As always with Joanne Ryan's books I was hooked immediately and the suspense / tension kept me reading.

The Sister-in-Law by Joanne Ryan
Would you invite a stranger into your home?
When Megan loses her beloved husband in a tragic car accident, she feels as though her own life has come to an end. At such a young age, she struggles with the reality of being a widow. Walking through the house they once shared, everything feels different without him; the silence is overwhelming.
At his funeral, she encounters someone she does not recognize. A heavily pregnant young woman introduces herself as Emily, her husband's estranged sister. Emily explains that she has been searching for her brother for years, but now, as she bursts into loud sobs, she realizes that she is too late.
Megan, feeling compassion for the sister-in-law she has never known, begins to welcome Emily into her life. Emily soon moves into the spare room in Megan's house, bringing a sense of companionship that makes the place feel less empty—at least for a while.
As time passes, Megan begins to doubt if she can truly trust a stranger, even if that stranger is family.
Another compelling, well-written thriller comes from the author of The Double, One Night and Don't Let Her In.
Joanne Ryan has penned another complex, captivating, and emotional thriller that is genuinely unputdownable. It is filled with lies and deception, featuring numerous twists and turns, all set against a suspenseful atmosphere that permeates every page. The main characters, Megan and Emily, are well-developed, engaging, and realistic.
The story unfolds from Megan and Emily's perspectives, thoughts, and actions.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was impressed with the outcome. I highly recommend this book; it's well worth taking the time to read.
I want to thank publishers Boldwood Books, author Joanne Ryan and Rachel's Random Resources for providing a copy to read and review.

The story starts with a fatal accident and we’re quickly introduced to recently widowed Megan and her pregnant, estranged sister-in-law Emily, bonded by grief. But is all as it seems?

I enjoyed this book. The well thought out characters and unique plot kept me turning the pages. The one-liners Keith shot at Emily made me howl.

A compulsive and addictive read. I stayed up late into the night to finish it.

An act of kindness puts Megan into mortal danger in this compulsive readable thriller by Joanne Ryan, The Sister-in-Law.

The bottom had fallen out of Megan’s world when her husband died in a tragic car accident. Far too young to be a widow, Megan feels alone and as if her life has ended along with her husband. The house echoes with the silence and absence of the man she loved with all of her heart. At her lowest, Megan doesn’t know how she can go on without her husband, so when she meets Emily at his funeral, she feels as if she has found a friend just when she needs one most.

Emily was Megan’s husband long-lost sister who had been searching for him for so long. Although it’s too late for Emily to reconnect with her brother, Megan cannot help but be moved by her plight and taking pity on her invites her to move into her house and to become a part of her life. However, has Megan been too hasty in inviting a virtual stranger to live with her? Can she trust Emily? And is Emily who she says she is?

Who has Megan let into her home? And will she live to regret letting Emily in?

Joanne Ryan sure knows how to chill her readers to the bone with her thrillers and The Sister-in-Law is a creepy, terrifying and tension-filled read I struggled to put down. Tightly-plotted, propulsive and twisted, The Sister-in-Law by Joanne Ryan will keep readers desperately turning the pages late into the night!

I spent the first part of the book outraged on behalf of Megan.
I thought she was very naive and gullible and way too trusting.
Emily was a nasty piece of work and I couldn’t wait for her to get what she had coming.
Keith was skeevy and creepy.
But my outrage turned to laughter as I realized the clever characters was outfoxed by an even more clever person.
I did enjoy the insults Keith fired at Emily.

This book is interesting. There are two POVs in this story, and I think you can guess who one of the characters is. We meet Megan, our FMC, and she tragically loses her husband in an accident that she was a part of. She continues to struggle with his loss. However, a stranger shows up at his funeral claiming to be his sister. Once you read the book, you'll understand why Megan takes to liking Emily. Emily brings her comfort when she needs it the most. She soon realizes that it might've all been a huge mistake. This was a nice slow thriller, and it definitely hits a twist that I wasn't sure I was expecting. I'm not sure that I would've figured it out on my own midway. The plot was good, and for the most part, this book had good bones when it comes to a psychological thriller. However, there was a point that it felt a bit repetitive, but that was fine; it didn't bother me so much. I would definitely pick up another book written by this author.

I absolutely flew through this book. Megan and Emily are the main characters and each tells their POV. Megan is grieving after the death of her husband when Emily shows up claiming to be his sister. Emily is an entitled girl and is so easy to hate. She thinks she deserves more than she has and is very self centered. The book is very weak written and I felt as if I was in the house with Emily and Megan. When you read the twist you will be blown away. A highly enjoyable read!

My fourth eagerly anticipated read from the pen of Ryan didn't disappoint in the slightest.

It's a fast paced, addictive page turner thats told from various POV, with questionable narrators and a layer of deception adding to the foreboding suspense.

Brilliant plot, twisty and suspenseful in all the right places, with a cast of fantastic characters and an unexpected ending.

An enjoyable and engaging read.

A quick read that was thrilling with a twist that you will never see coming! I enjoyed this book from start to finish and completed it in a day!

Megan Fordham, 28, wakes up in a hospital and learns that she and her husband, Rick, were in a car accident. Their car went off the road into a river and he died. They had been fighting for control of the steering wheel.

Megan’s mother had died a year or so before and she and Rick lived in her mother’s huge home. She and her mother had been very close and losing her had been quite traumatic for Megan. Her mother’s best friend, Elaine, took her under her wing and helped her plan the funeral and cared for her. Megan likes Elaine but does not like the woman’s husband, Keith.

At the funeral, a young pregnant girl introduces herself to Megan saying she is Emily, Rick’s younger sister. They had not seen one another in years and when Emily learned of Rick’s passing, she had to attend the funeral. Megan sits with her for a while to get to know the girl. After a few meetings, Megan learns that Emily’s boyfriend has been abusive to her and with little money she is afraid to go back home. Megan invites her to stay in her home.

Oh, what a twisty novel! With the dual points of view by Megan and Emily, we see how devious Emily is and what a nasty piece of work she is too. Oh, but as the book barreled to the end, I was really surprised at the conclusion. Wow! Some people are really ruthless. Enjoy!!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"The Sister-in-Law" by Joanne Ryan is a gripping psychological thriller that will have you hooked from the very first page. The story follows Megan, who is struggling to cope with the loss of her husband when a stranger appears at his funeral claiming to be his estranged sister. As Megan welcomes this woman into her life, she soon realizes that she may have made a terrible mistake. The author weaves a tale of suspense, with twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of surprises. The ending is fantastic and ties everything together and it was NOT what I was expecting.

I enjoyed reading this novel. Megan has been in a car accident and is in hospital. Her husband Rick is dead but she can’t remember what happened. When his estranged sister turns up Megan lets her move in. Lots of twists and turns that keep you interested.

This was an intriguing, twisty read. I always like dual pov stories and this one was cleverly related. Great twist at the end. I didn't see that coming.

This was a fast-paced read with an intriguing premise, but the execution left me frustrated at times. The dual POV kept things moving, though the overlapping perspectives made some sections feel repetitive, almost like I had accidentally reread a chapter. Emily’s overwhelming sense of entitlement was downright infuriating, making her a character I did not like, though it did keep me engaged. Despite its flaws, this is a solid pick for those new to the genre or anyone looking for a quick, suspenseful read in a single sitting.

Megan loses her husband in a tragic accident at the start of this book… she encounters her estranged sister in law at the funeral, whom she has never met before. But of course everything is not as it seems. This was a fun, fast paced thriller that left me bewildered at some parts. I really enjoyed the plot twists and the character development, and I really was not expecting where it headed at all.

Highly recommend!

Megan just lost her husband Ricky in a fatal car accident which she survived. At the funeral, she meets a pregnant woman who tells her she is her late husband's sister Emily. Emily tells her she is getting out of an abusive relationship and needs a place to stay till she gets back on her feet. Shen moves in and quickly takes advantage of Megan by using her credit cards with abandon. Megan seems oblivious to all that is going on around her house. But in this book, nothing is like it appears. Joanne Ryan slowly eases you into the story and then throws plot twists left and right leaving you speechless. I recommend this for fans of British Psychological Thrillers.

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving a copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

The Sister-in-Law
by Joanne Ryan
Pub Date: Jan 27 2025

The Sister-in-Law is a quick and easy read at only 256 pages. The story begins with a tragic car accident, Megan survives but her husband, Rick doesn't. At the funeral Megan sees Emily, Rick’s estranged sister. The story centers on Megan and Emily and is told in alternating POVs.

It's an entertaining read, at times it get's a little crazy! There were some unexpected twists I did not seem coming. All in all I found it a psychological thriller that was hard to put down once I started it!

Many thanks to #TheSisterinLaw #NetGalley and #Boldwoodbooks for providing me with an E-ARC of this psychological thriller!

This is a gripping and emotional thriller that will resonate with readers who enjoy complex family dynamics, the exploration of grief and loss, and the blurred lines between trust and deception, making it a perfect fit for fans of psychological suspense and domestic thrillers.

Joanne Ryan’s The Sister-in-Law is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into grief, trust, and the unsettling feeling that nothing is quite as it seems. When Megan loses her husband, Rick, in a tragic car accident, she is left devastated and adrift in a home that suddenly feels cold and empty. But her sorrow takes an unexpected turn at Rick’s funeral when she meets Emily—a pregnant young woman claiming to be his long-lost sister.

At first, Emily’s presence offers Megan a sense of comfort and connection to the husband she loved so deeply. As she welcomes Emily into her life—and even into her home—Megan begins to feel a glimmer of solace. But as time goes on, unsettling questions creep in. Who is Emily, really? Why did Rick never mention her? And why does Megan feel like she’s losing control of her own life?

Ryan masterfully builds tension, keeping readers hooked with Megan’s increasing paranoia and the slow, chilling realization that Emily might not be who she claims to be. The novel expertly balances Megan’s emotional vulnerability with the creeping sense of dread that permeates every interaction between the two women. As Megan unravels the layers of deception, the story takes unexpected twists that will leave readers questioning everyone’s motives until the very end.

The psychological depth of Megan’s grief and loneliness makes her a relatable and sympathetic protagonist, while Emily’s enigmatic presence adds an intriguing and unsettling dynamic to the story. The book’s pacing is steady, with a gradual escalation of suspense that keeps the pages turning, culminating in a shocking climax that ties everything together in a satisfying yet haunting way.

Overall, The Sister-in-Law is a compelling and atmospheric thriller that explores the vulnerabilities of grief and the dangers of misplaced trust. Fans of psychological suspense and domestic thrillers will find themselves captivated by this eerie and emotional tale of secrets, lies, and the lengths people go to in order to belong.

Megan wakes up in hospital, not recalling how only she escaped when the car she and husband Rick were in veered into a swollen river. At Rick’s funeral, his estranged sister Emily shows up, who Megan has never met before.
Pregnant and fleeing an abusive relationship up north, Emily is invited to stay with Megan until she finds her feet. But it seems Emily isn’t who she says she is.
I raced through this book in one night, desperate to get to its resolution. It’s the ideal book for when you’re looking for a story to immerse yourself in and I’ll be keeping an eye out for the author’s other titles.