I found this one to be a bit of a slow start, but the characters and storyline were written in such a way that I still wanted to read on. I was intrigued by what was going on and wanted to know more.
It was definitely worth carrying on, Two sisters, estranged and complete opposite’s circumstances bring them together.
It was dark, suspenseful, full of intrigue, secrets and betrayal.
A good solid book, worth a read.

The Sisters by Helen Matthews is a gripping family drama that delves into deep-seated secrets, unresolved grief, and the consequences of silence. The novel revolves around Rachel, who has spent the last 20 years building a seemingly perfect life to escape the traumatic memory of her baby brother’s drowning. When her estranged sister Imogen unexpectedly returns home, everything Rachel has worked to protect begins to unravel.

Imogen, once a carefree traveler, is now desperate and determined to reclaim what she believes is rightfully hers—starting with the family home, The Old Rectory. As the tension between the sisters escalates, long-hidden truths about their brother's death resurface, putting everyone at risk.

Matthews masterfully weaves a tale of betrayal, buried grief, and familial conflict. The tension between the sisters is palpable, and their complex relationship keeps readers hooked. The atmospheric setting of the family home adds an extra layer of suspense, enhancing the novel’s emotional depth. With its dark secrets and intense family dynamics, The Sisters is a hauntingly powerful exploration of how the past can shape and haunt the present. A must-read for fans of psychological dramas and family thrillers.

This book took a minute to pick up for me but when it did I couldn’t put it down. Two estranged sisters reunited after many years. Imogen’s husband has had a fatal accident so she comes home after many years.

This is a story of family and betrayal. The lies kept, the secrets buried and everything in between. Bitterness and resentment propels one sister forward and can the other escape her viscous grasp? Read to find out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting story told in alternating points of view between sisters Rachel and Imogen, who have been at odds with each other for most of their life. After a tragic accident, the sisters' relationship is seemingly fractured beyond repair. Flashforward 20 years and another "accident," Imogen returns home to England from Ibiza seeking help to get her life back on track. Her animosity towards her parents and towards Rachel is beyond contentious and propels the plot forward in unimaginable ways.

Secrets always tear a family apart and in this case, has kept them torn apart, especially as far as Imogen is concerned. She is entitled, jealous, petty, and frankly, very unlikeable. Her actions are shocking at times. But, the mystery of this story kept me engaged despite not loving the characters and their inability to communicate. A few times I thought that I had things figured out and some parts I did, while a few other parts I was very surprised about.

I didn't LOVE this book, but I did enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone that was looking for a book a book with broken relationships, family secrets, and a great mystery.

This story relates to two sisters who both hide secrets. Rachel has the ideal life. A partner, a daughter and a successful business. Imogen has t got the ideal life and resents everything Rachel has.

This books looks at loss, guilt and consequences of what other people can portray you as. It deals with people disguising who they really are and only showing you what they want you to see.

Look, the only reason this wasn’t DNF’d was because I’m a sucker for a mystery and I MUST KNOW what happens. Otherwise it’s really not worth the read…I hate being harsh but it’s true!

The plot is so thin it hardly exists. Seemingly major events would happen and then it was like they never existed and you’re left wondering.. why?

None of the characters were likable, which can be ok, but as the reader, I should at least want to know their fate.

The pacing was also really off: we went from zooming through the plot in the beginning, tapering off in the second act, and then it just sort of ended.

The only redeeming quality was the emphasis on family and sisterhood; there was a brief section that was endearing and well-written. It just needed to take up more of the book.

The Sisters completely pulled me in and kept me on edge the entire time! The tension between Rachel and Imogen was so intense—so many secrets, so much rivalry, and so many moments that made me question who to trust.

What really stood out to me was how the story alternates between Rachel and Imogen’s perspectives. Both sisters are so intent on keeping their secrets hidden that it was hard to tell who’s being honest. Every chapter had me second-guessing what I thought I knew, keeping me hooked right up to the end.

I thought this book would be great but, it wasn't. It was unbelievably slow and tedious and it didn't grab me as I thought it would. I was glad to finish it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

What a creepy book (in the best kind of way)! I’m not a physiological thriller fan, so why did I pick this one up? I wanted to step outside my comfort zone, and this one was quite the page turner!

A twisted tale of lies, faded memories, and the loss of a little child. Two sisters who are the opposites of one another. Rachael is a quiet insecure mother of a daughter and a wife. Imogene is a bold world traveler who makes rash decisions still. When Imogene returns broke and alone she wants what Rachael has and will go after it.
The story is well-written and has many twists you would not expect. It was a quick read and though it didn't leave you pondering the events, the story was worth reading.
This is my own opinion, thank you for the opportunity to read this book NetGalley and Bloodhound Books.

ARC Review - Secrets and lies; resentment and vengeance are a recipe for a great book. Unfortunately, this isn't a great book. It's a good book, but it's incredibly slow, and was about 100 pages too long. If you have a sister, you'll identify with one of the main characters, but you won't connect with them.

A suspenseful psychological thriller that will keep you guessing! I couldn’t put this book down! Full of twists and brilliant characters, a real up all night page turner!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC

The Sisters by Helen Matthews is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the tangled bond between two sisters and their buried family secrets. Filled with subtle twists and suspense, it keeps you questioning who to trust and what’s really happening. With a smooth writing style, plenty of mystery and secrets to keep you interested.

Absolutely brilliant book!
I am a big fan of this author and love the writing style!
I cant wait to read more!

This is a fantastic thriller! The characters are well written and there are twists I didn't see coming. The suspense is executed really great and the pacing is perfect. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Helen Matthews, Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel thought she could outrun her past. But when her sister Imogen returns home after years abroad, the walls Rachel built around her begin to crumble. Imogen wants what she believes is hers – no matter the cost.

Twenty years after the tragic drowning of their baby brother, Rachel has constructed a life that appears perfect on the surface. A successful career, a loving daughter, and a claim on her parents’ beautiful family home, The Old Rectory. But the cracks are starting to show.

Imogen’s arrival rips open old wounds. Once a carefree nomad, Imogen is now destitute and desperate, determined to reclaim her place in the family. As long-buried secrets resurface, and the past collides with the present, Rachel must confront the truth about her brother’s death. As danger looms and family bonds are tested, the only thing more dangerous than the past is the silence that has kept it hidden…

This was a fantastic read. Loved the twists and turns, and stunned at the ending. Excellent story!

Thanks netgalley for this very complicated story, found it quite hard to get into and overlong but the ending was good.

Rachel and her sister Imogen had never been very close,but when their brother died in a freak accident in their garden pond in the back garden each blamed the other and the gulf between them as never healed.
Imogen went to Spain to live with her husband, and Rachel stayed in England with her partner and daughter, helping to look after the finances of her mother and ailing father,
Imogen’s husband died in Spain she came home and was very bitter about what Rachel had and she had nothing.
Then everything got nasty and that’s when the story got more interesting.

The book was ok but boring at times and complicated.

Imogen and Rachel, sisters who have never been close. When Imogen returns from abroad, old hurts come to the surface as they deal with their family home, family members and sibling rivalry. An accident in the past continues to plague this family, but was it an accident? And which sister truly has the best interests of everyone at heart?

PROS and CONS:
This one took me a while to read. I am afraid the character development really wasn’t where it should be, and I found the actions of Rachel and Imogen (and a few of the side characters) to be a little one dimensional (all bad or all good). This book picked up immensely in the second half, but then I felt the ending was really rushed. There were a few little mysteries to keep the plot moving, and overall it was an ok read.

READ IT?
If you like sibling rivalries based in England - then this one’s for you.

3 Stars

What happens when family fortunes are not what they seem, while Rachel seems to have it all her sister Imogen seems to go from one disaster to another.

The truth is far more complicated than that and as we follow their stories we find out what Rachel is really up against.

4 stars

Thanks to net galley and the publishers for this arc

I received this copy with thanks to netgalley.

I genuinely struggled with this book! It was very slow paced and very over descriptive, which I felt was to bulk out the story. After wading through a large amount of background, the end was disappointing. It left a lot of questions unanswered. In my opinion this book could have been 100 pages less and you wouldn't be missing much! I hate writing negative reviews but this book was so far of the mark for me, I'm unable to find anything positive to say