Mother Daughter Sister Stranger

by Hank Phillippi Ryan

What happens when the past rises from the ashes to destroy you?

Eliza Ramsey and her sister Bea are the sole survivors of the fiery plane crash that killed their parents—and share a bond they vow is unbreakable. But now, eleven years later, on the exact anniversary of the tragedy, Bea fails to retrieve her pre-teen daughter from a sleepover at Eliza’s. Eliza knows her sister would never leave her precious Piper behind—even in her care—and fears the worst.

Piper is confused at her mother’s absence. Her father, Bea's recent ex, is out of town and uninterested in Bea’s whereabouts. Police are dismissive. But Eliza is terrified. Especially as it becomes clear that Bea might have planned her own disappearance.

The Ramsey’s lives have already crashed and burned once—and now, Eliza discovers she must protect her niece from the horrifying truth about her family’s sinister history—and together, they must prevent their lives from going up in in flames once again.

A missing influencer. Her frightened daughter. And a sister on a desperate search for a happy ending. But someone knows the deadly key to their shared past—and now won’t stop until they’ve written a terrifying final chapter. Mother, daughter, sister—stranger.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary, Adult

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Hank Phillippi Ryan is the USA Today bestselling author of sixteen award winning novels of suspense. National reviews have called her a "master at crafting suspenseful mysteries" and "a superb and gifted storyteller." SHe is also an investigative reporter for WHDH-TV, winning 37 Emmys for her true crime stories.

Her newest is ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS--an INSTANT USA TODAY bestseller.

Is a debut author’s blockbuster bestseller about to ruin her life? A glamorous book tour becomes a deadly cat-and-mouse chase in this new and captivating thriller!

(Freida McFadden says: "Engrossing! With a main character that I loved, and a twist the left me reeling!" And Jeneva Rose says: I absolutely loved it! This is Hank Phillippi Ryan at her best!”)

Don't miss ONE WRONG WORD, now in paperback. BA Paris says: "A gripping rollercoaster of a read!"

Her 2021 thriller THE HOUSE GUEST (Gaslight meets Thelma & Louise) now in a second printing!

Hank is also an award-winning investigative reporter at Boston's WHDH-TV. In addition to 37 EMMYs and 14 Edward R. Murrow awards, Hank's won dozens of other honors
for her ground-breaking journalism.

She is co-host and co-founder of The Back Room, co-host of First Chapter Fun, and host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze.

Her previous thriller, HER PERFECT LIFE, received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, calling it "Stellar."

Her earlier psychological thrillers include,THE FIRST TO LIE (with several starred reviews) an Agatha Award and Mary HIggins CLark award nomination) and THE MURDER LIST, which won the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the year, and was ]an Agatha, Macavity and Mary Higgins Clark Award nominee, a number one legal thriller on Amazon, and a USA Today Bestseller.

Her first psychological standalone, TRUST ME (now in paperback) , is an Agatha Award nominee, and was named BEST of 2018 by the New York Post, Real Simple Magazine, BookBub, Crime Reads, and PopSugar. Mary Kubica says: "Dazzling!" and Lisa Gardner says "Mesmerizing!"

The Booklist *starred review says "...it's a knockout. First-rate psychological suspense."

Her thriller SAY NO MORE, is a Library Journal BEST OF 2016. And this just in: it's a nominee for the AGATHA AWARD and the MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD! And now, breaking news, it is also a DAPHNE AWARD nominee! Associated Press calls it "stellar" and Publishers Weekly calls it "thrilling" "unflinching" and "gratifying."

Her 2015 book, WHAT YOU SEE, is a Library Journal BEST of 2015, an ANTHONY and AGATHA Award nominee, and a Top Pick!, dubbed "exceptional suspense." It received a starred review from Library Journal which says: "Readers will find themselves racing to the finish!"

Her 2014 book, TRUTH BE TOLD, won the AGATHA Award for best mystery, and is a Library Journal Best of 2014. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, which says, "Drop everything and binge read!"

THE WRONG GIRL won the Agatha Award and the Daphne Award, and is a seven-week Boston Globe bestseller and Anthony Award nominee.

THE OTHER WOMAN won the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was listed as a Best Book of 2012 by the Kansas City Star, the Sacramento Bee, Suspense Magazine, and The Boston Globe, won the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was the only novel nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, Shamus and Daphne awards for Best Novel of 2012.

Her first four mysteries, beginning with the Agatha Award-winning PRIME TIME, feature Charlotte McNally, a Boston television reporter. FACE TIME was a BookSense Notable Book, and AIR TIME and DRIVE TIME were both Anthony and Agatha Award nominees for best novel of 2009 and 2010. They are now available in all new editions.

Her journalism work work has resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure, and millions of dollars in refunds and restitution for victims and consumers. She's been a radio reporter, a legislati

Reviews

[Saray]

ugh this sounds SOO goodd, September release day is soo far

[GR Tester]

nice

[Kayla Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to Goodreads, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title.

⭐⭐⭐⭐★ 4.5 / 5 Stars (Rounded up to 5!)

First things first: there are no spoilers in this review!

I was absolutely shocked when I found out I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. When it arrived, all I could think was HOLY CRAP, bookmail! I dived right in, and the very first chapter had me completely hooked.

Imagine this: you're babysitting your niece or nephew, and your sibling just... never comes back to pick them up. What would you even do?

That is the nightmare Eliza faces. She and her sister, Bea, have been through absolutely everything together. But when Bea vanishes into thin air, Eliza’s entire life unravels. To find her sister, she is forced to dig deep into her family's murky, secretive past.

I completely devoured this book. The chapters are short, fast-paced, and left me constantly asking: Who is involved? What on earth is actually going on here? Just when I thought I had a handle on things, the third act hit. The twists just kept "twisting," and I absolutely loved it.

If you enjoy a gripping psychological thriller that keeps you guessing without being overly dark or graphic, this is definitely the one for you. Add it to your TBR immediately—it hits shelves in September 2026!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER
Hank Phillippi Ryan's MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER is full of surprises, puzzles, twists and turns. Whom to trust? How to tell? Chapter headings remind of each day’s passing, but so much happens that it feels longer than three days. Eliza keeps going, fueled by the adrenaline rush when those you love are in danger.
Eliza and her niece Piper persist, seeking happy endings as they do when they finish books and invent more of the story. (I once gave students extra credit if they wrote a happy ending for OF MICE AND MEN, and they cheered me up). Toward the end, I was reminded of THE TEMPEST, the magic of books paralleling the magic of Prospero's island. Powerful!
TV and computer stayed off, the better to keep reading. Sleep had to come, but was given short shrift, to wake up and read more. Life may now resume, but the story will replay in my mind, and I might even invent more of it for myself. (Wishing I could give an extra credit star ;-)

[Belladonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

(won in a giveaway)
Very very good! This book was suspenseful and really hooked me in but not over the top. Everything made sense at the end, nothing came out of left field but nothing was obvious. Only things I didn't like were two relatively minor plot points (detailed below but spoilers)


There was a whole chapter where the main character jumps from like 0 to 100 with absolutely no information, we're talking draw a knife based off of wild assumptions and unlikelihoods. Not great but it was one or two chapters so forgivable. Also, very much had a hea type ending which I personally don't love for my thrillers, I tend to prefer when at least something goes wrong. That's a personal preference though so depends on your preferences.

[Madeline Church · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book sounded SO good. a thriller that I needed to read! I was very disappointed once I got into the plot though. It was not what I was expecting at all, and not in a way I would have wanted it. I did not care for any of the characters at all. This made it hard to push through. This was also my first book by this author, and I do not think this writer is for me. I did not particularly love the writing or its style at any point.

Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur Books, & Hank Phillippi Ryan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolute page turner that I could not put down. It hooks you from the very beginning with the intense relationship between sisters, Eliza and Bea. Just when you think you understand their bond and where their story is heading the pot completely flips . The family secrets are deeply layered and the twist throw massive curveballs. If you love fast paced twisty psychological thrillers that keep you guessing you need to read this.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Lydia Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much took place in only three days! The ending had so many twists I got whiplash from them all.Great read


Edit to add: thank you to Goodreads and the author as I won this in the giveaway 😁

[Mandi Corder-banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not stop reading this book. I thought I had it all figured out, more than once, and was absolutely caught off guard!

[Priyanka Bajwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending was real twisted and not expected, wasn't expecting it would be a 4 star book.

[Cari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Booklist review!