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What My Sister Knew
"...currently wanted by the police. If you know anything about the suspect's whereabouts, please call..."
I look up at the TV screen, and my twin brother's face is splashed across it, life-size.
It's a shock that makes my breath catch. This is my brother as an adult, my brother who I last saw fifteen years ago after the fire that killed our parents, covered in soot, clutching a lighter in his hand, his knuckles stark white against the dirt and ash.
Everyone always said he'd grow up to be a heartbreaker. But his face has gone gaunt instead. The stubble on his cheeks and chin is patchy, and his eyes look dull and dark.
My first thought is that it's not him. Not my beautiful brother, the golden boy who everyone loved. Yet, deep down, I've always known this would eventually happen.
What did you do this time, Eli? What the hell did you do?
I look up at the TV screen, and my twin brother's face is splashed across it, life-size.
It's a shock that makes my breath catch. This is my brother as an adult, my brother who I last saw fifteen years ago after the fire that killed our parents, covered in soot, clutching a lighter in his hand, his knuckles stark white against the dirt and ash.
Everyone always said he'd grow up to be a heartbreaker. But his face has gone gaunt instead. The stubble on his cheeks and chin is patchy, and his eyes look dull and dark.
My first thought is that it's not him. Not my beautiful brother, the golden boy who everyone loved. Yet, deep down, I've always known this would eventually happen.
What did you do this time, Eli? What the hell did you do?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2018
271 people are currently reading
5729 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 347 reviews
October 12, 2018
I am two for two when it comes to Nina Laurin's books! The best way I know to describe them is as comfort reads, which I'm sure sounds a little wonky due to the fact that they are crime novels. Let me explain- you know how sometimes the reason you adore an author's work isn't necessarily due to the fact their stories are wildly unique or over the top flamboyant, but more because they can take a story that has been done before, a classic mystery if you will, and put their own touch on it? That's exactly what happens for me when I read this author's books. It's not that this type of mystery hasn't been done before, but that she takes these characters and writes a gripping story that I can't seem to put down! That's talent, my friends.
As was the case with Laurin's first novel, Girl Last Seen, I saw where the twist was going fairly early on, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this book to the fullest. The book starts out with questions, suspense, and intrigue, and slowly builds to a bursting crescendo as we learn more about Andrea, Eli, and their family. I could feel the characters' emotions as the story progressed, and found myself extremely curious to the inner workings of what was going on in these people's minds. The pace is nice and kept moving by flashbacks and present day narration, which I always appreciate.
If you had a chance to read the author's first novel and enjoyed it, I'm positive you'll gobble up What My Sister Knew as well. It was a fast read that had me flying through the pages and entertained me for hours on end. The perfect read for a hot summer day! Recommended for popcorn thriller fans in all walks of life.
*I received a copy for review via the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As was the case with Laurin's first novel, Girl Last Seen, I saw where the twist was going fairly early on, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this book to the fullest. The book starts out with questions, suspense, and intrigue, and slowly builds to a bursting crescendo as we learn more about Andrea, Eli, and their family. I could feel the characters' emotions as the story progressed, and found myself extremely curious to the inner workings of what was going on in these people's minds. The pace is nice and kept moving by flashbacks and present day narration, which I always appreciate.
If you had a chance to read the author's first novel and enjoyed it, I'm positive you'll gobble up What My Sister Knew as well. It was a fast read that had me flying through the pages and entertained me for hours on end. The perfect read for a hot summer day! Recommended for popcorn thriller fans in all walks of life.
*I received a copy for review via the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 27, 2018
Rock climbing......
That's what this one reminded me of: Grabbing on to the next ledge, both hands secure, and careful placement of the footing. It's not so much of where you've been, but what lies ahead.
What My Sister Knew is a deeply embedded psychological thriller with less emphasis on the thrill. We are introduced to Andrea who has been involved in a vehicle crash off a darkened highway. Nina Laurin grabs us in the first chapter with all the surround sound of waking up covered in broken glass and blinking away blood from a head wound. Andrea swears that she saw someone standing on the side of the road before her car hit a tree.
The following chapters have us visiting the aftermath of the car accident, the police inquiry, and a trunk packed with lies and more untruths. First entree on our plate is the realization that Andrea's twin brother, Eli, set fire to their home fifteen years prior and killed their mother and stepfather. That's a tough one to chew. Eli is missing. Should Andrea be afraid?
Nina Laurin tells a good tale, but there were constant moments of confusion in the time span of events. Perhaps chapters could have been entitled Then and Now when reverting back to the twins' childhood and then to the present. There were also insets from an author's book based on Eli's crime that were sprinkled throughout. Quite a bit to sift through in order to get to the bones of the storyline. Not one of the characters seemed to be worth rooting for. An important character was catching shelf time and didn't resurface much at all. The rocks seemed to shift and break apart for me. You may have a better trek than I did. Perhaps the next book will allow us a tighter grip on the way to the top.
I received a copy of What My Sister Knew through Goodreads Giveaways. My thanks to Grand Central Publishing and to Nina Laurin for the opportunity.
That's what this one reminded me of: Grabbing on to the next ledge, both hands secure, and careful placement of the footing. It's not so much of where you've been, but what lies ahead.
What My Sister Knew is a deeply embedded psychological thriller with less emphasis on the thrill. We are introduced to Andrea who has been involved in a vehicle crash off a darkened highway. Nina Laurin grabs us in the first chapter with all the surround sound of waking up covered in broken glass and blinking away blood from a head wound. Andrea swears that she saw someone standing on the side of the road before her car hit a tree.
The following chapters have us visiting the aftermath of the car accident, the police inquiry, and a trunk packed with lies and more untruths. First entree on our plate is the realization that Andrea's twin brother, Eli, set fire to their home fifteen years prior and killed their mother and stepfather. That's a tough one to chew. Eli is missing. Should Andrea be afraid?
Nina Laurin tells a good tale, but there were constant moments of confusion in the time span of events. Perhaps chapters could have been entitled Then and Now when reverting back to the twins' childhood and then to the present. There were also insets from an author's book based on Eli's crime that were sprinkled throughout. Quite a bit to sift through in order to get to the bones of the storyline. Not one of the characters seemed to be worth rooting for. An important character was catching shelf time and didn't resurface much at all. The rocks seemed to shift and break apart for me. You may have a better trek than I did. Perhaps the next book will allow us a tighter grip on the way to the top.
I received a copy of What My Sister Knew through Goodreads Giveaways. My thanks to Grand Central Publishing and to Nina Laurin for the opportunity.
June 5, 2018
What My Sister Knew by Nina Laurin is a psychological thriller that certainly begins with a bang to catch a readers attention. Andrea has been in a car crash wrapping her vehicle around a tree and during her in and out of consciousness she vaguely recalls seeing a man in the road.
As Andrea is checked out at the hospital we begin to learn more about her and her story. It seems that Andrea is a twin that hasn’t seen her twin brother in fifteen years, not since the fiery death of their parents by her brother’s hand. Andrea spent that time with adoptive parents and Eli in prison for the murder of their birth parents. And now Eli is out and seems to be wanted for murder yet again.
The story is one that is easy to fall into a rhythm reading as it begins and as you learn of the horrible past it begins to flash back to that time fifteen years ago to catch readers up on the twins childhood and their parents death. There are also little snippets from a book that was written about the murders.
The thing for myself as a reader is that I read a ton of fiction and thrillers and as soon as this one got going I had a pretty good idea in my head of what may or may not happen. As it went along I just seemed to be checking off the boxes heading to my outcome so I was not shocked when I was right at the end making this one a little too predictable for me so while not a bad story and one with nice writing it turned into more of a time killer than something I’d remember for years to come.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
As Andrea is checked out at the hospital we begin to learn more about her and her story. It seems that Andrea is a twin that hasn’t seen her twin brother in fifteen years, not since the fiery death of their parents by her brother’s hand. Andrea spent that time with adoptive parents and Eli in prison for the murder of their birth parents. And now Eli is out and seems to be wanted for murder yet again.
The story is one that is easy to fall into a rhythm reading as it begins and as you learn of the horrible past it begins to flash back to that time fifteen years ago to catch readers up on the twins childhood and their parents death. There are also little snippets from a book that was written about the murders.
The thing for myself as a reader is that I read a ton of fiction and thrillers and as soon as this one got going I had a pretty good idea in my head of what may or may not happen. As it went along I just seemed to be checking off the boxes heading to my outcome so I was not shocked when I was right at the end making this one a little too predictable for me so while not a bad story and one with nice writing it turned into more of a time killer than something I’d remember for years to come.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
June 19, 2018
After reading the excellent Girl Last Seen last year was I curious to see if Nina Laurin next book What My Sister Knew would be just as good. I'm glad to say that it worked very well for me.
One thing I want to say about this book and that I didn't find the story that surprising, actually I had a pretty good idea about what would happen, and what secrets Andrea had. Not that the whole story was predictable, some nice surprises occurred. However, despite the fact that I suspected the truth is the writing so compelling. And the characters, especially Andrea and her brother Eli, are so interesting that the book hooked me and wouldn't let me go. The flashbacks to their childhood and to the fire that killed their mother and stepfather made the book extra interesting. And, since the present story was interwoven with the flashbacks do we get a little bit of the past at the time which makes the story even more compelling.
I will end this review by stating that Nina Laurin has once again made it. What My Sister Knew is great thanks to excellent writing and character that got under your skin. Now I can't wait to read Laurin's next book!
I want to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
One thing I want to say about this book and that I didn't find the story that surprising, actually I had a pretty good idea about what would happen, and what secrets Andrea had. Not that the whole story was predictable, some nice surprises occurred. However, despite the fact that I suspected the truth is the writing so compelling. And the characters, especially Andrea and her brother Eli, are so interesting that the book hooked me and wouldn't let me go. The flashbacks to their childhood and to the fire that killed their mother and stepfather made the book extra interesting. And, since the present story was interwoven with the flashbacks do we get a little bit of the past at the time which makes the story even more compelling.
I will end this review by stating that Nina Laurin has once again made it. What My Sister Knew is great thanks to excellent writing and character that got under your skin. Now I can't wait to read Laurin's next book!
I want to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
May 24, 2019
Remember those good old days when twins always knew each other's minds and they didn't go all psycho on you?
Yeah, me either. That's why I really liked this particular mystery. It reminds me that siblings are never (or are always) exactly what they seem. :)
Confusing? Nah. This thriller will keep you turning those pages from the first car crash all the way to the last lit match. :) You know, to shine a little light on the problem.
I admit I figured out the big twist pretty early on, but it's not always about the end of the journey. The destination is usually not the biggest thrill in most mysteries. :)
Definitely worth the read if you like well-crafted characters and the slow descent into the secret past.
Yeah, me either. That's why I really liked this particular mystery. It reminds me that siblings are never (or are always) exactly what they seem. :)
Confusing? Nah. This thriller will keep you turning those pages from the first car crash all the way to the last lit match. :) You know, to shine a little light on the problem.
I admit I figured out the big twist pretty early on, but it's not always about the end of the journey. The destination is usually not the biggest thrill in most mysteries. :)
Definitely worth the read if you like well-crafted characters and the slow descent into the secret past.
July 17, 2018
Nina Laurin you have done it again! Another psychological thriller that grips me from page one to the very end! I enjoy her style of writing so much. Jumping between past and present keeps me engaged and constantly wanting more!! I loved Girl Last Seen and had high hopes for What My Sister Knew. Well, she definitely delivered. Nina Laurin throws in twists and turns that you do NOT see coming. (Those are the best shockers!) I am excited to see what Nina Laurin has in store for her third book! I definitely recommend this!
**4 stars!** ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**4 stars!** ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 17, 2018
This was a fast paced read and had me on the edge of my seat for the whole truth and why? Eli and Andrea are twins. They are very different though. Eli keeps many secrets. He has been found guilty of their mom and stepfather's death in a house fire. Now his 13 year sentence is up and he is free and looking for Andrea. Setting her up at every turn. I received this ebook from NetGalley for an honest review.
June 12, 2018
What My Sister Knew
Nina Laurin
A consuming read full of plot twists that will ensnare the reader.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
SUMMARY
Andrea is only a few minutes older than her brother Eli. They are not just siblings, but twins with a special bond. Andrea thought it was more like looking in a mirror, Eli was the shiny reflective side and she felt more like the dull rough side. Eli always seemed older to her. He was always one step ahead, the golden child, doing the right things and being a protective brother. But it turns out that he kept many secrets, and he told many lies. His lies lead to a guilty verdict for arson that killed his parents. He served thirteen years, but now he is free. And Andrea is worried. She knows about his lies and she is afraid she may now have to pay the price.
REVIEW
WHAT MY SISTER KNEW will grab you at the very start when Andrea wraps her car around a tree on dark and twisty road in the early morning hours of an April morning. And from that point on you will want to buckle your seat belt for a dizzying plot that will keep you guessing about what is going to happen next.
Author NINA LAURIN has plenty of tricks in her pocket, and she creatively provides a roadmap from the past to the present. You will need to pay close attention to keep track of a robust cast of characters and don’t blink or you might miss a turn or two. Laurin’s writing was nice and I liked how she incorporated excerpts from a book as well as the book’s author in the plot.
Author Nina Laurin Is a bilingual (English/French) author of suspenseful stories. She lives in Montreal, and has a BA in creative writing. Her first novel was Girl Last Seen. Thanks to Netgalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Nina Laurin for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Grand Central Publishing.
Publication June 19, 2018.
www.bluestockingreviews.com
Nina Laurin
A consuming read full of plot twists that will ensnare the reader.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
SUMMARY
Andrea is only a few minutes older than her brother Eli. They are not just siblings, but twins with a special bond. Andrea thought it was more like looking in a mirror, Eli was the shiny reflective side and she felt more like the dull rough side. Eli always seemed older to her. He was always one step ahead, the golden child, doing the right things and being a protective brother. But it turns out that he kept many secrets, and he told many lies. His lies lead to a guilty verdict for arson that killed his parents. He served thirteen years, but now he is free. And Andrea is worried. She knows about his lies and she is afraid she may now have to pay the price.
REVIEW
WHAT MY SISTER KNEW will grab you at the very start when Andrea wraps her car around a tree on dark and twisty road in the early morning hours of an April morning. And from that point on you will want to buckle your seat belt for a dizzying plot that will keep you guessing about what is going to happen next.
Author NINA LAURIN has plenty of tricks in her pocket, and she creatively provides a roadmap from the past to the present. You will need to pay close attention to keep track of a robust cast of characters and don’t blink or you might miss a turn or two. Laurin’s writing was nice and I liked how she incorporated excerpts from a book as well as the book’s author in the plot.
Author Nina Laurin Is a bilingual (English/French) author of suspenseful stories. She lives in Montreal, and has a BA in creative writing. Her first novel was Girl Last Seen. Thanks to Netgalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Nina Laurin for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Grand Central Publishing.
Publication June 19, 2018.
www.bluestockingreviews.com
May 19, 2018
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC!
What My Sister Knew starts with a car crash. Andrea thinks she swerved after seeing something--or someone?--on a deserted road at night. Soon enough, she'll realize things are much worse than she could have imagined, as a sinister figure from the past reappears in her life. Her own twin brother, responsible for the tragedy that killed their parents when they were twelve. Now he's back, and the life Andrea built for herself is in jeopardy once more.
I've always been interested (okay, kind of obsessed) with twins and their unique relationships, so this was right up my alley. Laurin's writing is evocative, like in her previous book. You feel like you're there, in the unhealthy, claustrophobic lives of these characters, all of whom have something to hide. The pacing is lively and keeps the pages turning. It's frustrating yet utterly fascinating to follow the key players as they find themselves cornered by their own deceptions and, ultimately, bring about their own doom.
What My Sister Knew starts with a car crash. Andrea thinks she swerved after seeing something--or someone?--on a deserted road at night. Soon enough, she'll realize things are much worse than she could have imagined, as a sinister figure from the past reappears in her life. Her own twin brother, responsible for the tragedy that killed their parents when they were twelve. Now he's back, and the life Andrea built for herself is in jeopardy once more.
I've always been interested (okay, kind of obsessed) with twins and their unique relationships, so this was right up my alley. Laurin's writing is evocative, like in her previous book. You feel like you're there, in the unhealthy, claustrophobic lives of these characters, all of whom have something to hide. The pacing is lively and keeps the pages turning. It's frustrating yet utterly fascinating to follow the key players as they find themselves cornered by their own deceptions and, ultimately, bring about their own doom.
November 14, 2020
Andrea's twin brother, Eli was in prison. He had started a fire that killed their parents. Andrea had to try and put the past behind her and get on with her new life. Andrea had been disfigured during the fire. Now the police have come to tell Andrea that her brother has allegedly killed again, not long after he had been released.
Eli had been in prison for fifteen years. Andrea had been in a car accident which has started off a chain of events that occur at the same time as Eli's release. I did figure out where this story was going quite early on. I wasn't keen on any of the two main characters. The story starts off well then it dipped a bit in the middle. This is quite an easy book to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HodderAndStoughton and the author #NinaLaurin for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Eli had been in prison for fifteen years. Andrea had been in a car accident which has started off a chain of events that occur at the same time as Eli's release. I did figure out where this story was going quite early on. I wasn't keen on any of the two main characters. The story starts off well then it dipped a bit in the middle. This is quite an easy book to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HodderAndStoughton and the author #NinaLaurin for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2018
What My Sister Knew is the first book of Nina Laurin's that I have read. What a great ride! I'll be reading more of Laurin's books now.
Andrea's brother Eli is released from prison after serving a 12 year sentence. A juvenile charge for murdering their mother and their stepfather in a house fire that he set. Andrea has not seen him since the fire that left her body covered in burns. She has been living a quiet life as a social worker.
This story is filled with twists. Nothing is as it seems. I was kept on the edge of my seat reading this book! What a great thriller!
Highly recommend What My Sister Knew.
Andrea's brother Eli is released from prison after serving a 12 year sentence. A juvenile charge for murdering their mother and their stepfather in a house fire that he set. Andrea has not seen him since the fire that left her body covered in burns. She has been living a quiet life as a social worker.
This story is filled with twists. Nothing is as it seems. I was kept on the edge of my seat reading this book! What a great thriller!
Highly recommend What My Sister Knew.
October 31, 2018
SPOILER ALERT
This is me being brutally honest. The plot twist, SUCK. Why? Because as a reader, I'm suppose to hate Eli and root for Andrea. But, guess what, I hated Andrea. I can see that she's manipulative from the start. "...and try to look appropriately injured". There, did you see/read that? What was so shocking about this book and it's twist? If you're an avid mystery/thriller fans, then you could pick up on the clues and came up with a conclusion. Heck, you could have guess the twist. In my case, I was hoping for Laurin to swerve to another path. But, she stayed the course. So, I'll be the odd one out.
This is me being brutally honest. The plot twist, SUCK. Why? Because as a reader, I'm suppose to hate Eli and root for Andrea. But, guess what, I hated Andrea. I can see that she's manipulative from the start. "...and try to look appropriately injured". There, did you see/read that? What was so shocking about this book and it's twist? If you're an avid mystery/thriller fans, then you could pick up on the clues and came up with a conclusion. Heck, you could have guess the twist. In my case, I was hoping for Laurin to swerve to another path. But, she stayed the course. So, I'll be the odd one out.
June 14, 2018
A house burns down, parents die, and a brother goes to prison. Yes a lot happens here! Meanwhile, Andrea is adopted and grows up to become a social worker with a wonderfully supporting fiancé (or ex-fiance as she calls him). But when her brother is released from prison, things take a dramatic turn. The story is told through a current timeline and flashbacks to the past. Many aspects of the story were not as surprising as I think they were intended, but were good solid twists not these crazy jump the shark kind that make me roll my eyes. I will not outline them but leave them for other readers to find on their own, as they do have merit and make for an enjoyable read. I would have liked more character development, especially on Eli’s part, but understand how it might have distracted from the main story.
Thank you Nina Laurin for letting me read this book early! That generosity in no way influenced my review
Thank you Nina Laurin for letting me read this book early! That generosity in no way influenced my review
June 19, 2018
#WhatMySisterKnew - If you are looking for the perfect thriller, one the starts with a bang, and holds your attention until the very last page, this is for you. I look forward to reading more by this author. A truly fantastic debut.
June 3, 2022
I don't quiet know what to say about this book. I liked parts of it well enough but others left me feeling that I had missed something rather important but I couldn't figure out what it was. It's a story about twin a twin brother and sister, a sad childhood, and an escape from a house fire that affects their lives in later years. It covers all of the fallacies and mistakes of life. It had a good enough climax but a really sudden ending. It left me wondering about the outcome of the other characters and just wanting more.
June 24, 2018
I really enjoyed Nina's first book Girl Unseen, so decided to give this book a go as it sounded intriguing. I love stories like this that flit between the past and present. Fifteen years ago Andrea's aka Addie's twin brother Eli set fire to their parents home and stood by as their parents burned to death. He ended up with twelve years in prison and an institution. Her brother has been out for three years and she hasn't seen or heard a peep from him or has she? Now a woman has turned up dead and Eli is wanted for her murder. The toll is totaling up and it seems like everyone who is involved with the original case is now dead or near-death. The memories of what really happened that night will come flooding back to Addie as she must determine the truth of who caused the fire and why? Addie has built herself up a life and she can't have Eli ruining it for her. Can Addie track down Eli and put a stop to things before it becomes too difficult and he is left to his own resources on a revenge-seeking mission. What My Sister Knew by Nina Laurin was a good murder mystery with an ending I didn't see coming and filled with twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat.
If you are in the mood for a good murder mystery then check out "What My Sister Knew" by Nina Laurin today.
July 5, 2018
Oh boy! You have to really pay attention to this story to keep up with the characters & all the intertwined tales they tell. This reads so quick it’s like a whirlwind! Fantastic thriller!
Thanks to the author & publisher for this copy:)
Thanks to the author & publisher for this copy:)
July 21, 2018
#FirstLine ~ A sticky thread of saliva runs from the corner of my mouth down to my earlobe, cool across my cheek.
Twisty, turny and definitely thrilling What My Sister Knew will leave you feeling a bit uneasy. It is one of those books that slowly burns to the satisfying conclusion through a well drawn out story with characters that leave an impression. A story that book clubs will enjoy talking about.
Twisty, turny and definitely thrilling What My Sister Knew will leave you feeling a bit uneasy. It is one of those books that slowly burns to the satisfying conclusion through a well drawn out story with characters that leave an impression. A story that book clubs will enjoy talking about.
June 27, 2018
Gritty, emotional, and dark, What My Sister Knew is a look at a truly messed-up relationship between twins. Andrea and Eli were separated at twelve after Eli burned down the family home, killing their parents. Now he's out of jail, and wanted for another murder. This is a fast-paced book. It only took me a few hours to finish it. What I liked about it was, just when you think you've got everything figured out, the author has a way of making you doubt yourself. Everybody has something to hide.
June 16, 2019
What My Sister Knew by Nina Lauri is a highly recommended psychological thriller.
Andrea "Addie" Warren has just been in a car accident and the circumstances surrounded it are all hazy. Did she really see a man by the side of the road? At the hospital, her foster mother shows up to take Addie to her home, not Addie's, and it becomes clear that something else is going on, something Addie doesn't have a clue about. At her foster mothers she manages to catch a TV news clip and sees that her twin brother, Eli, is back in the news. What did Eli do this time?
Eli killed their mother and stepfather by burning down their house fifteen years ago, when they were both twelve. He was locked up, and when he was finally released it was under the condition that he does not contact Addie. A sensational book was written about the horrific crime so Eli's name is relatively well known. Now a woman has been found murdered in his apartment and the police are searching for him. Naturally, they are interested in talking to Addie too.
The narrative switches between current events and the past. Included before some chapters are excerpts from the true crime book written about Eli. These excerpts along with Addie's recollections about her childhood help create a picture of the childhood of the twins before the murder. We also learn about Addie's current life and the struggles she has been trying to overcome. Do the twins really have a connection, as the police suspect?
The writing is quite good and Laurin provides some twists and surprises along the way. Perhaps you will guess the twists, but, honestly, it's my opinion that Laurin wants you to fear Eli is back to torment Addie. Why else would she have Addie see a mysterious figure during the car crash right at the opening? Laurin does spend some time developing her characters, especially Addie, which adds a depth to the novel and helps intensify the suspense. This is a satisfying, albeit somewhat disturbing, thriller. Addie's scrambling in the middle might go on a tad too long, but, ultimately, What My Sister Knew held my attention and the ending was satisfying.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Grand Central Publishing.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2018/0...
Andrea "Addie" Warren has just been in a car accident and the circumstances surrounded it are all hazy. Did she really see a man by the side of the road? At the hospital, her foster mother shows up to take Addie to her home, not Addie's, and it becomes clear that something else is going on, something Addie doesn't have a clue about. At her foster mothers she manages to catch a TV news clip and sees that her twin brother, Eli, is back in the news. What did Eli do this time?
Eli killed their mother and stepfather by burning down their house fifteen years ago, when they were both twelve. He was locked up, and when he was finally released it was under the condition that he does not contact Addie. A sensational book was written about the horrific crime so Eli's name is relatively well known. Now a woman has been found murdered in his apartment and the police are searching for him. Naturally, they are interested in talking to Addie too.
The narrative switches between current events and the past. Included before some chapters are excerpts from the true crime book written about Eli. These excerpts along with Addie's recollections about her childhood help create a picture of the childhood of the twins before the murder. We also learn about Addie's current life and the struggles she has been trying to overcome. Do the twins really have a connection, as the police suspect?
The writing is quite good and Laurin provides some twists and surprises along the way. Perhaps you will guess the twists, but, honestly, it's my opinion that Laurin wants you to fear Eli is back to torment Addie. Why else would she have Addie see a mysterious figure during the car crash right at the opening? Laurin does spend some time developing her characters, especially Addie, which adds a depth to the novel and helps intensify the suspense. This is a satisfying, albeit somewhat disturbing, thriller. Addie's scrambling in the middle might go on a tad too long, but, ultimately, What My Sister Knew held my attention and the ending was satisfying.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Grand Central Publishing.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2018/0...
April 29, 2019
#Böseralsdudenkst ist mein erstes Buch der Autorin #NinaLaurin
gewesen und hat mich aufgrund des Klappentextes einfach angesprochen. Leider muss ich sagen, dass mir kaum etwas an der Story gefallen hat 😔
Die Charaktere bestehen allesamt aus blassen, unsympathischen Seifenoper-Stereotypen, dementsprechend wird sehr viel unnötiges Drama gemacht. Besonders unsere Protagonistin Andrea hat mich wahnsinnig gemacht 🙄 Ihre Handlungen wirkten auf mich stark konstruiert und von der Autorin des Effekts wegen erzwungen. Kein normaler Mensch hätte so in der Situation gehandelt 🤦♀️
Ausserdem ist die Story komplett vorhersehbar. Hier hätte ich mich mehr mit nem straighten Storydurchzug anfreunden können als mit dieser vorhersehbaren Wendung 😒 Dadurch hätte die Autorin den Verlauf auch einfach rasanter gestalten können. Hier fehlt jegliche Spannung! Einzig die Rückblicke in die Kindheit von Andrea und Eli vor dem Brand, waren interessant und machten Lust auf mehr. Die Gegenwart plätscherte eher vor sich hin 👎🏼
Das letzte Kapitel hat dann noch etwas überzeugen können. Es hat einige Fragen geklärt und dem Ganzen einen gewissen Sinn gegeben. Dadurch wurde die Story greifbarer 👌🏼
FAZIT:
Unsympathische, blasse Seifenoper-Stereotypen, Story komplett vorhersehbar, jedoch klärt das letzte Kapitel wenigstens noch alles auf und lässt das Gesamtbild etwas sinnig wirken.
Von mir gibts 🌟🌟/5 Sternen!
gewesen und hat mich aufgrund des Klappentextes einfach angesprochen. Leider muss ich sagen, dass mir kaum etwas an der Story gefallen hat 😔
Die Charaktere bestehen allesamt aus blassen, unsympathischen Seifenoper-Stereotypen, dementsprechend wird sehr viel unnötiges Drama gemacht. Besonders unsere Protagonistin Andrea hat mich wahnsinnig gemacht 🙄 Ihre Handlungen wirkten auf mich stark konstruiert und von der Autorin des Effekts wegen erzwungen. Kein normaler Mensch hätte so in der Situation gehandelt 🤦♀️
Ausserdem ist die Story komplett vorhersehbar. Hier hätte ich mich mehr mit nem straighten Storydurchzug anfreunden können als mit dieser vorhersehbaren Wendung 😒 Dadurch hätte die Autorin den Verlauf auch einfach rasanter gestalten können. Hier fehlt jegliche Spannung! Einzig die Rückblicke in die Kindheit von Andrea und Eli vor dem Brand, waren interessant und machten Lust auf mehr. Die Gegenwart plätscherte eher vor sich hin 👎🏼
Das letzte Kapitel hat dann noch etwas überzeugen können. Es hat einige Fragen geklärt und dem Ganzen einen gewissen Sinn gegeben. Dadurch wurde die Story greifbarer 👌🏼
FAZIT:
Unsympathische, blasse Seifenoper-Stereotypen, Story komplett vorhersehbar, jedoch klärt das letzte Kapitel wenigstens noch alles auf und lässt das Gesamtbild etwas sinnig wirken.
Von mir gibts 🌟🌟/5 Sternen!
May 31, 2019
I am going with a 3.5 with this one. I enjoyed the story, but it felt unfinished for me. Too many questions
December 12, 2018
"Intentions don't count for much in the end."
This had a solid beginning and is the reason for 2 stars. It's an entertaining read that lets you get to know Andrea/Addie as she stumble around in her life as it crashes around her. But what started out solid for at least the first 100 pages just seemed to fizzle out around 200.
It flips between 2 perspectives - Addie now, as she tries to figure out what is going on after the crash and once a body is found in her brother's apartment. And to a fire that happened when she and her twin brother were just 12 or so. The fire took the lives of both her parents and left Addie scarred from burns. Her brother, golden boy Eli, has recently gotten out of prison/psych ward for setting the fire. It also starts each chapter with a few paragraphs from a book some random guy wrote about the whole fire incident that characterized her brother as a psychopath. These paragraphs were probably one of the more fascinating parts of the story as it opened up about Eli, a side we didn't get too much perspective of until very late in the book.
all in all, the final hidden secret seemed really obvious and, otherwise, there just weren't that many surprises or payoffs at the end.
This had a solid beginning and is the reason for 2 stars. It's an entertaining read that lets you get to know Andrea/Addie as she stumble around in her life as it crashes around her. But what started out solid for at least the first 100 pages just seemed to fizzle out around 200.
It flips between 2 perspectives - Addie now, as she tries to figure out what is going on after the crash and once a body is found in her brother's apartment. And to a fire that happened when she and her twin brother were just 12 or so. The fire took the lives of both her parents and left Addie scarred from burns. Her brother, golden boy Eli, has recently gotten out of prison/psych ward for setting the fire. It also starts each chapter with a few paragraphs from a book some random guy wrote about the whole fire incident that characterized her brother as a psychopath. These paragraphs were probably one of the more fascinating parts of the story as it opened up about Eli, a side we didn't get too much perspective of until very late in the book.
all in all, the final hidden secret seemed really obvious and, otherwise, there just weren't that many surprises or payoffs at the end.
April 19, 2019
Review can be found on my blog here: https://booksonthebookshelf.wordpress...
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Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book to read and share my review.
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This book is told in alternating timelines – parts are told 15 years before the fire, parts are told in the present 15 years after the fire. Bit by bit we get glimpses of what happened and get to piece the puzzle together to get a clear understanding of what happened.
What My Sister Knew starts off with Addie after a car crash. She wakes up in her car and starts to look for help, and wakes up again later in a hospital with no memory of what happened. Eventually she is released from the hospital to go back home with her adoptive mother, since her parents have died years ago in a house fire that was started by her brother Eli.
Addie is watching TV one day, and sees that her brother Eli is suspected of murder. Addie is contacted by the police, as the police think that Addie can help them find her brother Eli. What unfolds is a shocking tale of twists and turns that you will not see coming, and nothing is what it seems. Will Addie be able to help the police find her brother? Is her brother Eli innocent?
A great book that will have you guessing to the end, and will shock you with all the secrets and lies. A must read!
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Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book to read and share my review.
....
This book is told in alternating timelines – parts are told 15 years before the fire, parts are told in the present 15 years after the fire. Bit by bit we get glimpses of what happened and get to piece the puzzle together to get a clear understanding of what happened.
What My Sister Knew starts off with Addie after a car crash. She wakes up in her car and starts to look for help, and wakes up again later in a hospital with no memory of what happened. Eventually she is released from the hospital to go back home with her adoptive mother, since her parents have died years ago in a house fire that was started by her brother Eli.
Addie is watching TV one day, and sees that her brother Eli is suspected of murder. Addie is contacted by the police, as the police think that Addie can help them find her brother Eli. What unfolds is a shocking tale of twists and turns that you will not see coming, and nothing is what it seems. Will Addie be able to help the police find her brother? Is her brother Eli innocent?
A great book that will have you guessing to the end, and will shock you with all the secrets and lies. A must read!
July 6, 2018
This was a "can't stop reading, just 1 more chapter" book. Every time I thought that I had something figured out I would be correct... sort of. There was always a little twist. A little unexpected something that made me go, "hmm, now what?". Can't wait to read "Girl Last Seen".
September 22, 2019
A good thriller with a decent story, great writing and fantastic characterization. It was a pretty quick read. Interesting as well as engaging, this book managed to keep me engrossed throughout the story.
I would recommend this book to all thriller readers.
I would recommend this book to all thriller readers.
December 28, 2018
The author knows nothing about the criminal justice system. The story isn't a police procedural, or a legal thriller. The average reader will probably not notice the errors scattered throughout the book. But for anyone with any knowledge of criminal law, her misstatements are jarring and detract from the narrative. The story itself is mediocre at best. The "twist" was not shocking, but rather predictable and mundane. It wasn't so bad I couldn't finish, but I won't be reading any more books by this author.
May 1, 2022
I enjoyed this fast paced thriller, focused on Andrea, who is trying to get on with her life after the death of her parents in a fire her brother set. Andrea and Eli are twins, and only 12 years old when the unthinkable happens, leaving Andrea in the hospital and her brother Eli, deemed to be a sociopath, in a psychiatric institute. Now 15 years later Eli is free but a new murder threatens to bring them all back to where Andrea thought they had escaped.
The story moves at a fast clip, with alternating chapters from the current time and the time leading up to the fire. This is a storytelling method I enjoy. There were some surprises, though the author withholds some info from the reader to make those surprises happen. There were a couple twists that I saw coming almost from the beginning but definitely a couple more that surprised me. All in all, the author weaves together a complex and satisfying story and ties up all the loose ends. I also found Andrea to be a mostly likable character and I understood the decisions that she made (even when they weren’t good decisions).
Overall, this was a good book and I’m glad I read it. I’d recommend to those enjoy enjoy mysteries and psychological thrillers.
The story moves at a fast clip, with alternating chapters from the current time and the time leading up to the fire. This is a storytelling method I enjoy. There were some surprises, though the author withholds some info from the reader to make those surprises happen. There were a couple twists that I saw coming almost from the beginning but definitely a couple more that surprised me. All in all, the author weaves together a complex and satisfying story and ties up all the loose ends. I also found Andrea to be a mostly likable character and I understood the decisions that she made (even when they weren’t good decisions).
Overall, this was a good book and I’m glad I read it. I’d recommend to those enjoy enjoy mysteries and psychological thrillers.
August 8, 2021
Andrea last saw her brother 15 years ago, when they were 12 years old, holding the lighter that had set their house on fire and killed their parents. Now, 15 years later, he's on the news again for another murder, someone who looks like Andrea. He's coming for Andrea, who's hiding her own secrets from that night 15 years ago, secrets she can't handle coming out...
Twisty, thrilling and unpredictable! There's so many words I could use to describe this, but they do pretty much say it all. Fantastic story that had me guessing right to the end.
Twisty, thrilling and unpredictable! There's so many words I could use to describe this, but they do pretty much say it all. Fantastic story that had me guessing right to the end.
July 6, 2018
What my Sister Knew is a book full of lies, deceit, horror and murder.
It is a journey where you follow Andrea and Eli who went to prison for arson that killed their parents but he is out now and killing again.
What is the real story behind the death of their parents ? Why is Eli back after all these years and who is telling the truth.
A good read, the pages fly by.
Not the nicest of brothers and sisters but they do tell a great story.
It is a journey where you follow Andrea and Eli who went to prison for arson that killed their parents but he is out now and killing again.
What is the real story behind the death of their parents ? Why is Eli back after all these years and who is telling the truth.
A good read, the pages fly by.
Not the nicest of brothers and sisters but they do tell a great story.
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