Promising from page one. This read didn’t turned out to be what I was expecting, at least not that with that beginning to the story, but it surprised me in the best possible ways. What a debut for an author, what a debut!!


The writing throughout this novel was compelling, so much that it made me lose myself completely in the story. This novel reads like a true story, where every character and occurrence feels completely real to me. It had something special that made it addictive in a certain way. It took me two sittings (two days) to finish it, so that’s a good sign. In fact, the short chapters and the fluidity of the writing made this story time-consuming, as in it was hard to stop reading it!
The writing is clearly separated in two parts, each one corresponding to each sister, and the voices are clearly separated and each part being completely different. That difference is not only noted in each sister’s perspective but also the way everything is written in. In the first part we find a slow burner and more psychologically inclined plot, while on the second part we find ourselves immersed in a fast-paced and action packed storyline following Sally. This division makes it easy to think about this novel as two separate ones, but the truth is that both parts are linked in perfect synchronization.


I’ll be keeping things as vague as possible because I think the less you know about this one, the better your experience will be.

This story stars with Kate, a journalist that is forced to go back home, after some sad news drive her back. We find her in a police station under the close supervision of a doctor, Dr. Shaw, where she is being kept for an undisclosed crime. As things progress we go back and force between Kate’s arrival to her hometown in England, and her conversations with the doctor a week later. In this time we get to really meet Kate. We get a nice and long peek into her mind, all of what she’s gone through while working overseas, especially in Syria, plus what brought her to that point in life where she felt forced to be the saviour, thanks to her poor upbringing. Things take a long time to reveal itself and in most part they don’t until the end of the book, but still here we get to live through someone’s eyes, the after effects of PTSD. Things keep getting darker and Kate’s world keeps crumbling down until the story, comes to an unexpected halt.
The story continues with Sally, Kate’s sister, and a poor woman who suffers from severe alcoholism and here it is that things start to get really juicy. We shortly follow her while she tries to cope with everything that’s been happening in her life. It doesn’t take long for her to gain some kind of mental clarity and try to help Kate, but maybe it was already too late? If the ending of part 1 left you blak, the ending of this one will leave you even more open-mouthed!


What a family this was. It portrayed a situation that can be found in any normal family, you just never know what goes behind closed doors right?
Abuse is not ok, it never is ok. It doesn’t only have effects on the people that get abused in the now, but those effects will extend to everyone in the surroundings with consequences, sometimes dangerous ones in the future.

First we’ve got Kate, a tricky character to say the least. She is a journalists that specializes in high risk journalism following countries in war zone and because of this and all of the bad things she has seen around she looks at the world with other eyes.
Then we’ve got Sally, Kate’s little sister. She is a less complex character at first sight but as flawed and as damaged as Kate. She is a daughter and sister without family, a mother without a daughter/son and a wife without a marriage. It would be an understatement to say that her life isn’t perfect.
Lastly we’ve got Paul, Sally husband. He not only takes part in Sally’s part but also in Kate’s, as he is the only one Kate has any kind of relationship with. When we meet him he comes as a sweet, respected and responsible man. For his sweetness he is also mistreated, especially by his wife Sally, which also brings to light part of his past.
This three are our main character, although I would say My Sister’s Bones main character had to be Kate. But there are some other key appearances that help bring this story to a halt and make it all sound more believable, giving the most important highlight to the girl’s father, whom I point out to be the creator of all of this mess.


Actual rating 4.5/5.

Plot: Kate is a journalist who has just returned from war-torn Syria to her hometown as her mother has died. From the get-go, we know that she is haunted by her traumatic experiences reporting on aspects of war, and it turns out that she’s the “lucky one” who escaped her father’s beatings – her sister Sally wasn’t so lucky and still lives in their hometown, an alcoholic supported by her husband. When Kate’s woken by a scream in the garden of her mother’s house, both she and the reader believe it’s in her mind, but over time she becomes convinced that something really is going on in the house next door and she’s the only person who can prove it.

My thoughts: This book is a difficult one for me to review because I enjoyed it, but I struggled with reading it – it was just one of those books that unfortunately I got “stuck” on, despite the interesting storyline and the promise of something darker lurking beneath. I think it was just that little bit too slow moving for me, so instead of creating tension, I was trying to rush ahead to find out what was going to happen.
It’s told in a few alternating timelines – with Kate being questioned by a therapist who it is quite clear she doesn’t want to answer; with the main storyline of what happened in her hometown; and flashbacks into the past of what happened in Syria. The information that we need is released slowly in the right places to keep you gripped, but like I said, I think the slow unravelling of the mystery is what meant I felt it dragged a little.
I did definitely enjoy the story though, and maybe I would have liked it that bit more if I was reading it at a time when I had more patience for a slow burner one.

A compelling read, if a little slow for the first half and a little unbelievable for second. Kate, the main character, is a war correspondent who returns home after the death of her mother to help settle her affairs. Kate left home at the first opportunity, having been subjected to years of physical and mental abuse at the hands of her alcoholic father. There are some mitigating factors, the death of her baby brother, which neither parent were able to get over.
Having spent many years reporting from some of the worst conflicts around the world, Kate is also suffering from nightmares and she hears voices, reliving the traumatic events she has witnessed.
Initially, I was caught up up in her story but from about halfway through there are so many threads to the story that my head hurt. So many issues are covered and I just wish it had been pared back a bit, less is more!
This is a well written novel and the suspense is maintained right up to the end, if you enjoy psychological thrillers then this will be right up your street but for me there is just too much going on for it to be credible.
My thanks to Netgalley for this copy.

this novel started creating tension from the first pages, and it kept the intrigue going all the way till the very last page. This book contains tree parts. The first one is the story from Kate’s point of view. She is a successful Journalist, who came to her birth place after her mother’s death. The second part is the story told from Sally’s point of view. Sally is Kate’s younger sister, who is chronic alcoholic. She feels to be the black sheep of the family, the “never good enough” daughter. The third part will remain a secret; I don’t like to spoil the pleasure. I love when Author gives voices to more than one character, I loved reading the story from different point of view and it made the book and the characters way more interesting and indulging. The characters which author chose are really intriguing and interesting. All of them suffering from some mental problems and are disturbed. Kate disturbed by her childhood and constant trips to war zones, and Sally by her inner demons. I think the characters were well rounded and exciting to read about.
The plot was amazingly thought through and overflowing with suspense. I couldn’t put it down, it captivated me and I needed to know more. I loved that the chapters were not long, it made it easy for me to read it. The writing style was easy to read. I really loved how every part of the book was concluded with a sentence which actually used to take my breath away. This book has everything, it is fast paced, it has lots of twists and turns and it thickens with every chapter. This book covers so many great universal themes: how alcoholism destroys families and life of children in such families, what does journalist feels during and after trips to war torn countries, how it affects their personal life seeing so many ruined lives and death of innocent people, how people react while suffering domestic violence. There are so many great and very important themes in this book, and I am amazed how author rounded all them up in this beautiful creation. The ending of the book was really unexpected and I was so confused after reading it. To be honest, all I have for this book is praise, it is an amazing book and it is a Must Read. Can’t wait for the movie because there definitely will be one.

Kate is a war reporter for the conflict in Syria. She had a bad experience there which haunts her dreams. Kate returns to her childhood home after the death of her mother and hopes the quiet town will help her, but something bad is happening next door and Kate is assured by those that love her and the neighbor herself, that all is well. Then Kate discovers an old dictaphone of her mother's and hears that her mother also claims that a child needs help next door. Kate is also trying to reconnect with her alcoholic sister while trying to ease her own memories and wants to find out exactly what is going on with her neighbor. This psychological thriller will keep you guessing until the last page.

Slow starter for me but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The main character Kate is tired and worn out war correspondent. Coming home after her mother dies, her nightmare begins, she is woken by a horrific scream, looking through the window she sees a little boy the image of her dead brother, but obviously it can't be, it must be a dream or is is?
Then there's the problem of her sisters alcoholism, just like her father. Her own reliance on the super strong sleeping tablets, the lies and deceit all while battling to saving her family and her own sanity.
This is a very well written book, walking you through the intricacies of her family, their history and how they became who they are now. It absolutely makes you want to keep turning the pages, maybe one for the weekend or your holidays so you can give it the attention it deserves.

BRILLIANT - ORIGINAL & TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE
A great psychological thriller based around the dangers faced by journalists reporting from war zones, the human tragedy involved, and also dangers closer to home, in Herne Bay to be precise.
The plot involves two sisters: as different as is imaginable even although they shared the same upbringing and dark experiences as children.
The novel keeps you on your toes with surprises at every turn. The story comes into its own in the second half of the book, building gradually to a dramatic and unpredictable ending.
Along the way the author brings to the fore the stresses faced by war zone reporters and reminds us of the danger they face so that we can snuggly watch or read their reports as we are curled up in comfort (and safety) at home in England. But the author also explores the possibility that even when you feel safe and totally at ease within your own comfort zone things might not be as you imagine.
I can assure you this is not a book to miss. Without hesitation I recommend it go on your "must read" pile of books. Best book of 2017 so far and it will take some beating.

Did not have long enough to read it before it disappeared off my Kindle

“We’re all of us, every day, just a hair’s breadth away from evil."

I pulled this quote from Nuala Ellwood's new novel because I felt it was ominous enough to reflect what was contained within the book's pages. My Sister's Bones belongs in that new genre of "Grip-Lit", a phrase coined by author Marian Keyes to describe female driven thrillers and crime novels. It is the dark and foreboding tale of a war reporter suffering from PTSD who arrives home from Aleppo to Herne Bay, where she is haunted by memories of war and childhood abuse.

Kate, our main female character, is from a dysfunctional family. As a child she suffered beatings at the hand of her alcoholic father, who began to destructively down-spiral after the death of Kate's baby brother, his only son. Kate's mother, a victim of the same domestic violence, failed to report any of this abuse to the authorities. Sally, Kate's sister, was spared the rod growing up, her being the apple of her father's eye, but her story isn't a simple one either. Sally, you see, is the sister who stayed behind; who remained in Herne Bay following the death of her father, dealing with the aftermath of the family's traumatic and twisted past. As a result, she is bitter, spiteful and resentful of her successful sister, and now a raging alcoholic herself. Because of her own self-destructive behaviour, she has driven away her teenage daughter, Hannah, and has alienated her husband, Paul, to the point that he has moved out of their home.

So the home that Kate returns to following the death of her mother isn't a happy one. Far from it. As well as being reminded of all of the pain her past brought her, Kate is haunted by her work in Syria. She hears voices and screaming, and her mind constantly conjures up images of war, blood, death and rot. While staying in her old childhood home, she also notices something strange about the house next-door; a sad little boy who seems to wander around the garden at night-time, sometimes cowering in the flowerbed. Is he really there and, if so, who does he belong to? The Iraqi immigrant woman who lives there? Or is he a figment of Kate's imagination? A symptom of her PTSD? Curiouser and curiouser.

Ellwood comes from good stock: many of her family are journalists, including her father. Ellwood has a particular interest in the study of PTSD and that comes across here. This novel is a very well-represented account of war and it's devastating effects. We get a brief look, through the eyes of Kate, at what it is like being a correspondent in a warzone, but it is Ellwood's portrayal of the human element of war and its aftermath that is most impressive. Kate's suffering as a result of her experiences is enthralling to witness. She is burdened by her memories of Aleppo and of her troubled past, and her courage in dealing with these issues makes her an admirable character who is difficult not to sympathise with.

My Sister's Bones is a real page turner. The narrative structure in Part I - how it first alternates between an interrogation room and her childhood home a few days earlier - works well, moving the story along at a decent pace. However, it is the second part of the novel where the story really gets going. There is a lot going on here: the characters we are introduced to all have troubled pasts and deeply-rooted issues. This is certainly an ambitious plot. And, while it does keep us guessing to some extent, not all the twists and turns are unexpected. Did I know from the outset that Paul was behind a lot of what was going on? Yes. Instantly I knew he wasn't to be trusted. Did I know that Hannah wasn't living in London and, instead, was locked in a cellar beneath the shed next-door? No. Not a clue. Did I think the little flowerbed-dwelling boy was Hannah's son rather than the child of the Iraqi immigrant? Nope. And while I certainly didn't expect that Paul was this little boy's father, I did sense that he was involved in Hannah's disappearance.

There were certain things that irked me about this novel. The character of Paul, for instance, was immediately painted as a suspect in my eyes. I found the dialogue, at times, to be a little unnatural and strange, even. For example, when Sally discovers the set-up in the cellar of the shed next door and Paul is revealed to be Hannah's captor, she cries: "Paul, what are you doing, you plonker?". As this novel progresses and more details are revealed about this family's tragic fate, you find yourself asking, "How unlucky can one family be?". But I will leave it up to you to decide if the drama is too much to be believable or enough to really grip you as a reader.

Overall, this was a very likeable book. I felt I could very much engage with the character of Kate; I love the themes of family, memory and the unrelenting force of the sea that Ellwood employed. I particularly enjoyed her handling of war, despite the harrowing and devastating descriptions of its effects. I thought the imagery Ellwood used was very effective; many of the descriptions of scenes and events were bone-chilling. I found My Sister's Bones to be a powerful story and a gripping read.

Very good read, really enjoyed it. The plot kept me engaged all the way through the book, it was hard to put down. I enjoyed the story line and the characters, a solid 5 out of 5.

My Sister's Bones

Wow, what an amazingly stunning and absorbing novel. I was gripped from the first few pages and couldn't put it down till I'd finished.

A cleverly written debut novel, which will chill you to the bone, highly recommended! A resounding 5*.

My Sister’s Bones tells the story of sisters Kate and Sally. After a childhood full of violence at the hands of their alcoholic father, Kate is now a journalist working all over the world in locations such as Syria and Sally is a stay at home alcoholic. After the death of their mother, Kate returns to Herne Bay but little does she know the mystery that is about to unravel around her…

I liked this book but I did not love it and I don’t think it is a book that I would reread in the future. There are three parts to this book and my feelings shifted only slightly between each part.

Part one is Kate’s story. It shifts back and forth on a timeline and I couldn’t quite get my head around why. What we know at the beginning is that Kate has returned to Herne Bay after the death of her mother and that in the ‘present’ she is being detained and questioned. The whole of part one was quite confusing to me and it felt like not a lot happened. I kept waiting for a huge reveal but I didn’t feel that really arrived here as the bit that was supposed to be her big secret she didn’t want to talk about was easily guessed. That said, I did like Kate as a character and thought she showed a tremendous strength of character.

Part two is all about Sally and it was interesting to see how her memories of childhood varied to the accounts we had already had from Kate. It was during part two that my suspicions about the ending of the book began (I was wrong, however!). Sally was an interesting character but I did prefer Kate to her overall.

The end of part two and then the final part were where things really got interesting and I devoured the last 20 percent(ish) of the book. It was only at the last moment I put the dots together but I did think the ending was slightly random as although we knew there was something weird going on, there wasn’t much of an inclination as to what it would be. I will say that the twist was great though and I loved how much was packed into those parts of the book.

For me this book was about 80% learning about the characters and their backgrounds with 20% of actual thrill and action. There is no denying that Nuala Ellwood is a great writer and there will be plenty of people who adore this book it just wasn’t quite my cup of tea. I liked it enough but just felt that I needed something a bit more from it earlier on in the plot. I like my thrillers to be fast paced but for those who love a slow burn, atmospheric thriller, this will be the book for you.

Kate is a high flying war reporter who has returned to her childhood home after her mother's death. We learn of the physical abuse by Kate's father, and the fact that Kate's sister Sally is now an alcoholic. This is all interspersed with graphic details of Kate's assignments in Syria.

I found this a hard, but emotional read. I don't want to say too much more other than please give it a go!!

This book was gripping and chilling. I made an assumption about the prologue that I knew which sister was scattering the other's ashes. Towards the end there was doubt, so until the very end it really wasn't clear what the outcome would be. This was a true psychological thriller which was messing with my head. What is real and what is inside Kate's head. I really didn't know. I thought the little boy was her imagining her brother - or was it? And then I thought there really was a child. Or was there? Was someone coming into the house? Or was it her mind? And Sally, why wouldn't she speak to Kate - because she'd got away from an abusive childhood home? Why did she not help when they were children? What caused her to become an alcoholic - was it in her genes? So many questions, and all answered so well right at the end. What a twist! I did not see it coming at all.I couldn't wait to get to the end to see what happened but then I missed the characters when I'd finished!

My Sister’s Bones Nuala Ellwood
Kate Rafter is a high-flying war reporter. She's the strong one. The one who escaped their father. Her sister Sally didn't. Instead, she drinks. But when their mother dies, Kate is forced to return to the old family home. And on her very first night she is woken by a terrifying scream. At first she tells herself it's just a nightmare, a legacy of her time in Syria. But then she hears it again. And this time she knows she's not imagining it... What secret is lurking in her mother's garden? And can Kate get to the truth...before she loses her mind?
I really rate this novel and my interest is being drawn more into psychological novels instead of straight police procedurals. The theme of this book is post traumatic syndrome. Who can get it? Can it be recognised? Can it be treated? The character of Kate is multi-faceted, yet real. Her dysfunctional family have obviously had a hand in moulding her character, but it’s her job as a war reporter that eventually breaks her. As she spirals out of control, she is still trying to get people to take her seriously about hearing screams in the night and spying a lone child in the garden of her mother’s house.
In a world where all is not where it seems, Kate struggles with her mental illness and her family to solve the mystery of the child she believes she has seen, but no one else does.
A seriously good book 5*

It took a while before this book hooked me.

Kate is a war correspondent. She has spent years reporting from the Middle East. He job in war zones seem to have been an escape from the war zone of her home. Her abusive father, the death of her young brother and the animosity she feels towards her sister made her escape but she has returned home following the death of her mother. Whilst clearing up her mother's affairs she becomes obsessed with the idea there is an a child in danger living next door. This child become confused with the child that died in Aleppo; a child she feels she should have saved. The account of Kate's PTSD attacks after returning from Assyria made me feel very sorry for her but didn't really make me bond with the character.

When the narrator switched to Sally, Kate's sister, I didn't bond with her either but I did become more intrigued as to what was going on. To say more would give away too much.

This is a well written debut novel and well worth four stars. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me the chance to discover a new author.

I really enjoyed this book. At first I wasnt sure about the character of Kate but she soon grew and me. And I found her a very complex character who genuinely loved her family. The character of Sally was hard to like because of her alcohol addiction but she stepped up and did what had to be done. And Paul I had my suspicions about him but was not expecting that. Overall I would highly reccomend this book, if you want a book to pull you right in alongside the characters. I cant wait to read more by this author.

I love books like this; that get me hooked from the first few pages, I thought I had an idea where the storyline was going; but I was wrong. This book is not at all predictable and has many twists and turns.
This was a tale of family tragedy, domestic abuse, alcoholism, PTSD, war, psychopathic manipulation and deception. The effects of these on individuals within a family and the wider community. The three main characters kate(successful and brave war reporter), sally (her alcoholic sister) and Paul (Sally's husband) were well depicted and their own stories were expertly crafted and intertwined throughout to create an intrigueing and exciting read. I couldn't put this book down, and read it in 2 sittings. It was both addictive and frustrating but felt authentic also.

This is going on my book list for my adults!!

My Sister's Bones by Nuala Ellwood is a first novel dealing with several complex issues - post traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, bereavement and family ties. Recently returned from a gruelling tour in Syria and plagued by nightmares a talented journalist returns to her childhood home in bleak Herne Bay to deal with her late mother's affairs but uncovers a secret that leads to her almost being sectioned under the Mental Health Act. It is a disturbing pyschological thriller which I enjoyed very much.

This is a brilliant debut from an author who should be on everyones 'must read' list... it was difficult to put down!

Set in 3 parts this is a fast paced, character driven which switches from a quiet English town to war torn Syria.

The main bulk of the book focusses on Kate, a war reporter, as she returns to her home town in the aftermath of her mothers death. However the life Kate left behind was far from easy... with a loving mother, early childhood loss, an abusive father, a runaway niece and alcoholic sister, Kate struggles to break free from the past. When strange things start to happen Kate is unsure what is real and what is a result from the memories and nightmares from her time in war zones and the destruction it has inflicted on both her personal and professional life.With only her brother in law as a friend can Kate work out what is happening?

This is a real 'keep us guessing' thriller with well thought out characters - Ellwood touches on very difficult subjects with sensitivity which just enhances the impact they have on the story.

And as for the twist at the end.... NO SPOILERS.... but I never saw that coming!

I will highly recommend.