Sisters Of Mercy

Sisters Of Mercy

3.53 of 5 stars 3.53  ·  rating details  ·  159 ratings  ·  44 reviews
Sisters of Mercy by Caroline Overington is the haunting story of two sisters - one has vanished, the other is behind bars...

Snow Delaney was born a generation and a world away from her sister, Agnes.

Until recently, neither even knew of the other's existence. They came together only for the reading of their father's will - when Snow discovered, to her horror, that she was n...more
Paperback, 302 pages
Published November 1st 2012 by Random House
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Bree T
Snow Delaney was born a generation apart and half a world away from her older sister, Agnes. Until the death of Snow’s father, she never even knew that Agnes existed. Agnes was born in England, placed in an orphanage during the Second World War when her father was off fighting and when her parents came back for her at the end of the war, she had vanished. Agnes’ parents moved to Australia and many years later, along came Snow.

When Snow’s father dies, years after her mother, she discovers that sh...more
Monique Mulligan
Engrossing yet discomforting, Sisters of Mercy by Caroline Overington had me hooked from start to finish and offered a truly chilling character that rivals Annie Wilkes in Stephen King’s Misery.

Presented as the haunting story of two sisters, one who goes missing and the other who is behind bars, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s a simple whodunit/mystery. The tagline on the cover suggests as much: How can one woman simply disappear? Through brilliant characterisation, it soon becomes cle...more
Shelleyrae at Book'd Out

"Some people might be wondering what exactly Snow hoped to gain by writing to me, bit I reckon it was pretty obvious: I'm a reporter, and she wanted to convince people that she's innocent of everything she's ever been accused of doing."

Snow Delaney begins a year long correspondence with journalist Jack Fawcett from her prison cell shortly after being convicted on multiple counts of child abuse. Incensed by what she perceives to be sensationalist reporting on her life in his newspaper feature, '...more
Jennifer
Even the first 10 pages were a relief from 'A Casual vacancy'!! Here's hoping!

Well I finished Sisters of Mercy, I couldn't put it down. I got so caught up with the characters and story, I was feeling sorry for Snow Delaney and wondering why she was in prison? Near the end I found out why!! Shocking and discomforting .. I'm hoping the ending letter was able to bring the closure that was needed (not wanting to spoil by going into names or detail)

I've just bought "Matilda is Missing" an earlier boo...more
Elizabeth Lhuede
Snow, the central “character” of the Sisters of Mercy, is a trained nurse who finds herself in charge of a house full of handicapped children – or “handi-capable” as Overington’s PC characters are reported to say. So cold and detached from reality is Snow, she appears to have no conscience; more, she lacks the barest insight into the heinousness of her own behaviour. Her lack of empathy is psychopathic, and all the more chilling as she sees the people she houses, not as victims, but rather as a...more
Simone
When journalist Jack Fawcett writes and article about Snow Delaney, little does he expect to receive a reply from her, let alone begin an ongoing correspondence. Jailed for a series of horrible crimes against the children she and her boyfriend "cared" for in their home, Snow refutes the charges against her and corrects some of the facts mentioned in Jack's articles. Although unorthodox Jack maintains the letter writing, hoping to also get to the bottom of the mysterious disappearance of Snow's s...more
Kirsten
This book was a pleasant surprise. I didn't know much about it until I started reading and it had me right from the beginning. The story is told from many viewpoints using letters and interviews which was a little hard at first but it just has a way of making you read more. The characters are developed throughout the book so while you may not like some of them you can understand how they were 'made' that way. There are a few twists that you don't see coming and I would highly recommend this book...more
Helen McKenna
I have come to expect (and really enjoy) Caroline Overington's unique storytelling style and was definitely not disappointed with her latest novel Sisters of Mercy.

Snow Delaney has been jailed for a series of sickening crimes against the children entrusted in her care and after reading a newspaper article about her case she begins a correspondence with the journalist Jack Fawcett. Although unorthodox (and possibly unethical)he continues to stay in touch with Snow, hoping to also get to the botto...more
Hayley Waterhouse
I thought this book was great. Reading other reviews I was warned that this book doesn't tie up loose ends so was prepared for that (otherwise I too may have been disappointed). I still felt satisfied at the end of the book and I guess real life doesn't always finish neatly. A journalist provides commentary around a sequence of letters he receives from a woman (Snow) in gaol with whom he is corresponding. For me, the book's value lies in Snow's psyche. Reading the perception of the journalist (m...more
Brenda
Snow Delaney had been sentenced to several years in prison for child abuse and horrific acts of neglect. She started writing to Jack Fawcett, a newspaper journalist, from prison, protesting her innocence, and telling Jack he had his ‘facts’ wrong in the articles he was reporting about her, and the case, and she would set him right.

So began a year long correspondence between Snow and Jack, with him doing a lot of research on the story, and her continuing to add information and detail about her li...more
Charley
Loved this book from start till the last page.. SPOILER!











I cannot stand books where there is no definitive answer at the end and this is the only reason this is not getting 5 stars. Concluding a book and still having not a single clue what happened to one of the central characters is a little ridiculous. In Overingtons other books the conclusion is always hinted at but here it was just laid out what a crap person Snow was... but that doesnt mean she killed anges. Im a little disappointed because...more
Kj
Three stars but I would've given it four if there wasn't a glaring factual error. Prisoners can not take personalitems into remand with them! And I'm confident that's not just the particular jail in this book. Caroline Overington writes well, I've enjoyed her three books but every single one has had an error like this and it gets in the way of me truly enjoying them. More attention to detail from the author AND the editing team would help.
Leanne
I have now read all 4 of Caroline Overington's books. They are all contemporary Australian novels where the real to life characters are placed in the most incredible situations. Always page turners. This one was another perplexing situations & most of the plot revolves the main character's letters to a journalist while she is an inmate at Silverwater prison. Although I enjoyed this book, it was definitely my least favourite of hers, especially the ending. That is what I really call, "leaving...more
Laureen
Not 4 stars but more than three. I like Caroline Overington very much but I was so disappointed in the ending of this novel I couldn't give it the 4 star rating. Nor am I sure of the story development. Interesting topic but it didn't ring realistic to me. I do understand the purpose for the ending - it is just frustrating!
Liz
Jan 29, 2013 Liz added it
To be honest, this book was a little horrifying. It seemed so bland, so unemotional, like a story written by a child who did not realise the impact of the story being unravelled. Of course, it is, sort of. The main character has zero empathy. The end left me cold. However, I couldn't put the book down! Work that out.
Brady
I expected a lot from this author, yet I was deeply disappointed. The style was off, language was juvenile, characterisation mediocre at best, and the story was just unbelievable at times. Just goes to show that you don't actually have to be a talented writer to get published, you just need friends in the industry.
Catherine
A very interesting story. Enjoyed the structure of the story, something a little different. Nice to have the settings so familiar, she used both Sydney and Melbourne to great effect. Also enjoyed her descriptions of the houses in the story. Could have been describing my own family abode. Oddly comforting.
Kerri Jones
I am giving this 4 stars because I enjoyed the controversial material and the discussion it promotes rather than for it's writing. I enjoyed how it sashayed between a narrative and a letter by two different characters of the book but the while outcome cost this book 1star. Recommended but then I want to hear your thoughts.....
Laura Burleigh
I’ve never felt so cheated by a book before in my life. Caroline Overington’s Sisters of Mercy promised crime, mystery and intrigue but it was none of that - the plot was boring in parts and I found the description of how the children were treated disgusting to say the least!
Michele Davis
Really enjoyed reading this, didn't want to put it down, found towards the end things got a bit disturbing . Was frustrated by the ending! Left me dangling! Loved ' I Just Came To Say Goodbye' much more realistic.
Kathy
An incredible, gripping page-turner from Caroline Overington again. I loved the settings in Melbourne and Sydney as Caroline has the ability to take you right there with her descriptions. Some highly emotive topics were covered and I would have given this book 5 stars except we will never know what actually happened to one of the main characters….very thought-provoking and a great read.
Sandra Shergill
This book was hard to put down - a real page-turner. Would be great for a bookclub discussion as there are unanswered questions and different ways of interpreting the spine-chilling events.
Karen Crawford
Caroline Overington sticks to her familiar style here- written from different points of view, one being a journalist, lots of topics covered- it was a good read.
Victoria Spicer-stuart
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Sara Bennett
Very interesting book, and really I couldn't put it down. But being me, I like all the threads tied up neatly at the end and if you're expecting that, then you'll be disappointed.
Lesley Clark
Good book took a but to get into the authors style..not quite sure that I'm happy with the ending.....but kept your interest
Rebecca
I found this very lazy story telling. Lots of stereotypes and disappointing ending. Sensationalist child abuse storyline.
Kford5
Great book! Very easy to read love Caroline overington! I have all her books
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Caroline Overington is an Australian author and journalist.

She has worked for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, and is is currently a staff writer for The Weekend Australian Magazine.

Caroline is a two-time winner of the Walkley Award for Investigative Journalism. She won her first Walkley for a series of articles about a literary fraud, and her second for a series about the AWB oil for food...more
More about Caroline Overington...
I Came To Say Goodbye Matilda Is Missing Ghost Child Only In New York: How I Took Manhattan (With The Kids) Kickback: Inside the Australian Wheat Board Scandal

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