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rinne94's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Boring first half with no likeable characters, then it shifts into the absurd and even downright laughable plot. No bright spots as the book is full of Trigger Warnings. Weak character development with no room for real redemption of the characters make the ending feel cheap.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Rape, War, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
meg_bookshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
- As with any crime novel, please check trigger warnings with this one -
This book has been sat on my shelf for years, and I've been avoiding it after being put off by some bad crime novels. Today, I randomly had the motivation to read it, and I'm so glad I did.
'The Girl on the Train' and 'Sharp Objects' are tough to beat for me, but 'My Sister's Bones' is definitely up there with them.
It was fast-paced, engaging, and easy to follow. I was really intrigued by all of the characters, and Ellwood did a perfect job of hiding the plot twist in plain sight. I'm usually good at spotting the twists in crime books, but this one genuinely shocked me, and that's a major plus for me. Looking back now it's so obvious - perfectly disguised.
I can't say much more without completely spoiling it, but if you're looking for a great crime novel be sure to pick this one up!
This book has been sat on my shelf for years, and I've been avoiding it after being put off by some bad crime novels. Today, I randomly had the motivation to read it, and I'm so glad I did.
'The Girl on the Train' and 'Sharp Objects' are tough to beat for me, but 'My Sister's Bones' is definitely up there with them.
It was fast-paced, engaging, and easy to follow. I was really intrigued by all of the characters, and Ellwood did a perfect job of hiding the plot twist in plain sight. I'm usually good at spotting the twists in crime books, but this one genuinely shocked me, and that's a major plus for me. Looking back now it's so obvious - perfectly disguised.
I can't say much more without completely spoiling it, but if you're looking for a great crime novel be sure to pick this one up!
tabbitapse's review against another edition
4.0
It's nothing like you expect from the brief description on the back. NOTHING!! It keeps you guessing for a long time and I have read it in 26 hours because I had to know how it ends. A good and easy read that is really is a gripping thriller.
kellysrambles's review against another edition
3.0
My Sister’s Bones tells the story of sisters Kate and Sally. After a childhood full of violence at the hands of their alcoholic father, Kate is now a journalist working all over the world in locations such as Syria and Sally is a stay at home alcoholic. After the death of their mother, Kate returns to Herne Bay but little does she know the mystery that is about to unravel around her…
I liked this book but I did not love it and I don’t think it is a book that I would reread in the future. There are three parts to this book and my feelings shifted only slightly between each part.
Part one is Kate’s story. It shifts back and forth on a timeline and I couldn’t quite get my head around why. What we know at the beginning is that Kate has returned to Herne Bay after the death of her mother and that in the ‘present’ she is being detained and questioned. The whole of part one was quite confusing to me and it felt like not a lot happened. I kept waiting for a huge reveal but I didn’t feel that really arrived here as the bit that was supposed to be her big secret she didn’t want to talk about was easily guessed. That said, I did like Kate as a character and thought she showed a tremendous strength of character.
Part two is all about Sally and it was interesting to see how her memories of childhood varied to the accounts we had already had from Kate. It was during part two that my suspicions about the ending of the book began (I was wrong, however!). Sally was an interesting character but I did prefer Kate to her overall.
The end of part two and then the final part were where things really got interesting and I devoured the last 20 percent(ish) of the book. It was only at the last moment I put the dots together but I did think the ending was slightly random as although we knew there was something weird going on, there wasn’t much of an inclination as to what it would be. I will say that the twist was great though and I loved how much was packed into those parts of the book.
For me this book was about 80% learning about the characters and their backgrounds with 20% of actual thrill and action. There is no denying that Nuala Ellwood is a great writer and there will be plenty of people who adore this book it just wasn’t quite my cup of tea. I liked it enough but just felt that I needed something a bit more from it earlier on in the plot. I like my thrillers to be fast paced but for those who love a slow burn, atmospheric thriller, this will be the book for you.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Books UK for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book but I did not love it and I don’t think it is a book that I would reread in the future. There are three parts to this book and my feelings shifted only slightly between each part.
Part one is Kate’s story. It shifts back and forth on a timeline and I couldn’t quite get my head around why. What we know at the beginning is that Kate has returned to Herne Bay after the death of her mother and that in the ‘present’ she is being detained and questioned. The whole of part one was quite confusing to me and it felt like not a lot happened. I kept waiting for a huge reveal but I didn’t feel that really arrived here as the bit that was supposed to be her big secret she didn’t want to talk about was easily guessed. That said, I did like Kate as a character and thought she showed a tremendous strength of character.
Part two is all about Sally and it was interesting to see how her memories of childhood varied to the accounts we had already had from Kate. It was during part two that my suspicions about the ending of the book began (I was wrong, however!). Sally was an interesting character but I did prefer Kate to her overall.
The end of part two and then the final part were where things really got interesting and I devoured the last 20 percent(ish) of the book. It was only at the last moment I put the dots together but I did think the ending was slightly random as although we knew there was something weird going on, there wasn’t much of an inclination as to what it would be. I will say that the twist was great though and I loved how much was packed into those parts of the book.
For me this book was about 80% learning about the characters and their backgrounds with 20% of actual thrill and action. There is no denying that Nuala Ellwood is a great writer and there will be plenty of people who adore this book it just wasn’t quite my cup of tea. I liked it enough but just felt that I needed something a bit more from it earlier on in the plot. I like my thrillers to be fast paced but for those who love a slow burn, atmospheric thriller, this will be the book for you.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Books UK for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
eljoseph24's review against another edition
3.0
This was an odd one. It took a fair while to get going and can’t say it was the most enjoyable read but the way it wrapped up at the end was satisfying so overall we have 3 stars.
The characters are all flawed and none are particularly likeable which is why it’s not the most entertaining read. The main character Kate was very difficult to like. I found her to be highly irritating and she seemed to feel she was above everyone else (due to her experiences abroad compared to her families ‘normal’ lives)
The sister Sally had alcohol issues and again not the nicest perspective to read from though I imagine the portrayal to be fairly accurate.
The plot was not what I expected at all and it took a while for the pieces to come together. The ending was decent and at least it was definite and not open to interpretation.
Also i listened to this on audible and did not care for the narrator. Her attempts at male character voices were awful and she narrated with an air of desperation which although suited the character was really tiresome.
The characters are all flawed and none are particularly likeable which is why it’s not the most entertaining read. The main character Kate was very difficult to like. I found her to be highly irritating and she seemed to feel she was above everyone else (due to her experiences abroad compared to her families ‘normal’ lives)
The sister Sally had alcohol issues and again not the nicest perspective to read from though I imagine the portrayal to be fairly accurate.
The plot was not what I expected at all and it took a while for the pieces to come together. The ending was decent and at least it was definite and not open to interpretation.
Also i listened to this on audible and did not care for the narrator. Her attempts at male character voices were awful and she narrated with an air of desperation which although suited the character was really tiresome.
debrasbookcafe's review against another edition
3.0
matx's review against another edition
5.0
4.5*
[proper review here]]
Although this book is not short, you could read it in a sitting. Yes, it is that good and that absorbing!!
First of all thanks to Netgalley for letting me get this book for an honest review.
There's so much to say about this one... This book reads like two separate fictions and that's why it is separated in parts (3 parts) and overall each part had its good things: the first one, is really interesting and one that brings a lot of important issues to light; the second one, a complete twist and a fast faced one with some gruesome surprises; the last one, the SURPRISING development of the events.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish, plot, characters and everything!! And that big twist?? I actually took some notes and in one of them I noted how surprising it would be if things turned out to be that way... so I kind of guessing it, I just never thought it could actually be it. I just thought there were some coincidences... But I must confess that Part 3 disappointed me a bit, because I thought that other storyline was over.
[proper review here]]
Although this book is not short, you could read it in a sitting. Yes, it is that good and that absorbing!!
First of all thanks to Netgalley for letting me get this book for an honest review.
There's so much to say about this one... This book reads like two separate fictions and that's why it is separated in parts (3 parts) and overall each part had its good things: the first one, is really interesting and one that brings a lot of important issues to light; the second one, a complete twist and a fast faced one with some gruesome surprises; the last one, the SURPRISING development of the events.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish, plot, characters and everything!! And that big twist?? I actually took some notes and in one of them I noted how surprising it would be if things turned out to be that way... so I kind of guessing it, I just never thought it could actually be it. I just thought there were some coincidences... But I must confess that Part 3 disappointed me a bit, because I thought that other storyline was over.
balancinghistorybooks's review against another edition
1.0
I found the prose in Nuala Ellwood's My Sister's Bones to be trite. Nothing about it interested me, and I did not find it compulsively readable, as I expect to do with thrillers. I knew from a very early stage here that it wouldn't be a novel which I would enjoy, as the prose is dull and predictable, and the characters flat. I gave up at around the 8% mark.
andizor's review against another edition
1.0
Meh. Skimmed the last half because I wanted to confirm my suspicions but wasn't invested in the plot or characters enough to actually invest the time. There was one thing I didn't suspect but I felt like it came out of nowhere and wouldn't be easy to intuit anyway. Do not recommend, read Tana French instead.
mandiepierce's review against another edition
3.0
Solid 3.5 ⭐️ dragged a bit in places and most of the characters were unlikeable.