The Silent Sister

by Shalini Boland

Alternate cover edition of ASIN B07CJPCBJV.

‘You don't deserve a sister…’

When Lizzy Beresford discovers a threatening letter addressed to her, the words on the old, tattered paper chill her to the bone. But who sent it? Living in pretty cottage in a quiet country village, Lizzy’s never made any enemies in her life…

Except her sister.

Lizzy hasn’t spoken to Emma in years. Not since the argument which tore their relationship apart. Would her sister really want to cause her harm after all this time?

As Lizzy receives more disturbing messages, she begins to doubt those closest to her – her boyfriend, her best friend, her neighbours.

Because the mystery sender seems to know everything about her. And after a series of malicious incidents, it’s clear they won’t stop until they’ve destroyed her life.

Lizzy knows she must confront her sister. But can she trust her? And will she realise the shocking truth, before it’s too late?

From the bestselling author of The Secret Mother and The Child Next Door, this utterly addictive psychological thriller will have you gasping at every twist and will make you question everyone you know. If you loved Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and The Sister this book is for you.

What readers are saying about Shalini Boland:

‘Absolutely addictive and brilliant with an end I didn't see coming. This is one book you have to read and it gets 5 huge stars from me!!!!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Oh my. A captivating unputdownable evocative emotional twisted thriller. Oh that ending... OMG that ending did NOT expect that. It blew me away…’ Read Along With Sue, 5 stars

‘Wow, wow, wow! What a fantastic book! The book starts with a bang… from page one and believe me, it doesn’t let up throughout the book and keeps you gripped until the very end!’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars

‘Hooked from the very first page... I was left staring open-mouthed at the last page because I just couldn't believe what I just read… left me both speechless and wanting for more.' It's All About Books, 5 stars

‘OMG. What a phenomenal book! I read this book in 24 hours because I could not put it down.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘WOW... captivating... I could not put it down… worth more than 5 stars and has to be one of the best psychological thrillers I have read so far.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘5 Brilliant Stars. Wow what an ending! This book pulled me in from the very first paragraph... I just finished this and I am still shock... fabulous from first paragraph to last!' Audio Killed the Bookmark, 5 stars

‘OMG!!! The story grabbed me from the first chapter, and instantly set my teeth on edge! Don’t forget to read to the very last word though because that ending… WOW, completely unexpected!!<

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

144 pages, ebook

First published July 16, 2018

About the author

Shalini Boland is the USA-Today bestselling author of twenty psychological thrillers. With three million copies sold, her titles are published by Amazon Publishing, Audible, Bookouture, and Grand Central Publishing.

Shalini lives by the sea in Dorset, England with her family and their increasingly demanding dog, Queen Jess. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing (in between re-stocking the fridge and dealing with endless baskets of laundry).

She is also the author of two bestselling SFF series.

www.shaliniboland.com

Now available:
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
THE HONEYMOON
THE SCHOOL REUNION
THE SILENT BRIDE
THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
A PERFECT STRANGER
THE FAMILY HOLIDAY
THE COUPLE UPSTAIRS
MY LITTLE GIRL
THE WIFE
ONE OF US IS LYING
THE OTHER DAUGHTER
THE MARRIAGE BETRAYAL
THE PERFECT FAMILY
THE SILENT SISTER
THE CHILD NEXT DOOR
THE SECRET MOTHER
THE MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE
THE BEST FRIEND
THE GIRL FROM THE SEA
The OUTSIDE SERIES - a thrilling dystopian adventure
The VAMPIRES OF MARCHWOOD series - a romantic fantasy adventure
A SHIRTFUL OF FROGS - an evacuee timeslip adventure

Reviews

[Meredith (Trying to catch up!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just meh.

Psychological thriller about a woman being stalked.

When Lizzy begins receiving creepy letters from an apparent stalker, her world is turned upside down. She becomes suspicious of everyone she knows, including her boyfriend, her friends, her neighbors, and her estranged sister. As notes from her stalker intensify, Lizzy begins to fear for her life. Will she discover who has been tormenting her before it’s too late?

While many people have loved this, I had some issues with it. The bulk of the story dragged and it was quite repetitive. Lizzy was too wishy-washy for me--I don’t mind having a character who second guesses themselves, but having her go out for a drink with someone immediately after they threatened her was a bit too much. Also, her relationship with Joe made me cringe.

On the other hand, this was an easy read and I loved the epilogue, which added a nice twist. I wasn’t sure who was stalking Lizzy and didn’t figure out who the culprit was until I was about 80% in; I missed some pretty obvious signs. Lizzy is the sole POV for the majority of the book, and it was nice to read something that did not have multiple POVs. But there was way too much telling vs seeing and this aspect took me out of the story.

Overall, I just found to be an underwhelming read. The more and more thrillers I read, the pickier I get. I've heard such great things about Shalini Boland and was very excited to finally read one of her books, but I was expecting more.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Taut Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

Another fast pace book by Shalini Boland that kept me turning those pages and staying up past my bedtime... from the minute Lizzie found an envelope that appeared aged and as though it was coming up through the floorboards I was hooked! Even the thought of this still gives me goosebumps and the heebie-jeebies... can you imagine an envelope with your name on it just appearing out of nowhere, with the words” you don’t deserve a sister” on it? Creepy!

Lizzy is a outgoing, trusting, and kind person... she is a hard-working reliable shop manager and a faithful and loving girlfriend to Joe.... she is also being STALKED! I think because Lizzie was so likable and relatable and really could be any girl... made this book so much more disturbing and tents for me.... everyone in Lizzie’s life appeared suspicious to both Lizzie and me... from her boyfriend Joe, to her coworker/friend pippa to her boss George, to her next-door neighbor Ian... everyone looked a little guilty... Lizzie and I saw a little badguy in everyone!

Now to complicate things further Lizzie and her sister have been estrange from one another for many years... but could your sister the girl you played dolls with as a kid do this to you? The relationship between Lizzie and Emma was an interesting one and I liked how it was revealed to us throughout this book.... The stalker’s actions in this book escalated throughout the book and got scarier and Boulder as time went on... as much as I liked Lizzie and really felt for her she really didn’t always think things through.... she really did some pretty stupid things...things I would hope I would never do if someone were hunting me! But fortunately I have never been in this situation...

This book was perfectly paced and filled with all the twists and turns you want from a psychological thriller... The ending caught me completely offguard... and that apologue... wowza!

Absolutely recommend to fans of a twisty psychological thriller....

*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

[Malia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This was my fifth book by Shalini Boland, and I will be happy to read whatever she writes next as well. The Silent Sister has the clever, twisty plot of her other books and the characters I can connect to, without making it feel that she is following a simple, tried and true mold, I find some other writers of this genre sometimes slip into (not necessary a bad thing, if it's not broke . . . ) This book introduces Lizzie, a twenty-something woman who lives with her boyfriend, Joe, in a small town near Bristol. She lives a content life until a mysterious series of vaguely threatening, definitely creepy letters arrives for her, leading her (and me as the reader) to suspect everyone in her life. Lizzie's estrangement with her sister, Emma, even has her wondering whether she could be behind the threats, or is it Joe, or her friend and colleague, Pippa, their boss . . . The Silent Sister offers plenty of red herrings and twists and turns, and though the person I suspected was proven the villain, I didn't mind having guessed the reveal beforehand. Now for a tiny niggle - I felt, having two sisters myself, that Lizzie was a little too quick to suspect Emma. Just because they were estranged, I thought it was a stretch to suspect her of something quite so awful. That being said, the book is called The Silent Sister. I won't say more about the plot, because I really don't want to spoil this one for anybody. I will just say, I enjoyed it and it was perfect holiday reading. Boland has a style of writing that makes me feel instantly engaged and characters who intrigue me, they feel very real and not like strange caricatures, which can happen all too often in psychological thrillers. If you are looking for a clever, engaging read this summer, I can definitely recommend this book and this author!


Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

Thanks to Bookouture for supplying me with a copy of The Silent Sister in exchange for an honest review.

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A stalker story that is a very quick and easy read, but also easily forgettable. The MC is all over the place and some "what the hell are you thinking" moments kept coming from my mouth. An average read but not a top favourite on my list.

[Kylie D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out really well, it had all the hallmarks of a good psychological thriller, building suspense and making you race through the pages. Then the final chapters seem rushed and were a total let down. When I finished it my reaction was really? That's it? That's the big secret? After such a good buildup the end was disappointing. I see that other people have really rated this book, but it just didn't work for me.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Silent Sister by Shalini Boland is a psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself with a stalker and doesn't know who to trust. Having read several of Shalini Boland's books already I knew I would be in for a good read before going into this one.

Lizzy lives in a cottage with her boyfriend and one day she finds a letter in her home that she's unsure of where it came from. No one else should have access to their place and before long Lizzy finds more disturbing notes.

Not knowing who to trust and beginning to suspect everyone around her Lizzy turns to the police but they are not help as the incidents keep piling up. The threats seem to be pointing Lizzy to her sister, Emma, but the two haven't spoken in years but would her sister really have it out for her?

The Silent Sister was another solid read when finished but there were times in this one I wanted a bit more intensity. A few incidents would really rattle me but a few of them Lizzy seemed a bit over reactive too and then would turn around a make a move that you'd think then she would have more caution. In the end with this one I decided to go 3.5 stars this round as I have enjoyed a couple of others a bit more but still appreciated the author's easy writing style and the ability to keep a reader guessing.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently discovered the work of Shalini Boland when I was introduced to her novel 'The Child next door' which was a pleasant surprise. I found this psychological thriller also a page turner that keeps you guessing right to the very end.
Lizzy Beresford is living a happy life with her boyfriend Joe until she starts receiving disturbing letters from an anonymous person. The slightly threatening letters leave Lizzy scared for her safety and not trusting anyone fearing they may be the perpetrator. There are a number of possibilities and Lizzy starts to doubt everyone's involvement.
This is a novel that will encourage you to keep reading to learn more and discover the truth and in my case I kept thinking I will read one more chapter before I put the book down and another.
On finishing this novel I immediately purchased another novel by Shalini Boland and was pleased to see there are quite a few more for me to read in the near future.
A book for full of red herrings and tension, great holiday read.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 3 out of 5]

EXCERPT: I could have kept my distance.

I could have carried on with my pathetic life as though nothing had changed. But that wouldn't have been right. Because everything has changed.

I'm not stupid. I know that life isn't fair. I know that some people get lucky, and others get the shitty end of the stick. But I 'm tired of it. And I can put up with a bit more shit for a little while longer if it means I get what I want in the end: to even things out a little.

Call it karma.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: ‘You don't deserve a sister…’

When Lizzy Beresford discovers a threatening letter addressed to her, the words on the old, tattered paper chill her to the bone. But who sent it? Living in pretty cottage in a quiet country village, Lizzy’s never made any enemies in her life…

Except her sister.

Lizzy hasn’t spoken to Emma in years. Not since the argument which tore their relationship apart. Would her sister really want to cause her harm after all this time?

As Lizzy receives more disturbing messages, she begins to doubt those closest to her – her boyfriend, her best friend, her neighbours.

Because the mystery sender seems to know everything about her. And after a series of malicious incidents, it’s clear they won’t stop until they’ve destroyed her life.

Lizzy knows she must confront her sister. But can she trust her? And will she realise the shocking truth, before it’s too late?

MY THOUGHTS: After absolutely loving The Child Next Door, I was looking forward to The Silent Sister by Shalini Boland. But while this is a quick easy read, it fell flat for me. The heart-pounding suspense that abounded in The Child Next Door is missing here. We keep being told that the situation is tense, but I just didn't feel it. And that, for me, is a major problem. I like to feel, to be immersed in the story line rather than being told the story.

We didn't get to know any of the characters in any real depth. It was all quite superficial. Lizzie irritated me no end. Spineless and mercurial are two words that come to mind. Selfish and immature are two more. No, I didn't like Lizzie. Or Joe. But that doesn't impact on my enjoyment of the book. I have detested the characters in some of the books I have liked the most.

There is a double twist at the end of the book. The first twist I thought was great. And in my honest opinion, the book should have ended there. It may even have earned an extra half star had it done so. But the author went and put in a second twist that was, for me, completely over the top. But that is just my opinion and I am probably in the minority here.

And I know I have said this before, but I will say it again and probably not for the last time, but I do not want to be told that there is a nail-biting twist! I want it to sneak up on me and catch me unawares.

THE AUTHOR: Shalini lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two children and their cheeky terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

She is also the author of two bestselling Young Adult series as well as a children's WWII novel with a time-travel twist.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Silent Sister by Shalini Boland for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.

This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up!

Excerpt: Intrigued, I tug it out with my fingers, dislodging a cloud of dust. The paper is thick and brittle with age. I realize it is actually a small envelope. From the looks of it, it seems years old. I brush away some of the dust and see that the envelope is unopened. Still sealed. My curiosity piqued. I wonder what's inside. I turn it over and blink at the name written on the front in blue cursive script: Lizzy Beresford.

This is the first note that Lizzy receives, and she cannot figure out WHO could've left it, or Why.

As the notes become more and more menacing, everyone becomes a suspect...her boyfriend, her best friend, her neighbors, her boss, and her estranged sister, Emma.

As the threats escalate, the tension builds.

Lizzy is a likable character, despite a few rash conclusions that she makes about who may be targeting her and a few other poor decisions.

Okay, amateur detectives...get out your sleuthing caps!! 🕵️‍♀️

This is the first book that I have read by Shalini Boland, so I am not sure if she always does this but I felt that if you really pay attention, you could solve the case of WHO is leaving notes to our protagonist, Lizzy. And, that is NOT a bad thing...that CAN be fun!

It also does not mean that you won't change your mind a few times before you do...you will...there are enough red herrings to throw you off the track. (After all, the police can't seem to figure it out!!)

The book does end with an EPILOGUE, written for readers who NEED the twist that they will not see coming. (Some readers have loved it!)

I did NOT see IT coming. But, the problem is that I did NOT like that twist, but I can’t say more or it would be a “spoiler”.

Not a story (except for THAT ending) that really surprised me, but an engaging writing style that I did enjoy!!

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC provided in exchange for my candid review!

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Lizzy Beresford discovers a threatening letter addressed to he, the words on the old, tattered paper chill her to the bone. But who sent it?

"You don't deserve a sister" are the words written on the Lizzy had discovered. It had been hand delivered, but who had sent it? Lizzy has not spoken to her sister, Emma, in years. An argument had torn the sisters apart. Lizzy gets more letters and she starts to doubt the people she is closest too, her boyfriend,Joe, her best friend, and her neighbours. Lizzy is the manager of a shop and has been in a relationship for five years.

This is a fast paced, tense thriller. There are so many red herrings, I just could not work out where this story was going. This story touches on mental health issues. I liked what I thought was the final twist at the end of this story, then there was another good one in the epilogue. Another fantastic book by the author.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Shalini Boland for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mighty Bookouture do it again! Boy oh boy did I enjoy this! What a fricking marvellous psychological thriller from the masterful Shalini Boland. I have read a couple of her others and loved them as much as this one. I'm actually glad to have just discovered that there are more books in her back catalogue so I can binge on her books when I get the first chance.

In each of the books I have read by Bolind, she masterfully grabs you and pulls you in to the story. Once you're in her grasp there's no hope of sleep until dawn. Don't fight it, it's no use!

"The Silent Sister" begins with Lizzy Beresford receiving and reading a note that states: "You're my only obsession." But who sent it? Lizzy's initial thought is that it's from her estranged sister, Emma. Both her boyfriends, Joe, and her friend and co-worker, Pippa, are very concerned that Lizzy is being stalked. Then another letter arrives: "Dearest Lizzy, I love to watch you." This prompts Lizzy to get the police involved in an effort to get to the truth of the matter. She no longer trusts anyone anymore, even those she has been close to for many years and she starts to suspect everyone.

You really feel for Lizzy as a character as her fear turns into paranoia. This is a tautly plotted tense read with a lot of secrets throughout, the writing is easy to read and follow. There are twists aplenty and there are a number of possible suspects making it difficult to predict who the culprit actually is. I loved the ending too.

Overall, this is an outstanding novel. Highly recommended. If you enjoy psychological thrillers you'll have a hard time putting this one down!

Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lizzy is loved up with her boyfriend Joe, living in a quaint cottage she rents from the man who she manages a shop for. Her life isn't perfect as she hasn't spoken to her sister for quite a few years but otherwise it's good until she starts receiving disturbing letters.

This is one of those stories that apart from Lizzy, I didn't trust anyone. I was desperately trying to work out who could be behind the letters and I was so certain I had it sussed, only to realise I'd been wrong all along.

This was a quick read that I flew through as the tension mounts and things for Lizzy get more disturbing. The author really has you caring for the main character so you worry about them making everything that is happening affect you even more.

The Silent Sister is a suspenseful and thrilling read that had me hooked and turning those pages. A deliciously dark and twisted read. Shalini Boland is without a doubt the queen of twists and she never disappoints. Another great read.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Helga چـو ایـران نباشد تن من مـباد · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
An enjoyable and fast-paced read!

Lizzy Beresford has a stalker. Someone is obsessed with her and leaves letters in her house and the shop she works in. The messages in the letters get creepier and creepier and Lizzy begins to doubt even her own sister and boyfriend. Who is behind these letters? Who wants Lizzy dead? And why?

This was my first book from Shalini Boland and I will definitely read more of her work.

My only problem with the book was the countless futile dialogues between the characters, too many deviations from the main plot and a couple of loose ends.
For one, how did the perpetrator enter the shop and arrange the magnetic letters in so short a time without anyone seeing him/her?

Thanks to Shalini Boland, Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

[Bharath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read of Shalini Boland (after “The Child Next Door”). The Silent Sister keeps up an excellent pace right throughout (unlike “The Child Next Door” which slackened in the middle). There is good suspense and multiple twists/revelations in the end.

Lizzy Beresford works at a store and has what seems to be a contented life with a steady boyfriend since 5 years. However, she has not been on talking terms with her sister for many years now, and meetings at their mother’s place are painful. All of a sudden, Lizzy starts receiving short & terse threatening letters. The police are informed, but with very little to go on, do not make much headway. She confides in her neighbours, hoping someone will see something. The threats take a serious turn with an attempt on her life.

She cannot understand why anyone would do this. Is there a link to her sister, boyfriend or her neighbours?

There is a good buildup to the end with a series of events, and the story does not let up. There is a double twist & revelation at the end (quite unnecessary in my opinion as the story was great as it).

If psychological thriller novels interest you, this is a great book to read.

My rating: 4.5 / 5

I received a free uncorrected advanced review ecopy of this book from NetGalley for a review.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shalini Bolan's is a fantastic writer and I always jump at the chance to read her books. I really enjoyed The Silent Sister, it kept me awake late even though vowing to read just one more chapter. It was a very fast paced read that will suck you in.

Lizzie is living a great life in a lovely village with her boyfriend. That is until she starts to receive strange letters that clearly show her that she is being watched... she has a stalker. Things start to happen to her and around her and she gets the police involved. Who could it be? She starts to suspect everybody in her life, even reaching out to her sister Emma who she has not spoken to for 5 years.

If you like a book that you will not want to put down then this one is for you. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are not biased in anyway.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow and wow again. The Silent Sister is a nail biting,fast paced roller coaster ride that is packed full of so many twists and turns that by the time you reach the jaw dropping final twist,you are feeling so dizzy that all you want to do is lie down in a dark room for a few hours or until your head stops spinning.

Lizzy Beresford lives in a quaint cottage in Malmesbury with her boyfriend Joe and her cat Frank (The cat is named after Aretha Franklin but everytime Frank Or Joe was mentioned I couldn't help thinking about The Hardy Boys especially everytime Frank went missing) Anyway Lizzy starts receiving unsettling letters at her home and the shop that she manages. The mysterious sender seems to know everything about Lizzy and as the threats and intimidation intensify Lizzy begins to doubt and suspect everyone around her including her sister Emma even though they haven't spoken in years.

This gripping thriller is mainly voiced by Lizzy,I honesty found her indecisivness very frustrating and therefore struggled to feel any sympathy towards her character. I also don't like female characters who every male character fancies and wants to date.The other characters were a mixed bunch of vivid,realistic personalities,my favourite being colourful,vibrant Pippa who worked in the shop with Lizzy.Interspersed throughout the story were short snippets voiced by Lizzy`s mysterious tormentor but who is it that is hell bent on destroying Lizzy`s perfect life and why?

I loved this twisty,riveting tale of secrets,lies,manipulation and deceit,it's worth far more than five stars and highly recommended by little old me.I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts with a letter addressed to Lizzie ... a strange creepy note. But there is no one around..so who delivered it?

And then there's another letter ...and yet another. Someone breaks into the store where she works and leaves another message there. Whoever the culprit is ... they know where she lives, they know where she works , they seem to know everything about her.

So who would want to hurt her this way? She lives with Joe, who has become more controlling over time .. is is him? Her best friend is somewhat envious of her ... is it her? She had a falling out with her sister years ago ... would she be this mean and cruel? Her friend's brother has a crush on her .... is this his way of getting attention? And the man who keeps asking her out .... is he upset at her refusals?

Surrounded by secrets and lies, Lizzy doesn't know who she can trust ..

This is a well written who-dun-it surrounded by characters who may or may not be who you think they are. Just a tad predictable, I was still surprised by the ending... never saw this one coming.

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.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably an odd way to start a review by mentioning the ending but I hereby declare Shalini Boland the “Queen of Epilogues” because every single time, she manages to put a spin on everything you’ve read on the pages preceding it! Makes me want to read the whole thing again to see how I missed the clues, if there are any.

Anywho, to the beginning.

Few things sound as scary to me as having a stalker. Someone who knows your every move, sometimes even seemingly before you do. Someone who taunts you and terrifies you, who makes you suspicious of everyone you meet. This is what happens to Lizzy when she starts receiving odd notes at home and at work. The police are no help at all and so it falls to Lizzy herself to figure out who wishes her harm. Could it be her sister, Emma? Her boyfriend, Joe? Her neighbours? Her boss/landlord? The cat?!

This is one of those stories where you are suspicious of just about everyone. Like me, you may find yourself zeroing in on a potential suspect, then double-guessing yourself, backtracking and getting utterly confused. Not helped by the fact that either someone is acting like a total creep or is too good to be true.

I found this one started out a bit slow but the tension did build up in the second part and true to form there are a few twists and turns I didn’t quite see coming. Even though, I thought I knew who the stalker was, I couldn’t at all figure out their connection to Lizzy, nor why they had it in for her as much as they did.

Shalini Boland is one of those authors who constantly delivers and I have no doubt fans of her previous books will enjoy this twisty tale of secrets, betrayal and revenge as well.

[Jill McGill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Silent Sister just wasn't the psychological thriller I was hoping for.

Lizzy Beresford starts receiving disturbing letters from someone and it sends chills down her spine. But who could be sending them - a stalker? The mysterious sender seems to know everything about Lizzy, but how? She suddenly begins to doubt those that are the closest to her - her boyfriend, her estranged sister, her best friend, even her neighbors. As these letters increase she realizes that they won't stop until they have destroyed her life. Will Lizzy discover who sent these mysterious letters before it's too late?

The premise of the story was good, I had such high hopes, but soon after it started to drag on and fell flat to me. That is, until the epilogue. The epilogue is what saved this book and gave it a nice twist.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Holly B]

Review to follow closer to publication date- on July 16,2018

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This author is someone who consistently delivers and is one of my favourite psychological thriller writers of today! With a fast paced, heart pulsing plot with a twist in almost every page, this book is, I think, her best so far and that's saying something as all her books have been five star reads for me! This is an author to watch and a book everyone should read. Fabulous and very highly recommended!

[Namita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lizzy was living a happy life with her boyfriend Joe till she starts receiving threatening notes from her stalker.Informing the cops too does not help much and when the threat escalates she starts suspecting everyone around her even her estranged sister.

The Silent Sister is a fast moving suspenseful thriller.Even though I was able to guess the suspect the epilogue caught me completely by surprise and would definitely look forward to reading more by Shalini Boland

I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read from Shalini Boland and it was just as brilliant as the first one. The book had really interesting characters and I wanted to know more about them. The writing was brilliant and it got me really hooked on the story. It had a lot of twists and turns and I really liked the ending. The ending made the story a million times better as well with its twist. The story was great and I was really intrigued to find out who was responsible for all the letters. I did slightly guess who the person was but they weren’t high up on my suspect list. I can’t wait to read more of Shalini’s books. I definitely recommend this book.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out my review of this book on my blog here: https://booksonthebookshelf.wordpress...

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows a young woman named Lizzy Beresford. She lives in a small cottage with her boyfriend Joe and their cat Frank. One morning Lizzy finds a letter in an envelope sticking out from underneath the floorboards. After finally retrieving it with much effort, the envelope appears to be old as if it has been there for quite a long time - years even. But the letter is addressed to Lizzy and has the current date on it. How can this be? Who would write a letter to Lizzy and leave it under the floorboards?

After reading the letter, Lizzy discovers someone is threatening her. But who would want to do that? She seems to get along with everyone and has never made an enemy in her life. Who would want to scare her like this? The only person Lizzy can think of is her sister Emma. They were very close growing up but have had a falling out a few years ago, and haven't talked at all since. But surely her sister wouldn't go to this length to threaten, scare and taunt her? Surely her sister wouldn't do that!

Confused as to who would do this to her, Lizzy continues on with her life. However, strange and threatening things continue to happen to her. Things she cannot explain. She finds notes and messages addressed to her at her work, after she has closed up the store for the night, and other incidents happen that she cannot explain. It is very clear that someone is out to scare her. Or worse! 

Lizzy begins to suspect everyone. She is not sure who she can trust. Could it be her sister Emma? Her boyfriend Joe? Her boss even? What about her neighbour? Lizzy finds she is looking over her shoulder everywhere she goes, and is not sure who to turn to for help. She is scared to walk to work, or drive in her community.

I loved this book and how it was written. The book draws you in from the very first chapter and has a lot of twists and shocks throughout to keep you sitting on the edge of your seat. I found the pages were turning themselves as I was curious to find out just who would do such a thing to Lizzy and threaten her like this.

A lot of thrills and chills, this book didn't disappoint. I loved how there were several shocks throughout, even to the very end. Lies, betrayal and thrills. This book was fantastic and I highly recommend it!

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a recent convert to this author and she has very quickly become a favourite of mine! Her books are all fantastically addictive and easily devoured. I know that when I pick up anything written by Shalini Boland, it will take A LOT to be able to tear me away from it. And thankfully The Silent Sister is yet another example of the twisty and shocking thrillers that I have come to love and expect from her.

Lizzie Beresford starts getting anonymous letters delivered to her home and place of work. As the threatening behaviour increases, she struggles to cope especially when she has no clue as to who her stalker is…..And that’s all I’m going to say about the plot! Honestly, the less you know about this book the better! I became hooked very early on by the characters as I was completely flummoxed by them all, unsure who to trust. EVERYONE was a suspect to me and as the narrative continued, I found I got MORE confused about who was doing this to Lizzy rather than my usual smugness about having guessed the who, what, where and why! There are some very clever red herrings swimming about this compelling mystery, just enough to unsettle the reader, and I was constantly wavering over who I suspected and why!

If you’re after an intriguing thriller then The Silent Sister is the book for you, especially if you like an unexpected sting in your “tale”! I didn’t think I could be shocked anymore than I already had been by the reveal here but then Shalini Boland proved once again why she’s one of my “go to” authors. What an ending!! Bravo for pulling the wool over my eyes and hitting me with a jaw dropping finish that I didn’t see coming for one moment!

Top marks from me!

[Sarah Joint · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Shalini Boland, and I believe I've read five of her previous books and rated them all highly. This one was not a total winner for me, which was surprising. It was likely because of a relatively weak lead character. I just wasn't enjoying reading about her as much as I'd like. She was too wishy-washy and made terrible decision after terrible decision. It was too rare that she showed any good judgement or strength, and that was a negative for me. I just wasn't buying all her decisions and how quickly she could go from being afraid of someone to trusting them. This one is rated highly on Good Reads, so a lot of readers enjoyed it a bit more than I did. What's good is that it is a very quick and easy read. Definitely easy to fly through in one sitting. I was also surprised that Joe, the very controlling and volatile boyfriend, did not eventually become violent towards her. He was throwing red flags up like mad.

Lizzy receives a creepy anonymous letter from a stranger... in her own kitchen. It looks old, but it has today's date on it. First suspecting her boyfriend is being a bit odd or playing a joke, she soon realizes he has no idea what she's talking about. The letters don't stop there. She can only think of one person who might be responsible: her own sister. They had a falling out years ago and haven't had a relationship since. But why now, and why like this? Or is it someone else entirely? As Lizzy begins to feel more and more vulnerable, it becomes clear she is in real danger.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shalini boland has done it again in delivering an outstanding book full of twists, unexpected turns and leaving you wanting more and a tale of secrets and betrayal , I've read all of Shalini's books and I was thrilled when netgalley kindly added a copy of Shalini's latest book to my shelf, I eagerly got stuck in and was immediately hooked as always with Shalini's books. We meet Lizzi who lives in a cosy cottage in a small town in England with her boyfriend Joe and their cat frank, Lizzi is happy and enjoying life, she is the manager for an up market clothing boutique and loves her job, however her world is shattered when one morning she receives a strange letter that is sitting in her kitchen, it understandably leaves her uneasy who left her this creepy note and why?? Soon she starts receiving more creepy letters and things take a disturbing turn leaving Lizzi in a constant state of fear and anxiety , who would want to send Lizzi these letters and cause her harm? It becomes a game of cat and mouse as Lizzi becomes more desperate to find out who the culprit is. I really enjoyed the quirky characters in this story, I was left hanging in my seat desperate to find out who the perpetrator is, I agree with another readers review that you think to yourself just one more chapter and it turns into more chapters- the sure sign of a fantastic book! I can't wait to read Shalini's next release and thank you to netgalley for my copy of this book I loved reading it.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of this author and have read all of her psychological thrillers to date, pre-ordering her latest books without a second thought. Her latest novel was by large a disappointment to me though - the actual premise and first third was good and I felt optimistic, but halfway through it has seriously began to drag and much of the dialogue felt false and stilted.

Lizzie is the manager of an upmarket boutique, living with her boyfriend Joe (who shows worryingly controlling tendencies) and her cat Frank. When Lizzie finds herself on the receiving end of some unwelcome attention, her paranoia increases as she questions all those around her.

Was I on the edge of my seat reading this? No, not really. The storyline didn’t develop as I had envisioned and there were several scenes which added nothing to the story or the character development. In actual fact, Lizzie was still somewhat a mystery by the closing chapters. By two thirds in I had worked out the finale and when it did occur, it was over much too quick. The phrase anti climatic comes to mind.

I actually enjoy Bolands writing style overall because she doesn’t demand too much of her reader. There is definitely such a thing as an easy to read thriller. This just wasn’t my favourite of hers; but I will continue to read her next releases regardless.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unsettling novel. A well thought out and well-written book to engage your interest with an excellent escalation of suspense. There is a sinister thread running through it which had my nerves stretched to breaking point at times. It's a chilling stalker theme mainly directly towards Lizzy Beresford. I thought she was a little careless with her safety in her volatile situation. I couldn't guess who was making her life a misery despite all the red herrings. During the most nerve-wracking part of the book, I was tense and the dog suddenly jumped on the bed and he scared the living daylights out of me. Trust issues were an important part of the theme. How extraordinary that hate, resentment, and revenge can grow like cancer for many years until it flares up out of all proportion. An interesting glimpse of mental illness. I thought it ended on a precipice. It's wasn't over. I was left wondering if there could ever be genuine forgiveness amongst the sisters. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book started fabulously with an old faded envelop found by the cat sticking out of the floorboards in the kitchen. The doors were closed, how did the envelop get there? Lizzy was shocked and fearful. And the story continued on with her getting more such messages about someone keeping a watch on her. This continuous feel of threat made her paranoid, and everyone was a suspect. The story unfolded till the last page.

I have been reading this author's work religiously for the last three books, and though this was a good book with twists and turns, for me it didn't have the bang except for the epilogue. That was unexpected!!

The story was well paced, had Lizzy in a tizzy sometimes very dizzy, always busy with fear. The feeling of being watched kept a hold on the story. I liked how every character behaved suspiciously after the onset of these letters. The doubting facet of a scared human nature was well written.

Lizzy was likeable in some ways, didn't like her boyfriend Joe, I felt she could do better than him. On the whole, she was not a strong main character. Joe was a horrible boyfriend, controlling and suspicious. She spent 5 years or so with him, how? He even went to prison for violence. Why would any self-respecting, independent woman stay with such a man? The rest of the characters played their part, some of them were mere props.

Overall a fun, fast read on a rainy afternoon