The Unseen Sister by Andy Maslen
A Detective Kat Ballantyne Band 2)
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 16 May 2024

For DS Kat Ballantyne, the hunt for a murderer hits close to home. Still grappling with a life-altering revelation, Kat's world is further rocked when a woman's body is discovered among the ancient standing stones known as the Three Sisters. With no time to dwell on her own troubles, Kat dives back into her work to unravel the mystery.

Initially dismissed as an accident, Kat's attention is grabbed by an infinity symbol branded on the victim's abdomen, sparking her conviction that a ruthless killer is on the loose. Balancing her tumultuous personal life with her professional duties, she delves into the victim's past, unearthing shocking secrets and a roster of potential suspects.

As another woman meets a similar fate, Kat races against the clock to uncover connections between the victims and catch the culprit before more lives are lost. With each revelation, Kat inches closer to the truth, determined to bring justice to the victims and closure to their loved ones.

This instalment marks the second book in the Detective Kat Ballantyne series. Despite not having read the first book, I found that while there were occasional references to it, they didn't hinder my understanding of the story or ability to connect with the characters.

I found Kat to be a compelling character, balancing competence in her work with a fulfilling family life despite the demands of her job. Contrary to expectations set by the blurb, her personal life didn't overshadow the narrative, which I found refreshing. Furthermore, I appreciated the meticulous development of every character, from Kat's colleagues to the suspects, adding depth to the story. The author's attention to detail in depicting investigative methods and criminal procedures also deserves commendation.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author, Andy Maslen, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of The Unseen Sister by Andy Maslen. This is book two in the Kat Ballantyne series, but you can read it as a standalone. I love how Kat tries to balance her professional life with her private life, and learning more about her family is a plus! The story was really intriguing with lots of surprises. This Is the book for you if you want to be engrossed in a story with interesting characters. 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.
After finishing the 1st in this series, I got the eARC for the 2nd and liked it much more. The story was an interesting mix of Kat's home life, a strange killing, many great interviews and a super ending with a hook that makes you definitely want to read no. 3. Can't wait!

This is the second book in the Detective Kat Ballantyne series and oh my goodness I thought the first book was terrific but this one is even better and hell yes what an awesome ending I can’t wait for the next instalment and what is in in store for Kat !
If you love a good police procedural then this is the read for you it kept me hooked right from the off and what a fiendishly well crafted plot line it had keeping me guessing all the way to the absolutely brilliant conclusion that as I said left me gasping for more!
The writing is excellent and some great characters Tomski is really coming into his own and I particularly love the ongoing battle of wills between Kat and the obnoxious “carve up “ it all makes for a read that I raced through.
So I can’t praise Andy Maslen enough it’s a superb read and series I just hope that it won’t be too long till we have the next book and I for one can’t wait, many many thanks Mr Maslen.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I missed the first book but that wasn't a problem. This is a well plotted procedural with a good protagonist in Kat Ballantyne, She's a dogged investigator who must deal not only with a really rotten villain but also her own life- and she does it well. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, A good read,

A good suspense, action packed story I thought definitely worth reading. Has a gripping plot and good characters in it,
The suspense will keep you turning pages..Looking forward to more in this great series, that is well written.
Given arc by Net Galley and Thomas Mercer for my voluntary review

3.5 stars

An enjoyable 2nd addition to the series.
It felt pretty straightforward.
Find a body, rule it murder, find the killer.
Couple of suspects, and what seemed like good leads. No over the top wild cards.
As with the first book, I'm liking Kat's mostly uncomplicated home life, though she has a decent amount of baggage.
Definitely a series I'll follow.

I love the Kat Ballantyne character and enjoyed the story, I would recommend the novel. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.

Great book!! I am loving this series!! They do end in a somewhat cliffhanger! This book had great suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, a great who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I highly recommend reading this book and series! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!
For DS Kat Ballantyne, finding the murderer might mean looking closer to home. DS Kat Ballantyne is still reeling from a revelation that turned life as she knew it upside down. But when a dog walker discovers the body of a woman among the standing stones known locally as the Three Sisters, there’s no time to focus on her own troubles. Kat is drawn back to work to investigate!