I really loved the twists and turns in this book, and especially the character development. Morgan's was especially well thought-out; I figured I was going to hate her forever but was very happy with what the author did with her character, and the way she did it. Matt's story was tied up in a way that made sense as well. Although the 'whodunit' aspect of the story was pretty obvious a bit of the way in, much of the book kept me guessing.

Thank you Net Galley and Landmark Sourcebooks for the advance read of this book, in exchange for my honest review. This book was full of twists and turns, and I was kept guessing through most of it. I did eventually figure it out, but that didn't take away from the book, or characters at all. I recommend this.

Wow! This was an incredible book that I read over a few hours as could not put it down. Do not miss this one book lovers! Absolutely exceptional! I love a well written family drama that has twists and really exposed the unexpected nature of the human psyche. This is one of those very good books.

I have this shortlisted already for my Top Ten Reads of 2016. Yes it was that good. The plot is mesmerising and very well written, the pace is spot on, engaging from start to finish. The characters are crisp and exceptionally well done. It's just got everything going for it.

Ali and Morgan are twin sisters and after a terrible crime things will never be the same again. Ali has been jealous of everything in Morgan's life for some time, feeling like the twin in the shadows but little does she know the truth of what is really going on for her twin sister. This has some exceptional twisty moments in it that will just take your breath away. There is a particular revealing moment that I just had to read over and over, could not believe what I was reading. Brilliant!

Thrilling, engaging, exceptionally well written, a unique plot and great characters. You cannot go wrong with this book. Trust me, those that love their twists and turns, characters of depth and nothing being what you expect will adore this read. Bravo Dianne Dixon! 5 whopping stars.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC of "The Other Sister" by Diane Dixon. I enjoyed reading this novel and would recommend it as a mystery/thriller. The main characters are twins,and they have a complex love/hate relationship. The author seems to use "revenge" as part motivation in this story. There are secrets among the other characters and some characters are flawed. As I was reading I started to wonder,"Who could I trust?"There are may twists in the plot that kept me guessing. I also found the ending intriguing.

Two books about creepy twins in one week. I'm considering putting them on my scary list along with clowns, just kidding.

I loved this book a lot. Although, while traumatic, there was a lot of time spent on the rape episode. I knew who the serial rapist was long before any of the characters. And speaking of the characters, they were up and down the scale of good and bad. There was every mix. The author did a great job developing them as well. I also liked the fact that the author made the story seem like real life. A lot of the characters had and were made of money. However, a few of them for different reasons, found out what it felt like to not have tons of money. And there were a lot of sad moments and a lot of happy moments. I just could not put this book down. After reading it, I grew to love and understand the cover a lot better as well.

Huge thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review which I have written in my own words with no payment or coercion.

A family drama that had me hooked from start to finish.

The love/hate relationship these twin sisters has, was what drove me to read this. I can really relate to that.

The resentment that these two have for each other is very real, and anyone with a sibling (twin or not) can surely relate.

There were quite a few twists and turns, and although I was able to figure out the rapist long before the characters did - it didn't diminish the story for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy

Thank you Netgalley, author and publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ali and Morgan are twin sisters, but they are as different to each other as possible. As pretty as Ali is Morgan is that plain, Ali is gregarious and popular, Morgan is a hanger on....a angry hanger on. And as much as she loves Ali she hates her that much too. Jealousy has poisoned her and her acts of jealousy lead to danger and heartbreak for Ali.

This is a bit of a split personality of a book...part thriller and part family drama. And sometimes this jars a little. And Morgan, to begin with, is so mean spirited and devious you're hoping she's found out for the cow she is and gets pushed off a high building. And that is hard to settle with at the beginning of this book as you feel as if you're supposed to be feeling some sort of sympathy for her but you just can't. Ali on the other hand is handed so much crap to deal with you're almost afraid to turn the page to see what happens to her next. This is either overkill by the author or a genius move in making us like everyone in Morgans life – every one she knows prefers Ali. So do we.

This is a mixed bag also in how much I liked this novel. It pulled me straight in but there were times when I had to push to carry on, and then a chapter or two on I'd be avid again. It's a good story and worth sticking with for the resolution to the twins story.

A special (big) "thank you" to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 5 Stars +++ Sooooo Good!

Life is the process of becoming. "It starts with your first breath and stays with you until your last. Just think of the power of it being able to continually reach toward the light. The possibilities are infinite.”

Talented storyteller, Dianne Dixon returns following (2013) The Book of Someday with her best yet, THE OTHER SISTER!. The puzzling; the beautiful concept of forgiveness.

Action-packed, beautifully written, compassionately told, and relentlessly suspenseful!

From saints to sinners, narcissists to decent and caring, love and hate—a wide range of emotions and contrasts; with one of the most profound and stunning journeys of two sisters and the people who come in and out of their lives. Evil versus good. Violence to peace.

A page-turner with all the ingredients to become a bestseller and a box office smash hit!. An emotional, thought-provoking, chilling psychological thriller.

Set in Providence, Rhode Island, a disturbing glimpse into the darkness that can cling to the underside of love. The opening, a mysterious Newport cliffside mansion. A wedding.

In years to come, seemingly random events taking place in the mansion that night would lead to brutal, unexpected violence—and to the discovery of something so bizarre it would be heart-stopping. No one could have known.

Someone would shatter Ali’s life. What would be less painful—to find out it was a stranger or someone close? Someone she loved. Ali was stuck with a lifelong guilt of her sister Morgan’s loneliness.

We hear from alternating POV: Morgan, Ali, Matt There is also another mysterious evil voice sprinkled throughout; however, the reader is kept in the dark until the identity is unveiled with the explosive conclusion (in a highly creative manner).

Ali, the pretty one- marries Matt. There were parts of him that he kept private. Hurts that she assumed were connected. Places no one would ever be allowed to go. Places that were closed and locked. She wanted to own a restaurant to carry out her grandmother's wishes. A husband, family, and a baby. Life gets complicated. An ex-boyfriend Levi. A tragedy. A professional hockey athlete. A dreadful past.

Morgan, an art curator at a museum. A devious selfish miserable witch, living in her sister's shadow. Full of insecurities, blame, spite, bitterness, and evil. She was ordinary. Ali and Morgan were not identical. Fraternal. Two people who shared a womb. Living in her sister's shadow. She seeks justice, revenge, and thinks this will bring balance.

Two sisters. Now age twenty-seven. A complex relationship. Morgan loves her sister. She would kill and die for her, and at the same time furious she even exists because she makes her invisible. Soulmates; thorns and comfort.

Ali has always carried Morgan. However, by Ali turning her back on Morgan, could Morgan possibly see her mistakes and view their relationship from a different perspective? When there is more to show the world than the injuries.

Morgan receives a mistaken text from a mysterious sender. She now calls Sam. He is like a therapist on call. She has never met him; however, his words will change her life. Sometimes the wrong person can turn out to be the right person. Sam was unlike anyone she had ever talked to. Never judgment or criticism.

From Maine, a place called BerryBlue Farm, where two young girls had spent the best time of their lives when they were kids. Not far from the quaint town of Kennebunkport, a loved grandmother’s death.

Memories. Love of cooking. Passions. Family. A sister’s relationship of love and hate. Secrets. Grudges. Guilt. Always a dance between exasperation and delight. From Rhode Island to California—an unleashing; a chain of events spiral out of control. Readers meet a variety of characters, connecting the twin sisters. The mysterious brown suitcase.

There is SO much here beyond the surface. Not only is this a mysterious, domestic suspense, and delicious crime thriller; it is deeply psychological, thought-provoking, and soul-searching. There is tremendous growth from the characters from the beginning of the book to the ending. Wisdom. Faith. Forgiveness. Atonement.

“The place where you don’t forget the hurts, but you let go of them and hold on to the love.”

What sets THE OTHER SISTER apart, is the HOOK! It is bold, engrossing, spellbinding. Character and plot-driven! Dixon never strays with needless side stories. The entire book is heart pounding, not knowing what is coming next. You are glued from page one to the final ending.

Engrossing! An emotional roller coaster of suspense that will keep you guessing until the final page is turned. Even at 94% to the Epilogue, Dixon continues to add compelling twists and turns and many surprises. There is nothing ordinary here, and cannot adequately describe the uniqueness of her writing.

I loved the texting, which again continues the theme of contrasts: revenge texts which destroyed. Mistaken texts, which come to heal.

"Life is a test and we are not here primarily to be happy. Maybe happiness isn't about never having problems. Maybe it's about learning from them."


I would encourage readers to review Dianne Dixon’s blog post-"the inspiration" behind THE OTHER SISTER. My New Book Solved an Old Mystery. (thanks for sharing). It is powerful and a takeaway message for all. An ideal choice for book clubs!

There are many red herrings; however, each and every one was worth the ride. Matt and Sam were the most mysterious of all with the unknowns. (I could almost see another novel featuring Sam's life; intriguing). You root for Ali, and despise Morgan; however, Dixon allows readers to view these characters from the "inside out," and below the surface. The heart of the matter.

Unforgettable characters captivate as they confront their hidden pasts and build upon their futures with faith, love, and grace. People can grow and change. They can keep on giving to each other, no matter what life throws at them. Every moment is a new opportunity to grow and change—the possibilities infinite.

If you appreciated this story of forgiveness, recommend reading Charles Martin’s (2016) Long Way Gone. “The Prodigal Son” retelling with a modern-day twist and Water From My Heart (2015).

THE OTHER SISTER is absolutely amazing! Brilliantly crafted, crossing many genres, making "My Top Books of 2016." Move this one to the "Top" of your list! Trust me, when I say, "it is like no other book I have ever read." Blown Away and stays with you, long after the ending.

Fans of Heather Gudenkauf, Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult, Lisa Scottoline, and Mary Kubica will appreciate the writer's ability to cross several genres, with highly charged emotional topics.

A suspenseful, yet moving tale of lost dreams, unending love, truth seeking and in the end, inspiring redemption and discovery. This one is not to be missed!

JDCMustReadBooks

MoMo’s Book Diary highly recommends “The Other Sister” by Dianne Dixon as an exceptionally engaging 5 star read.

“The Other Sister” is an incredibly complex novel and a must read for book lovers. This was my first Dianne Dixon book and wishing I had found this awesome author earlier.

I was intrigued by the cover – an old brown suitcase on an old wooden chair – and the synopsis. I found the plot to be gripping and fast moving, at times confusing, but totally thrilling. The novel tells the story of twins, Ali and Morgan, and the bond they share through good and bad times. Once I started I couldn’t stop. I read throughout the night, finishing early this morning and just sat there thinking for so long afterwards… glad I am not a twin!

The author has created engaging unforgettable characters which had me hooked from the very beginning. There are so many twists and I rate it highly as a top suspense novel of 2016.

I would like to thank Dianne Dixon, Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

The family drama, the dysfunctional character made this book a 5 star read for me.
The suspense, secrets, revenge and all the twists and turns I didn't want to put it down.
My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I've read from Dianne Dixon. I was really intrigued after reading the book description.

Morgan and Ali are fraternal twins. These sisters have a bizarre obsessive type love/hate relationship. Morgan has always felt that Ali has had everything handed to her while she gets the scraps that are left over. At the same time, Ali feels like Morgan has always been there breathing down her neck never letting her have a life of her own.

Ali has the personality Morgan wishes she had, the ease of making friends while Morgan feels awkward making conversation with people. Ali gets the men Morgan wants, the attention Morgan wants. Everything Ali has ....Morgan wants. Morgan even feels that their mother loves Ali more than she loves her.
Sometimes Morgan wonders if life would be better without Ali in it....

The book opens in Newport, Rhode Island. The sisters are twenty-seven and attending a lavish wedding. Ali is the maid of honor and Morgan is a last-minute fill in bridesmaid. We are given first glimpse into the current state of the sisters relationship as the bouquet is tossed. Morgan wants to catch the bouquet but just as it seems like she's going to catch it, it instead falls into her sisters outstretched hand...

"the poisonous look that went from Morgan to Ali was a disturbing glimpse into the darkness that can cling to the underside of love"

No one could know that the random events that occurred that night after the wedding would lead to violence and heartbreak in the years that followed.

Morgan thinks Ali's life is and always has been perfect and assumes happiness is all Ali ever experiences. Morgan feels like she is the only one who's ever felt pain and unhappiness. But she really has no idea what Ali's been through.

From the time they were little, Morgan's jealousy caused her to do things that negatively affected Ali's life. She continues to do these things even as they get older....she thinks it's a way for Ali to pay some dues. She doesn't realize that some of the things she does will end up affecting Ali in ways Morgan couldn't have imagined.
There was a LOT going on in this book and at times it had my head spinning. I think this book had a lot of good writing but it just seemed like everything was moving so fast and before I had the chance to catch my breath we were on to something new. It felt like some important things were left unexplained. I love a good twist and this book did have some good ones but there were a lot of them....

There were some beautiful characters that were so well-developed (Ava and Sofie being two of my favorites) while I felt like I barely knew some of the other characters even though they were major players in the story.

However, even with the things I just mentioned, I was still really intrigued! I had to know how and where this was going to end.

Told from alternating points of view, the story had many themes. Family, Grief, blame, trauma, guilt, love, hate, and forgiveness.

I have to say that I did like how things came together in the end. Even if I had to suspend belief that things could happen they way they did. But there really was some great writing in this book. Lots of things that resonated with me.

"It's not enough to sit back and rejoice when we receive our miracles. We need to look for opportunities to pass the bounty along. It's the only decent way to live".

I am still curious about this author and I am interested in reading more of her work. There's no doubt that Dianne Dixon is a talented writer.

Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Dianne Dixon for providing an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.

Book blurb...

Morgan’s twin sister has everything, and she hates her for it. A terrifying crime reveals that those who know us best can either destroy us…or save us.

Ali and Morgan are sisters, fraternal twins who from the moment of their birth share a strangely intertwined existence. But then their connection is abruptly fractured by a series of startling changes that begin when Ali suddenly moves from Rhode Island to Los Angeles. Almost immediately she is raped, by a man wearing a very peculiar set of clothes. Then, years later, in ways that are both harrowing and transcendent, Ali’s life (and Morgan’s) is sent spinning into chaos by a bizarre discovery: the rapist’s clothing, neatly packed away in a small, brown suitcase. The suitcase is hidden in the attic of a house that Ali has only recently moved into.

How could this be? How, and when, did that suitcase get into that attic?

The startling answer to this question has its roots in a place of guilt, and of love—in the need to belong and the need to be free—in small accidents and dark crimes—and in an elusive search for atonement.

My thoughts…

The Other Sister kept me interested I enjoyed reading about the two sisters and their troubles. When it comes to who to like and dislike I found my emotions swinging like a pendulum.

The plot was strong in parts even though it was a simple story about relationships between siblings. The other characters and their troubles added to the plot.

There seems to be mixed reviews about this story and this doesn't surprise me as the author has written a book that by default gives the reader emotional responses about the characters and this often leads to personal opinions in reviews.

For me I enjoyed the journey thank you Dianne Dixon.

This review will be placed on Readroundoz at another time

Ms Dixon draws a worrying picture as she delves into the minds of two sisters and shows how far apart siblings can be. Full of resentment, guilt, envy, rivalry, and deep love, the story highlights how you can be as physically close as twins, yet not be able to read each others' hearts. It also shows how childhood hurts and perceived wrongs can last well into adulthood, and how the love between siblings can be a dark and twisted thing.

Even at the end of the book, I wasn't convinced that the sisters had come to terms with their past or their present.