Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this audio!

WOW!! What a great thriller!!!!!! I finished this one in one sitting! Such a great story and the narrator did great!

The Unseen Sister is a well executed thriller that fans of Andy Maslen should really enjoy. It is the second novel featuring Detective Kat Ballantyne in present day Middlehampton, England. Kat is a very likable character who focuses on her career as an investigator, while simultaneously juggling a family, which a reader does not usually see in thrillers. In this book Kat is charged with investigating the death of a woman who might have died by an allergic reaction. However, Kat quickly believes foul play because of a curious branding burned into her abdomen. While investigating, she uncovers several secrets from the dead woman’s past dating back two decades when she was a high school bully. Kat also uncovers secrets from her own family’s past that complicate her role in the investigation. I can’t say much more without giving away too much; however, the writing is excellent and the plot was complicated enough with a few red herrings to keep me guessing until the end.

I listened to audiobook version of this story narrated by Ell Potter, who was fantastic. Her narration style was very easy to listen to and she differentiated between the many characters, both male and female. I did not read or listen to the first book in the series and I do not feel that I missed out on any pertinent set up or character development. Thank you Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the very enjoyable escape!

The Unseen Sister, by Andy Maslen, is the 2nd detective novel narrated from the perspective of Det. Kat Ballantyne. I enjoyed the is audiobook as a standalone without having read the first book featuring the fore-mentioned detective. The narrator of the audiobook does have a British accent as the story’s location is Middlehamptom UK.

Coming off the win of Detective Kat Ballantyne’s last serial killer investigation, Kat is not anticipating yet another one to fall into her lap. With one murdered woman dead and a curious branding burned into her flesh, Det. Ballantyne discovers secrets from her family’s past that complicate her role in the investigation. When a second woman is found murdered, Kat starts to put pieces together in an effort to find the killer.

This story does a great job of character development, even not having read the previous book. Det. Kat Ballantyne is a like-able character who focuses on her role as a detective but also shows us her family side of life. The plot itself was somewhat easy to predict, but was still enjoyable. I found this audiobook to be well narrated and easy to follow,

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this advanced listeners copy. The opinions listed above are an honest review without bias.

A clever, solid mystery with a competent, likeable lead.

This is the second book in the Detective Kat Ballantyne series. I hadn't read the first book, but while there were some references to it, it was not necessary to understand the story or get to know the characters.

DS Kate Ballantyne is investigating the suspicious death of a woman found the standing stones called "Three Sisters". Was it a simple allergic reaction, or an unlawful death? The investigation into the death woman's life not only uncovers a dark secret in the victim's past, but brings forward revelations about Kat's own that leave her reeling.

I greatly enjoyed Kat, who is competent and manages to maintain a healthy family life despite her work demands. In fact, her personal life takes the stage much less than the blurb would have you believe, which I appreciated. But it's not just Kat; every character, from her colleagues to the suspects, is developed very carefully and thoughtfully, which adds a rich layer to the story. I also commend the author for displaying proper investigative methods and criminal procedure throughout the book.

It was a bit disappointing that the blurb gave away something which doesn't happen until the second half of the book, which makes the focus of the entire investigation up until that point seem obviously faulty; I would have rather been surprised by that revelation. However, neither the author nor the story is to blame for that.

The only thing I can truly fault in the story is the development/revelation of the mystery itself. I did deduct one star because I felt like the culprit was obvious rather quickly, and that Kat could have gotten there much urgently if she had just paid closer attention while questioning people, and/or asked more follow-up questions about the victim's past. The glaring contradiction that eventually leads Kat down the right path seemed obvious to me, and probably will to a lot of readers. Nevertheless, the author did a good job of presenting a variety of suspects throughout the book, and I liked the conclusion of the case.

All in all this was a solid, enjoyable, clever read. The epilogue all but assures a third book is in the works, and I will happily be back to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I listened to the audiobook version and thoroughly enjoyed it.

"The Unseen Sister" is slated to be released on May 7, 2024.

I never felt fully hooked by this story. It was enjoyable, but not addictive liked I want a thriller to be. There were some twists I didn’t see coming, and some I did. Kat I felt was lacking a bit and could use more personality. I would still recommend.

This audiobook is a thrilling ride from start to finish, with a narrator who brings the story to life in a way that keeps you hooked from the very first chapter. As the plot unfolds, you'll find yourself drawn deeper into a complex web of characters and mysteries. While the multitude of characters may seem daunting at first, each one adds another layer to the suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end. With its gripping police procedural elements and intricate character development, this audiobook is sure to captivate any fan of the genre.