I'm starting to think that author Jessica Patch is a master mind. She is a little scary too as she writes psychological thrillers that keep me guessing. This is one wild book.
I received a copy of The Other Sister from Harlequin and NetGalley. This is my own unsolicited reaction to the book. I've read a lot of mystery/thriller books over the years and this one really got me.
Charlotte Kane has had a rough life. Her childhood in foster care leads her to wish she could have had the life her identical twin sister was fortunate enough to have when she discovers Acelynn Benedict. When Charlotte witnesses the unexpected, her life is turned upside down. Just maybe things can change for the better in her life.
There are shocking twists and turns in this book. It's a solid story for a reader but a challenge for a reviewer. I got so caught up in the plot with its twists and sharp turns. I read into the night but the reviewer in me forgot to take notes. I lost myself in this story of murder, intrigue and shocking actions.
There is also a journal from "Then" written by a mother of young children. She recorded things the one child does because she knows that one is 'not right'. Creepy.
This is listed under Christian fiction. There is a light vein in the story, no preaching at the reader. There are things in the lives of these characters that can and do happen in life. Abuse, greed, terror and thoughts that it's better on the 'other side'. The ending, whoa!
If you enjoy a wild ride of a thriller, you will surely like trying to figure out what is going on here.
This gets a five star from me.

I know the title states The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch is a dark and suspenseful thriller. However, I didn't realize how much of a psychological suspense it would be. It was much darker than I anticipated, and I got eerie vibes and could not finish. It is categorized as a Christian suspense which is why I requested the read.

Releases Apr. 22nd. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Five stars is definitely not enough for this. This is definitely movie quality book. So many twists and turns and the poor mothers in this book! This would definitely be a good Bookclub read. So many topics for a good discussion.
I really cannot say enough good things about this book!!!!

This one took me a while to get into as I found the beginning disturbed me a bit. But once I got about 1/3 of the way through, I couldn't put it down. It was incredibly TWISTY. I expected some of the twists (perils of being a thriller writer), but others blew my mind.

I love the way the end pointed to Jesus and His saving grace, but also had a character who reflected Christ's love, mercy, and grace.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers, you'll definitely want to give this one a read.

Suspense!! This story was fascinating--unlike anything I’ve read before. It was under the Christian fiction, but it definitely isn’t a Christian or faith-filled novel. But, it was good. There was a bit of eeriness to it and lots of darkness and evil. Not for the faint of heart. I was not expecting all the twists and turns and ending floored me—which I think made it better.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

𝐼 𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑎 𝒉𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑤...𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝒉𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝐼 𝑚𝑖𝑔𝒉𝑡 𝒉𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑎 𝒉𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚.

Wow! This was a very dark and intense psychological thriller. The identical twin trope used here is to explore nature vs. nature. One twin adopted into a life of luxury, and the other is a product of the foster care system, now living a life of poverty.

There is non-stop action in this novel, with a serial killer on loose, family drama, no one is who they seem to be, and a mysterious evil child at the center of it all.

The characters have layers with compassionate and terrifying personalities. The foreshadowing creates an atmospheric sense of unease and foreboding, and the lies, secrets, and betrayal make this an unputdownable thrilling read.

With themes of light vs. dark, envy, abandonment, and undertones of faith throughout the book,there is absolutely something for everyone here.

• Rich vs. Poor
• Gaslighting
• Secret twin
• Sinister plot
• Mental illness
• Addiction

Thank you to @jessicarpatch, netgalley, and Harlequin-romance. My reveal voluntary.

I cannot believe I actually loved reading this book with some of the sickest and most evil characters I have ever encountered. And the twists – apparently I was allowed to figure out some of the twists by the extremely clever way the book was written only to find out that they were really not the ultimate twist. And then I read the epilogue. The Other Sister is definitely a roller coaster ride full of darkness and then a thin glimmer of light. I had no idea it was listed as Christian Fiction, and I am totally confused about that label. But I am glad I didn’t know because if I had I would never have picked it up.

I grabbed this book from this author expecting it to be a romantic suspense. When I found out it was going to be a psychological thriller, I was a little wary but I’ve greatly enjoyed other books by this author.

A lot of this definitely turned my stomach a bit. Playing up the inherent evil in all of us but starting with someone at the age of a toddler was not a good feeling. I’ve always been fascinated with the psychology on identical twins separated at birth and how they often are mirror copies of each other in looks and life and loves. This is definitely NOT that.

This is definitely a psychological thriller. And one that deals with a ton of darkness and evil on multiple different levels. I’ve read books from her before that kind of flirt with the line, but this one feels like it crossed fully over. I heard that the faith element would be more toned down, but quite honestly, it was really nonexistent. I think I’ve read more faith elements contained in secular mainstream thrillers than this one. This was a mainstream psychological thriller. It was clean, without the swearing and explicit content and gore, but it read like a mainstream thriller.

I rounded this book up to a four, because the last section of the book had a lot of twists and turns that upped my rating and review of it. However, I would not pick up another one like this again. It would have rated higher as a pure mainstream thriller but I was expecting more from the Love Inspired line. The whole evil in all of us is a true idea, but I felt this was lacking the explicit Light that was needed to balance that, and I felt like the lack of that explicit Light – faith – was a glaring issue and made the book fall short of what it could’ve been had faith been a prominent part of it. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I enjoyed this book. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting to know more! I liked the twists and turns that this author has in her books. Will definitely read more from her!

The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch

𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
Charlotte Kane discovers she has an identical twin, Acelynn Benedict, who was adopted into a life of wealth and privilege. When tragedy strikes, Charlotte steps into Acelynn’s world - only to find herself tangled in deadly secrets where no one is who they seem.

𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡
The story alternates between Charlotte’s perspective and a mysterious journal written by a woman who believes her daughter is a psychopath. These journal chapters were some of my favorites. I loved the intrigue and guessing how it related and who was who.

Acelynn’s wealthy, awful family and friends were fun to read about, but her internal musings sometimes slowed the story down. Some of the reflections felt repetitive, and I found myself wanting more action, less thoughts.

The ending sped up and there were so many twists I didn’t see coming which was fun, and I really enjoyed the final scene!

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
If you love messy rich people and the secrets they hide, this one’s for you. And if you enjoy a lot of introspection in your thrillers - plus the shenanigans of someone stepping into another’s life - run to read it!

Thanks to @Netgalley @HarlequinPublicityteam and @HarlequinAudio for access to this advanced readers copy

A psychological thriller with some edge of the seat moments. Suspenseful with twists and turns that kept it unpredictable all the way through to the end. Definitely unique characters, with a glimpse into the life of a person who experienced less than ideal foster care and a drug-addicted parent. It takes a candid snapshot of families who look perfect on the outside but hold terrible secrets underneath. The web of deception and lies is a trap for Charlotte, but a ray of light shines through the dark with a bit of hope and redemption at the end.
Readers who like suspenseful mysteries with an edge may like this one. Better for mature readers due to subject matter. 4.5 stars

The Other Sister is a twisty psychological thriller that will keep you guessing right to the end. Oh, my goodness! So many shockers and so much tension. I loved going on this trip with the protagonist, Charlotte Kane, who is no saint. The whole time I was reading, I was asking, “Is she telling the truth?” “And, what about her…Is she telling the truth?” “And, is he telling the truth?” In other words, I trusted no one.

It's billed as Christian, general fiction, mystery, and thriller and is published by Harlequin, known for romance, so there’s plenty of room for all readers. I would not read it expecting a romance or Christian fiction, though—one character wears a cross necklace and it’s free of foul language and sex. That’s about it, but it is a nice change from most contemporary fiction.

Themes of sisterhood, motherhood, family, friendship, and “friends as family” collide with themes of identity, loyalty, appearance, wealth, and deception. The ever-intriguing conflicts that arise from a difference in socio-economic class and the unending question of nature versus nurture add depth to the mystery.

I loved it. Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

4.5 stars!

Charlotte Kane discovers she has an identical twin sister, Acelynn Benedict, who has a seemingly perfect life. After a tragedy, Charlotte assumes her sister's identity, only to uncover dark secrets and realize that no one in Acelynn's life is who they seem to be. Charlotte wants to escape this dangerous situation, but revealing the truth would mean returning to her old, troubled life.

I am still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions this book has left me with! This is the third book I have read this month centered around twins, and the plot twists just keep getting more intricate. The rollercoaster ride of this book took me by surprise, as I found myself unable to predict the ending despite my best efforts.

Once again, we are thrust into the world of identical twins assuming each other's identities with seemingly little consequence...or so it seems. We follow the lives of Charlotte and Acelyn, both with their own unique set of side characters that are easily distinguishable. Most of these characters were quite unlikable, adding to the suspense and mystery of the story. It may seem simple for twins to switch lives, but the reality is far more complex, as even identical twins have distinct personalities. The plot was well-crafted, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

I was fortunate enough to experience this story through both an audiobook and an eBook, providing me with a dual perspective. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing the story to life, further immersing me in the narrative. I found myself completely engrossed in the story, struggling to pause or walk away when necessary.

If you enjoy delving into the dark and twisted world of twin dynamics, filled with suspense and guessing games, then this book is a must-read for you.

Thank you, Love Inspired Trade and Harlequin Audio, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I thought it was very thought provoking to think about what life would be like if I found out I had a twin sister who lived an affluent life. Especially if I had the chance to assume her identity. This book gave a good job of how that could go very wrong. This was a really good psychological thriller and was better than I had expected.

Like other Jessica R. Patch books, once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch is another page-turner with a twist. Just when you think you have it figured out get ready for a surprise while reading this stolen identity, psychological thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend it to my friends. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Books for letting me preview this book. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to leave a positive review & all opinions are my own.

Thank you to Harlequin -Love Inspired Trade and NetGalley for an early chance to read and review this book. All thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.

Charlotte Kane has always dreamed of a different life and then after her mother dies she discovers she has a twin who had been put up for adoption. Acelynn Benedict lives in Savannah, and seem to have everything Charlotte craves. She’s just as surprised as Charlotte to learn she has a sister. But when tragedy hits and Charlotte is forced to assume Acelynn’s identity in a desperate moment, she uncovers something altogether darker. Nothing and no one in Acelynn’s life is what it/they, seem(s). For Charlotte, going back to her old life would sign her death warrant.

I struggled with this book in the beginning. It is like Charlotte did every stupid thing, but not the right thing. However, although this book does not have implicit faith for most of the book but by the end of the book we can see a change occur thanks to a caring cop. I was super frustrated with Charlotte. However, those plot twists at the end got me. I did not see them coming. Because of how much Charlotte got on my nerves at the beginning and the fact that I struggled to get into it at beginning. I only gave it three stars.

This book definitely would qualify as a thriller or to be more specific, a psychological thriller. Because of this, I would not recommend this book to every reader of Christian Fiction. However, if you enjoy twisty, turny books exploring creepy crimes then this could be your book. #theothersister
#netgalley

“Her eyes are vacant orbs that pierce my soul and chill my bones.”

That’s the first line of this book, and from it to the VERY end, there are more lines like that, leaving you shaking. Wow!
This newest psychological thriller by Jessica R. Patch will leave you double-thinking how you see things.
I’ve loved all of this author’s books, and I will continue to read them, but I have to admit that this one was one of her most twisted and full of creepy incidents.
It was one of those books where you don’t want to put it down, but yet you do because it gets under your skin and into your head, and you don’t really want to know what’s going to happen, but yet you do! UGH! This makes for a GREAT creepy, scary suspense.
I pride myself in solving puzzles and figuring out a book's ins and outs, but I was so not even close to this one! When I thought I knew who the “bad” guy was, I stopped to remember that this was Jessica R. Patch, a master at deception and twists. I was totally stumped. Even up to the very end, I was totally blown away!
Jessica Patch is a very skilled author who weaves intriguing stories that will grip your heart and captivate your soul. Her writing will keep you on the edge of your chair and keep you reading long after it’s time to stop. She has just the right way with words, and even though her stories can be creepy, scary, and suspenseful, she weaves in hope, resolution, and justice for those who are hurting and lost.
I highly recommend picking up this book.
However, I must warn you that you might not want to read this at night! Also, be prepared: You might not get much sleep until you finish reading it!
I was given this book by the publisher, but it in no way influenced my review; all opinions are my own.

“I assumed I was walking into a happily-ever-after, but now… now I can’t help but think I might have walked into a horror film.”


Gasp. That was intense! What a brilliantly crafted thriller!

I loved this book. Although it had dark themes, I thought Patch did a great job shaping it into a redemption story and bringing the light into the darkness. And the twists were spot on! I did suspect some of them, but there were also ones I didn’t see coming! Even the ones I figured out, I’m not mad about it. I would have been mad if she didn’t go that direction.

The title is perfect, the premise compelling, and the execution thrilling.



The basic premise is this:

Charlotte has been in and out of foster homes due to her mother’s drug addiction. When her mother dies of overdose, Charlotte receives a box of her mother’s things, including the surprising knowledge that Charlotte has an identical twin.

Charlotte finds and contacts her twin, Acelynn, to meet up with her in Chicago, but when they’re together, Charlotte’s foster brother and close friend gets himself in trouble with a mobster. Things go bad fast and Charlotte witnesses the murder of not only her friend, Tommy, but also Acelynn. Her only escape route now is to lay low at Acelynn’s house, using her funds to help her find a more permanent way to disappear.

But of course, she is spotted and forced to fess up to her true identity or play the part of Acelynn until she can figure a way out. Charlotte’s own sketchy past has given her the skills to pull it off.

“We all keep certain things about ourselves locked deep down. No one knows every single thing about us or our thoughts. I even try to hide truths from my own self.”

But instead of a dream life, it’s a nightmare. There’s a serial killer on the loose nearby and apparently Acelynn was in a bit of a mess before she went to Chicago.

“I’m not sure I’ve met a single person in Acelynn’s life who isn’t pretending to be someone they aren’t. And that includes me.”

Charlotte’s abilities and street smarts are put to the test as she maneuvers a life and circle she doesn’t know, a suspicious circle Acelynn was at the middle of… with a target on her back.

“I’ve survived a lot. But can I survive this many secrets and knives plunging into my back?”



Though there is no swearing in this book, the darkness is real. There are no graphic descriptions or grisly scenes, but one of the themes in this book is about the evil in our hearts— what are we really capable of?

“Maybe we’re all coexisting, both sides fighting against each other. Sometimes the beauty wins, and sometimes it loses to the beast.”

“I’m believing more than ever that maybe it’s not our upbringing or financial status or even education that shapes us, but our hearts. And our hearts seem to all be dark and wicked to the core.”

Patch uses this identical twin trope to explore the similarities and differences (nature or nurture) between Charlotte and Acelynn— born from the same drug addict mother, but one was a product of the system and the other was adopted, now living a life of luxury and influence.

As Charlotte finds out more and more about Acelynn’s life and the people who fear her, she finds herself introspective, knowing the things she, herself, is capable of, and wondering what’s in their DNA and can she escape the evil intent she finds in her own heart?



Throughout the book we also get chapters titled ‘Then’ where a woman is sharing about her disturbing daughter:

“Other parents would judge me if they knew how terrified of my daughter I am. But they don’t know the evil I live with. The fear that always haunts me, forcing me to keep my mouth shut. They don’t have a child like mine. Vindictive. Evil. A monster. A child they fear.”

These are the darkest parts of the book as we learn the extent to which this daughter is a sociopath, doing evil things and blaming others for it and gaining power by gaining secrets, while the mother is drugged and always on the precipice of being sent away to a psychiatric facility.

As readers we are trying to identify who this sociopathic girl is and what the fallout will be when she strikes in the present.

That’s the true question of this book: how is this all connected? Or is it?

The web woven in this book was phenomenal and strong. Perhaps after sitting with it longer I might think of a loose end, but my first and second thoughts are that no, Patch covered everything and she did a fantastic job!

I wish I could read it for the first time again!

Was it too dark?

Patch actually addresses this question as she talks about one reviewer’s negative thoughts on the book saying it needed more mention of God. I found the blog post HERE and if this is a question you’re asking, her defense may be helpful for you to read.

I’ve read a lot of secular thrillers and some that are really dark, sometimes making me feel disturbed when I’m done. I did not feel that with this book at all. This book does have light and hope and truth that other dark thrillers don’t.

In most secular thrillers there may be a ‘good ending’ to some extent but there isn’t usually any sort of redemption. You’re just stuck with the twisted story.

The reality is that there is darkness in the world. And there is darkness in our hearts.

“No one’s life is filtered on the inside. We’re all a bunch of messy, broken people pretending. Except for those who are free.”

Patch uses the detective character, Christian Patrick, as the light-bringer, almost a Christ figure. In a genre where distrust is a key element, I found it nice to have a character I could trust. Christian is that character.

“He saved me in spite of my failures and flaws, and has kept the door open for confession and truth.”

I liked the illustration Christian gives Charlotte at some point in the book when he’s investigating her and she’s trying to obtain information from him. She is using Acelynn’s interior design job as a way to infiltrate Christian’s house and access his notes on the case. They are discussing new paint colors for his house.

Charlotte- “You know you can paint over wallpaper. Saves time.”

Christian- “I could. But when you paint over another layer like that, it eventually peels, and what’s underneath is revealed. I find stripping away the old, even if it appears pretty, is the right way to go about it. It’s so much easier to work with a completely bare source. It’s fresh and clean and ready for color. I don’t mind the time it takes. I’ll be happier with the results.”

Such a good illustration and a natural way to introduce truth into the story without making it preachy. The only way to break free from the chains of darkness in our hearts is to become a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come. We can’t just ‘cover it up’ and make it look nice on the outside. We need a complete overhaul.

Patch doesn’t share the gospel message word for word, so I would bet that some people reading this book may not fully get where she’s going with some of the subtle hints (it’s hard for me to know what they’ll think) but I think the light is hard to miss.

Along these same lines, we have Charlotte’s discontent with her own life and her desire for what others have. I thought this was a really profound line Patch wrote in regards to that:

“Want is an open grave that needs to be constantly filled.”


So yes, we have wickedness in this story, but we also have light and truth and I can attest that this reads different than your typical secular twisted psychological thriller even if God isn’t mentioned on every page.

Patch says in that blog that instead of telling: “I’d rather SHOW the brokenness. I’d rather use other characters to reveal parts of her heart–corruption, lies, justification of sin, wickedness and even depravity.”

I think Patch’s message is clear: Each of us has brokenness in our hearts, a depraved nature regardless of our upbringing, because we are all sinners. Sin is a path of destruction, an open grave that wants more and more. But we are not without hope. Even when we feel we have done too much and that we are outside the reach of grace, we find an outstretched hand beckoning us to come clean, to free ourselves from the chains of our sin.

And I would agree with Patch when she says, “[My God] is an all consuming fire whether he’s spoken of once or 8 times or 800.”


If you feel convicted to not read this book, by all means, stick to your convictions, but I think Patch’s writing has a great quality to it that invites readers who would not normally pick up a ‘Christian’ book to take in a story that is not afraid to enter into the real mess that we know is in the world, and offer light and hope in a way they may be more willing to hear.

It offers opportunities for us as readers to consider and wrestle with the darkness in our own hearts and the things like discontent, lies, and justification for our sin that we may need to come to terms with.



Recommendation

If you enjoy a good thriller, I would definitely recommend this book! Even if you’re generally put-off by Christian fiction, I would give this book a chance.

If you really try to avoid books that have some dark themes, then it may not be the book for you, but even with the darkness I will reiterate that there is no swearing or graphic scenes and there is plenty of light that contrasts with the darkness.

Jessica Patch is up there for some of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading more of her work!


**Received an ARC via NetGalley**

[Content Advisory: no swearing; dark themes of a sociopathic child, a serial killer, abuse, infidelity; nothing graphic is described in detail, no sex scenes but sexual things are referenced]

This book sets the standard for high-intensity psychological thrillers with a foundation of hope and faith. Charlotte finds out that she is a twin and circumstances thrust her into Acelynn’s life. Charlotte thought her life was messed up until she stepped into the dumpster fire that was Acelynn’s life. What a wild ride this book is, from beginning to end! The twists just kept coming, along with serial murders, suspects and lots of family drama. I loved the interactions between the realistic characters, mostly high society and full of themselves, with little desire to lower themselves to common people. Charlotte is basically a hot mess who has no idea what she is doing in Savannah, but she is determined to hide there for a while since she is running away from a murder in her hometown. So much action happens so quickly that I couldn’t take my eyes off the page and was on the edge of my seat for much of the story. The faith factor is one of hope and redemption, undeserved mercy and grace and offered a welcome respite from all of the dark parts of the story. A child who is manipulative and dangerous is in the center of the story and the surprise is who she really is. So many secrets in this brilliantly written and cleverly executed complex story! I cannot write a lot more without giving something away, but let’s just say, run to get a copy of this book and prepare to read all night with all of the lights on.
Disclaimer
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review,and all opinions expressed are my own.

The Other Sister
by Jessica R. Patch
Pub Date: April 22, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
No one in her sister’s life is quite who they seem to be. And every discovery leads Charlotte deeper into a web of deadly secrets. Charlotte may have wanted Acelynn’s life, yet now that she’s living it, she wants out. But if she reveals the truth about herself, it will mean returning to her old life—and she’s already a dead woman there.
I wish there was a little more faith development after Charlotte met Christian. She’s angry at God, which is a real issue and if done right, makes the story stick with me. Not saying that this one won’t. There are a lot of twists and turns in this unpredictable story.

This story will be great for those who love psychological thrillers, mind games, whodunits, serial killers, secrets, drama, women’s fiction, domestic thrillers, dark, twisted, family sagas, chilling beach reads, elements of horror, and maybe even split time novels.