Sister Dear by Hannah Mary McKinnon was a sinister and twisted novel with a delicious dash of mystery, and a devilish threat, weaved right the way through, that of which was capable of destroying an entire history of truth unbeknownst to the unseeing Victoria, Eleanor’s half-sister who has no idea she exists.
I really enjoy a novel which explores the darker, deeper depths of family, and Sister Dear by Hannah Mary McKinnon certainly does that. Within this book, there are twists and turns around every corner, alongside plenty of secrets waiting to be unearthed. The tension was delicious in this story. From the moment Eleanor crosses paths with her extended family whom have no idea of her identity, I was waiting for the moment she’d be discovered by them and would ultimately be forced to reveal her truth and her link to them.
Hannah Mary McKinnon writes emotion wonderfully in this novel. The feelings felt by Eleanor really emanate from the page and certainly had an effect on me. When her father passed away at the beginning of the novel, I couldn’t help but to hope that she’d find solace and peace in the family she didn’t know that she had. When the author takes this and tips it completely on its head, I was excited to see where the characters would go, and when the words took on a much sinister tone that placed the characters in a darker more threatening scenario, I felt my intrigue grow and I couldn’t wait to see how this entire situation would end and who would come out of it with their emotions intact.
I feel that the characters were all well-detailed and convincingly put together, although Eleanor felt to be an incredibly complex character to me, so much so that at times I felt unable to understand her at all. I’m unsure whether this was intentional by the author. After all, we all know that a troubled character can sometimes appear to be a multi-dimensional puzzle at times, just waiting to be cracked open by the reader. Unfortunately for me, this moment of understanding Eleanor never appeared, but I still found some entertainment and satisfaction in her story.
The ending of Sister Dear packed a punch and it left me wondering if perhaps we will hear more from Eleanor in the future? Who knows. I think it could be interesting to return to these characters after such a powerful ending and see where their lives end up. With so many twists and turns throughout, I can only imagine that the author would have much more to say about Eleanor’s final scenario and where she went from there.
Overall, this was a great psychological thriller dripping with jealousy and bitterness. I liked the characters, I liked the premise and I liked the mystery within. The author certainly knows how to write a sinister and tension-fuelled book, one which I am sure will be a hit with plenty of readers out there who enjoy this genre. With so many secrets to be unearthed, this story explores the deepest depths of family and what it means to feel a part of something, whether you’re welcome or not.
With thanks to the publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book, that of which has no reflection on me providing a fair and honest review.
Beauty. Wealth. Success. She’s got it all. And it all should’ve been mine.
When Eleanor Hardwicke’s beloved father dies, her world is further shattered by the discovery of a gut-wrenching secret: the man she’s grieving isn’t her biological dad.
With her personal life spiralling, a desperate Eleanor seeks out the family she never knew she had, finding an infuriatingly enviable half-sister.
Perfectly perfect Victoria has everything Eleanor could ever dream of. Loving childhood, luxury home, devoted husband. And this gets Eleanor thinking – aren’t good sisters supposed to share?
You can purchase your copy of Sister Dear by Hannah Mary McKinnon here.
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