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Family Secrets #2
The Bad Sister
TOO CLOSE
The site of the old campus bungalow where two girls were brutally slain is now a flower patch covered with chrysanthemums. It’s been fifty years since the Immaculate Conception Murders. Three more students and a teacher were killed in a sickening spree that many have forgotten. But there is one person who knows every twisted detail. . . .
TO SEE
Hannah O’Rourke and her volatile half-sister, Eden, have little in common except a parent. Yet they’ve ended up at the same small college outside Chicago, sharing a bungalow with another girl. Hannah isn’t thrilled—nor can she shake the feeling that she’s being watched. And her journalism professor, Ellie Goodwin, keeps delving into Hannah and Eden’s newsworthy past. . . .
THE DANGER
When Hannah and Eden’s arrival coincides with a spate of mysterious deaths, Ellie knows it’s more than a fluke. A copycat is recreating those long-ago murders. Neither the police nor the school will accept the horrific truth. And the more Ellie discovers, the more she’s convinced that she won’t live to be believed. . . .
The site of the old campus bungalow where two girls were brutally slain is now a flower patch covered with chrysanthemums. It’s been fifty years since the Immaculate Conception Murders. Three more students and a teacher were killed in a sickening spree that many have forgotten. But there is one person who knows every twisted detail. . . .
TO SEE
Hannah O’Rourke and her volatile half-sister, Eden, have little in common except a parent. Yet they’ve ended up at the same small college outside Chicago, sharing a bungalow with another girl. Hannah isn’t thrilled—nor can she shake the feeling that she’s being watched. And her journalism professor, Ellie Goodwin, keeps delving into Hannah and Eden’s newsworthy past. . . .
THE DANGER
When Hannah and Eden’s arrival coincides with a spate of mysterious deaths, Ellie knows it’s more than a fluke. A copycat is recreating those long-ago murders. Neither the police nor the school will accept the horrific truth. And the more Ellie discovers, the more she’s convinced that she won’t live to be believed. . . .
544 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 28, 2020
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August 27, 2020
EXCERPT: Stripped down to his underwear, Gil was tied to the desk chair. He looked like a defeated boxer slouched in the corner of the ring. His handsome face was a swollen bloody pulp. Cuts covered his body. On his right arm and shoulder were square patches where it looked as if they'd carefully cut off some layers of skin.
The woman was sitting on the edge of the desk, her back to them.
Tightening his grip on Nate's arm, the man knocked on the window.
The woman quickly turned, the gun readied in her hand.
'Open the window,' the man called. 'I want Gil to hear his brother beg for his life.'
The woman nodded, almost as if she approved of the idea. She moved to the window and opened it a crack.
The man jabbed the muzzle of the revolver against Nate's temple and then took a step away.
Trembling violently, Nate realized the guy didn't want to get splattered with blood. Nate remembered that image from the Vietnam war - of the prisoner being shot in the head. He was certain he was going to die. 'Goddam it, Gil!' he cried out. 'Tell them what they want to know.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: TOO CLOSE
The site of the old campus bungalow where two girls were brutally slain is now a flower patch covered with chrysanthemums. It’s been fifty years since the Immaculate Conception Murders. Three more students and a teacher were killed in a sickening spree that many have forgotten. But there is one person who knows every twisted detail. . . .
TO SEE
Hannah O’Rourke and her volatile half-sister, Eden, have little in common except a parent. Yet they’ve ended up at the same small college outside Chicago, sharing a bungalow with another girl. Hannah isn’t thrilled—nor can she shake the feeling that she’s being watched. And her journalism professor, Ellie Goodwin, keeps delving into Hannah and Eden’s newsworthy past. . . .
THE DANGER
When Hannah and Eden’s arrival coincides with a spate of mysterious deaths, Ellie knows it’s more than a fluke. A copycat is recreating those long-ago murders. Neither the police nor the school will accept the horrific truth. And the more Ellie discovers, the more she’s convinced that she won’t live to be believed. . . .
MY THOUGHTS: I abandoned this read at 21%, unable to sustain any interest in the storyline. This is the first book I have attempted to read by Kevin O'Brien, and while I can see that this will appeal to a strong group of people who enjoy action thrillers, I prefer something a lot more subtle.
And subtle is something I hadn't found by the time I finished reading. So, besides the lack of subtlety, there's a distinct lack of suspense. Things that ought to have been suspenseful just weren't. In fact, they were just crass. For example, the scene after which I stopped reading has a man standing in the abandoned section where two of the Immaculate Conception murders occurred fifty years earlier, peering through the uncurtained ground floor window of two college freshmen that he is stalking for who knows what reason, and getting a hard on. This should have been creepy. Really creepy. It wasn't. At the risk of repeating myself, it was just crass. The author seemed more focused on throwing in some sexual references than on milking the situation to its maximum effect.
The characters seem stereotyped, and lacking in depth.
So it is time for Mr O'Brien and I to part ways. I wish him every success with The Bad Sister. It will have huge appeal to a large number of readers. Unfortunately, I am not one of them.
🤦♀️
#TheBadSister #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Kevin O'Brien is an American bestselling author of thrillers. He grew up in Chicago's North Shore, but now moved to Seattle, Washington in 1980. After attending New Trier East High School, he studied journalism at Marquette University. (Wikipedia)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Kensington Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Bad Sister by Kevin O'Brien for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEV5LVrAq...
The woman was sitting on the edge of the desk, her back to them.
Tightening his grip on Nate's arm, the man knocked on the window.
The woman quickly turned, the gun readied in her hand.
'Open the window,' the man called. 'I want Gil to hear his brother beg for his life.'
The woman nodded, almost as if she approved of the idea. She moved to the window and opened it a crack.
The man jabbed the muzzle of the revolver against Nate's temple and then took a step away.
Trembling violently, Nate realized the guy didn't want to get splattered with blood. Nate remembered that image from the Vietnam war - of the prisoner being shot in the head. He was certain he was going to die. 'Goddam it, Gil!' he cried out. 'Tell them what they want to know.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: TOO CLOSE
The site of the old campus bungalow where two girls were brutally slain is now a flower patch covered with chrysanthemums. It’s been fifty years since the Immaculate Conception Murders. Three more students and a teacher were killed in a sickening spree that many have forgotten. But there is one person who knows every twisted detail. . . .
TO SEE
Hannah O’Rourke and her volatile half-sister, Eden, have little in common except a parent. Yet they’ve ended up at the same small college outside Chicago, sharing a bungalow with another girl. Hannah isn’t thrilled—nor can she shake the feeling that she’s being watched. And her journalism professor, Ellie Goodwin, keeps delving into Hannah and Eden’s newsworthy past. . . .
THE DANGER
When Hannah and Eden’s arrival coincides with a spate of mysterious deaths, Ellie knows it’s more than a fluke. A copycat is recreating those long-ago murders. Neither the police nor the school will accept the horrific truth. And the more Ellie discovers, the more she’s convinced that she won’t live to be believed. . . .
MY THOUGHTS: I abandoned this read at 21%, unable to sustain any interest in the storyline. This is the first book I have attempted to read by Kevin O'Brien, and while I can see that this will appeal to a strong group of people who enjoy action thrillers, I prefer something a lot more subtle.
And subtle is something I hadn't found by the time I finished reading. So, besides the lack of subtlety, there's a distinct lack of suspense. Things that ought to have been suspenseful just weren't. In fact, they were just crass. For example, the scene after which I stopped reading has a man standing in the abandoned section where two of the Immaculate Conception murders occurred fifty years earlier, peering through the uncurtained ground floor window of two college freshmen that he is stalking for who knows what reason, and getting a hard on. This should have been creepy. Really creepy. It wasn't. At the risk of repeating myself, it was just crass. The author seemed more focused on throwing in some sexual references than on milking the situation to its maximum effect.
The characters seem stereotyped, and lacking in depth.
So it is time for Mr O'Brien and I to part ways. I wish him every success with The Bad Sister. It will have huge appeal to a large number of readers. Unfortunately, I am not one of them.
🤦♀️
#TheBadSister #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Kevin O'Brien is an American bestselling author of thrillers. He grew up in Chicago's North Shore, but now moved to Seattle, Washington in 1980. After attending New Trier East High School, he studied journalism at Marquette University. (Wikipedia)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Kensington Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Bad Sister by Kevin O'Brien for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEV5LVrAq...
July 18, 2021
The story starts off with a bang about two brothers Gil and Nate and their two girlfriends taking a trip to their family's very secluded vacation cabin in the woods to celebrate their birthdays as they did when they were kids. As the night progresses two strangers appear out of nowhere very distraught and injured needing help so the girls readily open the door for them. Maybe they should never have opened that door!I
Two Years Later-
Hannah and her half sister Eden are enrolled with full hardship scholarships to a small Catholic college which they are so thankful for or they would only have been able to only go to community colleges near their hometown. They soon meet their third roommate Rachel who is a society media princess and has her own chauffeur/bodyguard at her disposal. What and eclectic trio this will make since Hannah and Eden cannot stand to be in the same room together for more than five minutes. Unbeknownst to the girls this college was the site of The Immaculate Conception Murders which happened 50 years ago where several girls and a teacher were brutally murdered not that would change anything for them but it made Hannah feel creepy vibes that she could be living so close to such a gruesome occurrence and not understanding why she never saw any of this disturbing history when she thoroughly researched the college on the internet. Soon thereafter, some strange events start occurring and also a possibly missing student and another death on campus and Hannah is always feeling she is being watched and now she is also starting to believe there may be a copycat serial killer within their midst.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The first chapter was a WoW and I couldn't wait to find out more. I enjoyed that there were a few seemingly different stories going on at one time with so many twists and turns and that I didn't have a clue who the real predators were and was shocked by the final conclusion of the story where everything came together very well with quite a bit of a suspenseful ending. The writing and storytelling was so good that I just didn't want to put the book down. I can't wait to read more of Kevin O'Brien's books and highly recommend this novel to any mystery/thriller lover.
I want to thank the publisher "Kensington Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this novel a rating of 4 1/2 Deliciously Creepy 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
Two Years Later-
Hannah and her half sister Eden are enrolled with full hardship scholarships to a small Catholic college which they are so thankful for or they would only have been able to only go to community colleges near their hometown. They soon meet their third roommate Rachel who is a society media princess and has her own chauffeur/bodyguard at her disposal. What and eclectic trio this will make since Hannah and Eden cannot stand to be in the same room together for more than five minutes. Unbeknownst to the girls this college was the site of The Immaculate Conception Murders which happened 50 years ago where several girls and a teacher were brutally murdered not that would change anything for them but it made Hannah feel creepy vibes that she could be living so close to such a gruesome occurrence and not understanding why she never saw any of this disturbing history when she thoroughly researched the college on the internet. Soon thereafter, some strange events start occurring and also a possibly missing student and another death on campus and Hannah is always feeling she is being watched and now she is also starting to believe there may be a copycat serial killer within their midst.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The first chapter was a WoW and I couldn't wait to find out more. I enjoyed that there were a few seemingly different stories going on at one time with so many twists and turns and that I didn't have a clue who the real predators were and was shocked by the final conclusion of the story where everything came together very well with quite a bit of a suspenseful ending. The writing and storytelling was so good that I just didn't want to put the book down. I can't wait to read more of Kevin O'Brien's books and highly recommend this novel to any mystery/thriller lover.
I want to thank the publisher "Kensington Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this novel a rating of 4 1/2 Deliciously Creepy 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
January 6, 2021
Let the lethal frenemies stalk the streets.
A sleuthy tale of evil twists. One of the half-sisters is bad but in which way? There are a lot of possible interpretations early on, considering there was a sort of a rich background going on. Psychopath murders from 50 years ago. Crazy moms and sisters (including figurative ones) in more than 1 generation.
! Beware of spoilers !
Q:
Apparently, she turned everyone’s lives upside down—and not in a zany, cute Parent Trap way either. The whole situation was more like Psycho than any Disney movie. (c)
Q:
“Hey, aren’t you Hannah O’Rourke?” he said. “I hear your father can’t keep his dick in his pants. So—do you party around a lot, too?” (c)
Q:
Eden had driven Hannah’s parents crazy by disappearing for hours at a time—or even for a day or two—without telling anyone. She was always off on some stupid, Kerouac-like mini-adventure, hitchhiking or taking the ferry someplace, and switching off her phone so no one could reach her. (c)
Hanna's such a blabbermouth. She literally spends the book talking to everyone about everyone's secrets. One of the most irritating characters ever.
A sleuthy tale of evil twists. One of the half-sisters is bad but in which way? There are a lot of possible interpretations early on, considering there was a sort of a rich background going on. Psychopath murders from 50 years ago. Crazy moms and sisters (including figurative ones) in more than 1 generation.
! Beware of spoilers !
Q:
Apparently, she turned everyone’s lives upside down—and not in a zany, cute Parent Trap way either. The whole situation was more like Psycho than any Disney movie. (c)
Q:
“Hey, aren’t you Hannah O’Rourke?” he said. “I hear your father can’t keep his dick in his pants. So—do you party around a lot, too?” (c)
Q:
Eden had driven Hannah’s parents crazy by disappearing for hours at a time—or even for a day or two—without telling anyone. She was always off on some stupid, Kerouac-like mini-adventure, hitchhiking or taking the ferry someplace, and switching off her phone so no one could reach her. (c)
Hanna's such a blabbermouth. She literally spends the book talking to everyone about everyone's secrets. One of the most irritating characters ever.
September 19, 2020
Review coming soon.
September 2, 2020
The Bad Sister, by Kevin O'Brien, closely follows his excellent best-selling novel, The Betrayed Wife.
Hannah and Eden discover they are half-sisters in the previous novel and now they attend the same college where a series of murders took place fifty years ago.
The suspense ensues when the girls believe they are being watched. Is history about to repeat itself?
A story full of disturbing events, lies, secrets and murder.
I can always count on author Kevin O'Brien to deliver an exciting story!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Hannah and Eden discover they are half-sisters in the previous novel and now they attend the same college where a series of murders took place fifty years ago.
The suspense ensues when the girls believe they are being watched. Is history about to repeat itself?
A story full of disturbing events, lies, secrets and murder.
I can always count on author Kevin O'Brien to deliver an exciting story!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
July 28, 2020
Hannah O'Rourke and her half-sister, Eden, are not friends and are not happy to be going off to college at the same school. They're even stuck sharing the same bungalow with one other girl, and in the same journalism class with a teacher who keeps asking questions about their newsworthy past which Hannah's hoping to leave behind.
Fifty years ago the campus was the site of the Immaculate Conception Murders, where multiple people were murdered. When Hannah and Eden arrive on campus, disturbing events, including mysterious deaths begin. Is it a coincidence or is a copycat recreating the past murders?
The Bad Sister was wonderfully and outrageously twisty. The fast pace and multiple plotlines makes for a complex and fascinating story with a large number of strings that all come together in the end. Recommended for fans of psychological suspense.
Content Warning (SPOILERS) below:
Murdered infant (described); torture mentioned but not described; misogyny; peeping tom and hidden interior cameras; stalking; rape (not on page); pedophilia; incest
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.
Fifty years ago the campus was the site of the Immaculate Conception Murders, where multiple people were murdered. When Hannah and Eden arrive on campus, disturbing events, including mysterious deaths begin. Is it a coincidence or is a copycat recreating the past murders?
The Bad Sister was wonderfully and outrageously twisty. The fast pace and multiple plotlines makes for a complex and fascinating story with a large number of strings that all come together in the end. Recommended for fans of psychological suspense.
Content Warning (SPOILERS) below:
Murdered infant (described); torture mentioned but not described; misogyny; peeping tom and hidden interior cameras; stalking; rape (not on page); pedophilia; incest
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.
July 22, 2020
This was a great read that began with intrigue, and had lots of twists and turns.
The story starts out in Oregon with Nate Bergquist traveling with his brother Gil and their girlfriends, Rene and Cheryl. Gil is a PI and Nate is a PT. All are headed to the Bergquist's family vacation home.
At their destination, two people approach the cabin claiming their car broke down and within minutes, all four were in very deep trouble. The two were there for information from Gil, and didn't mind hurting the others to get Gil to talk.
Then there was an explosion....
Two years later in Delmar, Illinois, two girls who are half sisters are given a full scholarship. Both were put in the media spotlight, so Hannah was looking forward to getting away and starting fresh. Neither sister was thrilled to be going to the same college, nor having to room together.
Hannah and Eden were assigned a Big Sister, Rachel Bonner, and living in a bungalow together. Hannah and Rachel hit it off, but Eden is somewhat of a loner. Eden also has a habit of taking off and not answering her phone.
Fifty years ago on campus, there was a tragedy that the college has managed to keep under wraps. Soon after Hannah and Eden's arrival, strange things start to happen. The girls' journalism teacher, Ellie Goodwin, starts to see a pattern, although no one will believe her. Three students and a teacher died all those years ago, and to Ellie, it seems someone remembers and is going to remind everyone else!
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway and I voluntarily reviewed this book.
The story starts out in Oregon with Nate Bergquist traveling with his brother Gil and their girlfriends, Rene and Cheryl. Gil is a PI and Nate is a PT. All are headed to the Bergquist's family vacation home.
At their destination, two people approach the cabin claiming their car broke down and within minutes, all four were in very deep trouble. The two were there for information from Gil, and didn't mind hurting the others to get Gil to talk.
Then there was an explosion....
Two years later in Delmar, Illinois, two girls who are half sisters are given a full scholarship. Both were put in the media spotlight, so Hannah was looking forward to getting away and starting fresh. Neither sister was thrilled to be going to the same college, nor having to room together.
Hannah and Eden were assigned a Big Sister, Rachel Bonner, and living in a bungalow together. Hannah and Rachel hit it off, but Eden is somewhat of a loner. Eden also has a habit of taking off and not answering her phone.
Fifty years ago on campus, there was a tragedy that the college has managed to keep under wraps. Soon after Hannah and Eden's arrival, strange things start to happen. The girls' journalism teacher, Ellie Goodwin, starts to see a pattern, although no one will believe her. Three students and a teacher died all those years ago, and to Ellie, it seems someone remembers and is going to remind everyone else!
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway and I voluntarily reviewed this book.
July 19, 2020
The Bad Sister is a slow burn. It starts out a little slow, but before you know what has happened, you are in the middle of a story that is full of secrets, lies and murder.
This was the first book I read by O'Brien, and if his others are like this, I can't wait to read them. As I said, it started out a little slow to me, but boy did it pick up. I couldn't put it down, but when I had to, I couldn't wait to pick it back up.
You get lies, secrets and murder with this one. Also, the way it climaxes is unreal. I highly recommend it if you like psychological suspense books, that are a little creepy.
Thanks to Netgalley, O'Brien, and the publisher for the Kindle Version of this book for my honest opinion and review.
This was the first book I read by O'Brien, and if his others are like this, I can't wait to read them. As I said, it started out a little slow to me, but boy did it pick up. I couldn't put it down, but when I had to, I couldn't wait to pick it back up.
You get lies, secrets and murder with this one. Also, the way it climaxes is unreal. I highly recommend it if you like psychological suspense books, that are a little creepy.
Thanks to Netgalley, O'Brien, and the publisher for the Kindle Version of this book for my honest opinion and review.
Shelved as 'read-2020'
August 6, 2020I received this copy of the Bad Sister by Kevin O'Brien from a Goodreads book contest. I wish to thank Goodreads, the Author, and Amazon for the Advanced Readers Copy.
Within the first 25% of the story (which is all I read), we learn about the past school murders, the drama between the two sisters, snippets of info about Rachel(the roommate) and get a peek into planned murders. The story tries to add a spooky atmosphere, to set the stage for what going to happen, but in my opinion, it just wasn't working.
Sadly, I just couldn't get into this book/story. I don't like any of the characters, or how the plot is progressing in the first 25% of the book.
I feel like the plot is jumping around, leaving tidbits of info that might play a part in the final conclusion of the story, but at this time just seems like clutter.
Since I'm calling this a DNF, I'm not assigning any stars.
Within the first 25% of the story (which is all I read), we learn about the past school murders, the drama between the two sisters, snippets of info about Rachel(the roommate) and get a peek into planned murders. The story tries to add a spooky atmosphere, to set the stage for what going to happen, but in my opinion, it just wasn't working.
Sadly, I just couldn't get into this book/story. I don't like any of the characters, or how the plot is progressing in the first 25% of the book.
I feel like the plot is jumping around, leaving tidbits of info that might play a part in the final conclusion of the story, but at this time just seems like clutter.
Since I'm calling this a DNF, I'm not assigning any stars.
July 28, 2020
The Bad Sister by Kevin O'Brien is a perplexing mystery. Although this newest release is the second novel in the Family Secrets series, it can be read as a standalone.
Hannah O'Rourke's excitement over rooming with Rachel Bonner is tempered by the inclusion of her half-sister Eden. The college they are attending has an infamous past due to serial killings that took place in fifty years ago. Eden finds the college's history fascinating whereas Hannah is always looking over her shoulder.
Despite living in a new city, Hannah and Eden's relationship is still edgy and complex. Eden remains independent and goes her own way while Hannah becomes fast friends with Rachel. Before long Eden is off on one of her jaunts but Hannah worries there is more to her disappearance than appears. Confiding in her journalism Professor Ellie Goodwin, Hannah's fears for her half-sister's safety appear to be well-founded. What, if anything, does Eden's disappearance have to do with recent deaths that are eerily similar to the long ago serial killings?
Hannah, Eden and Rachel's activities are pretty much what one would expect from young college women. Eden is a loner who does her own thing without giving much thought to anyone who cares for her. Hannah is immature and easily swayed by other people's opinions. Rachel is the poor little rich girl who might just have an agenda of her own. Hannah grows uneasy when she learns unexpected information so she walks a fine line as events begin to spiral out of control.
Ellie's spectacular career culminated with a possible movie deal that unfortunately fell through at the last minute. Having given up her newspaper career, she is mostly satisfied with her new career. But helping Hannah unearth the truth about Eden's disappearance reminds her how much she enjoyed digging into a story. As she uncovers shocking information, will Hannah convince local authorities to take her suspicions seriously?
The Bad Sister is an engaging mystery with a convoluted storyline. The characters are not very well developed and the pacing is slow. With predictable plot twists and undefined motives, Kevin O'Brien brings the mystery to a satisfying conclusion.
Hannah O'Rourke's excitement over rooming with Rachel Bonner is tempered by the inclusion of her half-sister Eden. The college they are attending has an infamous past due to serial killings that took place in fifty years ago. Eden finds the college's history fascinating whereas Hannah is always looking over her shoulder.
Despite living in a new city, Hannah and Eden's relationship is still edgy and complex. Eden remains independent and goes her own way while Hannah becomes fast friends with Rachel. Before long Eden is off on one of her jaunts but Hannah worries there is more to her disappearance than appears. Confiding in her journalism Professor Ellie Goodwin, Hannah's fears for her half-sister's safety appear to be well-founded. What, if anything, does Eden's disappearance have to do with recent deaths that are eerily similar to the long ago serial killings?
Hannah, Eden and Rachel's activities are pretty much what one would expect from young college women. Eden is a loner who does her own thing without giving much thought to anyone who cares for her. Hannah is immature and easily swayed by other people's opinions. Rachel is the poor little rich girl who might just have an agenda of her own. Hannah grows uneasy when she learns unexpected information so she walks a fine line as events begin to spiral out of control.
Ellie's spectacular career culminated with a possible movie deal that unfortunately fell through at the last minute. Having given up her newspaper career, she is mostly satisfied with her new career. But helping Hannah unearth the truth about Eden's disappearance reminds her how much she enjoyed digging into a story. As she uncovers shocking information, will Hannah convince local authorities to take her suspicions seriously?
The Bad Sister is an engaging mystery with a convoluted storyline. The characters are not very well developed and the pacing is slow. With predictable plot twists and undefined motives, Kevin O'Brien brings the mystery to a satisfying conclusion.
November 7, 2020
I liked the plotline of this book but that's about it. Nothing really flowed smoothly and the characters lacked depth and were unlikable. A lot of it just seemed corny.
September 21, 2020
The Bad Sister by Kevin O’Brien is a psychological thriller.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher, Pinnacle Books and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Fifty years ago, Our Lady of the Cove College was the site of the Immaculate Conception Murders. It seems like history may be repeating itself.
After a rough couple of years of unwanted media attention that saw their father shot by one of the many women he had affairs with, Hannah and her half-sister Eden both received scholarships to Our Lady of the Cove. They end up living in the same bungalow, along with their roommate, heiress Rachel Bonner. Eden's behaviour has always been rather erratic, and things have not changed. She is driving Hannah nuts, but when her sister doesn't come back to their bungalow after a few nights, and given other recent discoveries, Hannah starts to worry....although no one else seems too concerned.
Hannah turns to Journalism Professor Ellie Goodwin for help. Although Ellie is only their teacher, she has befriended Hannah, and agrees that Eden's disappearance is suspicious. She feels that recent events are looking too much like the case 50 years ago, which may mean that Eden is in trouble. However, both the police and the head of the school want Ellie to drop it. Ellie is also having some other issues. She is responsible for putting a number of people behind bars, and the threats she is getting via email seem to imply someone is out for revenge.
My Opinions:
Well, as with all Kevin O'Brien books that I have read this one is complex. There is a lot going on. A lot of strange characters, a lot of secrets, lies, dysfunctional families....and twists.
A couple of things bothered me. It took so long for a character introduced in Chapter 1 to reappear in Chapter 31....that I didn't recognize the name at first. With reference to the characters, I found Hannah to be very naive, Eden reckless and Rachel spoiled. So I couldn't relate to any of them. As well, all the parents were idiots. Thankfully I liked Ellie, because I find books very difficult to read if there isn't anyone to cheer for.
Although I felt it moved very slow, it was still a fast read. The last quarter's suspense made up for everything.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
November 7, 2023
Kevin O'Brien is one of my favorite authors. I've read every single one of his books. However, the title should have been "The Twisted Sister." (No offense, Mr. O'Brien). The situation at the start of the book really caught my attention and I was prepared for a roller coaster ride. Alas, that didn't happen because the book jumped to a different time and situation. There was a lot of excitement! The sisters/half sisters were a confusing bunch. This family was the true meaning of dysfunction and then some! There were many twists and turns and I thought I had figured who was the killer. Boy! Was I mistaken!
The story is intense and excruciatingly exciting! A must read! Family secrets can kill you literally! Must read.
The story is intense and excruciatingly exciting! A must read! Family secrets can kill you literally! Must read.
June 3, 2020
The Bad Sister draws you slowly in and before you know it you are in the midst of secrets, lies, murder and betrayal.
Hannah and Eden are half sisters who attend the same college where years ago a series of murders took place 50 years ago.
Is history about to repeat itself ? Who is watching Hannah ? Who can you trust if anyone?
Kevin O'Brien does a masterful job of keeping you guessing and throwing in those curve balls to keep you on your toes! \
You simply can't go wrong with a Kevin O'Brien book, always a good a entertaining read!
Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Books , Pinnacle for a great read!
Hannah and Eden are half sisters who attend the same college where years ago a series of murders took place 50 years ago.
Is history about to repeat itself ? Who is watching Hannah ? Who can you trust if anyone?
Kevin O'Brien does a masterful job of keeping you guessing and throwing in those curve balls to keep you on your toes! \
You simply can't go wrong with a Kevin O'Brien book, always a good a entertaining read!
Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Books , Pinnacle for a great read!
August 5, 2020
Who wrote this?
I normally enjoy this author’s books. This one felt like it was written by a teenage girl. Too many things were going on at once for one. Past, present, plots, sub plots, it got confusing and dragged on too long. Why does the author feel the need to describe characters as chubby, slightly overweight, heavy so often? There was incest, murder, infanticide just to name a few disturbing topics. The killer referred to his victims as "holy sluts". A big no for me on this one.
I normally enjoy this author’s books. This one felt like it was written by a teenage girl. Too many things were going on at once for one. Past, present, plots, sub plots, it got confusing and dragged on too long. Why does the author feel the need to describe characters as chubby, slightly overweight, heavy so often? There was incest, murder, infanticide just to name a few disturbing topics. The killer referred to his victims as "holy sluts". A big no for me on this one.
July 29, 2020
3.5 stars. There were a lot of people to keep track of, and I really didn’t remember much of the previous book, but it was still a good read. Probably not as good as other Kevin O’Brien books however. I hope there is not a third book in this series, he does stand-along better.
August 19, 2020
Received this in a giveaway and can’t wait to read!
August 15, 2020
You won't be disappointed.
I've read all of Kevin's books, and haven't been disappointed yet.
Plus he always bri gs out his.new book around my birthday, so its always my birthday 🎁
I've read all of Kevin's books, and haven't been disappointed yet.
Plus he always bri gs out his.new book around my birthday, so its always my birthday 🎁
July 30, 2020
This book has one of the best prologues I’ve read in a long while. The tension drops with the opening of the story two years later.
A pair of half sisters arrive for their freshman year at a small college far from their home. The girls do not get along, the school was not either girl’s first choice, and they’ll be roommates.
The author builds tension at a steady pace until the climax. He provides several plot twists and brings all the characters together in a logical and believable way. The main characters are well developed, the writing is good, and the ending is satisfactory.
All in all, this is an enjoyable read.
I received an advance copy of The Bad Sister from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
A pair of half sisters arrive for their freshman year at a small college far from their home. The girls do not get along, the school was not either girl’s first choice, and they’ll be roommates.
The author builds tension at a steady pace until the climax. He provides several plot twists and brings all the characters together in a logical and believable way. The main characters are well developed, the writing is good, and the ending is satisfactory.
All in all, this is an enjoyable read.
I received an advance copy of The Bad Sister from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2020
Eden and Hannah, half-sisters are attending the same college were heinous murders were committed 50 years ago. The story takes them through a journey of hatred, fear, and the unknown. I could NOT put this book down. As with all of Kevin O'Brien's books, I was gripped from the start to end. Brilliant plot, and you don't have to read his previous books to be totally enthralled as he references some of the past storylines (which you should totally read, because they're awesome!). This book literally had me not wanting to sleep so I could read it! A definite 5+++++++ from the best-selling author. Another knock it out of the park for this author. Go Kevin! Bring it ON!!!
July 31, 2020
This one starts out with intrigue and keeps going. The plot is intense and full of surprises. The characters are interesting and keep you wondering. This author is a master at building suspense and tension and has done it so well with this one. I kept second guessing everything. What really happened, what character was believable. I don't want to give away too much, so I will say this is a must read for thriller fans!
August 3, 2020
OMG so good. Loved the carryover characters from the previous book. Never saw the ending coming. Kevin O’Brien has never let me down. Totally worth the read.
July 29, 2020
A fast paced well written murder mystery! Hannah has a half - sister, Eden, who is her father's bastard child. Now, two years later they are off to school, where they meet a kind hearted teacher Ellie, a renowned newspaper journalist. The three will have to use their wits when malevolence comes to visit. I liked the characters, but once again I figured out the bad guys before the author revealed them; yet the read was thouraghly enjoyable.
I highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley!
carolintallahassee.com
I highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley!
carolintallahassee.com
July 28, 2020
Hannah and her half sister Eden don’t get along. They have nothing in common. Now they have both been given a scholarship to an exclusive private school. Their roommate Rachel seems to have an agenda. Fifty years ago students and a teacher were murdered at the school. Now when more deaths that appear to be accidental occur is someone recreating the old murders? This book kept me on the edge of my seat. Lots of twists and turns, you weren’t sure who to trust. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
August 1, 2020
LOVED IT! Easily his best book! I look forward to more from Kevin O'Brien!
August 1, 2020
Read
Read this! Lots of misdirection and twisty turns. Kevin O'Brien been a favorite of mine since his first book. I always look forward to his books.I
I recommend all
Read this! Lots of misdirection and twisty turns. Kevin O'Brien been a favorite of mine since his first book. I always look forward to his books.I
I recommend all
July 29, 2020
Kevin O'Brien does an excellent job of shifting the focus between the two sisters to keep you guessing. THE BAD SISTER is set against the back story of 50yr old murders and how they fit into current deaths on the same campus. A quick read for me that gave had few quick twists so I didn't know who the killer was until the end. And that's what a good thriller should do!!!
July 28, 2020
An absolute winner of a thriller. Taunt and suspenful it will keep you happily guessing until the end. Not to be missed. A must read. Happy reading! #TheBadSister #NetGalley
July 21, 2020
How could there be another serial killer working the same area in the same way fifty years after the first? That's the question Ellie, a journalism professor, hopes to answer. She thinks there's a link, somehow, to Hannah and Eden, half sisters who, btw, really don't like one another. They've got a secret in their background but is one of them a killer? No spoilers from me. This gives you several perspectives and a time line which will help keep things straight. You, like me, might guess the answers Ellie is seeking but that doesn't mean you, like me, won't keep reading to know if you're right. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A pandemic read on a hot day spent inside.
July 23, 2020
Another fantastic read by O’Brien. This is the sequel to The Betrayed Wife and we meet with Eden again. Full of twists and turns, trying to figure out who is recreating murders from decades ago. Thank you, NetGalley for the advance copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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