Pretty solid domestic thriller that kept me entertained. I'm still wavering between 3.5 to 4 stars...this was good, but not very memorable. (I made the mistake of waiting 2 weeks to write this review and I'm paying the price now as I dig to remember the highs and lows.)

What I remember I liked:
-The mystery had me hooked
-There were some nice surprises that I didn't expect

What I remember not being crazy about:
-Sylvie's mother-too much of a stretch for things to have gone like they did without any intervention.
-The ending was a bit too pat for me.

Would I recommend? Yes, especially since this is a debut novel. While it didn't knock my socks off, it held my interest and I will definitely be watching to see what she comes up with next.

ARC provided by NetGalley

3.5 stars.

Our main character is Sylvie, whose older sister Persephone was murdered when they were teenagers. Sylvie still blames herself for her sister' murder, as that night after her sister went out, she locked the window so her sister couldn't get back in along with helping her cover up other things in her life. Sylvie finally returns home to care for her sick mother and ends up running into her sister's old boyfriend Ben and she becomes determined to finally discover what really happened the night her sister was murdered.

The Winter Sister was definitely an interesting and entertaining read. The reason for the 3.5 stars is that I feel like I have read this plot line before, just with different characters. I would however recommend it to those who are fans of the suspense and thriller genre. I enjoyed the characters and the author's writing.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book.

The Winter Sister by Megan Collins

February 2019

I received this digital ARC from NetGalley and Touchstone Simon & Schuster in exchange for an unbiased review.

“Demeter had an only daughter, Persephone . . . the maiden of the spring. She lost her and in her terrible grief she withheld her gifts from the earth, which turned into a frozen desert. The green and flowering land was icebound and lifeless because Persephone had disappeared. —Edith Hamilton, Mythology”

It had been sixteen years since Sylvie’s sister Persephone snuck out to see her boyfriend and never returned. Her body was found but years later her murder still remained unsolved. There were several suspects but no clear evidence which exacerbated the guilt of those who loved her.

It has always been Sylvie and Persephone. Their mother Annie claimed to not need a man in her life. She raised them herself on her meager salary as a waitress in the local diner. Though the years they notice Annie becoming more bitter and acerbic drinking and kicking herself in her room for days.

Annie’s sister Jill is the consistent stable person in their lives. She takes care of Sylvie until she goes away to college and tries to forget the tragedies of her past. It’s only when her aunt begs her to come home to help care for her ailing mother that truths of the past start to unravel.

This is a powerful story about family, lies told to protect, destructive behavior and redemption. It is well written and hard to put down. It pulls you into the story wanting to know how it ends.

“The Winter Sister” was a multi-faceted psychological family suspense/mystery which grabbed me from the beginning and kept me flipping pages at least half way through. Once the author started taking off the layers and baring the skeleton of the story as well as the character of the characters, I became so disgusted with the characters, themselves, I didn’t want to read further. However, I did and I’m glad I did as the ending not only exposed the mystery, but shed a lot of light on the development (or deterioration) of the characters, themselves.

Very well written psycho-drama and highly recommended.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, Simon and Schuster, in exchange for an honest review.

The Winter Sister is a fantastic debut novel by Megan Collins.

When Sylvie is called home to care for her cancer-stricken mother, she is forced to re-examine the events that surrounded her sister's unsolved murder from over a decade prior. What she finds is a tangled web of relationships, small town history and secrets.

I literally read this in one evening. I couldn't put it down.
Looking forward to future novels from Ms. Collins.

I received an advanced reader copy via Net Galley.

A death sixteen years ago traumatized both Sylvie and her mother Annie. Annie becomes an alcoholic and Sylvie is never the same. Cared for by an aunt, Sylvie is resentful of the lack of caring and indifference on the part of her mother. Persephone was a loved sister and her death especially since the murder was never solved left a huge hole in their existence.

Returning to the dismal family home Sylvie is determined to try to open this cold case, despite one of the original detectives long retired and the suspects being related to the most prominent man in this tiny town with a reputation for being determined to get his own way.

The story unravels fairly slowly, at times a bit too slow. You realize where this is going but that does not detract from the telling of the story. It is the characterization of Annie the mother that gripped me. That a woman could be so blind to anything else than her passionate love for a scoundrel amazed e. Everything else fell by the wayside. That she realized that her idol had feet of clay at the end, was neither here or there. That her surviving daughter could move on showed the character of Sylvie.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Touchstone Atria Books.

Sylvie O'Leary returns home to care for her ailing mother, but has to confront a haunting past she left behind. Her older sister, Persephone, was murdered sixteen years ago, but her killer has never been found. Sylvie's mother, Annie, wasn't much of a mother to either of her daughters. She is selfish, and hiding secrets from her past, which makes this complicated relationship between mother and daughter even more difficult. As Annie goes for treatments, Sylvie runs into Persephone's boyfriend, the last person to be with her the night she was murdered. Sylvie takes a hard look at the past, the roles everyone played the night Persephone went missing, and begins to uncover secrets from the past that will give her the answers she needs to set herself, and others, free.

The Winter Sister was a suspenseful story of past secrets of a family, and the horrific tragic ending of a life cut too short. Sylvie's character is a strong determined one filled with guilt, even though she was only fourteen at the time her sister was murdered, she continues to blame herself every day of her life. Once the truth is out, Sylvie finally understands it wasn't her fault. It's difficult to understand the dynamics of this family, as well written as the character Annie is, she is just unlikable as a mother. You find your heart breaking for Sylvie.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the complex issues of a dysfunctional family leading to tragedy. The story itself was definitely different, and although a little predictable, it was worth reading. I would like to thank Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity of reading this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A compelling & original story told with skill by a gifted writer. Peopled with unique characters, with very complex relationships, this has more depth than many girl-gets-murdered thrillers and makes for a satisfying read.

Very enjoyable reading; written well and easy to follow. I was entertained by this book even though about 2/3 of the way through I figured out what was going on. Relationships between mother and daughter are complicated and this book exemplifies this. A great read.

Do you want a quick diversion from everyday life? This book will do it. One of those I had to stay with until the final paragraph. This could border on YA reading, but it’s very interesting and enthralling for us middle-aged folks.
Silvie lost her sister Persephone years earlier when Silvie was only 14. Persephone was sneaking out to date the evil and wretched Ben, son of the even eviler and more wretched dad Will Emory.
When Persephone was found murdered, their mother Annie, who was not very stable, to begin with, withdrew into a haze of depression fueled by alcohol and illegal drugs. Annie’s sister Jill is the only saving grace and firm grounding for Silvie, who, upon graduation, leaves her small town and its awful memories. This somewhat works for Silvie until Jill calls and insists that Silvie return home to her cancer-ridden mother and fulfill her duties as the sole heir, caretaking for her mom and the home.
As Silvie is coping with her estranged mother, her illness and her twisted attitude towards Silvie and her sister, she crosses paths with Ben and comes to realize all is not as she has perceived for all these years. Or is he simply playing folly with her heart and life just as he had with Persephone?
A twisted plot full of mean mothers, rich spoiled men, loving but flawed friends, “The Winter Sister” is an enthralling and enjoyable respite from our mundane lives.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Touchstone / Atria Books for making it available.)

After feeling pretty lukewarm about this story, then seeing all the 5 star ratings it has received, I know I am the outlier here. The whole story felt forced to me, had a very "young adult" vibe, and the solving of the murder of Persephone (Really? Persephone?) didn't make a lot of sense.

So I guess this just wasn't for me. It obviously is a hit with most readers, however. Thank you to Atria Books/Simon & Schuster for inviting me to read and review this through NetGalley.

This was interesting and I found the story compelling and unputdownable, but I started suspecting the killer really early on, and never really suspected anyone else - usually I’m surprised by mysteries and go back and am like “oh, yeah, there was this clue or that one” so I think this must’ve been pretty obvious, but I enjoyed watching it unfold.

4.5 Stars!

The Winter Sister is a stunning, suspense-filled, edge of your seat debut by Megan Collins! I was thoroughly captivated by this tale of domestic suspense and mystery surrounding the unsolved murder of a young girl and her younger sister determination to see justice served sixteen years later. Also, being a literature professor, I delighted in how Collins wrote such a passionate, discordant, disastrous family tragedy and so aptly named her murdered protagonist Persephone after the daughter of Zeus in Greek mythology to drive the storyline to its exhilarating and apt ending! It was quite clever and showed from the beginning the stark differences between the two daughters/sisters, who shared different fathers, one named Sylvie and the other named after the greatest of all the gods...

One sister's unsolved murder, another sister's misplaced guilt and compulsion to solve her sister's murder, and a mother's desperate, heartwrenching grief over a daughter's loss make this novel more than just a mystery. It's a novel about mother, daughter, and sister bonds, and the strengths, complexities, and fragilities of those relationships. Collins has written authentic, raw, and not always likable characters who have depth and substance, which is one reason I loved the book as much as I did since excellent and meticulous characterization is one of my top reasons for enjoying a novel.

The storyline is captivating from page one and although I guessed the mystery of Persephone's murder midway, that in no way detracts from the book because the characters and their struggles to come to terms not only with Persephone's murder but also with the pain and hurts they've caused one another since then and the guilt they've carried makes for an utterly spellbinding and heartwrenching read!

Can I say that I've already read some excellent suspense novels releasing in 2019, and The Winter Sister most definitely goes on that list?! I can already predict that 2019 is going to be an outstanding writing year for suspense and thrillers and am honestly thrilled to see so many debut authors already at the top of the list! Without a doubt, I'll be watching for everything Collins writes from now on because I know it will be superb!

Collins' debut is masterful, expressive writing and domestic suspense at its best. This is one novel you don't want to miss! The Winter Sister publishes February 5, 2019, so make sure you preorder your copy now!

**Thank you NetGalley and Isabel at Atria Books for the ARC to read in exchange for my fair and honest review.**

Guilt gripped the characters of The Winter Sister, the way the suspense of this psychological thriller gripped me. Well-written and almost seamless, the dialogue flowed from one scene of intrigue into the next. Flawed but interesting, the characters of this book were believably portrayed. The book’s aimless protagonist and her alcoholic mother had a complex, but realistically conveyed relationship. I wanted to know why these characters behaved the way they did. I was invested in the outcome. All the while I read, I wondered who murdered Persephone, but the answer was expertly concealed until the very end. The Greek tragedy about the death of the daughter of the mythical gods underscored this murder mystery in subtle and sophisticated ways. I could not put this book down!

Wholehearted thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy to read in exchange for my honest review. Those who love psychological thrillers and murder mysteries will enjoy this book. My only criticism is the romantic interlude between the protagonist and a murder suspect. It interrupted what was otherwise a smooth and compelling read. It seemed gratuitous and awkward. Without it, I was headed toward a perfect five stars. Even so, I give the book 4.75 stars. Reading The Winter Sister is time well spent in Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall.

THE WINTER SISTER

by

Megan Collins

Since her sister Persephone, was murdered fifteen years ago, Sylvie has always believed that Ben was the killer. The case was never solved and the effect of the crime shattered the lives of Sylvie and her mother, Annie. Ben and Persephone were seeing each other against Annie’s wishes. But why was Annie so bitterly against this relationship? Ben was an apparently decent chap from a good family. Sylvie also had reservations about this teenage romance and believes an error of judgement on her part may gave contributed to Persephone’s demise.
Annie’s totally collapse was catastrophic. The tragic death of her eldest daughter turned this affectionate fun loving mother into an alcoholic who refused to hear the dead girl’s name mentioned. Sylvie misses her sister but unable to give or receive comfort with the mother she once adored leaves her in a vacuum. What is the burden that Annie carries changing an affectionate fun loving mother into an alcoholic with a secret? Sylvie heads off to college and an independent life with no ties to home.
Now after all these years Annie’s health forces Sylvie home to care for her but their relationship is strained. Why, when they were once so close, are they now unable to converse and be open with one another? Does time not heal!
When Sylvie accidentally meets Ben, all the resentment and bitterness returns and she determines to have the case reopened and hopefully solved. Uncovering the truth opens wounds that although never healed have festered for many years poisoning the life of two families where obsessive and controlling love damaged the lives of more than one generation.
A complex and tense story that twists and turns with great satisfaction. It is a poignant tale and very of the moment The characters are varied and well drawn. A gripping and enjoyable read.

This was a challenging book for me, because the alcoholic parent was a trigger for some things about my own upbringing. I thought the mystery was good, but I did find it difficult to connect with, and even like, many of the characters. I was surprised at the resolution of the mystery and I know there will be many readers who will like this story. I will certainly recommend it. It was just a bit of a challenge for me due to the stated reasons. Thanks for the e-galley and the opportunity to review it.

There's nothing too terribly surprising in the plot of THE WINTER SISTER, but as any romance reader will tell you, you don't need a surprising plot to make a good book. Sylvie O'Leary has spent the past sixteen years of her life thinking about her sister Persephone's murder and the culprit who went free--who she is sure is Persephone's then-boyfriend, Ben Emory. But for a case this cold, it's going to take a lot more than a few questions asked to solve the mystery...it's going to uproot lives.

While some things were utterly predictable (like a particular relationship I won't name by name but REALLY NOW) I still wasn't entirely sure of the answer until the very end. Not necessarily surprised by it, but not sure it was the right answer. There's some real depth to these characters, and they don't always (immediately) act how you expect them to. It's the little things that make the difference.

All in all, a good read, well worth the time spent on it. Would recommend.

This was creepy...I don't have many other words. LOL

Not as suspenseful as I had hoped, but a creepy premise all the same. Small town, with twisted relationships abound.

I read this thrilling book in one rainy afternoon. It completely engrossed me and I couldn't put it down. 16 years ago, Sylvie's sister was missing and found murdered. Sylvie returns home to take care of her mother who at best is a very difficult person. While Sylvie is home, she delves back into trying to find out what happened to her sister. This is a thrilling ride that takes a look at mother daughter relationships as well as sisterly love. There is many secrets that come to light. It was a thrilling ride that I enjoyed until the very last page. I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Touchstone Atria Books. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Touchstone, I had the pleasure of reading the debut novel, The Winter Sister, by author Megan Collins. I find it hard to believe that this is her first book because it’s so well written. I absolutely loved this story! It completely held my interest and I was really disappointed every time I would have to set it down to do other tasks. I would classify its genre as a mystery/suspense. It was a family drama centered around the death of a teenage daughter with years of secrets and lies involved. The characters were very true and lifelike and easy to relate to. It was a heartbreaking story about a cold case that finally gets solved and brings closure to the surviving mother and daughter. I really enjoyed reading this story and would highly recommend it to others who enjoy books of this genre. I believe I’ll even buy a physical copy for myself upon release date to add to my own book collection. It was that good! I feel this author has a very promising future and I’m looking forward to reading whatever novel she writes next.