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My Sister is Missing
A twenty-year-old local mystery that has never been sold.
A bone-chilling VHS tape depicting a horrific crime.
Neighbors with something to hide.
And a sister who is missing.
Emily has to find out the truth. But is her sister Madeline the victim…or the one to blame?
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 8, 2019
975 people are currently reading
1203 people want to read
About the author
Carissa Ann Lynch
32 books732 followersBesides my family, my greatest love in life is books. Reading them, writing them, holding them, smelling them…well, you get the idea. I’ve always loved to read, and some of my earliest childhood memories are me, tucked away in my room, lost in a good book. I received a five dollar allowance each week, and I always — always — spent it on books. My love affair with writing started early, but it mostly involved journaling and writing silly poems. Several years ago, I didn’t have a book to read so I decided on a whim to write my own story, something I’d like to read. It turned out to be harder than I thought, but from that point on I was hooked. My first and second books were released by Sarah Book Publishing: This Is Not About Love and Grayson’s Ridge. I’m a total genre-hopper. Basically, I like to write what I like to read: a little bit of everything! I reside in Floyds Knobs, Indiana with my husband, three children, and massive collection of books. I have a degree in psychology and worked as a counselor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
January 31, 2020
This book started out so strong but by 50% I was doing the ~ do I DNF or do I not dance. I managed to see it through to the end so I guess that says something.
Emily has been estranged from her sister, Madeline, for nearly a decade. The last time they saw each other was at Madeline's wedding. We know that something terrible happened to Emily in her past which caused her to leave Bare Borders to begin with but when her sister beckons her back explaining that she has to tell her something Emily doesn't hesitate to jump in her car and make the journey.
Madeline has two young children, Ben & Shelley, which Emily has never even met. On arrival she is instantly smitten with her young nephew and niece even though she has little experience with children. Madeline explains that her husband, John, has left her for his secretary and that they have moved in together. She asks Emily if she wouldn't mind staying to help out with the kids until she gets back on her feet. Emily, believing that this is the big news she had to share, is stunned when Madeline tells her she has more to reveal in the morning. Come morning, though, Madeline has disappeared leaving Emily with her children. No note. No explanation. Emily is now forced to find out what happened to her sister and what it was she was hiding?
I've got to be honest and say that I had some issues with this book. I won't nitpick everything that bugged me because I know that writing a book is a lot of work which is why I would never attempt such an endeavor but I will tell you what annoyed me the most:
Our MC Emily returns home, sister goes missing, she contacts the police and guess who shows up?
Her high school ex-boyfriend that stood her up for prom and broke her heart. The guy that she has NEVER gotten over. The one she is still so bitter against EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENED OVER A FUCKING DECADE AGO!!!! Are you kidding me? This is a big pet peeve of mine. I have a hard time rallying for a woman that is so damn needy. Not only that, throughout the entire investigation, she barks orders at this dude (You need to investigate so and so, you need to drain the lake, you need to follow up with this person etc. etc,) and he just jumps and does whatever she asks all while saying "Hey, why didn't I think of that?" Uh, I thought he was in charge of the investigation. If he's the detective in charge then I hope never to be murdered in this town, haha.
The ending was partly predictable and partly ridiculous. Read at your own risk. 2 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Impulse & Killer Reads for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Emily has been estranged from her sister, Madeline, for nearly a decade. The last time they saw each other was at Madeline's wedding. We know that something terrible happened to Emily in her past which caused her to leave Bare Borders to begin with but when her sister beckons her back explaining that she has to tell her something Emily doesn't hesitate to jump in her car and make the journey.
Madeline has two young children, Ben & Shelley, which Emily has never even met. On arrival she is instantly smitten with her young nephew and niece even though she has little experience with children. Madeline explains that her husband, John, has left her for his secretary and that they have moved in together. She asks Emily if she wouldn't mind staying to help out with the kids until she gets back on her feet. Emily, believing that this is the big news she had to share, is stunned when Madeline tells her she has more to reveal in the morning. Come morning, though, Madeline has disappeared leaving Emily with her children. No note. No explanation. Emily is now forced to find out what happened to her sister and what it was she was hiding?
I've got to be honest and say that I had some issues with this book. I won't nitpick everything that bugged me because I know that writing a book is a lot of work which is why I would never attempt such an endeavor but I will tell you what annoyed me the most:
Our MC Emily returns home, sister goes missing, she contacts the police and guess who shows up?
Her high school ex-boyfriend that stood her up for prom and broke her heart. The guy that she has NEVER gotten over. The one she is still so bitter against EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENED OVER A FUCKING DECADE AGO!!!! Are you kidding me? This is a big pet peeve of mine. I have a hard time rallying for a woman that is so damn needy. Not only that, throughout the entire investigation, she barks orders at this dude (You need to investigate so and so, you need to drain the lake, you need to follow up with this person etc. etc,) and he just jumps and does whatever she asks all while saying "Hey, why didn't I think of that?" Uh, I thought he was in charge of the investigation. If he's the detective in charge then I hope never to be murdered in this town, haha.
The ending was partly predictable and partly ridiculous. Read at your own risk. 2 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Impulse & Killer Reads for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 16, 2024
1.5 stars for this NetGalley backlist title.
Oh my! This was an implausible eye roller!
This started off with an intriguing storyline. After being gone for almost a decade, a woman returns to her childhood hometown to stay with her sisters family. The day after she arrives in town, she is thrown into a police investigation and becomes a carer for her niece and nephew.
I liked the first quarter of this book and thought the writing and storyline had potential. The author built up a promising plot with likeable characters. The atmosphere of the small town was done well, as was the exploration of the rekindling of family relationships and sisterhood.
Once the disappearance happens, this book quickly becomes unrealistic and cheesy. The main character becomes an amateur sleuth who basically leads the local detectives to solving the mystery. The head detective just so happens to be her past love that abandoned her on prom night and who she never got over (eye roll!). There are convenient flashbacks that come out of nowhere to push the plot forward and so many questionable plot points. The storyline was at times highly predictable and other times absolutely absurd.
Overall, this was a complete miss for me. Even the audio narrator was lacking. She had a strange way of pronouncing some words and included some awkward pauses which I found distracting. I do not recommend the audio version if you are going to try this one out.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the audio loan!
Oh my! This was an implausible eye roller!
This started off with an intriguing storyline. After being gone for almost a decade, a woman returns to her childhood hometown to stay with her sisters family. The day after she arrives in town, she is thrown into a police investigation and becomes a carer for her niece and nephew.
I liked the first quarter of this book and thought the writing and storyline had potential. The author built up a promising plot with likeable characters. The atmosphere of the small town was done well, as was the exploration of the rekindling of family relationships and sisterhood.
Once the disappearance happens, this book quickly becomes unrealistic and cheesy. The main character becomes an amateur sleuth who basically leads the local detectives to solving the mystery. The head detective just so happens to be her past love that abandoned her on prom night and who she never got over (eye roll!). There are convenient flashbacks that come out of nowhere to push the plot forward and so many questionable plot points. The storyline was at times highly predictable and other times absolutely absurd.
Overall, this was a complete miss for me. Even the audio narrator was lacking. She had a strange way of pronouncing some words and included some awkward pauses which I found distracting. I do not recommend the audio version if you are going to try this one out.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the audio loan!
February 28, 2019
Electrifying!!! 4.5 stars!
Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win. -Stephen King
My Sister Is Missing, what a thrill ride! I stayed up until 3:30 in the morning so I could finish and let me tell you, it was worth the lack of sleep. There were several times my heart was racing, I should check my Fitbit! I really enjoyed how short this book was, the story was well developed with nothing lacking. The writing was superb, I felt the words as though I was actually experiencing it myself not just watching it unfold in my mind. I can’t wait to read more from Carissa Ann Lynch, she has a new fan in this gal!
***Great big thank you NetGalley and Harper Impulse/Killer Reads for my advanced copy of My Sister Is Missing.
Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win. -Stephen King
My Sister Is Missing, what a thrill ride! I stayed up until 3:30 in the morning so I could finish and let me tell you, it was worth the lack of sleep. There were several times my heart was racing, I should check my Fitbit! I really enjoyed how short this book was, the story was well developed with nothing lacking. The writing was superb, I felt the words as though I was actually experiencing it myself not just watching it unfold in my mind. I can’t wait to read more from Carissa Ann Lynch, she has a new fan in this gal!
***Great big thank you NetGalley and Harper Impulse/Killer Reads for my advanced copy of My Sister Is Missing.
February 8, 2019
Emily hadn't been back to her home town of Bear Border since her sister's wedding nine years ago,she hadn't even gone back for her father's funeral. The town and especially her childhood home Bear Border Inn held too many painful memories. Something bad happened to Emily in the thick woods that surrounded two sides of the inn when she was younger. She couldn't fully recall what had happened,the details of that day were all sketchy,she just knew that she hated those woods. She didn't want to be here but her older sister Madeline had insisted that she come and stay for a while. Her sister had something that she wanted to talk about but she refused to reveal what it was over the phone.
Only the morning after Emily's return,she gets up and discovers that Madeline has mysteriously disappeared. At first she thinks that Madeline has gone shopping but as more time passes and there is no sign of her sister,Emily's initial anger turns into concern. Madeline might like playing pranks but she would never abandon her beloved young children especially her autistic son Ben.
When Emily starts a desperate search to find her sister,she finds herself caught up in a complex mystery that has fingers that reach back into the past.
A horrific crime was committed twenty years ago and almost everyone has something to hide.
Emily has to find out the truth. But was her sister a victim or the one to blame.
My Sister Is Missing is a riveting,gripping mystery that is told entirely from Emily's point of view in chapters that are set in the present day. Throughout the book,Emily takes us into the past where we learn about her school days and her relashionship with her sister when they were younger. We also witness the bullying of a young girl who had learning disabilities,a story that had parallels with young Ben being bullied in the present day because of his autism. I have a son who was bullied at school because of his autism,I think it's really sad that although modern society pretends to be more understanding there is still a lot of stigma and ignorance about people who have certain disabilities. I really liked Emily,I loved her patience with Ben when he was having difficulty coping with everyday life and no knowing where his mum was. I loved her feisty, no nonsense attitude and her fierce determination to find out what had happened to Madeline. Bear Border was the typical small town where everyone knew everyone else's business but some of the small cast of realistic characters in this book had some shocking hidden secrets and were definitely untrustworthy. I loved the author's intense,vivid portrayal of Emily's fear and terror when she was in the woods. Deep forests always seem to have a otherworldly atmosphere even in broad daylight it's easy to get spooked whilst walking through them.
This is not a very long book but the author has certainly managed to pack a lot into the 197 pages. It's a well written,fast paced thriller that is packed full of twists and turns,mystery and suspense. I was hooked in from the very first page and was very disappointed when I finished the book because I didn't want the story to end. Worth far more than five stars and highly recommended by little old me.
Many thank to Harper Impulse/Killer Reads for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Only the morning after Emily's return,she gets up and discovers that Madeline has mysteriously disappeared. At first she thinks that Madeline has gone shopping but as more time passes and there is no sign of her sister,Emily's initial anger turns into concern. Madeline might like playing pranks but she would never abandon her beloved young children especially her autistic son Ben.
When Emily starts a desperate search to find her sister,she finds herself caught up in a complex mystery that has fingers that reach back into the past.
A horrific crime was committed twenty years ago and almost everyone has something to hide.
Emily has to find out the truth. But was her sister a victim or the one to blame.
My Sister Is Missing is a riveting,gripping mystery that is told entirely from Emily's point of view in chapters that are set in the present day. Throughout the book,Emily takes us into the past where we learn about her school days and her relashionship with her sister when they were younger. We also witness the bullying of a young girl who had learning disabilities,a story that had parallels with young Ben being bullied in the present day because of his autism. I have a son who was bullied at school because of his autism,I think it's really sad that although modern society pretends to be more understanding there is still a lot of stigma and ignorance about people who have certain disabilities. I really liked Emily,I loved her patience with Ben when he was having difficulty coping with everyday life and no knowing where his mum was. I loved her feisty, no nonsense attitude and her fierce determination to find out what had happened to Madeline. Bear Border was the typical small town where everyone knew everyone else's business but some of the small cast of realistic characters in this book had some shocking hidden secrets and were definitely untrustworthy. I loved the author's intense,vivid portrayal of Emily's fear and terror when she was in the woods. Deep forests always seem to have a otherworldly atmosphere even in broad daylight it's easy to get spooked whilst walking through them.
This is not a very long book but the author has certainly managed to pack a lot into the 197 pages. It's a well written,fast paced thriller that is packed full of twists and turns,mystery and suspense. I was hooked in from the very first page and was very disappointed when I finished the book because I didn't want the story to end. Worth far more than five stars and highly recommended by little old me.
Many thank to Harper Impulse/Killer Reads for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
January 25, 2019
My Sister is Missing by Carissa Ann Lynch is a short book but so much happens in the 197 pages. It is a page turner and I read it all in one sitting. I was hooked from the beginning and didn't see the ending coming at all.
Emily is returning to her hometown for the first time in 9 years at the request of her sister Madeline. She meets her niece and nephew for the first time and learns that her sisters marriage is over. She agrees to stay for a little while to help Madi with the kids but the town holds bad memories for her. When she wakes the next morning her sister is gone without a trace. She starts to look for her and begins to uncover secrets from the past - things that she never dreamed could be true.
A fast paced story that will keep you guessing. Thanks to Harper Impulse/Killer Reads for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Emily is returning to her hometown for the first time in 9 years at the request of her sister Madeline. She meets her niece and nephew for the first time and learns that her sisters marriage is over. She agrees to stay for a little while to help Madi with the kids but the town holds bad memories for her. When she wakes the next morning her sister is gone without a trace. She starts to look for her and begins to uncover secrets from the past - things that she never dreamed could be true.
A fast paced story that will keep you guessing. Thanks to Harper Impulse/Killer Reads for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
February 8, 2019
My Sister is Missing is a thriller that revolves around, you guessed it, a missing sister, and although it started off well, by about 50% I lost interest as it was not as exciting as it should have been. However, there were some interesting twists in the tale, and it's well plotted as well as moving at quite a clip. It's a quick, non-taxing read, but i felt it discussed some important issues in a lighthearted manner, and they could've been treated more sensitively.
With a background in psychology, Lynch has always been a little obsessed with the darker areas of the mind, but she could've used this knowledge much better throughout the book. A lot of the happenings could be described as serendipity at best, contrived at worst. That being said, this is still a decent, entertaining read.
Many thanks to Killer Reads for an ARC.
You can also find my reviews posted here on my blog.
With a background in psychology, Lynch has always been a little obsessed with the darker areas of the mind, but she could've used this knowledge much better throughout the book. A lot of the happenings could be described as serendipity at best, contrived at worst. That being said, this is still a decent, entertaining read.
Many thanks to Killer Reads for an ARC.
You can also find my reviews posted here on my blog.
June 20, 2024
Emily gaat terug naar haar geboorteplaats, nadat haar zus haar gecontacteerd heeft en gevraagd heeft om te komen, omdat ze haar iets belangrijks wil vertellen.
Een beetje tegen haar zin gaat Emily, het is al 9 jaar geleden dat ze haar zus gezien heeft, en haar neefje en nichtje kent ze niet eens.
Daar aangekomen, vertelt Madeline haar dat haar man John haar verlaten heeft. Ze vraagt of Emily niet een poosje kan blijven. Uiteindelijk geeft Emily toe, ze is toch net haar baan kwijt.
Maar de volgende morgen blijkt Madeline spoorloos verdwenen te zijn, en zit Emily alleen met de twee kinderen. De oudste, Ben, is dan ook nog eens autistisch. Emily is helemaal niet gewoon om met kinderen om te gaan, en zeker niet met een kind met speciale behoeftes.
Als Madeline maar niet opdaagt, verwittigt Emily de politie. De kinderen zijn ondertussen opgehaald door hun vader, die een nieuwe relatie heeft.
De politieagent die de zaak in handen neemt, blijkt Paul te zijn, het eerste vriendje van Emily, die haar ooit laten zitten heeft.
De zoektocht verloopt heel moeizaam, tot er uiteindelijk een oude videoband opduikt, die heel wat verduidelijkt.
Maar niet alles... want Madeline is nog steeds niet gevonden, en uiteindelijk is alles toch niet wat het lijkt! Er zijn heel wat meer mensen betrokken bij deze zaak...
Ik vond dit een heel goed boek. Ik kon me direct inleven in Emily. Haar onzekerheid over hoe ze met de kinderen moet omgaan, en haar wanhoop als haar zus maar niet opdaagt zijn echt zenuwslopend.
Het verhaal leest ook heel vlot omdat je echt wel wil weten wat er nu gaat gebeuren...Een goede thriller!
Een beetje tegen haar zin gaat Emily, het is al 9 jaar geleden dat ze haar zus gezien heeft, en haar neefje en nichtje kent ze niet eens.
Daar aangekomen, vertelt Madeline haar dat haar man John haar verlaten heeft. Ze vraagt of Emily niet een poosje kan blijven. Uiteindelijk geeft Emily toe, ze is toch net haar baan kwijt.
Maar de volgende morgen blijkt Madeline spoorloos verdwenen te zijn, en zit Emily alleen met de twee kinderen. De oudste, Ben, is dan ook nog eens autistisch. Emily is helemaal niet gewoon om met kinderen om te gaan, en zeker niet met een kind met speciale behoeftes.
Als Madeline maar niet opdaagt, verwittigt Emily de politie. De kinderen zijn ondertussen opgehaald door hun vader, die een nieuwe relatie heeft.
De politieagent die de zaak in handen neemt, blijkt Paul te zijn, het eerste vriendje van Emily, die haar ooit laten zitten heeft.
De zoektocht verloopt heel moeizaam, tot er uiteindelijk een oude videoband opduikt, die heel wat verduidelijkt.
Maar niet alles... want Madeline is nog steeds niet gevonden, en uiteindelijk is alles toch niet wat het lijkt! Er zijn heel wat meer mensen betrokken bij deze zaak...
Ik vond dit een heel goed boek. Ik kon me direct inleven in Emily. Haar onzekerheid over hoe ze met de kinderen moet omgaan, en haar wanhoop als haar zus maar niet opdaagt zijn echt zenuwslopend.
Het verhaal leest ook heel vlot omdat je echt wel wil weten wat er nu gaat gebeuren...Een goede thriller!
February 1, 2019
Release Date: February 8, 2019
Genre: Mystery. Thriller.
Actual Rating: 3.75-4 stars
My Sister is Missing is a fast paced, gripping read. I was absorbed in the story and felt anxious awaiting the verdict as to what happened to Emily's sister, Madeline. The killer ending is something I did not see coming! For such a short book (just under 200 pages) the author did a fantastic job with it. One would think that a story such as this couldn't possibly be told in under 200 pages but Carissa Ann Lynch did it- and she did it good! If you are looking for a twisty novel with an unexpected and original ending, this is a must read for you!
I will keep this review short and sweet as I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone, but I will give a small description of what to expect. First, we have a sister who has finally come home after 20 years. Suffering a trauma as a kid has kept her away, but her sister said she needed her so she came home. Unbeknownst to Emily though, there are more sinister things lurking in the shadows (besides the trauma she hasn't been able to uncover). And when her sister goes missing she is shocked to discover and uncover the mysteries.
I have only read one other book by the author in the past besides this one now but I will certainly be looking for more in the future based on this one.
Genre: Mystery. Thriller.
Actual Rating: 3.75-4 stars
My Sister is Missing is a fast paced, gripping read. I was absorbed in the story and felt anxious awaiting the verdict as to what happened to Emily's sister, Madeline. The killer ending is something I did not see coming! For such a short book (just under 200 pages) the author did a fantastic job with it. One would think that a story such as this couldn't possibly be told in under 200 pages but Carissa Ann Lynch did it- and she did it good! If you are looking for a twisty novel with an unexpected and original ending, this is a must read for you!
I will keep this review short and sweet as I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone, but I will give a small description of what to expect. First, we have a sister who has finally come home after 20 years. Suffering a trauma as a kid has kept her away, but her sister said she needed her so she came home. Unbeknownst to Emily though, there are more sinister things lurking in the shadows (besides the trauma she hasn't been able to uncover). And when her sister goes missing she is shocked to discover and uncover the mysteries.
I have only read one other book by the author in the past besides this one now but I will certainly be looking for more in the future based on this one.
December 11, 2018
What a beautifully written piece of thrill, murder, mystery, sister bonds, and secrets. I was on edge the entire time.
I was hooked from page one. The authors writing is exceptional and so poignant. I felt like I was in the house right there with Emily.
Every character was so well developed and the plot flowed so smooth. It was a short read, just under 200 pages, but it was packed full of bone chilling events, one after another.
I want to read more of the authors books now! She made me a big fan with her relatable characters.
ALL the STARS ⭐️
Thank you #NetGalley, the author and publisher for my free arc in exchange for my honest review.
I was hooked from page one. The authors writing is exceptional and so poignant. I felt like I was in the house right there with Emily.
Every character was so well developed and the plot flowed so smooth. It was a short read, just under 200 pages, but it was packed full of bone chilling events, one after another.
I want to read more of the authors books now! She made me a big fan with her relatable characters.
ALL the STARS ⭐️
Thank you #NetGalley, the author and publisher for my free arc in exchange for my honest review.
February 11, 2020
As I’ve come to expect with Miss Lynch’s books, this is another story that’ll have you holding your breath, waiting for answers.
Emily never wanted to go back home. For her, home has too many memories, both those she can remember and those she can’t. When her sister, Madeline, asks her to come visit, she feels like enough time has passed, and she’s ready to face her demons. At first, she’s not sure what she had been so afraid of. Then Madeline disappears in the middle of the night. Desperate to find her sister, Emily is plunged into not only her own secrets, but the secrets of the entire town.
I think my favorite part of this story was how the plot was woven together so delicately with such complex characters. There wasn’t one mystery that was solved in the story, but two. Everyone had a secret, and I loved the way that separate demons worked in such harmony. I honestly didn’t see any of the ending coming. The person who I thought was the villain of the story wasn’t as bad of a person at all.
Gripping from start to finish.
Narration complimented the story well.
Emily never wanted to go back home. For her, home has too many memories, both those she can remember and those she can’t. When her sister, Madeline, asks her to come visit, she feels like enough time has passed, and she’s ready to face her demons. At first, she’s not sure what she had been so afraid of. Then Madeline disappears in the middle of the night. Desperate to find her sister, Emily is plunged into not only her own secrets, but the secrets of the entire town.
I think my favorite part of this story was how the plot was woven together so delicately with such complex characters. There wasn’t one mystery that was solved in the story, but two. Everyone had a secret, and I loved the way that separate demons worked in such harmony. I honestly didn’t see any of the ending coming. The person who I thought was the villain of the story wasn’t as bad of a person at all.
Gripping from start to finish.
Narration complimented the story well.
November 4, 2020
Whoa what a read!
The writing is fast paced, the plot is thick and yes, the mystery maintained well till the last few pages of the book.
Character development is good and the chemistry between them palpable.
As is known from the title, the sister, Madeline goes missing without a trace after inviting her younger sister, Emily to their childhood house one fine day.
Everything was so confusing to Emily as she had left her hometown years ago.
For obvious reasons that have been explained, she used to have a complicated relationships with their dad and didn't even bother to attend his funeral.
Part of Madeline's missing seemed planned but many questions were still left answered to Emily as to why Madeline would just leave abandoning her two small kids, leaving them under the care of someone who they barely knew as their aunt.
But things started folding out slowly one by one leading to clues but yes, even with every clue available, things became more complicated as Emily kept digging for more.
The shocking news of her sister's husband having an affair and giving her a divorce, her sister's childhood friends Jessica and Rhonda who were the biggest bullies at their school; meeting her first love, Paul who was now a policeman; discovering her old neighbour as a rapist, not remembering anything about her fatal childhood accident which cause her nightmares and severe headaches. But the story is more than all of these.
A murder that happened years ago will come up as you keep on reading, a complete turn of events that will leave you gasping, an unknown character behind all the trouble, a known person who did the actual murder.
Everything started with the search of a tape that was recorded a long time ago.
In the end, everything gets explained.
However, some of the lines become too repetitive.
A few characters were not given proper due inspite of being the main clues.
I didn't like the ending at all.
The whole book was thrilling to read yet the end was not that surprising even though not predictable.
But overall, it was a pretty good read👍
The writing is fast paced, the plot is thick and yes, the mystery maintained well till the last few pages of the book.
Character development is good and the chemistry between them palpable.
As is known from the title, the sister, Madeline goes missing without a trace after inviting her younger sister, Emily to their childhood house one fine day.
Everything was so confusing to Emily as she had left her hometown years ago.
For obvious reasons that have been explained, she used to have a complicated relationships with their dad and didn't even bother to attend his funeral.
Part of Madeline's missing seemed planned but many questions were still left answered to Emily as to why Madeline would just leave abandoning her two small kids, leaving them under the care of someone who they barely knew as their aunt.
But things started folding out slowly one by one leading to clues but yes, even with every clue available, things became more complicated as Emily kept digging for more.
The shocking news of her sister's husband having an affair and giving her a divorce, her sister's childhood friends Jessica and Rhonda who were the biggest bullies at their school; meeting her first love, Paul who was now a policeman; discovering her old neighbour as a rapist, not remembering anything about her fatal childhood accident which cause her nightmares and severe headaches. But the story is more than all of these.
A murder that happened years ago will come up as you keep on reading, a complete turn of events that will leave you gasping, an unknown character behind all the trouble, a known person who did the actual murder.
Everything started with the search of a tape that was recorded a long time ago.
In the end, everything gets explained.
However, some of the lines become too repetitive.
A few characters were not given proper due inspite of being the main clues.
I didn't like the ending at all.
The whole book was thrilling to read yet the end was not that surprising even though not predictable.
But overall, it was a pretty good read👍
December 6, 2019
My sister is missing is the first book I have read from this author. I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of this from Carissa.
This is a very powerful psychological thriller. For only being 213 pages this packed a serious punch. I have never read a thriller with the magnitude of a plot like this one. Carissa's writing style is very unique, which adds to how phenomenal this book is. This book had me on the edge of my seat guessing from start to finish. This story had a couple of monumental twists that gave me an extremely creepy vibe, yet made me want to keep going. The secrets that some of the characters had were completely realistic, and were written beautifully!!!!! Hands down one of the best stories I have ever read. I look forward to reading more books from this author 🙂
My rating: 📕📕📕📕📕
This is a very powerful psychological thriller. For only being 213 pages this packed a serious punch. I have never read a thriller with the magnitude of a plot like this one. Carissa's writing style is very unique, which adds to how phenomenal this book is. This book had me on the edge of my seat guessing from start to finish. This story had a couple of monumental twists that gave me an extremely creepy vibe, yet made me want to keep going. The secrets that some of the characters had were completely realistic, and were written beautifully!!!!! Hands down one of the best stories I have ever read. I look forward to reading more books from this author 🙂
My rating: 📕📕📕📕📕
July 13, 2020
Vlot lezend boek met voldoende spanning, een goed tussendoortje.
Leest lekker weg .
Voor mij 3,5 *
Leest lekker weg .
Voor mij 3,5 *
November 24, 2021
I bought a digital copy of this book awhile ago and finally got around to reading it in my attempt to reduce my TBR in November. This short suspense story is about a missing woman and the secrets she's hidden from her younger, estranged sister who has recently returned home.
I fully expected to love this book and while it has a strong premise, that's where my interest stopped. The story never got going for me with its characters, story arc or tension. The reader's only POV is Emily, the estranged sister who is trying to piece together where her older sister went after their brief reunion the night before. But Emily isn't a strong or likable character and many of her actions irritated me, leaving me to wonder if she was just naïve or stupid. I'm leaning towards both.
There are plot holes, amateur dialogue, and absurd bits of the plot where readers are required to suspend disbelief - too far for my liking (a body found underwater after 20 years is in pristine condition?? Um no. Believing her sister is still food shopping in their tiny rural town six hours later? Also, no). I should have DNF'd it, but it was a short read and I had hoped things would fall into place. They never did.
I'm an avid thriller reader and this was a huge miss for me with its disjointed, farfetched story, weak characters, and lack of tension. It had the potential to be a good read, but the pieces of the story weren't developed well or tied together into an engaging story.
Note: I realized that I've read and enjoyed one of this author's earlier books - Without A Trace, so I'm hoping My Sister Is Missing is just an unfortunate blip in her writing repertoire.
January 31, 2020
Geweldig boek, spannend van begin tot eind.
December 11, 2018
Carissa Lynch once again proved why she’s such a master of the dark mystery genre. She created such a finely crafted mystery that I was unable to stop turning pages once I began reading. Everything - the setting which emanates the feeling of desolation and abandonment; the characters, each carefully concealing their own dark secret; the masterfully-created plot, which imminently moves to an explosive climax - all of these components of a perfect story will ensure that you’ll be on the edge of your seat, reading late into the night until you find out what happened so many years ago in a small town of Bare Border.
Emily returns to the town of her childhood after receiving a strange phone call from her sister, Madeline. Everything seems oddly familiar as she arrives; her little niece and nephew win her over at once and Madeline seems fine, apart from her recent separation from her husband. Only, Emily’s sister vanishes overnight and now it’s Emily’s duty to find out what happened to her before it gets too late. An estranged husband who acts suspiciously, Madi’s friend who appears on her doorstep in a frantic search of a VHS tape, an old photo of a girl who disappeared under mysterious circumstances years ago - for Emily, there won’t be a lack of suspects in this highly strange case. Till the very end, I kept wondering if she would uncover the terrifying truth or if the past would catch up with her just like it did with Madi.
I can’t recommend “My Sister is Missing” highly enough. It’s written in the best tradition of the dark mystery genre and is a true must read for all fans of the genre. Gritty, engrossing, and impossible to put down it will haunt you for a long time after the last page is turned. Wonderfully done!
Emily returns to the town of her childhood after receiving a strange phone call from her sister, Madeline. Everything seems oddly familiar as she arrives; her little niece and nephew win her over at once and Madeline seems fine, apart from her recent separation from her husband. Only, Emily’s sister vanishes overnight and now it’s Emily’s duty to find out what happened to her before it gets too late. An estranged husband who acts suspiciously, Madi’s friend who appears on her doorstep in a frantic search of a VHS tape, an old photo of a girl who disappeared under mysterious circumstances years ago - for Emily, there won’t be a lack of suspects in this highly strange case. Till the very end, I kept wondering if she would uncover the terrifying truth or if the past would catch up with her just like it did with Madi.
I can’t recommend “My Sister is Missing” highly enough. It’s written in the best tradition of the dark mystery genre and is a true must read for all fans of the genre. Gritty, engrossing, and impossible to put down it will haunt you for a long time after the last page is turned. Wonderfully done!
March 11, 2019
I found myself being irritated by Emily and her silly actions.
I was disappointed with the ending too.
The Book felt disjointed and all over the place.
Thanks to Netgalley, Killer Reads and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I was disappointed with the ending too.
The Book felt disjointed and all over the place.
Thanks to Netgalley, Killer Reads and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 29, 2018
Ever since their parent's divorce, Emily and Maddie have been estranged as their mum passed away first and then their dad. Emily lived with her mum and Maddie with her Dad. Now Emily has been called back home as Maddie has a secret to tell her. Maddie is separated from her husband and has been raising her two children. That's not the secret though, but just as Maddie is about to tell Emily - she disappears. 24 Hours pass and that grows into a week and then a month. Where has Maddie gone too? As strange messages appear, Maddie soon learns that her sister's disappearance could be related to Sarah's over twenty years ago. Also, we learn that the day Emily hit her head in the woods was the same day as Sarah vanished without a trace. We also know what small towns can be like with their hidden secrets and protecting one another and Bear Border is no stranger to that reputation.
If you enjoy cold cases and mysteries and past/present novels, then you will enjoy the experience of My Sister is Missing by Carissa Ann Lynch.
February 10, 2020
Het boek kabbelt voort en de spanning kwam er bij mij niet echt in. Terwijl het hele boek redelijk langdradig is, is het einde daar in tegen snel en voor mij juist te afgeraffeld. Als het iets meer verdeeld zou zijn, zou dit een beter boek zijn. Jammer, maar voor mij geen aanrader.
February 19, 2022
Secrets and bullying! Emily comes back to her hometown to see her sister Madeline.
Madeline has a dark secret and the story is finding out that secret.
I do recommend this book
Madeline has a dark secret and the story is finding out that secret.
I do recommend this book
August 9, 2020
This was a quick read but it’s verrrry uninspired and feels like a Thriller Paint by Numbers.
A woman returns to her hometown where she suffered undisclosed trauma ✅
Said woman runs into old flame who is now the town cop ✅
Other woman goes missing ✅
Philandering older man shacks up with younger woman and is also a suspect ✅
Something something 25 year old mystery ✅
Need I say more? It’s basically refrigerator magnet poetry, but with common thriller tropes.
The characters were also two dimensional, their back stories and trauma were hollow, and the story played out predictably. Not mad I listened to the audiobook, as it was nice background while I played Animal Crossing, but this was unexciting at best.
A woman returns to her hometown where she suffered undisclosed trauma ✅
Said woman runs into old flame who is now the town cop ✅
Other woman goes missing ✅
Philandering older man shacks up with younger woman and is also a suspect ✅
Something something 25 year old mystery ✅
Need I say more? It’s basically refrigerator magnet poetry, but with common thriller tropes.
The characters were also two dimensional, their back stories and trauma were hollow, and the story played out predictably. Not mad I listened to the audiobook, as it was nice background while I played Animal Crossing, but this was unexciting at best.
February 12, 2019
Author Lynch has mastered the art of creating stories that can either be read or listened to. I decided to listen to My Sister is Missing while at work. Let me tell you how good this novel is: I missed work breaks just so I could squeeze in one more chapter. Even had co-workers (I am told) standing at my desk, calling my name (loudly)… but I didn't notice any of it because I was so engrossed into a plot that was filled with lots of twists, which had me yelling out: What? No! (luckily, I still have a job). This is definitely a 5-star read!
January 1, 2019
My sister is missing is a chilling tale.
This is my first book by this author and what a great book to start with, it is well written and has so many twists and turns I was hooked from the start.
It starts off with Emily going back to her childhood home and she hasn’t been back here in years she is visiting her sister Madi, her sister tells her she has something to tell her but before she has a chance to tell Emily what it is she goes missing and this is where the twists and turns. This book is full of Mystery, secrets are revealed. I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
This is my first book by this author and what a great book to start with, it is well written and has so many twists and turns I was hooked from the start.
It starts off with Emily going back to her childhood home and she hasn’t been back here in years she is visiting her sister Madi, her sister tells her she has something to tell her but before she has a chance to tell Emily what it is she goes missing and this is where the twists and turns. This book is full of Mystery, secrets are revealed. I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
January 1, 2019
Emily’s sister Madeline calls her home after an estrangement of many years and promises to tell her a secret. When Emily awakens the next morning, her young nephew and niece are in the home, but her sister is missing. There are many potential suspects in Madi’s disappearance, and a side story about Emily’s nephew.
The novel travels back a little to explain the missing parts. The ending is unexpected and realistic. I would read more novels by Carissa Ann Lynch. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review.
The novel travels back a little to explain the missing parts. The ending is unexpected and realistic. I would read more novels by Carissa Ann Lynch. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review.
March 22, 2019
If you like suspense, this is a good one! A couple parts were a little preditable, but some had me stumped!
January 3, 2025
This book taught me a valuable lesson. Don’t trust other people’s reviews. Even a great number of people. This wasn’t a literary classic but it was straight to the point, and had good character development, and a twist at the end. My mind didn’t wander and I never got bored.
May 2, 2019
My Sister is Missing by Carissa Ann Lynch is a fast-paced mystery that had me hooked from the very first page. The twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very end, and have you scrambling to slot the many puzzle pieces into place.
Emily has returned to her hometown of Bare Border, Indiana, to reunite with her older sister Madeline. The two sisters have been estranged for years, and Emily has not even met her eight year old nephew and three year old niece. The reunion goes well, much better than Emily could have expected, until she wakes up the next morning to discover that Madi is missing. Surely there is a simple explanation, as Madi would never willingly abandon her children to her sister's care. Has Emily's reappearance given Madi an excuse to escape her life? Or is something more sinister afoot?
The novel is presented in parallel storylines, shifting between Emily and Madi's shared childhood, and the present in which Madi has gone missing. Is the past linked in some way to Madi's disappearance? Masterfuly crafted, the two storylines ultimately sync in a shocking reveal that will blindside even the sharpest of readers. I hope to read more from this talented storyteller in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for this ARC.
Emily has returned to her hometown of Bare Border, Indiana, to reunite with her older sister Madeline. The two sisters have been estranged for years, and Emily has not even met her eight year old nephew and three year old niece. The reunion goes well, much better than Emily could have expected, until she wakes up the next morning to discover that Madi is missing. Surely there is a simple explanation, as Madi would never willingly abandon her children to her sister's care. Has Emily's reappearance given Madi an excuse to escape her life? Or is something more sinister afoot?
The novel is presented in parallel storylines, shifting between Emily and Madi's shared childhood, and the present in which Madi has gone missing. Is the past linked in some way to Madi's disappearance? Masterfuly crafted, the two storylines ultimately sync in a shocking reveal that will blindside even the sharpest of readers. I hope to read more from this talented storyteller in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for this ARC.
April 12, 2019
My Sister is Missing by Carissa Ann Lynch, this is one of those books that takes a you by the hand when you first start reading and does not loosen it's grip until that last page is turned! Excellent characters and very interesting storyline, fast paced and easy to read as it flows nicely. Thank you Netgalley, the Publishers and Author for this book and letting me leave my review! Will be reading more of this authors books in my future!!
July 28, 2023
the in-depth five night at freddy’s enthusiasm really took me out but otherwise a interesting domestic
December 15, 2018
Having moved far away from the town I grew up in, with family there still and rarely visiting, this story reached deep Into my core.
It’s a wonderful story of homecoming to visit family, revisit the past and uncover the truths that have been secrets for too many years.
The mystery begins very quickly into the story, as Emily is back to her childhood hometown visiting her sister Madi for the first time in over a decade, and her two young children whom she has never met.
Her sister tells her before bed that her husband had run off with his secretary and that she has a big secret to share in the morning.
Emily wakes up the next morning and her sister is gone.
The story is very well told from Emily’s POV as she looks into her sisters current life and past experiences to try and unravel the mystery of where she disappeared to.
Dark secrets, death and mystery reveal themselves to a twisted and very satisfying ending that is not expected. I couldn’t put this book down and look forward to reading more of Carissa’s fiction.
It’s a wonderful story of homecoming to visit family, revisit the past and uncover the truths that have been secrets for too many years.
The mystery begins very quickly into the story, as Emily is back to her childhood hometown visiting her sister Madi for the first time in over a decade, and her two young children whom she has never met.
Her sister tells her before bed that her husband had run off with his secretary and that she has a big secret to share in the morning.
Emily wakes up the next morning and her sister is gone.
The story is very well told from Emily’s POV as she looks into her sisters current life and past experiences to try and unravel the mystery of where she disappeared to.
Dark secrets, death and mystery reveal themselves to a twisted and very satisfying ending that is not expected. I couldn’t put this book down and look forward to reading more of Carissa’s fiction.
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