I've just been completely drawn in by the sampler chapters of Little Sister. It's full of chilling suspense and now I'm left on a cliff edge wondering where the story is going to go next. I'm going to have to order it when it is released, It's just my sort of book and I can't wait to read more,

This is a review of a sampler. If Little Sister continues in this way it will be a very good read. I can't wait to get the completed book and continue reading. I have definitely been left wanting more!

Thank you Netgalley, if you want anyone to review the complete book please consider me!

I am intrigued! Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC sampler. It is well written and vivid and I'm keen to see what happens next!

To be published by Trapeze on 27th April in e-book format the paperback will follow in July.

Blurb: A compelling, dark and twisty psychological thriller that asks the question: if you can't trust your sister, then who can you trust? For fans of Kathryn Croft's While You Were Sleeping, Katerina Diamond's The Secret and Lisa Hall's Between You and Me

'This thriller doesn't hesitate to pull you into the twisted world of family secrets and sibling rivalry. A great story with characters that just leap off the page and a thoroughly satisfying ending.' Katerina Diamond, author of THE TEACHER
'A missing baby girl, a marriage ravaged by mistrust, a sibling rivalry with a very dark heart: LITTLE SISTER had me gripped from start to finish.' Louise Candlish, author of THE SWIMMING POOL.
After sixteen years apart sisters Jessica and Emily are reunited. With the past now behind them, the warmth they once shared quickly returns and before long Jess has moved into Emily's comfortable island home. Life couldn't be better. But when baby Daisy disappears while in Jess's care, the perfect life Emily has so carefully built starts to fall apart.
Was Emily right to trust her sister after everything that happened before?


My thoughts: So I have recently got myself back on Netgalley. I have read a few shorts and have been in between books and then this popped up.

I had seen this mentioned on Twitter and as you guys may know if you follow me on Twitter HayleyTOfficial. I have become obsessed with psychological thrillers since reading Burnt Paper Sky by Gilly Macmillan although that book had a name change since I inhaled it. It's now known as What She Knew. I'm so grateful to this book as it's opened me up to a whole new genre, I read and adored The Sister by Louise Jensen last year, I pre-ordered her second novel the Gift in July.

So back to Little Sister, Isabel really does have you as a reader on your toes from the get go. Although as much as I was hooked at times I was unsure who was speaking as there is Jess and Emily's voices and then the incident when the child goes missing happens although we are left just as clueless as poor Jess.

I love the fact that you end up second guessing characters really early on. The Netgalley snippet is three chapters but if I'm honest it feels like you have read less. I don't think Jess is guilty but seeing as she's told lies and has memory loss it's really not helping her case. Emily is the one I'm most interested in as I believe there's much more to her story.....

I need more now......

Thank you for sending me the sample of Little Sister by Isabel Ashdown.
I found the start a little confusing and couldn't work out exactly what was happening. That said, I couldn't put it down either! - and I didn't until I came to the end of the sample. A very mysterious start to the story, leaving the reader with lots of questions to what HAS gone on, and what exactly IS going on. In answer to your question - Love this extract? Or hate us for leaving you on a cliff-hanger, yes both so I hope it won't be long before I can continue.........

LITTLE SISTER (A SAMPLER: Prologue, Chapter one through three) BY ISABEL ASHDOWN

I received this small sampler from Net Galley, Isabel Ashdown and Orion Publishing Group Ltd. for reading and review. I really liked this dark atmospheric teaser of Little Sister, by Isabel Ashdown. I am a little unsure of whose voice is speaking in the Prologue. Chapter One is in Jessica's point of view. Chapter 2 is from Emily's point of view. Lastly, Chapter 3 is told from Jessica's point of view.

It is New Years Eve at approximately 7:00 P.M. with Emily and her husband James going out and giving explicit instructions not to remove baby Daisy from where she had put down for the night. James told Jessica to just pop her head in every so often. Jessica is watching television at around 1:00 A.M. she thinks she heard Daisy cry out, although she remembers James words not to go to Daisy, to let her drop off on her own. But, its 1:00 A.M. Jessica isn't sure because she has episodes, due to her heart, when she loses time. She thinks she took Daisy out of the crib and placed her in her high chair, while she made a turkey sandwich, which she threw in the dog's dish. Jessica is not sure. And neither am I because these incidents are moving back and forth in time. Jessica thinks she took Daisy from the crib and she heard tires on gravel. Her next thought is the headlights from the car illuminated Daisy in blood soaked pajamas. Then Jessica faints in the Kitchen.

Jessica slowly becomes conscious, is offered a glass of water. Baby Daisy is gone, Emily is crying. DCI Jacobs is questioning Jessica as other people are milling about. She is told that she will be checked out by a paramedic, but DCI Jacobs thinks Jessica had a nose bleed. Then Jessica is barraged with a long list of questions.
"Where you alone all evening?"
"Did you hear or notice anything unusual?"
"Was the back door locked?"
"Are you certain.?"
"When did you last see your niece Chloe?"
"How old is she?"
"Do you get on well with your sister?"
"And your brother-in-law?"

Chapter 3 is from Jessica's Point of view. Chapter 2 was Emily's point of view about their mother's funereal and how both Jessica and Emily didn't like to go to church. How Emily slips an arm through Jessica's ending their sixteen year estrangement

In the last chapter as I have listed above the focus is back to Jessica where she is taken to the police station and her clothes are bagged, fingernails clipped. She is more or less questioned in the same manner. Jessica does not answer all of the question's truthfully.

This sampler just wasn't long enough! Hooked from page 1. My little brain is a bit confused as to what is going on but totally gripping. Can't wait to read the book.

This is a review of the sampler that I received from Netgalley. I don't usually start books when I know I can't finish then as doing this really does my head in, but I do love this author's work so I just couldn't help myself. On the face of reading just the first few chapters of this book I am totally hooked and can't wait to get back to it and find out what happens.
Sisters Jessica and Emily have been reunited and Jessica has moved in with her sister's family, predominantly to look after baby Daisy. It is obvious that there is something between the two sisters, something that happened in their past. (Can't wait to find out what!) One night, Emily and her husband go out, leaving Jess babysitting Daisy. They arrive home in the wee hours to find Daisy missing and Jess covered in blood. Whose blood? What has happened? Why can't Jess explain?
From the few chapters that I devoured, I really want to know more. Certain things have already been hinted at, whetting my appetite to know more. Wanting to know more about these characters that, even though we had only just met, I found myself interested getting to know further.
I know there are a bunch of book about at the moment that feature unreliable narrators but, from what little I have read, I think this will stand out. Hope so. Can't wait to find out...

I gave this four stars because it is a sample of the book. It was enought to peak my interest and make me want the book but because I an unable to read the entire book I can not give a full review. I will purchase the book because I want to know the ending. Once completed I will give a full review. If the book holds up to the sampler this will not be a book to pass up.

From Twitter:

Just read 3 chap sample of @IsabelAshdown's #LittleSisterBook & if @TrapezeBooks don't send me the rest of the book by midnight I'll .../
...be forced to assemble a crack team of ex SAS soldiers to break in to @TrapezeBooks & steal the hard drive! #unputdownable #LittleSister

Two paragraphs in and I knew I was doomed - didn't move until I'd finished the three chapter sample and now I'm bursting to read the rest of the novel to find out more of Jess and Emily and what's happened to baby Daisy. Please send help!

I loved this sample and can't wait to read the rest of the book.

I would love to review the full book, but since I received a smaller, all I can say is that what I read was intriguing and very well written! Can't wait to read the rest!

For the three chapters that I read, I know that I want more of this book and eagerly await its release date! Well written and looking forward to more! 5 stars so far.