Cover Image: The Better Sister

The Better Sister

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Member Reviews

This was a very well-written thriller. I read so many thrillers that they all tend to sound the same after a while, but this story line was just different enough to keep my interest peaked. There are many questions that need to be answered in this book: Who killed the husband? What's going on with his son? Which sister should be trusted or should they both be trusted? I had a good idea of who the killer was, but I did enjoy the way the author got to the big reveal. I also enjoyed the relationship between the son, his mother, and his aunt. I highly recommend this book to mystery/thriller lovers.

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As my youngest would say . . . . . sucks to suck.

That’s soooooooo applicable here because The Better Sister was a damn good domestic thriller (as can be seen by my rating). Not only did it hold my interest throughout, but it did so without me even realizing how much progress I was making until I sat down to finish it last night and only had about 20% remaining. Burke also proved she knows which lane to stay in. This was a domestic - NOT a police procedural or a courtroom drama or a wife sticking her nose where it didn’t belong and doing what the pros couldn’t do – and it remained focused on the family throughout. Not to mention it didn’t attempt to throw everything at the wall to see what would stick or bounce around in different timelines or via different narrators. So why does it suck to suck???? Well, because the focus on the kid maybe being the answer behind the whodunit reminded me of Defending Jacob, and nothing can compete with that. Thus the 4 Stars, but hey 4 Stars ain’t nuttin’ to cry about.

Really, aside from the focus being on the son as the suspect in the father’s murder there were a lot of differences. Mainly in the form of our solo narrator Chloe who had worked her way up the magazine publishing world and instantly brought visions of Miranda Priestley or Anna Wintour to mind (even though she wasn’t presented as such a ballbuster.) She obviously did have ambitions and a willingness to do whatever was necessary in order to get what she wanted, however, since she not only ended up at the top of the heap of the magazine industry but also ended up marrying her sister’s husband!

And what about that husband? Well, he’s dead so he doesn’t really have much to say about things. You just have to figure out whodunit and why. Just watch out so you don’t get knocked out by all the skeletons that start falling out of the closets.

If you like your beachy reads on the stabby side, this might be a winner because homeboy gets stabbed FIVE TIMES : )

If you want to know you live with a bunch of potential serial killers ask the question “what’s a buck knife?” while you’re reading and have multiple examples be brought to you . . . . .

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

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Omg I totally did backflips when I was granted this novel! I love Alafair Burke books! I wasn’t disappointed by her newest book! It’s awesome! I’m not gonna spoil andything for you because you have to get this and read it! You won’t regret it I promise! Thank you to publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a book that starts off strong but quickly loses momentum. Questions that should be answered are ignored and the plot becomes so convoluted that I lost interest. Author gets bogged down in prosecutorial details.

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Chloe married her sister’s husband. She raised her nephew as her own child. Years later when her husband is murdered and her son arrest d, she has to be honest with herself about her life and her past.

The Better Sister combines the recent increase in awareness of abuse and harassment through stories like the Me Too movement with a crime story. Not so much a Who-Done-It as a Why-Did-It-Happen story. It started slowly for me, but the last half moved along at a nice pace.

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This book was just okay for me. It had its moments when it was entertaining, but for the most part, I just couldn’t get into it. It just wasn’t my style and failed to hold my attention.

There was a lot of going back and forth which didn’t appeal to me. And it was no surprise what was really going on. It was predictable and slow going. The time spent on the details the author chose to make the book about wasn’t appealing either. I found my mind wandering a lot throughout this book.

I did however enjoy the last quarter of the book. I liked the court procedural and the way the book ended.

That being said, I know a lot of people would enjoy this book and I can see myself recommending it to others that I think would like it, so I decided to give it 3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a twisty domestic thriller that will keep you guessing. Who killed Adam? Was it his wife Chloe- no, she found him. The police think it was his son, Ethan but Chloe, his stepmom doesn't. Her sister, Nicky, is actually Chloe's mom. There's a backstory to this one which has a wingding of a relevant twist to it. Chloe is convinced the murder is somehow the result of Adam's work- he was a prosecutor turned private attorney and something doesn't ring true to her about a meeting he claimed he had. Pull away the trappings - Chloe is a high powered journalist/editor and they head homes in Manhattan and on Long Island - and this is just another really messed up family. Burke wisely plays with privilege here to keep everyone sympathetic. While I enjoyed it- and I certainly did- this is not my favorite of Burke's work. As always, she incorporates some nice points of law (and detective work) and created memorable characters, not just in Chloe/Nicky/Ethan but also in Olivia and Catherine. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Perfect if you're looking for a page turner.

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The Better Sister by Alafair Burke features sisters Chloe and Nicky who appear to have been competing with each other all of their lives. Chloe has even gone to the extreme of marrying her sister's former husband and becoming a co-parent to Nicky's son. However, when Chloe's husband is murdered it becomes time for the sisters to stop fighting and to start building a relationship that will keep them both out of jail and in the lives of their son. Lots of family drama in this tale! Read and enjoy!

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Chloe Taylor moves to New York City for her writing career while her older sister Nicky stays in Cleveland. A crisis with Nicky brings Chloe closer to her sister's husband. Soon Chloe starts a new life with her sister's ex-husband, Adam, and becomes mother to her nephew, Ethan. Tragedy strikes ten years later which brings the two estranged sisters back together to deal with the unimaginable circumstances.

I've enjoyed other novels by this author and was eager to read her latest. Chloe and Adam are wealthy and attractive and seem to have it all. As the book unfolds, many secrets come out that change your perception of the characters. From what I read at the beginning of the book, I was prepared to dislike Nicky. I was pleasantly surprised to find her to be a straight-talking breath of fresh air. She has made a lot of mistakes in her life, but now she tells it like it is and is fiercely loyal to those she cares about.

The story takes numerous twists and turns. Once I would get my head wrapped around one scenario, the plot would turn again and I would have to rethink everything. I really enjoyed how things turned out in the end. Burke has become one of my favorite authors for well-written suspense novels, and although the book isn't perfect, I was entertained from the beginning until the very end.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of HarperCollins. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

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I really like this author and I feel like I know I'll be getting a solid book every time. It wasn't particularity surprising or different from many other suspense/thrillers but I read it all in a couple of hours and even though the twists and turns were mostly predictable, I still enjoyed the ride. It will definitely be popular.

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What are family secrets? What happens behind that front door of any home? Be prepared for some very surprising twists as two estranged sisters once again connect as family. One is married to the murder victim Adam, the other his ex Nicky. Shared by the three is a young teen, Ethan, whose life will soon be upturned taking the story down a path of what goes on behind closed doors. Chloe is a well known editor in chief of a magazine and outspoken member of the #metoo movement. Nicky the sister has floated from job to job and always seemed to be the loose cannon. The husband between them, Adam a lawyer, is murdered one weekend at their Hampton home while Chloe attends a party. As the surprising story weaves through investigations, accusations, police questioning, trial, and personal exposure of the family behind the 'what makes us look normal' viewpoint will keep the reader pursuing through the twists and turns to who did or did not murder Adam.

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If you read the blurb of the book, then you know that Chloe Taylor marries her sister’s husband and becomes stepmother to her sister Nicky’s son, Ethan. Adam was married to Nicky who helped him get through law school. Then they had a son Ethan but Nicky had a drug problem. They lived in Cleveland. Chloe, her younger sister lived in New York and is having a very successful career. Adam divorces Nicky, gets custody of his son and moves to New York. Eventually Chloe and Adam marry but Nicky still has contact with her son. Jump 14 years later and Adam was a prosecutor but Chloe wanted Adam to go into the private sector. They have an affluent life. A beautiful apartment in Manhattan and a home in the Hamptons, in Long Island. Then one night Chloe comes home to her house in Long Island to find Adam stabbed to death. Eventually there is a trial but I do not want to give away any spoilers. There are definitely a few twists in the end and I enjoyed this book. It was well written and as the book progresses there are many revelations. I recommend this book if you like a domestic mystery. I would like to thank net galley for an ARC of this book for an honest review. (less)

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This is the first book I've read by Alafair Burke, but it definitely won't be the last. I enjoyed the mystery and the legal aspects of the story. The characters were well developed, and I did not see the twist coming.

*Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

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Thank you SO much for this ARC! Alafair Burke is one of my favorite authors so I was so delighted to read and review.

This book does not disappoint! Burke consistently puts out excellence. This was thrilling with a plot twist that I actually did not see coming. I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next.

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I was beyond excited when I started this book. Alafair Burke never disappoints and this time was no different. What I love about her books is how they tend to have a legal angle which sets them apart from other books in this genre.

Of the two sisters, who is the better sister? Chloe steps in to raise her wayward sisters son, and Nicky.... Well you have to read it. Very good book!

Thank you to netgalley and Harper Collins for allowing me to review this ARC!

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I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley.

fast paced, easy to full, suspenseful and drama.

Read it.

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This one is truly a page-turner! After the mysterious death of her husband Adam, Chloe is swept up in a whirlwind of questioning herself and her relationships with those around her. Her own stepson is charged with the murder. His mother, Chloe's sister relocates to lend support. The complicated relationship between Chloe and her sister Nicky are at the center of this narrative. There are many surprises in store for the reader. Burke fans will find this to be an enjoyable read. It was a bit too political for my tastes, but is definitely a worthy successor to "The Wife."

A big thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Fast-paced, great mystery, well-developed characters, and a good twist at the end that I didn’t see coming!

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Alafair Burke does it again! A timely domestic suspense with twists I never saw coming, this was one I read in one sitting. Ms. Burke just keeps upping her game.

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I was happy to receive a copy of Alafair Burke’s The Better Sister from Harper Collins and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Why happy? Alafair Burke is a terrific writer, “domestic thriller” is one of my fave genres when done well, and the story just sounded kind of juicy.

There are two Taylor sisters who grew up in Cleveland, Nicky and her younger sister Chloe. Nicky is kind of the wild child, and Chloe the honor student. Nicky stays in Ohio, marrying Adam and having a son, Ethan. Chloe goes off to an Ivy League university, moves to New York, becomes a big deal in publishing, and is an advocate for the #metoo movement in particular and women’s rights in general. As the sisters’ lives grow apart, they essentially become strangers. Then, after Nicky and Adam divorce and he get custody of Ethan, Nicky drifts from job to job and man to man, and it seems not too much of a stretch when Adam moves to New York and hooks up with Chloe, eventually marrying her. Chloe becomes Ethan’s stepmother, although she never adopts him and Nicky retains parental rights (despite being completely absent from her son’s life).

One evening, Chloe returns to the family’s Hamptons beach house and finds Adam dead, apparently murdered by an intruder. As the investigation develops, the number one suspect seems to be Ethan, and Chloe is basically forced to allow Nicky back into her and Ethan’s lives as Nicky is Ethan’s only legal parent, and he is still a minor. The murder mystery is well done, and the writing is terrific throughout. I love the way Burke describes people via the thoughts in her characters’ heads, for example when Chloe refers to the kooky stylist she hires to get her ready for a big event: “…she was proof that some people simply choose to march to their own beat, even if they can keep perfect time with the rest of the band.”

Impossible to reveal more without including spoilers, which I NEVER do. I’m a fan of Alafair Burke, and although this one was less than perfect, it totally held my interest. I even kind of liked the resolution at the end, although I may be in the minority there. Four stars.

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