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The Deadly Sister
From the author of School for Dangerous Girls, another suspenseful stunner about a girl who helps her sister escape from a murder charge - and then falls for the murder victim's brother.
Abby Goodwin is sure her sister Maya isn't a murderer. But her parents don't agree. Her friends don't agree. And the cops definitely don't agree. Maya is a drop-out, a stoner, a girl who's obsessed with her tutor, Jefferson Andrews...until he ends up dead. Maya runs away, and leaves Abby following the trail of clues. Each piece of evidence points to Maya, but it also appears that Jefferson had secrets of his own. And enemies. Like his brother, who Abby becomes involved with...until he falls under suspicion.
Is Abby getting closer to finding the true murderer? Or is someone leading her down a twisted false path?
Abby Goodwin is sure her sister Maya isn't a murderer. But her parents don't agree. Her friends don't agree. And the cops definitely don't agree. Maya is a drop-out, a stoner, a girl who's obsessed with her tutor, Jefferson Andrews...until he ends up dead. Maya runs away, and leaves Abby following the trail of clues. Each piece of evidence points to Maya, but it also appears that Jefferson had secrets of his own. And enemies. Like his brother, who Abby becomes involved with...until he falls under suspicion.
Is Abby getting closer to finding the true murderer? Or is someone leading her down a twisted false path?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2010
40 people are currently reading
1788 people want to read
About the author
Eliot Schrefer
43 books1,642 followersELIOT SCHREFER is a New York Times-bestselling author, and has twice been a finalist for the National Book Award. In naming him an Editor’s Choice, the New York Times has called his work “dazzling… big-hearted.” He is also the author of two novels for adults and four other novels for children and young adults. His books have been named to the NPR “best of the year” list, the ALA best fiction list for young adults, and the Chicago Public Library’s “Best of the Best.” His work has also been selected to the Amelia Bloomer List, recognizing best feminist books for young readers, and he has been a finalist for the Walden Award and won the Green Earth Book Award and Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award. He lives in New York City, where he reviews books for USAToday.
Also: I love marshmallows and early twentieth century fiction. And apes.
Also: I love marshmallows and early twentieth century fiction. And apes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
May 24, 2011
This a book with the biggest twist at the End. I almost jumped out of my seat.
May 25, 2017
Abby has always protected her troublemaking sister Maya from the consequences of her behavior. Now, Maya is suspected of killing her secret boyfriend and Abby is not going to let her little sister go down for murder, guilty or not.
The premise of Abby's protection never made a lot of sense to me. If Maya has been the target of abuse or bullying or even unfair treatment, I could understand Abby's willingness to sacrifice herself. I didn't feel an emotional connection between the two that would justify such blind devotion. Abby kept telling readers she was the "good" sister, but all she did was lie, deceive, cut school and use friends and foes. That's not my definition of the "good" sibling. For someone who purported herself as being so wise, I didn't see her acting in that manner. I was never certain of the veracity of her narration.
Eliot Schrefer kept me engaged in this medium paced mystery. Savvy readers expecting a twist will not be surprised at how the story unfolds. THE DEADLY SISTER lacked originality, suspense and surprise, but wasn't a terrible read. It was nothing special, and nothing horrible.
The premise of Abby's protection never made a lot of sense to me. If Maya has been the target of abuse or bullying or even unfair treatment, I could understand Abby's willingness to sacrifice herself. I didn't feel an emotional connection between the two that would justify such blind devotion. Abby kept telling readers she was the "good" sister, but all she did was lie, deceive, cut school and use friends and foes. That's not my definition of the "good" sibling. For someone who purported herself as being so wise, I didn't see her acting in that manner. I was never certain of the veracity of her narration.
Eliot Schrefer kept me engaged in this medium paced mystery. Savvy readers expecting a twist will not be surprised at how the story unfolds. THE DEADLY SISTER lacked originality, suspense and surprise, but wasn't a terrible read. It was nothing special, and nothing horrible.
November 17, 2023
I actually enjoyed this story line. It is the kind of simple but shocking true crime that you just want to keep reading because it just keeps grabbing you attention. Definitely an easy read.
June 19, 2010
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Abby has always been the perfect older sister. She has protected Maya, been her alibi on countless occasions, and remained positive when everyone else was ready to give up. Now, something has happened, and Abby may not have the power to save her little sister this time.
While out for a late night run, Abby stumbles across the body of Jefferson Andrews, the most popular guy in high school. As she tries to wrap her head around the gruesome scene before her, she notices something familiar sticking out of the mud. It is Maya's phone. Yes, Abby had mentioned that Jefferson was going to be meeting up with some girl named Caitlin, but she was just trying to prepare Maya for the fact that she was simply his latest conquest in a long line of "love em and leave em" relationships.
How could she have predicted that Maya would follow him and ... she can hardly imagine it ... kill him?
From the moment Abby discovers the cell phone, she finds herself in a desperate race to cover for Maya. Her younger sister's life has been off track for years now. Through their parents' divorce and reconciliation, Maya has been causing nothing but trouble. Her multiple piercings, refusal to go to school, experimentation with drugs, and her week-long disappearances have frustrated and worried her parents until they have finally given up.
But now that Maya may be involved in a situation that could jeopardize her freedom and perhaps her life, Abby can't just sit back and do nothing.
What follows is a journey full of enough plot twists and turns to keep readers' heads spinning. Abby is pulled in countless directions as she attempts to protect Maya, please her parents, and persuade the police investigators that her sister is innocent. Is Maya the killer? Could it be the victim's own brother or some other jealous ex-girlfriend?
Author Eliot Schrefer keeps his readers guessing right up to the end. THE DEADLY SISTER is a perfect summer thriller.
Abby has always been the perfect older sister. She has protected Maya, been her alibi on countless occasions, and remained positive when everyone else was ready to give up. Now, something has happened, and Abby may not have the power to save her little sister this time.
While out for a late night run, Abby stumbles across the body of Jefferson Andrews, the most popular guy in high school. As she tries to wrap her head around the gruesome scene before her, she notices something familiar sticking out of the mud. It is Maya's phone. Yes, Abby had mentioned that Jefferson was going to be meeting up with some girl named Caitlin, but she was just trying to prepare Maya for the fact that she was simply his latest conquest in a long line of "love em and leave em" relationships.
How could she have predicted that Maya would follow him and ... she can hardly imagine it ... kill him?
From the moment Abby discovers the cell phone, she finds herself in a desperate race to cover for Maya. Her younger sister's life has been off track for years now. Through their parents' divorce and reconciliation, Maya has been causing nothing but trouble. Her multiple piercings, refusal to go to school, experimentation with drugs, and her week-long disappearances have frustrated and worried her parents until they have finally given up.
But now that Maya may be involved in a situation that could jeopardize her freedom and perhaps her life, Abby can't just sit back and do nothing.
What follows is a journey full of enough plot twists and turns to keep readers' heads spinning. Abby is pulled in countless directions as she attempts to protect Maya, please her parents, and persuade the police investigators that her sister is innocent. Is Maya the killer? Could it be the victim's own brother or some other jealous ex-girlfriend?
Author Eliot Schrefer keeps his readers guessing right up to the end. THE DEADLY SISTER is a perfect summer thriller.
July 15, 2010
I would give this somewhere between two and three stars.
Things I liked:
*I never got bored with the book, or thought about not finishing it. The author did a good job with the pace of the book
*I liked Cheyenne and Brian
*I didn't figure out the end of the book
*It reminded me of the Christopher Pike books I read as a teenager that I really liked at that time.
Things I disliked:
*Cheyenne and Brian were the only 2 characters I liked (though I disagreed with Cheyenne's choice at the end)
*Even though I give the author points that I didn't figure out the end of the book, I felt frustrated because the beginning of the book didn't feel like it matched the end, though the author did throw two sentences in at the end to try to explain it.
I thought the author was a good writer, but felt like there was no growth in the characters (except maybe Maya at the end), but that wasn't the point of the book, and I prefer books if the characters are going to be that flawed that there is some sort of change.
Things I liked:
*I never got bored with the book, or thought about not finishing it. The author did a good job with the pace of the book
*I liked Cheyenne and Brian
*I didn't figure out the end of the book
*It reminded me of the Christopher Pike books I read as a teenager that I really liked at that time.
Things I disliked:
*Cheyenne and Brian were the only 2 characters I liked (though I disagreed with Cheyenne's choice at the end)
*Even though I give the author points that I didn't figure out the end of the book, I felt frustrated because the beginning of the book didn't feel like it matched the end, though the author did throw two sentences in at the end to try to explain it.
I thought the author was a good writer, but felt like there was no growth in the characters (except maybe Maya at the end), but that wasn't the point of the book, and I prefer books if the characters are going to be that flawed that there is some sort of change.
October 10, 2010
As the one star shows, I didn't like it. It's about a senior in high school, Abby, who tries to take care of her younger sister, a drugged out, high school drop-out, Maya, who runs away from home after a boy she is obsessed with is found dead. Everyone thinks Maya killed the boy. She was so high that night she doesn't really remember all of what happened. By the end of this pointless story, it turns out that the older sister Abby killed the boy and she framed her sister who is sentenced to 15 years in prison! What kind of ending is that? She gets away with murder.
This whole story is full of unredeemable characters: screaming parents, lying teenagers, drug dealers, hateful kids, unreliable relatives; the list goes on.
Yuck.
This whole story is full of unredeemable characters: screaming parents, lying teenagers, drug dealers, hateful kids, unreliable relatives; the list goes on.
Yuck.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2025
1⭐️ 🤮🤬😭
this book was really really bad. the ending was poorly written. the plot was poorly constructed. the worst part was the characters, though.
for example, the character maya whos supposed to be a bad girl who does drugs and sleeps on couches and stuff, is nothing like how they try to portray her. they try to make her be a bad girl, but it’s just really awful. it’s the same with the rest of the characters.
DONT READ THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU HAVE THE TASTE OF A FIFTH GRADER!!!!1!!11!!!
ty 😘
this book was really really bad. the ending was poorly written. the plot was poorly constructed. the worst part was the characters, though.
for example, the character maya whos supposed to be a bad girl who does drugs and sleeps on couches and stuff, is nothing like how they try to portray her. they try to make her be a bad girl, but it’s just really awful. it’s the same with the rest of the characters.
DONT READ THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU HAVE THE TASTE OF A FIFTH GRADER!!!!1!!11!!!
ty 😘
February 26, 2016
Summary:
Abby Goodwin has been taking care of her sister since she was just a little girl. Her younger sister, Maya, is a drop-out stoner who has a record for getting in trouble with the law. However, when one night, Mayaś boyfriend Jefferson is murdered, Abby must help Maya escape and prove her innocent to the police. However, Abby is holding a big secret from her sister, and who to trust is a hard choice.
Rating:
I gave this book five stars because I feel the author did a great job with the plot twist at the end of the story. I feel the author wrapped it up nicely and left the reader satisfied with the ending.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to any mature high school students of either gender who enjoy mystery and realistic fiction.
Setting:
The setting takes place in a rural town, (name is not specified.) And in various other minor places. The book seems to take place in modern day present time.
Characterization:
Abby is the main character of the story, she is 18 years old and is close to graduating. She seems like a very clever, smart girl who knows her way around just about any situation. Throughout the story she seems like her mental state changes quite a bit, and many secrets she holds are revealed. She seems to portray herself as a very innocent character and no suspicion is held against her.
Maya is Abby's younger sister, who is 15 years old. She is a very troublesome child and she is known to be a high-end stoner. She often gets drunk and gets in trouble with the police. However, throughout the story she seems to soften up quite a bit to her sister after being accused of murder. Although she does not change much, she still seems to try to pick herself up and get her life back on track.
Jefferson is Maya's boyfriend, and many other girls' boyfriends too, as well. In the story he is portrayed as a very intelligent man, and very athletic. However though, he also was known to be a druggie. His behavior does not seem to change at all as the other characters talked about him, until he was murdered only then was sympathy portrayed for him.
Abby Goodwin has been taking care of her sister since she was just a little girl. Her younger sister, Maya, is a drop-out stoner who has a record for getting in trouble with the law. However, when one night, Mayaś boyfriend Jefferson is murdered, Abby must help Maya escape and prove her innocent to the police. However, Abby is holding a big secret from her sister, and who to trust is a hard choice.
Rating:
I gave this book five stars because I feel the author did a great job with the plot twist at the end of the story. I feel the author wrapped it up nicely and left the reader satisfied with the ending.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to any mature high school students of either gender who enjoy mystery and realistic fiction.
Setting:
The setting takes place in a rural town, (name is not specified.) And in various other minor places. The book seems to take place in modern day present time.
Characterization:
Abby is the main character of the story, she is 18 years old and is close to graduating. She seems like a very clever, smart girl who knows her way around just about any situation. Throughout the story she seems like her mental state changes quite a bit, and many secrets she holds are revealed. She seems to portray herself as a very innocent character and no suspicion is held against her.
Maya is Abby's younger sister, who is 15 years old. She is a very troublesome child and she is known to be a high-end stoner. She often gets drunk and gets in trouble with the police. However, throughout the story she seems to soften up quite a bit to her sister after being accused of murder. Although she does not change much, she still seems to try to pick herself up and get her life back on track.
Jefferson is Maya's boyfriend, and many other girls' boyfriends too, as well. In the story he is portrayed as a very intelligent man, and very athletic. However though, he also was known to be a druggie. His behavior does not seem to change at all as the other characters talked about him, until he was murdered only then was sympathy portrayed for him.
November 15, 2011
The Deadly Sister was an interesting twist on a murder mystery. While it had its slow parts, it definitely made up for that with an exciting and unexpected ending.
Abby has spent her whole life cleaning up the messes that her younger sister Maya makes. However, when Abby discovers the dead body of Jefferson, Maya's tutor/drug dealer/hook-up, she realizes that Maya might be somehow involved. Abby sets out to find her sister and get her some place safe before the police come knocking on their door. She also begins to investigate the murder on her own, trying to figure out who else in their small town may have wanted Jefferson dead.
When I was about 3/4 through with the book, I was left feeling a bit "meh" about it. However, suddenly things started unexpectedly happening in the plot that had me re-reading some pages over again as I was certain I was missing something.
*** Don't read ahead if you don't want to know anything more/spoiler-y!! ***
Schrefer did an amazing job at writing a jaw-dropping ending. One that I never saw coming. I tend to think that I have things "all figured out" while reading many books. However, I can say with certainty that I definitely never even considered the possibility of what ended up being the conclusion to The Deadly Sister. Kudos to Eliot Schrefer for writing something that caught me off guard with a twist of an ending. I actually appreciated that he did that instead of making things so predictable.
Lots of drug talk in this book and some violent language and sexual situations. I would recommend this one to the older YA readers who are looking for a good mystery.
Abby has spent her whole life cleaning up the messes that her younger sister Maya makes. However, when Abby discovers the dead body of Jefferson, Maya's tutor/drug dealer/hook-up, she realizes that Maya might be somehow involved. Abby sets out to find her sister and get her some place safe before the police come knocking on their door. She also begins to investigate the murder on her own, trying to figure out who else in their small town may have wanted Jefferson dead.
When I was about 3/4 through with the book, I was left feeling a bit "meh" about it. However, suddenly things started unexpectedly happening in the plot that had me re-reading some pages over again as I was certain I was missing something.
*** Don't read ahead if you don't want to know anything more/spoiler-y!! ***
Schrefer did an amazing job at writing a jaw-dropping ending. One that I never saw coming. I tend to think that I have things "all figured out" while reading many books. However, I can say with certainty that I definitely never even considered the possibility of what ended up being the conclusion to The Deadly Sister. Kudos to Eliot Schrefer for writing something that caught me off guard with a twist of an ending. I actually appreciated that he did that instead of making things so predictable.
Lots of drug talk in this book and some violent language and sexual situations. I would recommend this one to the older YA readers who are looking for a good mystery.
February 19, 2016
I LOVED THIS BOOK. So much. And I didn't think I would. But the book really did have me wondering who killed Jefferson Andrews, and I was switching around who I thought it was. I heard there was a twist ending, so I was like trying to think outside the box of who it could be, and basically trying to make myself not be shocked at the end because I had already came up with it. But who the killer was, I deff did not think of that person. It was a huge shock.
I think that Eliot is a GREAT author. I'm for sure going to read more of his books. It flowed so easily, and it wasn't hard to understand at all. And I personally didn't think there were even any boring parts. I also liked how Eliot put sooo many characters in the book which made so many options of who you thought killed Jefferson. All the characters he put in pretty much had a reason to kill Jefferson. So that was pretty cool! This book reminds me of these books I read called The Party Room series, although they aren't much alike. Somehow they just remind me of each other.
At the end of the book, Abby made a comment about Maya only being 15. And for some reason, the whole time reading I did NOT picture Maya only being 15 with the kind of stuff she did. I don't know if it said she was 15 when the book started or whatever, but for some reason, it was a huge shock to me at the end. Almost as huge of a shock as the ending. Hehehe, kidding. xD It was an all around good book, and it kept me up at night turning the pages. I recommend it to everyone.
I think that Eliot is a GREAT author. I'm for sure going to read more of his books. It flowed so easily, and it wasn't hard to understand at all. And I personally didn't think there were even any boring parts. I also liked how Eliot put sooo many characters in the book which made so many options of who you thought killed Jefferson. All the characters he put in pretty much had a reason to kill Jefferson. So that was pretty cool! This book reminds me of these books I read called The Party Room series, although they aren't much alike. Somehow they just remind me of each other.
At the end of the book, Abby made a comment about Maya only being 15. And for some reason, the whole time reading I did NOT picture Maya only being 15 with the kind of stuff she did. I don't know if it said she was 15 when the book started or whatever, but for some reason, it was a huge shock to me at the end. Almost as huge of a shock as the ending. Hehehe, kidding. xD It was an all around good book, and it kept me up at night turning the pages. I recommend it to everyone.
February 7, 2011
This is one of the most chilling books I've read in a long time. Sisters Abby and Maya Goodwin, are night and day, black and white, good vs evil. The trouble is we have things backwards and things are not always as they seem. Abby has always come to her sister's defense, gotten her out of trouble, and had her back. Yet, when Maya does an unthinkable deed, Abby charges into action and get her ducks all lined up in a row to prove her sister's innocence. Jefferson Andrews, the most popular boy in school, who beds just about every girl in school and breaks their heart for pleasure, is not only a liar and a cheat, but a drug dealer too. He has all the adults fooled though.
One day in May, Abby is out running when she finds Jefferson's body near a creek. Shaky, yet still in control, she finds Maya's phone near the body. She quickly hides the evidence and manipulates events to steer suspicion away from Maya...but, who is the real killer? There are many who would want him dead, who is cold and calculating enough to do it?
This book reads as if you are looking inside the mind of a sociopath, chilling, calculating, creepy. You'll be amazed at the outcome...although the murderer was staring you in the face the whole time.
One day in May, Abby is out running when she finds Jefferson's body near a creek. Shaky, yet still in control, she finds Maya's phone near the body. She quickly hides the evidence and manipulates events to steer suspicion away from Maya...but, who is the real killer? There are many who would want him dead, who is cold and calculating enough to do it?
This book reads as if you are looking inside the mind of a sociopath, chilling, calculating, creepy. You'll be amazed at the outcome...although the murderer was staring you in the face the whole time.
April 25, 2011
I am a major fan of Eliot Schrefer's The School for Dangerous Girls and so was very excited when The Deadly Sister landed on my desk. I was also excited because, when I'm not reading YA fiction, I read adult crime novels, so a combination of both really appealed to me.
Essentially this is a crime thriller but with a teenage cast. If you like who-dun-its, teen reads without bubblegum romance and/or you don't like fantasy/sci-fi novels, then this is for you. The Deadly Sister is a suspenseful read about how far you would go to protect your family, and yourself.
Schrefer favours misdirection by introducing many characters who could all be the murderer. We find out many people had motive for killing Jefferson Andrews; Maya, Maya and Abby's father, Jefferson's brother, Abby's best friend, one of Jefferson's many female companions, Rose his official girlfriend, drug dealers, even the owner of the convenience store near the high school.
A thrilling read.
Read this if you enjoyed The School for Dangerous Girls or Rebecca James' Beautiful Malice.
Essentially this is a crime thriller but with a teenage cast. If you like who-dun-its, teen reads without bubblegum romance and/or you don't like fantasy/sci-fi novels, then this is for you. The Deadly Sister is a suspenseful read about how far you would go to protect your family, and yourself.
Schrefer favours misdirection by introducing many characters who could all be the murderer. We find out many people had motive for killing Jefferson Andrews; Maya, Maya and Abby's father, Jefferson's brother, Abby's best friend, one of Jefferson's many female companions, Rose his official girlfriend, drug dealers, even the owner of the convenience store near the high school.
A thrilling read.
Read this if you enjoyed The School for Dangerous Girls or Rebecca James' Beautiful Malice.
July 16, 2011
What it's about:
The Deadly Sister by: Eliot Schrefer was a great book that left you guessing and turning after each page. This book was about a girl named Abby trying to figure out who murdered her sister's boyfriend. But when her sister looks like the number one suspect and suddenly disapears what is Abby supposed to do? And turning her sister in isn't an option. And what happens when her parents believe that her sister did kill, the most known boy in town? What would you do if your sister was the number one suspect of a murder?
My Reveiw:
This was a shocking story that made you second guess everyone and I had a great time reading this a figuring everything out. This was the perfect murder mystery that gave you a different angle becuase it wasn't the police's or the detective's perspective, instead it was a supect's sister.
Recemmendations:
I recemmend this story to people who do and don't like murder mysteries because it's different. I also recemmend this novel to people who are having a hard time because it makes you realize it's not as bad as how Abby has it.
The Deadly Sister by: Eliot Schrefer was a great book that left you guessing and turning after each page. This book was about a girl named Abby trying to figure out who murdered her sister's boyfriend. But when her sister looks like the number one suspect and suddenly disapears what is Abby supposed to do? And turning her sister in isn't an option. And what happens when her parents believe that her sister did kill, the most known boy in town? What would you do if your sister was the number one suspect of a murder?
My Reveiw:
This was a shocking story that made you second guess everyone and I had a great time reading this a figuring everything out. This was the perfect murder mystery that gave you a different angle becuase it wasn't the police's or the detective's perspective, instead it was a supect's sister.
Recemmendations:
I recemmend this story to people who do and don't like murder mysteries because it's different. I also recemmend this novel to people who are having a hard time because it makes you realize it's not as bad as how Abby has it.
March 21, 2022
I sorta of liked this book. The ending was very boring and expected.
December 19, 2019
2.5*
I called it! It's pretty obvs from the first page that the MC is the killer. The writing dances around subjects and reasonings, like a huge sign saying "the POV isn't telling you everything!!!!!" But Cheyenne, her best friend, is awesome and I appreciate her.
Not the best written thing ever, but entertaining for now. The blurb hints that there's gonna be romance, tho. There is none. 🤣
I called it! It's pretty obvs from the first page that the MC is the killer. The writing dances around subjects and reasonings, like a huge sign saying "the POV isn't telling you everything!!!!!" But Cheyenne, her best friend, is awesome and I appreciate her.
Not the best written thing ever, but entertaining for now. The blurb hints that there's gonna be romance, tho. There is none. 🤣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 17, 2018“The Deadly Sister” by Eliot Schrefer is about a girl named Abby who finds a dead guy near where she runs every Saturday. Who she happens to know from school but also because he is her sister, Maya’s, tutor. Maya fell for Jefferson Andrews and became a little obsessive which Abby knew would be bad when she found Maya’s phone at the scene of the crime. Abby knew she had to help her sister so she did all she could to help her go into hiding and divert the police’s attention away from Maya. She became close with Brian, Jefferson’s younger brother and when she found drawn pictures of Jefferson dying in Brian’s room she turned them into the cops. People lost sight of Maya and believed Brian killed his own brother. Maya came home and things got worse. I liked that the book kept making me want to read. Reading doesn’t usually keep me interested but this book did. There were so many interesting parts that made me want to turn the pages. The characters are only relatable on the level of also being in high school, other than that I don’t think this happens to everyday people for them to be easily related to. I liked the plot twist at the end, that kept me interested more than anything, I couldn’t read fast enough. I would recommend this book to any high school girl, especially those who like crime and mystery. I would rate this book 5/5.
May 1, 2010
My oh my oh my. Give me a second while I pick my jaw from the floor.
Abby Goodwin is deemed the more responsible older sister who constantly takes care of Maya even when the late night escapades started become more dangerous. But this sisterhood could only last so long and eventually the distance between them grew and at age 15 Maya has more piercings than Abby would care to know.
On one morning run, Abby accidently finds a dead body near the creek. The body turns out to be Jefferson Andrews (who I still think should have his name reversed)—valedictorian and the boy who is always invited to the parties first, but also the drug-dealer and user. When Abby finds Maya’s cellphone near the crime scene, she starts to get really worried. She knows that something was going on between the two during their tutoring sessions. After connecting one of Maya’s friends to figure out where she was, Abby convinces Maya that she needs to hide, to run, and to stay hidden.
While Abby tries to pick up the pieces and protect Maya like an older sister the odds are stacked against her. And when she meets Brian, Jefferson’s younger brother, she finds a scapegoat. But nothing is going right; Abby is starting to lose the battle. Or is she?
In this deadly cat chasing mouse trap Eliot Schrefer draws the reader and makes them forget that it’s 8 in the morning and they’re still in their pajamas and reading a murder novel. (And no that person doesn’t have insomnia). The characters are less than dynamic and there have been instances where I felt the hints of foreshadowing did not fit well in scenes and only serve to make the sentence very awkward and unbelievable. I also wonder why fingerprints were never brought up and the scenario of hitting the same place 9 times makes me wonder if that is possible. But the shock value makes up for this and despite the negative aspects of the novel this I enjoyed myself. A lot.
Schefer knows how to write and does it well in this fast-paced novel. He pulled rabbits from hats that I had no clue existed; he managed to make me feel empathic to a character that I did not like; he provided clues and enough mind-twisting abilities to make me think that I thought that his book was predictable. (I’ll get you next time Schefer). The School for Dangerous Girls was good, but The Deadly Sister just topped that; kudos to Schefer for not caving under pressure and growing as a writer.
Abby Goodwin is deemed the more responsible older sister who constantly takes care of Maya even when the late night escapades started become more dangerous. But this sisterhood could only last so long and eventually the distance between them grew and at age 15 Maya has more piercings than Abby would care to know.
On one morning run, Abby accidently finds a dead body near the creek. The body turns out to be Jefferson Andrews (who I still think should have his name reversed)—valedictorian and the boy who is always invited to the parties first, but also the drug-dealer and user. When Abby finds Maya’s cellphone near the crime scene, she starts to get really worried. She knows that something was going on between the two during their tutoring sessions. After connecting one of Maya’s friends to figure out where she was, Abby convinces Maya that she needs to hide, to run, and to stay hidden.
While Abby tries to pick up the pieces and protect Maya like an older sister the odds are stacked against her. And when she meets Brian, Jefferson’s younger brother, she finds a scapegoat. But nothing is going right; Abby is starting to lose the battle. Or is she?
In this deadly cat chasing mouse trap Eliot Schrefer draws the reader and makes them forget that it’s 8 in the morning and they’re still in their pajamas and reading a murder novel. (And no that person doesn’t have insomnia). The characters are less than dynamic and there have been instances where I felt the hints of foreshadowing did not fit well in scenes and only serve to make the sentence very awkward and unbelievable. I also wonder why fingerprints were never brought up and the scenario of hitting the same place 9 times makes me wonder if that is possible. But the shock value makes up for this and despite the negative aspects of the novel this I enjoyed myself. A lot.
Schefer knows how to write and does it well in this fast-paced novel. He pulled rabbits from hats that I had no clue existed; he managed to make me feel empathic to a character that I did not like; he provided clues and enough mind-twisting abilities to make me think that I thought that his book was predictable. (I’ll get you next time Schefer). The School for Dangerous Girls was good, but The Deadly Sister just topped that; kudos to Schefer for not caving under pressure and growing as a writer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2016
This book was horrible. I knew the surprise ending, and it made sense. I've seen it done before, with the narrator herself being the killer, so it didn't shock me. I hated all the characters, not in a whiny way ("Oh, that one character did one thing that was stupid,") but in an overbearing way, as in I would hate life itself if I lived with these people. Scum of the earth. No redeeming qualities. And they're deadly. I knew from the get-go who the narrator was trying to protect. Blah. It's not necessarly poorly written, but it brought no pleasure whatsoever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2010
Good Stuff
Suspensful
Good twists and turns
Lots of teen angst and drama
Realistic portrayal of family dynamics
clever dialogue makes me want to read other works by author
Fast paced story keeps you interested in reading more (Especially when you should be working)
You really become emotionally attached to main character
Pleasantly surprised that male author portrays a female so realistically (I know sexist). Thinking he must have a teenage daughter
Twisted and dark at times (yes that can be a good thing)
Really loved how the author talked about when someone dies how automatically people forget how the person really was (warts and all) and make them out to be saints - especially true when it involves a teen
Not So Good Stuff
Not enough humour for me - I know picky, picky (honestly though, probably a good idea in this case not to have too much humour)
Adults are portrayed as pretty much useless (Than again, to teens that is probably how it seems)
Wasn't completely satisfied with ending
What I Learned
Hard to be a big sister (I'm the baby in the family)
Drugs are bad
Have to make sure I listen to my kids when they grow into teens (Terrifies me that they one day will be teens)
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"I might have protected her forever, until Jefferson Andrews showed up dead"
"You thinking of coming in here, than you better get ready for a bunch of dead teenagers"
Who Should Read
Teens between 13 - 18
Parents of teens between 13 - 18
YA Mystery/Suspense readers
Not for sensitive younger readers due to violence, drugs and hints of sexuality
Suspensful
Good twists and turns
Lots of teen angst and drama
Realistic portrayal of family dynamics
clever dialogue makes me want to read other works by author
Fast paced story keeps you interested in reading more (Especially when you should be working)
You really become emotionally attached to main character
Pleasantly surprised that male author portrays a female so realistically (I know sexist). Thinking he must have a teenage daughter
Twisted and dark at times (yes that can be a good thing)
Really loved how the author talked about when someone dies how automatically people forget how the person really was (warts and all) and make them out to be saints - especially true when it involves a teen
Not So Good Stuff
Not enough humour for me - I know picky, picky (honestly though, probably a good idea in this case not to have too much humour)
Adults are portrayed as pretty much useless (Than again, to teens that is probably how it seems)
Wasn't completely satisfied with ending
What I Learned
Hard to be a big sister (I'm the baby in the family)
Drugs are bad
Have to make sure I listen to my kids when they grow into teens (Terrifies me that they one day will be teens)
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"I might have protected her forever, until Jefferson Andrews showed up dead"
"You thinking of coming in here, than you better get ready for a bunch of dead teenagers"
Who Should Read
Teens between 13 - 18
Parents of teens between 13 - 18
YA Mystery/Suspense readers
Not for sensitive younger readers due to violence, drugs and hints of sexuality
April 14, 2011
Abby Goodwin has always covered for her younger sister Maya. Whether it's drugs, skipping school, sleeping around, or running away from home, Abby is the good daughter while Maya is the wild child. Or so everyone thinks. When the popular kid from school turns up dead, all fingers point to Maya.
I read the book but didn't really enjoy it. The storyline is very dark, exploring a murky world of teen sex and drugs, making it seem the norm. The story is told first person by Abby, the good sister. While the writing is tight and the characters believable, the author pulls a twist at the end that just didn't work for me. I saw it coming chapters before he got to it, and, the biggest issue for me, twists of that magnitude don't work in a first person story. You can't get that far into a character's head through reading or writing first person without knowing the character. The twist felt cheap and contrived, completely unbelievable.
If you're into this kind of a thriller, give it a try.
I read the book but didn't really enjoy it. The storyline is very dark, exploring a murky world of teen sex and drugs, making it seem the norm. The story is told first person by Abby, the good sister. While the writing is tight and the characters believable, the author pulls a twist at the end that just didn't work for me. I saw it coming chapters before he got to it, and, the biggest issue for me, twists of that magnitude don't work in a first person story. You can't get that far into a character's head through reading or writing first person without knowing the character. The twist felt cheap and contrived, completely unbelievable.
If you're into this kind of a thriller, give it a try.
July 22, 2010
The Deadly Sister is an great summer mystery! Although confusing at times, readers will enjoy finding clues along with Abby and guessing how they fit into the crime. The twists will keep readers turning the pages until more of Maya, Abby and Jefferson's backgrounds are revealed and the killer discovered! Cleverly worded at some points, this novel allows readers to interpret them how they will, and make their own guesses for who's guilty and who's not.
I feel that the ending could have been a bit more shocking if it had been revealed through actions and more clues (that could be interpreted in many ways) being unearthed, rather than it just be stated in a near monologue. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading The Deadly Sister! It was a little slow for me at first, but once the pace picked up, I could hardly put it down! I'm definitely glad I kept reading!
I feel that the ending could have been a bit more shocking if it had been revealed through actions and more clues (that could be interpreted in many ways) being unearthed, rather than it just be stated in a near monologue. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading The Deadly Sister! It was a little slow for me at first, but once the pace picked up, I could hardly put it down! I'm definitely glad I kept reading!
June 3, 2015
The deadly sister, by Eliot Schrefer, is not worth your time. Its plot is simple enough, Abby tries to figure out who killed Jefferson to clear her sister's name. There were so many parts that caused me to cringe at some of the unintelligent sentences. If it weren’t for its overly graphic content, this book could have been written by a fifth-grader. All but a few characters are one-dimensional, they barely feel human. The one redeeming quality was the ending, which did surprise me, and I could say it could somewhat make up for the rest of sludge. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone unless they wanted a quick, cliche read that they will forget about quickly.
April 19, 2024
This book was not my cup of tea. The characters never really developed and the writing was meh. The “twist” ending was one done before. Nothing exciting or anything that made this a page turner for me. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone. It was quite boring and I felt like this story could have been told in less than 100 pages with the lack of story development.
May 28, 2010
More like a 2.5. Seemed to hold so much promise...so much room for improvement...(most especially by way of character development)...sometimes predictable, sometimes not...and the last few sentences disturbing enough to leave me still stewing. Guess that's something.
August 24, 2010
Two completely unlikable sisters, one twist you don't care you weren't given any hints about during the book.
Schrefer also wrote the school for dangerous girls, which lacked any actual dangerous girls.
Schrefer also wrote the school for dangerous girls, which lacked any actual dangerous girls.
May 29, 2011
What an awesome young adult story! This book flowed so well and had a twist at the end that I didn't see coming! If this guy can write YA thrillers like this and keep the interest of a 43 year old old bird, imagine what he could do with an adult thriller!
May 4, 2010
Ridiculous ending.
January 17, 2016
Great book huge twist in the end that I wasn't expecting almost died.
June 18, 2015
i havent felt the surprise element yet somehow !
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December 23, 2019In the mystery novel, The Deadly Sister by Eliot Schrefer, An 18-year-old girl named Abby Goodwin who has a younger sister named Maya that happens to be a druggie that always is getting into some form of trouble. Maya doesn't have a good relationship with her parents, while Abby does. Maya had a tutor by the name of Jefferson Andrews, who she had a secret romantic relationship with. One day, Abby was on a walk and found Jefferson's dead body floating in a ravine. Maya's cell phone was in the mud at the scene. Abby(the narrator) said she instantly knew Maya was involved so she had to find Maya and talk to her in order to protect her. Everyone thought Maya was the prime suspect but Abby was sure that she wasn’t. The theme of this story is don't trust anyone, not even the people you feel you're the closest with. Even though Abby is all about protecting her sister, she doesn’t stick to that throughout the whole story.
My favorite character is Abby. Starting at the beginning of the story, Abby expresses how much she cares about her sister and how she'll do anything it takes to protect her. In the first line, Abby says “I have always been the one to protect my sister”(p.1). Abby is a very passionate character and would say anything that's on her mind without hesitation. Abby went to great extremes to find out information that would help make her sister Maya seem innocent in the investigation of Jefferson Andrew's murder. Abby shows a lot of emotion throughout the story that adds so much effect and made me want to keep reading. Although Abby has many good qualities, she is a two-faced character that comes with many surprises.
I am definitely not a fan of reading and can't even name 5 books I've read independently in the past, but this is a book I’ll remember. I have always been a fan of mysteries and forensic type of movies and shows. Since I binge watch the show Criminal Minds on Netflix all the time, I was excited to read this mystery book because I thought of it as just another Criminal Minds episode. I loved this book because it had one of the best plot twists of all time. The person who murdered Jefferson Andrews was Abby, the least expected character. The outcome was astonishing. I suggest this book to people that love surprises and unexpected endings. The author made it seem like Maya was guilty when in reality, she wasn’t. There were hints scattered throughout the story that I didn’t notice until I looked back. In the middle of the book, Abby says, “ I’d figured I’d end up talking to the police at some point, but I’d imagined having to go down to the station in a cruiser, handcuffed and led into one of those rooms with two-way mirrors”(p.122). This book was very hard to put down. From the very first page, I was eager to keep reading. I could have read it from cover to cover all in one day if I had the time. Although I really enjoyed this book, I feel like there were unnecessary parts that didn't tie into the ending. The length of the book definitely could have been shorter without the unimportant details. Overall, this was a "good read"!
My favorite character is Abby. Starting at the beginning of the story, Abby expresses how much she cares about her sister and how she'll do anything it takes to protect her. In the first line, Abby says “I have always been the one to protect my sister”(p.1). Abby is a very passionate character and would say anything that's on her mind without hesitation. Abby went to great extremes to find out information that would help make her sister Maya seem innocent in the investigation of Jefferson Andrew's murder. Abby shows a lot of emotion throughout the story that adds so much effect and made me want to keep reading. Although Abby has many good qualities, she is a two-faced character that comes with many surprises.
I am definitely not a fan of reading and can't even name 5 books I've read independently in the past, but this is a book I’ll remember. I have always been a fan of mysteries and forensic type of movies and shows. Since I binge watch the show Criminal Minds on Netflix all the time, I was excited to read this mystery book because I thought of it as just another Criminal Minds episode. I loved this book because it had one of the best plot twists of all time. The person who murdered Jefferson Andrews was Abby, the least expected character. The outcome was astonishing. I suggest this book to people that love surprises and unexpected endings. The author made it seem like Maya was guilty when in reality, she wasn’t. There were hints scattered throughout the story that I didn’t notice until I looked back. In the middle of the book, Abby says, “ I’d figured I’d end up talking to the police at some point, but I’d imagined having to go down to the station in a cruiser, handcuffed and led into one of those rooms with two-way mirrors”(p.122). This book was very hard to put down. From the very first page, I was eager to keep reading. I could have read it from cover to cover all in one day if I had the time. Although I really enjoyed this book, I feel like there were unnecessary parts that didn't tie into the ending. The length of the book definitely could have been shorter without the unimportant details. Overall, this was a "good read"!
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