Found thus a little slow to start with, read a few chapters and then didn't come back yo it for about a month but once I did I was hooked. Never saw what was coming and not sure I like the ending but it was a great read.

This is such a twisty book. It is dark and intense.
This book caused me every emotion possible and some more.
A scary read

Well that was a thriller and a half. Thank you so much for the advanced copy which I wish I had read sooner - totally took my breath away and read it in two sittings

Having stepsisters, and half brothers myself, I could identify with the difficult family dynamics this causes anyone involved. Imagine then finding out that you have some of those, and they have been living the life you always wanted. Makes for a thrilling read, and entertaining until the end.

Eleanor has lost the one person in her life she could rely on twice. First her dad died shortly after they have a row but then the row is about him not being her dad. Cue huge amounts of guilt!! But through the guilt, Eleanor finds she has a sister, one who has it all!!

As the story went on, Eleanor unnerved me. She became someone to watch more carefully. Bullied and controlled by her nearest (not dearest) forever. Confidence at rock bottom but there is something about this woman that needed to be watched. Some of her actions she may have justified as a means to an end but I wasn’t so sure.

Sister Dear is a bit of a slow burner to start with but as I delved deeper into the complex web Eleanor wove around her, the pace picked up. But then McKinnon started throwing curve ball after curve ball at me which I didn’t see coming in the slightest. Uff what an unanticipated climax to what seemed to be a story I’d got sewn up in my own mind! This thriller is not one to be taken lightly!

Wow, I finished this last night and I'm still catching my breath. Great twists and a plot that keeps you guessing. Really clever ending.

Usually absolutely adore thrillers like this but the problem I had with this one was that Eleanor was so very unlikeable

For any of the scenarios and twists (of which there were far too many) to work...you would need to be rooting for Eleanor...and I just wasn't at all.

She loved her dad. Why go looking for another one before his funeral? Lewis is amazing...what is she doing? It was so frustrating....I usually connect with grief and hers just didn't feel real to me at all. I just wanted to shake her.

I did read this quickly and the twists were good but less impact full for me because of the above.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Eleanor’s dad is dying she overhears him and her mother arguing and learns that her dad isn’t her biological father. Over-ridden with grief at losing her dad, she finds her biological father and introduces herself but he is not remotely interested in having her in his life.


Eleanor learns that she has a half-sister, a woman her age who has every luxury and opportunity. Eleanor decides that this should have been her and starts to stalk her sister before embedding herself in her life.


This book was incredible with a twist that I didn’t see coming and parts of this book infuriated me for all the right reasons. There is a character in this book that I absolutely despise and it takes a lot of skill as an author to be able to generate such strong emotions in a reader.


If you enjoy a good mystery/thriller, then this is the book for you!

This story felt unbelievably realistic, and it's unfortunately what lead me to not love this book. There were so many points where I had wished that I had put it down, and the ending didn't leave me satisfied at all. I really enjoy familial relationships in books, which was my reason for requesting this book, but it unfortunately just fell flat for me.
I didn't enjoy being in this character's head, which is really rare for me to say.
I don't think that I am the target audience for this book, as I know there are so many thriller readers out there that will love this book!

This book was very surprising - sisters should be close but not where Eleanor's sister is concerned. Eleanor is grieving her father's illness, but her half sister Victoria is your typical sister-villain; and this book plays out a bit like a movie.

It will keep you interested!

This had me on the edge of my seat! A really dark, twisty and turny thriller, that's based upon a really messed up family, with some seriously awful (but in the best way!) characters, I can thoroughly recommend this book. I just wish I had read it sooner! Also, as all good thrillers do, this has a twist you won't see coming!

The premise of this thriller was very good I though. It had so much scope and started off very well with the reader feeling a great depth of sorry for Eleanor upon learning the truth about her parentage. The story didn't take long to lose its credibility however and became a little farcical to be honest. I did read to the end, out of curiosity rather than enjoyment I must admit. It wasn't one I'd rush to read again in a hurry though.

Eleanor Hardwicke receives a terrible shock when her beloved dad dies - she discovers that he's not her biological father. She then learns that she has a half-sister - Victoria. So begins a tale of jealousy, betrayal and greed...

Sister Dear was so dark and twisted and I really struggled to put it down between chapters! Hannah Mary McKinnon's characters were beautifully fleshed out and all were totally credible in their portrayal. Tense in parts and highly emotional in others it was the ending that really stood out for me, as Eleanor was drawn into a spider's web of deceit and lies. Well worth a look. 😁

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hodder and Stoughton via NetGalley and this is my own unbiased opinion.

I really enjoyed this book and finished it in two sittings. The story flowed well at a good pace and was packed with great characters. Brilliant twist towards the end that I hadn't guessed. My only negative is that I felt the story had more to give..............or is it leading to a sequel??

Now this is most definitely worth a read! Dark, twisty, fast paced.. it has it all! A Womens Fiction with a twisty Thriller ending.

What really pleased me was how it had me hooked from the very beginning.

The first half of the book is fantastic, drawing you in and building up the characters with emotional topics that really help you become connected to the characters.

Told in the narrative of the here and now it then flits back to the past leading you to the reference given at the beginning of the book.

The twist at the end was good (even though I'd guessed) but I think it would have been better if the 'clues' hadnt been given at the start.

The downside for me personally was the predictability. It was predictable pretty much the whole way through which was a tad disappointing in all honesty. Every prediction I made came to fruition, I'm usually quite good at guessing the ending but it was a bit annoying go guess what's going on throughout.

Overall a really good binge read that's jam packed with twists, you won't be able to put down!

3.5*

Thanks to netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.

A great, twisty thriller!

Upon his death Eleanor discovers that the man she thought was her biological wasn't. Her biological father turns out to be a very rich and powerful man and she discovers she has a half sister, Victoria, who has everything Eleanor doesn't . Eleanor then sets out to become part of Victoria's life...

This is a gripping novel which is a bit dark and has an ending I didn't see coming!

A twisty book about sisters, half-sisters to be precise, who met for the first time where one wanted what the other had.
My first book by this author, I loved how the first part lulled me into a safe zone where relationships were getting forged. Then I reached the last third if the book where intensity and pace of the book shot up with twists and excitement rolling over me leaving me all flabbergasted at the way the author could turn the book around.

Overall, a fun twisty read. I love it when characters have secrets.

Wow what a book. This one had me reading into the small hours as I couldn't put it down. It got better with every turn. There are so many twists in this book it will have you constantly wondering just who is the innocent party.
Eleanor Hardwicke is visiting her father in a hospice when she by chance hears a conversation he is having with her estranged mother. The upshot is she finds out he is not her biological daughter. Following his death she sets about discovering who her real father is. He's a successful man Stan Gallinger. He also has a beautiful daughter Victoria. The same age as her. She see's her sister having the life she could only dream off.
Eleanor then sets about using her job to enter the Gallinger's world. However, is this life as perfect as it seems.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review

Prepare for a twist you WON'T see coming...

I absolutely love Hannah Mary McKinnon's writing style and exploration of dysfunctional families. I found The Neighbours impossible to put down and felt exactly the same with Sister Dear.

Lingering outside her father's door hours before his death, Eleanor makes a shocking discovery: he isn't her biological father. Distraught and untethered from everything she thought was real, Eleanor pushes her grief aside and starts looking into her real father's family where she discovers her flawless half-sister, Victoria.

Desperate for that familial love, Eleanor ingratiates herself into Victoria's life without disclosing her real identity. They build a strong friendship and Eleanor finally feels accepted. That is until she discovers that Victoria's life isn't as picture-perfect as it seems. In fact, Victoria is in danger. And it's up to Eleanor to save her.

I absolutely devoured this novel and couldn't reach the end fast enough. It had really strong character-building, a fast pace, a build-up of tension and then a huge twist about 90% in. The author did an incredible job of getting the reader to put their trust in the characters. This made the reveal even more shocking and unexpected. Her characters felt authentic and I especially connected to Eleanor and longed for her happiness. The ending was everything I didn't expect but in the best possible way. I love how the author didn't just tie things up in a happy little bubble. It added to the realism and gave the overall novel a really dark edge. I can't praise it enough!

4.5 stars

Everything is slipping through Eleanor Hardwicke's fingers. When her beloved father dies, her world is further shattered by a gut-wrenching secret: the man she's grieving isn't really her dad. Eleanor was the product of an affair, and her biological father is still out there, living blissfully with the family he chose. With her personal life spiraling, a desperate Eleanor seeks him out, leading her to uncover another branch on her family tree--an infuriatingly enviable half sister. Perfectly perfect Victoria has everything Eleanor could ever dream of. Loving childhood, luxury home, devoted husband. All of it stolen from Eleanor, who deserves it just as much. Now she plans to take it back. After all, good sisters are supposed to share. And quiet, docile little Eleanor has been waiting far too long for her turn to play.

Oof! This is one of those domestic thrillers that seem much the same as any other, but boy how wrong was I. It's addictive and compulsive from the off and twists one way and then another as secrets, lies, deceit, betrayal and so much more comes to the fore. Hannah Mary McKinnon has well and truly impressed me after the synopsis and cover lulled me into a false sense of security and had me believing I knew where it was all heading. I know that usually people don't like being wrong about something, but this is honestly the best-case scenario when you're a crime or thriller reader so much so that I certainly wouldn't mind being wrong more often. Many thanks to Hodder for an ARC.