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Mother Daughter Sister Stranger
11 hours, 18 minutes
What if your own family history turns out to be a terrifying lie? Every family has its story, and this one’s deadly. Two sisters. One secret. And a race against time to find the explosive truth in this twisty and captivating thriller by USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan.
The sole survivors of the fiery plane crash that killed their parents, Eliza Ramsey and her sister Bea share an unbreakable bond. But now, on the eleventh 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, and fears the worst. But did Bea plan her own disappearance?
The Ramseys’ lives have already crashed and burned once. Now, Eliza discovers she's the only one who can protect her niece from the horrifying legacy of her family’s sinister history. Together, the two must prevent their lives from going up in flames once again.
A missing mother. 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 won’t stop until they’ve written a devastating final chapter. Mother, daughter, sister—stranger.
What if your own family history turns out to be a terrifying lie? Every family has its story, and this one’s deadly. Two sisters. One secret. And a race against time to find the explosive truth in this twisty and captivating thriller by USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan.
The sole survivors of the fiery plane crash that killed their parents, Eliza Ramsey and her sister Bea share an unbreakable bond. But now, on the eleventh 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, and fears the worst. But did Bea plan her own disappearance?
The Ramseys’ lives have already crashed and burned once. Now, Eliza discovers she's the only one who can protect her niece from the horrifying legacy of her family’s sinister history. Together, the two must prevent their lives from going up in flames once again.
A missing mother. 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 won’t stop until they’ve written a devastating final chapter. Mother, daughter, sister—stranger.
Audiobook
First published September 1, 2026
About the author
Hank Phillippi Ryan
51 books3,193 followersHank Phillippi Ryan is the USA Today bestselling author of seventeen 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 brand new MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER is coming Sept 1 from Minotaur! Two Sisters. One Secret. And a deadly family legacy that is about to destroy them all. Mary Kubica says: "Ryan triumphs..readers will devour this in one sitting!"
Her current ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS--an INSTANT USA TODAY bestseller. And now the winner of the coveted Mary HIggins Clark award.
It is also an Anthony Award and Macavity Award nominee for Best Mystery of 2026!
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 Nota
Her brand new MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER is coming Sept 1 from Minotaur! Two Sisters. One Secret. And a deadly family legacy that is about to destroy them all. Mary Kubica says: "Ryan triumphs..readers will devour this in one sitting!"
Her current ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS--an INSTANT USA TODAY bestseller. And now the winner of the coveted Mary HIggins Clark award.
It is also an Anthony Award and Macavity Award nominee for Best Mystery of 2026!
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 Nota
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Narrated by Stevi Incremona
The story starts eleven years earlier as Eliza Ramsey and her sister Bea, along with their parents, are taking off in their father's beloved plane. When the plane crashes, Eliza and Bea survive but they are now orphans and Eliza wonders if the plane crash was really an accident. The crash haunts her, she spent time in the hospital and missed much of what went on in the world during her hospital stay. Once home, Eliza and Bea's aunt lived with them in the family home, until she felt the two were ready for her to move on.
In the present day, Eliza has been watching her niece, Piper, while Bea is off doing whatever Bea does, some influencer stuff, because that is Bea's thing. Bea and her husband have divorced not that long ago and Bea won't discuss the divorce or her ex husband. But Bea was supposed to pick Piper up and she hasn't done so, even though she knows that Eliza took time off from work to care for Piper, and now Eliza must get back to her job.
Piper so very smart, so very cute, so very intuitive. Plus, Piper has real reasons for fears of abandonment, since her father left her and her mother and because of her first years of life. I love the relationship between Aunt Eliza and Piper and any time Eliza wants to discuss something with an adult, out of Piper's hearing, Piper lets Eliza know that she, Piper, knows she's being left out of the adult conversation.
Soon, due to sleuthing by Eliza (and sometimes, Piper), it is clear that something bad probably has happened to Bea, although Eliza tries to put a positive spin on things even if she can't fool Piper. It doesn't take long before it is obvious that Eliza and Piper aren't safe and Eliza's boss is acting strange and too nosy. Eliza doesn't know who she can trust, and although the police are involved, there is only so fast that they can go and so much they can do. They don't even know, for sure, if Bea didn't leave on her own, isn't gone because she wants to be gone, or much of anything concerning Bea.
Things get very complex, wild, and dangerous and sometimes I wondered how Eliza could stay at her last location but maybe that's what severe sleep deprivation can do to a person. Eventually Eliza reads and learns things that make it clear to her that so much more is going on than she could imagine and she and Piper could be the next victims. Stevi Incremona does a fantastic job with the narration, I loved hearing Piper's voice, but all the characters were well done, also. I have both the audiobook and ebook and I pretty much read/listened in one long session, since I wanted to know what was going on!
Publication September 1, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers, and NetGalley for this ARC
Narrated by Stevi Incremona
The story starts eleven years earlier as Eliza Ramsey and her sister Bea, along with their parents, are taking off in their father's beloved plane. When the plane crashes, Eliza and Bea survive but they are now orphans and Eliza wonders if the plane crash was really an accident. The crash haunts her, she spent time in the hospital and missed much of what went on in the world during her hospital stay. Once home, Eliza and Bea's aunt lived with them in the family home, until she felt the two were ready for her to move on.
In the present day, Eliza has been watching her niece, Piper, while Bea is off doing whatever Bea does, some influencer stuff, because that is Bea's thing. Bea and her husband have divorced not that long ago and Bea won't discuss the divorce or her ex husband. But Bea was supposed to pick Piper up and she hasn't done so, even though she knows that Eliza took time off from work to care for Piper, and now Eliza must get back to her job.
Piper so very smart, so very cute, so very intuitive. Plus, Piper has real reasons for fears of abandonment, since her father left her and her mother and because of her first years of life. I love the relationship between Aunt Eliza and Piper and any time Eliza wants to discuss something with an adult, out of Piper's hearing, Piper lets Eliza know that she, Piper, knows she's being left out of the adult conversation.
Soon, due to sleuthing by Eliza (and sometimes, Piper), it is clear that something bad probably has happened to Bea, although Eliza tries to put a positive spin on things even if she can't fool Piper. It doesn't take long before it is obvious that Eliza and Piper aren't safe and Eliza's boss is acting strange and too nosy. Eliza doesn't know who she can trust, and although the police are involved, there is only so fast that they can go and so much they can do. They don't even know, for sure, if Bea didn't leave on her own, isn't gone because she wants to be gone, or much of anything concerning Bea.
Things get very complex, wild, and dangerous and sometimes I wondered how Eliza could stay at her last location but maybe that's what severe sleep deprivation can do to a person. Eventually Eliza reads and learns things that make it clear to her that so much more is going on than she could imagine and she and Piper could be the next victims. Stevi Incremona does a fantastic job with the narration, I loved hearing Piper's voice, but all the characters were well done, also. I have both the audiobook and ebook and I pretty much read/listened in one long session, since I wanted to know what was going on!
Publication September 1, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers, and NetGalley for this ARC
September 2, 2026
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mother Daughter Sister Stranger
Hank Phillippi Ryan
Publication Date: September 1st, 2026
St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books
352 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers | Women's Fiction
Oh, this was good! Eliza and Bea are sisters who survived a plane crash that killed both of their parents. It happened eleven years ago, and on the anniversary of their deaths, Bea disappears. Eliza thinks something bad must have happened for Bea not to come and pick up her daughter. While looking for her sister, Eliza figures out some terrible family secrets and realizes that not everything is as it seems.
This was a very twisty domestic drama/mystery. I was gripped right from the start, and I appreciated how the author mixes a missing person mystery with the drama of family secrets and betrayals. The book did an excellent job of making me question everyone and everything as the author slowly reveals new pieces of the mysterious puzzle.
I liked Eliza's determination to find her sister and look after her niece; it helped make the situation feel tense and emotional. The dual points of view helped build the plot and made me change my mind on who to root for over and over again.
Some parts felt a bit like they dragged, and a couple of the subplots resolved a little too quickly for my liking, but overall, this was a very entertaining read that kept me guessing and wondering: how well do I really know my siblings?!
Goodreads ratings reflect reader demographics and
popular enthusiasm rather than objective literary merit.
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mother Daughter Sister Stranger
Hank Phillippi Ryan
Publication Date: September 1st, 2026
St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books
352 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers | Women's Fiction
Oh, this was good! Eliza and Bea are sisters who survived a plane crash that killed both of their parents. It happened eleven years ago, and on the anniversary of their deaths, Bea disappears. Eliza thinks something bad must have happened for Bea not to come and pick up her daughter. While looking for her sister, Eliza figures out some terrible family secrets and realizes that not everything is as it seems.
This was a very twisty domestic drama/mystery. I was gripped right from the start, and I appreciated how the author mixes a missing person mystery with the drama of family secrets and betrayals. The book did an excellent job of making me question everyone and everything as the author slowly reveals new pieces of the mysterious puzzle.
I liked Eliza's determination to find her sister and look after her niece; it helped make the situation feel tense and emotional. The dual points of view helped build the plot and made me change my mind on who to root for over and over again.
Some parts felt a bit like they dragged, and a couple of the subplots resolved a little too quickly for my liking, but overall, this was a very entertaining read that kept me guessing and wondering: how well do I really know my siblings?!
Goodreads ratings reflect reader demographics and
popular enthusiasm rather than objective literary merit.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75⭐
Genre ~ domestic suspense
Setting ~ Massachusetts, Boston & Berkshires
Publication date ~ September 1, 2026
Publisher ~ Macmillan Audio
Est Page Count ~ 342 (p+ 77 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 42 minutes
Narrator ~ Stevi Incremona
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ missing sister/mother, family secrets, 3 day story
Eliza is watching her 11 year old adopted niece, Piper, which is nothing out of the ordinary until her sister, Bea, doesn't come and pick her up when she's supposed to. It's time for their annual cemetery visit to their parents grave, something Bea would never miss, so where could she be?
Bea is going through a divorce, and Kyle is not being helpful in trying to locate her. Could he have something to do with her disappearance? It's the 11 year anniversary of the plane crash that took her parents lives, and almost her and her sisters. Is that related somehow after all these years? Every piece of clothing from Bea's closet is missing. Could she simply have just taken off and left her beloved daughter?
Piper's character was written so well that you could just feel her confusion, fear, and hope for her mother's return. She didn't feel 11 sometimes, but I'll chalk that up to her tension. Eliza's dedication and protection of her was outstanding, and how I would hope most Aunt's would be.
Whitney, Eliza's boss, was acting really shady and butting in a bit much, so I was really curious how she was involved in the overall plot.
Overall, it was slow moving at times, yet suspenseful, and a little repetitive with some many inner thoughts, especially 'Bea is gone,', 'where is Bea?', girl your guess is as good as mine. But there were some shockers, so that was nice. I, also, don't feel like we were given an opportunity to figure some things out since the character development was low, but that's fine.
Narration notes:
I'm very pleased with her performance. She did a great job of bringing some tension to the story. Author's note is narrated by the author, so that was nice.
Genre ~ domestic suspense
Setting ~ Massachusetts, Boston & Berkshires
Publication date ~ September 1, 2026
Publisher ~ Macmillan Audio
Est Page Count ~ 342 (p+ 77 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 42 minutes
Narrator ~ Stevi Incremona
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ missing sister/mother, family secrets, 3 day story
Eliza is watching her 11 year old adopted niece, Piper, which is nothing out of the ordinary until her sister, Bea, doesn't come and pick her up when she's supposed to. It's time for their annual cemetery visit to their parents grave, something Bea would never miss, so where could she be?
Bea is going through a divorce, and Kyle is not being helpful in trying to locate her. Could he have something to do with her disappearance? It's the 11 year anniversary of the plane crash that took her parents lives, and almost her and her sisters. Is that related somehow after all these years? Every piece of clothing from Bea's closet is missing. Could she simply have just taken off and left her beloved daughter?
Piper's character was written so well that you could just feel her confusion, fear, and hope for her mother's return. She didn't feel 11 sometimes, but I'll chalk that up to her tension. Eliza's dedication and protection of her was outstanding, and how I would hope most Aunt's would be.
Whitney, Eliza's boss, was acting really shady and butting in a bit much, so I was really curious how she was involved in the overall plot.
Overall, it was slow moving at times, yet suspenseful, and a little repetitive with some many inner thoughts, especially 'Bea is gone,', 'where is Bea?', girl your guess is as good as mine. But there were some shockers, so that was nice. I, also, don't feel like we were given an opportunity to figure some things out since the character development was low, but that's fine.
Narration notes:
I'm very pleased with her performance. She did a great job of bringing some tension to the story. Author's note is narrated by the author, so that was nice.
September 2, 2026
Mother
Daughter
Sister
Stranger
Every woman is at least one of those, right? So this book is about every single one of us.
This excerpt from Hank Phillippi Ryan's Acknowledgments helped me decide to award this one all the stars. See the end of my review for another delightful quote.
What is it about the story that earns all the stars?
🤔COINCIDENCE? Coincidence means only a connection that's not seen. Roots meet underground.
Follow this story from beginning to end and you will see those "coincidences" turn into seen connections.
🧑🍼MOTHER? SISTER? DAUGHTER? STRANGER? A missing woman (BEA) is Piper's mother, Eliza's sister, and the former daughter of the late Gideon & Faith Ramsey. As Eliza seeks more information on what happened to Bea, she feels like a stranger.
❓The QUESTION of what happened to Bea and Eliza's search (with Piper tagging along) brought to mind another five-star read: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. If you enjoyed that book, I heartily recommend this one.
🥰 What happens after "happily ever after?" Eliza Ramsey works for a publishing company and has a good track record for happy endings. What would such an outcome mean for Eliza? For Bea? For Piper? Hank Phillippi Ryan keeps us guessing about the ending here. Not exactly HEA for all, but our main characters do quite well.
💎And here, as promised, is my second gem from the Acknowledgments:
And yay, you! Thank you! I love love love when people read the acknowledgments. Keep in touch--you know I am eager to hear from you.
Thank you to St. Martins Press (Minotaur Books) and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Available on September 1, 2026.
Daughter
Sister
Stranger
Every woman is at least one of those, right? So this book is about every single one of us.
This excerpt from Hank Phillippi Ryan's Acknowledgments helped me decide to award this one all the stars. See the end of my review for another delightful quote.
What is it about the story that earns all the stars?
🤔COINCIDENCE? Coincidence means only a connection that's not seen. Roots meet underground.
Follow this story from beginning to end and you will see those "coincidences" turn into seen connections.
🧑🍼MOTHER? SISTER? DAUGHTER? STRANGER? A missing woman (BEA) is Piper's mother, Eliza's sister, and the former daughter of the late Gideon & Faith Ramsey. As Eliza seeks more information on what happened to Bea, she feels like a stranger.
❓The QUESTION of what happened to Bea and Eliza's search (with Piper tagging along) brought to mind another five-star read: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. If you enjoyed that book, I heartily recommend this one.
🥰 What happens after "happily ever after?" Eliza Ramsey works for a publishing company and has a good track record for happy endings. What would such an outcome mean for Eliza? For Bea? For Piper? Hank Phillippi Ryan keeps us guessing about the ending here. Not exactly HEA for all, but our main characters do quite well.
💎And here, as promised, is my second gem from the Acknowledgments:
And yay, you! Thank you! I love love love when people read the acknowledgments. Keep in touch--you know I am eager to hear from you.
Thank you to St. Martins Press (Minotaur Books) and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Available on September 1, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4 ⭐️ Two sisters. One secret. Family history full of lies. Someone, a stranger to be exact, knows the key to their shared past...
This is a story that will keep you guessing until the very end! It's rich in all the right elements of domestic thriller/mystery: intrigue, determination, propulsion and impactful in sense of strong emotional suspense, anxiety, complexity of sister/female relationships/bonds. Stevi Icremona's narration was fantastic, she kept me shifting my suspicions until the very end. I love dirty little secrets and love when they unfold in ways I don't see them coming.
What's it about:
Eliza and Bea are sisters who survived a plane crash eleven years prior that ended up killing their parents. As adults, Bea is a successful fashion influencer with an eleven year old daughter Piper whom she adopted with her now ex-husband, Kyle. Eliza is a literary agent who works in Boston. The sisters are not exactly close but have amicable relations. The story begins with Bea going missing as she fails to collect Piper from school and this is when Eliza steps in as the caretaker. Bea doesn't answer her calls, emptied her closets, changed security alarm, leaving Eliza and Piper are overly worried. As Eliza starts investigating, she comes across a manuscript that her father left behind, which is connected to the sisters childhood summers in the Berkshires. this is when the story kind of turns into two mysteries which later interconnect with a twist after twist, after more twist!
Countless red herrings kept me speculating. The author just throws in the right amount of teasing clues but just when you think you have it, you certainly don't. I enjoyed how Hank Phillippi Ryan just dismembered my theories (and ooh boy I had so many of them!). Be patient with this story because the first 60% felt like groundwork, with middle dragging a bit (hence why a 4 not a 5) and last 30% will have you doing mental gymnastics.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and the author, Hank Phillippi Ryan for an early ARC!
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for an early ALC.
Narrator: Stevi Icremona
Duration: 10 hours 40 minutes
Speed: 1.75-2x
Publication date: September 1, 2026
This is a story that will keep you guessing until the very end! It's rich in all the right elements of domestic thriller/mystery: intrigue, determination, propulsion and impactful in sense of strong emotional suspense, anxiety, complexity of sister/female relationships/bonds. Stevi Icremona's narration was fantastic, she kept me shifting my suspicions until the very end. I love dirty little secrets and love when they unfold in ways I don't see them coming.
What's it about:
Eliza and Bea are sisters who survived a plane crash eleven years prior that ended up killing their parents. As adults, Bea is a successful fashion influencer with an eleven year old daughter Piper whom she adopted with her now ex-husband, Kyle. Eliza is a literary agent who works in Boston. The sisters are not exactly close but have amicable relations. The story begins with Bea going missing as she fails to collect Piper from school and this is when Eliza steps in as the caretaker. Bea doesn't answer her calls, emptied her closets, changed security alarm, leaving Eliza and Piper are overly worried. As Eliza starts investigating, she comes across a manuscript that her father left behind, which is connected to the sisters childhood summers in the Berkshires. this is when the story kind of turns into two mysteries which later interconnect with a twist after twist, after more twist!
Countless red herrings kept me speculating. The author just throws in the right amount of teasing clues but just when you think you have it, you certainly don't. I enjoyed how Hank Phillippi Ryan just dismembered my theories (and ooh boy I had so many of them!). Be patient with this story because the first 60% felt like groundwork, with middle dragging a bit (hence why a 4 not a 5) and last 30% will have you doing mental gymnastics.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and the author, Hank Phillippi Ryan for an early ARC!
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for an early ALC.
Narrator: Stevi Icremona
Duration: 10 hours 40 minutes
Speed: 1.75-2x
Publication date: September 1, 2026
October 10, 2026
Well this book certainly peaked my curiosity about how everything would come together after the strange disappearance of Piper's mother. I enjoyed the build up, but one character showed a little too much interest (no names, no spoiler), making the big reveal easier to predict than I would have liked. But there were plenty of secrets to keep me in it.
September 7, 2026
ABSOLUTELY loved this. What I liked the most was how the author managed to make me think I had it all figured out, as did the main character. Then BANG: I had to rethink things and then I had another solution which I arrived on slightly before the MC. And then I was wrong again! I love this way of leading the reader, making you feel smart before realizing you haven’t seen the whole picture yet. Brilliantly done from start to finish.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I swear Hank Phillippi Ryan has officially reached the point where I should stop trying to solve her mysteries altogether. Every single time I convince myself I've figured everything out, she casually pulls the rug out from under me, steals the floorboards, and somehow makes me question whether there was ever a floor to begin with.
This book hooked me from page one and refused to let me go. I kept telling myself I would read "just one more chapter" and suddenly half the night had disappeared. Honestly, sleep was never invited to this party anyway.
At first glance, the story seems straightforward enough. A woman vanishes. Her daughter is left behind. Her sister begins searching for answers. Simple, right?
Absolutely not.
The deeper Eliza digs into her sister's disappearance, the more everything she thought she knew starts unraveling. Not only about her family, but about her entire life. Every answer seems to create three new questions. Every discovery opens another locked door. And just when I felt comfortable enough to settle into one theory, the story gleefully smashed it to pieces.
Exactly the kind of reading experience I live for.
What I loved most was the emotional core beneath all the suspense. Yes, there are secrets. Yes, there are twists. Yes, there are moments that made me stare at the page and mutter, "Wait... WHAT?" But at its heart, this is also a story about family ties, loyalty, grief, and the frightening possibility that the people we trust most may be keeping the biggest secrets.
Eliza was an incredibly easy character to root for. She's thrown into an impossible situation, trying to protect her niece while desperately searching for her missing sister. The fear, confusion, determination, and exhaustion felt authentic throughout. And Piper absolutely stole scenes whenever she appeared. I loved watching the dynamic between aunt and niece as they were forced into circumstances neither of them could have imagined.
The pacing is lightning fast. Short chapters, constant revelations, mounting danger—everything combines into the kind of thriller that practically dares you to put it down. Spoiler alert: I failed that challenge completely.
And the twists?
Let's just say Hank Phillippi Ryan remains one of the most reliable thriller writers when it comes to making readers feel simultaneously brilliant and completely clueless. Every time I thought I was ahead of the story, I realized the author was five steps ahead of me.
The result is an addictive, tension-filled mystery packed with family secrets, emotional stakes, and enough surprises to keep even seasoned thriller readers guessing.
Overall, this is another winner from one of my favorite thriller authors. Clever, suspenseful, emotionally engaging, and impossible to stop reading once you begin. If you're looking for a fast-paced mystery that keeps your brain working overtime while your heart races, this one deserves a spot at the top of your reading list.
A very special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for sharing a digital review copy of this addictive, fast-paced mystery from one of my favorite brilliant thriller authors in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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This book hooked me from page one and refused to let me go. I kept telling myself I would read "just one more chapter" and suddenly half the night had disappeared. Honestly, sleep was never invited to this party anyway.
At first glance, the story seems straightforward enough. A woman vanishes. Her daughter is left behind. Her sister begins searching for answers. Simple, right?
Absolutely not.
The deeper Eliza digs into her sister's disappearance, the more everything she thought she knew starts unraveling. Not only about her family, but about her entire life. Every answer seems to create three new questions. Every discovery opens another locked door. And just when I felt comfortable enough to settle into one theory, the story gleefully smashed it to pieces.
Exactly the kind of reading experience I live for.
What I loved most was the emotional core beneath all the suspense. Yes, there are secrets. Yes, there are twists. Yes, there are moments that made me stare at the page and mutter, "Wait... WHAT?" But at its heart, this is also a story about family ties, loyalty, grief, and the frightening possibility that the people we trust most may be keeping the biggest secrets.
Eliza was an incredibly easy character to root for. She's thrown into an impossible situation, trying to protect her niece while desperately searching for her missing sister. The fear, confusion, determination, and exhaustion felt authentic throughout. And Piper absolutely stole scenes whenever she appeared. I loved watching the dynamic between aunt and niece as they were forced into circumstances neither of them could have imagined.
The pacing is lightning fast. Short chapters, constant revelations, mounting danger—everything combines into the kind of thriller that practically dares you to put it down. Spoiler alert: I failed that challenge completely.
And the twists?
Let's just say Hank Phillippi Ryan remains one of the most reliable thriller writers when it comes to making readers feel simultaneously brilliant and completely clueless. Every time I thought I was ahead of the story, I realized the author was five steps ahead of me.
The result is an addictive, tension-filled mystery packed with family secrets, emotional stakes, and enough surprises to keep even seasoned thriller readers guessing.
Overall, this is another winner from one of my favorite thriller authors. Clever, suspenseful, emotionally engaging, and impossible to stop reading once you begin. If you're looking for a fast-paced mystery that keeps your brain working overtime while your heart races, this one deserves a spot at the top of your reading list.
A very special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for sharing a digital review copy of this addictive, fast-paced mystery from one of my favorite brilliant thriller authors in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Gripping, mysterious, suspenseful, and hard to put down! Hank Phillippi Ryan has delivered another pulse pounding and riveting thriller with Mother Daughter Sister Stranger! I enjoyed the mystery, the tension, the suspense, the twists, the turns, the reveals, and the dread that flowed throughout this book. I also appreciated how this book explored trauma, relationships, sibling relationships, secrets, family secrets, deception, and loss to name a few.
Eliza and her sister, Bea survived the plane crash that killed their parents. It has been eleven years since that tragedy and when Bea fails to pick up her daughter, Piper, and attend Remembrance Day, Eliza knows something must be terribly wrong. As Eliza beings to search for clues about her sister's whereabouts, she finds herself in over her head and uncovering various secrets of those in her life.
I could not read this book fast enough. Like Eliza, I wanted to know the truth and did my best super sleuthing to try to figure out where Bea may be and what may have happened that kept her from showing up to pick up her daughter. I came up with several theories but was so wrong it wasn't even funny. But I love it when that happens as I was truly shocked at the final reveal!
This is the 10th book I have read by Hank Phillippi Ryan. She always delivers wonderfully written, well thought out, and intriguing books. I can't wait to read what she writes next!
*A wonderful Buddy read with Mary Beth. Please read her review as well to get her thoughts on Mother Daughter Sister Stranger!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Eliza and her sister, Bea survived the plane crash that killed their parents. It has been eleven years since that tragedy and when Bea fails to pick up her daughter, Piper, and attend Remembrance Day, Eliza knows something must be terribly wrong. As Eliza beings to search for clues about her sister's whereabouts, she finds herself in over her head and uncovering various secrets of those in her life.
I could not read this book fast enough. Like Eliza, I wanted to know the truth and did my best super sleuthing to try to figure out where Bea may be and what may have happened that kept her from showing up to pick up her daughter. I came up with several theories but was so wrong it wasn't even funny. But I love it when that happens as I was truly shocked at the final reveal!
This is the 10th book I have read by Hank Phillippi Ryan. She always delivers wonderfully written, well thought out, and intriguing books. I can't wait to read what she writes next!
*A wonderful Buddy read with Mary Beth. Please read her review as well to get her thoughts on Mother Daughter Sister Stranger!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Twisty, deceptive, and deliciously complex, Mother Daughter Sister Stranger took a deep dive into a complicated and dysfunctional family and overlaid it with a heart-pounding missing person-slash-murder mystery. With layers of dark family secrets and well-hidden lies, it wound my mind up into knots as I tried to put the puzzle pieces together in time. You see, despite all of my armchair sleuthing skills, the well-seeded red herrings and last-minute revelations kept me blind to the truth. Well…mostly, that is. Thanks to some subtle clues, I got one or two of the cleverly constructed twists, but the series of big reveals at the end? I was gobsmacked by what the whiplash-inducing last third delivered in only a couple of fast-paced, eye-popping scenes. Completely living up to Ms. Ryan’s prior shockers, my jaw was on the floor as I ripped through the pages and lost all track of time.
In spite of how much I loved the edge-of-your-seat pacing towards the end, I do have to say that the middle did seem somewhat slow. With quite a bit of internal monologuing from the narrator, the tension and dread drained a bit from the words. That being said, the whole thing still felt like a high-stakes race against time to find out what happened to Bea as secrets hit Eliza from all sides. The definition of ratcheting suspense—minus Eliza’s brief trip into guesswork—I was riveted as the family’s dark history blended with the current search for the truth. So if you also love a constantly shifting plot and endearing characters filled with heart, this one might be for you. While I wasn’t exactly a huge fan of what happened to Bea, I’ll leave that for you to decide on for yourself. After all, the rest of this Lisa Unger-esque domestic thrill ride hit just the right spot by the end. Rating of 4 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Missing persons cases
- Murder mysteries
- Domestic thrill rides
- Twisty endings
- Endearing characters
- Short chapters
- Dark family secrets
- Red herrings
- Ratcheting suspense
- A mysterious past
- Dysfunctional families
- Complex plotting
- Sweet relationships
SYNOPSIS:
The sole survivors of the fiery plane crash that killed their parents, Eliza Ramsey and her sister Bea share an unbreakable bond. But now, on the eleventh 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, and fears the worst. But did Bea plan her own disappearance?
The Ramseys’ lives have already crashed and burned once. Now, Eliza discovers she's the only one who can protect her niece from the horrifying legacy of her family’s sinister history. Together, the two must prevent their lives from going up in flames once again.
Thank you Hank Phillippi Ryan, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 1, 2026
Content warning: missing person, fire, mention of: death of a parent, murder, suicide, infidelity
In spite of how much I loved the edge-of-your-seat pacing towards the end, I do have to say that the middle did seem somewhat slow. With quite a bit of internal monologuing from the narrator, the tension and dread drained a bit from the words. That being said, the whole thing still felt like a high-stakes race against time to find out what happened to Bea as secrets hit Eliza from all sides. The definition of ratcheting suspense—minus Eliza’s brief trip into guesswork—I was riveted as the family’s dark history blended with the current search for the truth. So if you also love a constantly shifting plot and endearing characters filled with heart, this one might be for you. While I wasn’t exactly a huge fan of what happened to Bea, I’ll leave that for you to decide on for yourself. After all, the rest of this Lisa Unger-esque domestic thrill ride hit just the right spot by the end. Rating of 4 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Missing persons cases
- Murder mysteries
- Domestic thrill rides
- Twisty endings
- Endearing characters
- Short chapters
- Dark family secrets
- Red herrings
- Ratcheting suspense
- A mysterious past
- Dysfunctional families
- Complex plotting
- Sweet relationships
SYNOPSIS:
The sole survivors of the fiery plane crash that killed their parents, Eliza Ramsey and her sister Bea share an unbreakable bond. But now, on the eleventh 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, and fears the worst. But did Bea plan her own disappearance?
The Ramseys’ lives have already crashed and burned once. Now, Eliza discovers she's the only one who can protect her niece from the horrifying legacy of her family’s sinister history. Together, the two must prevent their lives from going up in flames once again.
Thank you Hank Phillippi Ryan, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 1, 2026
Content warning: missing person, fire, mention of: death of a parent, murder, suicide, infidelity
September 4, 2026
Good mystery. Great characters. I enjoy seeing the author's growth from book to book. Every time I see she has a new book, I find myself super eager to purchase it. In this one, there's a missing mother, but it's difficult to determine if she left on her own accord or something more sinister happened. But it's also connected to the death (plane crash) of the parents over a decade earlier. Readers can sense the connection but there are a few paths it could take. I enjoyed the ending and can't wait to devour another one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is the first book I’ve read by Hank Phillippi Ryan, and it definitely won’t be my last!
WOW…talk about twists that were TWISTING. There were so many turns I did not see coming.
This thriller has all of the elements I look for in this genre. The story pulled me in right from the beginning and had me in its grip as I tried to figure out what was really going on. The mystery runs deep with this one.
You know that feeling when you keep trying to guess where a story is going, you’re convinced you finally have it figured out, and then…you don’t? That was me with this book.
If you enjoy suspenseful thrillers with plenty of twists and a mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, this is a great one to add to your TBR.
This is the first book I’ve read by Hank Phillippi Ryan, and it definitely won’t be my last!
WOW…talk about twists that were TWISTING. There were so many turns I did not see coming.
This thriller has all of the elements I look for in this genre. The story pulled me in right from the beginning and had me in its grip as I tried to figure out what was really going on. The mystery runs deep with this one.
You know that feeling when you keep trying to guess where a story is going, you’re convinced you finally have it figured out, and then…you don’t? That was me with this book.
If you enjoy suspenseful thrillers with plenty of twists and a mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, this is a great one to add to your TBR.
October 5, 2026
"Though we will never be able to predict what happens next, we can be certain there are always more stories, of our own lives and of the lives of others.
And even the lives of strangers.
" To stories," I say. "May story telling never end.""
So finishes another fulfilling novel by Hank Phillippi Ryan. Really quite satisfied I spent my time reading another of her books.
The writing here was compelling yet carried on at an even pace. Starting with a missing mother and sister Hank wrote this story backwards with hopes of the young daughter and sister finding their loved one who suddenly disappeared. There were the requisite twists for a thriller which were satisfyingly written.
It was fulfilling walking backward in time eleven years to learn a family's history.
And yes, when I see Hank Phillippi Ryan has written another thriller I will sign up to read it.
And even the lives of strangers.
" To stories," I say. "May story telling never end.""
So finishes another fulfilling novel by Hank Phillippi Ryan. Really quite satisfied I spent my time reading another of her books.
The writing here was compelling yet carried on at an even pace. Starting with a missing mother and sister Hank wrote this story backwards with hopes of the young daughter and sister finding their loved one who suddenly disappeared. There were the requisite twists for a thriller which were satisfyingly written.
It was fulfilling walking backward in time eleven years to learn a family's history.
And yes, when I see Hank Phillippi Ryan has written another thriller I will sign up to read it.
September 7, 2026
MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER
By Hank Phillippi Ryan
Narrated by Stevi Incremona
Family Secrets Keep You Guessing
This is a psychological domestic thriller with strong elements of mystery and suspense. Eleven years to the day after the plane crash that killed their parents, Eliza Ramsey and her niece, Piper, are confused when Eliza’s sister and Piper’s mom, Bea, fails to pick Piper up from a sleepover.
There is a sinister family history that Eliza must protect Piper from knowing. As Eliza searches for Bea, she discovers disturbing secrets involving her parents’ deaths and Bea’s life. Who can Eliza trust?
I found this to be a slow-to-moderate burn at first. Once the pieces started falling into place, the pace picked up. Ryan’s writing style is engaging and easy to follow. She gradually builds the suspense, with plenty of questions and twists along the way. There are also a lot of Eliza’s inner thoughts throughout the book, which gives us a good understanding of what she is thinking and feeling, but at times this slowed the pace for me.
The characters of Eliza and Piper stood out the most. Eliza is caring, protective, and determined to find out what happened to her sister, while Piper is a smart, curious eleven-year-old who is understandably frightened and confused. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Eliza and Piper, which added an emotional layer to the story.
I thought Stevi Incremona did a good job with the narration. I liked the different voices for the characters, although there was one character whose voice was noticeably different and almost eerie at times. I thought it was an interesting choice, and it definitely caught my attention.
This is my first read by Hank Phillippi Ryan, and I enjoyed Mother Daughter Sister Stranger. I look forward to reading more of her books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
By Hank Phillippi Ryan
Narrated by Stevi Incremona
Family Secrets Keep You Guessing
This is a psychological domestic thriller with strong elements of mystery and suspense. Eleven years to the day after the plane crash that killed their parents, Eliza Ramsey and her niece, Piper, are confused when Eliza’s sister and Piper’s mom, Bea, fails to pick Piper up from a sleepover.
There is a sinister family history that Eliza must protect Piper from knowing. As Eliza searches for Bea, she discovers disturbing secrets involving her parents’ deaths and Bea’s life. Who can Eliza trust?
I found this to be a slow-to-moderate burn at first. Once the pieces started falling into place, the pace picked up. Ryan’s writing style is engaging and easy to follow. She gradually builds the suspense, with plenty of questions and twists along the way. There are also a lot of Eliza’s inner thoughts throughout the book, which gives us a good understanding of what she is thinking and feeling, but at times this slowed the pace for me.
The characters of Eliza and Piper stood out the most. Eliza is caring, protective, and determined to find out what happened to her sister, while Piper is a smart, curious eleven-year-old who is understandably frightened and confused. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Eliza and Piper, which added an emotional layer to the story.
I thought Stevi Incremona did a good job with the narration. I liked the different voices for the characters, although there was one character whose voice was noticeably different and almost eerie at times. I thought it was an interesting choice, and it definitely caught my attention.
This is my first read by Hank Phillippi Ryan, and I enjoyed Mother Daughter Sister Stranger. I look forward to reading more of her books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
October 15, 2026
Being the only survivors in a plane crash that killed their parents, Eliza and her sister, Bea, have a traumatic backstory. While they share that trauma bond, they are very different. Eliza is a successful literary agent, and Bea is a fashion social media influencer. Eliza's niece, Piper, spends the night, and her sister fails to show up the following day to pick up her daughter. Eliza goes from quite annoyed to justifiably concerned. But when she does a little investigation, the concern becomes panic. And things get a bit scary.
This story takes place in one day/night. It is a lot to pack in, and I was intrigued on where it was going for much of it. I'm not sure this type of thriller will be for everyone because it has a quietness to it. The whole book deals with Bea being missing and where she could be. There is much more investigation and theorizing than there are twists and turns, and it is not super-fast paced as some thrillers can be. I was still intrigued though, and I did enjoy the author's style of telling a story. Ultimately, I think some of the loose ends tied up a little too nicely in the end, but I wasn't mad about the ending. If you like a slower paced, more day in the life type of a person stuck in a thriller (if that is a thing), I would recommend giving this one a try.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
This story takes place in one day/night. It is a lot to pack in, and I was intrigued on where it was going for much of it. I'm not sure this type of thriller will be for everyone because it has a quietness to it. The whole book deals with Bea being missing and where she could be. There is much more investigation and theorizing than there are twists and turns, and it is not super-fast paced as some thrillers can be. I was still intrigued though, and I did enjoy the author's style of telling a story. Ultimately, I think some of the loose ends tied up a little too nicely in the end, but I wasn't mad about the ending. If you like a slower paced, more day in the life type of a person stuck in a thriller (if that is a thing), I would recommend giving this one a try.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
September 27, 2026
I dunno......
I know that Hank Phillippi Ryan is a popular author here on GR. I've read some of her previous books. This one just didn't set well with me.
We have two sisters, Bea and Eliza, who have shared a great tragedy when they were young. Seated aboard their parents' piper cub plane, these girls miraculously survived this plane crash. Their parents were not so lucky. Both girls were then raised by their Aunt Margaret. Bea went on to become a fashion media icon and Eliza chose to publish novels. Bea adopted a then five year old little girl named Piper. Bea is now going through a divorce from her husband Kyle. Eliza never married.
Both women kept up a sister ritual called Remembrance Day in which they would both visit their parents' graves. Eliza had been babysitting Piper. But then, Bea doesn't show up. This is when the bottom begins to drop off.
Hank Phillippi Ryan does an excellent job of showcasing the bonding between Eliza and her niece, Piper. Piper was my favorite character. Piper is a precocious child and the dialogue between aunt and niece is priceless. The adults? Not so much. The storyline was on a continuous loop. It soon became repetitious as Eliza realizes that Bea is missing. Ryan flips the setting here and there, but the same song keeps playing: "Bea Is Missing". It is soon a tedious affair as Eliza tries to assure Piper. Then Eliza finds a manuscript and it has some wacko revelations.
But is it enough to gain traction for this lengthy storyline? Well, you be the judge. The only way to know is to dive in. Many 4 and 5 Star reviews out there. Maybe, just maybe, Hank Phillippi Ryan is not a safe bet author for me anymore.
I know that Hank Phillippi Ryan is a popular author here on GR. I've read some of her previous books. This one just didn't set well with me.
We have two sisters, Bea and Eliza, who have shared a great tragedy when they were young. Seated aboard their parents' piper cub plane, these girls miraculously survived this plane crash. Their parents were not so lucky. Both girls were then raised by their Aunt Margaret. Bea went on to become a fashion media icon and Eliza chose to publish novels. Bea adopted a then five year old little girl named Piper. Bea is now going through a divorce from her husband Kyle. Eliza never married.
Both women kept up a sister ritual called Remembrance Day in which they would both visit their parents' graves. Eliza had been babysitting Piper. But then, Bea doesn't show up. This is when the bottom begins to drop off.
Hank Phillippi Ryan does an excellent job of showcasing the bonding between Eliza and her niece, Piper. Piper was my favorite character. Piper is a precocious child and the dialogue between aunt and niece is priceless. The adults? Not so much. The storyline was on a continuous loop. It soon became repetitious as Eliza realizes that Bea is missing. Ryan flips the setting here and there, but the same song keeps playing: "Bea Is Missing". It is soon a tedious affair as Eliza tries to assure Piper. Then Eliza finds a manuscript and it has some wacko revelations.
But is it enough to gain traction for this lengthy storyline? Well, you be the judge. The only way to know is to dive in. Many 4 and 5 Star reviews out there. Maybe, just maybe, Hank Phillippi Ryan is not a safe bet author for me anymore.
September 26, 2026
Eleven years ago, sisters Eliza and Bea Ramsey endured a horrific tragedy. Their family was on a small plane piloted by their father, and the plane crashed. The accident killed both parents, physics professor Gideon Ramsey and probate judge Faith Ramsey. The sisters were injured, but survived. Bea was 21 and a new college graduate and Eliza was 17.
Bea and Eliza's Aunt Margaret looked after them for a time, and when the girls were back on their feet, Aunt Margaret left and got on with her life.
Now, more than a decade later, Bea and Eliza still live in their home town of Boston, Massachusetts. Bea, 31, is a divorced fashion influencer with an eleven-year-old daughter named Piper, who was adopted at age five;
and Eliza, 28, is a book agent working for Whitney Hart, the founder of LexLit Literary Agency.
Eliza and Bea have an annual ritual they call Remembrance Day. Every year on August 8, the anniversary of their parents' deaths, Eliza and Bea go to the cemetery. This year, young Piper is to be included in the memorial after staying with her Aunt Eliza for a week. Eliza and Piper get on famously, and enjoy the time together.
Things go off-track when Bea fails to pick up Piper the day before the remembrance ritual, as she'd promised. Eliza needs to get back to work at LexLit, fearing her demanding boss Whitney will fire her; and Piper misses her mom. So Eliza and Piper call Bea, text Bea, keep looking out the window of Eliza's brownstone, make excuses, and grow increasingly agitated.
Long story short, Bea doesn't show up and doesn't respond in any way.
Eliza calls Piper's father Kyle, but he's in Tokyo on business, and seems disinterested. The police get involved, and when they search Bea's house, it turns out her closet - which had a fortune in clothes - is empty and her toiletries are gone.
Did Bea disappear of her own volition? Was she abducted? Is she dead? Eliza torments herself with worry while she tries to keep Piper calm. Eliza finally tells her boss Whitney what's happening, and the literary agent becomes concerned as well.
The police make no discoveries and Eliza hits on the idea that Bea may have gone to the Ramsey family's summer lodge near the Greylock Mountains in the Berkshires. Eliza hasn't been to the Berkshires in years, and she recalls - when the Ramseys regularly used the cottage - a serial killer called the Greylock Killer was active in the region.
Eliza and Piper make the long drive to the mountains, and the deceased caretaker's son Logan provides the key to the lodge.
The story, narrated in the first person by Eliza, moves very slowly for the first two-thirds of the book. Thankfully, things pick up when Eliza and Piper get to the Berkshires. Eliza makes a shocking discovery in the cottage, then Aunt Margaret shows up, followed by Eliza's boss Whitney Hart. Logan comes back as well, and once everyone's on hand, secrets spill out one after another.
In my view, parts of the book don't ring true. I'll include examples with a spoiler alert.
For me, this novel is only mildly successful and I'd hesitate to recommend it. That said, Hank Phillipi Ryan is a popular author, and other reviewers like the book better than I did.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Stevi Incremona,who does a fine job.
Thanks to Netgalley, Hank Philippi Ryan, and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
September 1, 2026
"What if your own family history turns out to be a terrifying lie? Every family has its story, and this one’s deadly. Two sisters. One secret. And a race against time to find the explosive truth in this twisty and captivating thriller."
Eliza Ramsey is horrified when her sister Bea fails to collect her daughter from a sleepover on the eleventh anniversary of their parents' untimely death. Eliza knows she is the only one who can protect Piper but can she figure out who is behind her disappearance before it's too late?
This moves along fairly quickly with tension on every page. I was pulled in by the palpable bonds between mother and daughter, aunt and niece, and the sisters. I loved the focus on female familial relationships.
The audiobook performance by Stevi Incremona (10 hours 42 minutes) was done well and kept me interested in the story.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio and Hank Phillippi Ryan for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 📚🎧
Eliza Ramsey is horrified when her sister Bea fails to collect her daughter from a sleepover on the eleventh anniversary of their parents' untimely death. Eliza knows she is the only one who can protect Piper but can she figure out who is behind her disappearance before it's too late?
This moves along fairly quickly with tension on every page. I was pulled in by the palpable bonds between mother and daughter, aunt and niece, and the sisters. I loved the focus on female familial relationships.
The audiobook performance by Stevi Incremona (10 hours 42 minutes) was done well and kept me interested in the story.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio and Hank Phillippi Ryan for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 📚🎧
August 26, 2026
Mother, Daughter, Sister, Stranger was one of the most frustrating books I have read in a long time. At 350 pages, it felt wildly overextended—more like a 100-page story stretched thin through repetition, circular internal monologues, and manufactured suspense.
The book repeatedly lingers on the same idea long after the point has been made. One chapter involving someone ringing a doorbell at 3:00 a.m. captures the problem perfectly: instead of building genuine tension, the narrative cycles through a lengthy list of people it cannot possibly be, over and over, while insisting that the situation is frightening. It was not suspenseful; it was tedious.
I tried both the audiobook and the ebook, having received an ARC of each through NetGalley, and neither format made the experience more tolerable. The narrator did a good job but the material was awful. The prose felt padded and poorly paced, with scenes that should have moved the plot forward instead endlessly restating the characters’ fears and assumptions.
There may be readers who enjoy a psychologically repetitive thriller, but this did not work for me at all. By the end, I was relieved to be done. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copies
The book repeatedly lingers on the same idea long after the point has been made. One chapter involving someone ringing a doorbell at 3:00 a.m. captures the problem perfectly: instead of building genuine tension, the narrative cycles through a lengthy list of people it cannot possibly be, over and over, while insisting that the situation is frightening. It was not suspenseful; it was tedious.
I tried both the audiobook and the ebook, having received an ARC of each through NetGalley, and neither format made the experience more tolerable. The narrator did a good job but the material was awful. The prose felt padded and poorly paced, with scenes that should have moved the plot forward instead endlessly restating the characters’ fears and assumptions.
There may be readers who enjoy a psychologically repetitive thriller, but this did not work for me at all. By the end, I was relieved to be done. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copies
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
She’s backkk!!! @hankpryan is back and better than ever!! Thank you @minotaur_books #partner for the gorgeous gifted copy!! 🥰 Thank you @macmillan.audio #partner for the gifted audiobook!! 🎧🎧🎧🎧 🥰Guys… seriously this audiobook was fantastic!! I jumped back and forth between both the physical copy and the audiobook.
Pub date is 9/1/26!! 🥳🥳🥳
You and your sister survive a plane ✈️ crash. Forever bonded by the tragedy you meet up on the anniversary of the crash. Except now your sister doesn’t show up that day. 😦Even more shocking she doesn’t pick her daughter up that she left with you. 😳 WHAT?!! In the middle of a nasty divorce you have plenty reasons to worry about her.🥺
OMGGG this was filled with so many secrets and lies. Who are these people?? 😳 This went way darker than I expected.. so of course I was all in!! 👏👏 The pacing was perfect and had me glued to the pages… or earbuds 😉 from the very first chapter. I honestly never saw that ending coming.🫣🤯
This is my 4th book by this author and she is definitely an auto read! Love this pink and black cover!
Pub date is 9/1/26!! 🥳🥳🥳
You and your sister survive a plane ✈️ crash. Forever bonded by the tragedy you meet up on the anniversary of the crash. Except now your sister doesn’t show up that day. 😦Even more shocking she doesn’t pick her daughter up that she left with you. 😳 WHAT?!! In the middle of a nasty divorce you have plenty reasons to worry about her.🥺
OMGGG this was filled with so many secrets and lies. Who are these people?? 😳 This went way darker than I expected.. so of course I was all in!! 👏👏 The pacing was perfect and had me glued to the pages… or earbuds 😉 from the very first chapter. I honestly never saw that ending coming.🫣🤯
This is my 4th book by this author and she is definitely an auto read! Love this pink and black cover!
September 2, 2026
I just don’t think this author is for me
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What an incredible story! What a crazy, twisty, emotionally charged ride!
Eliza and Bea are sisters. They lost their parents in a plane crash 11 years ago. The same plane that they were in, but they both somehow survived! This was just after Bea graduated from college…and their father was piloting the plane. No5ing new. They traveled this way often. But this time, their parents never came home…
After months of hospitalization and rehab, the girls were released to their Aunt Margaret…. Their Mom’s sister. She took care of them until they were old enough to be on their own…and then she was gone.
The girls grew up. They made their own lives. And the world moved ahead.
Bea got married and adopted a little girl, Piper. Eliza works for a publishing company. But every year, on August 8, they all get together for Remembrance Day… and gather at the graves… and remember.
This year, Bea asks Eliza to watch Piper for a week. She’s off on a trip and will be back for August 8.
No worries. Eliza loves spending time with her niece!
But when 8/8 comes and goes with no word from Bea, Eliza gets scared. What’s going on? Her sister would NEVER miss this date! And then days go by. She goes to her sister’s house. She has to break in, because the hidden key is missing… and then the cops come! Strange things are happening all around… and in the house! The cops start an investigation!
Then, Eliza’s friend/Editor, Whitney, calls. What’s going on? She’s late with her work. She needs to see her now!
What is going on? Why is Whitney getting involved??
And the wheels start spinning… out of control!
I have to tell you that multiple times during this one I thought I had it all figured out! Totally! Only to be proven wrong! 😑 Over and over again… The twists just kept on coming!
5 solid, strong, family-is-thicker-than-anything stars for me!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#MotherDaughterSisterStranger by @HankPhillippiRyan and narrated wonderfully by @SteviIncremona.
This one has NOT been released yet, but look 👀 for it soon!! Release Date is 9/1/26!!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @MacmillanAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
Eliza and Bea are sisters. They lost their parents in a plane crash 11 years ago. The same plane that they were in, but they both somehow survived! This was just after Bea graduated from college…and their father was piloting the plane. No5ing new. They traveled this way often. But this time, their parents never came home…
After months of hospitalization and rehab, the girls were released to their Aunt Margaret…. Their Mom’s sister. She took care of them until they were old enough to be on their own…and then she was gone.
The girls grew up. They made their own lives. And the world moved ahead.
Bea got married and adopted a little girl, Piper. Eliza works for a publishing company. But every year, on August 8, they all get together for Remembrance Day… and gather at the graves… and remember.
This year, Bea asks Eliza to watch Piper for a week. She’s off on a trip and will be back for August 8.
No worries. Eliza loves spending time with her niece!
But when 8/8 comes and goes with no word from Bea, Eliza gets scared. What’s going on? Her sister would NEVER miss this date! And then days go by. She goes to her sister’s house. She has to break in, because the hidden key is missing… and then the cops come! Strange things are happening all around… and in the house! The cops start an investigation!
Then, Eliza’s friend/Editor, Whitney, calls. What’s going on? She’s late with her work. She needs to see her now!
What is going on? Why is Whitney getting involved??
And the wheels start spinning… out of control!
I have to tell you that multiple times during this one I thought I had it all figured out! Totally! Only to be proven wrong! 😑 Over and over again… The twists just kept on coming!
5 solid, strong, family-is-thicker-than-anything stars for me!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#MotherDaughterSisterStranger by @HankPhillippiRyan and narrated wonderfully by @SteviIncremona.
This one has NOT been released yet, but look 👀 for it soon!! Release Date is 9/1/26!!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @MacmillanAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
September 6, 2026
Story 4.5 stars Narration 5 stars
I started this book this morning before going to bed for 5 hours and just finished it. I could barely stop listening as it was so good. It’s a mystery with a good bit of suspense thrown in. I was on the edge of my seat at some points.
It’s about what happens when a woman is taking care of her 11 year old niece and the girls mother(her sister)doesn’t come to pick her up when she’s supposed to. It’s also about breaking into her sister’s house looking for clues and the resultant police visits due to the house alarm. There’s a good amount of tension and people inserting themselves into the situation. I did like the main character and her niece. There’s some really bad people involved as well. There’s a lot of lies and even some betrayal involved. It’s also a true whodunnit and I must admit that I had way too many people in my list of suspects to ever figure it all out. It was a good mystery, the kind that I wish all mysteries could be. Very well done!
Narration was really good.
I started this book this morning before going to bed for 5 hours and just finished it. I could barely stop listening as it was so good. It’s a mystery with a good bit of suspense thrown in. I was on the edge of my seat at some points.
It’s about what happens when a woman is taking care of her 11 year old niece and the girls mother(her sister)doesn’t come to pick her up when she’s supposed to. It’s also about breaking into her sister’s house looking for clues and the resultant police visits due to the house alarm. There’s a good amount of tension and people inserting themselves into the situation. I did like the main character and her niece. There’s some really bad people involved as well. There’s a lot of lies and even some betrayal involved. It’s also a true whodunnit and I must admit that I had way too many people in my list of suspects to ever figure it all out. It was a good mystery, the kind that I wish all mysteries could be. Very well done!
Narration was really good.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I thought I had this book all worked out, I was so sure that I knew what was going to happen. Wrong!! Hank Philippi Ryan you go me good with those red herrings and subtle hints. And you know what, I loved it. I am happy that I was wrong, this was one wild ride from start to finish.
A fast paced page turning thriller that was so easy to binge read. When Bea fails to pick up her daughter Piper on the 11th anniversary of their parents death, her sister Eliza knows something has happened. Her sister would not abandon her own child, especially not on that day of all days. Not only did their parents die in the plane crash, the 2 sisters survived. It begins a race to find Bea, knowing that she is out there somewhere.
I really enjoyed this story, where family secrets are about to be exposed and the truth is finally revealed.
Thank you to Sr Martin’s Press for my early copy of this book to read. Published on September 1st.
A fast paced page turning thriller that was so easy to binge read. When Bea fails to pick up her daughter Piper on the 11th anniversary of their parents death, her sister Eliza knows something has happened. Her sister would not abandon her own child, especially not on that day of all days. Not only did their parents die in the plane crash, the 2 sisters survived. It begins a race to find Bea, knowing that she is out there somewhere.
I really enjoyed this story, where family secrets are about to be exposed and the truth is finally revealed.
Thank you to Sr Martin’s Press for my early copy of this book to read. Published on September 1st.
September 1, 2026
the setup…
Eleven years ago, Eliza Ramsey and her older sister Bea were the only survivors of a plane crash piloted by her father with their mother also on board. They were raised by their maternal Aunt Margaret, though the relationship was a little rocky. Now on the anniversary of that day, Eliza has her pre-teen niece Piper for a sleepover but Bea fails to show up for Remembrance Day and isn’t answering her phone. As she and Piper desperately search for her, Eliza fears something nefarious has happened to her and the more she probes, the more things get dicey. And, it’s not clear if Bea, a lifestyle influencer in the middle of a divorce from husband Kyle, chose to leave on her own or not.
the heart of the story…
I liked how the story began at the onset of Eliza’s realization that Bea either was terribly late, wasn’t showing up, or was truly missing. I felt what she felt and the tension built slowly and never eased up. It was even more nerve wracking having an 11-year old by her side and who was sharing information about her parents’ lives, unknown to Eliza and some startling.
the narration…
I’ve got a new favorite! Stevi Incremona delivered an outstanding performance in her storytelling and voice distinctions. She made me feel everything.
the bottom line…
There are tons of layers to this story with loads of suspects and uncertainty around who to trust…or not. I finished this in a day and it certainly got twisty. It led to places I hadn’t anticipated and that ending was a stunner. This is why Ryan is an auto read.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Eleven years ago, Eliza Ramsey and her older sister Bea were the only survivors of a plane crash piloted by her father with their mother also on board. They were raised by their maternal Aunt Margaret, though the relationship was a little rocky. Now on the anniversary of that day, Eliza has her pre-teen niece Piper for a sleepover but Bea fails to show up for Remembrance Day and isn’t answering her phone. As she and Piper desperately search for her, Eliza fears something nefarious has happened to her and the more she probes, the more things get dicey. And, it’s not clear if Bea, a lifestyle influencer in the middle of a divorce from husband Kyle, chose to leave on her own or not.
the heart of the story…
I liked how the story began at the onset of Eliza’s realization that Bea either was terribly late, wasn’t showing up, or was truly missing. I felt what she felt and the tension built slowly and never eased up. It was even more nerve wracking having an 11-year old by her side and who was sharing information about her parents’ lives, unknown to Eliza and some startling.
the narration…
I’ve got a new favorite! Stevi Incremona delivered an outstanding performance in her storytelling and voice distinctions. She made me feel everything.
the bottom line…
There are tons of layers to this story with loads of suspects and uncertainty around who to trust…or not. I finished this in a day and it certainly got twisty. It led to places I hadn’t anticipated and that ending was a stunner. This is why Ryan is an auto read.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
September 2, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur for providing me an ARC to read!
Super fast paced and a pretty fun read! This grabbed me when I got the 6-chapter sampler and I'm glad I got to read the rest of the book.
The beginning of the mystery was very interesting to me. Eliza is watching her niece, Piper, and Piper's mom (Bea) never comes to pick her up. A very intriguing start. Right away there is some weirdness. Eliza and Bea survived a plane crash that killed their parents, Piper was adopted and the circumstances are somewhat mysterious, Bea is in the middle of a divorce and her ex-husband seems weirdly uninterested in their daughter. All of this makes for a intriguing potential set of possible suspects. Additionally, Eliza works in publishing and seems to have some mixed feelings about her boss Whitney. All of this together set up a very interesting mystery. However, this book is entirely from Eliza's perspective and I basically hated her. She is the worst decision maker I've ever read. She's suspicious of everyone, until the plot needs her to be naive, then she believes everyone blindly. It was very frustrating to read from her POV because she seemed so ignorant.
In general, the characters were weaker than the plot. They mostly just functioned as plot-moving machines rather than actual characters. Outside of Eliza, Piper especially was used this way. She starts off as being introduced as somewhat odd and very intellectually advanced. However, this was dropped somewhat in later parts of the book when it was less convenient. I think this is probably okay if you're a reader who mostly just wants an interesting mystery plot and doesn't care quite as much about character-development. I personally wanted more balance but the right reader might really like this.
I found the ending a little contrived but generally an okay wrap-up of the mystery. This is a pretty short book and there were a lot of moving pieces in the second half. I Think if one or two plotlines had been dropped, this would have been better. It's just hard to satisfactorily tie everything up when there is so much going on. I think some others may enjoy this really fast-paced, never take the foot off the gas approach, but I generally prefer a more narrow focus.
I would still recommend this to the right reader. Like I said, this was a super fast read and I had fun with it. If you want a really fast-paced mystery that is all plot, I think you will like this. I would read more by this author if I see a book with a plot that really intrigues me.
Super fast paced and a pretty fun read! This grabbed me when I got the 6-chapter sampler and I'm glad I got to read the rest of the book.
The beginning of the mystery was very interesting to me. Eliza is watching her niece, Piper, and Piper's mom (Bea) never comes to pick her up. A very intriguing start. Right away there is some weirdness. Eliza and Bea survived a plane crash that killed their parents, Piper was adopted and the circumstances are somewhat mysterious, Bea is in the middle of a divorce and her ex-husband seems weirdly uninterested in their daughter. All of this makes for a intriguing potential set of possible suspects. Additionally, Eliza works in publishing and seems to have some mixed feelings about her boss Whitney. All of this together set up a very interesting mystery. However, this book is entirely from Eliza's perspective and I basically hated her. She is the worst decision maker I've ever read. She's suspicious of everyone, until the plot needs her to be naive, then she believes everyone blindly. It was very frustrating to read from her POV because she seemed so ignorant.
In general, the characters were weaker than the plot. They mostly just functioned as plot-moving machines rather than actual characters. Outside of Eliza, Piper especially was used this way. She starts off as being introduced as somewhat odd and very intellectually advanced. However, this was dropped somewhat in later parts of the book when it was less convenient. I think this is probably okay if you're a reader who mostly just wants an interesting mystery plot and doesn't care quite as much about character-development. I personally wanted more balance but the right reader might really like this.
I found the ending a little contrived but generally an okay wrap-up of the mystery. This is a pretty short book and there were a lot of moving pieces in the second half. I Think if one or two plotlines had been dropped, this would have been better. It's just hard to satisfactorily tie everything up when there is so much going on. I think some others may enjoy this really fast-paced, never take the foot off the gas approach, but I generally prefer a more narrow focus.
I would still recommend this to the right reader. Like I said, this was a super fast read and I had fun with it. If you want a really fast-paced mystery that is all plot, I think you will like this. I would read more by this author if I see a book with a plot that really intrigues me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a Psychological Suspense/Mystery. I read this book by listening to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed the audiobook. I got pulled into this story for the very start, and I was sitting on the edge of my seat this whole book trying to guess what was going on. There was so much suspense throughout this book, and there was a lot of drama. I did want more for the last little bit of this book. I really enjoyed this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
September 14, 2026
It's tough to recommend this book. The plot is riddled with holes, to the point where I actually went back 20 chapters to try and make sense of the timeline. Even after re-reading, the story just didn't hold together for me. While I managed to finish it, the execution left me incredibly frustrated. Even though this particular book wasn't for me, I love this author's potential and will gladly continue to support her future releases.
Outstanding narration from Stevi.
Outstanding narration from Stevi.
September 15, 2026
You never really know anyone.
3.5 stars rounded up.
When Bea disappears without picking up her pre-teen daughter, Piper, from a sleepover, her sister Eliza immediately knows something is wrong. Determined to find her sister and protect her niece, Eliza makes for a great protagonist. I especially liked her fierce determination and the genuine care she has for Piper as the search takes her deeper into her family’s complicated - and increasingly sinister - history.
Mother Daughter Sister Stranger is an excellent take on the domestic/psychological thriller, built around the unsettling question of how much you really know anyone, even the people closest to you. Hank Phillippi Ryan does an outstanding job of sprinkling red herrings throughout the story. I was definitely fooled by a few of them and, for much of the book, had very little idea where this was going. Fast-paced and addictive, this is exactly the kind of story where you tell yourself you’ll listen to just one more chapter, only to look up and realize you’ve torn through the entire thing.
That being said, the final act pushed things a little too far for me. What had been a tightly plotted and genuinely twisty thriller became increasingly over the top, and unnecessarily so, taking some of the shine off an otherwise thoroughly entertaining read.
The audiobook gets an extra boost from Stevi Incremona, who was absolutely fabulous in her delivery. Her narration kept me fully invested in the story and made this an especially easy audiobook to listen to.
A fast, twisty, addictive thriller that kept me guessing.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
„Mother Daughter Sisters Stranger“ was published on September 1, 2026, and is available now.
3.5 stars rounded up.
When Bea disappears without picking up her pre-teen daughter, Piper, from a sleepover, her sister Eliza immediately knows something is wrong. Determined to find her sister and protect her niece, Eliza makes for a great protagonist. I especially liked her fierce determination and the genuine care she has for Piper as the search takes her deeper into her family’s complicated - and increasingly sinister - history.
Mother Daughter Sister Stranger is an excellent take on the domestic/psychological thriller, built around the unsettling question of how much you really know anyone, even the people closest to you. Hank Phillippi Ryan does an outstanding job of sprinkling red herrings throughout the story. I was definitely fooled by a few of them and, for much of the book, had very little idea where this was going. Fast-paced and addictive, this is exactly the kind of story where you tell yourself you’ll listen to just one more chapter, only to look up and realize you’ve torn through the entire thing.
That being said, the final act pushed things a little too far for me. What had been a tightly plotted and genuinely twisty thriller became increasingly over the top, and unnecessarily so, taking some of the shine off an otherwise thoroughly entertaining read.
The audiobook gets an extra boost from Stevi Incremona, who was absolutely fabulous in her delivery. Her narration kept me fully invested in the story and made this an especially easy audiobook to listen to.
A fast, twisty, addictive thriller that kept me guessing.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
„Mother Daughter Sisters Stranger“ was published on September 1, 2026, and is available now.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'll be honest, I wouldn't have normally picked it up aside from the title slotting in for HRCYED and my brain thinking the cover set it in San Francisco. This is one of those popcorn thrillers that is perfect for a quick or beach read - while it's fast-paced, a lot of the actions and insights get repeated, making it easy to follow at any reading style.
That said, it takes away from the suspense and thrill of trying to uncover the mystery when everything gets repeated so often, and combined with some truly weird leaps of logic that Eliza makes, I never quite felt swept up by this book the way I like thrillers to do.
There are a few twists that could have been interesting, but they get folded into the story in such a way that feel convoluted or cartoonish by the time they come to light that I feel like they lost their impact.
Piper also does not feel like an eleven-year-old except for in the very beginning. It just all felt weird and contributed to not feeling like I understood any of these characters or their actions.
Also a lot of these assumptions rely on them going "oh, this serial killer we were obsessed with stopped killing, I guess he's dead" and never doing...even a cursory search to see if anything further in the mystery had turned up.
Also we have a new record for audiobook speed - I had this up at 3x and missed precisely nothing, so do with that knowledge what you will.
That said, it takes away from the suspense and thrill of trying to uncover the mystery when everything gets repeated so often, and combined with some truly weird leaps of logic that Eliza makes, I never quite felt swept up by this book the way I like thrillers to do.
There are a few twists that could have been interesting, but they get folded into the story in such a way that feel convoluted or cartoonish by the time they come to light that I feel like they lost their impact.
Piper also does not feel like an eleven-year-old except for in the very beginning. It just all felt weird and contributed to not feeling like I understood any of these characters or their actions.
Also a lot of these assumptions rely on them going "oh, this serial killer we were obsessed with stopped killing, I guess he's dead" and never doing...even a cursory search to see if anything further in the mystery had turned up.
Also we have a new record for audiobook speed - I had this up at 3x and missed precisely nothing, so do with that knowledge what you will.
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