very weird concept.

[Gina Gi-Gi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written really well, felt predictable but then it had me questioning what I thought I knew was going to happen. Some of the Characters are insufferable, the ending felt justified and satisfying

[Susan Haynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

predictable but good