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Two Sisters
They told us he had been missing for nearly two days, that he probably drowned. They told us a lie.
Megan was ten years old when her older brother, Zac, went missing among the cliffs, caves and beaches that surround the small seaside town of Whitecliff.
A decade later and a car crash has claimed the lives of her parents.
Megan and her younger sister Chloe return to Whitecliff one summer for the first time since their brother’s disappearance. Megan says it’s to get her parents’ affairs in order. There are boxes to pack, junk to clear, a rundown cottage to sell. But that’s not the real reason.
Megan has come to confront her family’s past after receiving a postcard on the day of her parents’ funeral. It had a photograph of Whitecliff on the front and a single letter on the back.
‘Z’ is all it read.
Z for Zac.
Megan was ten years old when her older brother, Zac, went missing among the cliffs, caves and beaches that surround the small seaside town of Whitecliff.
A decade later and a car crash has claimed the lives of her parents.
Megan and her younger sister Chloe return to Whitecliff one summer for the first time since their brother’s disappearance. Megan says it’s to get her parents’ affairs in order. There are boxes to pack, junk to clear, a rundown cottage to sell. But that’s not the real reason.
Megan has come to confront her family’s past after receiving a postcard on the day of her parents’ funeral. It had a photograph of Whitecliff on the front and a single letter on the back.
‘Z’ is all it read.
Z for Zac.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2017
2015 people are currently reading
1567 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Wilkinson
70 books1,069 followersRecent and upcoming UK releases:
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
June 3, 2017
Two Sisters is the third Kerry Wilkinson book I have read in the last couple of months. I am pleased to have discovered this author. Though he has been around, he came to my attention when Bookouture signed him to a contract. I must say I really enjoyed all three books. I found this particularly notable because they are of different genres. The first Jessica Daniel book (Locked In, aka The Killer Inside) is a police procedural; standalone Ten Birthdays is contemporary fiction; and this book, also a standalone, is a creepy psychological thriller.
Megan, a 20-year-old anorectic, and her 17-year-old sister Chloe are all alone in the world, having lost their brother ten years previous and their parents three months before the start of the story in an auto accident. Megan, especially, wants to find out what happened to their brother all those years ago. This brings the young women to Whitecliff, a small beachside village where their parents’ cabin is located and where brother Zac disappeared a decade ago. Someone must remember Zac, right? There must be some theories out there about what happened to him. If there are, no one’s talking. So what’s the deal?
This book started off in smoldering fashion. At first I wasn’t sure I liked Megan. She can be a bitch. But she grew on me as she has insight, fight, and determination. And she loves her little sister. Megan has issues, obviously. She tries to counteract these by controlling her eating, which gives her confidence in controlling other situations that come her way. Sometimes she is too brave and pushes the envelope further than most people would. This made me fear for her safety on multiple occasions. This went on throughout the entire book and put me on edge (a good thing) the entire time. The mood of the story is sinister, the creep factor is high, and it is not clear at all which characters can be trusted. I suspected almost everybody at one point or another to be involved in some sort of wrongdoing. The imagery of the setting adds to the prevailing air of menace. I did a lot of shifting around in my chair during this read; the last 20% was a real thrill ride.
In terms of criticism, there are two or three scenes that stretch believability, but they sure are exciting. I would have also liked Mr. Wilkinson to have delved just a bit more into the anorexia angle, which I thought was a great add to the setup.
Kerry Wilkinson writes solid stories. They aren’t the very best I have read, but they are very very good. I highly recommend Two Sisters (as well as his other two books that I have read). I am delighted he has such a large catalog to his name, quite amazing for such a young author. I will not hesitate to reach into my Wilkinson bag of books whenever I am looking for a good novel in which to immerse myself. In fact, my next read will be the second book of the Jessica Daniel series, Vigilante.
Thank you to Net Galley, Bookouture, and Mr. Kerry Wilkinson for an advanced copy of the novel. The opinions in the review are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Megan, a 20-year-old anorectic, and her 17-year-old sister Chloe are all alone in the world, having lost their brother ten years previous and their parents three months before the start of the story in an auto accident. Megan, especially, wants to find out what happened to their brother all those years ago. This brings the young women to Whitecliff, a small beachside village where their parents’ cabin is located and where brother Zac disappeared a decade ago. Someone must remember Zac, right? There must be some theories out there about what happened to him. If there are, no one’s talking. So what’s the deal?
This book started off in smoldering fashion. At first I wasn’t sure I liked Megan. She can be a bitch. But she grew on me as she has insight, fight, and determination. And she loves her little sister. Megan has issues, obviously. She tries to counteract these by controlling her eating, which gives her confidence in controlling other situations that come her way. Sometimes she is too brave and pushes the envelope further than most people would. This made me fear for her safety on multiple occasions. This went on throughout the entire book and put me on edge (a good thing) the entire time. The mood of the story is sinister, the creep factor is high, and it is not clear at all which characters can be trusted. I suspected almost everybody at one point or another to be involved in some sort of wrongdoing. The imagery of the setting adds to the prevailing air of menace. I did a lot of shifting around in my chair during this read; the last 20% was a real thrill ride.
In terms of criticism, there are two or three scenes that stretch believability, but they sure are exciting. I would have also liked Mr. Wilkinson to have delved just a bit more into the anorexia angle, which I thought was a great add to the setup.
Kerry Wilkinson writes solid stories. They aren’t the very best I have read, but they are very very good. I highly recommend Two Sisters (as well as his other two books that I have read). I am delighted he has such a large catalog to his name, quite amazing for such a young author. I will not hesitate to reach into my Wilkinson bag of books whenever I am looking for a good novel in which to immerse myself. In fact, my next read will be the second book of the Jessica Daniel series, Vigilante.
Thank you to Net Galley, Bookouture, and Mr. Kerry Wilkinson for an advanced copy of the novel. The opinions in the review are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
June 25, 2017
I was a huge fan of Kerry Wilkinson’s Jessica Daniel series. So I was excited to get Two Sisters as an advance read through netgalley. He has done it again! This stand alone novel tells the story of two young sisters, coming to grips with life after both their parents die in a car crash. They return to their family's summer cottage, where their brother went missing 10 years earlier. Megan had received a postcard on the day of their parents’ funeral. The postcard was of the summer village with a Z for Zac on it.
Wilkinson does a fabulous job of bringing to life the main characters. Megan’s anorexia is well defined. These children of the upper class aren't close to each other or anyone else. Their parents didn't do them any favors with their upbringing. “Mother’s voice is at the back of my mind once more. “Y’know, Megan, you can be a real bitch sometimes. I don't know where you get it from.” The irony of it all. The obliviousness.”
And there is definitely a tension here. Megan keeps feeling that someone is watching her. There's a definite bad vibe feel to the village. But still Meghan keeps poking her nose in where it doesn't belong. This is a fun psychological thriller that keeps you in suspense. Yes, some of the events defy belief but it didn't make it any less enjoyable for me.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
Wilkinson does a fabulous job of bringing to life the main characters. Megan’s anorexia is well defined. These children of the upper class aren't close to each other or anyone else. Their parents didn't do them any favors with their upbringing. “Mother’s voice is at the back of my mind once more. “Y’know, Megan, you can be a real bitch sometimes. I don't know where you get it from.” The irony of it all. The obliviousness.”
And there is definitely a tension here. Megan keeps feeling that someone is watching her. There's a definite bad vibe feel to the village. But still Meghan keeps poking her nose in where it doesn't belong. This is a fun psychological thriller that keeps you in suspense. Yes, some of the events defy belief but it didn't make it any less enjoyable for me.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
August 6, 2017
This was one of those reads where I was all 'what is going on, I have no idea, I can't wait till we get to the end so I know what happens in this crazy mystery!' Which in my mind, is the sign of a good book.
When we're first introduced to the two lead characters, Megan and Chloe, we learn that they're 20 and 16 years old. At first I was fearful that this would read like a YA (which is totally fine, it's just not my genre of choice) but the author did a great job of maintaining a mature story even though it was told in the first person.
The author also did an excellent job of portraying Megan's disorder. Keeping away from detailed spoilers here. It was clearly very researched (which is mentioned in the author's note) and believable. I felt for this character even though she was intentionally off-putting and harsh.
This is a suspenseful, twisty turny read full of unreliable characters and it will keep you hanging till the end!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When we're first introduced to the two lead characters, Megan and Chloe, we learn that they're 20 and 16 years old. At first I was fearful that this would read like a YA (which is totally fine, it's just not my genre of choice) but the author did a great job of maintaining a mature story even though it was told in the first person.
The author also did an excellent job of portraying Megan's disorder. Keeping away from detailed spoilers here. It was clearly very researched (which is mentioned in the author's note) and believable. I felt for this character even though she was intentionally off-putting and harsh.
This is a suspenseful, twisty turny read full of unreliable characters and it will keep you hanging till the end!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2017
Megan is at school when she gets a visit from the police which she knows can't be good. They have come to inform her that her parents have been involved in an automobile accident and did not survive. Megan is speechless and doesn't know how to take the news having barely known her parents with always being sent off to schools, camps or anything to get her out of the way over the years.
Ten years before the family had been closer and were spending time at their cottage in the small town of Whitecliff when Megan's brother Zach had disappeared. There was never a body found but it had been assumed that Zach had drowned. Now after her parents deaths Megan receives a postcard from Whitecliff that is signed with a simple Z. Needing to visit the house that she and her younger sister now own Megan gets her sister Chloe and they pack up for a visit to Whitecliff after all these years hoping to find some answers.
The first thing I would want to mention about Two Sisters is that Megan seems to suffer from an eating disorder. There wasn't a mention of that in the official synopsis so if this would bother some readers I thought it should be brought to their attention. It became fairly obvious in the book when Megan showed a compulsion to checking calories in everything around her and continues throughout the book but isn't really addressed.
Now with the mystery in this book I would have to say that part of that reveal I had actually guessed fairly early on in the read but this is because it reminded me of a television show I had watched. Even with guessing some things though I still enjoyed Megan's investigating and found there were several twists and turns that added to my guess and made this an interesting read in the end.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Ten years before the family had been closer and were spending time at their cottage in the small town of Whitecliff when Megan's brother Zach had disappeared. There was never a body found but it had been assumed that Zach had drowned. Now after her parents deaths Megan receives a postcard from Whitecliff that is signed with a simple Z. Needing to visit the house that she and her younger sister now own Megan gets her sister Chloe and they pack up for a visit to Whitecliff after all these years hoping to find some answers.
The first thing I would want to mention about Two Sisters is that Megan seems to suffer from an eating disorder. There wasn't a mention of that in the official synopsis so if this would bother some readers I thought it should be brought to their attention. It became fairly obvious in the book when Megan showed a compulsion to checking calories in everything around her and continues throughout the book but isn't really addressed.
Now with the mystery in this book I would have to say that part of that reveal I had actually guessed fairly early on in the read but this is because it reminded me of a television show I had watched. Even with guessing some things though I still enjoyed Megan's investigating and found there were several twists and turns that added to my guess and made this an interesting read in the end.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
August 29, 2018
TWO SISTERS by Kerry Wilkinson is a standalone psychological thriller, and the first novel I have had the pleasure of reading by this author. It definitely won’t be my last. I have lots of catching up to do. This novel highlights the drama that two young sisters, Megan and Chloe, face after the death of both their parents in an automobile accident. Their older brother, Zac went missing ten years ago and has never been found. And then the car accident. They went through so much…
They had been told that their brother probably drowned.
Megan and her younger sister Chloe return to the family’s summer cottage in the small seaside town of Whitecliff one summer for the first time since their brother’s disappearance. Megan says it’s to get her parents’ affairs in order. There are boxes to pack, junk to clear, a rundown cottage to sell. But that’s not the real reason.
Megan has come home to discover the truth about her family’s past after receiving a postcard on the day of her parents’ funeral. It had a photograph of Whitecliff on the front and a single letter “Z” for Zac on the back.
Megan and Chloe realize that discovering the truth about their brother’s disappearance is not well received by the locals on the island. The locals on the island are secretive and just want the topic dropped except for Megan and Chloe.
This is a well-written psychological thriller with believable characters. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
Many thanks to Bookouture via Netgalley for my digital copy.
They had been told that their brother probably drowned.
Megan and her younger sister Chloe return to the family’s summer cottage in the small seaside town of Whitecliff one summer for the first time since their brother’s disappearance. Megan says it’s to get her parents’ affairs in order. There are boxes to pack, junk to clear, a rundown cottage to sell. But that’s not the real reason.
Megan has come home to discover the truth about her family’s past after receiving a postcard on the day of her parents’ funeral. It had a photograph of Whitecliff on the front and a single letter “Z” for Zac on the back.
Megan and Chloe realize that discovering the truth about their brother’s disappearance is not well received by the locals on the island. The locals on the island are secretive and just want the topic dropped except for Megan and Chloe.
This is a well-written psychological thriller with believable characters. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
Many thanks to Bookouture via Netgalley for my digital copy.
June 4, 2017
The two sisters are all that is left of their family. Their older brother went missing 10 years ago and was never found. Their parents died recently in an auto accident.
Megan and Chloe return to their summer home for one last visit. They need to get their parents' affairs in order and put the home up for sale. Megan has another reason for being there ... this is where her brother went missing. She wants the truth about her brother ... she received a postcard and on it was only the inital Z. Z for Zac?
Megan and Chloe rarely ever lived with their parents. They were shuffled off to separate boarding schools. They had to rely on phone call and text messages to stay in touch. Because her mother constantly preached at Megan about her weight, she is now anorexic ... eating barely enough to stay alive. Chloe, for the most part, is shy and quiet. She's an artist but she has doubts that she's any good.
There are the locals and the kids who hang around the beach. And then you have the 'elite' -- the kids that are dropped off for the summer and then leave. It's the kids with the money that keep this little island prosperous. Megan and Chloe are neither.
There are definitely strange people on and around the island. Most of the locals seem secretive and not very welcoming. As Megan starts asking questions of anyone that may have known her brother, the more menacing the town becomes. Windows are broken in their summer home. Scrawled messages telling them to Go Home. Money is stolen from a pub and Megan is accused of being a thief.
And the closer she gets to the truth ... the more danger she and Chloe face.
This is a vey well done psychological thriller. The author has done a terrific job in researching anorexia and the effects on bodies of usually young girls. The characters are sound ... and there are all kinds. The friendly old man who runs an art gallery, the shop owner who is a harridan and takes an instant dislike to Megan, the pub owner and his son and son's wife. They all lend an air of credibility to the story.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Megan and Chloe return to their summer home for one last visit. They need to get their parents' affairs in order and put the home up for sale. Megan has another reason for being there ... this is where her brother went missing. She wants the truth about her brother ... she received a postcard and on it was only the inital Z. Z for Zac?
Megan and Chloe rarely ever lived with their parents. They were shuffled off to separate boarding schools. They had to rely on phone call and text messages to stay in touch. Because her mother constantly preached at Megan about her weight, she is now anorexic ... eating barely enough to stay alive. Chloe, for the most part, is shy and quiet. She's an artist but she has doubts that she's any good.
There are the locals and the kids who hang around the beach. And then you have the 'elite' -- the kids that are dropped off for the summer and then leave. It's the kids with the money that keep this little island prosperous. Megan and Chloe are neither.
There are definitely strange people on and around the island. Most of the locals seem secretive and not very welcoming. As Megan starts asking questions of anyone that may have known her brother, the more menacing the town becomes. Windows are broken in their summer home. Scrawled messages telling them to Go Home. Money is stolen from a pub and Megan is accused of being a thief.
And the closer she gets to the truth ... the more danger she and Chloe face.
This is a vey well done psychological thriller. The author has done a terrific job in researching anorexia and the effects on bodies of usually young girls. The characters are sound ... and there are all kinds. The friendly old man who runs an art gallery, the shop owner who is a harridan and takes an instant dislike to Megan, the pub owner and his son and son's wife. They all lend an air of credibility to the story.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 26, 2017
Four stars to this latest offering from Kerry Wilkinson... a story full of complicated and intriguing characters. The setting is beautiful... the fictional Whitecliff, a small seaside village and tourist location. During the warm months, the town is divided... the locals and the beach kids. The beach kids are mostly teenagers living off their family money, on a break from school and sent there to keep them out of the way. The locals resent them, but need them. Used to living paycheck to paycheck, they need the business but resent the privileged lifestyle and lack of responsibility they see the beach kids enjoy. Fortunately, the division mostly has only resulted in a couple of arguments and scuffles. Our main character is somewhere in the middle.
Megan has returned to the village along with her younger sister to sort out the estate of her parents. They died recently in a car crash, leaving the two young women immensely wealthy. Neither understands why their parents kept the cottage in Whitecliff, seeing as they barely ever visited since their brother disappeared from there ten years ago. Megan has led teenager Chloe here for another reason though: she received a postcard from Whitecliff with only one letter on the back: Z. Z for Zac, the brother who mysteriously disappeared when they were children.
Megan is convinced her long lost big brother is lurking about, or at least someone knows what really happened to him. Her abrasive attitude and prying questions aren't making her many friends in the close-knit village. Is it simply because she's bringing up a bleak part of history, or is someone hiding something?
Megan is an insanely complicated character. She resents her parents, trusts everyone very little, and has some real problems with food. The woman barely eats, often experiencing dizzy spells and weakness. Some descriptions of her eating habits may be bothersome for a reader with a history of eating disorders. She also regularly samples pills from a stash her mother left behind, and we're left to wonder if there's really anything going on, or she's become paranoid and suspicious. Did Zac send that postcard? And if not, who did?
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My opinion is honest and unbiased.
Megan has returned to the village along with her younger sister to sort out the estate of her parents. They died recently in a car crash, leaving the two young women immensely wealthy. Neither understands why their parents kept the cottage in Whitecliff, seeing as they barely ever visited since their brother disappeared from there ten years ago. Megan has led teenager Chloe here for another reason though: she received a postcard from Whitecliff with only one letter on the back: Z. Z for Zac, the brother who mysteriously disappeared when they were children.
Megan is convinced her long lost big brother is lurking about, or at least someone knows what really happened to him. Her abrasive attitude and prying questions aren't making her many friends in the close-knit village. Is it simply because she's bringing up a bleak part of history, or is someone hiding something?
Megan is an insanely complicated character. She resents her parents, trusts everyone very little, and has some real problems with food. The woman barely eats, often experiencing dizzy spells and weakness. Some descriptions of her eating habits may be bothersome for a reader with a history of eating disorders. She also regularly samples pills from a stash her mother left behind, and we're left to wonder if there's really anything going on, or she's become paranoid and suspicious. Did Zac send that postcard? And if not, who did?
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My opinion is honest and unbiased.
October 30, 2021
I just love everything by Kerry Wilkinson. He's a fantastic writer who always keeps you guessing. "Two Sisters" was no exception. Sisters Megan and Chloe come back to the seaside town of Whitecliffe after receiving a mysterious message they think could be connected to their brother, who disappeared ten earlier. This novel is so brilliantly crafted, and plays brilliantly with the theme of lies. Can you really trust anyone in the story?
I loved all the twists and turns. This was impossible to put down in places and definitely a recommended read.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
I loved all the twists and turns. This was impossible to put down in places and definitely a recommended read.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
August 8, 2017
Two Sisters was an excellent psychological thriller because it didn’t follow standard tropes so much and has genuinely quality writing behind it – I put off reading it for a while if I’m honest because Amazon had that stupid “shocking twist” tagline they put on everything and these days that usually leads to a by the numbers girl book which whilst occasionally enjoyable is like eating the same meal over and over again. I should have trusted in Mr Wilkinson however, whose previous novels I’ve loved, especially his Young Adult and known that it was unlikely he’d put in anything less than a stellar performance.
Two Sisters is about just that – Two Sisters. Yes ok their Brother went missing, their parents died, now they are in this small fishing village which only needs a cornfield to complete it’s Stephen King like ambience – but that is the hook that keeps mystery lovers engaged and involved whilst the author tells the tale of two sisters – coming to terms with their lives before and after their parents death and trying to find the levels of their own sibling affiliation when really they only have each other left.
Megan is a character I was on side with immediately. She is all rough edges and divisive commentary and is struggling with an illness that she can’t define but that is attempting to define her. I won’t give anything away but I know that struggle and it ain’t easy. Add into that she’s finally hopeful that perhaps she can find Zac, becoming almost obsessive about it which doesn’t win her many friends and puts her at odds with Chloe just at the point they need each other most.
Chloe knows Megan’s issues more than Megan believes she does – younger and less inclined to want that closure, ignorance being bliss, she makes attempts to fit into these untenable surroundings, making friends more easily and trying to fix things in her own way. She was softer, more trusting and extremely likable, these two are both intriguing and fascinating even without the rest of the shenanigans.
The path to the resolution is twisty for sure – but realistically so and the story never goes into the realms of unbelievable plot devices – it was an addictive, intelligent novel with multiple layers and authentically flawed characters, Megan especially will stay with me, in that way when you feel that this fictional person is real and you hope she has a better life ahead of her.
As for the “shocking twist” – well for me the shocking twist was that a book with that interminably unrelentingly dull tagline turned out to be a novel of huge depth and perception – oh dear look, I’ve given it away now. Sorry about that.
Clever, emotive and resonating on many levels Two Sisters is a book I have no problem at all recommending.
Two Sisters is about just that – Two Sisters. Yes ok their Brother went missing, their parents died, now they are in this small fishing village which only needs a cornfield to complete it’s Stephen King like ambience – but that is the hook that keeps mystery lovers engaged and involved whilst the author tells the tale of two sisters – coming to terms with their lives before and after their parents death and trying to find the levels of their own sibling affiliation when really they only have each other left.
Megan is a character I was on side with immediately. She is all rough edges and divisive commentary and is struggling with an illness that she can’t define but that is attempting to define her. I won’t give anything away but I know that struggle and it ain’t easy. Add into that she’s finally hopeful that perhaps she can find Zac, becoming almost obsessive about it which doesn’t win her many friends and puts her at odds with Chloe just at the point they need each other most.
Chloe knows Megan’s issues more than Megan believes she does – younger and less inclined to want that closure, ignorance being bliss, she makes attempts to fit into these untenable surroundings, making friends more easily and trying to fix things in her own way. She was softer, more trusting and extremely likable, these two are both intriguing and fascinating even without the rest of the shenanigans.
The path to the resolution is twisty for sure – but realistically so and the story never goes into the realms of unbelievable plot devices – it was an addictive, intelligent novel with multiple layers and authentically flawed characters, Megan especially will stay with me, in that way when you feel that this fictional person is real and you hope she has a better life ahead of her.
As for the “shocking twist” – well for me the shocking twist was that a book with that interminably unrelentingly dull tagline turned out to be a novel of huge depth and perception – oh dear look, I’ve given it away now. Sorry about that.
Clever, emotive and resonating on many levels Two Sisters is a book I have no problem at all recommending.
June 27, 2017
I haven’t read anything by Kerry Wilkinson (apart from a short story or two) so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading Two Sisters. I certainly wasn’t expecting to have it read so quickly, but his writing is so pacy and addictive. Two Sisters follows Megan and Chloe in the aftermath of their parents death in a car crash. Ten years ago their brother went missing and his body was never recovered, so they have experienced a double tragedy in their lives.
When they return to Whitecliff, where their brother disappeared, they are there to tidy up their parents affairs. However, trouble follows them almost immediately and the story goes in a direction I didn’t anticipate. I found myself engaged in the story and I just had to keep reading to see what was going to happen.
Two Sisters is billed as a psychological thriller, but to be honest, there is a more YA-themed story going on there too. I think because the two main characters are relatively young that it felt more juvenile in terms of reactions and so on. I don’t mean that in a negative way either, it just didn’t have the adult-y feel to it!
I thoroughly enjoyed Two Sisters. It was an engrossing and twisty read.
Highly recommended!
When they return to Whitecliff, where their brother disappeared, they are there to tidy up their parents affairs. However, trouble follows them almost immediately and the story goes in a direction I didn’t anticipate. I found myself engaged in the story and I just had to keep reading to see what was going to happen.
Two Sisters is billed as a psychological thriller, but to be honest, there is a more YA-themed story going on there too. I think because the two main characters are relatively young that it felt more juvenile in terms of reactions and so on. I don’t mean that in a negative way either, it just didn’t have the adult-y feel to it!
I thoroughly enjoyed Two Sisters. It was an engrossing and twisty read.
Highly recommended!
June 23, 2017
Megan Smart was tens years old when her older brother Zac went missing among the cliffs,caves and beaches that surround the small seaside town of Whitecliffe.
A decade later and a car crash has claimed the lives of both their parents.
For the first time since their brothers disappearance Megan and her younger sister Chloe have returned to Whitecliffe.
Megan says it's to get their parents affairs in order but the truth is that she has come back to confront her family's past after receiving a postcard on the day of their parents funeral.It had a picture of Whitecliffe on the front and a single letter on the back.
Z is all it read
Z for Sac
This is a gripping,intreguing mystery that's not bogged down by long drawn out descriptions and pages of padding.It's a entertaining thrilling story,I loved the places where the story was based from the village and its sinister inhabitants,the caves,the dark woods,the mysterious caves and the lightning tree.There was a mixed bag of realistic but mostly untrustworthy characters and I spent the whole book not knowing if Megan could trust any of them.
The story is mostly told from Megan's point of view although there are some chapters towards the end of the book that are voiced by Chloe.I would have liked to have read more of Chloe`s thoughts especially her feelings about her parents.Megan is a complex character who obviously had serious issues,the author wrote about these issues with sensitivity and a lot of thought for readers who also might have the same issues.My feelings about Megan constantly changed as the story unfolded,I wanted to like her but at times her thoughts and actions made her not very likeable.
The mystery of what had happened to Zach was very Intreguing and did keep me guessing.Megan found herself in a number of life threatening situations and quite a few of the chapters ended on cliff hangers causing the reader to have a very bad dose of just one more chapter syndrome.I really enjoyed this book and hope that this is the first in a new series,I would love to read more stories featuring Megan Smart.
July 4, 2017
I've only read one other book by Kerry, his first Jessica Daniel's book, and really liked it. Somehow I knew I would like another of his books. This is a stand alone, which was nice. After Megan & Chloe's parents are killed in a car crash, the two sisters decide to head to Whitecliff for the summer. The last time they were there was 10 years ago when their older brother Zac went missing. Whitecliff is a strange little place where everything and everyone seems like they're hiding something or just plain unhappy. Soon fights are breaking out, the sisters cottage gets vandalized, money goes missing, and nobody wants to talks about what happened to Zac. This only fuels Megan's desire to investigate what happened. Kerry does a great job keeping up the pace of the mystery. This only solidified the fact that I'm a fan of this author.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2018
I’m conflicted over how I feel about Two Sisters. I loved The Girl Who Came Back and couldn’t wait to read this but found it lacking in both suspense and characterisation and my interest waned a lot whilst I was reading which was really disappointing.
Two Sisters sees Megan and Chloe returning to Whitecliff after their parent’s death and after Megan received a postcard from the area with nothing written on it other than the letter Z. Megan assuming it means Zac, their brother who went missing ten years ago. Given the life that they have led due to their parents, there’s not much of a connection between the sisters, nor did there seem to be any real sense of either of them caring about what happened to Zac. I just felt very detached from everything whilst reading the story and there wasn’t much emotion in the storytelling or in scenes between the sisters. There were times when Megan was an interesting character but Chloe is mostly a non-entity throughout, until the closing chapters when she actually gets to do something.
The setting of Whitecliff I felt was well-imagined and did make for some atmospheric reading in places and I enjoyed how it allowed the story to be told. That said, it felt at times a little bit of a cliched version of what you would expect a village in the arse end of nowhere to be like (why would they look at Megan like she had two heads when she asks about tofu or vegan food?) and in 2018 surely mobile phone signals aren’t restricted to being stood next to a single tree in the village.
As the story progressed I toyed with the idea of abandoning the book but I wanted to see it through to the end and find out what had really happened to Zac all those years ago. When the ending came it wasn’t a satisfying resolution and I felt that everything was a little rushed. I was disappointed that there weren’t any great twists to the story, and the explanation given for what happened to Zac and the subsequent cover-up by some cardboard cut-out bad guys just fell completely flat and I finished the book wanting more. Having loved The Girl Who Came Back I have not been put off reading more of Kerry’s psychological thrillers because I did really enjoy that one. Unfortunately the same can’t be said of Two Sisters and so whilst it isn’t a book I will be recommending, I can highly recommend Kerry’s Jessica Daniel series and also The Girl Who Came Back.
Two Sisters sees Megan and Chloe returning to Whitecliff after their parent’s death and after Megan received a postcard from the area with nothing written on it other than the letter Z. Megan assuming it means Zac, their brother who went missing ten years ago. Given the life that they have led due to their parents, there’s not much of a connection between the sisters, nor did there seem to be any real sense of either of them caring about what happened to Zac. I just felt very detached from everything whilst reading the story and there wasn’t much emotion in the storytelling or in scenes between the sisters. There were times when Megan was an interesting character but Chloe is mostly a non-entity throughout, until the closing chapters when she actually gets to do something.
The setting of Whitecliff I felt was well-imagined and did make for some atmospheric reading in places and I enjoyed how it allowed the story to be told. That said, it felt at times a little bit of a cliched version of what you would expect a village in the arse end of nowhere to be like (why would they look at Megan like she had two heads when she asks about tofu or vegan food?) and in 2018 surely mobile phone signals aren’t restricted to being stood next to a single tree in the village.
As the story progressed I toyed with the idea of abandoning the book but I wanted to see it through to the end and find out what had really happened to Zac all those years ago. When the ending came it wasn’t a satisfying resolution and I felt that everything was a little rushed. I was disappointed that there weren’t any great twists to the story, and the explanation given for what happened to Zac and the subsequent cover-up by some cardboard cut-out bad guys just fell completely flat and I finished the book wanting more. Having loved The Girl Who Came Back I have not been put off reading more of Kerry’s psychological thrillers because I did really enjoy that one. Unfortunately the same can’t be said of Two Sisters and so whilst it isn’t a book I will be recommending, I can highly recommend Kerry’s Jessica Daniel series and also The Girl Who Came Back.
July 14, 2017
Two Sisters by Kerry Wilkinson published by Bookoutour is a most stunning latest novel of intrigue and beguiling twists from this author. I never think this author can do better, but this one really did draw me in and make me forget whatever was going on around me.
I adore the cover, and I really loved this plot in this book.
Megan was 10 years old when her brother Zac went missing. Now a century on she gets a visit from the Police saying that her parents have been in a fatal car crash. Megan has a sister Chloe who is studying away and so they don't get to see each other often, but they need to go clear out the summer home that their parents had. So much to do, clear it out, clean it up and put it up for sale. A lot to do for two young people.
But that is not the only reason for Megan to return, she received a postcard a few days ago with the signature Z for Zac on it. Of course this stirs up a lot of unrest. Zac was never found so is he out there somewhere even now?
Megan has an eating disorder which becomes explicitly obvious early on. I felt for her, she had the raw deal growing up I thought and some issues. This has left her with very big mental health and emotional anguish which also becomes clear, there is a tenderness in Megan and I grew to quite like her as well as Chloe.
On and around the Island we see there are two sets of groups, the ones that live there and the youngsters who spend their summer there whilst their rich parents are jet setting around the globe.
I am not sure which is the more strange, the ones that life there or the young folk who visit, its clear that is lots that went on that Megan needs to find out so she asks lots of questions which sort of isolates her a little.
Its an intriguing story that will grow and grow and widen out so that there is so much depth within it you fall right in.
I have to thank Bookoutour via Net Galley for my copy
I adore the cover, and I really loved this plot in this book.
Megan was 10 years old when her brother Zac went missing. Now a century on she gets a visit from the Police saying that her parents have been in a fatal car crash. Megan has a sister Chloe who is studying away and so they don't get to see each other often, but they need to go clear out the summer home that their parents had. So much to do, clear it out, clean it up and put it up for sale. A lot to do for two young people.
But that is not the only reason for Megan to return, she received a postcard a few days ago with the signature Z for Zac on it. Of course this stirs up a lot of unrest. Zac was never found so is he out there somewhere even now?
Megan has an eating disorder which becomes explicitly obvious early on. I felt for her, she had the raw deal growing up I thought and some issues. This has left her with very big mental health and emotional anguish which also becomes clear, there is a tenderness in Megan and I grew to quite like her as well as Chloe.
On and around the Island we see there are two sets of groups, the ones that live there and the youngsters who spend their summer there whilst their rich parents are jet setting around the globe.
I am not sure which is the more strange, the ones that life there or the young folk who visit, its clear that is lots that went on that Megan needs to find out so she asks lots of questions which sort of isolates her a little.
Its an intriguing story that will grow and grow and widen out so that there is so much depth within it you fall right in.
I have to thank Bookoutour via Net Galley for my copy
June 17, 2017
Ten years ago, Megan’s brother Zac goes missing in the seaside town of Whitecliff. He was never found. Now, after losing their parents in a car accident, Megan and her sister, Chloe, head back to Whitecliff for the first time in a decade. Supposedly to get their parents’ affairs in order but Megan has other plans. She has come for answers. In such a small community, surely someone must know what happened to Zac all those years ago.
Now, Whitecliff. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it? Well, you’d be wrong. It is the creepiest of creepy villages ever. On the surface, it all looks normal but underneath there’s something bubbling that’s just not quite right and the author does a brilliant job in creating that slightly eery atmosphere. It’s that feeling you get when you know something’s coming but you don’t know what.
Two Sisters has a slow-burning and intense plot with a host of incredibly well developed and realistic characters. It took me a while to get into this book. The pace was a bit too slow for me at the start but that didn’t mean I wasn’t gripped. Obviously, I too wanted to know what happened to Zac all those years ago and while I had an idea of some of the things going on in the village, I couldn’t figure out how these events were connected.
Megan isn’t the most likeable character ever. She’s flawed, complex and has a lot of issues. But I could totally sympathise with her and I admired her dogged determination to find out the truth. There are a lot of skeletons in various closets and of course there are twists and turns. Although some I felt were a tad predictable, there were also some I didn’t see coming at all.
This is my first introduction to Kerry Wilkinson. I know, I know! Where the heck have I been, right? But it definitely won’t be my last!
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy, which I chose to review honestly.
Now, Whitecliff. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it? Well, you’d be wrong. It is the creepiest of creepy villages ever. On the surface, it all looks normal but underneath there’s something bubbling that’s just not quite right and the author does a brilliant job in creating that slightly eery atmosphere. It’s that feeling you get when you know something’s coming but you don’t know what.
Two Sisters has a slow-burning and intense plot with a host of incredibly well developed and realistic characters. It took me a while to get into this book. The pace was a bit too slow for me at the start but that didn’t mean I wasn’t gripped. Obviously, I too wanted to know what happened to Zac all those years ago and while I had an idea of some of the things going on in the village, I couldn’t figure out how these events were connected.
Megan isn’t the most likeable character ever. She’s flawed, complex and has a lot of issues. But I could totally sympathise with her and I admired her dogged determination to find out the truth. There are a lot of skeletons in various closets and of course there are twists and turns. Although some I felt were a tad predictable, there were also some I didn’t see coming at all.
This is my first introduction to Kerry Wilkinson. I know, I know! Where the heck have I been, right? But it definitely won’t be my last!
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy, which I chose to review honestly.
April 24, 2020
I don’t know whether it’s because it’s the first book I’ve read of this author or because my mind is elsewhere being in lockdown but It seemed to take awhile for me to get into it but when I did it was worth the effort
June 26, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
I’m a fan of Wilkinson’s Jessica Daniel series, so when I found out that he was publishing a standalone psychological thriller, I was super intrigued. His series is more straightforward crime fiction/police procedurals so I wondered how this genre would work for him. I’m so pleased to say that I enjoyed this one just as much as his other books!
It starts right after Megan and Chloe’s parents are killed in a car accident and ten years after their older brother Zac goes missing. When Megan receives a postcard signed Zac, they decide to head to their parents cottage to find out more about their past. They don’t remember much about Whitecliff or Zac, they were very young but Megan especially is eager to investigate her families past. The story is told from her point of view and she was quite the character, she has a pretty awful attitude and she’s very prickly and closed off. It took me a bit to warm up to her, but once some of her personal battles were revealed, I developed a soft spot for her.
My favorite aspect of this book was the creepy, eerie atmosphere Wilkinson created in the village of Whitecliff. It sounds like an idyllic beach town, but there is a very apparent undercurrent of dread and malice lurking. There was a constant sense of someone watching Megan and I began to feed off of her paranoia myself. On top of that, there’s a rivalry between the locals and tourists that added some tension and you just knew things would boil over at some point.
This had a slower pace, the suspense builds gradually although there were a few key scenes that made my heart race. The secrets hiding in this odd town were multilayered and kept me guessing, many of which I never could have seen coming. This could also grab the interest of fans of YA novels since Megan and Chloe are both so young, so there’s definitely some crossover appeal.
I’m a fan of Wilkinson’s Jessica Daniel series, so when I found out that he was publishing a standalone psychological thriller, I was super intrigued. His series is more straightforward crime fiction/police procedurals so I wondered how this genre would work for him. I’m so pleased to say that I enjoyed this one just as much as his other books!
It starts right after Megan and Chloe’s parents are killed in a car accident and ten years after their older brother Zac goes missing. When Megan receives a postcard signed Zac, they decide to head to their parents cottage to find out more about their past. They don’t remember much about Whitecliff or Zac, they were very young but Megan especially is eager to investigate her families past. The story is told from her point of view and she was quite the character, she has a pretty awful attitude and she’s very prickly and closed off. It took me a bit to warm up to her, but once some of her personal battles were revealed, I developed a soft spot for her.
My favorite aspect of this book was the creepy, eerie atmosphere Wilkinson created in the village of Whitecliff. It sounds like an idyllic beach town, but there is a very apparent undercurrent of dread and malice lurking. There was a constant sense of someone watching Megan and I began to feed off of her paranoia myself. On top of that, there’s a rivalry between the locals and tourists that added some tension and you just knew things would boil over at some point.
This had a slower pace, the suspense builds gradually although there were a few key scenes that made my heart race. The secrets hiding in this odd town were multilayered and kept me guessing, many of which I never could have seen coming. This could also grab the interest of fans of YA novels since Megan and Chloe are both so young, so there’s definitely some crossover appeal.
September 19, 2017
Megan was ten years old when her older brother Zac disappeared. Ten years later her parents are killed in a car accident. On the day of the funeral, Megan receives a postcard which shows a photo of Whitecliff and the single letter 'Z'. Is this a reference to her long lost brother? What really did happen to him and what clues will Megan unfold as she delves into the unknown to find answers to her questions and the significance of the postcard?
At times the book stretches the levels of believability but as it is a work of fiction and the reader is still drawn into the story. The book is well written and we are introduced to many characters along the way, all who have their place and this does not distract from the story itself. An in depth novel with a good plot, a very enjoyable read. Thank you to Netgalley , the author and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
At times the book stretches the levels of believability but as it is a work of fiction and the reader is still drawn into the story. The book is well written and we are introduced to many characters along the way, all who have their place and this does not distract from the story itself. An in depth novel with a good plot, a very enjoyable read. Thank you to Netgalley , the author and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2017
I’m a bit of a sucker for sister mysteries – there are so many interesting dynamics in sibling relationships that they provide the perfect base for an emotionally charged book. And whilst the plot of Wilkinson’s latest novel is based more around the disappearance of Megan and Chloe’s brother Zac ten years ago, the relationship between the sisters was certainly intriguing and drove much of the storyline.
Despite Megan’s prickly and damaged character, I felt that she was well portrayed and I couldn’t help feeling for her. She is so determined to find out what happened to Zac and get justice for him, and is not easily discouraged, despite the many demons she is battling. Chloe, on the surface the more balanced of the two sisters, seems almost too blasé about Zac’s disappearance, and it is obvious that their parents’ absence during the children’s formative years has done some damage to both of the girls. I loved Wilkinson’t portrayal of these two broken young women, and the undercurrent of something sinister that shadows their time in Whitecliff. There is an ever-present tension underlying the storyline, and I was never sure whose account of events I could trust. Is Megan really a reliable storyteller? Has her anorexia and addiction to prescription drugs from her mother’s stash destroyed her ability to think clearly, distorting her memories and her reality? Or is Chloe the one who is hiding things?
As the events in Whitecliff slowly spiralled out of control, the danger to the girls felt ever more real – but was it? Wilkinson did a great job of messing with my mind and making me question everything I read, and I just love it when a book does that. Despite the picturesque setting of the seaside town of Whitecliff, there was always an air of menace present, and some of the villagers were downright scary. Without giving any more away, tension built as Megan started asking more and more questions about her brother’s last year in Whitecliff, with the villagers closing ranks against her. What were they hiding? And how did their parents fit into all this? There were so many questions and possibilities that my mind was spinning as I tried to follow the trail of breadcrumbs to unravel the mystery. And whilst for me there were a few plot-holes that didn’t quite add up, the portrayal of the small town and the building tension made up for it and on the hole provided a satisfying and intriguing read. Two Sisters was my first book by the author but it certainly won’t be my last!
3.5 stars
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Despite Megan’s prickly and damaged character, I felt that she was well portrayed and I couldn’t help feeling for her. She is so determined to find out what happened to Zac and get justice for him, and is not easily discouraged, despite the many demons she is battling. Chloe, on the surface the more balanced of the two sisters, seems almost too blasé about Zac’s disappearance, and it is obvious that their parents’ absence during the children’s formative years has done some damage to both of the girls. I loved Wilkinson’t portrayal of these two broken young women, and the undercurrent of something sinister that shadows their time in Whitecliff. There is an ever-present tension underlying the storyline, and I was never sure whose account of events I could trust. Is Megan really a reliable storyteller? Has her anorexia and addiction to prescription drugs from her mother’s stash destroyed her ability to think clearly, distorting her memories and her reality? Or is Chloe the one who is hiding things?
As the events in Whitecliff slowly spiralled out of control, the danger to the girls felt ever more real – but was it? Wilkinson did a great job of messing with my mind and making me question everything I read, and I just love it when a book does that. Despite the picturesque setting of the seaside town of Whitecliff, there was always an air of menace present, and some of the villagers were downright scary. Without giving any more away, tension built as Megan started asking more and more questions about her brother’s last year in Whitecliff, with the villagers closing ranks against her. What were they hiding? And how did their parents fit into all this? There were so many questions and possibilities that my mind was spinning as I tried to follow the trail of breadcrumbs to unravel the mystery. And whilst for me there were a few plot-holes that didn’t quite add up, the portrayal of the small town and the building tension made up for it and on the hole provided a satisfying and intriguing read. Two Sisters was my first book by the author but it certainly won’t be my last!
3.5 stars
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June 29, 2017
This is the first novel I have read by this author and I will certainly be reading more of his books in future after reading Two Sisters.
Two Sisters is one of those dark and brooding reads. It’s like a pan of water on the stove, gently simmering until all of a sudden it’s bubbling away at a rapid speed.
I felt really sorry for Megan and Chloe. They have lost their older brother ten years before and haven’t had the most perfect relationship with their parents who sadly have both just lost their lives in a car crash. They are still relatively young and Megan feels like she has to be even more in control so that she can take care of her younger sister.
I have to admit I found parts to be uncomfortable due to Megan’s eating disorder. I think it’s brave of the author to tackle such a tough subject in his novel but I personally felt he handled it very well. It’s not something that I have experienced first hand so it gave me some real insight into how someone feels and why they would do what they do when it comes to food. Definitely an eye opener.
I loved the whole setting of the story and could easily visualise the village and the day to day life there. With it being a small village, Megan and Chloe get a very mixed response at them coming back to the cottage. Some seem to friendly where as others make it clear they are not wanted. It is obvious that there are many secrets hidden there and I was as desperate as Megan to find out.
Two Sisters is quite a lot of things. It’s about relationships, lies, deceit and trying to remain in control. Its a very dark read for many reasons but one that will have the reader hooked from the start. This was a great introduction to a new author to me and I can not wait to read more.
My thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Two Sisters is one of those dark and brooding reads. It’s like a pan of water on the stove, gently simmering until all of a sudden it’s bubbling away at a rapid speed.
I felt really sorry for Megan and Chloe. They have lost their older brother ten years before and haven’t had the most perfect relationship with their parents who sadly have both just lost their lives in a car crash. They are still relatively young and Megan feels like she has to be even more in control so that she can take care of her younger sister.
I have to admit I found parts to be uncomfortable due to Megan’s eating disorder. I think it’s brave of the author to tackle such a tough subject in his novel but I personally felt he handled it very well. It’s not something that I have experienced first hand so it gave me some real insight into how someone feels and why they would do what they do when it comes to food. Definitely an eye opener.
I loved the whole setting of the story and could easily visualise the village and the day to day life there. With it being a small village, Megan and Chloe get a very mixed response at them coming back to the cottage. Some seem to friendly where as others make it clear they are not wanted. It is obvious that there are many secrets hidden there and I was as desperate as Megan to find out.
Two Sisters is quite a lot of things. It’s about relationships, lies, deceit and trying to remain in control. Its a very dark read for many reasons but one that will have the reader hooked from the start. This was a great introduction to a new author to me and I can not wait to read more.
My thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
May 26, 2020
A stand alone novel by author Kerry Wilkinson.
Sisters Megan and Chloe's parents are killed in a car accident and they inherit money and a cottage in Whitecliff, Cornwall. Ten years earlier they lost their brother Zac when he went missing among the cliffs, caves and beaches that surround the small seaside town of Whitecliff. On the day of their parents funeral Megan receives a postcard with a photograph of Whitecliff and 'from Z' written on the back. Could Z be their long lost brother, Zac? Is he still alive after all?
This is a good read that I enjoyed but it was never going to be a classic. There is plenty of action, relationships and suspense to keep you gripped but the author has written better books.
Sisters Megan and Chloe's parents are killed in a car accident and they inherit money and a cottage in Whitecliff, Cornwall. Ten years earlier they lost their brother Zac when he went missing among the cliffs, caves and beaches that surround the small seaside town of Whitecliff. On the day of their parents funeral Megan receives a postcard with a photograph of Whitecliff and 'from Z' written on the back. Could Z be their long lost brother, Zac? Is he still alive after all?
This is a good read that I enjoyed but it was never going to be a classic. There is plenty of action, relationships and suspense to keep you gripped but the author has written better books.
July 26, 2017
i really enjoyed this book. the story of 2 sisters whose brother had gone missing 10 years and after the death of their parents they travel to the families summer house. during this visit they hunt for clues as to what happened to their brother. i found it an easy and fast read.. wanting to know what would happen next
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June 17, 2017Whitecliff, a strange little seaside town where the locals and the summer people antagonize each other during the season. Megan and Chloe Smart return to the family cottage there after the sudden death of their parents. Neither had been back since their older brother, Zac, had disappeared from the place 10 years previously. There were no clues, but the sisters had been told that he had probably drowned. "They lied."
As a fan of the Jessica Daniel novels, I've read 5, I was hoping for the same type of gripping psychological thriller that I've come to expect from this author. This was a standalone, and unfortunately was not as good as I'd thought it would be. I couldn't relate to the main character, older sister Megan with her anorexia, nor to any of the other characters in the book. There was not much suspense or tension and I merely plodded through finally reaching the end -- which seemed anticlimactic after all the intended build up. I just couldn't make myself care too much about the plot. At first I thought this might have been one of his first novels repackaged, but no, it is due out shortly in the US. Anyway, I finished it. All I want to do now is read more of the JD series. Maybe it was the age of the characters that I found so hard to identify with -- this read more like YA or New Adult than I like.
I do thank NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
As a fan of the Jessica Daniel novels, I've read 5, I was hoping for the same type of gripping psychological thriller that I've come to expect from this author. This was a standalone, and unfortunately was not as good as I'd thought it would be. I couldn't relate to the main character, older sister Megan with her anorexia, nor to any of the other characters in the book. There was not much suspense or tension and I merely plodded through finally reaching the end -- which seemed anticlimactic after all the intended build up. I just couldn't make myself care too much about the plot. At first I thought this might have been one of his first novels repackaged, but no, it is due out shortly in the US. Anyway, I finished it. All I want to do now is read more of the JD series. Maybe it was the age of the characters that I found so hard to identify with -- this read more like YA or New Adult than I like.
I do thank NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
June 26, 2017
The opening of this book introduces us to Chloe and Megan as they return to their family home in the area of Whitecliff. Following the death of their parents, Megan suggests that the reason for their visit is to sort out their parents affairs. It becomes clear pretty quickly that the real reason is linked to the dissapearance of her brother Zac when Megan was just ten years old. I have only read one other Kerry Wilkinson and enjoyed it so was looking forward to reading a standalone. The opening of the book was interesting enough but it was a little slow to get into.
Once I had settled and got over my initial niggle the story started to take some curious turns and I was a lot more engaged. The one thing that I thought was incredibly well done was the descriptive and creepy feel that Wilkinson gives to the town. That undeniable feeling that all may look okay on the surface but underneath there is a lot more bubbling away. Initially I wasn't overly keen on Megan but as the astory progressed I found her sheer determination warmed how I felt about her. Wilkinson also tackles the subject of Megans eating disorder incredibly well.
The story captured me more in the second half and I would certainly say this fits the bill as a creepy psychological thriller. By the time I got to the end I was surprised at how quickly I had read the second half of the book. This reminded me that I really must take a look at the incredibly popular series that Kerry Wilkinson writes featuring Jesssica Daniel. A thoroughly enkoyable read with plenty of grit and creep thrown in!
Once I had settled and got over my initial niggle the story started to take some curious turns and I was a lot more engaged. The one thing that I thought was incredibly well done was the descriptive and creepy feel that Wilkinson gives to the town. That undeniable feeling that all may look okay on the surface but underneath there is a lot more bubbling away. Initially I wasn't overly keen on Megan but as the astory progressed I found her sheer determination warmed how I felt about her. Wilkinson also tackles the subject of Megans eating disorder incredibly well.
The story captured me more in the second half and I would certainly say this fits the bill as a creepy psychological thriller. By the time I got to the end I was surprised at how quickly I had read the second half of the book. This reminded me that I really must take a look at the incredibly popular series that Kerry Wilkinson writes featuring Jesssica Daniel. A thoroughly enkoyable read with plenty of grit and creep thrown in!
June 19, 2017
Kerry Wilkinson weaves and intricate web of family secrets and lies that span a decade. But now Megan's hunt for the truth takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride of thrills! :) xx
May 19, 2017
Absolutely brilliant! Kerry Wilkinson has done it again! Every single one of his books are unputdownable and this one is no different. From the very first page, I was enthralled. Loved Megan and Chloe. Felt for them both, especially Megan. What a voice - loved her character, her feisty nature, her problems and her vulnerability that she hides behind her prickly exterior. Stunning book - would highly recommend this to everyone.
June 17, 2017
I have been reading quite a few books by Kerry Wilkinson in the last few months and have to say she has become a favourite of mine. Each book is different, even if in the same genre. She reaches outside of her comfort zone for inspiration but seems to hit them all out of the park. This book is no different.
This is the story of Megan and Chloe. The two sisters have had a life filled with heartbreaking loss. Their brother disappeared 10 years before and know one knows what happened to him, followed by the loss of their parents in a car accident. The girls had been sent to separate boarding schools but managed to maintain their closeness.
Megan receives a postcard from the town where the girls brother had disappeared, and they had spent some time in their summers as children, with simply the letter Z which is their missing brother's initial. This leads to the girls relocating there and Megan asking all kinds of questions about her missing brother, which leads to all kinds of problems and dangerous situations.
Megan is not only trying to solve the mystery of the postcard and the disappearance of her brother, but is battling her own inner demon of anorexia. This is a topic, that all though very difficult, was handled masterfully by Ms Wilkinson.
I must admit that I am looking forward to reading many more of this very talented authors novels!
This is the story of Megan and Chloe. The two sisters have had a life filled with heartbreaking loss. Their brother disappeared 10 years before and know one knows what happened to him, followed by the loss of their parents in a car accident. The girls had been sent to separate boarding schools but managed to maintain their closeness.
Megan receives a postcard from the town where the girls brother had disappeared, and they had spent some time in their summers as children, with simply the letter Z which is their missing brother's initial. This leads to the girls relocating there and Megan asking all kinds of questions about her missing brother, which leads to all kinds of problems and dangerous situations.
Megan is not only trying to solve the mystery of the postcard and the disappearance of her brother, but is battling her own inner demon of anorexia. This is a topic, that all though very difficult, was handled masterfully by Ms Wilkinson.
I must admit that I am looking forward to reading many more of this very talented authors novels!
June 25, 2017
OMG talk about grabbing you from the very first page... what an opening, which totally sets the scene for what's to follow. I was totally mesmerized reading it in one afternoon talk about a page turner it's unputdownable, I loved it.
We are taken on one hell of a journey where we follow a story of Megan and her sister Chloe who lose their parents in a car crash a decade after Zac their brother went missing among the cliffs and beaches that surround the small seaside town of Whitecliff.
Megan and Chloe return to the town for the first time since Zac disappeared after receiving a postcard of Whitecliff on the day of her parents funeral with the letter Z on it. In hope To find out the truth about his disappearance.
This is a psychological thriller and a half and will have you guessing until the end. I have to say what an incredible writer Kerry is dropping out bits of the puzzle that really get inside your head where I found myself piecing it together just when I thought I had worked it out he throws me totally off the scent with another twist. Honestly this story has blown me away that’s for sure.
You can't help but feel sorry for the two sisters after losing their parents my heart really went out to them Megan is the stronger motherly character out of the two, with Chloe being younger.
Then the last 10% of the book was fast paced and action packed where the author nicely wrapped everything up with a truly gripping ending.
The is full of suspense and original, which I highly recommend giving it 5 stars
Thank you to Bookouture for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
We are taken on one hell of a journey where we follow a story of Megan and her sister Chloe who lose their parents in a car crash a decade after Zac their brother went missing among the cliffs and beaches that surround the small seaside town of Whitecliff.
Megan and Chloe return to the town for the first time since Zac disappeared after receiving a postcard of Whitecliff on the day of her parents funeral with the letter Z on it. In hope To find out the truth about his disappearance.
This is a psychological thriller and a half and will have you guessing until the end. I have to say what an incredible writer Kerry is dropping out bits of the puzzle that really get inside your head where I found myself piecing it together just when I thought I had worked it out he throws me totally off the scent with another twist. Honestly this story has blown me away that’s for sure.
You can't help but feel sorry for the two sisters after losing their parents my heart really went out to them Megan is the stronger motherly character out of the two, with Chloe being younger.
Then the last 10% of the book was fast paced and action packed where the author nicely wrapped everything up with a truly gripping ending.
The is full of suspense and original, which I highly recommend giving it 5 stars
Thank you to Bookouture for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2017
I’ve been meaning to pick up a Kerry Wilkinson novel for a while now as I’d heard some very good things about the Jessica Daniels stories, but other books seemed to have jumped in front of them instead. So when I heard he was branching out and writing a psychological thriller style novel, my interest was piqued.
Megan is an unusual character – she’s got a number of issues, starting with her relationship with food. Personally I’d call it unhealthy but then again people might suggest my relationship with food is unhealthy. It’s not explicit from the story but I did wonder if this was triggered by her parents’ unexpected death. As for finding out what happened to her older brother all those years ago, she’s like a dog with a bone, interrogating anyone who shows a vague acknowledgement of his disappearance within this close knit seaside community.
There is a definite build to the story; it starts at a relative sedate pace but as Megan asks more questions and tries desperately to dig up the past, it gathers pace.
Kerry Wilkinson has a great writing style, I was there in Whitecliffe with Megan and Chloe enjoying the summer sun. I am kicking myself for not having read the author’s previous novels despite seeing they attracted great reviews. I am really looking forward to meeting Jessica Daniels and Andrew Hunter and to reading the next psychological thriller The Girl Who Came Back due out later this year.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my copy of Two Sisters. Kerry Wilkinson – you’ve got yourself a new fan!
Megan is an unusual character – she’s got a number of issues, starting with her relationship with food. Personally I’d call it unhealthy but then again people might suggest my relationship with food is unhealthy. It’s not explicit from the story but I did wonder if this was triggered by her parents’ unexpected death. As for finding out what happened to her older brother all those years ago, she’s like a dog with a bone, interrogating anyone who shows a vague acknowledgement of his disappearance within this close knit seaside community.
There is a definite build to the story; it starts at a relative sedate pace but as Megan asks more questions and tries desperately to dig up the past, it gathers pace.
Kerry Wilkinson has a great writing style, I was there in Whitecliffe with Megan and Chloe enjoying the summer sun. I am kicking myself for not having read the author’s previous novels despite seeing they attracted great reviews. I am really looking forward to meeting Jessica Daniels and Andrew Hunter and to reading the next psychological thriller The Girl Who Came Back due out later this year.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my copy of Two Sisters. Kerry Wilkinson – you’ve got yourself a new fan!
August 20, 2017
Η Megan, αν και ξεκινώντας η ιστορία είναι τέρμα αντιπαθητική, έχει ορισμένα πολύ θετικά –ή και ισχυρά- χαρακτηριστικά που δεν μπορείς να προσπεράσεις. Είναι δυναμική και όταν θέτει έναν στόχο κάνει ό,τι περνάει από το χέρι της για να τον επιτύχει. Είναι γενναία, κάτι που την οδηγεί πολλές φορές στο να θέτει ακόμα και την ίδια της τη ζωή σε κίνδυνο, όμως δεν διστάζει να πάρει ρίσκα και να τολμήσει εκεί που άλλοι θα δίσταζαν. Παρά που φαίνεται πολύ εγωκεντρική –λογικό, αν σκεφτείς και την πάθησή της- είναι πολύ δοτική και λατρεύει την μικρότερη αδερφή της, πράγμα που αποδεικνύει πως έχει πολύ βαθιά συναισθήματα.
Το βιβλίο δημιουργεί μια γενική αίσθηση ανασφάλειας. Ο καθένας μοιάζει πως θα μπορούσες να τον εμπιστευτείς, όμως την ίδια ώρα κάτι μέσα σου σού λέει πως κανείς δεν είναι άξιος εμπιστοσύνης, όχι απόλυτης τουλάχιστον. Τα δεδομένα ανατρέπονται συνεχώς πράγμα που σε κάνει να αμφιταλαντεύεσαι ανάμεσα στους μεν και στους δε, και οι ισορροπίες αποδεικνύονται πολύ ευαίσθητες, με την Megan να καλείται να τις χειριστεί όσο καλύτερα γίνεται προκειμένου να μην «χαθεί» κι εκείνη στην πορεία της διαδρομής.
Αν και στα σημεία το βιβλίο απέχει οριακά από το να χαρακτηριστεί «τραβηγμένο», ο συγγραφέας καταφέρνει τελικά να το ισορροπήσει και να το φέρει εκεί που είναι «τόσο-όσο», διατηρώντας την ρεαλιστικότητα που απαιτείται σε ένα βιβλίο του είδους ώστε να φαίνεται, στο τέλος της διαδρομής, πιστευτό ως προς την εξέλιξη και την κατάληξή του. Η ένταση και η αγωνία βρίσκεται σε αρκετά υψηλά επίπεδα, υπάρχουν ορισμένες ανατροπές που δεν τις περιμένεις και που σε εντυπωσιάζουν και σε ενθουσιάζουν
Όσον αφορά το θέμα γραφής, ναι, το βιβλίο είναι καλογραμμένο, έχει ωραίους, ρεαλιστικούς, σύγχρονους και δυναμικούς διαλόγους, ό,τι ακριβώς χρειάζεται ένα σύγχρονο θρίλερ μυστηρίου ώστε να είναι στο πνεύμα της εποχής.
Αυτό που –ίσως- με ενόχλησε- περισσότερο απ’ οτιδήποτε άλλο, είναι ο τρόπος με τον οποίο χειρίζεται ο συγγραφέας την ανορεξία της Megan. Δεδομένου ότι μιλάμε για ένα πολύ συχνό φαινόμενο της εποχής, με καταστροφικές συνέπειες για όσους πάσχουν από την ασθένεια, το να το χειρίζεται με την φιλοσοφία: «ελέγχει τι τρώει και το βάρος της, άρα υποσυνείδητα αισθάνεται πως μπορεί να έχει τον έλεγχο όλων των καταστάσεων στη ζωή της», δεν έχει και πολύ νόημα, πόσω μάλλον ψυχαναλυτική βάση, εφόσον η ανορεξία ξεκινάει ΞΕΚΑΘΑΡΑ από το ότι ο άλλος δεν νιώθει καλά με την εμφάνισή του.
(Αναλυτικό review αν τελικά κυκλοφορήσει...)
Το βιβλίο δημιουργεί μια γενική αίσθηση ανασφάλειας. Ο καθένας μοιάζει πως θα μπορούσες να τον εμπιστευτείς, όμως την ίδια ώρα κάτι μέσα σου σού λέει πως κανείς δεν είναι άξιος εμπιστοσύνης, όχι απόλυτης τουλάχιστον. Τα δεδομένα ανατρέπονται συνεχώς πράγμα που σε κάνει να αμφιταλαντεύεσαι ανάμεσα στους μεν και στους δε, και οι ισορροπίες αποδεικνύονται πολύ ευαίσθητες, με την Megan να καλείται να τις χειριστεί όσο καλύτερα γίνεται προκειμένου να μην «χαθεί» κι εκείνη στην πορεία της διαδρομής.
Αν και στα σημεία το βιβλίο απέχει οριακά από το να χαρακτηριστεί «τραβηγμένο», ο συγγραφέας καταφέρνει τελικά να το ισορροπήσει και να το φέρει εκεί που είναι «τόσο-όσο», διατηρώντας την ρεαλιστικότητα που απαιτείται σε ένα βιβλίο του είδους ώστε να φαίνεται, στο τέλος της διαδρομής, πιστευτό ως προς την εξέλιξη και την κατάληξή του. Η ένταση και η αγωνία βρίσκεται σε αρκετά υψηλά επίπεδα, υπάρχουν ορισμένες ανατροπές που δεν τις περιμένεις και που σε εντυπωσιάζουν και σε ενθουσιάζουν
Όσον αφορά το θέμα γραφής, ναι, το βιβλίο είναι καλογραμμένο, έχει ωραίους, ρεαλιστικούς, σύγχρονους και δυναμικούς διαλόγους, ό,τι ακριβώς χρειάζεται ένα σύγχρονο θρίλερ μυστηρίου ώστε να είναι στο πνεύμα της εποχής.
Αυτό που –ίσως- με ενόχλησε- περισσότερο απ’ οτιδήποτε άλλο, είναι ο τρόπος με τον οποίο χειρίζεται ο συγγραφέας την ανορεξία της Megan. Δεδομένου ότι μιλάμε για ένα πολύ συχνό φαινόμενο της εποχής, με καταστροφικές συνέπειες για όσους πάσχουν από την ασθένεια, το να το χειρίζεται με την φιλοσοφία: «ελέγχει τι τρώει και το βάρος της, άρα υποσυνείδητα αισθάνεται πως μπορεί να έχει τον έλεγχο όλων των καταστάσεων στη ζωή της», δεν έχει και πολύ νόημα, πόσω μάλλον ψυχαναλυτική βάση, εφόσον η ανορεξία ξεκινάει ΞΕΚΑΘΑΡΑ από το ότι ο άλλος δεν νιώθει καλά με την εμφάνισή του.
(Αναλυτικό review αν τελικά κυκλοφορήσει...)
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