Was not able to get into this book. I had not read the other books in the series, so that could be the problem. I had no idea what was going on. Ended up DNFing because of confusion.

*Thank you @grandcentralpub for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

This book's description was right in the "reading wheel", but honestly, I read 40 pages and from page 1, I felt like I was thrown into the middle of something and had no idea what was going on. Sorry, didn't finish this book.

All hail the queen of noir! Blaedel is one of my favorite authors. She consistently delivers strong female characters who are relatable as well as captivating. THE THIRD SISTER brings the suspense as well as an addictive plot. Brilliant...though I am not surprised.

This is the last of the Ilka Jensen series and the books got better as they went along. There's a reason Sara Blaedel is such a popular author - simply put, her books are good.

3.5 Stars

This is the last of the Ilka Jensen series and the books got better as I went along. I think it's because the first two books were cliffhangers but I really enjoyed this one so very much more. In terms of the mystery for this book, I thought it was above average but didn't hit spectacular level. In my opinion the author didn't make it super obvious what had happened until the big reveal although maybe other readers will disagree. I'll admit I had a smirk on my face when my theory started to finally play out but it was quickly erased when I was proven wrong. Overall I really enjoyed this book even though it wasn't perfect. If you are in the mood for a mindless but fairly entertaining read, consider checking this one out.

This book was just too much. Too many unnecessary "twists" (this person is a bad guy! No, wait no they aren't! This person is dead! No wait..wait no they aren't)! The constant back and forth became tiresome - and when you coupled that with how readily people were willing to forgive and forget? And how many characters kept being thrown at you? It just became unrealistic to the point that I stopped enjoying the story.

The straw that broke the camel's back, however? Was the constant threat that Artie would be discharged from the hospital unless Ilka provided them with a copy of his insurance paperwork (to be certain he was covered for treatment). Scans canceled, threats to have him discharged (the man had a bleed on his brain for crying out loud), etc, etc. Even though over $85,000 had already been deposited in his "patient account" to cover the treatment. I'm sorry - I know our healthcare system is rubbish - but this would never happen. Hospitals are required to treat all patients whether or not they are covered by insurance. This seemed like just another way for the author to heap more burdens on Ilka's shoulders. And because it was so blatantly over the top, it took me out of the story altogether.

The whole thing was utterly disappointing, especially considering the author does have a strong writing style. I have read other stories from her, but I had to say that this one will likely be my last.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Sara Blaedel's Family Secrets trilogy is intriguing, sometimes scary, with truly unique characters. In THE THIRD SISTER, Blaedel explores the funeral business, criminal activity and what it would be like to be stuck in a coffin. Very absorbing read.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

Sara Blaedel is without a doubt one of my favorite authors. She is not called Denmark's "Queen of Crime" for nothing and I cannot seem to read her books fast enough. She has two books series out, both of which I have now read in their entirety and, while both are different, I cannot recommend them enough! One is more a crime-fiction series - the Louise Rick series, which is set primarily in Denmark. The other series, of which this book is the final installment, is more focused on the characters and their secrets, and that is set here in the US.

This is the type of series where I feel it is crucial to read it in order. So many threads are continued from one book to the next and while Sara does give some recap, it's quite brief, and having the whole picture would make this much more meaningful and enjoyable.

Once again, this book picks up right where the second book left off. And, if you read that one, you know we were left with quite a major revelation. This really jump-starts things and has Ilka reeling with the news. As she tries to adjust to this, she realizes she still has quite a lot of questions she needs answers to but before she can get those answers she realizes she has more problems on her hands.

I love the way this book is crafted. Just as we find answers to one problem, more issues arise so that you never feel that sense of peace, just more unrest and tension and the suspense is constantly there. I also love the continued character development. The main characters all continue to play a crucial role and there is the additional of some new characters that adds intrigue to the storyline. Learning more about some of these characters was quite eye-opening. I had been a little suspicious of one or two of them from the beginning so it was a relief to finally find out what was going on with them.

This was a fitting end to a fantastic trilogy. While I'm bummed to see this trilogy end, I feel that this final book really kept me engaged all the way through. Now I cannot wait to see what comes next from this author...I sure hope it's more books in the Louise Rick series!!!

Sara Blaedel has really past everyone with this third book about Ilka and her undead father. There are so many characters in this book that it would take a book to explain everyone. I could do it, but lets just say there are two Mexican brothers and the Isiah Burnes God Squad that want to get hold of Lydia (the nun), to punish her and get their money back. Sara does not hold back in describing how people get murdered. Ilka sees some of the murders and people after they have been beaten up and taken to the hospital. Her reactions aren't without some form of grieving or blaming herself, it as if she's there only to watch. This book had me wondering how Ilka was going to come out alive. If you want to read this story about how she inherited the funeral parlor, she gets more family involved from Denmark to help and they only get bits and pieces of details from Ilka. All the books play into this one which is interesting and can be seen in how the characters act. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes who done its.