The Guilty Sister: An absolutely nail-biting psychological thriller with a shocking twist

Arianne Richmonde is the queen of twists and a master at developing interesting characters while also delivering a heart-pounding story. She pulled it out of the hat again. Hands down, this is my favorite read of the year. It’s very different, really original, and unlike every other psychological thriller I’ve read to date. An identical twin story with heart as well as brilliant twists and an unexpected, cleverly structured plot.Add fully-fleshed out characters whom you love, and hate, and then love again, with fascinating, unusual back stories, and you get a novel that pulls you in and won’t let go until the last page. Actually, it’s the kind of book you want to read over as soon as you’ve finished to double-check the clues you missed along the way. So clever!THE GUILTY SISTER is set on the Upper East Side in New York City, and you can tell the author knows the place well. In fact, it was like being right there while I read this book (I used to live there). The attention to detail and the descriptions of Central Park, where the main character walks her handicapped rescue dog, Poppy, are STUNNING! You will definitely fall in love with Poppy.At first you might think you’re getting a romance, but read on and you’ll revel in this twisty, ingennious tale where nothing and nobody is who they seem. The two twins, Sara and Cecelia (an Instagram star) could not be more different yet are mirror twins. Their relationship is portrayed so beautifully and is fascinating. Bradley, the Wall St boyfriend with his own dark secrets, is caught in a web between them.Then there is the neighbor, Mrs. Scott (who pup-sits Poppy) and her son, Jack… and oh, wow, you’ll love how everything weaves together by the end of the book and the denouement.Ignore those who say the book is “too slow.” Not true. There are no cardboard cut-out characters here, no clichés, and no formula writing or gimmicks. It builds up beautifully bit by bit to a crescendo. It is PERFECTLY paced and the writing superb. Gorgeous descriptions and pitch-perfect dialogue.THE GUILTY SISTER gets five stars from me!

Great book! Unusual plot and really held my attention throughout. Love the fact that the author highlights the bond between people and their dogs. Also promotes giving a second chance and a home to special needs pets.

This is the only way to describe this story is wow !! It is definitely a nail-biting thriller. I thought I knew how it would end, but man I was wrong ! Read to find out. You won’t be disappointed.

Loved this book, so good, couldn't put it down! Love all her books! This one kept you guessing through the whole book!

I had a hard time putting this book down it had plenty of twists and turns Loved it I will read it again at a future point

If you’re looking for a psychological thriller to sink your teeth into, Richmonde’s latest suspense-filled novel abounding with red herrings is for you. But what stood out for me in The Guilty Sister was how she’d switched from first-person to third, making it work to a tee. The smooth shift between alternative points of view also gave me the ability to relate to her characters. I might not have liked them all; however, this is something I value highly. The title of the book, a controversy at its best. The cover, fabulous.Firstly, I liked how the author didn’t begin the story at the start. The reader gets Sara’s thoughts in the worst of surroundings, but—she doesn’t exactly let on to the whys and wherefores. I thought words broached were the key. My assumption of what was going to happen was what it was, and I can’t say much more without spoiling the read for you. But the intro sets off a series of events that made me think out loud.Past and present eventually come together—and how this happens is mind-blowing. In the interim, I learnt how one identical twin sister felt about the other, but more important was him. Him being Bradley, the observer...the one who breaks the ice under circumstances that are akin to something that melted my heart. I’ll get back to that later. Yes, his persuasive ways hit my Achille’s heel. But his stance didn’t give me the vibes I was looking for. Why? I have yet to fathom out why he appeared to me to be the perfect match for Sara. Blinking heck, he’s gorgeous, well-established and needs for nothing. Yet all seemed too good to be true.The personality contrasts connecting Cecilia and Sara are exceptionally well done. I worried about her appearance and her reasons, which you’ll have to find out for yourselves. Seeing that they are like chalk and cheese in just about every aspect, my imagination ran riot, as yours will too. What was Cice’s game? How would she react when her sister had found the love of life? And with whom? Is there more than meets the eye?Totally in keeping with the tone of the story, the author kept my interest in her love for four-legged friends. What I also really liked was her descriptive writing. Richmonde paid time to every detail without ever exaggerating. Kudos deserved because repetition is the bane of my reading experience.Ooh. My. Goodness. If one twist reared its head, another was fast on its tail. That said, I have tried to be as evasive as possible not to spoil this read for you, and hope you’ll love it as much as I did. Bravo, Richmonde!

This thriller is full of twists, especially towards the end and the author had me guessing all the way. I loved the different points of view - Sara and Bradley - and the mystery about the missing sister. I started off liking Sara, then doubting her, worrying about her, being afraid of her and then... I look forward to the next book from Arianne Richmonde!