The Half Sister

A Novel

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Jun 16 2020 | Archive Date Sep 28 2020
St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books

Description

From Sandie Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of the Hello Sunshine Book Club pick The Other Woman, comes The Half Sister; a compelling new domestic suspense novel about a family who is forever changed when a stranger arrives at their door.

Meet the half sister, and unravel the ties that blind us.

THE TRUTH

Sisters Kate and Lauren meet for Sunday lunch every week without fail, especially after the loss of their father.

THE LIE

But a knock at the door is about to change everything. A young woman by the name of Jess holds a note with the results of a DNA test, claiming to be their half sister.

THE UNTHINKABLE

As the fallout starts, it's clear that they are all hiding secrets, and perhaps this family isn't as perfect as it appears.

From Sandie Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of the Hello Sunshine Book Club pick The Other Woman, comes The Half Sister; a compelling new domestic suspense novel about a family who is...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781250265517
PRICE $27.99 (USD)
PAGES 320

Average rating from 573 members


Featured Reviews

I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley: I have loved each and every book written by Sandie Jones and was beyond thrilled to be able to read this ARC. It was absolutely amazing. One of her best books. The twists did not stop coming end I literally had no clue what was truly going on until the end. It blew me away. I will be recommending this one to all of my family and friends!! Thanks again to NetGalley!

Was this review helpful?

The Half Sister by author Sandie Jones is yer another great psychological thriller by this author! I absolutely love Jones writing and literally all books I’ve read by her. Never disappoints! Highly recommend her novels!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I loved "The Other Woman" and "The First Mistake" by Sandie Jones, so I was really excited to see she had this book, "The Half Sister" being published.

I think what I like most about her writing that sets her apart from other talented suspense writers is how she writes her characters. I have found myself really attached to and caring about characters in each of her books, which, when mixed with the suspense aspect, really makes it hard to put the book down!

I liked Kate and Matt a lot in "The Half Sister" and although her naivete sometimes made me facepalm, I liked Lauren as well. I don't know if we are ever supposed to feel sadness or sympathy for Jess, even at the end, but I can honestly say I didn't because of the way she acted.

I think Sandie Jones is just beginning a long reign as Queen of Domestic Suspense!

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC and a chance to review "The Half Sister".

Was this review helpful?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Was this review helpful?

This had so many twists and turns that I was not expecting. As soon as I thought I had it figured out, I was completely wrong and it went in another direction. Very well-written and easy to follow.

Was this review helpful?

Another great read by Sandie Jones, she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors to read. Just when I thought I had solved the mystery in this book, I was proved wrong. I loved seeing the relationship evolve between Kate and Lauren and how just because things look perfect from the outside doesn’t mean they are.

Was this review helpful?

What a fantastic book! I am a huge fan of Sandie Jones; her books are thrilling, unputdownable, character driven stories, with twists and turns aplenty, and The Half Sister was no different. With wonderful characters, believable relationships, and a finale that took me quite a while to figure out, this was yet another Sandie Jones book that I read in one sitting. Can’t wait for the next!

Was this review helpful?

Oo y’all this was a creepy one!! I absolutely loved it and the characters were fantastic. A must read!

Was this review helpful?

Sandie Jones did it again!

The Half Sister is a novel that covers family conflicts, family secrets, and manipulative parents. I received and ARC and from the moment I opened it, I could not put it down. Sandy keeps you riveted from the first page of the novel until the very last line.

The story is about a family discovering that the father, who passed away, presumably fathered another child -Jess- by another woman. The novel focus on the family struggling to accept or believe that Jess is actually the father's daughter. The new half-sister’s presence causes more of a division between two sisters whose relationship were frayed because they both secretly resented each other.

It is an amazing book to read. I won't write anymore because I want to avoid spoilers, but you won't regret picking up this book if you are into a good thriller and even if you weren't. I believe that this is Sandie Jones' best work so far. I enjoyed her last two novels and believe that they were good, but this latest one is amazing! The plot was fabulous, and it really put into perspective the quote "The grass always looks greener on the other side".

Was this review helpful?

Sandie Jones’ books just keeping getting better and better. Her third novel is my favorite so far! This thriller is all about Kate and Lauren and what happens when the half sister they never knew they had walks into their life. Some of the twists I could see coming, and some I couldn’t but it was a definite a page turner from the very beginning. I loved both Kate and Lauren’s stories and found this to be more realistic than many thrillers these days. Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

WOW!! This book was a wild ride! In Sandie Jones fashion, there are so many tricks and weaves in this story! The characters are so developed and I couldn’t make up my mind who was reliable and who was a fraud, if any. The unreliable part was definitely the key to this book! Who was telling the truth? Who was not? What is the motive?

Today alone, I saw multiple ads on social media for Ancestry and 23 and Me kits—and this big brings up a current issue...what if you took a DNA test like this and someone did turn up?!!

I absolutely loved this book and actually sped through it in 48 hours and stayed up WAY too late finishing it. Couldn’t. Stop.

Great book Sandie Jones! I’m a fan for life!

Was this review helpful?

Wow! I simply could not put this down! It was full of secrets and twists, and kept me guessing right until the very end! Jones was able to build characters that were immediately relatable, which kept reading on as I was invested into the characters on the pages! So well written! Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys the genre! You will not be disappointed.

*I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Was this review helpful?

That Bitch!! Seriously your gonna say the same when you read this!! I’m throwing all the stars at this one! So many twist and turns and you think it’s going one way and then the next!! The half sister has multiple stories in it, they all combined to one grander story and I was hooked from beginning to end!!

Was this review helpful?

I love Sandie Jones’ writing style so I was excited to read The Half Sister. I wasn’t disappointed!
This book was a quick and easy read from the very first page. I really like all of the characters. Sometimes I wanted to yell at them for keeping quiet when they should have spoken up.
It was fairly predictable in the end but overall, I really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

The Half Sister
by Sandie Jones
St. Martin's Press
You Like Them
Minotaur Books
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 16 Jun 2020 | Archive Date 16 Jun 2020

This is a must read if you like psychological thrillers! I haven't read Sandi Jones before and It looks like I have some catching up to do. I will recommend this to our library patrons when we reopen. I think our book club will enjoy it.
Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's press for providing the ARC for my reading purposes.

Was this review helpful?

Wow! Another great book by Sandie Jones - I’ve read them all! A little slow in the beginning, but once the book pulls you in, clear your calendar....one thing I really enjoyed about the book (in addition to the twists and turns), was the dialogue between the sisters - so good, and really how 2 sisters would talk!

Was this review helpful?

HOLY COW. This book is WILD from start to finish.

Things I loved:

• Is Jess a psycho and a liar? When we’re led to believe that she’s on an overnight trip with Matt any sympathy I had for her totally diminished.

• The POV shifts between Lauren and Kate were so well done - I left each woman’s section feeling something about her sister (be it scorn, anger, envy) and then as soon as the POV flipped, I found my opinion changing. It was super well written and felt very much how life often feels.

• Simon sucks, but Lauren effectively cheating and rekindling her romance with Justin also sucks. I felt really sad though about finding out the truth surrounding Lauren and Justin’s breakup, so that helped with setting them up for a good ending.

• Rose - WHERE TO BEGIN! I loved so much about this character’s story. I also thought it was absolutely insane to find out she was the murderer and Harry knew and helped cover it up - how do you stay with a partner after they murder someone?! Insanity.

This book moves fast and doesn’t let go from the first page. Will definitely be recommending!

Was this review helpful?

First, a giant thank you so much to Minotaur/St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Sandie Jones for this ARC!

Holy Cow! I don't even know where to start with the praise for this book. I knew as soon as I saw that Ms. Jones had a new story coming out that I would be a fan, but this one solidified it! I don't want to give too much away but right out of the gate, I immediately bonded with Kate. As a professional woman who dealt with infertility and IVF myself, her struggles hit home 100%. I wasn't sure how the author was going to tie this in throughout the plot, but it added so much to the story and the relationships within. The best part of books in this genre is that I constantly find myself trying to figure out the ending. There were so many plausible twists in this book that you never really knew what the exact outcome would be.

Basically, if you've read either of Sandie Jones' other books, this one needs to be added to your reading list. It doesn't disappoint! It will be a great poolside, Summer read! Highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved The Other Woman and The First Mistake by Sandie Jones, so when I received an ARC of The Half Sister, thrilled is an understatement. We first meet Kate, a successful journalist, who is still grieving from the sudden death of her father ten months ago. Kate has an older sister, Lauren, a married mother of three, but they are not the closest of sisters. Kate was always the apple of her father's eye, while Lauren was closer with their mother, Rose. Every Sunday, Kate and Lauren, and their respective families, gather at Rose's home for Sunday lunch. Despite the palpable tension, Kate and Lauren keep up pretenses for their mother's sake. But on Sunday, a girl named Jess shows up at the house claiming to be their long lost half sister. Kate simply refuses to believe it, while Lauren gives the girl a chance to explain herself -- and what starts as a normal Sunday lunch will upend the entire family.

What I love most about Sandie Jones books it the way she writes her characters. I felt like I was able to truly connect to them and relate on a personal level. The Half Sister had the perfect amount of family drama, mystery and suspense. A great, great read for 2020!

Was this review helpful?

Kate, Lauren and their mother meet for lunch every Sunday-- but it's just not the same without their father, who recently passed away. On this particular Sunday, though, everything changes with the ring of a doorbell.

There's a woman on the porch who claims to be their father's daughter. Could it be true?

The devastating news causes the girls to rethink everything they knew about their father, cast suspicion on the "picture perfect" life their mother claims and dig into their memories for clues. Along the way, family secrets are revealed and you'll never guess the truth-- you'll just have to read until the very last page!

Was this review helpful?

I love books that send you on a roller coaster and this one doesn’t disappoint. I originally heard of Sandie Jones through a friend, and decided to try out My First Mistake and immediately knew I was a fan of hers. When I saw that The Half Sister was available to read, I jumped all over it. Imagine a random woman shows up on your door step looking for her father, who happens to be your father, who just passed away! & she DNA results to prove it! I stayed up last night reading it and could not stop reading it. If you like a good twisty turny book, this one is for you!

Was this review helpful?

📖 The Half Sister - Sandie Jones
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
320 pages
📝How many secrets a family can keep? Do you really know your parents and siblings? When a stranger knocks on the door a family destiny is completely changed. Jess is a 22 years old who is looking for her father. She believes her father is Harry, Rose’s dead husband and Lauren and Kate’s father. Is she right? What really happened in the past? I really liked this book and I recommend it for all domestic thrillers fans.

Was this review helpful?

Wow it’s been awhile since I’ve read a book this captivating! Excellent family drama that I couldnt put down. The author makes you literally guess until the last sentence. Very well done!

Was this review helpful?

Oh my goodness this book is a must read. From the very beginning The Half Sister catches your attention and doesn’t let go. It all starts with an unexpected visitor at a Sunday family dinner and just takes off from there. You will start to think you have the book figured out and can guess the ending....but let me tell you, you are wrong! Sadie Jones knocked this book out of the park. This has one of the best books I have read in a while.

Was this review helpful?

Loved this book as much as her first two. Lots of family drama, thought i figured it all out but was wrong. A very quick easy read with some twists at the end. Thank you Netgalley!

Was this review helpful?

Ohhhhhh my, my, my! Simply put, Sandie Jones does not disappoint! The Half Sister is a riveting novel that knocked my socks off!!! Sandie Jones is such a sure thing for me that I didn’t even read the description before diving in because I know with her books it’s so much better to go in completely blind! The storyline is well thought out and the perfectly placed twists and turns will leave your jaw hanging open! I really enjoy when a thriller can stump me and I will admit that I absolutely did not figure anything out until it was revealed—LOVE THAT! The Half Sister is a 5 star book that comes out just in time to grab for your summer vacation—this will definitely be a book you will not able to put down!

Was this review helpful?

Oh wow!! I have no words for this book!! It was unputdownable! Shocking twists! Full of mystery.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book . All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I found Sandie Jones’ first book, The Other Women, while I was shopping in a second hand store. I had never heard of her before but the plot sounded intriguing so I thought it was worth a go. I finished the book in one day and have not stopped recommending it to people since. I grabbed her second book, The First Mistake, on the day it came out and while it didn’t give me all the same feelings that her other book did I still absolutely loved it. So, when I saw her latest release was available to request on Netgalley I didn’t even have to read the synopsis to know I wanted it.


The Half Sister is the type of fast paced, compelling read that I have come to expect from Ms. Jones. The sudden appearance of a woman claiming to be the illegitimate daughter of their recently deceased father is not the only drama that sisters Kate and Lauren have to deal with. They are each dealing with very personal issues in their own families which kept the tension bubbling just beneath the surface throughout the entire book. There was more than one time in the story where I thought I had it figured out then the next chapter had me second guessing myself and began pulling me in a different direction. Sandie Jones keeps the plot twists coming right up until the very end. There was one teeny thing that I wasn’t a huge fan of at the end but I will save my opinion on that for my book club cause there is no way I’m not adding this to the list of suggestions for our next meeting.

After reading the book I spent some time trying to think of another mystery/thriller writer that Sandie Jones’ writing style reminded me of and for the life of me I couldn’t come up with one. The closest I could come would be a mash up of Mary Higgins Clarke and Janet Evanovich. Any fans of either of those authors would do well to read any or all the books in the Sandie Jones catalog. Her writing style and story ideas are a breathe of fresh air.

Was this review helpful?

Sandie Jones does it again. Thank you Minotaur Books and Netgally for the copy.
I ajve read both of Sandie Jones previous books and was a huge fan, but now she is definitely an auto buy author for mr after this one.
The story starts at a Sunday brunch with a family who's life was turned upside down with a knock at the door.
I did not see this ending coming and the way the story unfolds I don't think anyone would.
I would prefer order this now. I promise you won't regret it.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much to the publisher, NetGalley and Sandie Jones for an ARC for an honest review.

Love, love, loved this book. I’ve read all of Sandie Jones’ books and this one kept me intrigued and the ending was nothing like I thought it was leading up to be.

Add this one to your TBR list as it’s a great read and you won’t be able to put this down.

Was this review helpful?

Jones delivered a delicious story full of twists and secrets. Lauren and Kate are sisters with secrets of their own, mourning the recent passing of their father. A surprise awaits them when they discover they have a half sister after Lauren used a DNA site. Jess has her own secrets she keeps,from her newly discovered relatives. The widow, Rose, may have the answers to all of the secrets. It's a riveting read and just when you think the clues add up, there's a new factor.

Was this review helpful?

Wow! Fantastic mystery about two sisters whose lives get turned upside down when a young woman shows up claiming to be the illegitimate daughter of their recently deceased father. When Lauren submits her DNA to a genealogy website she hoped to maybe meet some long lost relatives, certainly not a half sister. As Lauren and Kate try to unravel the lies their parents told, both girls try to figure out the truth so their family can heal. Full of twists and turns until the very last page, this book is absolute must for anyone who loves a great mystery. Highly recommend, would give 10 stars if possible.

Was this review helpful?

Ok so this ending though 🤯 I did not see that coming! I thought I had pieced it together but I was not ready!! Kate is desperate to get pregnant and her sister Lauren has three children and a rocky marriage and both of them, and their mother Rose, are still trying to deal with their father/husbands sudden death just months ago. As the story unfold we see the power of facades and how people often see what they want to believe in each other and other people’s lives without seeing what is really there. Part mystery, part family drama and part societal drama this book is not one to miss!

Was this review helpful?

All families have problems but this is the story of how much deeper those problems run we know. Kate is missing her father fiercely and jealous of her sister and her children while she has tried to get pregnant for years. Lauren can tell her family has drifted apart since their father died. Feeling trapped in a relationship that isn’t what it seems and desperate she uploads her dna to maybe reconnect to a long last cousin and instead finds a half sister, Jess. But there’s more to jess than first appears but will they figure out what secrets were long buried in time? I loved this twisty thriller. The characters were realistic and the story compelling. Once I got going I had a hard time putting this one down!

Was this review helpful?

The Half Sister is about a family who's Father/Husband has died recently. A woman shows up claiming she was his daughter and throws a wrench in the whole family dynamic. Lauren, one of the sisters, did an online genealogy test which is how "Jess" found them. So, Lauren believes Jess whole-heartedly because she has the facts. Her sister Kate thinks Jess is making it all up and cannot believe that her Father would cheat on her Mom. More and more things come about to make Kate believe Jess is obsessed with their family and has purposely come around to mess Kate's life up. There are so many twists, turns and secrets. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and piqued my interest the entire time. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a great mystery and thriller. This book is definitely a 5/5 for me.

Was this review helpful?

Loved this book. Sandie Jones books are always great. It’s about a girl using DNA to try to find her family and you won’t believe the ending.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sandie Jones has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I have enjoyed all of her books and this was no exception. The Half Sister was gripping from the beginning. I thought I had the book figured out only to be surprised. It’s nice to be surprised when so many books are so predictable. I found the characters interesting and well-developed. I wanted to finish the book and at the same time slow down so I could enjoy it longer. That, to me, is the sign of a good book. I highly recommend it and look forward to her next book!

Was this review helpful?

This book kind of hits a bit home for me. Not in the way most would thing. My mom was adopted and a DNA test kit is how we found some of her biological family♡

That being said thankfully it wasn't a crazy ride after that. This book will keep you guessing. Even when you think you know.... you don't.
I can't wait for another Sandie Jones book!

Thanks #netgalley!

Was this review helpful?

Aamazing! Sandie Jones always keeps me on the edge of my seat during her domestic thrillers! This one was no exception. I love how connected I felt to the characters and the family. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Was this review helpful?

Jess arrives one day wanting to see her father. The trouble is no one knows about her and her father passed away. The family is divided if they believe her or not. As they dig into things, many secrets are uncovered.

I enjoyed this book. I have read Sandie Jones’ books before and love her style of writing. I don’t want to spoil the ending but I did not see it coming!

Was this review helpful?

The author, Sandie Jones, has done it again! I loved her other book, The First Mistake and was so excited to get the opportunity to review this book. I loved it. It kept me guessing, changing allegiances, second guessing my thoughts on who is right and not sure who to believe. It is so great when you connect with the story and the characters.. It’s a story about two sisters, Kate and Lauren, who aren’t as close as they could be and aligned with one parent over the other. Kate identifies with her father and his passing almost a year earlier is still quite raw. Lauren is close with her mother Rose who is also grieving and trying to hold her family together. Kate and her husband Matt are trying to have a baby and have not been successful with her IVF treatments as our story begins. Lauren’s husband Simon is difficult and emotionally abusive and she reflects on her lost love Justin, who she still loves after all this time. Enter Jess, the potential half sister to Kate and Lauren. Is she who she says she is? Lauren believes she is her father Harry’s daughter, but Kate wonders if she isn’t Rose’s daughter. Jess has intertwined herself in their lives and seems to be everywhere they turn. She wants the truth about her birth parents and seems to want to be a sister, if they will accept her. The story has wonderful twists and turns and the characters are flawed in interesting ways.

Was this review helpful?

I love Sandi Jones books, and this was no different! The twists kept coming and kept me on the edge of my seat. From start to finish, it’s a thrill ride. If you love page turners, you will love this, or any book by the author!

Was this review helpful?

I say it every time I read a book from this author, but her books are always so much fun to read. She always has a good plot, that takes you to somewhere you didn't know you were going.
This book follows two sisters, Kate and Lauren, and their mother Rose. One day as their families are sitting down for a meal together there is a knock on the door and their world changes forever. There is a woman at the door who says her name is Jess, and she is linked to their family through a DNA site, which shows that she is the biological child of Rose's late husband, Harry. This would then make her the half sister of Kate and Lauren. With all of them believing and feeling something different, this throws the whole family's lives into a tailspin, and it's all they can do to hold on as they all learn things that they never saw coming.
Another great read by this author!

Was this review helpful?

Just when I thought I had this ending figured out, I soon learned I was very wrong! So much suspense that you simply have to read in one sitting! I have read all her books, and she never fails to amaze me!!

Was this review helpful?

Honestly, I love a good domestic thriller and this one was no exception! Great characters (even though I didn't even like them much) and a twisty story all the way to the end! Thank you so much for letting me read and can't wait to share with my group!

Was this review helpful?

I have a confession to make. I really did not like The Other Woman, the Reese Witherspoon book club pick by this author. It annoyed me so much that I couldn't finish it. I almost passed this one up but the synopsis sounded really good so I thought why not? World of difference in the two books! Unlike TOW, I actually liked the main characters in this book. The alternating POV between the sisters was a great choice as we watch new sister Jess upend their lives. I've seen the DNA plot device used in other novels with varying success, but it works well here. So while TOW might not have been my personal cup of tea, I'm glad I gave this author another chance. The Half Sister is a timely, suspenseful book that kept me guessing til the end.

Was this review helpful?

Wow. I literally just finished The Half Sister and thoroughly enjoyed every minute—one of those books that you don’t want to end. However, I loved, loved, LOVED the ending! This is the second book I’ve read by this author and at this point, I would read anything that she writes. This story had so many twists and turns. I thought I figured it out multiple times, and was eagerly surprised at every turn. The characters were so well developed and relatable- I could feel emotion for every one of them. The plot was interesting and not far-fetched. Looking forward to going back and reading The First Mistake. Read The Half Sister as soon as you can— you will definitely not be disappointed!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a gifted copy of The Half Sister by Sandie Jones.

How well do you know your family? Kate and Lauren meet every Sunday for lunch at their mom's house. To Kate, Lauren's life looks perfect and to Lauren, Kate's life looks perfect. After losing their father recently they are trying to hold the family together and continue family traditions until the day there is a knock on the door. Jess claims to be looking for their father and she claims to be their half sister. Each sister had a different relationship with their father. One was super close and one struggled with her relationship with him. Will their relationship with each other be able to survive Jess? Could Jess really be their sister?

The story is told by both Lauren and Kate. This is a family full of secrets and complicated relationships. None of the characters were extremely likable individually but together I could not stop reading. I had to know what was going to happen next. There are some great twists, turns, and surprises.

This is my third book by Sandie Jones and at this point I will read anything she writes. I am looking forward to her next book.

Mystery & Thrillers
Release Date: June 16, 2020

Was this review helpful?

This story is the most riveting and suspenseful I have ever read!! I have read all of Sandie's book so far and this has the most twists and turns in a book and will keep you on your toes the entire time, who is Jess, is Rose the mom, is Harry the dad, is Lauren the mom, is Kate even a sister, who is Julia ... so many wonderful turns it will make your head spin in a good way! Well done Sandie and keep them coming!!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publishers for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book! There was a nice foreshadowing, that I won't give away, that lets the reader know that something isn't quite right with one of the main characters. The story line, the characters and the intrigue is there, this book will have you guessing until the end as to what the truth really is.

Thank you again for letting me read this, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Was this review helpful?

I’m a big fan of Sandie Jones. If you haven’t read her other books, The Other Woman and The First Mistake, I highly suggest adding them to your summer thriller list. She writes fantastic domestic suspense, with developed female characters, twists and wit that’s pairs perfectly with a nice glass of wine. ⁣

Her latest novel, The Half Sister comes out on June 16 and you don’t want to miss it !⁣

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. ⁣

This book is addictive! I read it in one sitting and could not put it down. ⁣

Sisters Kate and Lauren aren’t very close. And after the death of their father, they fall further apart. One day, a girl named Jess shows up at their family home, claiming she’s their father’s daughter. This sets off a whole chain of events that expose family secrets and show you how little you can know someone you love. ⁣

It’s no secret that I love domestic suspense and this book delivers. I liked the dual POV structure and particularly liked Kate and how her character developed. Jones spends time on her characters, contrasting the lives of the two sisters and developing them, instead of just throwing in twist after twist (though there are plenty of those!). As someone without sisters, I always find these relationships fascinating to read about. ⁣

I’m a big fan of Sandie Jones’ s writing style and I think she does a great job at slowly teasing out bits of the story, with lots of red herrings along the way, leading to a big reveal at the end. And this book has cemented my decision not to do an online DNA test.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy domestic suspense with a focus on family drama. I can’t wait to see what Jones does next!⁣

Was this review helpful?

Another great thriller from Sandie Jones!

Family secrets with twists along the way made this unputdownable for me. This author is quickly becoming a favorite. A new half sister that appears out of the blue!? What ?

Well written, fast paced and likeable characters made this a page turner. Sandie Jones is an author to watch out for and I can't wait to read her next book. 5 stars! Keep them coming Sandie Jones!

A big thank you to St..Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

Was this review helpful?

The book starts off slow and I wasn’t sure I was going to love it. There was a lot of background information that seemed extraneous, but it sets up a perfect slow burn. About a third of the way into the book, I realized that I didn’t want to set it down and once the surprises start coming, they don’t stop. I was sure I knew what was happening at least three or four times only to be shocked by the twists. Sandie Jones is a master of her craft.

Was this review helpful?

Wow.

I had a hard time getting into this one. Mainly because I couldn't keep track of which sister was which and which husband was which, along with the name of the mom and all three kids and Jess, on top of it all. But once I finally got that down, I was able to truly enjoy the book.

I honestly didn't see that ending coming and I'm not sure that I necessarily liked it. It couldn't have had a good ending, I guess, but my heart feels for the grandkids, as if these were all real people.

However, don't let my review, thus far, stop you from reading this because it is good. Once I figured out the characters, I finished the book in a day. It has twists and turns, right after one another but they never really feel like too much. It feels oddly like real life and how you never really know those around you, who you would claim to know the best in your life. It's an eye-opener for sure, with fantastic, well rounded characters, set a pace that won't let you put it down!

Was this review helpful?

Sisters Kate and Lauren have been drifting apart for years. Lauren is jealous of Kate’s jetsetting lifestyle, while Kate longs for just one baby, to Lauren’s three.

Kate is still mourning Harry, their father who died less than a year ago, but Lauren’s relationship with him was strained. Thus, when a young woman claiming to be Harry’s third daughter shows up at a family Sunday dinner, their reactions are vastly different. Lauren doesn’t doubt Jess’s claim, while Kate searches for another explanation. At the same time, Lauren’s marriage becomes more problematic, and for the first time, finally pregnant Kate doubts her own husband’s fidelity.

Sandie Jones is one of the best suspense writers publishing today, but THE HALF SISTER was not as mind-blowingly shocking as her previous books. Or maybe I’m getting used to her style. Even if I wasn’t completely blindsided by plot twists, I still couldn’t put the book down and it helped me forget the bleak world we live in for a few hours. I’m grateful for that. #TheHalfSister #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: