Oh my goodness this book was intense, fast paced and so well written - I absolutely loved it!!  The characters were superb and the whole plot was so cleverly constructed around them that I flew threw the pages and before I knew it I was at the end - it completely took me away and stuck me on a rollercoaster ride I didn't want to stop!! 

Plenty of twists and turns, lots of suspense and guessing (by me) - I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing and boy did it put me through a whole range of emotions!!  No hesitation in giving the book 5 stars - brilliant!!

I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Sam Carrington, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.

THEN: When flames rip through their family home, only teenager Stephanie and her younger brother escape unhurt. Brett always liked to play with fire, but now their dad is dead and someone has to pay the price. NOW: Psychologist Connie Summers wants to help Stephanie rebuild her life. She has a new name, a young son and everything to live for. But when Stephanie receives a letter from someone she’d hoped would never find her, Connie is forced to question what really happened that night. But some truths are better left alone...

BAD SISTER is a fantastic psychological thriller. I'm quite impressed with the author's ability to weave so many different storylines together effortlessly. I rather enjoyed the 'then' snippet and found it just enough to keep me clutching my Kindle until the very last page. The character development was phenomenal, but even better was the ending. I can honestly say it was eerie, chilling, yet captivating. You must read this one if you enjoy psychological thrillers.

Connie is building up her counselling practice in Totnes, Devon. She has a very interesting client, Stephanie, who is in the witness protection scheme and trying to build a new life with her son. What Stephanie is telling Connie doesn't match up with the police history. When an escaped prisoner is found dead with Connie's name on his hand events start running away from Connie. Why is her name on his hand? Who is Stephanie so scared of and is there a connection between her and Connie's past ?

On the whole this was a good, solid, thriller. The plot is sound though towards the end I felt there were a few too many twists & coincidences to be totally believable. I was pleased, however, that the author did wrap up the loose ends and not leave a lot of unanswered questions.

I got the feeling throughout this book that there was more backstory than I was being made aware of. There were references to Connie's past prison work & to D.I. Wade's past failed case. I wonder if there was a book before this that I should have read first?

The characters were good with personality & feelings. I wasn't convinced by some of the things that they did but then I am frequently surprsied by what people do in reality let alone fiction!

This was a basically good read. There was a solid plot with plenty to get your teeth into and there was a sound conclusion. I would be happy to read further books by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

This is the second book I have read by Sam Carrington. I thoroughly enjoyed Saving Sophie and Bad Sister didn't disappoint either. It is a cleverly woven, well written psychological thriller with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end, when all is revealed in spectacular fashion.
Totally recommend!

What an absolute cracker!! Sam Carrington has written with such intelligence and imagination, proving once again she is definitely one to watch.

Stephanie is scared for her life. Her psychologist, Connie Summers, wants to help her face her fears, but Connie will never really understand her. Stephanie’s past has been wiped away for her own protection. Stephanie isn’t even her real name. But then, Dr Summers isn’t Connie’s real name either.

Connie is desperate to dig deeper into Stephanie's story to try and help her but there is more than meets the eye between Stephanie and her brother Brett. As Connie tries to uncover the truth she is forced to face up to difficult memories concerning the death of her own brother some 15 years earlier.

From the very beginning of Bad Sister, I was reeled in, drawn by the complex characters and the many twists. All the characters seem to have their own history, and the hints we have been given leave me hungry for more.

The research and planning that has evidently gone into the writing of this certainly pays off and I found myself going back and forth trying to guess the baddie!!

All in all, if you enjoy secrets, twists and a good thriller then this is definitely the book for you.

From the first page this offered a fast paced thrilling ride that was easy to read. Carrington pulled me through the emotional gamut as I couldn’t tell what or who to trust thanks to the intimate web of lies and secrets she wove through her intriguing set of characters.

Carrington writes this initial scene of two siblings watching their father die in a fire that is so terrifying, particularly due to the chain of events it triggers, you almost feel like you’re watching a horror movie unfold before you on the pages. Fear crawled across my skin, my heart skipped beats in time with the chills, and my breath stopped as I tried to take in the story playing out before me.

Stephanie is scared and has secrets complicating any help she might find. Connie can’t use her psychologist super power very well when she doesn’t have the whole truth. Dark family secrets and hidden identities abound as a gripping mystery entrenches itself around these two women. You throw DI Lindsay Wade into the mix who has her own struggles with feelings of guilt over her less than perfect actions during a previous investigation and the girl power mode takes off.

Short chapters which alternate between Lindsay and Connie’s perspectives have a smart, snappy tone that keeps you on the edge with twists and turns leading you to a shocking conclusion. An enthralling psychological thriller that will make you adore Carrington, by the time you’re done you’ll be hoping she writes more.

A good read,kept me guessing till the end. A strong female character who has a lot to contend with.

Bad Sister has such an interesting opening and I was so intrigued as to where the story would go from there. It will definitely grab your attention wondering how it will all tie in with the present day storyline.

I liked that there appeared to be secrets all around and I was completely on alert trying to figure things out. It's definitely safe to say that I was kept on my toes and I loved this. In Bad Sister being surprised and shocked is a perfect description it made for a pretty compelling read and for the most part my interest was kept all the way through. The story is well crafted and easily drew me into Connie's life and kept me there for the whole duration of this story. I really enjoyed the clever twists and turns that left me trying to figure everything out. There is a certain level of underlying tension and suspense that is perfectly written.

The characters have plenty of secrets to keep the reader constantly wondering when they would be revealed. There are different perspectives that also helps to keep the story fresh and moving along. I think that the transition from the differing view points is done well and I never felt like it disrupted the story only added to the overall suspense. The characters aren't fully likeable they have their flaws but for me this is a good thing I appreciate them all the more for having that realistic edge to them. Connie and Lindsay made this story even better and their scenes together made the story stronger. Sam Carrington has written some intriguing and complex characters that will make you invested in the story but also so interested in discovering their secrets.

Four stars from me!

With thanks to Sabah at Avon & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

I devoured and thoroughly enjoyed Sam Carrington’s first book ‘Saving Sophie’ so when I was offered the chance to participate in the blog tour for ‘Bad Sister’, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and even did a little happy dance, which wasn’t that pretty. Thank goodness only my dogs witnessed it. Anyway I digress, back to ‘Bad Sister’. I was not to be disappointed as for me, ‘Bad Sister’ is better than ‘Saving Sophie’ but more about that later.
I have to say that I took to the character of Connie from the start although I was a bit suspicious about some of her character traits. However my view of her had changed by the time I got to the end of the book. Connie Summers is a psychologist with her own practice. She used to work for the Prison Service but she was forced to leave her role following an incident. You don’t find out the whole reason all at once but you are drip fed clues throughout the story and when you piece them together, you get a real sense of what happened. Connie is struggling though because following the discovery of a very mutilated body at the prison gates, the spotlight is thrown back on Connie. I’m not telling you the reasons why because that would spoil part of the story. Following the increased media attention on Connie, one of her clients Stephanie, who is on the Witness Protection Scheme, decides that she needs to see another psychologist because the spotlight on Connie, might mean that the nasty men find her (Stephanie). Connie convinces Stephanie and Connie soon comes to realise that her and Sam are more alike than she could have imagined. Both have obviously been traumitized by past events, both feel that their personal safety is under threat and both feel isolated. But are they both telling the truth? Well that’s the $64,000 question…..
I have to say that in my opinion, ‘Bad Sister’ is superbly written, with more twists and turns in the book than you would find on a snakes and ladders board. I rather smugly thought that I had figured out what had happened to who, who was telling porkie pies and how the story was going to end. However, I was thrown a curveball and sent down another path entirely. This story certainly kept me guessing right up until the last moment. Reading ‘Bad Sister’ became seriously addictive and I found that I just could not put the book down. It was as if my Kindle had glued itself to my hand. The pages were turning that quickly that it was almost as if they were turning themselves and before I knew it I had finished the book, which I had conflicting feelings about. I was pleased to have finished it because I knew how the story ended but I wasn’t pleased because I was enjoying the author’s writing style so much, that I just wanted the story to continue. Well you can’t have your cake and eat it I suppose. The book certainly hit the ground running and maintained the speedy pace throughout. I became so swept along with the story that I was almost shouting at the pages, warning the characters about what was coming up for them and arguing with various characters. I have far too much of a vivid imagination and I do become too involved when I am reading a good book. Oops. There were times when I was reading this book that I almost had to read through my fingers and hold my breath because I genuinely feared what was going to happen next. I was so desperate to finish the book that I stayed up until the early hours and put off going to sleep, much to the disgust of my eldest Labrador.
In short and just in case you hadn’t realised by now, I absolutely, totally and utterly loved reading ‘Bad Sister’ and I can’t wait to read more from this very talented author. I would definitely recommend this book to others. ‘Bad Sister’ will certainly keep you guessing. I award this book 5* out of 5* but I would have awarded it more stars if I could have because I enjoyed the book so much.

This is the second book written by Sam Carrington and equally enjoyable. This psychological thriller has many twists right up to the end that kept me alert and eager to discover the link between Psychologist Connie Summers, the body of an ex criminal and her client Stephanie.

Unscrambling family secrets while helping investigating officer D I Lindsay Wade, brings both fear and pain into her life, and it is this that gives Connie the understanding of just how difficult life is for Stephanie and her son while in witness protection. I particularly enjoyed the developing relationship between Connie and Lindsay and the bond they both shared by the end of the book.

This novel has a good plot which covers lies, fear, blackmail and coincidences amongst others that make for an interesting and intense read. My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC this is my own opinion.

Bad Sister is the first book that I have read by Sam Carrington. That will be remedied next year in my plan to catch up on books that I have fallen behind on. I can’t work out if is a series but at least one of the characters appeared in the earlier book.

In this novel, after a very creepy prologue, there are mainly two narrators. Connie, who has recently started her own business as a psychologist after taking the rap for a bad decision in her previous employment at the prison. Connie has changed her surname as a way of distancing herself from the past. DI Lindsay Wade, the returning character, has also been held accountable for her decisions in the past. Both women are determined to move on and prove that they are fit to do their job. There is also a unamed narrator. These chapters are headed ‘then’ and are connected to Connie’s client Stephanie. The unnamed character is only young, frightened and increasingly bitter.

Connie is making headway with Stephanie. She is living under witness protection but feels that this has been compromised. With Connie’s identity also revealed after a local incident she wants to see another psychologist. But before this can be arranged, tragedy occurs. I hadn’t expected this at all and did find it a little upsetting. Lindsay is determined that this time the investigation won’t go wrong and enlists Connie’s help. But Connie is in danger, from events in her own past.

Even though the tragedy did upset me I enjoyed this book. Both Connie and Lindsay were shown to be normal women who were not without fault. They built up a strong friendship despite the investigation and I hope that this is sign that this will be a series. There was a bad feeling between Connie and Mack, Lindsay’s partner in the police that was explained during the novel, again this was something I would like to see fully resolved. I enjoyed reading an investigation from a different view-point to a police officer.I haven’t read many that are similar.

The ending was unusual, part of me felt warm when Connie realised who could keep her safe but there was also a moment in the epilogue that sent me cold again. A sign that there was more happening than I realised when I was reading.

With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.

I read this book in two days. Could put it down. Fantastic read. Highly recommended

Another great book by Sam Carrington. I was left at the end of some chapters wanting to know more about that moment in time. Steph is running from the past and the past is definitely knocking on her door In The form of Brett. Connie is receiving messages but where do they fit and Lindsay is tasked with trying to piece the whole thing together. Thoroughly enjoyable read. I certainly found it difficult to predict how it was going to end

As much as I really hoped that this would be a great thriller for me well it just wasn't it did nothing for me the writing seemed all over the place some parts just frustrated me instead of capturing my attention from the beginning it was just slow, unfortunately simply said its just not the book for me!

Brilliant book that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through . Brilliant twists and turns that keep you guessing

Wow!

If this is only Sam Carrington's SECOND book, the more established authors may very well be quaking in their boots rather soon!

An excellent story of two halves brilliantly interlinked. I have absolutely nothing even approaching negative to say except that I will have a long wait until her next book!

Carrington's debut Saving Sophie was really good; Bad Sister has blown that out of the water

Thanks to Avon Books UK for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

When a new author gives us a debut as brilliant Saving Sophie, you can be forgiven for wondering what else they have to offer. Was that it? Did they pour everything into that first manuscript? Will book two live up to our expectations.
Well let me tell you, Sam Carrington is NO one-hit wonder!!!
Bad Sister is brilliant!
We start with two young siblings stood watching their father die in a house fire. This triggers a chain of events so terrifying that even I found myself chilled and tense!
I spent the whole time reading this with a complete sense of trepidation and fear, there were times when I felt my heart skipping a beat and found myself holding my breath as I whizzed through the pages.
Bad Sister is a completely enthralling psychological thriller, with everything in it that makes a book wonderful. Carrington has nailed it with this one, AGAIN!
As we meet Connie, there is obviously something that she is hiding, but what? Having recently move to the area to start up her own counselling business, she is starting to settle into her new life.
Then along comes patient, Stephanie. An agitated and paranoid girl, Connie really takes her case to heart.
As they continue with therapy, things start to happen to both ladies, but who is doing it and why?? What could possibly connect the two?
Bad Sister is brilliantly written, Carrington has a great way with words, really making every one count and meaningful. No page fillers, no fleshing out an element just for the sake of it. Which has, in turn, given us a sensational thriller which you will not be able to put down.
I felt ALL the emotions during this one too - I laughed, cried, and curled up to the hubby a little tighter as I was blooming scared!!!! And those jaw-dropping moments, well they are just awesome!!!
As we jump from past to present, we are taken on a journey so mind-blowing that its conclusion will leave your blood tingling!
Do not miss this one folks, it's frigging awesome!!!!

I have been waiting for the release of Sam Carrington’s second novel Bad Sister since I finished Saving Sophie last year. Sam Carrington’s writing is taut and full of suspense; the only problem now that I have finished Bad Sister is that I have to wait for her next book. Please, Sam don’t make us wait too long!

Connie Summers has recently started up her own consultancy. She is treating her consultant, Stephanie who comes from a damaged. She slowly begins to reveal what has happened to her to Connie. Stephanie’s father was killed in a fire which destroyed her home when she was a child and the tragic event has scarred her ever since. Connie is desperate to help Stephanie and her young son Dylan and help her to form a better life for them both. But Connie’s life is soon thrown into the spotlight with the discovery of a body, a prisoner who Connie has helped in the past. After her judgement on that case Connie has had to rebuild her career and now everything that happened is about to come flooding back. Why was he killed and who killed him? Can Connie continue to help Steph when her own life begins to fall apart and is her own life in danger?

What I like about Sam Carrington’s writing is the tense atmosphere that she creates. In one day I read more than half the book and I was desperate to pick it up and start reading again. Connie was an intriguing character, she is someone who is not without her own set of problems but she strives to make life better for other people, this is especially the case at the beginning of the book with Stephanie and Dylan.

I also really liked Connie’s friendship with the detective who is working on the case, DI Lyndsey Wade. There were times when I felt that Connie needed to have a good friend by her side and for this point in Connie’s life, Lyndsey filled that gap perfectly. Lyndsey featured in Sam’s previous novel and I was excited to learn that she would be returning as I was keen to find out more about her and her colleagues. It was interesting to see how her character has developed since her previous case in Saving Sophie.

Bad Sister is another thrilling read from Sam Carrington; I can’t wait to see what she does next, I will definitely be first in line to read her next book. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read and to Sabah Khan at Avon Books for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.

Really enjoyed this book and was totally gripped. I loved the author's last book and I would recommend this one.

Excellent book. I adored the storyline and the characters. A real page turner. I would this recommend this book.