Thirty years ago a baby was snatched from a pram, and never traced. Her family still hope for her return, but if she did would it wreck the dynamic? Jeanette and Jim had three daughters, Alice now 36, Tasha, now 34, and Holly, now 30 – if she’s still alive! Jim is now dead but Jeanette still lives in the village of Chew Norton, as does Tasha who is now married to Aaron, a local car mechanic, and has twin girls aged three. Alice, a PhD Biochemist, is married to Kyle, a rich inventor, and their company is developing a new medical wonder-device. They live in a palatial mansion in London, but also have a Palazzo in Venice. Alice (and Kyle) has offered to look after Tasha’s house and children while Tasha and Aaron spend a week at the Venice property. This arrangement starts well (although they are nearly mugged so perhaps not all that well) but before it really gets going, Tasha receives a frantic call from her mother. There has been a break-in, Kyle has been murdered and Alice is in hospital with a head wound. They rush home, of course, where they find a cryptic message addressed to Tasha saying, “It was supposed to be you”, a mysterious blonde woman is spotted outside the house, and evidence is found suggesting that Holly might have been in the house at the time of the murder. Has the missing sister returned as a murderer bent on vengeance?
The underlying premise in this story is good (not totally original but rare) and the plot is quite twisty. However, it is not really twisty because of cleverly worded and concealed red herrings, rather the twists are more directive, i.e. the writer more or less points the way, especially when reporting on Tasha’s and Jeanette’s thoughts about Holly and her possible role in the murder, which get a bit repetitive and starts to feel like padding. The plot requires the sisters to have swapped places but the Venice section seems a bit superfluous – I think it is trying to provide a useful clue but failing. It isn’t too difficult to solve all but the last problem, although I think there is a forensics issue here. Overall, a pleasant enough read, keeps one’s interest but not very challenging. I give it 3.5 stars, so rounded to 4.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

It's been a while since I've really enjoyed a thriller but thankfully The Wrong Sister was just the ticket after a bad run. I was gripped from the outset. Although a little slower at certain parts, the plot generally held a good pace and I wasn't bored at any point. On the whole the book had a really great bunch of characters who were - for the most part - generally likeable. I thought it was a good mixture and choice of POVs which offered alternative view points although I think maybe we could have heard from Alice a little more. There are a few different storylines in the book but these weave together really nicely, although you do have to suspend belief that so much would happen to one family. There's a lot of neat twists and red herrings in this book which really add to both the suspense and distrust of the characters. I did guess one of the reveals but not until quite late in the book so didn't mind this at all. My only disappointment was (as others have no doubt mentioned) the event in Venice which we don't really get an explanation for. Overall a brilliant read and I'm excited for the authors next release.

Tasha and Harry, parents to twins are swapping lives with her wealthy, child-free sister, Alice and husband, Kyle for the weekend and celebrating their anniversary at Alice and Kyles apartment in Venice. While in Venice they encounter an stalking stranger in a dark alley way which scares them. However, back at home, a house intruder breaks in and Kyle is murdered and Alice brutally attacked.
Tasha and Harry dash home, relived their daughters are safe, but frantic over what’s happened.
Without revealing more plot detail, this psychological thriller is superb and completely compelling. The twists keep on rolling, tying up different aspects of the story, urging you to keep those pages turning. 5 stars as always to Claire Douglas

This is a slow-building thriller with lots of twists and turns. Two sisters with very different lives swap homes temporarily and tragedy strikes!

I think I worked some of it out fairly early but the author throw me off scent as the story unfurled and the subplot about the sisters' missing baby sister is equally intriging!

A captivating light read which draws you in and keeps you guessing until the end!

A really enjoyable book despite a slightly far-fetched plot. There were lots of twists and turns but the story progressed at a reasonable rate. Definitely recommended.

Claire Douglas is an auto buy for me so I was thrilled to receive this ARC.

The Wrong Sister has tension, twists, suspense and thrills. It kept me hooked and eager to see what happened next.

I really enjoyed this. A great, complex and twisty storyline. Believable characters. Tasha and Alice are sisters, Alice is the high flyer and Tasha a hardworking mum of twins holding down a job as a dental receptionist. Both have issues with their spouses, Alice and Kyle are working on a tech app that combines biometric testing with a toothbrush and are encountering setbacks. Tasha and Aaron have drifted apart since the arrival of their young twins. They swap lives for 5 minutes and chaos ensues. Add to this wonderfully tense story the twins grandmothers, a missing sister and more shocks and surpises and this kept me hooked to the last line. Absolutely loved it.

A brilliant thriller that keeps you turning the pages and guessing until the shocking ending. Lots of twists and turns and surprises. I loved this book!

Wrong sisters, messages in cities in two countries at the same time, confusing DNA, this book has it all and more. A really gripping thriller that won't let you go. Highly recommend.

A brilliant story that offers so many twists you start second guessing everyone! Well worth a read :-)

This was an okay read, but didn't quite hit the spot for me .I thought it lacked tension ,and was a bit flat .I hope other readers enjoy it more.

Tasha eagerly agrees to swap lives with her sister Alice for a holiday in Venice, seeking respite from her feelings of inadequacy. However, their vacation takes a dark turn when Tasha and her husband Aaron narrowly escape a dangerous incident. Upon returning home, they discover Alice and her husband Kyle have been attacked, resulting in Kyle's death. As tensions rise, an anonymous note further unsettles them, hinting at sinister motives.

The novel starts strong, setting an ominous tone with chilling incidents both in Venice and at home. The alternating perspectives provide depth, particularly through their mother Jeanette's eyes. Secrets unravel gradually, keeping readers engaged as they try to piece together the truth. While some twists feel a bit far-fetched, they add to the intrigue.

Despite occasional clunky writing and unnecessary details, the plot moves swiftly, with alternating viewpoints offering contrasting insights. However, unresolved elements, particularly from their time in Venice, leave lingering questions.

Overall, it's an easy, compelling read, perfect for summer beach days. Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Claire Douglas. I liked the storytelling even though the story seemed a little far fetched (I hope so anyway!). At the heart of the book is a a family and the story deals with some of their deepest secrets and issues.

There are some very dark themes throughout - a snatched baby, a couple of murders etc but I felt as though the writing was almost lighthearted. It lacked suspense and tension. I would describe it more as a mystery than a thriller. It would be a good holiday book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've read a couple of books by Claire Douglas and enjoyed them so was keen to read her latest title. It did not disappoint! The Wrong Sister is about a family whose youngest child was abducted as a baby then 30 years later tragedy strikes when an apparent break in goes wrong. It had me absolutely hooked from the start and the twists throughout the book were excellent. The family dynamics are really interesting and I loved the changes in narrator. The writing is 'to the point' and isn't overcomplicated with fluffy dialogue and unnecessary descriptions so it's easy to get absorbed in the story right from the start. I was sad when it ended as I enjoyed it so much! The Wrong Sister book is the best book I've read by this Claire Douglas but they've all been gripping and I'll be looking out for any others.

I'm not going to ramble on about this book. It is definitely the best I have read in a long time. I know we are all different when it comes to book tastes but this book has everything for me. I cannot think of a grumble anywhere and the ending is perfect. If you wok out what exactly happened then you are far better than I am!
I was very very lucky to be able to read/review this before release date so for any prospective readers only a month to wait!

This was a lot of twisty fun

I had no idea where this was going until the last minute so that was good! It did take a bit of time getting there and I felt the middle slowed it a bit but that's just a quibble

Nowt so queer as folk is there? Not if you take this lot into account.

I’ve read a few of this author’s novels now and she never disappoints, if possible they just get better and better.

Tasha and her husband go off on a romantic break leaving her sister Alice and her husband to look after their twin girls. Not long into their break, tragedy strikes back at home and they have to cut their trip short. Things are definitely not as straight forward as they first appear as the story starts to unfold.

I was constantly changing my mind about the who and why throughout this book. I would have one train of thought only for that to be blown apart as more things come to light. It had me second guessing everyone and then feeling guilty for thinking badly of certain characters. I loved the sisterly bond between the sisters as well as the background of the family which made the story even more intriguing.

With so many red herrings, secrets and lies, The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas was an unputdownable read that had me frantically turning the pages. The twists are so fantastically done that I could hardly contain the level of excitement it had me feeling. I just never know what to expect with this author’s books which makes the whole reading experience even more thrilling. A heart-pounding read!

An enjoyable, tightly-plotted story, if rather over-long. Clever ending. But ultimately, utterly forgettable!

Tasha and her husband, Aaron, jump at the chance to spend a week at her sister’s apartment in Venice. While they are away her sister, Alice, and her husband have offered not only to house-sit but to look after their twin daughters too. Things take an ominous turn on the second night in Venice when they are almost mugged. A phone call reveals that things back at home is even worse.

Author Claire Douglas has packed The Wrong Sister with so many twists and turns that you really cannot second-guess what is happening. From the ominous opening page indicating that someone is watching and is about to take away everything you’ve taken for granted there is a sense of unease. The description of red hair means you know that the person being watched is either Tasha or her high-flying sister, Alice.

As we meet the sisters and learn a little about their lives I immediately jumped to conclusions. Tasha still lives in the village she grew up in, married her teenage boyfriend and is now the mother of two-year-old twins. Tasha can’t help but be a little bit jealous of her older sister who lives in London, has a high-paying job, a beautiful house and a handsome husband, Kyle. It was Tasha’s slight fixation on Kyle that had me thinking this was going to turn into Tasha trying to get Kyle for herself. How wrong I was.

The main plot line happens quickly, and I’m glad it did because I liked the characters of Tasha and Aaron. The couple came across as real people, struggling to figure out how to rekindle the spark that has been extinguished by the arrival of their children. It’s obvious they still love each other but they’re stuck in a rut, particularly Aaron, and simply too exhausted each day to address the issue. Alice and Kyle are also likeable characters. Arriving in a McLaren sports car it’s obvious they have wealth but they don’t try to show off or look down on Tasha and her family. Despite their vastly different lifestyles the sisters share a close bond.

The near mugging in Venice is just the start of the nightmare for the sisters. During what appears to be an attempted burglary Kyle is killed and Alice is assaulted. Rushing home Tasha then receives an anonymous note saying it should have been her that was attacked. Is this a threat, or a warning?

Absolutely everyone becomes a suspect, you doubt the motivation of even the nicest people. It’s almost as if you are watching over your shoulder as you read, waiting for the next blow to fall. This is made even more complex when we discover that Tasha and Alice had a baby sister who was abducted thirty years ago and never found.

Another murder in the small village has you wondering how all the events are connected, or are some of them simply coincidental. As a new narrator is introduced some of the individual pieces begin to fit together and a picture of what happened begins to take shape, but you are still left with an unsettled feeling that everything isn’t as it seems. Claire Douglas has done a fantastic job weaving all the different plots together, however, I felt unsatisfied by the ambiguous ending.

Wow what a book. This is a dark tale about a family already torn apart by tragedy after their sister was snatched as a child now they are facing the brutal attack and murder on one of the sisters and her husband. This is a really dark tale with a good twist at the end and I couldn’t put it down.,