Thicker Than Water
by Megan Collins
Pub Date: 11 Jul 2023
Julia and Sienna are sisters-in-law, business partners, and best friends. Julia is married to Sienna's saint of a brother Jason. In Sienna's eyes, Jason can do no wrong.
But she doesn't know him like Julia does. Yes, he'd give the shirt off his back to help someone in need, but often those needs come at the expense of his wife and son. Sienna doesn't know about the missing money from their savings account. She doesn't know about the tension her brother and his wife has had in their marriage lately.
Then Jason's boss, who skipped him for a promotion, is found murdered. Jason has a wreck a few nights later and ends up in a coma. While he's in the hospital, more details come to light...like his boss's phone is in Jason's car, along with a bloody knife...which leaves all fingers pointing to Jason as the number one murder suspect. Julia, knowing what she knows, starts to waiver in her declaration of his innocence while Sienna refuses to accept facts and blindly believes he's innocent. They start their own fact finding mission to prove one way or the other who the killer is. Both discover had truths about the man they love, their friendship, and, most importantly, themselves.

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As long as you understand that Thicker Than Water isn't a fast-paced thriller, you can really enjoy the novel. I would describe it more of a slow-burn domestic drama with a hint of mystery. I thought the ups and downs of female friendship was explored in an interesting way and although the mystery was somewhat predictable, the characterizations kept me reading until the end.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE anything that Collins writes, and am and will continue to be a huge fan of her work. With that being said, this one fell flat. for me and it was just "okay". I found it to be more about the family dynamics and more a domestic suspense than a thriller. I also really disliked the characters, which made it hard to read this book because of that. The ending was just okay and left me feeling rather underwhelmed and wanting more. I will continue to buy any book this author puts out though!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I read this one and then got a copy for my mother because I knew this would be something that she would enjoy, and I was right. So while I wasn't super invested in this and didn't find it all that thrilling or unique, I do think that there is an audience that will love this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Megan Collins, and Atria Books for an advance copy of Thicker Than Water in exchange for an honest review. This was quite the interesting thriller. We find ourselves introduced to Julie and Sienna (best friends and sister in laws)- when Jason gets into a car accident and is accused of a murder we dive into the dynamics of how deep family loyalty can lay. I did love the fact we got both Julie and Siennas perspectives but it was a bit of a slow burn for me. I was satasified with the ending and can’t wait to see what Megan Collins comes up with next! This is out now. 3.5 stars rounded to 4 for GR.

This is my first time reading a novel by Megan Collins. I enjoyed this book, and would read her titles in the future. The story involves sisters-in-law Julia and Sienna. Not only are they sisters-in-law but also business partners and best friends. Confronted crime by Jason, Sienna's brother and Julia's husband, the best friends are forced to confront truths about themselves and their relationship. At times I was a little frustrated by the behavior of Sienna. Ultimately, the book made me think about how I would deal with a situation like this if I found myself in it. A fun and easy read!

Julia and Jason have been married for years. They rushed into it when Julia became pregnant, eventually settling into a comfortable life.

Sienna is Jason’s sister. She quickly became besties with Julia (seriously this friendship bordered on obsession). Even went into business together, and are always inseparable.

But when Jason’s boss is found murdered he becomes the number one suspect. And Jason isn’t talking, having recently ending up in the ICU following a car accident. This leaves it’s up to Julia and Sienna to clear Jason’s name.

And they may find more than they bargained for. Will their friendship survive?

I think there was a good mystery in there somewhere but it got lost in the friendship between the two women. And honestly, I didn’t care for either character.
As far as the crime? This one didn’t even require me to dust off my detective’s cap. I had it figured out very early on.

This is my third read from this author, all averaging three-stars. Perhaps we just aren’t clicking as well as I’d hoped?💁🏻‍♀️.
But there are numerous positive reviews for this book so I hope it delivers all the stars to you!

I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. This was requested when I first found out about NetGalley and I had requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before they were archived. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!

I found this book to be ok. Overall I was interested in the plot but there was a lot of repetition and it was a slow burn. I didn't really like either Sienna or Julia and this added to a lower score.

I wanted to like this more, but I didn't particularly care for either of the 2 main characters. The relationship between the 2 was definitely original in the 2 different personalities and it was a good mystery. Overall I would give this 3 1/2 stars actually.

3.5 rounded to 4 stars. This book kept me on my toes, constantly guessing myself on whether I thought the MMC was guilty or not. In the end, I didn't like him. Not sure what husband in the real world would act that way. I loved the dual POV with Julia and Sienna because they were so different in the way they approached the situation, but I could also understand both of them. Both women had valid reasons for what they believed. The twists and turns were pretty good, some things I saw coming and others I didn't. I never want a family like them, but it was an entertaining story.

A solid thriller with good twists and turns. I felt like I could have read this story before, but I do appreciate Collins writing style. There is a conversational tone that brings the reader into the story and feel connected to each character.

I did feel that where the characters had their flaws, they felt extreme in an odd almost un-natural way.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and found the pacing to be good to keep me wanting to read what would happen next.

I thought this was a little too niche for me, but I ended up liking it more than I expected. I feel like this author has good qualities and her writing. And I think her character development is very good. I would love to see this adapted into a series.

I really enjoyed Megan Collin's book "The Family Plot" but this one just didn't do it for me. I really liked the plot and even the twist BUT my GOD, one the main characters- Sienna- was just sooooo annoying. I honestly couldn't stand anything about her- her bias towards her brother was even just irrational and ignorant. I think if she wasn't so obnoxious I would have liked this a lot better.

Megan Collins is one of my go to authors but this book was a miss for me. The storyline was intriguing but once the book started moving I quickly lost interest and had no desire to find out why Gavin was killed or even who did it. The relationship with Julia and Sienna was so bizarre with the constant hand holding and the codependency of the relationship. I did like that the plot was not completely obvious from the start but the reasoning felt so forced and the reveals were anticlimactic and out of left field.

⭐⭐⭐.5/5

• domestic suspense + a touch of romance
• dual POV
• toxic relationships

This was a fast paced suspense with fun reveals along the way. I enjoyed the family relationship aspect, but there were a few plot holes. I would say this is more a family drama than a thriller.

🗣️ Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

2.5 stars.

This book was just very meh to me… I was really excited for it but I just couldn’t get into the characters at all. They were extremely obnoxious. The psychological element was compelling enough, but overall the story itself was just a slog and the ending wasn’t satisfying, but rather completely underwhelming. Just expected more from Collins is all!

"Thicker Than Water" by Megan Collins is a gripping and emotionally charged psychological thriller that immerses readers in a dark and haunting tale of family secrets, betrayal, and the complexity of human relationships. Collins' storytelling is masterful, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from the very first page.

The novel's strength lies in its ability to create a tense and suspenseful atmosphere that doesn't let up. Collins weaves a narrative that's both atmospheric and emotionally resonant, and her writing is nothing short of compelling. Her ability to create a sense of foreboding, toying with the reader's emotions, is truly exceptional.

The characters are intricately developed, and their complex, flawed natures make them all the more relatable and intriguing. The central theme of familial bonds is explored in a way that feels raw and authentic, showcasing the intricate web of relationships that shape the characters' lives. The protagonist's search for the truth is not only compelling but serves as a powerful lens through which to explore the depth of human emotions.

The plot is a maze of secrets and lies, and as the story unfolds, Collins masterfully peels back layers to reveal the truth beneath. The narrative structure keeps the reader guessing, with well-placed twists and turns that keep you hooked until the very end.

"Thicker Than Water" is more than just a psychological thriller; it's a thought-provoking exploration of the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love and the consequences of keeping secrets. It's a story that lingers in your thoughts long after you've turned the last page.

Megan Collins has delivered a truly engrossing and emotionally charged thriller that will resonate with readers who appreciate the intricate dance of family dynamics, secrets, and the dark corners of the human psyche. "Thicker Than Water" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys psychological suspense with a powerful emotional core.

Julia and Sienna are sister-in-laws and best friends. Julia’s husband Jason is Sienna’s brother. Jason’s boss is brutally murdered. Only a couple days after Jason is in a car accident and in a coma. He becomes a suspect in the murder. Julia and Sienna work together to find out the truth of what really happened. This book hooked me from the beginning and continued throughout the book! There were some shocking twists as well! I really enjoyed this one!

Thanks so much @atriabooks and @netgalley for this ARC!!!

I am a huge fan of Megan Collins and instantly had to read Thicker Than Water. What a tangled web of friendship and marriage in a tale that is both propulsive and filled with secrets. A five star read! Congrats to Megan.