Tha main characters in this book are Ava and Jamie (brother and sister), Jamie's wife... and Blackwood Mansion. The house is so much a part of the story that it is like another character.

Ava and Jamie grow up in Blackwood Mansion with a ghost that they call Cinderella. Their mother dies, and they end up leaving the mansion. Ava comes back years later to figure out what happened.

This story is told from the 3 points of view, which I am always a sucker for. I had chills while reading this book, and it had almost a gothic feel.

I loved the first 3/4 of the book. I was totally engrossed. But then it started to lose me. It was almost like it was a different book. The characters acted differently, and it didn't ring true. And I 100% knew where it was headed - the mystery was gone.

I give the first part of the book 4. stars, but the last part gets 2-3 stars. So let's average the whole book as a 3. Is it worth reading? yes. But get it from the library.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and to #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

Another netgalley ARC! 💕

Blackworth Mansion is literally the stuff of nightmares. Haunted by a resident ghost, regret, and lots of secrets.

When Ava returns to the mansion seventeen years after her mother's untimely death, her fears return- fears of ghosts, her father, and the secrets of her family's deadly past.

I figured out the twist in this one about half way through - the clues were subtle but so well placed. Even though I had my suspicions, I still couldn't wait to see how the story wrapped up- a testament to the talent of the author !

I'm going to work backwards now and go grab her first novel !

This book releases October 18, 2022!

⭐⭐⭐

@lindsaymarcott
#bookreview #netgalley #arc #thriller #spooky

SHADOW SISTER really had me in its creepy, spooky grasp for the first two-thirds of the book, but the last third was simply too unrealistic to believe. The interactions of the three main characters (Ava, Jamie and Jamie's wife) are convoluted and all of them act in ways that are inconsistent with what we have come to know about the characters. Even at the end, these interactions don't make sense. That said, parts of this book were extremely satisfying and I would certainly try another novel by Marcott.

Lindsay Marcott has done it again!

Shadow Sister is a stunning story of the different types of ghosts that haunt us.
Actual ghosts, yes, but also the ghosts of what could have been, the ghosts of forgotten memories, and the ghosts of betrayed trust.

As Ava returns home and is forced to face the ghosts she'd left behind, she is thrust back into a home filled with lies.

"and I'd felt a burst of love with a twinge of some aching pain."

Marcott's writing is descriptive and atmospheric, placing the reader right into Blackworth Mansion and visualizing all of its gothic glory. The twists and turns keep the suspense high throughout the story, and the characters are beautifully flawed. I was enthralled from page one and never wanted to put this book down!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Thomas & Mercer and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Intriguing, suspenseful, you won’t want to put it down. The premise is definitely interesting and unique. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

I'm so glad I chose to read this book because it was better than I expected. Ava has returned home to Blackworth Mansion to determine once and for all why her mother, Christina, really passed away seventeen years ago. Officially, she died of natural causes, but Ava has never believed that. She's been haunted by memories that hint at a much more sinister cause. But is that because she always believed Blackworth itself to be haunted? Or was her mother truly the victim of foul play?

Her older brother, Jamie, has never shared her beliefs and has no interest in even keeping Blackworth in the family. He's trying to convince Ava to sell, partly due to his new love, Sarah. At least, that's what Ava thinks. Sarah knew of the popular siblings back when they were teenagers but wasn't friends with them. She's excited to be part of their lives now, and wants to be a part of their family, too. Sarah always wanted a sister, and she and Ava hit it off immediately.

Ava tells her quite a bit about her family and the history of Blackworth. She even shares her belief that the mansion is haunted, by the ghost of a young woman tragically killed in the house decades ago. Her mother named the ghost Cinderella, due to a fire that destroyed the section of the mansion where she was murdered. That part of the house has remained in ashes and was never rebuilt - ergo, the name Cinderella. Sarah is fascinated and Ava is grateful for her support. Perhaps with Sarah's help, Ava can uncover the truth about Christina's death and finally put the past behind her.

The story was so engrossing, I didn't want to put it down for a second. Even if you know what's coming, it doesn't matter because the story itself and the way it's told is so good. It will keep you hooked until the very last page - it doesn't get better than that!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.
At first I found the book a little confusing getting used to the various characters, but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. The mysterious Blackworth Mansion, the strange family, the ghost, the whole atmosphere, it was fascinating and a little creepy.
When the daughter Ava decides to come back to live there, she wants to find out if her mother's death was natural or a murder. When her brother Jamie has a serious accident, he comes back to the mansion along with his enigmatic wife, who I didn't trust from the beginning. Things come to a boiling point and the ending is so tense and eerie, it was impossible to tear myself away from the story.
Great, spooky read, I really enjoyed it!

This book is addicting. It takes place in the supposedly haunted Blackworth Mansion and I’m a sucker for a spooky atmosphere! Ava decides to return to her childhood home to try to find closure regarding her mothers suspicious death. Her brother, Jamie, has impulsively married the mysterious Sarah Davis after only a month. Thomas a childhood friend and now successful architect may be trying to purchase the Blackworth Mansion from under their noses. Now add in poisonings, murder, a ghost and about a million lies. This book was WILD, y’all.

Overall it’s a super quick, spooky read. A little predictable at times but there were so many mysteries to solve, I didn’t mind that. I loved the atmosphere and the multiple narratives. There were a lot of characters but they were all easy to keep track of and each one was interesting.

A stunning read from start to finish!

I couldn't put this book down and finished it in one sitting. The author alternates between past and present and different character POVs that will keep you guessing until the grand reveal. There were a couple of loose ends that I felt could be tied up tighter with some minimal effort but they don't detract much - and since this was an ARC, who knows, maybe they'll make the final cut in the end!

I really enjoyed this book! It hooked me from the first chapter and kept me glued to my seat to find out what happened next!

I loved Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost, I was very thrilled for the opportunity to read a new book by Lindsay. Which of course she didn't disappoint me either.
Shadow Sister was just as great.
This book totally captivated me and had my complete attention right to the very end.
I absolutely loved it! It was an unputdownable story.
Lindsay Marcott created such vivid characters and immediately I was sucked up into Ava's world and didn't want to leave it.
The writing was incredible and intriguing. I couldn't and didn't want to stop..
A must read book that will keep you turning the pages wondering what will happen next!!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Thomas & Mercer,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

In the beginning, I found this book a bit confusing with the back and forth of characters. They weren’t introduced very well at first. As I kept reading, the bigger picture came into place and then I didn’t want to put the book down. Every time I thought the truth would come out, or something bad would happen, it was another unexpected turn of events. I really enjoyed this book.

Chilling. Haunting. Intoxicating.

Shadow Sister captivated me from page one. The plot centers around Ava and Jamie, two children who grew up in the beautiful Blackwood Mansion with their parents, and a ghost they call Cinderella. When Christina, the children's mom dies tragically in the house, Ava begins to wonder if their ghost isn't friendly, and if something much more sinister is going on. Years later she returns to the mansion to try to find out what really happened to her mother.

Set on the California coastline, at times this book gave me a chill similar to what I had when reading "Big Little Lies." The story is told from multiple viewpoints, and one of the author's strengths is she truly makes you care about each character, even the deeply flawed ones.

I was engrossed in this novel and could not put it down. Even when I figured out certain plot points, another layer was revealed that left me wanting more. What is better than a novel that keeps you guessing the entire time? This is a gripping, must read, for any thriller fans! I loved it!

It’s been almost twenty years since Ava has been home. As a child, living in Blackworth Mansion afforded he some cachet as the girl who lived in the haunted house, but when her mother died, Ava wanted nothing more to do with the house. Now, Ava is back to try to discern what really happened to her mother; she never believed her death was the result of natural circumstances. Now, however, the walls of Blackworth are closing in on her, and she suspects everyone, her from her estranged family to her new lover, have ulterior motives. This is a first rate modern gothic, full of chills and supernatural skullduggery

Returning to the home she once knew, Ava’s life of haunting mystery is set to Follow her.
Twists and turns throughout this plot lead you to a thrilling climax. Beautifully written and highly enjoyable. Easy read too.