This book will be THE thriller of the summer in 2025! This was AMAZING for KD Aldyn’s first crime thriller! The writing was descriptive and enticing and easy to read with strong visuals and well-written characters. It follows the POVs of three sisters (Kate, Aurora, and Peggy) and an extremely dark, hurt serial killer who seems like she could be one of the sisters. Peggy is a recovered addict, Aurora is the picture perfect mom figure, and Kate is a lawyer who recently purchased their late grandfather’s house, stirring up repressed memories and nightmares for each sister. Their childhood is cloudy for all three of them, and the storyline builds the mystery of why all three sisters have seemingly blocked out memories. The sisters are working to rebuild their relationship and they each reach really sweet milestones in their life, which creates happy and rewarding moments within the story. But each sister seems to have their own secrets and as newspapers cover the murders and law enforcement begins to pick up a trail, the sisters all start to come undone…. the whole time you’re wondering which sister is twisted enough to murder and mutilate (dark and somewhat detailed, but not overly gory). And truly, it’s quite the twist at the end to find out which sister is the “butcher” - it’s not easily discernible! Overall, this thriller will be on my mind for a longgggg while and I think it will be THE thriller of the summer when it comes out!

I really loved the format of this book. Chapters alternated between each sister's perspective and also included additional chapters focusing a character only referenced as "she." She is one of the 3 sisters who also happens to be serial killer. The author did a great job of adding many red herrings to each sister's chapter and I really could not guess which sister was the serial killer until the end.

Overall I enjoyed the book. However, there were some drawbacks:

- The start was a bit slow but provided necessary character background for the rest of the story. I could not put it down once the pace picked up and stayed up until 3 am to finish it.

- The ending seemed abrupt to me and felt like it needed a few more pages.

- There is a trigger warning in the beginning book identifying topics included such as incest and gruesome violence. This book had the most graphic descriptive scenes I have ever read in a book and definitely made me a bit uncomfortable. I think the book still could have had the same story without quite so man graphic details but others may disagree.

This was really a fantastic debut and I will be anxiously awaiting this author's next book. Thank you so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an ARC.

Couldn’t put the book down. (While reading waiting for my delayed flight, on the flight home, on the bus home, and finished it before heading to bed!)

I found this book to be an intriguing read, with a story that had moments of genuine emotion. The prose, while often beautiful, occasionally veered into being too flowery, which sometimes distracted from the narrative.

The sisters at the heart of the story were portrayed as rather average in personality, which made it hard to form a deep emotional connection with them. It was heartbreaking to see how their suffering was tolerated by those around them, contributing to the weight of their trauma.

One notable aspect of the book was the vivid descriptions of (some of) the kills. While dramatic and engaging, they left me questioning their anatomical plausibility. It felt like some creative liberties may have been taken, which might not sit well with readers who prefer realism in such details.

Overall, this was a fun, thrilling read, emotional, but not without its flaws. At the end, you just want to find out who did it. Which sister…

I did not actually finish this book as unfortunately I do not think it is for me. While I feel it has great potential and I feel many others may love this book it was not for me. I found that there were quite a few details that could have been skipped as they did not add to the story only the word count. The plot is great and the story has a really interesting concept. Which i feel for readers that love all the extra detail and small add ins that let us get to know the characters more in depth they would love this book.

I am absolutely blown away by what I just read in Sister, Butcher, Sister. This book grabbed me from the very first page and never let go. The writing is sharp, evocative, and unflinching, pulling you into a world where nothing is as it seems and every character is hiding something.

The plot is a masterclass in tension. At first glance, it's a story about sibling rivalry, family secrets, and the dark undercurrents that run beneath our most intimate relationships. But as you get deeper into the narrative, the layers begin to peel back, revealing twists that I genuinely did not see coming. The author has such a deft hand with suspense—it’s not just the big moments that leave you gasping, but the quiet, subtle ones, too. Every word feels deliberate, and every scene seems to carry its own weight.

The sisters at the heart of this story are complex, flawed, and utterly fascinating. Their relationship is fraught with love, betrayal, and an almost tangible sense of competition that comes across as both heartbreaking and utterly real. You can feel the pull between them, the push and pull of affection and resentment, and it’s so easy to get emotionally invested in their fates.

What really sets Sister, Butcher, Sister apart, though, is its exploration of identity and morality. The author takes the reader to uncomfortable places, forcing you to question who the real "villain" is in this story, and whether anyone is truly blameless. By the end, I found myself not just thinking about the plot, but also reflecting on the nature of family, loyalty, and the lengths we’ll go to protect ourselves from the truth.

If you’re looking for a book that will haunt you long after you’ve finished it, Sister, Butcher, Sister is it. It's raw, it's intense, and it will leave you thinking—and rethinking—everything you thought you knew about the characters and their world. I honestly can't recommend it enough. Prepare yourself for a reading experience that will leave you both shaken and mesmerized.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions, are my own.

My final book of 2024 and what a book to end on 🙌

When I first started this book, I was confused 🤷🏼‍♀️ I found it tricky to follow as I didn't really know what I was following. It went straight into the storyline, which I found a little confusing. However, once I'd got to grips with all the characters, I devoured this book! I found every opportunity to pick it up and read it!

It is fast-paced with multiple POVs, it is quite gory which I absolutely love, the more gory the better 🙌 I loved following the story of Kate, Aurora and Peggy and how their haunting past was coming back to them and trying to piece it all together - what was a dream? What, if any of it, was real? Along with seeing how the characters developed and how their personal lives developed outside of the main storyline.

This book keeps you hooked and is a brilliant read! The only thing stopping me from giving this book 5⭐️ was the slower start, for me personally.

I am so grateful to announce that I received this novel as an ARC reader. And I am so thrilled that they did! I have to be completely honest in saying that I had no idea who the author was of this novel. When I was researching new books to read, I came upon the front cover and was completely captivated. And after reading this thriller, I’m proud to say that KD Aldyn has now become one of my must-read authors! I found that the beginning of this book was intriguing and captivating from the very first page. KD Aldyn did an outstanding job keeping the story interesting. I had no idea which sister was doing what until the end of this novel. I enjoyed both POV’s from all three sisters. From Kate, to Aurora , to the little sister Peggy, I found myself being able to relate to all three of them. being a sister of through myself, I could feel myself leaning towards one sister over the other, but the author created such a fascinating storyline that I was surprised at who it was at the very end. An astounding, 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ novel for sure! I highly recommended to anyone in need of a good thriller novel!

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

Content warning: Rape, murder, incest

Tears will flood your eyes, and bile will rise from your belly. Three sisters find themselves facing each other and their past. All around them, men are being murdered and their organs displayed in heinous ways. You will think you know who the butcher is but it will change. However the author readily gives it away.

WOW.
That’s the word that comes to mind with this book.
Definite slow page turning thriller. Kept me guessing until the very end. Like I made notes and everything trying to become a detective! Very immersive book! If you’re looking for mystery, suspense, thrill and to question your own detective skills, definitely worth a read!
Job well done.
I love the consistent undertone to never underestimate anyone…not even yourself.

I love books about sisters, even not so good ones... This book was dark and suspenseful. I loved all the twists! I also loved that we get all three sisters perspectives and they were all well detailed characters plus an unknown character. The ending could have been a little more satisfying for me to be truthful. But this was one book I was so happy to read and I can not wait to read more books by the author!

#SisterButcherSister #NetGalley
A good read.
Three sisters. One killer. Which one is SHE? With this chilling tagline, KD plunges readers into a gripping psychological thriller where familial bonds, buried secrets, and unrelenting suspense collide.
Likes :-
1 Unique Narrative Style: The alternating perspectives between the three sisters—Kate, Aurora, and Peggy—and the enigmatic SHE create an addictive, layered narrative. The ambiguity of SHE’s identity keeps readers on edge, constantly re-evaluating their suspicions.
2 Complex Characters:
a) Kate: The reluctant returnee grappling with unsettling visions tied to a fractured past. Her storyline adds a haunting, almost supernatural layer to the mystery.
b) Aurora: The seemingly perfect sister whose cracks reveal suppressed frustrations and simmering rage.
c) Peggy: The youngest sibling, whose battle with addiction provides both vulnerability and strength, making her arc deeply emotional.
Dislikes:-
1 Pacing: The first half of the book is slower, focusing heavily on character development and backstory. While this pays off in the latter half, some readers might find the buildup too drawn out.
Overall:- This is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and family dramas with a sinister edge. With its haunting prose and shocking twists, Sister Butcher Sister is sure to leave readers breathless and questioning how well they really know those closest to them.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me an advance copy.

Kate, the eldest Rawling sister buys her grandfather’s old house. The one where she and her siblings, Aurora and Peggy spent a lot of time while growing up. Each sister remembers her childhood differently. Could it just be the difference in their ages or was something very very wrong in that house.
Told in the past, and in the present by the sisters, and by an unknown narrator, “She”. Let me just say that “She” was not fooling around. “She” is a serial killer and has no problem vividly describing her crimes.
The question is which sister has a lot more going on underneath her pleasant façade? I managed to guess the right one, but honestly any one of them might have been guilty. I was glued to the pages as their back stories were gradually revealed. The ending, was so sad.

Sister, Butcher Sister is a twisty family drama with a sinister hidden edge. The three Rowling sisters each have their own baggage, and as secrets unravel and suspicions rise, you can’t help but wonder who to trust - or fear.
The eerie setting and creepy vibes kept me hooked until the last page, but the pacing felt a bit stuck in a loop at times, like it was circling the same scenes over and over again.
The ending was not as satisfying as I wanted it to be and I do wish the author explored the mysteries revealed a little bit more. With that being said, the story still delivers great dollops of mystery and it was extremely satisfying to see the pieces fall into place and the killer’s motives revealed.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance copy of this book.

Three sisters. One killer. Which one is SHE?

The Rowling sisters have always been people you can understand – with partners and children, homes and dreams. And secrets, the sisters have those too. But when Kate, the eldest, finally returns to buy her late grandfather's home, the dark things each sister has kept buried soon rise to the surface.

Is Kate having unexplained visions tied to a past she can hardly recall? Is Aurora, the married mother of two, finally acting out in the face of her sisters' indiscretions? Is Peggy, the youngest and a recovering addict, able to move on from the memories that haunt her?

And then there's SHE.

SHE is one of them, but SHE is not like them at all. SHE is defined only by the carnage she lets the world see, the murders that have swept through their coastal community. And as the police close in on their newest serial killer, scrutiny lands on the Rowlings, forcing them to face their demons and reveal all they have kept hidden.
I felt like the story could have used a lot more work from the author. I would have liked to see more character development.

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book. This is one of my most anticipated reads of the new year. The book was filled with character development and plot development that I love. The book had elements of suspense that kept the story flowing and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

This was an okay read. I did feel as though parts of the book were unnecessarily and oddly sexual in nature.

This was such a good book!!! It was a modern psychological thriller nd had so so many twists and turns throughout the whole book. It was dark and scary, and you never really know where the book is going. I think it was full of emotion and great writing!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

KD Aldyn’s debut novel, “Sister, Butcher, Sister,” is a dark and unsettling thriller that delves into themes of trauma, vengeance, and fractured family dynamics. Told through multiple perspectives—including that of a deeply disturbed serial killer—it offers a twisted exploration of feminine rage and the lasting effects of childhood secrets.

The story revolves around three sisters—Kate, Aurora, and Peggy—whose reunion is anything but ordinary. When Kate purchases their late grandfather’s home, the sisters are forced to confront the darkness of their shared past. But things take a sinister turn as a series of gruesome murders unfolds, and suspicion begins to cast its shadow on the sisters themselves.

From the outset, the prologue grips you with an eerie dive into the killer’s childhood, and as the story progresses, the killer’s perspective adds a chilling layer to the story. Aldyn doesn’t hold back on the gore or the voyeuristic details of the killer’s stalking and murders, which may be off-putting to some readers. The killer’s descent into chaos is particularly compelling as her obsession with punishing flawed men grows increasingly reckless and unstable. The main mystery of the book is figuring out which of the sisters is the unreliable narrator, which one is the actual killer, and you are kept guessing throughout the entire book.

I did find the pacing to be a bit uneven. The initial chapters, with their tantalizing prose and dark tension, draw you in, but the middle section lags, with a bit of a slower pace. Some characters, mainly Aurora, come across as one-dimensional and judgmental, while Peggy, grappling with sobriety, manipulation, and her own trauma, emerges as the most interesting and sympathetic of the sisters. The dynamic between the siblings is fraught with tension, and their buried secrets keep the stakes simmering, though not always boiling over as they could.

The mystery element is intriguing but lacks a strong sense of urgency, even as the body count rises. While I found it to be fairly obvious who the killer is, the story still delivers some satisfaction as the pieces fall into place and the killer’s motivations are revealed. Yet, the climax doesn’t quite pack the punch it promises, and the ending feels less climactic than it could have been. Despite this, I still really enjoyed Aldyn’s writing, especially in the way the killer’s perspective is handled and the exploration of complex emotions like guilt, grief, and retribution.

Ultimately, “Sister, Butcher, Sister” is a compelling debut. Fans of graphic, character-driven thrillers with a strong psychological angle will find much to appreciate. KD Aldyn is an author to watch, and it will be interesting to see how the storytelling evolves in future works.

The title and cover alone captivated me. I’ve read another thriller book around the same story point between sisters and was desperately looking for another story. When it comes to my thrillers I’m a “ I need to be dragged in my the first few pages” so that I can be at the edge of my seat and invested for the ride. The Prologue did just that. I was smiling because I was like oh this is going to be unhinged. But was a bit disappointed. This mystery/thriller had a slower pace, but I still found it somewhat engaging. The timeline became confusing and was hard to follow, which left me trying to backtrack to understand it better. It had the potential for a thrilling climax, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver and felt somewhat lackluster. I am absolutely eager to explore more works by this author! They possess a creative spark that has the potential to light up the literary world. While I could grasp the grand vision behind this story, it just didn’t give me that moment where I’m throwing the book across the room lol in a good way.

Thank you net gallery for the opportunity for an ARC copy for my honest book review! I will be posting my review the end of this month on Tik tok (Shecozyandlit)

Kate, Aurora, and Peggy are just your average sisters. They don’t always get along—in fact Aurora may never forgive Peggy for what she did. And also, one of them may be a serial killer…

When Kate purchases her grandfather’s old home that the girls grew up in, she is elated but Aurora and Peggy are skeptical. The house has its pleasant memories, certainly, but its halls are also filled with dark memories that threaten to take hold of the sisters’ present lives. When a string of murders occurs, suspicion turns toward the Rowling sisters causing old, buried secrets to rise to the surface and forcing the sisters to face their past.

Readers receive a viewpoint from the killer—simply narrated as “she”—which was interesting but some of the scenes could be quite gruesome. Aside from the murders and all, there is something clearly worrisome going on with the sisters and the tantalizing prose forced me to keep reading in the beginning but I started to lose steam around the 40% mark.

The passage of time is difficult to keep track of in this book; a clearer timeline could have led to less confusion for the reader. In addition, there were parts where it seemed like the author was struggling to get to what they wanted to say leading to an uneven reading experience and a lack of flow. Wordy in places; this could have easily been trimmed down to a tighter, more concise story.

For me, just an ok story that needed a lot more work. The author seems like a good writer but I don’t think that their full potential is on display here so it will be interesting to see what they do moving forward.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the early copy in exchange for an honest review! Available Jun 10 2025