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cinta's review
3.0
The story and writing was all over the place, it's hard to follow sometimes, it has inconsistencies and plot holes, and it was just meh...
ljwrites85's review
3.0
Victoria’s life seems to be falling apart around her ears when she receives a letter telling her that she’s inherited a house from a stranger with her stepsister Ness. Uninterested she lets Ness go over to Holland to sort out the sale.
When she doesn’t hear from Ness for a while she’s not overly worried. Then she receives a text saying that she’s got married to a man named Manus Van Der Hook. Alarmed she ventures over to Holland only to find Ness is missing.
Staying in the house searching for her sister, strange things start happening. She’s in danger but from who? Can she find her sister before it’s too late?
So this is my first Jenny O’Brien novel and I believe the author’s first foray into psychological thrillers, having previously romances (for those who are fans of those books there is a bit of romance in this one too!).
‘I died yesterday, or so I’ve been told.’
Wow what a killer opening line! We start off in the present with a woman who doesn’t remember her name or how she ended up in a hospital in a foreign country. We’re then catapulted back in time to meet stepsister Victoria and Ness, who couldn’t be more different, Ness a lawyer, Victoria an artist.
Poor Victoria, abandoned at birth by her mother and adopted by a woman who didn’t have time for her, she hasn’t had the best of starts in life. Add to that her boyfriend of ten years dumps her for a younger woman! I just wanted to give her a great big hug.
An Honorary mention has to got to Nigel the dog, just because he’s a dog named Nigel!
I liked the setting of Holland, I don’t think I’ve actually read many books set there, or if they were it was focused on the slightly more unsavoury aspect of the country.
I have to be honest it’s written in the first person (not my favourite of POV’s) and I did find with hearing the character’s innermost thoughts, it did get a little rambly in places but of course that is just my opinion.
Overall The Stepsister is chock full of intrigue, suspense with a little hint of romance that will keep you enthralled until the very last page.
When she doesn’t hear from Ness for a while she’s not overly worried. Then she receives a text saying that she’s got married to a man named Manus Van Der Hook. Alarmed she ventures over to Holland only to find Ness is missing.
Staying in the house searching for her sister, strange things start happening. She’s in danger but from who? Can she find her sister before it’s too late?
So this is my first Jenny O’Brien novel and I believe the author’s first foray into psychological thrillers, having previously romances (for those who are fans of those books there is a bit of romance in this one too!).
‘I died yesterday, or so I’ve been told.’
Wow what a killer opening line! We start off in the present with a woman who doesn’t remember her name or how she ended up in a hospital in a foreign country. We’re then catapulted back in time to meet stepsister Victoria and Ness, who couldn’t be more different, Ness a lawyer, Victoria an artist.
Poor Victoria, abandoned at birth by her mother and adopted by a woman who didn’t have time for her, she hasn’t had the best of starts in life. Add to that her boyfriend of ten years dumps her for a younger woman! I just wanted to give her a great big hug.
An Honorary mention has to got to Nigel the dog, just because he’s a dog named Nigel!
I liked the setting of Holland, I don’t think I’ve actually read many books set there, or if they were it was focused on the slightly more unsavoury aspect of the country.
I have to be honest it’s written in the first person (not my favourite of POV’s) and I did find with hearing the character’s innermost thoughts, it did get a little rambly in places but of course that is just my opinion.
Overall The Stepsister is chock full of intrigue, suspense with a little hint of romance that will keep you enthralled until the very last page.
sarahs_bookish_life's review
4.0
I enjoyed the two settings of the story, although most takes part in Holland. I was a little envious of Victoria travelling to Holland, though of course not under the circumstances. With her sisters dog Nigel in toe, Victoria tries to find out what has happened Ness, due to the police not taking it seriously enough.
Not sure if it’s because I am a dog lover or the dog is slightly humanised with his name, but I couldn’t help, like Victoria, to get quite attached to him. In parts, I was as much concerned about him as the characters! He is a bit of an “underdog” literally.
There is a sense of foreboding throughout the story. It made me second guess everyone that we get to meet as to whether they are trustworthy or not. Along with what is going on with the disappearance of Ness, there is another thread to do with Victoria and the relationship with her mother that I was equally interested in.
The Stepsister is a dark and sinister read. Victoria isn’t the most likeable of protagonists but she grew on me the more I got to know her. The dynamics of the story kept me hooked, urging me to turn those pages to see how things were going to end. My first book by the author and certainly won’t be my last.
Not sure if it’s because I am a dog lover or the dog is slightly humanised with his name, but I couldn’t help, like Victoria, to get quite attached to him. In parts, I was as much concerned about him as the characters! He is a bit of an “underdog” literally.
There is a sense of foreboding throughout the story. It made me second guess everyone that we get to meet as to whether they are trustworthy or not. Along with what is going on with the disappearance of Ness, there is another thread to do with Victoria and the relationship with her mother that I was equally interested in.
The Stepsister is a dark and sinister read. Victoria isn’t the most likeable of protagonists but she grew on me the more I got to know her. The dynamics of the story kept me hooked, urging me to turn those pages to see how things were going to end. My first book by the author and certainly won’t be my last.
kimchi84's review
4.0
I was a part of the cover reveal for this book and I was very intrigued by the blurb. I was essentially hooked. I love the fact that the sisters names both begin with V. We have Vanessa (Ness) and Victoria.
We start off with Victoria (Vee) trying to get over her ex and not wanting to do anything or have any dealings with anything. Personally I think that’s the norm after a split with someone. I can’t believe she pretty much cleared out her entire apartment though! She left herself with the bare minimum. I liked Vee, she is a very believable character, a broke artist! She had it tough growing up and can kind of appreciate the way she feels about certain things.
Ness is the happy go lucky sister and I think she is fantastic! She knows what she wants and she goes for it. They were left the house and she was determined to go and view it and decide what to do with it. But she goes missing.
Vee goes over to Holland and has an accident. This is where the twists and turns start! I’m going into no detail as it’s spoiler free, but OMG! There are some twists. This is definitely one to add to any to be read piles. I quite enjoyed the way it all just flowed together. You must all read this book! I’ve given it a 4/5 rating.
We start off with Victoria (Vee) trying to get over her ex and not wanting to do anything or have any dealings with anything. Personally I think that’s the norm after a split with someone. I can’t believe she pretty much cleared out her entire apartment though! She left herself with the bare minimum. I liked Vee, she is a very believable character, a broke artist! She had it tough growing up and can kind of appreciate the way she feels about certain things.
Ness is the happy go lucky sister and I think she is fantastic! She knows what she wants and she goes for it. They were left the house and she was determined to go and view it and decide what to do with it. But she goes missing.
Vee goes over to Holland and has an accident. This is where the twists and turns start! I’m going into no detail as it’s spoiler free, but OMG! There are some twists. This is definitely one to add to any to be read piles. I quite enjoyed the way it all just flowed together. You must all read this book! I’ve given it a 4/5 rating.
entertaininglynerdy's review
4.0
This book has a lot of twist and turns. The plot flows well and the characters have great growth. Its worth reading of you enjoy thrillers.
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