Whenever I read historical fiction like this, I always am so happy I was born in modern times.
This book follows mirror twins Adelaide and Victoria from England to New York City. The only thing keeping Adelaide from losing her mind is her sister…..or is it?
You’ll love this if you like: Historical fiction, found family, main character growth and mystery
TW: physical abuse, forced hospitalization
I received a AR.C of this title, all opinions are my own.

This story starts out a little slow. Twin sisters living in England, one outgoing and one more calm and reserved live with their widowed father who marries one of them off to a man who takes them both to America. Jealousy and greed turn flesh against flesh and things get ugly unbeknownst to one of the sisters. I don’t want to give anything away, but this story gets really good and really twisty. If you’re not sure about it at first, hang in there it definitely gets better!!

After the first few chapters, I couldn’t put it down! Highly recommend.

1904 and Harewood Hall still lives in a Gothic age. The twin daughters Adelaide and Victoria have only known each others company. Adelaide is reserved and happy to be at home, Victoria longs to leave. They both are petrified of their harsh father.

Forced into a marriage by her father, Adelaide is fearful of her future when she leaves for New York. She is counting on Victoria’s support but Victoria is anything but supportive. The story is a dark one - deep envy from Victoria destroying any chance of any happiness for Adelaide, coupled with her husbands desire for an heir and that he only married her for her dowry. When Stanley wants to get rid of his wife, he commits her to an asylum, knowing there is no way she can get out. Lord Stanley fully supported by Victoria, who was irrational in her hatred for her sister who had made the society marriage she coveted, and in New York was able to effortlessly be befriended by top society, was just too much for Victoria to handle.

How Adelaide managed to escape and make a life for herself was the only bright outcome in a very sad story.

The 1904 in England was bleak for women but in New York freedom of a kind for women was very evident, especially for those who were rich enough to ignore public opinion. This story dealt mainly with upper class, fabulously rich American women who were far removed from other women of the time. The contrast between Harewood Hall and New York was immense. Two different worlds.

I’m always reaching for historical fiction and this book did not disappoint. It has drama, suspense and kept me interested throughout the book.

My Sister’s Shadow is a Gothic psychological thriller set in the gilded age of New York.

Identical twin sisters Adelaide and Victoria could not be more different, Adelaide is an introvert, happy to stay at the family home, gardening and living a quiet life. Victoria is tempetous, wild and unstable. Victoria craves the spotlight and high society so she is thrilled when Lord Stanley comes to the family home looking for a wife, that is until he chooses Adelaide. Adelaide reluctantly marries Lord Stanley and the three of them move to New York where Adelaide is drawn into the lives of the women who make up the famous Astor 400. What is the saying, “there were three people in our marriage”, well that is definitely the case here, and it has tragic repercussions. Sisters are supposed to have each others best interests at heart. What to do when your sister makes it her mission in life to destroy you? Well then you have a thriling gothic mystery that reminds me of the movie Gaslight.

Thanks to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
I devoured this book. And evoked every minute of it. .
It was amazing, addictive, and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Harrowing. That is the single word that kept running over and over in my mind while I was reading this book. Everything that Adelaide went through at the hands of her husband and twin sister Victoria had me gritting my teeth and clenching my fists. I wanted to fight for her when she couldn’t, so it goes without saying that I cheered her on when she started to and celebrated her victory as if it were my own.

I love that Addy had an angel in Wiffy though and found her true love. That she was able to see everything and everyone for who they were and fought for herself. And, I just want to say that I loathe Addy’s husband and his household. I hated him right from the start and I was not wrong to do so.

All in all, this book is perfect for those who love dark Gothic suspense. It’s the kind of book that will have you infuriated enough to want to throw it at the wall, but can’t tear your eyes away from the pages for so long to do it. That is how riveting it is, and it comes out tomorrow, so you will have a chance to grab it as soon as you want.

Thank you, January Gilchrist for sharing your masterful writing style with the world, and to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this ARC. I could not express my appreciation enough.

Synopsis (taken from NetGalley):
England, 1904. Mirror twins Adelaide and Victoria have spent their lives in orbit of each other– doomed to be in the other’s shadow, their lives are intertwined and inextricable as each other’s identical inverse. Adelaide is dutiful and reserved, happy to remain in her childhood home, Harewood Hall, forever. Victoria wishes for a thrilling life, exploring the world and finding a great romance–but the twins cannot live apart. 

Visiting Lord Stanley bewitches Victoria with his talk of a life of luxury in New York. Still, it is obedient Adelaide whom he marries against her will and to Victoria’s fury. Together, they all move to New York and begin a new life. 

Adelaide finds herself trapped in a gilded cage on Fifth Avenue with no one but her angry and tempestuous twin for company. Amid the glamor of the upper class, Adelaide is captivated by the independent and educated women of the elite social circle, Mrs. Astor’s 400. As Adelaide’s star rises, tensions begin to surface between the sisters. As Adelaide grows apart from her twin for the first time, Victoria descends into a rage-fueled darkness that threatens everything and anyone standing in her way.

Thank you Netgalley & Crooked Lane Books for an eARC ❤️❤️❤️

The book follows the lives of Adelaide and Victoria, identical twins with totally different personalities. Adelaide is the introverted, gardening type, while Victoria is the social butterfly, craving attention and admiration. But here's the twist - it's Adelaide who catches the eye of a Lord relocating to America, leaving Victoria in the shadows.
I love how the author, January Gilchrist, weaves together elements of romance, mystery, and psychological thrills to create this captivating narrative. The pacing is spot on, and the writing is so immersive,😍
What really resonated with me, though, was the exploration of the bonds between sisters. It's like, these two women are total opposites, but they're also incredibly connected. The author does an amazing job of portraying the love, loyalty, and even betrayal that can happen between siblings.
While this book might not be the full-on Gothic experience I was expecting, it totally makes up for it with its beautiful storytelling, hint of romance, and poignant exploration of loss and resilience.❤️

In 1904 twins Adelaide and Victoria reside at Harewood Hall in Gloucester England with their widower father. Adelaide is dutiful and reserved; Victoria wishes for a thrilling life, exploring the world and finding a great romance. Invited guest Lord Stanley bewitches Victoria with his talk of a life of luxury in New York, but it is obedient Adelaide whose hand he asks for in marriage. Her father approves the match despite Adelaide's protestations and the two sisters and Lord Stanley move to New York.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction and was totally immersed in the story. It was so interesting to see the differences in how people of means were treated in Britain compared to New York. The characters are well portrayed and I enjoyed them all although I didn't like them all. There's some romance but nothing overt and there's also some psychological suspense, reminiscent of the gothic suspense/romance novels I used to read years ago. This is a fast-paced story that had me madly flipping pages right to the end, and what an ending it is!

The author has another book being published in July and I'll definitely be there for it.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for approving my request to read this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: March 18, 2025

This review will be posted on Goodreads and Netgalley as of March 16, 2025 and on amazon.ca on March 18, 2025.

I loved "My Sister's Shadow" by January Gilchrist! Suspense so good it is hard to put down. And this was very dark. It would make an amazing movie. The images in my head were vivid and disturbing.

Sisters are meant to be your closest allies.....not rage filled with jealousy, determined to destroy you...almost to the point of insanity. But Adelaide and Victoria, identical twins, are like chalk and cheese in nature. While Adelaide has grown up submissive, in the background, loving nature and happy for Victoria to have the limelight,
Their worlds are upended when Adelaide is forced into a world of high society in New York. She is a fish out of water....nervous and quiet amongst a gaggle of brash New York A listers. But her true nature shines through to make an influential friend in Wiffy, whose loyalty is the greatest gift of all, when Victoria and Lord Stanley cruelly betray Adelaide. Remember that in those days people were sent to an asylum for being different....emotional, gay, senile; at the wim of their family and with very little medical diagnosis. If you weren't mad when you were incarcerated, you quickly became so.

The difference between Adelaide at the start of the book and the end of the book is rewarding.

A psychological thriller, so emotional, you feel as destroyed as Adelaide in parts. January Gilchrist is new to me.....but rest assured she is now firmly on my radar for historical mysteries. Thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and January Gilchrist for my copy.

In this dramatic gothic novel set in early twentieth century England and New York City, readers follow mirror twins Adelaide and Victoria, complete opposites and totally inseparable. Adelaide, dutiful and reserved, has no desire to leave her childhood home of Harewood Hall in the English countryside, while Victoria wants to explore the world and have a great romance. However, Lord Stanley and his talk of a luxurious life drive the sisters apart, marrying an unwilling Adelaide and an angry Victoria, and the gilded Fifth Avenue cage becomes more dangerous as Adelaide discovers a life of her own that is everything that Victoria wanted. Only increasing in intensity and drama as the novel unfolds, readers are in store for a dark and twisted romance and sisterly relationship. The two sisters are excellently written and more complex than they appear, which really adds to the interpersonal tension and drama in this gripping and intense novel. The characters are the star of the novel, but the glitz of New York City and the quiet of Harewood Hall are perfect backgrounds for the characters’ development and indicative of the emotional state of the novel. Gothic and dramatic, this is hard to put down and emotionally intense, so readers should be ready for an emotional rollercoaster of a book.

I have a huge obsession with books that are gothic, historical fiction/ non-fiction especially surrounding sister dynamics. Historical fiction/non-fiction is my absolute favorite genre of all time, followed by psychological thrillers, true crime and fantasy.

Remarkable! I found myself thoroughly engrossed. Analyzing the varying perspectives on women within British and American cultures uncovers intricate dynamics, reminiscent of the often-complex relationships observed among siblings, particularly twins. The pacing of the novel was impeccable. For those who enjoy a touch of romance, it is present. If mystery is your preference, it is also well represented. Perhaps you seek a psychological thriller; once again, January Gilchrist delivers. Adelaide and Victoria are mirror twins, each serving as the other's reflection. Adelaide is introspective, satisfied with a life of solitude and gardening. In contrast, Victoria yearns for social engagement, desiring admiration and attention. Ironically, it is Adelaide who captures the interest of a Lord relocating to America, while Victoria remains as the unmarried sister, overshadowed and inconsequential.


I love how the author beautifully mastered a historical fiction book that divulges into the bonds of sisterhood, bonds, betrayal, although it is not the big Gothic experience I expected, however it makes up for it with the hint of romance, loss and the resilience one goes through.

A story about two sisters who live in perfect harmony with one another, that is until one day. As tensions rise they have to determine what is the most important aspect of their relationship.

I love gothic stories, but this one was a bit of a miss for me.

For readers seeking genuine gothic suspense or a nuanced portrayal of sisterly rivalry, this novel unfortunately falls short on both counts. What remains is a beautifully rendered historical backdrop populated by forgettable characters in a story that never quite finds its purpose or direction. If you aren't looking for a gothic story, but would enjoy a story more about a the complex relationship of sisters, this will be the perfect read for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

An unsettling read about twin sisters Adelaide and Victoria who are locked together against their will. Born into comfort in the UK, they move to the US when Adelaide marries Lord Stanley. Adelaide had always been the quieter twin with Victoria the more outgoing but now Adelaide is blossoming. There's envy, resentment, and bad things. No spoilers from me but know that this is a twisty and satisfying tale that was more than. expected. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

My Sister's Shadow by January Gilchrist is a gothic thriller about twin sisters, set in 1904 in England and New York.

My Sister's Shadow is told from the perspective of Adelaide, a quiet, introverted, and somewhat socially awkward young woman with an identical mirror twin, Victoria, who in personality appears to be the total opposite. The story opens at their home in England and very shortly it is clear that although they come from a privileged family, there are strange dynamics going on within the family, and most especially, between the sisters.

I found the story to be a bit of a mixture. It started out rather slow with a hint of gothic mystery at their home, Harewood House in England, but then turned rather ordinary for a good portion of the novel as the sisters travelled to New York, and Adelaide was introduced to the social scene there. Then it suddenly took a melodramatic turn back to gothic, suspense for the final portion of the novel.

I really enjoyed the book but for the middle portion, I really wondered what was going on, and if the description of the book was accurate. I'll be honest, it was a bit boring. I think the book would have benefitted from the point of view being split between Adelaide and Victoria, as we lost sight of Victoria for a large portion of the novel, and it would have been interesting to see her actions, and understand what was going on in her head throughout a lot of the story.

I also felt like Adelaide's husband was superfluous to the story. Other than as a way to get the girls to New York, and an authority figure in one of the plot points near the end of the novel, he was barely present and I wondered why he was ever even introduced. I think his actions later in the novel would have seemed more believable if he had been more present throughout. Yes, we heard that he had done a few questionable, abusive things, but those instances were almost brushed off and seemed unimportant to the story the way they were presented.

I did find the third part of the story a bit over the top, but at the same time, it makes one wonder about the past, and how many women were gaslighted into similar circumstances in reality. I know my comments here are vague, but I don't want to give away any important points of the plot and ruin the story.

In all I enjoyed the story, and I do recommend it, but I can't think of any books I have read that I can compare it to for other readers. You'll just have to take a chance on it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Adelaide and Victoria are mirror twins, each other's reflection. Adelaide is introverted, content to stay at home forever and play in the garden. Victoria longs for society, to be admired and noticed. And yet it's Adelaide who is chosen by a Lord who is moving to America, and Victoria is the one who tags along as the unmarried sister, insignificant.

Unfortunately, I didn't much like this book. In the first half of the book, Adelaide was so boring she made me want to cry. Yes, I get that she's shy and nervous, but there's nothing interesting in a character who stares numbly at people who speak to her. The second half was more interesting in a way, but very depressing - I'm not a big fan of asylum scenes.

The only part I really liked was the ending. The twist was kind of expected, but I felt it was wrapped up nicely. Wiffy is also a great character, I liked how she was truly Adelaide's friend and supported her in this world of men.

Thanks to netgalley for providing this advanced copy for the purpose of review.
This was a dark gothic read. I haven't read much of this genre so I was interested to see how I found it. I found it to be a solid read and it was sufficiently atmospheric with plenty of twists and turns. I did find it a little slow to start but it did build up the pace.

A twisty and heartfelt gothic suspense novel. Character development was very well done. It was a slow burn, but picked up the pace in the second part.

This was the epitome of gothic suspense. From page one both sisters had such strong, distinct personalities that made them feel like real people. Adelaide was flawed but still understandable, and following along on her journey — internally and externally — was a twisty pleasure. Victoria was easy to resent and distrust, but it was still easy to understand the bond and love between the sisters and to feel the tension as it stretched, a testament to the author’s writing.