My Sister’s Bones Nuala Ellwood
Kate Rafter is a high-flying war reporter. She's the strong one. The one who escaped their father. Her sister Sally didn't. Instead, she drinks. But when their mother dies, Kate is forced to return to the old family home. And on her very first night she is woken by a terrifying scream. At first she tells herself it's just a nightmare, a legacy of her time in Syria. But then she hears it again. And this time she knows she's not imagining it... What secret is lurking in her mother's garden? And can Kate get to the truth...before she loses her mind?
I really rate this novel and my interest is being drawn more into psychological novels instead of straight police procedurals. The theme of this book is post traumatic syndrome. Who can get it? Can it be recognised? Can it be treated? The character of Kate is multi-faceted, yet real. Her dysfunctional family have obviously had a hand in moulding her character, but it’s her job as a war reporter that eventually breaks her. As she spirals out of control, she is still trying to get people to take her seriously about hearing screams in the night and spying a lone child in the garden of her mother’s house.
In a world where all is not where it seems, Kate struggles with her mental illness and her family to solve the mystery of the child she believes she has seen, but no one else does. 
A seriously good book 5*

It took a while before this book hooked me.

Kate is a war correspondent. She has spent years reporting from the Middle East. He job in war zones seem to have been an escape from the war zone of her home. Her abusive father, the death of her young brother and the animosity she feels towards her sister made her escape but she has returned home following the death of her mother. Whilst clearing up her mother's affairs she becomes obsessed with the idea there is an a child in danger living next door. This child become confused with the child that died in Aleppo; a child she feels she should have saved.   The account of Kate's PTSD attacks after returning from Assyria made me feel very sorry for her but didn't really make me bond with the character. 

When the narrator switched to Sally, Kate's sister, I didn't bond with her either but I did become more intrigued as to what was going on. To say more would give away too much.

This is a well written debut novel and well worth four stars. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me the chance to discover a new author.

I really enjoyed this book. At first I wasnt sure about the character of Kate but she soon grew and me. And I found her a very complex character who genuinely loved her family. The character of Sally was hard to like because of her alcohol addiction but she stepped up and did what had to be done. And Paul I had my suspicions about him but was not expecting that. Overall I would highly reccomend this book, if you want a book to pull you right in alongside the characters. I cant wait to read more by this author.

I love books like this; that get me hooked from the first few pages, I thought I had an idea where the storyline was going; but I was wrong.  This book is not at all predictable and has many twists and turns.  
This was a tale of family tragedy, domestic abuse, alcoholism, PTSD, war, psychopathic manipulation and deception. The effects of these on individuals within a family and the wider community.  The three main characters kate(successful and brave war reporter), sally (her alcoholic sister) and Paul (Sally's husband) were well depicted and their own stories were expertly crafted and intertwined throughout to create an intrigueing and exciting read.   I couldn't put this book down, and read it in 2 sittings.  It was both addictive and frustrating but felt authentic also.

This is going on my book list for my adults!!

My Sister's Bones by Nuala Ellwood is a first novel dealing with several complex issues - post traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, bereavement and family ties.  Recently returned from a gruelling tour in Syria and plagued by nightmares  a talented journalist returns to her childhood home in bleak Herne Bay to deal with her late mother's affairs but uncovers a secret that leads to her almost being sectioned under the Mental Health Act.  It is a disturbing pyschological thriller which I enjoyed very much.

This is a brilliant debut from an author who should be on everyones 'must read' list... it was difficult to put down!

Set in 3 parts this is a fast paced, character driven which switches from a quiet English town to war torn Syria.

The main bulk of the book focusses on Kate, a war reporter, as she returns to her home town in the aftermath of her mothers death.  However the life Kate left behind was far from easy... with a loving mother, early childhood loss, an abusive father, a runaway niece and alcoholic sister, Kate struggles to break free from the past.  When strange things start to happen Kate is unsure what is real and what is a result from the memories and nightmares from her time in war zones and the destruction it has inflicted on both her personal and professional life.With only her brother in law as a friend can Kate work out what is happening?

This is a real 'keep us guessing' thriller with well thought out characters - Ellwood touches on very difficult subjects with sensitivity which just enhances the impact they have on the story.

And as for the twist at the end.... NO SPOILERS.... but I never saw that coming!

I will highly recommend.

Could not put this book down I was gripped and intrigued the whole way through.
There were a lot of serious issues tacked in this novel and they were handled in the plot perfectly in fact it was so real.
A really well written rollercoaster of a ride 10/10

Take a traumatized war reporter send her back to her home town after a family bereavement throw in an alcoholic sister and let the fun begin.. This was twisty and pretty dark the two sisters were not that likable but were believable and the story kept me interested not going to do any spoilers but I would say its well worth a read.Thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

A good book, but takes an odd twist to finish, which doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the story well. Amazing ending, though - really pulled it out of the bag to finish.

My Sister's Bones by Nuala Ellwood is a mystery and thriller and general fiction  (adult) read. 
Kate Rafter is a high-flying war reporter. She's the strong one. The one who escaped their father. Her sister Sally didn't. Instead, she drinks. But when their mother dies, Kate is forced to return to the old family home. And on her very first night she is woken by a terrifying scream. At first she tells herself it's just a nightmare, a legacy of her time in Syria. But then she hears it again. And this time she knows she's not imagining it... What secret is lurking in her mother's garden? And can Kate get to the truth...before she loses her mind?
OMG an absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters.  Full of twists and plots. I was surprised near the end. Loved the story.  Highly recommended.  Definitely worth more than 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.

Very emotional book that deals with harsh topics.  Not many books make me feel emotional but this book really had me looking around to see what else could possibly happen.

The family dynamic was so screwed up but the feelings that it invoked were just enormous

Haunting and gripping in equal measure. Vivid descriptions of the war in Syria and how this can affect anyone who witnessed it. Interwoven is the complex and damaged relationships the main character keeps running from. Addictive read.

Wow this was an intense read. I don’t know what I expected but I did not expect THAT.

There is much going on in this book. I struggled a bit to get into the story. I was confused about the chapters about Kate being interviewed by a doctor. Something happened and we don’t know what for quite a long time. Kate is a war reporter and she has seen a lot of horrible things. She is haunted by the vision of a boy who was killed in Aleppo. She has a massive PTSD problem which she somehow denies. I was a bit annoyed by her stubbornness. There was clearly something wrong with her but she refused to see help. But after a while you see there is much more going one.

The second part is from her sister’s view. Sally deals in a different way with her demons. While Kate depends on her pills, Sally numbs herself with wine. So we have two unreliable narrators and a story I did not know where it is leading to. My first bad apprehension I would not like the book soon vanished. At least when Sally is the narrator the book gets almost unputdownable .I really enjoyed the last half immensely. The book turned out to be something completely different than I expected even after starting reading it. The way the story turns is completely different than I thought it would be after I learned about Kate and her PTSD and her hallucinations. Which is a really good thing.

After all it is a sad and disturbing and tragic story. The author did a great job, the writing and structure is superb. I enjoyed it not from the beginning but I got more captivated the further I read. This book is definitely different to other thrillers and I highly recommend it.

4,5 Stars

Ever since The Girl On The Train graced our shelves and then screens, the world has been looking for the next big thing.

Well, today, that great big thing is here and it's in the form of psychological thriller, My Sister's Bones.

My Sister's Bones by Nuala Ellwood is a novel that follows Kate, a war reporter, who returns home to sort out her late mother's affairs after going through what can only be described as hell in Aleppo.

After managing to successfully stay away for many years, Kate returns to the ghost of her childhood, where she meets her alcoholic sister, encounters the mystery around her dead brother, and stumbles on her memories of a violent childhood.

Here are three reasons why I think My Sister's Bones is going to be the world's next big thing.

1. It is truly gripping

It's been a long time since I've sat down and have just have not been able to put down a book, no matter how hard I try.

With a voice that draws you in and refuses to let you go, Nuala Ellwood weaves a majestic story that will make sure that no matter how many assignments you have, or how many exams you have to study for, you will be forced to put everything on hold.

Fact: I'm currently rushing to catch up on my studying because of the time off I took for this novel.

2. The plot twists never end

The plot twist in Gone Girl is so iconic that many authors have been trying to replicate it for years.

If we've learnt anything from the wild successes of Gone Girl and The Girl On The Train, it's that people love plot twists. In fact, after Gone Girl, it seemed like everyone was trying to replicate the book's gut-wrenching twist.

Nuala Ellwood, however, seems to have mastered the technique of creating the perfect plot twist that isn't cheesy, overdone, or just plain unrealistic. And she takes that weapon that she has, and wields it over and over again in her debut thriller.

Instead of having a big plot twist in the middle, the book drags out the story perfectly. Out of nowhere, it hits you right over the head and continues to do so repeatedly, till you find yourself feeling exhausted at the end of the novel.

You may think that having many plot twists is overdoing it, but I completely disagree. In fact, it feels just right.

3. The characters are fascinating

One of my favourite parts of this novel were the characters, which were well developed and distinct. Each character had complex back stories that were fleshed out well.

Even characters that were only featured in a couple of the chapters seemed to be completely believable, which can sometimes be hard to do.

You will get attached to these characters, and each sucker punch will feel harder than it actually is.

So there you go. All the reasons why I know that you're going to be seeing this book plastered in every bookstore and then later on every movie screen. It really is the next big thing.

Keep a lookout for My Sister's Bones when it is released in bookstores this month!

TEASER PHOTO CREDIT: GOODREADS.COM
BANNER PHOTO CREDIT: DEADGOODBOOKS.CO.UK

This book is so well written. The atmosphere, the grim realities of 2 sisters whose lives are so different and how they both cope. Loved it

"We're all of us, every day, just a hairbreadth away from evil."

War correspondent, Katie Rafter, comes home to Herne Bay after the death of her beloved mother. She'd escaped this place of nightmares -- an abusive father who beat his wife, a dead little brother, and a broken, alcoholic wreck of a sister. Katie had survived Syria but has demons of her own: the horrific memories of death and destruction that prevent her from sleeping without drugs. She's in a bad way suffering from PTSD, staying in her mother's house, wanting some closure -- but finds that something is still very wrong in this place when she keeps seeing a little boy in her mother's dilapidated garden. No one believes her...

This debut thriller was completely addicting as the story line builds to a shocking climax. The details and excellent narrative style pull you in completely as the psychological tension builds. Katie is a very interesting character, fully fleshed out, and the others in the book are seen through her eyes until the point of view changes toward the end. Nicely done! I really enjoyed this one and recommend it! I'll be looking for this author's next book!

I enjoyed the book being written from different perspectives. I thought the author explored the relationship between the sisters effectively including the impact of abuse and violence on different people. It certainly made me want to keep reading to find out what was going to happen.

Outsanding, this book dragged me in from the first page and simply didn't let go.
I loved the three parts, each from a different perspective, it really kept things simple and clear without spoiling the flow of the book
Kate and Sally are sisters, both damaged by a violent past but both use their past in different ways. Kate is a top notch journalist travelling the globe reporting on the horrors of war. Sally is a mother but a drunken one who has her demons but prefers the bottle to her family. 
When their mother passes away Kate is on the other side if the world, Sally is still at the bottom of a bottle so it is her husband Paul who takes care of everything.
When Kate comes home to sort out their mother's affairs Kate begins to fall apart, her nightmares return and this is where things really get interesting....who is the little boy she sees in the garden? A nightmare from the past or is he real? 
Totally unputdownable this is a must read book for 2017
Nuala Ellwood you have a new fan

Gripping and a real,page turner. Will definitely look for this author in future.