What do you think?
Rate this book
Seven Sisters
SHORTLISTED FOR BEST CRIME FICTION IN THE 2023 NED KELLY AWARDS
Men get away with murder all the time. Now it's our turn ...
Naomi started grief counselling prepared to run for cover as soon as her therapist, Mia, pulled out a crystal or tried to align her chakras.
When Mia suggests that she join a support group, Naomi is how could she begin to describe what it felt like to lose her sister, Jo? How could she possibly share her loss and rage to a room full of people? How could she express her helplessness that Jo's killer walks free on a suspended sentence?
And how could she share her deepest desire to see Jo's killer dead by her hand?
In the group sessions, Naomi finds that her experiences and her anger are shared between the other Gabrielle, Brooke, Katy, Olivia and Amy. Under the enigmatic leadership of Mia, a plan begins to take shape.
I'll kill yours if you kill mine ...
'A love letter to Hitchcock and Highsmith, fuelled by women's rage. Once you start you won't be able to stop.' Hayley Scrivenor
'An intense, page-turning psychological thriller that ... grips the reader with two-handed fury. Perfect for fans of Patricia Highsmith, Candice Fox and Jacqueline Bublitz, Seven Sisters will have you questioning your idea of justice and how far you would go to help others -- including taking an eye for an eye.' Books + Publishing
'A cracking thriller that I could not put down for a second ... This is a chilling, compelling, and completely addictive descent down the rabbit hole.' Dinuka McKenzie
'Compelling reading! Seven Sisters is the ultimate fightback novel.' Vikki Petraitis
'[This] taut, morally ambiguous thriller ... measures out a precise cocktail of parable and revenge fantasy' Sydney Morning Herald
Men get away with murder all the time. Now it's our turn ...
Naomi started grief counselling prepared to run for cover as soon as her therapist, Mia, pulled out a crystal or tried to align her chakras.
When Mia suggests that she join a support group, Naomi is how could she begin to describe what it felt like to lose her sister, Jo? How could she possibly share her loss and rage to a room full of people? How could she express her helplessness that Jo's killer walks free on a suspended sentence?
And how could she share her deepest desire to see Jo's killer dead by her hand?
In the group sessions, Naomi finds that her experiences and her anger are shared between the other Gabrielle, Brooke, Katy, Olivia and Amy. Under the enigmatic leadership of Mia, a plan begins to take shape.
I'll kill yours if you kill mine ...
'A love letter to Hitchcock and Highsmith, fuelled by women's rage. Once you start you won't be able to stop.' Hayley Scrivenor
'An intense, page-turning psychological thriller that ... grips the reader with two-handed fury. Perfect for fans of Patricia Highsmith, Candice Fox and Jacqueline Bublitz, Seven Sisters will have you questioning your idea of justice and how far you would go to help others -- including taking an eye for an eye.' Books + Publishing
'A cracking thriller that I could not put down for a second ... This is a chilling, compelling, and completely addictive descent down the rabbit hole.' Dinuka McKenzie
'Compelling reading! Seven Sisters is the ultimate fightback novel.' Vikki Petraitis
'[This] taut, morally ambiguous thriller ... measures out a precise cocktail of parable and revenge fantasy' Sydney Morning Herald
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 4, 2023
58 people are currently reading
1027 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
December 19, 2022
Wow..just wow! I seriously could not stop reading this book. If you are a fan of revenge thrillers then Seven Sisters is the book for you. Set in Sydney, I was hoping that each and every single one of these women would succeed. I could picture it all in my head, the leafy suburbs of the northern beaches and inner west.a must read for the Aussie summer, all the stars from me.
Naomi isn’t a big fan of therapy, and when her therapist Mia suggests she join one of her group sessions, she has her doubts. Her grief is very personal and she isn’t sure she wants to share it. But when he turns up for her first meeting, she find a group of women who all share her sufferIng. All of these women have lost a sister to domestic violence, and all the men have gotten away with it. And it is time them to pay.
I don’t want to give too much away, but you will feel for all of these women and their stories. It is heartbreaking, and it happens far too often in reality. I was 100% behind these ladies and I think you will be too.
Thank you so much to Harper Collins for my advanced copy of to read. Published on January 4th, get this on your TBR
Naomi isn’t a big fan of therapy, and when her therapist Mia suggests she join one of her group sessions, she has her doubts. Her grief is very personal and she isn’t sure she wants to share it. But when he turns up for her first meeting, she find a group of women who all share her sufferIng. All of these women have lost a sister to domestic violence, and all the men have gotten away with it. And it is time them to pay.
I don’t want to give too much away, but you will feel for all of these women and their stories. It is heartbreaking, and it happens far too often in reality. I was 100% behind these ladies and I think you will be too.
Thank you so much to Harper Collins for my advanced copy of to read. Published on January 4th, get this on your TBR
January 3, 2023
A topical and thrilling story, but with uneven character development that left me feeling a little unanchored. Seven sisters, seven victims, seven abusers - it was a lot. In the end I felt like I had a good grip on Mia, Naomi, Olivia and Gab (to an extent), but the rest were blurry. Readers who prefer plot over character will love it though.
Naomi has been seeing Mia for trauma/grief counselling at her Sydney practice, The Pleiades. When Mia suggests Naomi come along to a group therapy session, Naomi is sceptical but agrees to give it a try. It turns out to be a kind of therapy unlike any she could have imagined, and she is drawn in. She quickly understands that the group members have something very specific in common. They are all sisters of women killed by perpetrators of domestic violence; men who got away with murder. Guided by Mia, the women hatch a plan to bring each other the ultimate relief of revenge.
After the drawn-out establishment of the group, the plot hurtles along at a good pace. One after another the problems are dealt with by inventive but plausible means. Tension is provided by the need to avoid being caught in the act, and also by the police investigations happening off to the side of the action. Slowly Mia's own story is revealed, giving some much-needed context to her unusual therapy.
I found this book quite different from Kovacic's Alex Clayton series (which I love) and suspect I might have got into a bit more if it was by an unknown author. My own expectations seemed to curtail my enthusiasm a little. Still, it was a good read.
With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for an uncorrected proof to read and review.
Naomi has been seeing Mia for trauma/grief counselling at her Sydney practice, The Pleiades. When Mia suggests Naomi come along to a group therapy session, Naomi is sceptical but agrees to give it a try. It turns out to be a kind of therapy unlike any she could have imagined, and she is drawn in. She quickly understands that the group members have something very specific in common. They are all sisters of women killed by perpetrators of domestic violence; men who got away with murder. Guided by Mia, the women hatch a plan to bring each other the ultimate relief of revenge.
After the drawn-out establishment of the group, the plot hurtles along at a good pace. One after another the problems are dealt with by inventive but plausible means. Tension is provided by the need to avoid being caught in the act, and also by the police investigations happening off to the side of the action. Slowly Mia's own story is revealed, giving some much-needed context to her unusual therapy.
I found this book quite different from Kovacic's Alex Clayton series (which I love) and suspect I might have got into a bit more if it was by an unknown author. My own expectations seemed to curtail my enthusiasm a little. Still, it was a good read.
With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for an uncorrected proof to read and review.
January 23, 2023
This is an almost unputdownable thriller where as a reader you are completely on the side of the murderer. The seven women of the title each had a sister who was a victim of domestic violence and the perpetrators either got away completely free of punishment or a light sentence. The group of women include their therapist Mia and they have a plan like Strangers on a Train where they are going to kill the murderers of their sisters. It’s a great setup considering the statistics, all of us are related to or know women who have experienced domestic violence, there are the horrific cases regularly on the news and the perpetrators have often breached AVOs, so a book where revenge is the motive… it really works. My only criticism would be that some of the women are indistinguishable but the pacing is excellent and I really got involved in the story hoping the cops wouldn’t catch them! A great, escapist read but with the reality of the horrors of domestic violence never far away.
November 16, 2022
“Naomi, tell me everything you can about the man I’m going to kill.”
Seven Sisters is the first stand-alone novel by award-winning Australian author, Katherine Kovacic. Since her footballer brother-in-law, Malik murdered her older sister, then got off with a suspended sentence, Naomi has been seeing therapists to try to come to terms with Jo’s death. The Pleiades, the practice Mia DeVries runs, is the first one that seems to have helped at all. When Mia suggests group therapy, Naomi reluctantly attends.
She soon discovers that the five women she meets have more in common with her than she could ever have imagined: a support group for the sisters of domestic violence murder victims is the last thing she expected. “She heard herself in their words, saw her fury and frustration reflected in every face. These women didn’t just understand her, they were her.” When they share their plan, she’s shocked, but unable to reject the idea.
Each of them needs justice for their sister: “They wanted to remove six blights from the earth, and swap targets so there would be no trail. Targets, not victims – the only victims were the sisters, along with their families and friends living each day with the knowledge of how they died and how little their deaths seemed to matter to everyone else.”
All the women suffer survivor guilt as well as the frustration of not having been able to save their sisters. But their motivation is not just revenge: removing these monsters from the planet so they can’t harm anyone else rates just as high. They prepare: they make plans, allocate targets, and offer each other expertise in achieving their aims, and knowing their targets.
And then, very much under the radar, they embark on their audacious scheme. Not quite everything goes to plan, but men die, in what seem to be unfortunate accidents. In all their careful planning, their burner phones, long intervals between kills and clandestine meetings, however, they haven’t reckoned with Detective Senior Sergeant Fiona Ulbrick. Fiona worked hard to get one of those men charged with murder, and is angry and discouraged when he is released after just a few years in prison.
She keeps a private file on him, just in case he pops up in another domestic violence situation. And then begins keeping notes on other offenders who escaped incarceration in the same situation. So when her initial offender is in the news due to his accidental death, her interest is piqued. Even moreso when another man on her list suffers a fatal accident.
But there’s nothing suspicious, no links to possibly disgruntled survivors. Eventually, she’s making a new list, of domestic violence perpetrators with fatally bad luck: DIY mishap, drowning, overdose, car crash. She spends far too much time on it, but has she finally found a connection?
It’s not often that a reader will find themselves anxiously wondering if a vigilante killer will succeed, perhaps even cheering them on, but Kovacic’s exploration of the potential actions of those seeking closure when left behind after domestic violence reaches its most tragic conclusion, may find themselves doing just that. This is a heart-thumping, nail-biting page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia.
Seven Sisters is the first stand-alone novel by award-winning Australian author, Katherine Kovacic. Since her footballer brother-in-law, Malik murdered her older sister, then got off with a suspended sentence, Naomi has been seeing therapists to try to come to terms with Jo’s death. The Pleiades, the practice Mia DeVries runs, is the first one that seems to have helped at all. When Mia suggests group therapy, Naomi reluctantly attends.
She soon discovers that the five women she meets have more in common with her than she could ever have imagined: a support group for the sisters of domestic violence murder victims is the last thing she expected. “She heard herself in their words, saw her fury and frustration reflected in every face. These women didn’t just understand her, they were her.” When they share their plan, she’s shocked, but unable to reject the idea.
Each of them needs justice for their sister: “They wanted to remove six blights from the earth, and swap targets so there would be no trail. Targets, not victims – the only victims were the sisters, along with their families and friends living each day with the knowledge of how they died and how little their deaths seemed to matter to everyone else.”
All the women suffer survivor guilt as well as the frustration of not having been able to save their sisters. But their motivation is not just revenge: removing these monsters from the planet so they can’t harm anyone else rates just as high. They prepare: they make plans, allocate targets, and offer each other expertise in achieving their aims, and knowing their targets.
And then, very much under the radar, they embark on their audacious scheme. Not quite everything goes to plan, but men die, in what seem to be unfortunate accidents. In all their careful planning, their burner phones, long intervals between kills and clandestine meetings, however, they haven’t reckoned with Detective Senior Sergeant Fiona Ulbrick. Fiona worked hard to get one of those men charged with murder, and is angry and discouraged when he is released after just a few years in prison.
She keeps a private file on him, just in case he pops up in another domestic violence situation. And then begins keeping notes on other offenders who escaped incarceration in the same situation. So when her initial offender is in the news due to his accidental death, her interest is piqued. Even moreso when another man on her list suffers a fatal accident.
But there’s nothing suspicious, no links to possibly disgruntled survivors. Eventually, she’s making a new list, of domestic violence perpetrators with fatally bad luck: DIY mishap, drowning, overdose, car crash. She spends far too much time on it, but has she finally found a connection?
It’s not often that a reader will find themselves anxiously wondering if a vigilante killer will succeed, perhaps even cheering them on, but Kovacic’s exploration of the potential actions of those seeking closure when left behind after domestic violence reaches its most tragic conclusion, may find themselves doing just that. This is a heart-thumping, nail-biting page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia.
March 7, 2023
A revenge thriller with a difference, Seven Sisters deals with the all-too-familiar story of domestic abusers who literally get away with murder. But the comeuppance is measured, cleverly devised and carefully executed. And it’s dealt out by seven sisters (Mia, Naomi, Olivia, Gabrielle, Amy, Katy and Brooke) of the original victims in all manner of ways.
Naomi is a grieving sister to a woman who was murdered by her boyfriend. She had been abused by him for some time before he finally stabbed her when she tried to leave him. To make matters worse the man, a football player, somehow got off with a suspended sentence. Part of her process to come to terms with what had happened to her sister was to go into grief counselling with Mia at The Pleiades, Trauma Counselling and Therapy.
After a few sessions Mia suggests that Naomi is ready to take part in group therapy. Although reluctant, she agrees. And when she shows up to her first group therapy session she realises that the 5 other participants have stories that virtually match her own. They all had sisters who were killed by their abusing partner - and that partner either received an extremely light sentence or was let off completely.
And this is where Mia takes group therapy to a whole ‘nother level.
Everyone is sick to death of men getting away with murder. It’s time to deal out some “proper” justice to these men who’ve gotten away with murder.
The plan is for each of the women in the group to undertake a task to kill one of the men responsible for the deaths of one of the sisters. Channelling Strangers on a Train, they aim to each take out someone who is in no way related to them and they would do it in a way that wouldn’t arouse suspicion. The plan also entails ensuring the sister directly related to the targeted man has a rock solid alibi.
Once the groundwork has been laid the action begins, making this an action-filled story of wrongness prettied up to appear to be justifiable homicide. Of course it’s not okay to resort to vigilante justice. Of course it’s not okay to go out and start deciding who gets to live or die based on your own values of right and wrong. But putting all that aside, it does make for a very exciting thriller packed with moments of tension and high drama.
Now, when you’ve got the prospect of 6 people planning to commit 6 murders in 6 different ways you just know there’s a high likelihood that something’s going to go wrong along the way. Exactly when and exactly how is the reason we read these kinds of books and are fascinated by them.
The jeopardy comes in the form of Detective Fiona Ulbrick, a seasoned on-the-ball cop who has taken an interest in all domestic violence cases around Sydney. Having worked many of them, she’s had her gears ground numerous times by perfectly good police work being usurped by plea deals and prosecutorial shenanigans. She’s kept files. And when names of dead men she has files on start popping up all over the place she gets an itch in the back of her head.
Bearing in mind that this is the type of thing, this revenge killing stuff, is to be absolutely reviled in the real world, in the world of fast-paced, compelling fiction it works really well. It’s nice to be able to take your moral outrage and syphon it off into an imaginary scenario where the scumbag bastards who always seem to get away with it finally get what’s coming to them.
And for those who enjoyed Seven Sisters and are looking for more of this kind of revenge drama, you might like to read The Family Doctor by Debra Oswald.
Naomi is a grieving sister to a woman who was murdered by her boyfriend. She had been abused by him for some time before he finally stabbed her when she tried to leave him. To make matters worse the man, a football player, somehow got off with a suspended sentence. Part of her process to come to terms with what had happened to her sister was to go into grief counselling with Mia at The Pleiades, Trauma Counselling and Therapy.
After a few sessions Mia suggests that Naomi is ready to take part in group therapy. Although reluctant, she agrees. And when she shows up to her first group therapy session she realises that the 5 other participants have stories that virtually match her own. They all had sisters who were killed by their abusing partner - and that partner either received an extremely light sentence or was let off completely.
And this is where Mia takes group therapy to a whole ‘nother level.
Everyone is sick to death of men getting away with murder. It’s time to deal out some “proper” justice to these men who’ve gotten away with murder.
The plan is for each of the women in the group to undertake a task to kill one of the men responsible for the deaths of one of the sisters. Channelling Strangers on a Train, they aim to each take out someone who is in no way related to them and they would do it in a way that wouldn’t arouse suspicion. The plan also entails ensuring the sister directly related to the targeted man has a rock solid alibi.
Once the groundwork has been laid the action begins, making this an action-filled story of wrongness prettied up to appear to be justifiable homicide. Of course it’s not okay to resort to vigilante justice. Of course it’s not okay to go out and start deciding who gets to live or die based on your own values of right and wrong. But putting all that aside, it does make for a very exciting thriller packed with moments of tension and high drama.
Now, when you’ve got the prospect of 6 people planning to commit 6 murders in 6 different ways you just know there’s a high likelihood that something’s going to go wrong along the way. Exactly when and exactly how is the reason we read these kinds of books and are fascinated by them.
The jeopardy comes in the form of Detective Fiona Ulbrick, a seasoned on-the-ball cop who has taken an interest in all domestic violence cases around Sydney. Having worked many of them, she’s had her gears ground numerous times by perfectly good police work being usurped by plea deals and prosecutorial shenanigans. She’s kept files. And when names of dead men she has files on start popping up all over the place she gets an itch in the back of her head.
Bearing in mind that this is the type of thing, this revenge killing stuff, is to be absolutely reviled in the real world, in the world of fast-paced, compelling fiction it works really well. It’s nice to be able to take your moral outrage and syphon it off into an imaginary scenario where the scumbag bastards who always seem to get away with it finally get what’s coming to them.
And for those who enjoyed Seven Sisters and are looking for more of this kind of revenge drama, you might like to read The Family Doctor by Debra Oswald.
July 23, 2025
Seven Sisters is based on a fascinating premise, deliciously satisfying, despite its moral ambiguity.
Six women of varying ages and backgrounds are brought together by a trauma therapist, Mia, who's hand-picked them from among her client base of those who have suffered either directly or indirectly from male violence. Each of the women has lost a sister, murdered at the hands of an abusive male partner. Working together, the seven women (Mia is a sister too!) will pursue vengeance against the men they believe have escaped proper punishment in a justice system geared more towards protecting the rights of perpetrators than meeting the expectations of victims and their supporters.
Inspired by the classic Hitchcock film adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel Strangers on a Train, the women swap murders, each being allocated the responsibility to arrange the death of a man with whom they have no ostensible link or prior relationship. One by one, the unpunished perpetrators face cleverly arranged "accidents", each designed to look random and unintentional. But, unbeknownst to the sisters, an intelligent and tenacious police investigator, Detective Fiona Ulbrick, has begun to connect the series of apparently unrelated deaths. Can the women keep one (or more) steps ahead of Ulbrick until all six of their "projects" have been successfully completed?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading along as each of the women meticulously planned their crimes, all intended to look to an outside observer to be accidental, but each drawing upon the particular skills and connections of the woman assigned the target. Katherine Kovacic has a devilishly ingenious mind to come up with such a variety of entertaining methods for bumping off evil and thoroughly deserving men. Some of the deaths are particularly appropriate in the circumstances, such as the man who ran down his fiancée with his car as she attempted to escape his control, crushed under the weight of that car when a jack "fails".
As the women work both separately and in designated teams of two (one the perpetrator, the other a logistical assistant) to carry out their plans, bonds are forged and backstories emerge. Each woman has a bittersweet story of love for and loss of a treasured sibling, and bears a burden of trauma, guilt and bitterness over the circumstances of their sisters' deaths. There are both commonalities and divergences in their experiences and Kovacic is masterful in drawing out these stories in a way that never becomes overly sentimental or maudlin.
But the revenge fantasy satisfaction of reading Seven Sisters must be tempered against the appalling reality of domestic violence in Australia. 101 women were killed by intimate partners or other family members in Australia during 2024, averaging one woman killed every 3.56 days, one of the worst years on record. According to Femicide Researcher Sherele Moody, 36 Australian women and 16 Australian children have died as a result of domestic violence incidents so far in 2025. The perpetrators of this violence are overwhelmingly male - approximately six times as many females as males die from intimate partner homicides in Australia. In those rare cases where a female kills her male partner or ex-partner, in around 70% of cases the male partner had been the primary domestic violence perpetrator in the relationship prior to the homicide. Over one in four Australian women (27%) have experienced some form of physical, sexual or emotional violence at the hands of an intimate partner or family member since the age of 15. In Australia, intimate partner violence contributes to more death, disability and illness in women aged 25 to 44 than any other preventable risk factor.
Contrary to the experiences of the characters in Seven Sisters, data shows that the majority of intimate partner homicides in Australia result in successful criminal prosecution of the perpetrator. Rates of criminal conviction for lesser charges relating to domestic violence are considerably lower. That is not to say that the victims and their family and friends are necessarily satisfied with the outcomes, however.
Seven Sisters has been on my TBR for a long time - since panelists agreed how fabulous it was during the 2023 Terror Australis Crime Writers' Festival, in fact - I'm so pleased that I've finally read it, as it met all my expectations. I'd highly recommend Seven Sisters to any reader who is comfortable with a level of moral ambiguity and black humour in their crime fiction reads. I'd caution that, for some readers, there are significant potential triggers around the unflinching depiction of domestic violence, including coercive control.
Six women of varying ages and backgrounds are brought together by a trauma therapist, Mia, who's hand-picked them from among her client base of those who have suffered either directly or indirectly from male violence. Each of the women has lost a sister, murdered at the hands of an abusive male partner. Working together, the seven women (Mia is a sister too!) will pursue vengeance against the men they believe have escaped proper punishment in a justice system geared more towards protecting the rights of perpetrators than meeting the expectations of victims and their supporters.
Inspired by the classic Hitchcock film adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel Strangers on a Train, the women swap murders, each being allocated the responsibility to arrange the death of a man with whom they have no ostensible link or prior relationship. One by one, the unpunished perpetrators face cleverly arranged "accidents", each designed to look random and unintentional. But, unbeknownst to the sisters, an intelligent and tenacious police investigator, Detective Fiona Ulbrick, has begun to connect the series of apparently unrelated deaths. Can the women keep one (or more) steps ahead of Ulbrick until all six of their "projects" have been successfully completed?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading along as each of the women meticulously planned their crimes, all intended to look to an outside observer to be accidental, but each drawing upon the particular skills and connections of the woman assigned the target. Katherine Kovacic has a devilishly ingenious mind to come up with such a variety of entertaining methods for bumping off evil and thoroughly deserving men. Some of the deaths are particularly appropriate in the circumstances, such as the man who ran down his fiancée with his car as she attempted to escape his control, crushed under the weight of that car when a jack "fails".
As the women work both separately and in designated teams of two (one the perpetrator, the other a logistical assistant) to carry out their plans, bonds are forged and backstories emerge. Each woman has a bittersweet story of love for and loss of a treasured sibling, and bears a burden of trauma, guilt and bitterness over the circumstances of their sisters' deaths. There are both commonalities and divergences in their experiences and Kovacic is masterful in drawing out these stories in a way that never becomes overly sentimental or maudlin.
But the revenge fantasy satisfaction of reading Seven Sisters must be tempered against the appalling reality of domestic violence in Australia. 101 women were killed by intimate partners or other family members in Australia during 2024, averaging one woman killed every 3.56 days, one of the worst years on record. According to Femicide Researcher Sherele Moody, 36 Australian women and 16 Australian children have died as a result of domestic violence incidents so far in 2025. The perpetrators of this violence are overwhelmingly male - approximately six times as many females as males die from intimate partner homicides in Australia. In those rare cases where a female kills her male partner or ex-partner, in around 70% of cases the male partner had been the primary domestic violence perpetrator in the relationship prior to the homicide. Over one in four Australian women (27%) have experienced some form of physical, sexual or emotional violence at the hands of an intimate partner or family member since the age of 15. In Australia, intimate partner violence contributes to more death, disability and illness in women aged 25 to 44 than any other preventable risk factor.
Contrary to the experiences of the characters in Seven Sisters, data shows that the majority of intimate partner homicides in Australia result in successful criminal prosecution of the perpetrator. Rates of criminal conviction for lesser charges relating to domestic violence are considerably lower. That is not to say that the victims and their family and friends are necessarily satisfied with the outcomes, however.
Seven Sisters has been on my TBR for a long time - since panelists agreed how fabulous it was during the 2023 Terror Australis Crime Writers' Festival, in fact - I'm so pleased that I've finally read it, as it met all my expectations. I'd highly recommend Seven Sisters to any reader who is comfortable with a level of moral ambiguity and black humour in their crime fiction reads. I'd caution that, for some readers, there are significant potential triggers around the unflinching depiction of domestic violence, including coercive control.
April 17, 2023
*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
*wwfacebook.com/onewomansbbr
**2.5 stars**
Seven Sisters by Katherine Kovacic. (2023).
Naomi started grief counselling prepared to leave if her therapist Mia pulled out a crystal or tried to align her chakras. When Mia suggests she join a support group, Naomi is skeptical it can help her deal with her loss and rage over her murdered sister, and the unfairness that the killer is on a suspended sentence. She can't possibly share her desire to see the killer dead. But in the group sessions she finds her experience and anger is shared by the others: Gabrielle, Brooke, Katy, Olivia and Amy. Under Mia's enigmatic leadership, a plan takes shape...
I'm going to preface this by saying the majority of reviews for this novel have been primarily very positive and the majority of readers have really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I did not really like it that much. I wasn't sold by the concept; I felt like while I could understand the others in the group having made this plan for revenge after a couple of years of meeting, Naomi attends one meeting and then readily agrees to a full-on murder pact - bit of a stretch. I did appreciate the author showcasing the unfairness of men often receiving light sentences for the death of their partners which is a sad truth. Whilst it was easy enough to follow, there were jumps in time and I think it would have been good if this was made clear as heading on the chapters, just to set the scene.
Overall: not for me but most other readers have really enjoyed so definitely worth a go.
*wwfacebook.com/onewomansbbr
**2.5 stars**
Seven Sisters by Katherine Kovacic. (2023).
Naomi started grief counselling prepared to leave if her therapist Mia pulled out a crystal or tried to align her chakras. When Mia suggests she join a support group, Naomi is skeptical it can help her deal with her loss and rage over her murdered sister, and the unfairness that the killer is on a suspended sentence. She can't possibly share her desire to see the killer dead. But in the group sessions she finds her experience and anger is shared by the others: Gabrielle, Brooke, Katy, Olivia and Amy. Under Mia's enigmatic leadership, a plan takes shape...
I'm going to preface this by saying the majority of reviews for this novel have been primarily very positive and the majority of readers have really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I did not really like it that much. I wasn't sold by the concept; I felt like while I could understand the others in the group having made this plan for revenge after a couple of years of meeting, Naomi attends one meeting and then readily agrees to a full-on murder pact - bit of a stretch. I did appreciate the author showcasing the unfairness of men often receiving light sentences for the death of their partners which is a sad truth. Whilst it was easy enough to follow, there were jumps in time and I think it would have been good if this was made clear as heading on the chapters, just to set the scene.
Overall: not for me but most other readers have really enjoyed so definitely worth a go.
January 27, 2023
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
I am a big fan of Melbourne based author Katherine Kovacic. Having devoured Kovacic’s Alex Clayton series and her non-fiction release The Schoolgirl Strangler, I have been on tenterhooks waiting for her new release. Seven Sisters is a psychological crime thriller. With themes of revenge, karma, justice and morals, Seven Sisters is a conflicting tale.
Katherine Kovacic is such a versatile and creative author. After exploring avenues such as crime fiction, cosy crime and non-fiction true crime, we are now graced with a Katherine Kovacic release with psychological fiction elements. Seven Sisters is a book that I was itching to read and I was lucky to receive an uncorrected reading copy from the publisher. I’m glad the wait is over and I finally got the chance to read Seven Sisters, it was a tense read from beginning to end.
Vigilante style sisterhood novels do appeal to me and I was keen to see how Katherine Kovacic would handle this plot direction. Kovacic’s plot is clever, diverse and intriguing. I was immediately drawn into the premise of this one. Kovacic devotes a significant portion of the novel to setting her scene and helping us gain a sense of familiarity around her grief counselling support group. It then takes quite a deadly and shocking twist, immersing the reader in a fast-paced crime escape tale. I think the latter half the novel ramps up pace and tension wise. I was definitely gripping my reading chair tightly as I cheered these women on to success, hoping they would get away with their ultimate act of revenge.
Kovacic takes a raw and honest look at the impact of domestic abuse, not just on those abused but their loved ones left behind. With a knowing and respectful gaze placed on this topical subject, I was pleased to see Kovacic take a sensitive approach to this emotionally difficult aspect of our lives, that is sadly a terrible reality for many. The Australian context was welcomed and I appreciated seeing the impact of this justice wise from the eyes of the different women involved. The varied perspectives were a little hard to grasp at first, but I eventually found my way. Tension comes from the threat of discovery, along with the police presence. I was pretty nervous for most of the time I spent with Seven Sisters, it was a kind of gut churning read.
Sacrifice, commitment, empowerment, reprisal and strength defines Seven Sisters. A powerful read with some triggers, put this one on your list if you appreciate a well crafted psychological suspense tale.
*Thanks extended to HarperCollins Books Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
I am a big fan of Melbourne based author Katherine Kovacic. Having devoured Kovacic’s Alex Clayton series and her non-fiction release The Schoolgirl Strangler, I have been on tenterhooks waiting for her new release. Seven Sisters is a psychological crime thriller. With themes of revenge, karma, justice and morals, Seven Sisters is a conflicting tale.
Katherine Kovacic is such a versatile and creative author. After exploring avenues such as crime fiction, cosy crime and non-fiction true crime, we are now graced with a Katherine Kovacic release with psychological fiction elements. Seven Sisters is a book that I was itching to read and I was lucky to receive an uncorrected reading copy from the publisher. I’m glad the wait is over and I finally got the chance to read Seven Sisters, it was a tense read from beginning to end.
Vigilante style sisterhood novels do appeal to me and I was keen to see how Katherine Kovacic would handle this plot direction. Kovacic’s plot is clever, diverse and intriguing. I was immediately drawn into the premise of this one. Kovacic devotes a significant portion of the novel to setting her scene and helping us gain a sense of familiarity around her grief counselling support group. It then takes quite a deadly and shocking twist, immersing the reader in a fast-paced crime escape tale. I think the latter half the novel ramps up pace and tension wise. I was definitely gripping my reading chair tightly as I cheered these women on to success, hoping they would get away with their ultimate act of revenge.
Kovacic takes a raw and honest look at the impact of domestic abuse, not just on those abused but their loved ones left behind. With a knowing and respectful gaze placed on this topical subject, I was pleased to see Kovacic take a sensitive approach to this emotionally difficult aspect of our lives, that is sadly a terrible reality for many. The Australian context was welcomed and I appreciated seeing the impact of this justice wise from the eyes of the different women involved. The varied perspectives were a little hard to grasp at first, but I eventually found my way. Tension comes from the threat of discovery, along with the police presence. I was pretty nervous for most of the time I spent with Seven Sisters, it was a kind of gut churning read.
Sacrifice, commitment, empowerment, reprisal and strength defines Seven Sisters. A powerful read with some triggers, put this one on your list if you appreciate a well crafted psychological suspense tale.
*Thanks extended to HarperCollins Books Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
January 19, 2023
When a group of women seeking revenge cast their eyes on the men that did them wrong, watch out! An addictive thriller that kept me waiting for something to go wrong but secretly hoping all would stay right. Enjoyable and twisted, this is one of my favourite thrillers I've read for awhile.
January 8, 2023
Thank you Harper Collins for sending us a copy to read and review.
Reclaiming freedom, serving unconventional justice and dishing out the best type of revenge, when the parameters of the law fail in a story where the readers will be cheering from sidelines.
Vigilantes cleverly and methodically working together in a plot that will have you enthralled and on the edge of your seat.
Naomi is bereft and frustrated with the law after her sister was murdered by her husband.
Sceptically joining a support group her eyes are opened when she meets the other participants and hears stories that echo the pain she suffers.
Plans are formulated, unrelated pairings are made and the gusto of enthusiasm is fierce as justice will be meted out.
Meticulous planning and covert actions always leave a trail.
An eagle eyed Detective is seeing a trend, connecting the dots through archives and incredible and relentless sleuthing skills.
She knows some of the domestic violence cases and was frustrated by the outcomes, but upholding the law is in her blood.
Domestic violence and abuse is sadly so common and the victims are mostly women.
It’s a cowardice phenomenon that needs wider safety nets and severe penalties.
I loved the mythological foundation, the strength and courage the women displayed and the overall structure of the plot.
Cheering for success made me realise that in real life I would be pleased to see this happen.
An exciting, enticing and highly anticipated read.
Fans of this genre please welcome Katherine to the crime fiction talent pool, definitely an author I will seek out.
Reclaiming freedom, serving unconventional justice and dishing out the best type of revenge, when the parameters of the law fail in a story where the readers will be cheering from sidelines.
Vigilantes cleverly and methodically working together in a plot that will have you enthralled and on the edge of your seat.
Naomi is bereft and frustrated with the law after her sister was murdered by her husband.
Sceptically joining a support group her eyes are opened when she meets the other participants and hears stories that echo the pain she suffers.
Plans are formulated, unrelated pairings are made and the gusto of enthusiasm is fierce as justice will be meted out.
Meticulous planning and covert actions always leave a trail.
An eagle eyed Detective is seeing a trend, connecting the dots through archives and incredible and relentless sleuthing skills.
She knows some of the domestic violence cases and was frustrated by the outcomes, but upholding the law is in her blood.
Domestic violence and abuse is sadly so common and the victims are mostly women.
It’s a cowardice phenomenon that needs wider safety nets and severe penalties.
I loved the mythological foundation, the strength and courage the women displayed and the overall structure of the plot.
Cheering for success made me realise that in real life I would be pleased to see this happen.
An exciting, enticing and highly anticipated read.
Fans of this genre please welcome Katherine to the crime fiction talent pool, definitely an author I will seek out.
January 30, 2023
When Naomi’s therapist Mia, suggests she joins a support group, Naomi is sceptical: how could she begin to describe what it felt like to lose her sister, Jo? How could she possibly share her loss and rage to a room full of people? How could she express her helplessness that Jo's killer walks free on a suspended sentence?
In the group sessions, Naomi finds that her experiences and her anger are shared between the other members: Gabrielle, Brooke, Katy, Olivia and Amy. Under the enigmatic leadership of Mia, a plan begins to take shape. I'll kill yours if you kill mine …
Okay, this is a Wowsers Wow Wow! I had no idea what I was going into reading this and was surprised by every turn of event. This beautifully written story tackles the difficult subject of domestic abuse, the impact and devastation that is left behind not only to the victim but to their families - everyone suffers at the hands of an abuser - sadly and often the judicial system tragically fails victims and their families.
Set in Sydney, Australia, this revenge thriller is a clever and witty take on a women’s vigilante group. Following Naomi and with the persistence of therapist Mia, we meet Olivia, Brooke, Gabrielle, Katy and Amy - all women have lost a loved one to domestic violence. We learn of the tragic circumstances they have all endured, with the second half of this gloriously crafted tale picking up pace. I felt sympathy and anguish for all the characters, while silently cheering them and on to a mind blowing finale.
Entertaining and engaging, this clever novel will have you questioning your own morals.
In the group sessions, Naomi finds that her experiences and her anger are shared between the other members: Gabrielle, Brooke, Katy, Olivia and Amy. Under the enigmatic leadership of Mia, a plan begins to take shape. I'll kill yours if you kill mine …
Okay, this is a Wowsers Wow Wow! I had no idea what I was going into reading this and was surprised by every turn of event. This beautifully written story tackles the difficult subject of domestic abuse, the impact and devastation that is left behind not only to the victim but to their families - everyone suffers at the hands of an abuser - sadly and often the judicial system tragically fails victims and their families.
Set in Sydney, Australia, this revenge thriller is a clever and witty take on a women’s vigilante group. Following Naomi and with the persistence of therapist Mia, we meet Olivia, Brooke, Gabrielle, Katy and Amy - all women have lost a loved one to domestic violence. We learn of the tragic circumstances they have all endured, with the second half of this gloriously crafted tale picking up pace. I felt sympathy and anguish for all the characters, while silently cheering them and on to a mind blowing finale.
Entertaining and engaging, this clever novel will have you questioning your own morals.
February 25, 2023
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
Seven Sisters by Katherine Kovacic is a fabulous Aussie revenge thriller that you won’t want to put down. In this thriller set in Sydney, the murderers are the heroines! Each of the seven women is the sister to a woman who has been a victim of domestic violence and each of the violators have got away with it due to the failings of the justice system.
Naomi is having grief counselling after losing her sister Jo to an abusive partner who murdered her sister and got off with a suspended sentence. When Naomi’s therapist Mia suggests a support group she’s not sure about it but attends and is introduced to five other women who all have something in common. During these gripping sessions the women plan their revenge taking inspiration from the classic 'Strangers On A Train' and the hunt is on!
I loved the detective angle in the story it was really different and I just never knew how that part was going to pan out!
How far would you go to help others? Although this is fiction it’s utterly devastating that it’s a real fact domestic violence is sadly a reality for many. A fast paced and compelling read !
Publication Date 04 January 2023
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Thanks so much Harper Collins Australia for a review copy of the book
Seven Sisters by Katherine Kovacic is a fabulous Aussie revenge thriller that you won’t want to put down. In this thriller set in Sydney, the murderers are the heroines! Each of the seven women is the sister to a woman who has been a victim of domestic violence and each of the violators have got away with it due to the failings of the justice system.
Naomi is having grief counselling after losing her sister Jo to an abusive partner who murdered her sister and got off with a suspended sentence. When Naomi’s therapist Mia suggests a support group she’s not sure about it but attends and is introduced to five other women who all have something in common. During these gripping sessions the women plan their revenge taking inspiration from the classic 'Strangers On A Train' and the hunt is on!
I loved the detective angle in the story it was really different and I just never knew how that part was going to pan out!
How far would you go to help others? Although this is fiction it’s utterly devastating that it’s a real fact domestic violence is sadly a reality for many. A fast paced and compelling read !
Publication Date 04 January 2023
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Thanks so much Harper Collins Australia for a review copy of the book
May 20, 2023
I love that this one got to the premise of the story quickly (within the first 5 chapters). The short chapters were engaging, I wanted to keep turning to find out what happened next. As there are several women at the centre of the story with their own mini storylines within the bigger story, I felt this gave the book a more detailed feel and kept the story moving along. You’re not often rooting for the murderer but Seven Sisters has you doing just that. This story is plot driven, bear that in mind if character driven is your normal style.
I also love a story that is set in Australia and this one heading out of the city at a couple of different points was a fun addition.
If you love a revenge plot, add this one to your TBR.
I also love a story that is set in Australia and this one heading out of the city at a couple of different points was a fun addition.
If you love a revenge plot, add this one to your TBR.
December 4, 2022
This definitely had me hooked! The first few chapters had me second guessing as it was starting to feel like the therapy group was actually a cult, but then we get to the action & it’s all on. I thought this was a great revenge story - the sisters of women who have been killed by their domestic partners give karma a helping hand. This was an easy story to just keep reading - once I was in, I had to know how each sister was avenged and if they got away with it. I thought this was a well written story, and I enjoyed seeing how they took their revenge.
Thanks to Harper Collins Australia & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Harper Collins Australia & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2023
I never anticipated that this book was going to be a fast-paced page-turner and one I couldn’t put down. Aussie author Katherine Kovacic knows how to entertain her readers that is for sure. Seven Sisters was intense and engrossing, so if you enjoy a good thriller that keeps you on your toes then this one is a must-read for you. Highly recommended.
January 11, 2023
Australian author Katherine Kovacic delivers on a powerful and provocative premise that explores grief, guilt, justice and vengeance in Seven Sisters.
“Each one met her eye, and in each face there was grief and understanding and something else – a reflection of the bleakness she saw whenever she dared to look in a mirror.”
Struggling to cope with her feelings of rage and frustration in the aftermath of her sister’s murder at the hands of her abusive partner, for which he received only a suspended sentence, Naomi doesn’t expect group therapy will be much help. She is stunned when Mia, her psychologist, introduces her to the five other members and learns that not only do they sympathise with her loss, but understand it. Like her, Gabrielle, Brooke, Katy, Olivia and Amy have each lost a beloved sister as a result of domestic violence, and similarly, the perpetrator faced few consequences.
Drawing inspiration from the classic film ‘Strangers on a Train’, the women all agree these men must be stopped, and carefully devise ways to exact justice in a manner that will seem accidental. No plan is perfect however and there are several very tense moments as each woman attempts to fulfil their task by creative, but plausible, methods. I enjoyed the suspense generated by each situation, especially when things threaten to go awry, and then a lone detective begins to grow suspicious about the string of deaths.
I sympathised with each woman, easily imagining the depth of their loss, and the anguish of knowing that the person’s responsible escaped serious repercussions. I can’t really fault them for their desire for revenge especially when the law has failed so badly at meting out justice. Kovacic addresses the moral issues thoughtfully, but honestly it’s hard to muster up any outrage for their actions. Though this is fiction, and I don’t condone murder, I indulge in a little revenge fantasy myself whenever I read in the news of yet another man who receives a ludicrously light sentence or none at all for an assault on a woman.
Compelling, bold and fast paced, Seven Sisters is a well written and exciting revenge thriller.
“Each one met her eye, and in each face there was grief and understanding and something else – a reflection of the bleakness she saw whenever she dared to look in a mirror.”
Struggling to cope with her feelings of rage and frustration in the aftermath of her sister’s murder at the hands of her abusive partner, for which he received only a suspended sentence, Naomi doesn’t expect group therapy will be much help. She is stunned when Mia, her psychologist, introduces her to the five other members and learns that not only do they sympathise with her loss, but understand it. Like her, Gabrielle, Brooke, Katy, Olivia and Amy have each lost a beloved sister as a result of domestic violence, and similarly, the perpetrator faced few consequences.
Drawing inspiration from the classic film ‘Strangers on a Train’, the women all agree these men must be stopped, and carefully devise ways to exact justice in a manner that will seem accidental. No plan is perfect however and there are several very tense moments as each woman attempts to fulfil their task by creative, but plausible, methods. I enjoyed the suspense generated by each situation, especially when things threaten to go awry, and then a lone detective begins to grow suspicious about the string of deaths.
I sympathised with each woman, easily imagining the depth of their loss, and the anguish of knowing that the person’s responsible escaped serious repercussions. I can’t really fault them for their desire for revenge especially when the law has failed so badly at meting out justice. Kovacic addresses the moral issues thoughtfully, but honestly it’s hard to muster up any outrage for their actions. Though this is fiction, and I don’t condone murder, I indulge in a little revenge fantasy myself whenever I read in the news of yet another man who receives a ludicrously light sentence or none at all for an assault on a woman.
Compelling, bold and fast paced, Seven Sisters is a well written and exciting revenge thriller.
February 6, 2024
I didn’t mind the premise for this novel, but it became apparent from the first chapter in, that this was not the book for me. It’s filled with rage, every page, and while that was not entirely surprising given the theme and storyline, the characters were almost aggressive with their rage, and I found it tiring to listen to. And by the third vigilante act, it also became repetitive. The characters remained wooden, and I remained uninterested in the story, right until the very end.
Goodreads shows an overwhelming number of positive reviews for this book but there are a few hidden in there that say similar to what I have. I am rapidly realising though, more and more, that genre fiction, specifically crime, thrillers, and domestic noir, are no longer for me. I should probably cut the genre some slack and just stop reading it.
Goodreads shows an overwhelming number of positive reviews for this book but there are a few hidden in there that say similar to what I have. I am rapidly realising though, more and more, that genre fiction, specifically crime, thrillers, and domestic noir, are no longer for me. I should probably cut the genre some slack and just stop reading it.
December 21, 2023
There're quite a few characters to keep track of in this crime novel however, if you are a fan of revenge thrillers, then this is the book for you! It was enjoyable read by an Aussie author who I have only just discovered. 4.5 Stars.
April 15, 2023
Could not put this thriller down. Vigilante revenge is the premise of this novel and I was completely here for it. I also really loved being on the streets of Sydney and I thought the characters of Kat, Olivia, Naomi, Brooke, Amy, Katy, Gabrielle and Mia were all really well done. It’s such a horrible state of society that sisters of domestic violence victims coming together because the police and legal system have failed seems completely plausible.
January 6, 2023
Love, love, loved this book
Shades of Hitchcocks - Strangers on a train,
Eight manslaughter charges, Seven Accidental deaths
Seven women whose sisters were victims of DV
Writing so beautiful and descriptive I was immersed in the moment experiencing everything
Creative, fast-paced, action-filled
Shades of Hitchcocks - Strangers on a train,
Eight manslaughter charges, Seven Accidental deaths
Seven women whose sisters were victims of DV
Writing so beautiful and descriptive I was immersed in the moment experiencing everything
Creative, fast-paced, action-filled
June 3, 2025
This book was so good! I was hooked from the first page.
December 27, 2022
Well, let me tell you I was HOOKED!
I absolutely loved this book. Set in Australia & predominantly NSW, the story included many places I know & have visited, which just made this story even more enjoyable for me. It’s nice to finally read a book that is set so close to home rather than overseas like most stories.
In this book we follow the story of Naomi who consults yet another grief counsellor following the death of her sister Jo a victim of DV. Little does Naomi know, this grief counsellor has a very different idea about how to deal with her grief & truly get some justice brought into this world. When her therapist Mia suggests group therapy, Naomi is read to run for the hills… but in the end it proves to be just the right thing to bring her whole world back into focus. Nothing will bring Jo back, but it can bring justice if dealt with in the right way & the seven “sisters” will do just that.
From chapter one I was intrigued & I knew I was going to really enjoy this book. The way it was written, all the different stories, circumstances & justices just kept me hooked in. I simply had to find out each of the stories & then subsequently each of their endings which made the book hard to put down. The author never went too deep into the characters themselves which in this storyline was great, as it focused on just enough of what kept them connected & what drove the women to join this group. Whilst the story began with Naomi, we got a little walk through of Olivia, Brooke, Gabrielle, Katy, Amy & therapist Mia & I tell you what, I was backing every single one of them!
Sometimes anger is not just something that can drive people apart, other times it’s the perfect emotion to bring people together.. 😏
I highly recommend getting your hands on this book by Katherine Kovacic! It will be released on the 4th of January 2023 & I am so thankful to both Katherine & Harper Collins Australia for giving me the opportunity to read this early copy.
I absolutely loved this book. Set in Australia & predominantly NSW, the story included many places I know & have visited, which just made this story even more enjoyable for me. It’s nice to finally read a book that is set so close to home rather than overseas like most stories.
In this book we follow the story of Naomi who consults yet another grief counsellor following the death of her sister Jo a victim of DV. Little does Naomi know, this grief counsellor has a very different idea about how to deal with her grief & truly get some justice brought into this world. When her therapist Mia suggests group therapy, Naomi is read to run for the hills… but in the end it proves to be just the right thing to bring her whole world back into focus. Nothing will bring Jo back, but it can bring justice if dealt with in the right way & the seven “sisters” will do just that.
From chapter one I was intrigued & I knew I was going to really enjoy this book. The way it was written, all the different stories, circumstances & justices just kept me hooked in. I simply had to find out each of the stories & then subsequently each of their endings which made the book hard to put down. The author never went too deep into the characters themselves which in this storyline was great, as it focused on just enough of what kept them connected & what drove the women to join this group. Whilst the story began with Naomi, we got a little walk through of Olivia, Brooke, Gabrielle, Katy, Amy & therapist Mia & I tell you what, I was backing every single one of them!
Sometimes anger is not just something that can drive people apart, other times it’s the perfect emotion to bring people together.. 😏
I highly recommend getting your hands on this book by Katherine Kovacic! It will be released on the 4th of January 2023 & I am so thankful to both Katherine & Harper Collins Australia for giving me the opportunity to read this early copy.
December 24, 2022
When I first started Seven Sisters by Katherine Kovacic I was worried it was going in an obvious direction but then realised it wasn't just me drawing parallels between the women we meet here and the book / movie Strangers on a Train. Rather Kovacic - via her characters - makes the point that they're drawing their inspiration from exactly that... crossed with Greek mythology's seven sisters, The Pleiades.
It changed the perspective for me and meant the book was more about the women, the crimes committed against their sisters and the hurt brought upon their families than the unfolding plot itself. I must admit however, though we start by meeting Naomi, one of the 'sisters' and getting to know her, that's really the extent to which we get the opportunity to really know any of them. What I love most about Kovacic's Alex Clayton series are the characters she's created and I felt that the lack of character development (or perhaps the scattered focus on several women) here meant that I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked. I didn't really connect with any of the women in particular, so wasn't that invested in their stories.
Having said that, I enjoyed this read and the insight or study into the women featured here, and of course it highlights the tragedy of violence against women - unfortunately topical and one that continues to see many perpetrators unpunished. Given the ethical or moral dilemmas on offer here I think this would make a brilliant bookclub read to kick of 2023.
3.5 stars
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
It changed the perspective for me and meant the book was more about the women, the crimes committed against their sisters and the hurt brought upon their families than the unfolding plot itself. I must admit however, though we start by meeting Naomi, one of the 'sisters' and getting to know her, that's really the extent to which we get the opportunity to really know any of them. What I love most about Kovacic's Alex Clayton series are the characters she's created and I felt that the lack of character development (or perhaps the scattered focus on several women) here meant that I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked. I didn't really connect with any of the women in particular, so wasn't that invested in their stories.
Having said that, I enjoyed this read and the insight or study into the women featured here, and of course it highlights the tragedy of violence against women - unfortunately topical and one that continues to see many perpetrators unpunished. Given the ethical or moral dilemmas on offer here I think this would make a brilliant bookclub read to kick of 2023.
3.5 stars
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
October 2, 2023
All these reviews saying that this book is a bit far-fetched is like saying the ocean is a bit wet 😂
7 women who each had a sister die at the hands of an intimate partner get together and decide to kill a perpetrator of family violence. Fair enough. Something I’m sure we can all get behind.
There was so much about this book I hated, not the least being that the author had the characters running around with burner phones in Australia. You cannot obtain a mobile phone SIM without ID in Australia. There is no way around it.
One of the characters paid for a hotel at Thredbo in peak season with an anonymous bank account. WTF even is that?!? You want to book a hotel in peak season anywhere, you are laying down a credit card full stop.
All of the deaths were just a little too perfectly executed. Somehow a bunch of normal, non-sociopathic women manage to pull off, not one, but 6 murders that all look like an accident and leave no evidence behind at all.
And then the one cop who gets wise (which in itself is fucking ludicrous) decides to join their little vengeance party?
Come, the fuck, on.
I did however like the fact the the book got the stats right on how many women are killed by intimate partners in this country, how fucking pitiful the sentences against men who commit these crimes are and how harshly women who defend themselves against these men are sentenced.
Fuck the patriarchy.
7 women who each had a sister die at the hands of an intimate partner get together and decide to kill a perpetrator of family violence. Fair enough. Something I’m sure we can all get behind.
There was so much about this book I hated, not the least being that the author had the characters running around with burner phones in Australia. You cannot obtain a mobile phone SIM without ID in Australia. There is no way around it.
One of the characters paid for a hotel at Thredbo in peak season with an anonymous bank account. WTF even is that?!? You want to book a hotel in peak season anywhere, you are laying down a credit card full stop.
All of the deaths were just a little too perfectly executed. Somehow a bunch of normal, non-sociopathic women manage to pull off, not one, but 6 murders that all look like an accident and leave no evidence behind at all.
And then the one cop who gets wise (which in itself is fucking ludicrous) decides to join their little vengeance party?
Come, the fuck, on.
I did however like the fact the the book got the stats right on how many women are killed by intimate partners in this country, how fucking pitiful the sentences against men who commit these crimes are and how harshly women who defend themselves against these men are sentenced.
Fuck the patriarchy.
January 7, 2023
Review in one sentence: He had it coming and I very much enjoyed watching it be delivered.
Naomi joins a therapy support group after her sister was killed by her partner. Her therapist, Mia, introduces her to six other women who all share the same goal- to make the men who killed their sisters pay.
Angry women getting revenge but using *teamwork* is a premise I will probably always get behind. Seven Sisters was no exception.
I really enjoyed following the different storylines and flew through the book. The tension and suspense made it feel like a roller coaster.
I will say there are a lot of characters to keep track of and I definitely had standout characters and background ‘I know next to nothing to define this person’ characters.
My first read for this author and it definitely goes into the category of page turner.
Thank you Harper Collins Australia for providing me with a copy of this book as part of the First in Best read program.
(see story graph for content warnings).
Naomi joins a therapy support group after her sister was killed by her partner. Her therapist, Mia, introduces her to six other women who all share the same goal- to make the men who killed their sisters pay.
Angry women getting revenge but using *teamwork* is a premise I will probably always get behind. Seven Sisters was no exception.
I really enjoyed following the different storylines and flew through the book. The tension and suspense made it feel like a roller coaster.
I will say there are a lot of characters to keep track of and I definitely had standout characters and background ‘I know next to nothing to define this person’ characters.
My first read for this author and it definitely goes into the category of page turner.
Thank you Harper Collins Australia for providing me with a copy of this book as part of the First in Best read program.
(see story graph for content warnings).
December 29, 2023
I liked this book for the most part. The concept of a murder pact between the seven sisters of seven domestic violence victims (lead by an eighth sister come therapist), is an intriguing one.
There are a lot of characters to track and that's okay, but I feel as though they weren’t given equal attention in Kovacic’s story forming process. While I thought the murder schemes were clever (and to some extent plausible, I guess), the women annoyed me. I don’t claim to understand the effects of domestic abuse on victims or their loved ones, I can only imagine the pain and anger…. But I didn’t “like” the characters. I don’t think they seemed believable. The detective, Fiona Ulbrick (her nickname ridiculous!!) annoyed me the most. It’s okay to be like a dog with a bone but that itchy brain?? I don’t know, maybe there are detectives out there with that kind of intuition?? It’s just not easy to believe.
I did like the open-for-interpretation ending. It's grounds for great Book Club debate! Definitely lots of clever ideas in this story… the execution is just lacking a bit, I think.
There are a lot of characters to track and that's okay, but I feel as though they weren’t given equal attention in Kovacic’s story forming process. While I thought the murder schemes were clever (and to some extent plausible, I guess), the women annoyed me. I don’t claim to understand the effects of domestic abuse on victims or their loved ones, I can only imagine the pain and anger…. But I didn’t “like” the characters. I don’t think they seemed believable. The detective, Fiona Ulbrick (her nickname ridiculous!!) annoyed me the most. It’s okay to be like a dog with a bone but that itchy brain?? I don’t know, maybe there are detectives out there with that kind of intuition?? It’s just not easy to believe.
I did like the open-for-interpretation ending. It's grounds for great Book Club debate! Definitely lots of clever ideas in this story… the execution is just lacking a bit, I think.
November 16, 2022
Seven Sisters is that rare combination of a clever, entertaining, and compulsive page-turning read that makes you question your morals; What if in your darkest hour the only beacon of light, shining through the cracks of a broken legal system, is justice from an avenging angel?
September 22, 2023
A little too far fetched for me although an interesting premise.
January 18, 2025
Bad sisters
February 7, 2025
Ended up really enjoying the audio version of this book, but the end didn’t really feel wrapped up …. It probably needed a few more chapters
Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews