First off, thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the Arc. I wanted to read this when I saw the description (and the cover), and overall I am left with a middle of the road feeling. The story follows three sisters, who all come together after some time apart, but one of them is a killer.

First off the good: It is very well written, the characters are distinct, their world is flushed out, the passage of time felt realistic, and the killings were interesting. There was certainly a feeling of suspense for at least half the novel, and I was very engaged from the get go.

As for the not so great; I felt like there was a lot of repetition, as we would learn something from one sister and then in the very next chapter get the same information from another sister. The murderer would describe her murders, which I thought was great, reminded me a little of the character Dexter, but then we would get the description again from the detective. I just felt like "I know this already, why am I seeing this again?"

Also with only 3 sisters, at some point whoever the killer is going to be, won't be that surprising, as a reader the instinct is to guess or to figure it out, and hopefully be surprised, but it wasn't.

I honestly would be interested to read another thriller from this author, as the writing is fantastic, but needs to stick the landing (ending) a little bit better.

Trigger warnings of sexual and child abuse

So good, you’ll never want to put this book down. Highly enjoyable and unpredictable. This summers must read.

From the get I want to say that if you are sensitive to conversation about sexual violence and child sex abuse, it is wise to steer clear of this book.

Sister, Butcher, Sister by K.D. Aldyn follows three sisters- Aurora, Kate & Peggy- whose normal but separate lives are interrupted by unwelcome memories reemerging after the oldest sister Kate moves into their late (and beloved) grandfather’s home. All the while, “She” is a violent serial killer targeting problematic men. We find ourselves in the killer’s head through POV chapters, and find that it is filled with hateful, gruesome thoughts of gore and murder of which She is sexually gratified by. As the story progresses, we realize “She” is one of the three sisters, committing these increasingly gruesome murders during periods of blackout.

We follow along as these three women navigate their blurry histories and unstable relationships with each other, while inevitably unveiling which of the sisters is committing these crimes.

Sexual violence and the patriarchal response to it is a central theme in this piece. Aldyn includes a warning at the beginning of the book telling you so, which I think was a compassionate choice. The language she used describing the abuse (and murders) didn’t seem to be placed only for shock-value, but didn’t lack the ability to invoke a response in the reader.

Aldyn’s language in this novel is fantastic in my opinion- descriptions within the story whether they were meant to be beautiful and reminiscent (or shocking and disgusting) were done very well and painted a very clear picture of not only what our characters are engaging in, but the emotionality of what’s being described.

In terms of the pacing, I feel like unless you’re paying very close attention, it can be easy to get lost on what the timeline is throughout the story. Not necessarily between flashes of the past and present, but the storyline as a whole.

I can’t say the ending was a huge surprise given the buildup shining a harsher light of focus on the other two sisters- but part of me wishes the big switch up was that it wasn’t any of the sisters at all. Personally, I jump between wishing it was none of the sisters or even all three- and they never get caught. I think many victims of CSA/SA like to explore reclaiming their control and power over an inherently powerless situation whether it be through exposure, revenge or even violence- however I think there may be an implication in the “abused child turns into insane woman” concept that could potentially be seen as controversial.

Overall, I think it’s a well put together piece that feels like it may even be cathartic for some. Given the topic, I don’t think it will please everybody- but I do think it will be successful for the demographic I think Aldyn is actually trying to reach.

“ Don’t you think women are capable of evil?”
You gotta love women serial killers right? Especially women trying to scour evil men from the world..

This novel follows 3 sisters, and unraveling what happened between the past and now. The timeline could have been developed better, at some parts it was a little confusing. The book itself was great though, and the ending got me emotional.
*check your trigger warnings.

This was a 5 star book for me. I did not see that ending coming and was kept on my toes the whole time, grabbing whatever time I had to read. It was absolutely amazing

This was such a good book!!! It is a perfect psychological thriller with so many twists and turns. You never really know where the book is going. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I'm an enormous mystery fan, and I find myself exhausted by gimmicks in the genre such as amnesia being used as a way to create suspense. However, the structure of this novel couldn't be farther from a gimmick--it lends itself to deep characterization and wonderment at what trauma can do to our memories and our psyches. A truly thrilling and thought provoking ride!

This ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

“Which one of them did it???” Was the question running through my mind throughout the entire book. I had my suspicions but they kept changing. Beyond the serial killer thread, this was a book of crazy family drama false memories and questioning what memories could be real. I enjoyed this journey of the three sisters and what happened to them in their lives. Compelling and fun to try to guess the killer.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.

Oh what a book! Debut crime from this author.and boy do they need to do more please.
I couldn't put it down. It was full of edge of your seat hooks. It was fast paced so you were tumbling over the pages to find out who was who. Bad or good?
And then there is the secrets. And the pasts of all our three sisters. And your constantly trying to figure out if these girls are OK. And or if they could commit murder, ha!
Brilliant twist at the end too.

Three sisters, three different stories that are all intertwined. This storyline had me hooked and guessing right up until the very end.
Featuring graphic content that some authors may stray from, strong and well written female characters, twisty murders, what more could you want?! I really enjoyed this book, this is a fantastic debut novel by KD Aldyn and I cannot wait to see future works.
While the format of writing was slightly confusing in the beginning, as the book went on it was easier to understand and I really enjoyed the multiple POV's.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sister, Butcher, Sister was such a quick read and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I was able to guess the ending but had fun nevertheless,

Ahhh, where to begin with this review?! This was the first book from this author I’ve had the pleasure of reading. The story follows three sisters, all of whom are complex, flawed individuals, as well as a serial killer known as “she”. “She” is deranged, and cunning.

K.D. Aldyn created an expertly crafted plot, full of unexpected twists and turns. Just when you think you’ve figured out who the killer is, here comes a curve ball out of left field leading you astray. The point-of-view changes help to keep things interesting, especially since it gives such a personal look into the antagonists mind and inner workings.

While the plot overall was interesting, the timeline was a little unclear in parts of it, jumping forward suddenly in places. I think that could definitely be worked on in future novels.

Overall this is definitely a great psychological thriller read for the summer. I will be awaiting seeing what else this author comes out with in this genre!

This was a really well done psychological thriller novel, it had that suspenseful atmosphere that I was looking for and thought it worked well overall. I was engaged with the characters and how everything worked together to tell the story. KD Aldyn has a strong writing style and was glad I got to reading this.

This book will be THE thriller of the summer in 2025! This was AMAZING for KD Aldyn’s first crime thriller! The writing was descriptive and enticing and easy to read with strong visuals and well-written characters. It follows the POVs of three sisters (Kate, Aurora, and Peggy) and an extremely dark, hurt serial killer who seems like she could be one of the sisters. Peggy is a recovered addict, Aurora is the picture perfect mom figure, and Kate is a lawyer who recently purchased their late grandfather’s house, stirring up repressed memories and nightmares for each sister. Their childhood is cloudy for all three of them, and the storyline builds the mystery of why all three sisters have seemingly blocked out memories. The sisters are working to rebuild their relationship and they each reach really sweet milestones in their life, which creates happy and rewarding moments within the story. But each sister seems to have their own secrets and as newspapers cover the murders and law enforcement begins to pick up a trail, the sisters all start to come undone…. the whole time you’re wondering which sister is twisted enough to murder and mutilate (dark and somewhat detailed, but not overly gory). And truly, it’s quite the twist at the end to find out which sister is the “butcher” - it’s not easily discernible! Overall, this thriller will be on my mind for a longgggg while and I think it will be THE thriller of the summer when it comes out!

I really loved the format of this book. Chapters alternated between each sister's perspective and also included additional chapters focusing a character only referenced as "she." She is one of the 3 sisters who also happens to be serial killer. The author did a great job of adding many red herrings to each sister's chapter and I really could not guess which sister was the serial killer until the end.

Overall I enjoyed the book. However, there were some drawbacks:

- The start was a bit slow but provided necessary character background for the rest of the story. I could not put it down once the pace picked up and stayed up until 3 am to finish it.

- The ending seemed abrupt to me and felt like it needed a few more pages.

- There is a trigger warning in the beginning book identifying topics included such as incest and gruesome violence. This book had the most graphic descriptive scenes I have ever read in a book and definitely made me a bit uncomfortable. I think the book still could have had the same story without quite so man graphic details but others may disagree.

This was really a fantastic debut and I will be anxiously awaiting this author's next book. Thank you so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an ARC.

Couldn’t put the book down. (While reading waiting for my delayed flight, on the flight home, on the bus home, and finished it before heading to bed!)

I found this book to be an intriguing read, with a story that had moments of genuine emotion. The prose, while often beautiful, occasionally veered into being too flowery, which sometimes distracted from the narrative.

The sisters at the heart of the story were portrayed as rather average in personality, which made it hard to form a deep emotional connection with them. It was heartbreaking to see how their suffering was tolerated by those around them, contributing to the weight of their trauma.

One notable aspect of the book was the vivid descriptions of (some of) the kills. While dramatic and engaging, they left me questioning their anatomical plausibility. It felt like some creative liberties may have been taken, which might not sit well with readers who prefer realism in such details.

Overall, this was a fun, thrilling read, emotional, but not without its flaws. At the end, you just want to find out who did it. Which sister…

I did not actually finish this book as unfortunately I do not think it is for me. While I feel it has great potential and I feel many others may love this book it was not for me. I found that there were quite a few details that could have been skipped as they did not add to the story only the word count. The plot is great and the story has a really interesting concept. Which i feel for readers that love all the extra detail and small add ins that let us get to know the characters more in depth they would love this book.

I am absolutely blown away by what I just read in Sister, Butcher, Sister. This book grabbed me from the very first page and never let go. The writing is sharp, evocative, and unflinching, pulling you into a world where nothing is as it seems and every character is hiding something.

The plot is a masterclass in tension. At first glance, it's a story about sibling rivalry, family secrets, and the dark undercurrents that run beneath our most intimate relationships. But as you get deeper into the narrative, the layers begin to peel back, revealing twists that I genuinely did not see coming. The author has such a deft hand with suspense—it’s not just the big moments that leave you gasping, but the quiet, subtle ones, too. Every word feels deliberate, and every scene seems to carry its own weight.

The sisters at the heart of this story are complex, flawed, and utterly fascinating. Their relationship is fraught with love, betrayal, and an almost tangible sense of competition that comes across as both heartbreaking and utterly real. You can feel the pull between them, the push and pull of affection and resentment, and it’s so easy to get emotionally invested in their fates.

What really sets Sister, Butcher, Sister apart, though, is its exploration of identity and morality. The author takes the reader to uncomfortable places, forcing you to question who the real "villain" is in this story, and whether anyone is truly blameless. By the end, I found myself not just thinking about the plot, but also reflecting on the nature of family, loyalty, and the lengths we’ll go to protect ourselves from the truth.

If you’re looking for a book that will haunt you long after you’ve finished it, Sister, Butcher, Sister is it. It's raw, it's intense, and it will leave you thinking—and rethinking—everything you thought you knew about the characters and their world. I honestly can't recommend it enough. Prepare yourself for a reading experience that will leave you both shaken and mesmerized.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions, are my own.

My final book of 2024 and what a book to end on 🙌

When I first started this book, I was confused 🤷🏼‍♀️ I found it tricky to follow as I didn't really know what I was following. It went straight into the storyline, which I found a little confusing. However, once I'd got to grips with all the characters, I devoured this book! I found every opportunity to pick it up and read it!

It is fast-paced with multiple POVs, it is quite gory which I absolutely love, the more gory the better 🙌 I loved following the story of Kate, Aurora and Peggy and how their haunting past was coming back to them and trying to piece it all together - what was a dream? What, if any of it, was real? Along with seeing how the characters developed and how their personal lives developed outside of the main storyline.

This book keeps you hooked and is a brilliant read! The only thing stopping me from giving this book 5⭐️ was the slower start, for me personally.

I am so grateful to announce that I received this novel as an ARC reader. And I am so thrilled that they did! I have to be completely honest in saying that I had no idea who the author was of this novel. When I was researching new books to read, I came upon the front cover and was completely captivated. And after reading this thriller, I’m proud to say that KD Aldyn has now become one of my must-read authors! I found that the beginning of this book was intriguing and captivating from the very first page. KD Aldyn did an outstanding job keeping the story interesting. I had no idea which sister was doing what until the end of this novel. I enjoyed both POV’s from all three sisters. From Kate, to Aurora , to the little sister Peggy, I found myself being able to relate to all three of them. being a sister of through myself, I could feel myself leaning towards one sister over the other, but the author created such a fascinating storyline that I was surprised at who it was at the very end. An astounding, 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ novel for sure! I highly recommended to anyone in need of a good thriller novel!