Domestic Suspense At It’s Best
Description
There’s only been one time that Rose couldn’t stop me from doing the wrong thing and that was a mistake that will haunt me for the rest of my life.
Fern Castle works in her local library. She has dinner with her twin sister Rose three nights a week. And she avoids crowds, bright lights and loud noises as much as possible. Fern has a carefully structured life and disrupting her routine can be…dangerous.
When Rose discovers that she cannot get pregnant, Fern sees her chance to pay her sister back for everything Rose has done for her. Fern can have a baby for Rose. She just needs to find a father. Simple.
Fern’s mission will shake the foundations of the life she has carefully built for herself and stir up dark secrets from the past, in this quirky, rich and shocking story of what families keep hidden.
Details
- Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
- Title: The Good Sister
- Author: Sally Hepworth
- Genre: Domestic Thriller
- Length: 320 pages
- Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
- Release Date: April 13, 2021
- Excerpt
My Thoughts
This is the first book I’ve read by Sally Hepworth and it definitely won’t be the last. The story quickly sucked me in and didn’t let go until I hit the last page.
Rose and Fern are twins with quite opposite personalities as well as builds. One is tall and thin, the other short and round. Fern has sensory issues while Rose has diabetes. Rose is married, and Fern is single. Though it’s not stated, Fern shows signs of having Asperger’s, so Rose is continually taking on the role of caregiver. You might say the two are as different as night and day.
Because I’m very familiar with Asperger’s, a form of autism, I was immediately drawn to Fern. I felt like the author had her pegged beautifully. In fact, each character’s actions felt true to who they were.
The story is told from both of their POVs. There are flashbacks throughout. And we learn of the abuse that was felt in their house growing up. Perhaps this is why Rose feels she needs to take care of Fern.
Though Fern is married, her husband is working out of town so the two have a meal together several times a week. This time allows Rose to continually feel she is guiding and helping Fern through life.
Rose spends much of her time working as a librarian. She loves the routine and of course being around books. Little does she realize that her life is about to turn upside down when she walks up to a man at the library who she assumes is homeless. She offers him a care kit of toiletries, etc., that she assumes he can use.
This is a book that depends on the characters to drive the story. But in my case, they were so quirky and enjoyable that I had no trouble letting them slowly take me toward the mystery and the twisted ending.
It’s a story that once again made me wish that I could speed-read.
Concerns
Nothing bothered me at all.
My Conclusion
If you like characters with personalities that stick with you long after you close the book, then this book is definitely one you won’t want to miss. Though there is a mystery and twist, which always make a story better, it’s the characters that will win your heart.
My thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for an ARC and the ability to review this and post my opinion.
About the Author
Sally Hepworth has lived around the world, spending extended periods in Singapore, the United Kingdom and Canada. She is the author of The Secrets of Midwives, The Things We Keep, The Mother’s Promise, The Family Next Door and The Mother-in-Law.
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Sounds like an interesting story!
I sure liked it.