What do you think?
Rate this book
The Other Sister
First there was The Guilty Wife. Now read Elle Croft's next twisty psychological suspense novel, The Other Sister.
**************************
How far would you go...
Gina Mills is desperate to be a newsreader, but her boss - the director of the struggling Channel Eight, won't help.
Walking home one night, Gina stumbles upon a dead body, and after calling the police, she makes the split-second decision to report the murder live.
When questioned by the police, Gina can't remember specific details about her discovery, but these memory gaps are explained away as shock.
...to uncover your family's deadly secret?
But when Gina finds a second body, it's clear she's being targeted. But why?
And how is this connected to the death of Gina's younger sister so many years ago?
**************************
Praise for Elle Croft's first novel, the intensely gripping The Guilty Wife
'I couldn't put this down. Pacy and gripping. ' Cass Green, author of the number 1 ebook bestseller The Woman Next Door
'An accomplished debut with a relentless and intense pace that kept me completely rapt and eager to find out answers. I loved the final twist .' KL Slater, international bestselling author of Safe With Me , Blink and Liar .
'A gripping psychological thriller. This debut is skilfully plotted and I had to keep turning the pages as the tension increased - I just couldn't put it down. And the ending! You just have to read it. I am looking forward to more from Elle Croft.' Patricia Gibney, bestselling author of The Missing Ones
'A gripping portrayal of a woman under fire , which explores the blurry boundaries of innocence and guilt. The Guilty Wife will make you question those closest to you as the plot unfolds at pace, with an ending that pulls the rug from under your feet . A brilliant debut .' Phoebe Morgan, author of The Doll House
' Twisty and fast-moving, The Guilty Wife kept me guessing until the very end! A great read.' Isabel Ashdown, author of Little Sister and Beautiful Liars
'What a clever idea! This kept me reading through the night to see how 'the guilty wife' would get out of this one...' Jane Corry, author of My Husband's Wife and Blood Sisters .
'I read The Guilty Wife in an intense two day sitting. Brilliant .' Niki Mackay, author of I,Witness .
**************************
How far would you go...
Gina Mills is desperate to be a newsreader, but her boss - the director of the struggling Channel Eight, won't help.
Walking home one night, Gina stumbles upon a dead body, and after calling the police, she makes the split-second decision to report the murder live.
When questioned by the police, Gina can't remember specific details about her discovery, but these memory gaps are explained away as shock.
...to uncover your family's deadly secret?
But when Gina finds a second body, it's clear she's being targeted. But why?
And how is this connected to the death of Gina's younger sister so many years ago?
**************************
Praise for Elle Croft's first novel, the intensely gripping The Guilty Wife
'I couldn't put this down. Pacy and gripping. ' Cass Green, author of the number 1 ebook bestseller The Woman Next Door
'An accomplished debut with a relentless and intense pace that kept me completely rapt and eager to find out answers. I loved the final twist .' KL Slater, international bestselling author of Safe With Me , Blink and Liar .
'A gripping psychological thriller. This debut is skilfully plotted and I had to keep turning the pages as the tension increased - I just couldn't put it down. And the ending! You just have to read it. I am looking forward to more from Elle Croft.' Patricia Gibney, bestselling author of The Missing Ones
'A gripping portrayal of a woman under fire , which explores the blurry boundaries of innocence and guilt. The Guilty Wife will make you question those closest to you as the plot unfolds at pace, with an ending that pulls the rug from under your feet . A brilliant debut .' Phoebe Morgan, author of The Doll House
' Twisty and fast-moving, The Guilty Wife kept me guessing until the very end! A great read.' Isabel Ashdown, author of Little Sister and Beautiful Liars
'What a clever idea! This kept me reading through the night to see how 'the guilty wife' would get out of this one...' Jane Corry, author of My Husband's Wife and Blood Sisters .
'I read The Guilty Wife in an intense two day sitting. Brilliant .' Niki Mackay, author of I,Witness .
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 24, 2018
About the author
Elle Croft
7 books140 followersElle Croft was born in South Africa, grew up in Australia and now lives in London, where she works as a social media manager. Her debut novel, The Guilty Wife, is a top 10 Kindle Bestseller.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 109 reviews
August 25, 2018
Elle Croft is turning out to be a great writer of dark and deliciously twisted psychological thrillers. I enjoyed reading her debut, The Guilty Wife, and this is a good one too, with what is becoming her trademark creation of deeply flawed characters. Gina Miller has left her job in local news to return to London to live and reconnect with her brother, Ryan, after a long estrangement after the death of her younger sister, Cassie. Gina lands a position as a PA at Channel 8, but she harbours dreams and ambitions of a presenting role, but her boss, director Jacqueline Davis, is less than helpful, barely acknowledging any of Gina's efforts. Late one night, whilst Gina is heading home, she comes across the dead body of a woman. She phones the emergency services, but in the meantime makes the fateful decision of reporting the murder online. This goes on to raise her public profile considerably and pleases her bosses no end.
However, there are others who are not happy, including those on social media, questioning her motives and ethics as death threats follow. Gina is not prepared for the backlash as it leaves her reeling, feeling scared and vulnerable. The narrative is given from the perspectives of Gina, Ryan, her mother, Sharon in Florida and others, such as the lead investigator from the police. But when Gina stumbles across the dead body of another woman with a similar MO, she makes exactly the same decision to report on it. The police do not believe in coincidences as they focus their attention on Gina. Is Gina the target of a murderer? The tragic events surrounding the death of Gina's sister has the narrative going back and forth in time from 1996 to the present. In this tense and suspenseful story of intrigue, secrets and more, it is best to rely on nothing as we are hit by twist after twist. Who is behind these nightmarish scenarios? A gripping read that proves to be highly entertaining. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
However, there are others who are not happy, including those on social media, questioning her motives and ethics as death threats follow. Gina is not prepared for the backlash as it leaves her reeling, feeling scared and vulnerable. The narrative is given from the perspectives of Gina, Ryan, her mother, Sharon in Florida and others, such as the lead investigator from the police. But when Gina stumbles across the dead body of another woman with a similar MO, she makes exactly the same decision to report on it. The police do not believe in coincidences as they focus their attention on Gina. Is Gina the target of a murderer? The tragic events surrounding the death of Gina's sister has the narrative going back and forth in time from 1996 to the present. In this tense and suspenseful story of intrigue, secrets and more, it is best to rely on nothing as we are hit by twist after twist. Who is behind these nightmarish scenarios? A gripping read that proves to be highly entertaining. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
August 23, 2018
Well, all I can say is thank the lord this book arrived via Kindle when it did! Having just read a total bummer of a thriller with more issues than a magazine, I was ready to get back on my horse and truly enjoy the thrill ride once more. Courtesy of Elle Croft, I was back into my reading stride quicker than you could say "Reading slump...what reading slump?".
Gina Mills longs to be a newsreader but is currently working as a personal assistant (PA) to director of Channel Eight television, Jacqueline Davis. One night Gina is walking home and comes across a body. Going against her better judgement she decides to broadcast the discovery live on Facebook. This is swiftly followed by plenty of time in the limelight, and both good and bad attention comes from her fifteen minutes of fame. Trolls start to attack her moral compass due to the broadcast, and she received threats against her life. The police begin to look at her a little more closely after that. She then discovers another body, and starts to become concerned. Is someone specifically targeting her? Or is this merely conincidental?
Having enjoyed Ms Croft's debut domestic thriller 'The Guilty Wife' I was apprehensive about this one, especially right after reading a book that made me want to leave the genre alone for the time being. I took the first tentative pages of 'The Other Sister' slowly but soon I was hurtling 100 miles per hour towards the conclusion, not realising how engrossed I had become. I simply cannot thank the author enough, I didn't think it was possible, but I loved this even more than her incredibly accomplished debut. This is an immersive, gripping and edge-of-your-seat ride, with perfect pace and a storyline that had me hooked very early on, albeit without knowing it. With so many done to death twists and surprises in this genre, Croft has some highly original about-turns that had my jaw on the floor, none moreso than the explosive conclusion! Make no mistake, this is a super-dark story, I find that the darker the story the more I love it, and this was no exception. I know that some people abandoned reading it as it was too dark and gritty for them so proceed with caution!
The timeline jumps between 1996 and the present day and is told from a variety of different perspectives, namely Gina, Ryan, Gina's brother, and investigator Detective Adam Adebayo. There are also small interjections from Gina's mother, Sharon, throughout the book. The method of murder is one I haven't come across in all of my time reading crime fiction, which is quite a feat! I imagine that it could provide some great discussion should it be read by a book club. Each of the characters are meticulously developed, and as with a lot of thrillers most of them are deeply flawed individuals with no real redeeming features. The prose is effortlessly readable and flows beautifully chapter-to-chapter. The author appears adept at layering up her story and slowly unfurling it one step at a time - we receive just enough information to keep us immersed, but not enough that it is possible to guess the killer accurately. A refreshingly different take on the thriller which captivated me with its highly unique storyline. I cannot wait to see what is next for Elle Croft, whatever it is I know I will be making a big effort to grab a copy!
Many thanks to Orion for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Gina Mills longs to be a newsreader but is currently working as a personal assistant (PA) to director of Channel Eight television, Jacqueline Davis. One night Gina is walking home and comes across a body. Going against her better judgement she decides to broadcast the discovery live on Facebook. This is swiftly followed by plenty of time in the limelight, and both good and bad attention comes from her fifteen minutes of fame. Trolls start to attack her moral compass due to the broadcast, and she received threats against her life. The police begin to look at her a little more closely after that. She then discovers another body, and starts to become concerned. Is someone specifically targeting her? Or is this merely conincidental?
Having enjoyed Ms Croft's debut domestic thriller 'The Guilty Wife' I was apprehensive about this one, especially right after reading a book that made me want to leave the genre alone for the time being. I took the first tentative pages of 'The Other Sister' slowly but soon I was hurtling 100 miles per hour towards the conclusion, not realising how engrossed I had become. I simply cannot thank the author enough, I didn't think it was possible, but I loved this even more than her incredibly accomplished debut. This is an immersive, gripping and edge-of-your-seat ride, with perfect pace and a storyline that had me hooked very early on, albeit without knowing it. With so many done to death twists and surprises in this genre, Croft has some highly original about-turns that had my jaw on the floor, none moreso than the explosive conclusion! Make no mistake, this is a super-dark story, I find that the darker the story the more I love it, and this was no exception. I know that some people abandoned reading it as it was too dark and gritty for them so proceed with caution!
The timeline jumps between 1996 and the present day and is told from a variety of different perspectives, namely Gina, Ryan, Gina's brother, and investigator Detective Adam Adebayo. There are also small interjections from Gina's mother, Sharon, throughout the book. The method of murder is one I haven't come across in all of my time reading crime fiction, which is quite a feat! I imagine that it could provide some great discussion should it be read by a book club. Each of the characters are meticulously developed, and as with a lot of thrillers most of them are deeply flawed individuals with no real redeeming features. The prose is effortlessly readable and flows beautifully chapter-to-chapter. The author appears adept at layering up her story and slowly unfurling it one step at a time - we receive just enough information to keep us immersed, but not enough that it is possible to guess the killer accurately. A refreshingly different take on the thriller which captivated me with its highly unique storyline. I cannot wait to see what is next for Elle Croft, whatever it is I know I will be making a big effort to grab a copy!
Many thanks to Orion for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
August 19, 2018
I absolutely loved Elle. Croft's Guilty Wife so when I had the chance to read The Other Sister I jumped at the chance. I certainly was not disappointed. I spent the afternoon finishing this one, I had no idea how this one was going to end which is a good thing, it kept me guessing right til the end. It is twisted story that jumps between 1996 and present day for Gina and her family.. slowly piecing the story together for the reader.
Gina Mills is desperate to be a newsreader., but she is stuck being a PA at Channel 8. On her walk home from work one evening she comes across a body, a woman was been murdered. After calling the police she decides to report the murder live online... a decision that divides her friends, family and the nation. The threats start and she feels that her life is in danger. Is there a connection to her childhood?
This is a book that will suck you in and leave you wanting more. Thanks to Orion Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Gina Mills is desperate to be a newsreader., but she is stuck being a PA at Channel 8. On her walk home from work one evening she comes across a body, a woman was been murdered. After calling the police she decides to report the murder live online... a decision that divides her friends, family and the nation. The threats start and she feels that her life is in danger. Is there a connection to her childhood?
This is a book that will suck you in and leave you wanting more. Thanks to Orion Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
August 24, 2018
Wow. The Other Sister was twisty brilliant, a pleasure to read with surprises around every corner and some truly memorable characters.
I love the way Elle Croft plots a book, nothing is a given and a bit like Fox Mulder you are probably better off if you trust no-one. The story fairly rocks along and it is a right proper page turner with an ending that might keep you up at night.
Loved it. Go get it.
Recommended
I love the way Elle Croft plots a book, nothing is a given and a bit like Fox Mulder you are probably better off if you trust no-one. The story fairly rocks along and it is a right proper page turner with an ending that might keep you up at night.
Loved it. Go get it.
Recommended
August 30, 2018
WOW,just WOW,The Other Sister is a mesmerising,mind blowing psychological thriller that has so many twists and turns that by the time I reached the surprising unpredictable conclusion I felt so dizzy that I thought I might need to go and lie down in dark room.
Gina Mills has always wanted to be a newsreader but instead she is stuck as a unappreciated personal assistant to successful and celebrated Jacqueline Davis,a tyrant who refuses to give Gina the opportunity to prove herself at channel 8. So when Gina stumbles on a crime scene on her way home one night she makes the rash decision to report live from the scene.Suddenly Gina finds herself thrust into the limelight,constantly in demand and appearing on chat shows. She now has the career that she`s always wanted but she soon realises that she had underestimated the backlash and outpourings of hate that would be aimed at her both by the public and on social media. Then She finds a second body and begins to wonder if she is being targeted and if so......why?
This fast paced,riveting thriller has chapters that vary in length and alternate between Gina,her brother Ryan and Detective Adam Adebayo. The chapters are set in the present day but also slip back in time to 1996. The chapters set in the past are voiced by Gina and Ryan's mother Sharon and cover events before,during and after a tragic event that happened when Gina and Ryan were younger. I found Sharon and her husband Bill`s reactions to certain occurrences frustrating but then I honestly don't know how I would react if I found myself dealing with the same situation. As the story unfolded I found myself constantly changing my mind about how I felt about the characters. I eventually reached the conclusion that not one of them had any redeemable qualities. They are all flawed in one way or the other although I did eventually feel some sympathy for one character by the time I reached the unexpected conclusion.
The killer`s signature modus operandi was unique and innovative and I can see it raising a few raised eyebrows and intense discussions if this book was read by a book group. I was hooked in tightly from.the very first page of this jaw dropping page turner. I enjoyed reading The Other Sister just as much,actually I can honestly say more than The Guilty Wife which I absolutely loved. Absolutely brilliant,worth far more than five stars and highly recommended by little old me.
Thanks so much to Orion Publishing for choosing me to be an ambassador for Ellie Croft and for the opportunity to read and review an advance early reader copy of this brilliant psychological thriller.
Gina Mills has always wanted to be a newsreader but instead she is stuck as a unappreciated personal assistant to successful and celebrated Jacqueline Davis,a tyrant who refuses to give Gina the opportunity to prove herself at channel 8. So when Gina stumbles on a crime scene on her way home one night she makes the rash decision to report live from the scene.Suddenly Gina finds herself thrust into the limelight,constantly in demand and appearing on chat shows. She now has the career that she`s always wanted but she soon realises that she had underestimated the backlash and outpourings of hate that would be aimed at her both by the public and on social media. Then She finds a second body and begins to wonder if she is being targeted and if so......why?
This fast paced,riveting thriller has chapters that vary in length and alternate between Gina,her brother Ryan and Detective Adam Adebayo. The chapters are set in the present day but also slip back in time to 1996. The chapters set in the past are voiced by Gina and Ryan's mother Sharon and cover events before,during and after a tragic event that happened when Gina and Ryan were younger. I found Sharon and her husband Bill`s reactions to certain occurrences frustrating but then I honestly don't know how I would react if I found myself dealing with the same situation. As the story unfolded I found myself constantly changing my mind about how I felt about the characters. I eventually reached the conclusion that not one of them had any redeemable qualities. They are all flawed in one way or the other although I did eventually feel some sympathy for one character by the time I reached the unexpected conclusion.
The killer`s signature modus operandi was unique and innovative and I can see it raising a few raised eyebrows and intense discussions if this book was read by a book group. I was hooked in tightly from.the very first page of this jaw dropping page turner. I enjoyed reading The Other Sister just as much,actually I can honestly say more than The Guilty Wife which I absolutely loved. Absolutely brilliant,worth far more than five stars and highly recommended by little old me.
Thanks so much to Orion Publishing for choosing me to be an ambassador for Ellie Croft and for the opportunity to read and review an advance early reader copy of this brilliant psychological thriller.
June 30, 2019
This book annoyed me because the author chose as a way to tell the story the idea of chapters told by the characters themselves. Which means we are told what is going on in the mind of four of the main characters throughout the story, and ultimately what we are specifically told by one of them is untrue. If her thoughts or actions were implied (i.e. we were led to believe her surprise at finding not one but two dead bodies on the way home from nights out) it would have been a clever piece of work, but ultimately the author lied to us to maintain the surprise twist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2020
Gina Mills has ambition to be a newsreader at Channel 8 where she works as a personal assistant to Jacqueline. Gina’s current love interest Julian, helped her get the job since he knows Jacqueline. When one night while walking home Gina stumbles upon a dead body, the journalistic instinct takes over with the impulse is to film it and report the murder live. After a long estrangement she has recently reconnected with her brother Ryan. The siblings did have another sister, Cassie who died when she was just eight years old. Lately Ryan seems to be hallucinating and thinking he is seeing Cassie everywhere. Except that is impossible. Social media comes into play as Gina receives a lot of flack and feedback on her reporting of the murder. Then a second murder takes place, again of a woman very similar in appearance to the first victim. Detective Adam Adebayo is determined to nail the killer but will he?
The story is told in chapters from Gina, Ryan and from the past by Sharon their mother, as well as chapter from Detective Adam Adebayo. I liked the different voices of chapters and was quiet interested and thought his would be a four or five star read. But then, maybe half to two thirds of the way through, it started stretching credibility too far and becoming unbelievable.
In the end this was too dark and twisted for this reader and I had issues with the way it ended. Left a bad taste in my mouth. Although part of the problem was I found the characters unlikeable, it was more the way the story finished and the sick twist that pulled my rating right down on this. This is the first book I have read by this author but this one has convinced me we are probably not a good match. That’s not to say others won’t be intrigued by this dark, twisted tale, but it was not for me.
The story is told in chapters from Gina, Ryan and from the past by Sharon their mother, as well as chapter from Detective Adam Adebayo. I liked the different voices of chapters and was quiet interested and thought his would be a four or five star read. But then, maybe half to two thirds of the way through, it started stretching credibility too far and becoming unbelievable.
In the end this was too dark and twisted for this reader and I had issues with the way it ended. Left a bad taste in my mouth. Although part of the problem was I found the characters unlikeable, it was more the way the story finished and the sick twist that pulled my rating right down on this. This is the first book I have read by this author but this one has convinced me we are probably not a good match. That’s not to say others won’t be intrigued by this dark, twisted tale, but it was not for me.
January 22, 2019
An intriguing concept for a murder-mystery incorporating social media, damaged family relationships, the quest for fame and what one may be prepared to do to gain it. Had I not figured out the plot two-thirds of the way I’d have given it five stars. The writing is succinct, creating characters one feels strongly about, intertwined in a very twisted crime. Well worth the read!
August 14, 2018
With thanks to Netgalley and Orion for inviting me to become an ambassador for Ellie Croft. As always this ARC was given to me for an open and honest review.
Journalist Gina Mills had recently returned to London hoping to break into television news. As a stepping stone her boyfriend Julian had helped her secure a job as PA for Channel 8 manager Jacqueline Davis. Gina was living with her brother Ryan who she had been estranged from after the death of their sister Cassie.
One evening Gina was walking home talking to Julian on her phone. Distracted she ended up taking a short cut home through an alleyway where she discovered the dead body of a young woman. Ever the journalist she broadcast live from the murder scene and posted it on the Channel 8 Facebook page.
The following morning Gina thought she would be sacked but Jacqueline urged her to continue the story to increase the channels ratings. The victim was called Michelle Everade who was due to meet a tinder date.
Over the following weeks Gina became a figure of hate and had received death threats. But her dream of working on television was coming to fruition appearing on countless talk shows discussing internet dating.
Gina was taking taxis home because she scared of the death threats. One evening she had no choice to walk home, she walked a different route to her house and was cutting through her park when yet again she found another dead victim. This girl had the same injuries as Michelle and was also meeting a tinder date. Despite knowing the critcism she would receive Gina made another report from the second murder scene.
But who was the killer and why did they want Gina to find the bodies?
The story was told from the POV of Gina, Ryan and their mother Sharon from 1996 to the present day. We got the POV of Detective Adam Adebayo who was investigating the two murders.
My review of The Other Sister can be summed up in one word ingenious.
The story was original with a truly unique plot line. Every time I guessed the killer there would be a red herring to change my mind. As the story progressed the investigations turned in a way I was not expecting. I was enjoying this story but the revelation took it into a darker area, I was hooked.
Out of the two siblings my favourite character was Ryan who genuinely loved his sister. He was so pleased they were living together after Gina left home to go to university. I also liked Adam who was investigating the murder. He seemed very intelligent and I would of been interested in his personal life.
The Other Sister blew me away, I recommend this book to all fans of psychological thrillers.
October 17, 2018
Although the other sister was a good read. For me it wasn’t as good as The Guilty wife. But I still enjoyed reading it.
Gina is a PA for her boss Jacqueline at Channel Eighy news. Whose dream is to be a famous reporter. But every time she tries to make this happen Jacqueline tells her that she isn’t ready.
Then one night when Gina is walking home from work and she finds the body of a dead woman. Ginas first reaction is to call the police and then broadcast live the fact that she has found the dead body of a woman on her walk home from work in an alleyway. To say that people are not too happy with the fact that she did this is a little bit of an understatement and for me I found her extremely hard to relate to because of this. The video goes viral and her bosses are delighted about it as there bad figures and all of a sudden much better. But not everyone is as delighted. Soon Gina is where she wants to be in her career. But what goes alongside this is blackmail and stalking. But who is the person who killed the lady? Why are they hounding Gina? And will the police find out who it is before it is all too late?
This book for me reminded me off the Marvel tv show Jessica Jones. If you have watched it and also read this book you will understand what I mean. I think that this is a good book with an interesting premise. If you like Elle Croft books then you will enjoy this one too.
Gina is a PA for her boss Jacqueline at Channel Eighy news. Whose dream is to be a famous reporter. But every time she tries to make this happen Jacqueline tells her that she isn’t ready.
Then one night when Gina is walking home from work and she finds the body of a dead woman. Ginas first reaction is to call the police and then broadcast live the fact that she has found the dead body of a woman on her walk home from work in an alleyway. To say that people are not too happy with the fact that she did this is a little bit of an understatement and for me I found her extremely hard to relate to because of this. The video goes viral and her bosses are delighted about it as there bad figures and all of a sudden much better. But not everyone is as delighted. Soon Gina is where she wants to be in her career. But what goes alongside this is blackmail and stalking. But who is the person who killed the lady? Why are they hounding Gina? And will the police find out who it is before it is all too late?
This book for me reminded me off the Marvel tv show Jessica Jones. If you have watched it and also read this book you will understand what I mean. I think that this is a good book with an interesting premise. If you like Elle Croft books then you will enjoy this one too.
February 17, 2019
Loved it, drew me in and kept me interested all the way to the end!
October 17, 2018
I can safely say when reading this taut thriller I had questions all the way through the book! This author kept me guessing all the way through, I had questions and questions and guess what MORE questions!
We are shown the story through different points of view.
We have Gina, walking home one night and discovers something horrifying! A dead body in an alleyway and once she called the police, she streams it live on the Channel 8 Facebook page. The backlash that follows spirals as she loses her friends, comes under vicious cyber attacks, as well as scary photos of her and rocks through the window at home! Terrifying! But hang on a second….her story does not quite add up. One thing to the police, another thing to someone else, what is going on here???
Then another body shows up with the same MO………
Ryan, Gina’s brother, adjusting to life since Gina came back into her life six months ago! But he has his own secrets and what happened to Cassie, their younger sister all those years ago? Why is she haunting him in every face he sees?
Detective Adam Adebayo, on the team to solve the murder, he is enamoured with Gina one minute and angry the next. Trying to understand what is going on! I loved his point of view, he was not the lead in the case, but one of the “bods” and it was quite refreshing, to see a crime being solved this way working with their team.
Lastly, back in time, 1996 to be precise, Sharon the mother of Ryan, Gina and the mysterious Cassie, this is told in the third person. And it is not a nice recount of the past, made me sad in places and angry at times, as you unravel what has made her disown her daughter. Why the hatred?
The short chapters from each character, leave you with intrigue. You will see everything unravel slowly, teasing and encouraging you to “one more page” not relenting as it sticks with you making you carry on. This is so twisty and dark it keeps you hooked, I am so glad I got the chance to read it.
Man, it was such a thrilling read, I feel like I can unwind a bit now, been through the ringer and at least I can say I come up smelling of roses. Not everyone else did. I can safely put my hands up and admit, I did not have a clue how this would end, it is unpredictable and I got frustrated I could not read it quick enough. The writing is so fluid and mesmerising, that it was not an effort to read at all, and I enjoyed every second of this journey!
Elle’s other book The Guilty Wife is now calling loudly to me!
We are shown the story through different points of view.
We have Gina, walking home one night and discovers something horrifying! A dead body in an alleyway and once she called the police, she streams it live on the Channel 8 Facebook page. The backlash that follows spirals as she loses her friends, comes under vicious cyber attacks, as well as scary photos of her and rocks through the window at home! Terrifying! But hang on a second….her story does not quite add up. One thing to the police, another thing to someone else, what is going on here???
Then another body shows up with the same MO………
Ryan, Gina’s brother, adjusting to life since Gina came back into her life six months ago! But he has his own secrets and what happened to Cassie, their younger sister all those years ago? Why is she haunting him in every face he sees?
Detective Adam Adebayo, on the team to solve the murder, he is enamoured with Gina one minute and angry the next. Trying to understand what is going on! I loved his point of view, he was not the lead in the case, but one of the “bods” and it was quite refreshing, to see a crime being solved this way working with their team.
Lastly, back in time, 1996 to be precise, Sharon the mother of Ryan, Gina and the mysterious Cassie, this is told in the third person. And it is not a nice recount of the past, made me sad in places and angry at times, as you unravel what has made her disown her daughter. Why the hatred?
The short chapters from each character, leave you with intrigue. You will see everything unravel slowly, teasing and encouraging you to “one more page” not relenting as it sticks with you making you carry on. This is so twisty and dark it keeps you hooked, I am so glad I got the chance to read it.
Man, it was such a thrilling read, I feel like I can unwind a bit now, been through the ringer and at least I can say I come up smelling of roses. Not everyone else did. I can safely put my hands up and admit, I did not have a clue how this would end, it is unpredictable and I got frustrated I could not read it quick enough. The writing is so fluid and mesmerising, that it was not an effort to read at all, and I enjoyed every second of this journey!
Elle’s other book The Guilty Wife is now calling loudly to me!
September 6, 2018
The story has three timelines: the past, the present, and one year ago. The story has alternating points of view between Sharon, Ryan, Gina, and the detective. Pieces of information are scattered in these timelines.
Story: Uncovering a family deadly secret that’s been hidden for twenty-one years. The mystery behind the death of these recent victims leads Gina back to haunting memories from her past.
Gina is an ambitious reporter looking for a new age opportunity to report the news. However, in her haste to report the news Gina reports a crime scene that creates a backlash of trouble for her job and the detectives. She opened herself up to the public’s criticisms and threats with her carelessness to report the news without thinking of the consequences.
Overall: Once I grew accustomed to the delivery and the characters I was able to settle into the story. It’s a slow paced story focusing primarily on Gina’s character. Ryan is a main character as well, yet his issues are completely different from his sisters. I had hoped for a more fast paced action thriller, but I’m finding it’s slow building.
It’s just didn’t measure up to what I had preconceived from reading the synopsis. I wasn’t immersed into the story the way I hoped. I stayed with it until the end because I was morbidly curious as to the outcome. I wasn’t shocked or surprised by the conclusion. I was disappointed in the delivery of the information. I felt this had the potential of being a thrilling page turner especially with its conclusion.
October 16, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I loved this author’s previous book, The Guilty Wife so I was thrilled to see that this book, her second was being released – I jumped at the chance to read it and I thought it was superb!!
The book has some fascinating characters that are very well developed and the work brilliantly within the plot. I thought the story was crafted very well and it had a lot of suspense for me, I was hooked after the first few pages and couldn’t wait to see how it all ended!
Five stars from me, a well written and thoroughly enjoyable story – highly recommended and really looking forward to seeing what she releases next!!
I loved this author’s previous book, The Guilty Wife so I was thrilled to see that this book, her second was being released – I jumped at the chance to read it and I thought it was superb!!
The book has some fascinating characters that are very well developed and the work brilliantly within the plot. I thought the story was crafted very well and it had a lot of suspense for me, I was hooked after the first few pages and couldn’t wait to see how it all ended!
Five stars from me, a well written and thoroughly enjoyable story – highly recommended and really looking forward to seeing what she releases next!!
March 18, 2019
I was Interested at first then it got a bit too far fetched for my liking. I had guessed the ending by about half way through.
October 19, 2018
Gina Mills dreams of being a newsreader but right now she’s stuck at her PA job at Channel 8. She has reconnected with her brother, Ryan, after many years of radio silence, following the death of their younger sister Cassie. One night Gina walks home and comes across a body of a young woman. Yes, she does what’s required, calls the emergency number, but also logs into Channel 8 Facebook account and reports the murder live online – this must please her boss, right? But this decision is going to change her life in many different ways, and both good and bad attention comes her way. And then she discovers another body… Is it accidental? Or is someone targeting her? Is it connected with the events from her childhood?
The characters in this book are deeply flawed. They’re not likeable – you may feel pity or sorry for them but I don’t think it’s possible to like them. They’re full of dark secrets, they lie and are putting the blame on other people. But they are wonderfully, brilliantly complex and not straightforward, they are challenging and this is how I liked them to be. The story is told from a few points of view, those of Gina, Ryan, their mother Sharon, and also Adam, the police officer investigating the crimes. Our main character Gina is a very colourful one, and she made me feel confused many, many times. I really wasn’t sure if she’s honest, if she’s playing, or if she really has such a bad luck, and I really liked this, her not being straightforward but complicated and complex. The story jumps between 1996 and the present and the pieces of information are scattered and slowly – but not too slowly – being dosed to us to eventually show us a picture that I’ve never seen coming.
I think I’ve never before came across this method of murder – to be honest, it made me feel such disgust, and even more so when the author, in a very detailed way explained the motives of those murders. Yes, I can probably see that this modus operanti may rise an eyebrow or two but let’s be honest, finally it was something different, something totally unique and unexpected, and it worked for me.
The writing style is captivating, flowing so seamlessly and effortlessly, in a great and compelling way peeling off layer after layer, slowly putting the puzzle together, until we reach the finale. On the one hand, I wanted more from the ending, on the other it was great end that – please don’t judge me – made me smile under my breath. Sure, this story could be better in some aspects, there were moments it felt too far – fetched and some of the events and things happened just too conventionally but it kept me hooked and this is what counts.
For me personally this book was better than “The Guilty Wife”. It was a real page – turner that I couldn’t put down – well, I’ve read it in about eight hours, continuing deep into the night and all the time repeating “only one chapter more”. It was dark, twisty and unpredictable psychological thriller. The author has managed to pull wool over my eyes to be honest – I was extremely sure that I know who’s the killer and why and I think I don’t have to mention that I was wrong. Very wrong. I somehow guessed the “why” but not the “who”. I adored the way the author has made her plot so complex, throwing suspicions on different characters, once making them vulnerable and scared and in the next moment adding a red herring that would change my mind about them. There were so many questions: why does someone murder the women? Why is it always Gina finding them? Is it a coincidence? Is she the target of the killer? What’s going to happen??? It was full of tension and suspense, secrets and intrigues and a totally surprising outcome.
I’ve raced through the pages, literally. I was totally engrossed in this compelling and gripping story. It was not only the pace that made me read so quickly, it was the plot, the characters , the changing moods and this feeling of uncertainty, of something bad that was going to happen, of simply wanting to reach the conclusion as quickly as possible. It was twisty, but not in your usual psychological thrillers way, Ms Croft has twisted her plot in the most clever, compelling and original way. It was very dark and also very literal, some of the descriptions may be putting off, but just close your eyes and read further. “The Other Sister” is a book that’ll make you want more and more, to see more and more, to hear more. You’ll feel disgusted but also, in a teasing, sadistical way it won’t be enough for you. It was so refreshingly original, captivating, addictive and be warned – it’s going to chew you and spit you out and yet you’ll still want more and more. Highly recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
August 13, 2018
Having read and enjoyed The Guilty Wife, this author's debut book last year, I was quite excited to see how she would fare with this, her follow up book. On the whole, I enjoyed this one just as much, although I did have to suspend a bit of disbelief along the way.
Gina dreams of being a newsreader but she hasn't quite made it. When we first meet her she is working as a PA for Jacqueline, star of Channel Eight, who flat out refuses to give her a break. One night, Gina is walking home from a night out and discovers a body. Throwing most of her common sense out of the window, she decides to broadcast live on the channel's facebook page, her only saving grace being that she preserved the scene and didn't show the victim. This both shocks and delights her bosses at the channel and, in turn, catapults her into the limelight with personal appearances on all the main chat shows. Limelight that turns out to have good and bad sides to it as the trolls start to come out of the woodwork to attack her morals. Obviously all this attention, as well as her being a witness who discovered the body, also piques the interest of the Police who start to pay closer attention to her.
As the story unfolds, told in turn by Gina, her brother Ryan, and Detective Adam Adebayo, we also go back in time to the late nineties, to a story told by Gina and Ryan's mother Sharon. This story tells of something that happened in their past, a tragedy. But just how and why this relates to what is happening now is not obvious initially.
And then Gina finds a second body. Coincidence, or is there more to it than just dumb luck? Is someone deliberately targeting her, have they singled her out as their mouthpiece to the world, after all, she does broadcast the second murder discovery live too, or has her past come back to haunt her?
As with a previous book I read recently, when certain things came to light in this book I was a bit taken aback. But, unlike the previous book which I personally didn't think worked for me, what happened in this one did. Maybe the way it was introduced, built up to, explained; all things that in my opinion happened in the right way here. Made it easier for me to accept what I was reading. I'm not sure exactly why my reaction to these two similar books differs so greatly but I am happy to accept the way things are. I suspect that, like that other book, this book may polarise opinion and may even provide some good discussion.
It's hard to say much about the characters without spoiling things but I will speak generally and just say that, as per all good psychological thrillers, I did a good bit of shouting at them, changing my mind about them and their behaviour, laughing with them, crying with them and generally connected with the majority well enough to enjoy the book as a whole.
Pacing was also very good. Enough was divulged about the past to illustrate the present but not too much to give the game away early. There was also enough mystery from the past to hold onto until eventually the explanation was forthcoming.
And that ending, the reveal, the sheer duplicity explained. Mindblowing! Again, it won't be for everyone but for me, again, it just worked. I'm now left hanging to see what the author can possibly serve up next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Gina dreams of being a newsreader but she hasn't quite made it. When we first meet her she is working as a PA for Jacqueline, star of Channel Eight, who flat out refuses to give her a break. One night, Gina is walking home from a night out and discovers a body. Throwing most of her common sense out of the window, she decides to broadcast live on the channel's facebook page, her only saving grace being that she preserved the scene and didn't show the victim. This both shocks and delights her bosses at the channel and, in turn, catapults her into the limelight with personal appearances on all the main chat shows. Limelight that turns out to have good and bad sides to it as the trolls start to come out of the woodwork to attack her morals. Obviously all this attention, as well as her being a witness who discovered the body, also piques the interest of the Police who start to pay closer attention to her.
As the story unfolds, told in turn by Gina, her brother Ryan, and Detective Adam Adebayo, we also go back in time to the late nineties, to a story told by Gina and Ryan's mother Sharon. This story tells of something that happened in their past, a tragedy. But just how and why this relates to what is happening now is not obvious initially.
And then Gina finds a second body. Coincidence, or is there more to it than just dumb luck? Is someone deliberately targeting her, have they singled her out as their mouthpiece to the world, after all, she does broadcast the second murder discovery live too, or has her past come back to haunt her?
As with a previous book I read recently, when certain things came to light in this book I was a bit taken aback. But, unlike the previous book which I personally didn't think worked for me, what happened in this one did. Maybe the way it was introduced, built up to, explained; all things that in my opinion happened in the right way here. Made it easier for me to accept what I was reading. I'm not sure exactly why my reaction to these two similar books differs so greatly but I am happy to accept the way things are. I suspect that, like that other book, this book may polarise opinion and may even provide some good discussion.
It's hard to say much about the characters without spoiling things but I will speak generally and just say that, as per all good psychological thrillers, I did a good bit of shouting at them, changing my mind about them and their behaviour, laughing with them, crying with them and generally connected with the majority well enough to enjoy the book as a whole.
Pacing was also very good. Enough was divulged about the past to illustrate the present but not too much to give the game away early. There was also enough mystery from the past to hold onto until eventually the explanation was forthcoming.
And that ending, the reveal, the sheer duplicity explained. Mindblowing! Again, it won't be for everyone but for me, again, it just worked. I'm now left hanging to see what the author can possibly serve up next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
June 19, 2019
Brilliant read - a real page turner!
April 15, 2024
Plot twists
October 4, 2018
Twisty, unpredictable and very chilling. Full review to follow.
September 22, 2018
Gina is incredibly thankful when a personal reference from her new boyfriend lands her an assistant position role in a television production company. It’s not Gina’s ultimate dream job and the new boss is something of a controlling horror, but Gina has high hopes. Her suggestions for ways to increase the station’s market share will surely be taken seriously soon and the result will be Gina powering up through the ranks. Her employers need to reach new digital audiences in the fickle age of social media immediacy and Gina is sure much more could be done in this arena. Gina’s end goal of working in front of the camera rather than behind it however seems to be annoyingly always just out of reach.
Fate drops an opportunity into Gina’s lap one night when she discovers the body of a young woman left in an alleyway. Making the snap decision to live stream the discovery on her company social media page has life changing consequences for Gina. As the public’s interest turns from the unfolding murder investigation to focus instead on Gina’s thirsty reporting, Gina is terrified that her decisions have placed her under suspicion for the killing. When Gina is the one to find the next victim, the public has nothing left for her but vitriol and spite. There is a killer out there, and its evident that he is paying close attention to Gina’s every move.
THE OTHER SISTER has some good structural bones in the scene setting and a little included social commentary (as in that we’re all critical posters online) and so the first half of this book flies by. Protagonist Gina has a lot going on in her life, as does her brother Ryan. The loss of their sister when they were all young children haunts them still and created family rifts that were never repaired. The tension levels off as we find out more of Gina’s family history, and how reliant she is on her present day relationship with her illusionist boyfriend.
The separate storylines of Gina’s family history however and the modern day murders unfortunately just don’t come together convincingly. THE OTHER SISTER struggles to create a believable framework to support the intrigue. The family backstory has substance, and it is this that gives strength to a novel that falters with incorporating the crime element. The specifics of how the murders were carried out is not explored satisfactorily which would have helped with buying into the identity of the murderer. The motives… hmm. It might be a stretch, considering the work put into explaining how Gina came to be where she is now. This is where we wanted to source our reasonings from.
It’s true that it is not always necessary to have a likeable character to focus your concerns on and some readers may be invested enough to see the unlikeable folk in this novel receive their comeuppance. THE OTHER SISTER reinforces that our childhoods will always impact upon our future selves, and that everyone around us harbours their own secrets and biases.
Fate drops an opportunity into Gina’s lap one night when she discovers the body of a young woman left in an alleyway. Making the snap decision to live stream the discovery on her company social media page has life changing consequences for Gina. As the public’s interest turns from the unfolding murder investigation to focus instead on Gina’s thirsty reporting, Gina is terrified that her decisions have placed her under suspicion for the killing. When Gina is the one to find the next victim, the public has nothing left for her but vitriol and spite. There is a killer out there, and its evident that he is paying close attention to Gina’s every move.
THE OTHER SISTER has some good structural bones in the scene setting and a little included social commentary (as in that we’re all critical posters online) and so the first half of this book flies by. Protagonist Gina has a lot going on in her life, as does her brother Ryan. The loss of their sister when they were all young children haunts them still and created family rifts that were never repaired. The tension levels off as we find out more of Gina’s family history, and how reliant she is on her present day relationship with her illusionist boyfriend.
The separate storylines of Gina’s family history however and the modern day murders unfortunately just don’t come together convincingly. THE OTHER SISTER struggles to create a believable framework to support the intrigue. The family backstory has substance, and it is this that gives strength to a novel that falters with incorporating the crime element. The specifics of how the murders were carried out is not explored satisfactorily which would have helped with buying into the identity of the murderer. The motives… hmm. It might be a stretch, considering the work put into explaining how Gina came to be where she is now. This is where we wanted to source our reasonings from.
It’s true that it is not always necessary to have a likeable character to focus your concerns on and some readers may be invested enough to see the unlikeable folk in this novel receive their comeuppance. THE OTHER SISTER reinforces that our childhoods will always impact upon our future selves, and that everyone around us harbours their own secrets and biases.
July 11, 2019
This author is new to me and the paperback was a gift from a friend. I usually keep "real" books to read in the summertime in the garden. She's definitely an author I'll be reading again as I really liked this. It features a lot of varying characters and they each get their own chapters. I wasn't sure at the beginning if I'd get on with it but once I remembered who was narrating each portion I managed just fine.....though I'm not saying I didn't need to flick back a few times to check who I was with ! There were times, however, where we jumped from one scene to the next and a whole heap of time had disappeared, so we got to fill gaps in for ourselves......now I'd have preferred a longer story and for the author to keep us abreast of all developments myself. I found myself attempting to second-guess a lot (and was even right a couple of times) and there were some intriguing twists 'n' turns.
I'd never come across the phrase "catching wise" before and I also enjoyed the Audrey Hepburn quotation, too. I laughed aloud at this, "I step onto the spongy play surface, the kind that makes sure that kids bounce when they fall off the equipment." She also tells of somebody who keeps all their books on shelves with the pages facing outwards !! That is so strange to imagine.....
She did mention a child's playground at one point where I think it should be children's but there were no mistakes at all in it ! I do find this in the proper printed word as opposed to digital editions.
The ending was an ambiguous one and could be left open to explore a sequel, though she doesn't seem to have done so. I'll certainly be reading more by Ms Croft.
I'd never come across the phrase "catching wise" before and I also enjoyed the Audrey Hepburn quotation, too. I laughed aloud at this, "I step onto the spongy play surface, the kind that makes sure that kids bounce when they fall off the equipment." She also tells of somebody who keeps all their books on shelves with the pages facing outwards !! That is so strange to imagine.....
She did mention a child's playground at one point where I think it should be children's but there were no mistakes at all in it ! I do find this in the proper printed word as opposed to digital editions.
The ending was an ambiguous one and could be left open to explore a sequel, though she doesn't seem to have done so. I'll certainly be reading more by Ms Croft.
March 12, 2019
A really good read that keeps you entertained and glued to the page.
As far as crime fiction goes I feel that Croft would’ve benefitted from a bit more research into police investigation and interrogation. The DI (who’s name I’ve already forgotten) spends more time mooning over his partner and questioning his ‘feelings’ for Gina than doing any actual police work. The fact that Gina reports before they’re even aware of a crime is sloppy police work at best.
The main character, Gina, is a hard character to like. You never really feel that you know her. Part ruthless in her career progression and yet a loner looking for friendship and family. This is can also be said for her brother and boyfriend. You’re told the bare minimum about them but don’t feel that there’s much else to know.
The ‘twist’ or ending of this book is in my opinion unbelievable and the reasoning convoluted. That said, I did enjoy reading it but it’s not high on my list of best reads.
As far as crime fiction goes I feel that Croft would’ve benefitted from a bit more research into police investigation and interrogation. The DI (who’s name I’ve already forgotten) spends more time mooning over his partner and questioning his ‘feelings’ for Gina than doing any actual police work. The fact that Gina reports before they’re even aware of a crime is sloppy police work at best.
The main character, Gina, is a hard character to like. You never really feel that you know her. Part ruthless in her career progression and yet a loner looking for friendship and family. This is can also be said for her brother and boyfriend. You’re told the bare minimum about them but don’t feel that there’s much else to know.
The ‘twist’ or ending of this book is in my opinion unbelievable and the reasoning convoluted. That said, I did enjoy reading it but it’s not high on my list of best reads.
November 17, 2021
I rarely review books I don’t like, but this one…
This one is an exception.
Croft’s writing flows nicely, but that’s the only positive thing I can say about this poor excuse of a book. None of the characters are likeable, NONE (well, maybe Tash). I hold a special kind of hatred for Gina – a.k.a. human pile of trash.
The plot of this book had potential, but as the story progresses it became so…unrealistic – so wild and far-fetched that I simply wanted to throw the book into a trash can. Mind control? Really? Also, the switch between chapter Chapter 49 Gina and LITERALLY chapters 1-48 Gina is ABYSMAL. If this is a first person narrative, then 80% of Gina’s thought process throughout the book is a lie. She was behind the killings, so why describe her grief? Why write her chapters as if she were a victim? It’s dumb and it’s a gaping plot hole.
I only read this piece of garbage because I had to for a college class. Don’t waste your money on this thing.
0 stars.
This one is an exception.
Croft’s writing flows nicely, but that’s the only positive thing I can say about this poor excuse of a book. None of the characters are likeable, NONE (well, maybe Tash). I hold a special kind of hatred for Gina – a.k.a. human pile of trash.
The plot of this book had potential, but as the story progresses it became so…unrealistic – so wild and far-fetched that I simply wanted to throw the book into a trash can. Mind control? Really? Also, the switch between chapter Chapter 49 Gina and LITERALLY chapters 1-48 Gina is ABYSMAL. If this is a first person narrative, then 80% of Gina’s thought process throughout the book is a lie. She was behind the killings, so why describe her grief? Why write her chapters as if she were a victim? It’s dumb and it’s a gaping plot hole.
I only read this piece of garbage because I had to for a college class. Don’t waste your money on this thing.
0 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2021
This was a random pick from the library shelves and I wish I hadn't. There's no psychological truth in the story telling so although the journey the reader is taken on is quite effective, the end result isn't believable. For me, it was an irritating waste of time.
September 29, 2019
A gripping plot and interesting setup, but it is too far fetched give any shivers while reading it.
November 29, 2018
Gina Mills is desperate to be a newsreader, but her boss will not help her. Walking home one night, Gina stumbles upon a dead body, and after calling the police, she makes the split-second decision to report the murder live. When questioned by the police, Gina cannot remember specific details about her discovery, but these memory gaps are explained away as shock. But when Gina finds a second body, it is clear she is being targeted. But why?
You need to suspend disbelief with this book. If you can ignore that this goes beyond reality and enters the realms of magic and illusion then you will be fine. Reading this, I purely just read the plot and did not think about how likely it was. Doing this, I actually found myself enjoying the read and I read it very quickly as I found myself strangely hooked by the equally strange goings on. Having said this, I am very up and down about the book, there are sections where I was very excited and hooked on the plot and then are sections where I was bored and a bit uninterested. Towards the end the book really spirals into the realms of the unknown and I lost a bit of interest as the book lost plausibility. Still, the plot is entertaining with a dark current running through it.
As with any psychological thriller, this has multiple plot twists, except I found them very obvious. Croft follows a formula that works well for thrillers, so if like me you read a lot of them, you will be able to work out the big twists. This did not really impact my enjoyment but it would have been nice to have a truly shocking twist happen.
Character wise, I actually found myself liking them, to my surprise. They are all flawed but in a strange way, they are all likeable. It was interesting to get to know them and follow them throughout the book, seeing the situations that Croft puts them in and how they respond. The perspectives Croft uses to tell the story are where I have a problem. Large portions of the book are told by Gina and her brother Ryan, these are both fine and I enjoyed these. As well as this we have chapters in their mother’s perspective, detailing traumatic events from their childhood and the police officer, detailing the investigation. I just do not think either of these perspectives are need. We need to know about events in their childhood but I think Croft could have written it in a different way and the police investigation chapters just do not add anything to the plot, and in actual fact just add an almost unnecessary thread. The power of this book lies with Gina and her brother Ryan and their relationship, in my opinion the official police investigation insight is not needed.
‘The Other Sister’ is an intense read that had moments of great enjoyment and others where I was uninterested. If you can push reality aside for the duration, you will find this entertaining.
You need to suspend disbelief with this book. If you can ignore that this goes beyond reality and enters the realms of magic and illusion then you will be fine. Reading this, I purely just read the plot and did not think about how likely it was. Doing this, I actually found myself enjoying the read and I read it very quickly as I found myself strangely hooked by the equally strange goings on. Having said this, I am very up and down about the book, there are sections where I was very excited and hooked on the plot and then are sections where I was bored and a bit uninterested. Towards the end the book really spirals into the realms of the unknown and I lost a bit of interest as the book lost plausibility. Still, the plot is entertaining with a dark current running through it.
As with any psychological thriller, this has multiple plot twists, except I found them very obvious. Croft follows a formula that works well for thrillers, so if like me you read a lot of them, you will be able to work out the big twists. This did not really impact my enjoyment but it would have been nice to have a truly shocking twist happen.
Character wise, I actually found myself liking them, to my surprise. They are all flawed but in a strange way, they are all likeable. It was interesting to get to know them and follow them throughout the book, seeing the situations that Croft puts them in and how they respond. The perspectives Croft uses to tell the story are where I have a problem. Large portions of the book are told by Gina and her brother Ryan, these are both fine and I enjoyed these. As well as this we have chapters in their mother’s perspective, detailing traumatic events from their childhood and the police officer, detailing the investigation. I just do not think either of these perspectives are need. We need to know about events in their childhood but I think Croft could have written it in a different way and the police investigation chapters just do not add anything to the plot, and in actual fact just add an almost unnecessary thread. The power of this book lies with Gina and her brother Ryan and their relationship, in my opinion the official police investigation insight is not needed.
‘The Other Sister’ is an intense read that had moments of great enjoyment and others where I was uninterested. If you can push reality aside for the duration, you will find this entertaining.
October 10, 2018
This year I finally understand the saying, 'Never judge a book by it's cover.' Some of the top rated books I've read this year I have put off because the covers weren't great... but when I did crack open their spines, they've been huge surprises. I love that.
Gina is desperate to be a newsreader but is stuck as an assistant for Channel 8 where no one takes her seriously. Walking home one night she stumbles across a body and jumps at the opportunity of being the first one there. She broadcasts the discovery and her video goes viral. People are outraged and sickened by her lack of respect for the victim and her ethics are put into question. However her boss instantly changes her tune and is thrilled with the rising numbers for their channel.
Thinking she's finally got the break she needs she suddenly gets a wake up call when she discovers a second body. This is more than just coincidence. Someone is targeting her.
She starts getting threats and her life is suddenly in danger.
Gina is a character I was confused with in such a fascinating way. While her morals are questionable making her quite unlikable with her desperateness I still felt sympathy for her. She's estranged from her family. Her history is horrific with a hacked up family pet and the death of a sibling... her mother hates her and points the blame at her... it's hard not to feel for Gina through the course of this novel.
I'd say this book has a huge family drama element to it. It's a really dark, multi-layered story. It's heartbreaking at times and tackles sociopaths in a sadistically fantastic way that I loved. I tore through this novel with its fast pace! It's so refreshingly original and highly addictive. It threw me around, shook me up and dizzied me into a complete stupor. It was brilliant.
It's a book told from multiple points of views as well as hopping between the past (1996) and present day and it all meshed together really well with the authors enjoyable, flowing writing style.
Now You See Me is an excellent film - I think if you enjoy it you would love this book. It had that exciting illusionist element to it that you're skeptical of but still find so engrossing and fun!
I will definitely be picking up her other novel, The Guilty Wife and anything else she comes out with.
I can't quite explain why it didn't get the full 5 stars from me. I'm not superficial enough to base it on the cover.. but I feel perhaps the authors writing could still improve with time and hopefully she keeps writing and produces something even more wonderful next time. I look forward to rewarding her a five star review in the future with what I am sure will be an astoundingly shocking thriller.
Gina is desperate to be a newsreader but is stuck as an assistant for Channel 8 where no one takes her seriously. Walking home one night she stumbles across a body and jumps at the opportunity of being the first one there. She broadcasts the discovery and her video goes viral. People are outraged and sickened by her lack of respect for the victim and her ethics are put into question. However her boss instantly changes her tune and is thrilled with the rising numbers for their channel.
Thinking she's finally got the break she needs she suddenly gets a wake up call when she discovers a second body. This is more than just coincidence. Someone is targeting her.
She starts getting threats and her life is suddenly in danger.
Gina is a character I was confused with in such a fascinating way. While her morals are questionable making her quite unlikable with her desperateness I still felt sympathy for her. She's estranged from her family. Her history is horrific with a hacked up family pet and the death of a sibling... her mother hates her and points the blame at her... it's hard not to feel for Gina through the course of this novel.
I'd say this book has a huge family drama element to it. It's a really dark, multi-layered story. It's heartbreaking at times and tackles sociopaths in a sadistically fantastic way that I loved. I tore through this novel with its fast pace! It's so refreshingly original and highly addictive. It threw me around, shook me up and dizzied me into a complete stupor. It was brilliant.
It's a book told from multiple points of views as well as hopping between the past (1996) and present day and it all meshed together really well with the authors enjoyable, flowing writing style.
Now You See Me is an excellent film - I think if you enjoy it you would love this book. It had that exciting illusionist element to it that you're skeptical of but still find so engrossing and fun!
I will definitely be picking up her other novel, The Guilty Wife and anything else she comes out with.
I can't quite explain why it didn't get the full 5 stars from me. I'm not superficial enough to base it on the cover.. but I feel perhaps the authors writing could still improve with time and hopefully she keeps writing and produces something even more wonderful next time. I look forward to rewarding her a five star review in the future with what I am sure will be an astoundingly shocking thriller.
December 19, 2018
I could not put this one down! It’s the quintessential psychological thriller that will keep you up at night and keep you guessing with every page.
Ryan Mills is thrilled that his sister Gina is back in his life after many years of estrangement, relating to the family’s breakdown after the tragic loss of their younger sister Cassie. He’s shrugged off his initial wariness and has fully embraced having a sister again, inviting her to live with him in their childhood home now that their parents have emigrated to live in Florida.
Ryan lives a carefully consistent life. It’s clear that his younger years were marred by unpleasantness and he’s doing his best to dispel the ghosts and continue as best he can to get back on track and maintain his equilibrium. Gina too seems to be doing all she can to live an ordinary, unexciting life. She gave up her journalist job to return to London with her boyfriend Julian, and although she longs to be a news presenter and lands a job (with Julian’s help) at Channel 8, her tough boss Jacqueline isn’t interested in viewing her as anything more than a PA – in fact she makes it crystal clear that she views Gina as lower than something she’d discard from the bottom of her shoe!
But one night, she leaves work late and takes a shortcut home. Walking through an alley she knows she shouldn’t be taking, she stumbles on the body of a murdered woman. She’s shocked and terrified, but in an instant, she decides to grab her chance and broadcasts the news live via the Channel 8 Facebook page. She’s wholly unprepared for the backlash that follows. Surprisingly, she doesn’t lose her job, but she’s propelled into a world of uncertainty, sure she’s being stalked, not knowing who’s out there just waiting for some harm to befall her. And then the unthinkable happens … another dead girl turns up right in front of her, once again! What does Gina do now?
Told in alternating points of view, we hear from Gina, her brother Ryan, and the inspector on the case, Detective Adam Adebayo. The narrative also takes us back to 1996, with some chapters being related by Gina and Ryan’s mother Sharon, which adds an entirely different perspective to the already rather dark picture!
Elle Croft’s characterisation is excellent, but I think in this story, it’s the concept that steals the show. I can’t say much more about that as I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I found it quite mind-blowing! It made me really start to wonder … what if?
This one will have you guessing all the way through, and you’ll change your mind on every page with all the twists and turns it takes you on. It’s a solid 4.5 from me.
Ryan Mills is thrilled that his sister Gina is back in his life after many years of estrangement, relating to the family’s breakdown after the tragic loss of their younger sister Cassie. He’s shrugged off his initial wariness and has fully embraced having a sister again, inviting her to live with him in their childhood home now that their parents have emigrated to live in Florida.
Ryan lives a carefully consistent life. It’s clear that his younger years were marred by unpleasantness and he’s doing his best to dispel the ghosts and continue as best he can to get back on track and maintain his equilibrium. Gina too seems to be doing all she can to live an ordinary, unexciting life. She gave up her journalist job to return to London with her boyfriend Julian, and although she longs to be a news presenter and lands a job (with Julian’s help) at Channel 8, her tough boss Jacqueline isn’t interested in viewing her as anything more than a PA – in fact she makes it crystal clear that she views Gina as lower than something she’d discard from the bottom of her shoe!
But one night, she leaves work late and takes a shortcut home. Walking through an alley she knows she shouldn’t be taking, she stumbles on the body of a murdered woman. She’s shocked and terrified, but in an instant, she decides to grab her chance and broadcasts the news live via the Channel 8 Facebook page. She’s wholly unprepared for the backlash that follows. Surprisingly, she doesn’t lose her job, but she’s propelled into a world of uncertainty, sure she’s being stalked, not knowing who’s out there just waiting for some harm to befall her. And then the unthinkable happens … another dead girl turns up right in front of her, once again! What does Gina do now?
Told in alternating points of view, we hear from Gina, her brother Ryan, and the inspector on the case, Detective Adam Adebayo. The narrative also takes us back to 1996, with some chapters being related by Gina and Ryan’s mother Sharon, which adds an entirely different perspective to the already rather dark picture!
Elle Croft’s characterisation is excellent, but I think in this story, it’s the concept that steals the show. I can’t say much more about that as I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I found it quite mind-blowing! It made me really start to wonder … what if?
This one will have you guessing all the way through, and you’ll change your mind on every page with all the twists and turns it takes you on. It’s a solid 4.5 from me.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 109 reviews