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Shadow Sister
From the bestselling author of Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost comes the chilling story of a young woman who returns to her haunted childhood home to unravel the deadly mysteries of her family’s past.
Ava grew up in a haunted mansion, envied by all her friends. But when her mother died mysteriously there, the thrills of Blackworth Mansion became nightmares. Ava never accepted that her mother perished from natural causes, but no one would believe her.
Seventeen years later, Ava returns home to unravel the truth of her mother’s death—and her own demons quickly follow. Her estranged and vindictive father may be stalking her. Her secretive new sister-in-law lands on her doorstep with troubles of her own. And then there’s the strange girl who may or may not be haunting the grounds. Even Ava’s romance with her first crush is shadowed by her suspicions.
When Ava makes a terrifying discovery on the property, she must decide just how far into the past she’s willing to go. Some secrets can be deadly—especially the ones Ava’s kept hidden in the dark.
Ava grew up in a haunted mansion, envied by all her friends. But when her mother died mysteriously there, the thrills of Blackworth Mansion became nightmares. Ava never accepted that her mother perished from natural causes, but no one would believe her.
Seventeen years later, Ava returns home to unravel the truth of her mother’s death—and her own demons quickly follow. Her estranged and vindictive father may be stalking her. Her secretive new sister-in-law lands on her doorstep with troubles of her own. And then there’s the strange girl who may or may not be haunting the grounds. Even Ava’s romance with her first crush is shadowed by her suspicions.
When Ava makes a terrifying discovery on the property, she must decide just how far into the past she’s willing to go. Some secrets can be deadly—especially the ones Ava’s kept hidden in the dark.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2022
308 people are currently reading
6018 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay Marcott
3 books118 followersLindsay Marcott is the author of the Amazon Kindle #1 bestseller Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost and The Producer’s Daughter, as well as six previous novels written as Lindsay Maracotta. Her books have been translated into eleven languages and adapted for several cable movies. She also wrote for the Emmy-nominated HBO series The Hitchhiker and coproduced a number of films, including Hallmark’s The Hollywood Moms Mystery (based on her Fabulously Dead mystery series) as well as the feature Breaking at the Edge.
She lives on the spectacularly scenic coast of California, the setting for her recent novels, along with her husband, a film producer, and two cats who love to steal the limelight. Before writing novels, she held down a variety of jobs ranging from screenwriter to magazine contributor to waitress in a grunge bar -- all of which supplied rich material for her future fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
May 20, 2022
This was one of those reads that didn’t need any thought involved. It was perfect as I am on vacation and just wanted a nice pool read.
Ava has decided to move back to her childhood home to confront her demons. Her mom left the estate to her and her brother Jamie, a professor of psychology, who wants nothing to do with it and has just recently married a student of his! Let’s take a few steps back …their mother died at an early age but Ava is certain her mother died in suspicious circumstances. Oh and maybe the house is haunted by a ghost who as a child Ava named Cinderella……
Told by multiple POV’s we visit the past and present. I must say I preferred Didi’s storyline and saw the twist a mile away…well most of it.
What I liked: I just went with the flow and wanted to see how it all came out in end. Super easy read and didn’t have to think. Is it weird I liked Didi?
What I didn’t like: Cinderella!!!!!! Maybe it is fitting I’m vacationing at Disney World but so much could have been explored there to make it more atmospheric.. it just seemed like an afterthought to throw it in .
I do like this author but feel it’s more of a pool read. Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for my advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
Ava has decided to move back to her childhood home to confront her demons. Her mom left the estate to her and her brother Jamie, a professor of psychology, who wants nothing to do with it and has just recently married a student of his! Let’s take a few steps back …their mother died at an early age but Ava is certain her mother died in suspicious circumstances. Oh and maybe the house is haunted by a ghost who as a child Ava named Cinderella……
Told by multiple POV’s we visit the past and present. I must say I preferred Didi’s storyline and saw the twist a mile away…well most of it.
What I liked: I just went with the flow and wanted to see how it all came out in end. Super easy read and didn’t have to think. Is it weird I liked Didi?
What I didn’t like: Cinderella!!!!!! Maybe it is fitting I’m vacationing at Disney World but so much could have been explored there to make it more atmospheric.. it just seemed like an afterthought to throw it in .
I do like this author but feel it’s more of a pool read. Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for my advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
February 24, 2023
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 4.5 Stars
Story - 4.5 Stars
October 23, 2022
An extravagant and odd family with past trauma, revenge and secrets - this one has it all!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a thrilling and fun read, I loved guessing the twist and was actually right, which is always a nice surprise.
I felt like the main characters were relatable and their actions reasonable and making sense, but the secondary characters could have a bit more fleshing out done, but that’s just my opinion.
Overall, it truly was fun to read and I’ll be looking out for more novels from the author!
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a thrilling and fun read, I loved guessing the twist and was actually right, which is always a nice surprise.
I felt like the main characters were relatable and their actions reasonable and making sense, but the secondary characters could have a bit more fleshing out done, but that’s just my opinion.
Overall, it truly was fun to read and I’ll be looking out for more novels from the author!
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!
July 8, 2022
Years later, Sarah is going back to that hunted house that troubled her for years. Her mother’s dead story wasn’t so believable for her as everyone was trying to sell it.
Told from multiple narrators, the story was intriguing enough to make me want keep reading until I found out what’s actually happening.
The ending is not as much as a big twists as some may expect but one that was unpredictable for me.
The chilling parts where the house is hunted and some other more intense scenes brought up a lot of questions of who’s really behind everything. Because some clues were pointing to one character when in fact it was someone else altogether.
Entertaining and interesting read.
🆓📖 Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy
Told from multiple narrators, the story was intriguing enough to make me want keep reading until I found out what’s actually happening.
The ending is not as much as a big twists as some may expect but one that was unpredictable for me.
The chilling parts where the house is hunted and some other more intense scenes brought up a lot of questions of who’s really behind everything. Because some clues were pointing to one character when in fact it was someone else altogether.
Entertaining and interesting read.
🆓📖 Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy
October 28, 2022
📚 Happy Friday, Book Friends! Holy Creepy, Batman! SHADOW SISTER by Lindsay Marcott is one of the creepiest books I have ever read. I was scared, grossed out, and came back for more. It felt like I was behind curtains, witnessing the most unnerving and disturbing show. The book has a ghost, a spooky haunted house, a strange family, and an even stranger stalker. I get scared easily and usually stay away from frightening books. I knew I was in for a haunted ride from the start of the book. I was scared and creeped out, but I have no regrets. This is an awesome read that will give you goosebumps.
#bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #ShadowSister #LindsayMarcott #AmazonPublishing #ThomasandMercer #bookreview
May 30, 2024
5 stars audio
4.25 stars story
4.25 stars story
July 17, 2022
I really liked her previous book, Mrs. Rochesters Ghost so I had to read this one too. It’s eerie and suspenseful and overall a great mystery.
October 19, 2022
This is a beyond insane thriller but oh so good!!!!!! You will be captivated and will stay up reading this one late into the night!!!!!
October 22, 2022
A 3.5 rounded down for this one. It’s atmospheric and creepy but it was hard to get behind the motivations of some of the characters and it just dropped my interest towards the end.
The story follows Ava who is returning to her family house where her mother died. Her past haunts her and she’s sure her mother was murdered but needs to find proof that she’s right. As she starts investigating her brother announces that he has suddenly married a woman named Sarah and then he mysteriously disappears. Now as she desperately joins forces with Sarah to find her brother her past comes back to haunt her.
So many questions. Why would Jamie, a man desperate to find relief in logic and reason, marry Sarah on a whim? Why would he rush to drive 2 hours to see his sister after seeing a suspicious drawing? Why would a police consultant that Ava barely knows offer her services for free? Why would Sarah do any of what she does?! It’s a mess. But. I read this in one sitting because I desperate wanted to see how this all came together in the very messy climax. There’s no real surprise here - most armchair detectives will know where this is going really fast. The fun is really just seeing how everything collides.
The story follows Ava who is returning to her family house where her mother died. Her past haunts her and she’s sure her mother was murdered but needs to find proof that she’s right. As she starts investigating her brother announces that he has suddenly married a woman named Sarah and then he mysteriously disappears. Now as she desperately joins forces with Sarah to find her brother her past comes back to haunt her.
So many questions. Why would Jamie, a man desperate to find relief in logic and reason, marry Sarah on a whim? Why would he rush to drive 2 hours to see his sister after seeing a suspicious drawing? Why would a police consultant that Ava barely knows offer her services for free? Why would Sarah do any of what she does?! It’s a mess. But. I read this in one sitting because I desperate wanted to see how this all came together in the very messy climax. There’s no real surprise here - most armchair detectives will know where this is going really fast. The fun is really just seeing how everything collides.
April 7, 2023
I was excited to read this after enjoying the author's other book, and Nenia and I set up a buddy read (check out her review). It sucked me right in, and I was invested in the characters right away. I also hated one of the characters right away, and my hatred of her got my emotions running HIGH. It was making me physically uncomfortable the way she was trampling all over boundaries or ignoring them altogether. GET SOME MANNERS, GIRL. But the fact that my emotions were so high is actually a good sign, because it means I cared about the outcome. While I didn't love the role of Thomas (Suspicious Hot Guy) and thought the resolution was a tiny bit rushed after all that buildup, I did like this. It didn't have that sticking power to make it a favorite of mine, so I wouldn't reread it, but I will definitely check out more by the author!
October 23, 2022
"If I could just see what I already knew— pull it out of the shadows of my mind— I’d have what I was looking for."
Ava grew up in Blackworth Mansion, a childhood home haunted by the ghost of a murdered girl seeking revenge. Her family always seemed to be cursed by this ghost, Cinderella, and Ava's mother had died mysteriously in the house. Seventeen years later, Ava moves back home determined to figure out the truth of what had happened on that fateful night. Shadowed in suspicions, she attempts to recreate forgotten memories using photography to unlock the secrets of her past.
As she recalls lost memories, Ava begins to uncover the truth hidden underneath layers of secrets and fears. Dark and gloomy with a chilling sense of foreshadowing, potential dangers arise and Ava must decide just how deep into the past she's willing to go. Who can Ava actually trust, if anyone? And is the ghost of Cinderella real and still in the house?
Interestingly, this book dealt with reactions to both physical and emotional trauma along with the scars that are inevitably left behind. Searching for a sense of home and belonging and the lengths people will go to avoid losing that further captured my attention. I liked the inclusion of poetry throughout. Ghosts and the power of invisibility added to the mystery. I also enjoyed the way photography was used to unveil secrets of the past that perhaps were better to remain hidden.
However, unlikable characters who played off each other's fears and were burdened by deep insecurities along with a repetitively described setting that seemed more depressing than frightening dampened my expectations of enjoying this book. I figured out the significant plot twist early and I found it difficult to become invested in the characters. Some parts of the story seemed unlikely to happen, testing the limits of what I could truly believe. The ending tried to bring things together and elicit justice but it occurred somewhat abruptly and I was left with several unanswered questions and disappointment in a story that had so much more potential overall.
** Special thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Available October 18, 2022. **
Ava grew up in Blackworth Mansion, a childhood home haunted by the ghost of a murdered girl seeking revenge. Her family always seemed to be cursed by this ghost, Cinderella, and Ava's mother had died mysteriously in the house. Seventeen years later, Ava moves back home determined to figure out the truth of what had happened on that fateful night. Shadowed in suspicions, she attempts to recreate forgotten memories using photography to unlock the secrets of her past.
As she recalls lost memories, Ava begins to uncover the truth hidden underneath layers of secrets and fears. Dark and gloomy with a chilling sense of foreshadowing, potential dangers arise and Ava must decide just how deep into the past she's willing to go. Who can Ava actually trust, if anyone? And is the ghost of Cinderella real and still in the house?
Interestingly, this book dealt with reactions to both physical and emotional trauma along with the scars that are inevitably left behind. Searching for a sense of home and belonging and the lengths people will go to avoid losing that further captured my attention. I liked the inclusion of poetry throughout. Ghosts and the power of invisibility added to the mystery. I also enjoyed the way photography was used to unveil secrets of the past that perhaps were better to remain hidden.
However, unlikable characters who played off each other's fears and were burdened by deep insecurities along with a repetitively described setting that seemed more depressing than frightening dampened my expectations of enjoying this book. I figured out the significant plot twist early and I found it difficult to become invested in the characters. Some parts of the story seemed unlikely to happen, testing the limits of what I could truly believe. The ending tried to bring things together and elicit justice but it occurred somewhat abruptly and I was left with several unanswered questions and disappointment in a story that had so much more potential overall.
** Special thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Available October 18, 2022. **
May 17, 2022
Tha main characters in this book are Ava and Jamie (brother and sister), Jamie's wife... and Blackwood Mansion. The house is so much a part of the story that it is like another character.
Ava and Jamie grow up in Blackwood Mansion with a ghost that they call Cinderella. Their mother dies, and they end up leaving the mansion. Ava comes back years later to figure out what happened.
This story is told from the 3 points of view, which I am always a sucker for. I had chills while reading this book, and it had almost a gothic feel.
I loved the first 3/4 of the book. I was totally engrossed. But then it started to lose me. It was almost like it was a different book. The characters acted differently, and it didn't ring true. And I 100% knew where it was headed - the mystery was gone.
I give the first part of the book 4. stars, but the last part gets 2-3 stars. So let's average the whole book as a 3. Is it worth reading? yes. But get it from the library.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and to #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.
Ava and Jamie grow up in Blackwood Mansion with a ghost that they call Cinderella. Their mother dies, and they end up leaving the mansion. Ava comes back years later to figure out what happened.
This story is told from the 3 points of view, which I am always a sucker for. I had chills while reading this book, and it had almost a gothic feel.
I loved the first 3/4 of the book. I was totally engrossed. But then it started to lose me. It was almost like it was a different book. The characters acted differently, and it didn't ring true. And I 100% knew where it was headed - the mystery was gone.
I give the first part of the book 4. stars, but the last part gets 2-3 stars. So let's average the whole book as a 3. Is it worth reading? yes. But get it from the library.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and to #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.
July 2, 2022
Would be a thriller read I love and remember a long time for sure. The way the author writes made the book feels fast paced because it was gripping and I fly through the pages, I just wanna keep flipping. The characters are ones I genuinely want to root for and care about, each has motives and stories that are not too overwhelming, just realistic enough to be understood.
The plot twist. I personally am not someone who's a big fan nor critical about a twist, it can be there or not be there for me to love a book, but it needs to be believable enough and this book did just that. I'd say it's a smart one and impactful enough, but then again, not a big plot twist frenzy so I might not be the best judge for it.
If you love Jennifer McMahon, I think you'd love this too. The story writing was nice, it's a thriller but it also makes you feel warm at times about the tragic family and sibling bond.
(NetGalley provide me an eARC copy of this book for me to review.)
The plot twist. I personally am not someone who's a big fan nor critical about a twist, it can be there or not be there for me to love a book, but it needs to be believable enough and this book did just that. I'd say it's a smart one and impactful enough, but then again, not a big plot twist frenzy so I might not be the best judge for it.
If you love Jennifer McMahon, I think you'd love this too. The story writing was nice, it's a thriller but it also makes you feel warm at times about the tragic family and sibling bond.
(NetGalley provide me an eARC copy of this book for me to review.)
July 19, 2024
Shadow Sister is a mystery thriller.
The story and plot were very interesting to me and it was what kept me reading the book. I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I really liked the different time lines and seeing the different mysteries. Overall I thought that the story was really good but I thought that it could have
been better and some parts could have been taken out of the story.
Read if you like:
-mystery/thriller
-dual povs
-different timelines
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
The story and plot were very interesting to me and it was what kept me reading the book. I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I really liked the different time lines and seeing the different mysteries. Overall I thought that the story was really good but I thought that it could have
been better and some parts could have been taken out of the story.
Read if you like:
-mystery/thriller
-dual povs
-different timelines
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
November 9, 2022
Ava Holland returns to her haunted childhood mansion in search of clues to solving her mother’s untimely death in Lindsay Marcott’s gothic thriller, Shadow Sister. When her mysterious new sister-in-law Sarah shows up bearing bad news, Ava can’t help but feel that none of them are safe from a past threatening to repeat itself. This is fast-paced, twisty thriller with elements of the gothic and mystery genres. I often get asked about recommendations for easy, fast reads that don’t require too much thought—ones a new mom may want to read between feedings, a lunch break read, or for someone heading on vacation. This is an excellent option. Shadow Sister has an exciting mix of twists and chills, dead ends and mystery that will keep you turning the pages long into the night. I enjoyed how so many of our characters are shrouded in mystery, so while you may guess a twist or two, there are other shocking revelations you may not see coming and you’re never really sure just who to trust. The entire setting at Blackworth Mansion is like something out of a classic gothic horror with ghosts, crumbling statues, dangerous trails and a dark history. Between the atmospheric setting, family drama and the psychological mysteries and motivations you uncover as you read, Shadow Sister is one thriller that grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go.
Thank you to author Lindsay Marcott for my copy of this book
Thank you to author Lindsay Marcott for my copy of this book
December 17, 2022
I had mixed feelings about this book, it is told in multiple person timelines. There was talk about a ghost and I really thought the story would be around that. However, it is more about Ava returning to her childhood home to figure out what happened to her mom. Was she murdered or did she really just sick?
Ava returns to her childhood home after a divorce to bring some closure to her childhood issues. Once she returns home, all the weird things start to happen again. With the help of her brother, she soon realizes there are things from the pas that don't add up. Is she going crazy or is someone trying to kill her?
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy this book for my honest review.
Ava returns to her childhood home after a divorce to bring some closure to her childhood issues. Once she returns home, all the weird things start to happen again. With the help of her brother, she soon realizes there are things from the pas that don't add up. Is she going crazy or is someone trying to kill her?
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy this book for my honest review.
April 4, 2023
this was a super interesting medicalish ghoulish thriller. easy read and very captivating.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🕯️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🕯️
Read
October 17, 2022I didn’t get this book. Haunted house, yes, I understood that, but everything else that followed, I was lost.
This book was a miss for me.
Thanks to Thomas Mercer and NetGalley for the early read.
This book was a miss for me.
Thanks to Thomas Mercer and NetGalley for the early read.
August 23, 2022
This is the eerie, creepy story of a California haunted house — where Ava and Jamie grew up, where their mother died at a young age of “natural causes” when they were young teens, and where adult Ava wants to return to before it can be sold (a trust prevents it from sale until the 29 year old turns 33) in order to stage her own “horror film in a single still” photographic art. Jamie, now a psychology professor, also returns with new wife Sarah (a young widow), who seems to have a strange interest in Ava and the house. Then Jamie disappears.
There are three POVs: Ava and Sarah’s in the present, and Didi’s in the past— who was a teenager who stalked Sarah when Didi’s mom was a house cleaner for Ava’s mother. Of course, you’re going to wonder if one of them (or more) is an unreliable narrator and how their stories are going to converge in present day.
BTW, you will want to Google “Τιμωρία”
Lindsay Marcott did an incredible job with “Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost” and “Shadow Sister” will equally enthrall thriller fans. 5 stars!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Tawny, blue, sad and bloodshot, but no green ones. Christina, however, has golden eyes (not rare, impossible).
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The Monterey Peninsula has its own type of stormy haunted landscape. Ava’s brother Jamie is deformed by the “claws” of a juniper and Mom might have been poisoned by the plants she used in her paints.
There are three POVs: Ava and Sarah’s in the present, and Didi’s in the past— who was a teenager who stalked Sarah when Didi’s mom was a house cleaner for Ava’s mother. Of course, you’re going to wonder if one of them (or more) is an unreliable narrator and how their stories are going to converge in present day.
BTW, you will want to Google “Τιμωρία”
Lindsay Marcott did an incredible job with “Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost” and “Shadow Sister” will equally enthrall thriller fans. 5 stars!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Tawny, blue, sad and bloodshot, but no green ones. Christina, however, has golden eyes (not rare, impossible).
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The Monterey Peninsula has its own type of stormy haunted landscape. Ava’s brother Jamie is deformed by the “claws” of a juniper and Mom might have been poisoned by the plants she used in her paints.
September 14, 2022
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. This was my first book by Lindsay Marcott and I really liked it! It had a creepy, gothic, suspenseful feel to it and it kept my interest from the beginning to end! I liked the writing style and the shorter chapters. I also enjoyed how it switched between Ava’s, Sarah’s and Didi’s perspectives.
As far as characters go, I liked Ava, Jamie and Thomas. I was not a fan of Sarah or Didi. Didi was just completely crazy (honestly, she was totally messed up😳). I also didn’t care for Christina too much either (Ava and Jamie’s mom). At times she was okay I guess, but there were so many things she did that really annoyed me.
The descriptions in the book were very well written. It gave me chills at times when it described the creepiness of Blackworth Mansion and “Cinderella” (the ghost).
The reason this wasn’t quite a 5 star book for me is because it was very predictable. I figured out the “twist” very early on but still enjoyed reading how the story unfolded. Although there was a part in there that I didn’t expect with Ava and Jamie’s dad so that’s was a nice little shocker.
Overall I did enjoy this one and do recommend picking up a copy when it’s released on October 18th. It’s a perfect book to read around Halloween time! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
As far as characters go, I liked Ava, Jamie and Thomas. I was not a fan of Sarah or Didi. Didi was just completely crazy (honestly, she was totally messed up😳). I also didn’t care for Christina too much either (Ava and Jamie’s mom). At times she was okay I guess, but there were so many things she did that really annoyed me.
The descriptions in the book were very well written. It gave me chills at times when it described the creepiness of Blackworth Mansion and “Cinderella” (the ghost).
The reason this wasn’t quite a 5 star book for me is because it was very predictable. I figured out the “twist” very early on but still enjoyed reading how the story unfolded. Although there was a part in there that I didn’t expect with Ava and Jamie’s dad so that’s was a nice little shocker.
Overall I did enjoy this one and do recommend picking up a copy when it’s released on October 18th. It’s a perfect book to read around Halloween time! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2022
Shadow Sister by Lindsay Marcott is set to release on October 18, 2022 and is published by Thomas & Mercer. This was my first time reading this author and I did enjoy this book. I believe it’s the perfect read for the month of October as the main setting takes place in an old mansion called Blackworth Mansion that is old and creepy and thought to be haunted. It’s the childhood home of Ava and Jamie Holland. Ava returns home to live at the mansion after being away for many years to try and find answers to some of her questions as to what really happened to her mother and what caused her death. The mansion supposedly is inhabited by a ghost named Cinderella and that adds to the spookiness of the story. The addition of the secondary characters brings the story to life and although I pretty much had the plot all figured out very early on, I still really enjoyed the story. If creepy settings and somewhat crazy characters set on revenge appeals to you then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book as well. I recommend it and think with Halloween coming right up, it’s the perfect read for this time of year. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc that I received off the Read Now section. I thought it was a really good story and I hope to read more by this author in the near future. I’m giving this a 4 star rating!
March 2, 2023
HEY ALEXA PLAY SHADOW BY ASHLEE SIMPSON!
I was LiVin iN tHe ShAdOw oF sOmeOnE eLsE’s FiVe StAr ReAd!!!! HEHEHEHEHHEEHHEEEEEEEEEE!
This twisted lil’ novel was February’s #twistedbuddyread with my best gal Lindsay M. - it was her turn to pick! And while it was a wildly enjoyable, wicked ride for her – it was an uneventful gothic thriller por moi! (I’m sure none of you are surprised lol)
Shadow Sister was incredibly atmospheric and extra points were shelled out by this California bookworm babe for all the SoCal vibes fashoOoOo: Laguna Beach, Monterey, Salinas… home is where the heart is 😉 however the supposedly haunted home that is a BIG character of this particular novel fell… hauntingly short!
Wealthy AF and belonging to an incredibly strange family, the Holland siblings had a bizarre and traumatic upbringing involving an artistic mother and a perv of a father. When Ava Holland returns to their childhood home to explore her mother’s death, dark secrets from her teenage years rise to the surface. Things quickly take a mysterious turn when the beau of Ava’s brother and the recluse of their high school enter the picture and things start to intensify (orrrrrrr not so much LOL) DUN-DUN-DUNNNNNNN!
Told in dual POVs with a SHOCKING reveal (to some readers) at the end (AKA not me) this book was “ehhhhh” at best.
OKAY, OFF TO GO PLAN A VACAY AT A HAUNTED MANSION WITH LINDS! TOODLES MY NOODLES!!!!
I was LiVin iN tHe ShAdOw oF sOmeOnE eLsE’s FiVe StAr ReAd!!!! HEHEHEHEHHEEHHEEEEEEEEEE!
This twisted lil’ novel was February’s #twistedbuddyread with my best gal Lindsay M. - it was her turn to pick! And while it was a wildly enjoyable, wicked ride for her – it was an uneventful gothic thriller por moi! (I’m sure none of you are surprised lol)
Shadow Sister was incredibly atmospheric and extra points were shelled out by this California bookworm babe for all the SoCal vibes fashoOoOo: Laguna Beach, Monterey, Salinas… home is where the heart is 😉 however the supposedly haunted home that is a BIG character of this particular novel fell… hauntingly short!
Wealthy AF and belonging to an incredibly strange family, the Holland siblings had a bizarre and traumatic upbringing involving an artistic mother and a perv of a father. When Ava Holland returns to their childhood home to explore her mother’s death, dark secrets from her teenage years rise to the surface. Things quickly take a mysterious turn when the beau of Ava’s brother and the recluse of their high school enter the picture and things start to intensify (orrrrrrr not so much LOL) DUN-DUN-DUNNNNNNN!
Told in dual POVs with a SHOCKING reveal (to some readers) at the end (AKA not me) this book was “ehhhhh” at best.
OKAY, OFF TO GO PLAN A VACAY AT A HAUNTED MANSION WITH LINDS! TOODLES MY NOODLES!!!!
July 25, 2023
I love love love finding books I would not have otherwise heard about had it not been for this book loving community .
Big thank you to Thomas & Mercer, who shared this book with me . It was above and beyond what I could have ever expected .
This is a slow burn murder mystery jam packed with details and an explosive narrative . I read The Shadow Sisters in one sitting and I was left with my jaw on the floor. Never, could I have anticipated all this book holds.
Long buried secrets are soon exposed….
Teaser:
Ava grew up in a haunted mansion, envied by all her friends. But when her mother died mysteriously there, the thrills of Blackworth Mansion became nightmares. Ava never accepted that her mother perished from natural causes, but no one would believe her.
Seventeen years later, Ava returns home to unravel the truth of her mother’s death—and her own demons quickly follow. Her estranged and vindictive father may be stalking her. Her secretive new sister-in-law lands on her doorstep with troubles of her own. And then there’s the strange girl who may or may not be haunting the grounds. Even Ava’s romance with her first crush is shadowed by her suspicions.
When Ava makes a terrifying discovery on the property, she must decide just how far into the past she’s willing to go. Some secrets can be deadly—especially the ones Ava’s kept hidden in the dark.
Big thank you to Thomas & Mercer, who shared this book with me . It was above and beyond what I could have ever expected .
This is a slow burn murder mystery jam packed with details and an explosive narrative . I read The Shadow Sisters in one sitting and I was left with my jaw on the floor. Never, could I have anticipated all this book holds.
Long buried secrets are soon exposed….
Teaser:
Ava grew up in a haunted mansion, envied by all her friends. But when her mother died mysteriously there, the thrills of Blackworth Mansion became nightmares. Ava never accepted that her mother perished from natural causes, but no one would believe her.
Seventeen years later, Ava returns home to unravel the truth of her mother’s death—and her own demons quickly follow. Her estranged and vindictive father may be stalking her. Her secretive new sister-in-law lands on her doorstep with troubles of her own. And then there’s the strange girl who may or may not be haunting the grounds. Even Ava’s romance with her first crush is shadowed by her suspicions.
When Ava makes a terrifying discovery on the property, she must decide just how far into the past she’s willing to go. Some secrets can be deadly—especially the ones Ava’s kept hidden in the dark.
December 30, 2022
Ava grew up in the notoriously haunted Blackworth Mansion with her nortiously eccentric family and all the drama and trauma that comes with it. The novelty of living in a haunted house with a ghost named Cinderella quickly ends when Ava’s mother mysteriously dies there. Ava is sure it was not an accident, but no one believes her. Now years later, she’s back to determine the truth and face demons of her own.
Shadow Sister is such a fun read ! Is it weird to say that about a thriller ? It’s the perfect kind of mystery to escape into when you want to relax and go with the flow.
It’s told in multiple POVs and timelines, which is one of my favourite formats. Didi and Ava make for a good contrasting narrative and I had fun putting the pieces together. When a book is well-written and clever like this, I don’t mind when I figure out the twist and it doesn’t change my enjoyment of the book. And I also really like to be right 😊
Now I need to grab a copy if Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost !
Thank you @brilliancepublishing for the gifted finished copy 🖤
Shadow Sister is such a fun read ! Is it weird to say that about a thriller ? It’s the perfect kind of mystery to escape into when you want to relax and go with the flow.
It’s told in multiple POVs and timelines, which is one of my favourite formats. Didi and Ava make for a good contrasting narrative and I had fun putting the pieces together. When a book is well-written and clever like this, I don’t mind when I figure out the twist and it doesn’t change my enjoyment of the book. And I also really like to be right 😊
Now I need to grab a copy if Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost !
Thank you @brilliancepublishing for the gifted finished copy 🖤
September 2, 2022
This is the eerie, creepy story of a California haunted house — where Ava and Jamie grew up, where their mother died at a young age of “natural causes” when they were young teens, and where adult Ava wants to return to before it can be sold (a trust prevents it from sale until the 29 year old turns 33) in order to stage her own “horror film in a single still” photographic art. Jamie, now a psychology professor, also returns with new wife Sarah (a young widow), who seems to have a strange interest in Ava and the house. Then Jamie disappears.
There are three POVs: Ava and Sarah’s in the present, and Didi’s in the past— who was a teenager who stalked Sarah when Didi’s mom was a house cleaner for Ava’s mother. Of course, you’re going to wonder if one of them (or more) is an unreliable narrator and how their stories are going to converge in present day.
BTW, you will want to Google “Τιμωρία”
Lindsay Marcott did an incredible job with “Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost” and “Shadow Sister” will equally enthrall thriller fans. 5 stars!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Tawny, blue, sad and bloodshot, but no green ones. Christina, however, has golden eyes (not rare, impossible).
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The Monterey Peninsula has its own type of stormy haunted landscape. Ava’s brother Jamie is deformed by the “claws” of a juniper and Mom might have been poisoned by the plants she used in her paints
There are three POVs: Ava and Sarah’s in the present, and Didi’s in the past— who was a teenager who stalked Sarah when Didi’s mom was a house cleaner for Ava’s mother. Of course, you’re going to wonder if one of them (or more) is an unreliable narrator and how their stories are going to converge in present day.
BTW, you will want to Google “Τιμωρία”
Lindsay Marcott did an incredible job with “Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost” and “Shadow Sister” will equally enthrall thriller fans. 5 stars!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Tawny, blue, sad and bloodshot, but no green ones. Christina, however, has golden eyes (not rare, impossible).
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The Monterey Peninsula has its own type of stormy haunted landscape. Ava’s brother Jamie is deformed by the “claws” of a juniper and Mom might have been poisoned by the plants she used in her paints
May 14, 2022
Lindsay Marcott has done it again!
Shadow Sister is a stunning story of the different types of ghosts that haunt us.
Actual ghosts, yes, but also the ghosts of what could have been, the ghosts of forgotten memories, and the ghosts of betrayed trust.
As Ava returns home and is forced to face the ghosts she'd left behind, she is thrust back into a home filled with lies.
"and I'd felt a burst of love with a twinge of some aching pain."
Marcott's writing is descriptive and atmospheric, placing the reader right into Blackworth Mansion and visualizing all of its gothic glory. The twists and turns keep the suspense high throughout the story, and the characters are beautifully flawed. I was enthralled from page one and never wanted to put this book down!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Shadow Sister is a stunning story of the different types of ghosts that haunt us.
Actual ghosts, yes, but also the ghosts of what could have been, the ghosts of forgotten memories, and the ghosts of betrayed trust.
As Ava returns home and is forced to face the ghosts she'd left behind, she is thrust back into a home filled with lies.
"and I'd felt a burst of love with a twinge of some aching pain."
Marcott's writing is descriptive and atmospheric, placing the reader right into Blackworth Mansion and visualizing all of its gothic glory. The twists and turns keep the suspense high throughout the story, and the characters are beautifully flawed. I was enthralled from page one and never wanted to put this book down!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
November 10, 2022
Spooky season is not over yet and you need to read this one for a haunted house murder mystery gone sideways. Ava goes home to her childhood haunted house to try to remember how her mother was murdered and along the way, shit hits the fan with her weird new sister in law. This book was fully developed and didn’t skim back on plot or characters, I couldn’t put it down until I figured out what was going on. While the twist was easy to guess that doesn’t take away from how fun and creative it was! Put this on your TBR for a bingeable thriller.
Pub Date: Oct 18th, 2022
Pages: 396 pages
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for my eARC for this book.
Pub Date: Oct 18th, 2022
Pages: 396 pages
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for my eARC for this book.
January 4, 2024
Quick easy read; suspense; interesting concept; slightly predictable.
October 9, 2024
Evocative writing, good audio narration, and interesting characters. The story itself tappered off for me about 3/4 the way through and began to drag, but an overall good read.
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