"If I could just see what I already knew— pull it out of the shadows of my mind— I’d have what I was looking for."

Ava grew up in Blackworth Mansion, a childhood home haunted by the ghost of a murdered girl seeking revenge. Her family always seemed to be cursed by this ghost, Cinderella, and Ava's mother had died mysteriously in the house. Seventeen years later, Ava moves back home determined to figure out the truth of what had happened on that fateful night. Shadowed in suspicions, she attempts to recreate forgotten memories using photography to unlock the secrets of her past.

As she recalls lost memories, Ava begins to uncover the truth hidden underneath layers of secrets and fears. Dark and gloomy with a chilling sense of foreshadowing, potential dangers arise and Ava must decide just how deep into the past she's willing to go. Who can Ava actually trust, if anyone? And is the ghost of Cinderella real and still in the house?

Interestingly, this book dealt with reactions to both physical and emotional trauma along with the scars that are inevitably left behind. Searching for a sense of home and belonging and the lengths people will go to avoid losing that further captured my attention. I liked the inclusion of poetry throughout. Ghosts and the power of invisibility added to the mystery. I also enjoyed the way photography was used to unveil secrets of the past that perhaps were better to remain hidden.

However, unlikable characters who played off each other's fears and were burdened by deep insecurities along with a repetitively described setting that seemed more depressing than frightening dampened my expectations of enjoying this book. I figured out the significant plot twist early and I found it difficult to become invested in the characters. Some parts of the story seemed unlikely to happen, testing the limits of what I could truly believe. The ending tried to bring things together and elicit justice but it occurred somewhat abruptly and I was left with several unanswered questions and disappointment in a story that had so much more potential overall.

** Special thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Available October 18, 2022. **

I love books set in creepy (not horror though) houses as settings. This was a very well developed creepy house. I guessed the twist almost from the first part of the book, but that didn't dampen my enjoyment of the book. I would definitely recommend this book to suspense lovers, and I will be looking for more from this author.

This is a beyond insane thriller but oh so good!!!!!! You will be captivated and will stay up reading this one late into the night!!!!!

This one just didn’t work for me. At almost 400 pages, it is way too long, it’s quite predicable and the storytelling kinda put me to sleep 😴. For thrillers, I really need something I can’t put down and this wasn’t it for me.it does seem to have some good reviews on #goodreads so may be worth a try for you

2.5 ⭐️

I'm devastated that this one didn't work for me! When I read the description, it reminded me a little bit of The Haunting of Hill House, which is one of my favorite shows of all time, but sadly I was not too fond of the execution of this.

For starters, I think the writing style isn't for me. It felt...too composed? Like it wasn't flowing naturally. The dialogue or narration doesn't read naturally or authentically but instead feels forced. There was also a lot of dialogue in general, which isn't something I usually enjoy. I prefer it when you have to deduce things for yourself, but the writing in this made it seem very surface-level and like you're getting told everything instead of figuring it out for yourself. It became incredibly tiring reading people talk after a while, and I think it slowed down the pacing for me and made it less enjoyable.

I also didn't feel as much tension or creep factor as I hoped, which I expect with a novel like this. I tend to decide how good a mystery/thriller is for me by how creeped out, nervous, or scared I feel, and this one didn’t make me feel any anticipation toward what was coming up next or the ending.

I’m disappointed this one didn’t work out for me. However, I still have hope that other readers will enjoy it!

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.
DO NOT CONTINUE READING IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW "THE TWIST"

I'm firmly divided between loving and hating this one.

What I loved:
The writing is spectacular! I was totally invested and flipping the pages. The constant shifting of POVs kept me on the edge of my seat and the breadcrumb clues really kept me guessing. I also loved the "rich people behaving badly" theme and the story's gothic setting.

What I did NOT love:
I didn't love "the big reveal" or major "twist" of Sarah really being Didi. It was so unbelievable as to be annoying and reminded me of Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris.

Thanks to NetGalley as well as Thomas and Mercer for this novel to read in advance. The premise reminded me of one of novels that i liked which is called "The Drowning Kind" by Jennifer McMahon. This was not as good but it was an okay read. I find it hard to break down without giving too much away. I would suggest to read the other novel over this but it was still okay.

I didn’t get this book. Haunted house, yes, I understood that, but everything else that followed, I was lost.
This book was a miss for me

A huge Thank You to The author, The publisher and NetGalley for providing the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes to everything about this book and this author!!!!!!!!!

I have to say this was a fantastic read. Very fast-paced and gripping which causes it to be a very quick read. Lindsay Marcott has a way of writing that makes this book a very easy read and easy to immerse yourself in the story being told to you. Sometimes I find a lot of thrillers that can be hard to do but Lindsay did a fantastic job and I for one appreciate it. I also appreciated the POV switches because I fell that when a book is told from multiple POVs you get a more rounded story that you can see from all sides instead of just one. I will say that if you like Jennifer MacMahon you will absolutely love Lindsay Marcott and this book.

Ava grew up in an old mansion that her mother believed was haunted. Her mother claims to have seen the ghost and has named her Cinderella. Her mother, Christina, is an artist who makes all of her own paints and has eccentric taste. Ava and Jamie had an interesting if strange childhood.

Ava was young when their mother died and struggles with remembering what actually happened. Ava is convinced that Christina was poisoned even though that was not the official cause of death.

Many years later, Ava is now moving back into the house. It is quite run down and needs a lot of work. Jamie wants to sell it. When weird things start happening Ava wonders if maybe her mother was correct and the house is haunted. Or just maybe someone is trying to make her think that.

A lot of interesting characters in this one. I had a little trouble keeping them all straight at first, but that was much easier as the book went on. I didn't guess the twist for a while, which is always a plus. This is a hard one to describe without giving too much away. Overall, it was a good book.

Thanks to netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the arc.

Ava lived in mansion, some say is haunted and she enjoyed her upbringing there, until her mother died. Ava strongly believed that her mother’s death was shrouded with mystery and it wasn’t a natural death. Seventeen years later she returns to the mansion and is determined to finally solve this mystery. Obstacles and secrets are set in front her to deter her from the truth. Ava is a strong willed character that a reader can root for. A thrilling and suspenseful story that is a definite page turner.

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"From the bestselling author of Mrs. Rochester's Ghost comes the chilling story of a young woman who returns to her haunted childhood home to unravel the deadly mysteries of her family's past.

Ava grew up in a haunted mansion, envied by all her friends. But when her mother died mysteriously there, the thrills of Blackworth Mansion became nightmares. Ava never accepted that her mother perished from natural causes, but no one would believe her.

Seventeen years later, Ava returns home to unravel the truth of her mother's death - and her own demons quickly follow. Her estranged and vindictive father may be stalking her. Her secretive new sister-in-law lands on her doorstep with troubles of her own. And then there's the strange girl who may or may not be haunting the grounds. Even Ava's romance with her first crush is shadowed by her suspicions.

When Ava makes a terrifying discovery on the property, she must decide just how far into the past she's willing to go. Some secrets can be deadly - especially the ones Ava's kept hidden in the dark."

Haunted homes, haunted legacies, bring on the hauntings!

What really happened to Ava's mother all those years ago? She grew up in Blackwood Manor with her brother James and a ghost they called Cinderella. Ava's got a plan but things go sideways when James arrives with his new wife Sarah- and then he disappears, This is told by Ava, Sarah, and Didi, whose own mother worked there- and it moves back and forth in time. It's not especially creepy (given that there's a ghost- or is there?)but it does have some good twists. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fast entertaining read.

Shadow Sister by Lindsay Marcott is set to release on October 18, 2022 and is published by Thomas & Mercer. This was my first time reading this author and I did enjoy this book. I believe it’s the perfect read for the month of October as the main setting takes place in an old mansion called Blackworth Mansion that is old and creepy and thought to be haunted. It’s the childhood home of Ava and Jamie Holland. Ava returns home to live at the mansion after being away for many years to try and find answers to some of her questions as to what really happened to her mother and what caused her death. The mansion supposedly is inhabited by a ghost named Cinderella and that adds to the spookiness of the story. The addition of the secondary characters brings the story to life and although I pretty much had the plot all figured out very early on, I still really enjoyed the story. If creepy settings and somewhat crazy characters set on revenge appeals to you then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book as well. I recommend it and think with Halloween coming right up, it’s the perfect read for this time of year. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc that I received off the Read Now section. I thought it was a really good story and I hope to read more by this author in the near future. I’m giving this a 4 star rating!

This book was well written, intriguing, and kept me thinking. Thrillers in haunted houses are something I have a fondness for, and this fulfilled that need.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the chance to read this book!

This is a prime example of a book that successfully weaves past and present with multiple narratives, which isn't always what happens with some authors. A story woven with love, ghosts, revenge and obsession, I found this unputdownable. I figured out the twist halfway through, but there was still enough goings-on to make me question myself and the conclusion I had drawn.
This is type of book that could become a movie, in the best way possible. I love that Ava had hope at the end, and a sense of belonging something we all both crave and deserve.

This is a thriller I will remember for a long time for sure. The way the author writes made the book feels fast-paced because it was gripping making it easy to fly through the pages, I just didn't want to put it down. The characters are ones I want to root for and care about, each has motives and stories that are not too overwhelming, just realistic enough to be understood.

The plot twist. , I like a good plot twist but it needs to be believable enough and this book did just that. I'd say it's a smart one and impactful enough, but then again, not a big plot twist frenzy so I might not be the best judge for it.

Ava grew up in Blackworth Mansion, a very haunted home. Her mother died there under mysterious circumstances and Ava never accepted that she died from natural causes like everyone else believes. The plot has a very gothic spooky feel to it. The main twist of the story was kind of easy to figure out but it was still an enjoyable read overall. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

Shadow Sister by Lindsay Marcott is a chilling thriller, that was a little out there for me. I basically had it figured out from maybe halfway through the book. The main characters in the book are Ava and Jamie (siblings) each struggling with issues surrounding their lives growing up. The book is told in 3 points of view, which I really don't like in a book so that I am sure colors my opinions of a book. Having said that I do recommend others read the book, because not everyone enjoys the same writing style.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review. The opinion expressed here are my own.