Member Reviews

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Shalini Boland has become one of my favorite mystery and suspense authors. The twists that come at the end of her books are fabulous and I wait for them each time. Of course, I try to guess the ending, but Boland really gets me super engaged in her storylines. I loved The Silent Sister. Lizzy Beresford finds a letter in the floorboards of her cottage one day addressed to her. It looks old, however, it is dated the day that she receives it. More letters follow and she thinks that it's a bartender who has a crush on her. Even after he is spoken to, she continues to receive letters and is even pushed by the person into the middle of the street. She realizes it's a girl with red hair much like her sister Emma's who she had a falling out a while back. The falling out had to do with Joe (Lizzy's boyfriend) hitting on Emma. Or was it the other way around? This book leads you to believe that the culprit is obvious. Until it isn't. There are several key characters in this book as well as the smaller supporting characters. The way that Boland writes, all of the characters are easy to remember because she connects them to the main character. The ending has a great twist, but just like those movies where mystery scenes are played while the credits are rolling, you'll want to read this book until the very end. Boland throws in a little surprise that left me with a "WHOA!". Another fantastic read by Shalini Boland.
Thank you to Netgalley, Shalini Boland, and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The Silent Sister is the latest Shalini Boland novel and I absolutely loved it. Started it Saturday evening and spent a very enjoyable Sunday finishing it.

When Lizzy Beresford discovers a threatening letter addressed to her it chills her to the bone. She has no idea who sent it but suddenly her quiet life in a small village is shaken. She’s never made any enemies except her sister, Emma who she’s not spoken to in years. Not since the argument but surely it wouldn’t be her sending the letters. As more messages arrive, Lizzy starts to doubt every one around her.

This book is an absolute thriller that I couldn’t put down. You find yourself turning the pages with an eagerness to see how the story unfolds. As the novel progresses you find yourself accusing every character plus there’s some excellent twists and turns.

I’ve always been a fan of Shalini’s books but this is her best to date. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

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Oh. My. Word! This book was a fast-paced, quick read that kept me on my toes from the first page. I’ve read a lot of thrillers lately and most of the time I can somewhat decode the mystery before the end, but this one stumped me until the very end.

Lizzy begins to receive “stalker” letters and cannot seem to determine where they are coming from. She begins to doubt her feelings about everyone she comes into contact with, even those closest to her. In the end, this mystery unravels brilliantly!

If you enjoy a great thriller that will keep you guessing, this book is for you!

*Copy received by NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

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OMG, this book gave me the creeps all the way through. I won't say it was bloodcurdling but there was always that feeling of fear and suspicion that kept me captivated and on edge. The feeling that you can't really trust anybody is enough to make you feel paranoid.
It's so nice to have a sister, especially one you can depend on, but suddenly, due to one stupid mistake, the relationship is broken beyond repair. When threatening things start to happen, Lizzy realizes it's time to face the music. And, boy oh boy, she never saw this coming ...

This is the first book I read from this author and I have to say it was enthraling. I love the writing style and I love the way the twist in the epilogue rocked your world once again.
When an author succeeds in making you freeze when you hear something outside while reading her story, I can only say that she accomplished her mission.

Thank you Shalini Boland, Bookouture and Netgalley

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Shalini Bolan's is a fantastic writer and I always jump at the chance to read her books. I really enjoyed The Silent Sister, it kept me awake late even though vowing to read just one more chapter. It was a very fast paced read that will suck you in.

Lizzie is living a great life in a lovely village with her boyfriend. That is until she starts to receive strange letters that clearly show her that she is being watched... she has a stalker. Things start to happen to her and around her and she gets the police involved. Who could it be? She starts to suspect everybody in her life, even reaching out to her sister Emma who she has not spoken to for 5 years.

If you like a book that you will not want to put down then this one is for you. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are not biased in anyway.

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I found this book to be interesting at first, with a dark and foreboding underlying feeling throughout the story. I was curious as to where the story would go, and although I thought the protagonist, Lizzy, was a little annoying character-wise, however some of the decisions she made (work-wise and in her personal life) really made her start to grow on me.

As the story progressed, the tension began to build... unfortunately it led to a very abrupt and predictable ending, with an epilogue scene that didn't do anything for me at all (except make me dislike Emma, Lizzy's sister, even more - her character was really stereotypical).

All in all this wasn't a bad book and it was a quick read - but the climactic portions were just not very exciting and it was pretty obvious what was going to happen.

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Lizzy finds a hand written letter addressed to her. She opens it to discover that it is from someone that is watching her. She receives more letters and each one is getting more threatening. There is a break-in at the shop that she manages and a note left there, a note left in her car, and the spy camera she had her boyfriend install on the patio is missing. She is being watched! Could it be her boyfriend Joe, her sister Emma whom she had a falling out with years ago, her neighbour's boyfriend, or her friend Pippa's brother Seb? The police can't find any trace of evidence from the letters, no fingerprints, whoever is doing this knows what they are doing. When she is pushed in front of a car, she is sure she saw her sister running from the scene. Could her sister still be that angry at her that she would try and kill her?

WOW! This is a great read. The characters are likeable, especially Lizzy. I liked her, she was strong willed, stubborn and funny. All the characters are written well, and flow nicely within the story. It is an easy book to read, well written and I noticed no grammatical or spelling errors. The book gets you sucked in very quickly and I found myself reading late into the night as it was very hard to put down. This is only ever a good thing (except in the morning). If you like a good who-dun-it, a book that is un-put-a-downable and an ending that will leave you speechless you are going to love this book.

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The Silent Sister by Shalini Boland

Lizzy receives creepy messages and she suspects it could be her sister Emma, who she has been estranged from because her boyfriend Joe claimed that Emma tried to pick him up at the local bar. Emma denies that she came onto Joe. Lizzy also thinks it could be George, her boss and owner of the boutique where she is the manager. She has the feeling of being watched, but when she looks around there is nobody there.

This has a lot of twisty turns like the typical psychological thriller that writers seem to use the same template. Lizzy starts to suspect everyone. I thought the pace was fast, but I was able to guess who the perpetrator was. This would make a good beach read. I enjoyed it and would read more from this author.

Thank you to Net Galley, Shalini Boland and Bookouture for my ARC.

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If you’re a fan of BA Paris I would pick this up! It has a vibe like Bring Me Back! The main character receives notes that leave her unsettled and we are left with a suspenseful mystery that is brilliantly plotted and fast paced!

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The Silent Sister by Shalini Boland is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Synopsis:
Lizzy Beresford lives in a small cottage in a quiet town with her boyfriend. When she receives a strange note from an unknown source, she freaks a little. When she gets more, she gets the police involved. While the notes aren’t actually threatening, she knows she is being watched.

As her paranoia increases, Lizzy starts to doubt everyone around her. Could one of her “friends” be responsible? Joe Lawrence, Lizzy’s over-protective boyfriend borders on being a control freak. Leon Whittaker, who had a run-in with Joe a little while ago, still wants a chance with Lizzy. Pippa, her best friend, may be stealing from their employer. Pippa’s brother seems shy, but is he? Her boss, George, relies on Lizzy, and rents her the cottage, but does he have a key? Her neighbours are a little “out-there”. Then there is her sister Emma. Lizzy and Emma do not speak to one another, not since Emma tried to take Lizzy’s boyfriend. But did she?

As the threats start to escalate, her only choice will be to confront Emma.

My Opinions:
Well, at first I wasn’t really enjoying the writing. Even with short chapters, it sort of dragged. The characters seemed a little shallow, and I didn’t really find myself liking too many of them, including Lizzy.

Then the plot took over, and every concern I had disappeared. This was more than a book about stalking. This was a book about family. It ended up to be a very pleasant, fast read, with enough suspense to keep you turning the pages. I love trying to figure out who the bad guy is….and this time, although I had an inkling, I couldn’t figure out the motive. That was good, so I loved the ending. Then, the epilogue had another twist (although I didn’t like it). Boland keeps you guessing!

Looking forward to more from this author.

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Lizzy is living a quiet and content life with her boyfriend in a cute cottage and works as a manager in a job she likes when she begins receiving unsettling notes that leaves her to believe she has a stalker. When things turn physical and the police are of no help Lizzy takes matters in her own hands to try and find out the identity of her dangerous stalker. A good, fast-paced psychological thriller with a few good twists to keep things really interesting!

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This book was not what I expected it to be. It was absolutely brilliant!!! For me the author has a way of grabbing you and keeping you on your toes with the twists and turns. Overall a gripping read .and WOW what an ending.

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Well written and good storyline. There are many characters of interest in this book and they all have their own story. Looking forward to reading more books from Shaloni Boland

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This is a fast paced story that gripped me from the start. I was unsure who to trust, then just as all was explained ................ the epilogue .....................WOW !!!!! Absolutely brilliant.

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I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Silent Sister’ written by Shalini Boland in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Lizzy Beresford finds tucked between the floorboards in her house a letter saying “Dearest Lizzy, you’re my only obsession”. Following further letters and a message left in the changing room of Georgio’s, an upmarket fashion shop that Lizzy manages, she contacts the police. The police officer takes away the letters but is unable to discover who’s sending them. Lizzy suspects several people, including boyfriend Joe and her sister Emma who she fell out with five years ago, and she’s scared to go out alone as she feels her life is at risk.
‘The Silent Sister’ is a gripping psychological thriller that had me captivated from page one. The plot was fast-paced, with several dubious suspects any one of whom could be the perpetrator, surprising twists and turns, and an ending so astonishing I was left open-mouthed with shock. An enjoyable unmissable novel!

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Shalini Boland is a new (to me!) writer whose novel, The Child Next Door, captivated me and kept me in its clutches until the last page. So naturally, I MUST read The Silent Sister! When the cover describes it as a psychological thriller, then I know I have to get my little hands on it!

This has all of the ingredients for an A+ thrill ride. Check it out:

When Lizzy Beresford discovers a threatening letter addressed to her, the words on the old, tattered paper chill her to the bone. But who sent it? Living in pretty cottage in a quiet country village, Lizzy’s never made any enemies in her life…

Except her sister.

Lizzy hasn’t spoken to Emma in years. Not since the argument which tore their relationship apart. Would her sister really want to cause her harm after all this time?

As Lizzy receives more disturbing messages, she begins to doubt those closest to her – her boyfriend, her best friend, her neighbours.

Because the mystery sender seems to know everything about her. And after a series of malicious incidents, it’s clear they won’t stop until they’ve destroyed her life.

Lizzy knows she must confront her sister. But can she trust her? And will she realise the shocking truth, before it’s too late?

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Shalini Boland has fast become one of my all time favourite authors. And her latest book did not leave me disappointed! As always a real roller coaster ride of a book that keeps you guessing throughout. Already looking forward to the next book!

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Not a bad book just a bit predictable, I didn’t enjoy this as much as her previous books. I couldn’t really get into the characters but maybe I’m just a bit hard to please now having read thousands of books

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*Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* Shalini Boland has crafted a book that is deliciously creepy. Set in the lovely British town of Malmsbury, all is not as it seems. Lizzy Beresford lives a happy existence, as a manager at a boutique in town and living with her boyfriend Joe and adorable cat, Frank. However, she starts receiving letters. Creepy letters, that appear in places where they should not be. Who could possibly be sending these? One-by-one, Lizzy's suspicions are turned on all of the men in her life. For fear of spoilers, I shall comment no more on the plot. As with Boland's previous books, there are a number of twists right near the end of the book. I powered through this book in just over a day, keen to know the outcome. A thoroughly engaging and enjoyable read.

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I'll be honest - I didn't connect with this book at first. It started out very brusque and abrupt, and I was a bit turned off. But then, around 20-25% of the way through, magic happened. I was drawn in, to the point where I stayed up until almost 1 AM to finish this book in one shot. And that epilogue?! WOAH!! DID NOT see that coming!! I'm giving it 4.5 stars - a half point taken away for the disconnect in the beginning, but rounded up to 5 thanks to that epilogue. I can't wait to read more by this author!

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC to review.

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