The Liar's Sister

by Sarah A. Denzil

The must-read psychological thriller for 2019 from the million-copy-bestselling author of Silent Child.

Ten years ago Samuel Murray went missing from the small village of Buckthorpe and was never found again. A quiet boy who loved walking in the woods and tending the animals on his parents’ farm. Family, friends and neighbours all say they didn’t see him on the dark, rainy night he disappeared. But surely someone in the close-knit community must know something?

Rosie Sharpe cried for weeks after. But her little sister Heather knows that Rosie’s tears hide the truth. Because the night their friend Samuel was last seen, Heather saw her older sister climbing back into the window of their childhood bedroom. Her jacket torn, her eyes wild and her body trembling with fear.

Heather has never told anyone what she saw, but secrets can’t stay buried forever…

When Rosie and Heather are forced to return to the home they grew up in, to spend the last days with their dying mother, they must confront what really happened a decade ago. But the people of Buckthorpe make it clear they are unwelcome – they’ve always suspected the girls knew more than they said about the night Samuel went missing. And as the shocking lies of the past begin to unravel, they have the power to put the lives of both sisters in terrible danger…

This twist-filled, page-turning psychological thriller will keep you hooked until the final, jaw-dropping pages.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2019

About the author

Sarah A. Denzil is a Wall Street Journal bestselling suspense writer. She is also known as young adult author Sarah Dalton.

Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather.

She is the author of international bestselling psychological thriller SILENT CHILD, which topped the bestseller lists on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.

You can read now read AIDEN'S STORY, a short story and sequel to SILENT CHILD. It's completely free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/n7lb74chp3

Find out more at: http://www.sarahdenzil.com/

Join the newsletter for updates: http://eepurl.com/cwAmZD

Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahadenzil

Check out her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahadenzil/

Email: sarah@sarahdenzil.com

Reviews

[Irena BookDustMagic · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day I was browsing through Netgalley books in order to find a good thriller because I was really in a mood for that genre.
Out of all of the novels in that category (and may I say, it’s the most popular category there) The Liar’s Sister was the one that sounded the most appealing to me.
The cover is attractive, but the premise is what got my attention, so therefore I knew it was a winner.

My feeling was right, because not only did I like the story in the book, but I also fell in love with the atmosphere, people relationships and interactions within the story. All the secrets and mystery that were not visible at all made me appreciate this piece of fiction so, so much.

This small community, spooky atmosphere was my absolutely favourite thing about this book, and with all the creepy characters and events it really gave a life to the place, it felt like the village was it’s own character.

As a cherry on top, there is a writing style that can simply be described as high quality.
Beautiful writing is always welcomed when it comes to fiction, but to me this one really stands out.

The novel is written in first person, from Heather’s POV.

After finishing the book I found out that Sarah A. Denzil is very popular author, but somehow I haven’t heard about her before (once again, this is the proof I live under a rock). I would really want to check her other work, especially Silent Child because from others’ reviews, it seems to me that that is the most loved one.

I would recommend The Liar’s Sister to everyone who is in the mood for a good thriller.
With it’s cold atmosphere, it is a perfect pick for cold nights during October.

Read this and more reviews on my blog https://bookdustmagic.com

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

and the twists keep coming!!!

Sarah A. Denzil has written another fast paced twisted thriller that left my head spinning! First of all I want to address how hard it is to please a thriller Reader these days (myself included). We want a book full of twists and turns that we don’t see coming, Full of tension that keeps us on the edge of our seat. We want an ending that will completely shock us, and we want it to be entirely believable. On top of that we want likable characters that we can relate to, that are completely nuts, that do unthinkable things, but are never over the top. Damn we are a tough crowd! This book will check almost all a thriller lover’s boxes, with the exception of believability and being over the top. But I’m here to say I’m OK with that and I’m here for it! This book kept me engaged and absorbed from first sentence to last. There were plenty of twists and turns that I did not see coming and an ending that definitely shocked me. Was it over the top? Was it slightly unbelievable? Yes! But I don’t care because I enjoyed every single minute of it!

The book completely sucked me in from the very beginning with a letter written by Heather to her sister Rosie confessing that she knew she was a murderer. The story then bounces back-and-forth between Heather in the present day and Rosie in the past. Something happened 10 years ago that completely impacted the sisters lives in a negative way. Something neither of them have ever completely gotten over. The truth was slowly revealed to us through the alternating perspectives, but then at about 75% BAM! Things went sideways and it was twist after twist after twist after twist. If you read this and were able to puzzle this entire mystery together, my hats off to you! This is an addictive thriller you can definitely read in one sitting!

This book in three emojis: 🧩 🚨 ✉️

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never read anything by the author before so I went into this one with low expectations. This book definitely held my interest but until I got to the ending, I was thinking this was just an average psychological thriller. The ending is the star of the show in my opinion and is complex enough that I would be shocked if any reader could figure out every single piece of the puzzle ahead of time. It's like the author threw everything but the kitchen sink into the ending, and somewhat remarkably it actually seemed to work.

I loved the opening of this book in which Heather has written a letter to her sister, Rosie. Heather basically calls out Rosie for being a murderer, but she doesn't ever plan on giving her sister the letter. And that is what got me hooked on the story. Even though I wanted to know what happened to Samuel, the boy who disappeared back when they were teenagers, I honestly wasn't expecting much when it came time for everything to be revealed. Now I'm not saying the ending is extremely realistic but it was fun in a good soap opera type way. Some readers might think it's a little too much, but I liked how it was one thing after another.

Recommend as a solid read if you enjoy psychological thrillers and I look forward to checking out other books written by the author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ceecee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of two sisters - Rosie and Heather and the damaging secrets and lies that separated them 10 years previously. They are very different Rosie is a risk taker who’s life went badly wrong. Heather is steadier and more cautious. They are a family who doesn’t communicate and so the secrets fester over the years. This is a rollercoaster story of how the secrets are revealed and the massive damage they cause. The story is told from the perspective of the two sisters and from 10 years ago to now and there is quite a bit of repetition as a consequence of this.

I found I could not relate to many of the characters and some are downright unlikeable such as the policeman Ian. The community they live in did not seem a place you would want to live as it is very divided and the atmosphere is unpleasant. There are a number of ‘dramatic’ incidents in the novel but I’m sorry to say that I felt little suspense or sense of danger and I got exasperated at some of the decisions the sisters took to try to illicit the truth. As the story progresses it seems so far fetched and convoluted it loses credibility. There is one scene that is reminiscent of the gunfight at the OK Corral and this is a story set somewhere in Yorkshire????

Overall, it’s an ok, quick read but nothing amazing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in return for an honest review.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all I want to say that I am a massive fan of this author and have loved all of her books so far. With The Liar's Sister I went in with high expectations but I was disappointed. I did not hate this book, I did enjoy it but it was somehow not as good as her previous books. It was a good story but a bit slow in parts and the ending was over the top for me. I did read this quickly in just a few hours last night.

Sisters Heather and Rosie are reunited when their mother is dying. They have not seen each other in many years and things are chilly between them. 10 years ago a boy from a nearby farm went missing, never to be seen again. Heather always believed that her sister knew more than she was letting on as she saw something the night he disappeared. The town have never forgiven the family for something that Rosie did not long before he disappeared. So many family secrets, a town full of people that hated them and sisters grieving.

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free e-copy of The Liar's sister by Sarah A. Denzil from NetGalley for my honest review.

A story of two sisters, Rosie and Heather, who haven’t seen each other in years. They haven't seen each other since their friend, Samuel Murray, disappeared when they were younger. Heather has been caring for their dying mother and Rosie finally decides to come back home to see her before she passes.

Heather has always believed that Rosie had something to do with Samuels disappearance. She even believes that Rosie might be dangerous. A story of secrets and lots of twists that will not disappoint.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years ago a boy ent missing from Blackthorpe and was never seen again. Sisters Rosie and Heather return to the village to be with their mother in their final days. Rosie and Heather have been estranged for years. But soon family secrets and lies are brought to the fore. Heather had always felt that Rosie had something to do with Samuels disappearance. But was she?

This story spans over ten years. The story is told from Rosue and Heather's point of view. Rosie tells us about the past while Heather tells us about the present. The story covers betrayals, lies, secrets and family loyalty. As the past starts to be revealed to us, the scarier the story becomes with threatening notes and things disappearing. The story builds slowly until we get to around 70% then it just explodes. I was drawn into this story from the first few pages. I wanted to know what had happened to Samuel. The characters are well developed. Theres enough twists to keep your interest. A quick and easy book to read.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Bookouture and the author Sarah A. Denzil for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve had The Silent Child in my queue for ages, but this is the first book by Sarah Denzil I’ve actually read.

Two sisters have been estranged for years but their mother’s cancer finally brings them back together. Ten years before, the neighbor boy went missing. The same night the elder sister was seen returning home, disheveled, by her younger sister. For all those years, Heather has wondered if her sister Rosie had a role in his disappearance.

This book kept my interest but I can’t say I found it believable. The two sisters never seemed fully formed. And the ending just didn’t work for me although I will admit to being caught by surprise at the big twist.

My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly got to mention that I love that the author in her acknowledgments thanks caffeine for helping her write the book, made me smile 😃

Two sisters, a year apart, a village ripe with secrets and gossip, long memories and grudges, jealousies and lies all thrown in the mix and out pops ‘The Liars Sister’
Add lots of intrigue, murder, a disappearance which is a complicated and unsolved past crime and you are almost there re what this book has to offer
Then just to add even more you get a dying Mum’ s final words, incest, abuse, sucuide and pretty much everything else you can get and the setting for this book is conplete
The beginning is actually quite benign in some ways and I was taken aback by the subjects covered as the book progressed, particularly in the last quarter where it all starts to make sense and come together
Rosie and Heather ( the Sisters ) are neither overly likeable nor charismatic and tbh this follows through with the rest of the characters but sometimes the more ordinary everyone is the more shocking the things that they do are!!!!
The Sisters both have a tendency to repeat themselves about the past and each other and although Rosie’s addictions were ‘looked into’ you never really empathised about them as you do with other similar characters
The writing style is efficient and easy to follow, important when a conplex story
A good robust and ‘many things covered’ psychological thriller that I enjoyed

[Shelleen Toland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosie and Heather are sisters who have been estranged for many years. The last Heather knew of Rosie she was on drugs and in a bad place in her life and never answered phone calls or emails. Heather moved back home to take care of their dying mom and her last request was to see Rosie. Heather finally manages to get a hold of her.
10 years ago a boy , Samuel went missing and Heather thinks Rosie had something to do with it and he was best friend with Heather. Now that both sisters are back in town they are being told to leave and they aren't welcome there anymore.
Finally the truth of the night Samuel went missing comes out and what Rosie tells Heather is worse than she imagined. As the lies of that night start coming into light then more things start happening and there are even more twists to this story.
I could not put this down at all. I was wrong on quite a few things and shocked a couple of times.
I received this ARC from Bookouture and NetGalley for review.

[Christina McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another twisty, addictive thriller from Denzil! With secrets and lies, grief and trauma, the story unravels delicately and intricately at first, ramping up tension as we race to the shocking conclusion in order to find out what really happened to Samuel and if Rosie was involved the night he disappeared.

A quick, page-turning read with dual POVs that seamlessly moves from of one sister to the other, past and present, The Liar's Sister cleverly unravels the truth layer by insidious layer until it reaches its heart-throbbing conclusion.

Merged review:

Another twisty, addictive thriller from Denzil! With secrets and lies, grief and trauma, the story unravels delicately and intricately at first, ramping up tension as we race to the shocking conclusion in order to find out what really happened to Samuel, and if Rosie was involved the night he disappeared.

A quick, page-turning read with dual POVs that seamlessly moves from of one sister to the other, past and present, The Liar's Sister cleverly unravels the truth layer by insidious layer until it reaches its heart-throbbing conclusion.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather and Rosie having had quite a fraught relationship over the last ten years are forced to spend time together when their mother is days away from dying. There is something that has happened in the past that have caused these two to no longer be close and I was really intrigued to know just why.

The setting for the story is just perfect. A small village where every one knows each other. It added to an already tense read making it almost claustrophobic at times. The further into the story we go, it felt like everything was closing in on itself and I was well and truly glued to the pages reading it in one afternoon.

The residents of the village and their obvious dislike of having the sisters around made me desperate to find out just what had happened years before. There is so many secrets and lies and when those shocking revelations start to come out, well they just don’t stop. No way was I putting this book down for anyone or anything until I turned that last page and the author made sure that she made it worth my while.

The Liar’s Sister is one hell of a psychological thriller. The author drew me in and then before I knew it I was hooked. I love when a book in this genre messes with your head and this one does that alright. Towards the end I was literally hanging off every word whilst being shocked and thrilled by what was happening before my eyes. This is one author who just goes from strength to strength.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Christi M · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this new psychological thriller, two sisters are forever altered when a boy they both know disappears one night.

Thoughts:
The book opens with a letter from Heather to her sister Rosie. A letter that tells Rosie that her sister knows what she did – that she knows Rosie is a murderer. However, Heather never actually sends that letter to her sister.

The disappearance of Samuel Murray changed everything for both sisters. Soon after high school, Rosie leaves home and rarely comes back. The once straight-A student changes and goes down a self-destructive path. She comes home for their father’s funeral and then leaves again for 5 years. However, years later their mother is now gravely ill and Heather knows she must attempt to find her sister to let her know.

Once Rosie comes home memories begin flooding back for both sisters prompting various conversations about the past. The members of the town also learn of her return and soon it becomes clear that Rosie is unwelcome. They universally blame her for the disappearance of Samuel. In fact, the town itself is very eerie – neighbors acting oddly at times, strange stories regarding certain residents within it. A town full of myths, legends, and creepy songs.

The story is mostly told from Heather’s point-of-view, whose story is from the present day perspective. Rosie’s story isn’t as frequent and shows us what has occurred in the past and how the sisters originally met the Murray family leading up to the night of the incident.

For about 70% of the book it was a nice story, but didn’t excite me. It was a fine, readable story, but that was all. Then, the ending starts to occur. As it is occurring and the excitement builds, you feel like you have a good handle on it, but then the ending begins occurring again. Not a repeat, it’s more like the ending gets more added on to it. As a result, part of me likes the ending and the drama it brought and part of me thinks there was a bit too much.

Overall, I think many will enjoy the book and especially enjoy the twists that come at the end. I myself liked it just fine, but it’s not necessarily one that will be memorable for me.

Rating: 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.

[☕️Hélène⚜️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Sarah A Denzil it won"t be my last. It started slow was questioning if I would stop it or continue but I stuck with it for sure it got so good. The bound between sister's is something strong. A small british village full of dark secrets with a corrupted police. Two families with deep dark secrets.
The truth came out in the end and the sister"s we"re able to stay in their family home. The villagers had accepted the fact the sister"s we"re staying.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Sarah A Denzil for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

On the one hand when teen Samuel Murray disappeared, life went on as usual. However, this certainly wasn't the case for best friend Rosie Sharpe. She never got over his loss. It is now ten years later, and now Rosie is back home and is facing the real truth of everything.

When Samuel became missing, Heather immediately suspected Rosie because she something that made Rosie look very guilty, but Heather never said a word. Now that both sisters are back home in the village of Buckthorpe, the truth finally begins to reveal itself.

Rosie and Heather do not get along at all, but with their mother being very ill now, they are forced to be together. Things begin happening and as it turns out, Heather is not the only one who suspected that Rosie knew more about what happened. Furthermore, this unknown person is determined to reveal the truth, as well as other hidden facts, but also creates an incredible element of danger that faces them now.

What a story! This certainly was not a family drama, although family had everything to do with it. No, it was full of secrets, twists, danger and murder, and these very things flowed throughout the pages. I found this book to be very interesting and loved how the family dynamics were explored and how the suspense built up until the very end. This is my first read by Sarah A. Denzil, but I love her writing style and cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us readers.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Rainz ❤️rainnbooks❤️(on a break) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank You Net Galley, Bookouture and Sarah A Denzil for a chance to read this book

I'm so glad I got a chance to read Sarah Denzil's The Liar's Sister by Bookouture. She's one author whose books I have always wanted to check out but never got around to. The Liar's Sister is a surprising book, the first three-quarters of the story reads like any other thriller out there but the final few pages left me feeling stupid. I had so many thoughts and guesses and everything flew out of the window. The focus of the story is simply the lack of communication among sisters. Each family have their own troubles but it is compounded when members of the family decide to keep secrets and starts lying to cover the truths.
Rose and Heather are 2 sisters who were very close until the summer their friend Samuel disappeared. Then the secrets begin and both sisters drift apart unable to confide in each other and running away at first opportunity. Rose is recovering from alcohol abuse and has had tough going in her life but it is Heather who feels lost and angry. After the death of their mother, things become dicey with everyone in the village becoming hostile and their house ransacked.
Both sisters do not instill any warmth but the story flows effortlessly at a rapid pace. Loved that too much happening convoluted ending thou.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read and enjoyed Silent Child by this author, so I went into the story with a strange anticipation, wanting my cells to buzz with the dark energy that a book which messes the mind did.

The story took time to build up. Two sisters Rosie and Heather reunited after many years on their mother's deathbed. On the surface they seemed disconnected, but there was a nervous energy binding them. Secrets abounded in their past about their missing friend Samuel Murray. What did happen 10 years ago?

Sarah Denzil took time to fire up my blood with this book as the sisters seemed spaced out. I never did understand why Heather couldn't directly confront Rosie. But the writing soon built up the excitement insidiously one page after the other, there were times I tapped the Kindle softly so that nothing would crack through the aura of the book and disturb the perfect built-up

The people of the village added to the overall disquiet as they wanted the sistes to leave. I loved that the author made my mind burst with its questions, and I couldn't help racing through the book to get to the secrets. The secrets, those delicious secrets, they turned the story around. As I always say, can open, worms crawling. Man, this time these tiny buggers were zapping and swooping me off at every turn. Whoa!!

The exciting end to the story made this an absolutely rocking midnight read.

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Liar’s Sister by Sarah A. Denzil is a mystery novel.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 
My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Heather and Rosie are back home in the small village of Buckthorpe, after many years away.  Their mother is dying, and although Heather was back regularly to care for her, she has a life as an accountant in the city.  Rosie has stayed away, a lot of her time spent in rehab.

On her death bed, their mother insists that they sell the house immediately and move away.  They soon find out that most of the villagers want them gone as well.

Memories of their childhood resurface.  Heather longs to know what really happened to her first and only love, Samuel Murray, who disappeared 10 years ago, and was never seen again.  Rosie, on the other hand, wants to forget Samuel Murray.   Heather knows that Rosie is hiding something.  A lot happened around that time and Rosie still doesn't want to talk about it.  They may be sisters, but trust has become an issue.


My Opinions:  

The story is told from the perspective of both sisters, in two timelines.  In this way we learned the about the events that changed their lives.  It read very smoothly, and was a very fast read.

The book is about lies, and secrets, and love.  It is about sisters who grew up best friends, only to have their friendship severed over an event that they never discussed.  Only the death of their mother brings them back together to face things head on. I found the family dynamics to be somewhat realistic. Sisters do, indeed, fall out with one another, and it can take something quite large to get them back together.  As well, once trust is lost, it is hard to get it back, and tempers will flare.  I did not, however, like their mother from the start.

I also found the actual event and hostile environment to be a little far-fetched, even for the sake of the story.  An entire village turning against two girls sounds a little unbelievable.  As well,  although I enjoyed the twists, I think there was one too many.  

So, although I enjoyed the book,  it just lacked something for me.  However, this will not prevent me from reading future offerings from this author. 

For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information and quotations), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Settling down with a Sarah Denzil book always invokes a feeling a warmth and happiness in me nevermind the genre of the book - a mystery filled psychological thriller. This is only my third book by the author and I am absolutely floored away with this one as well. The Only Daughter and Silent Child were spectacular reads and The Liar's Sister is equally thrilling, tense and twisty and so much more!

Sisters Rosie and Heather Sharpe were childhood friends with Samuel Murray - a local farmer's boy, a little weird and an outcast at their school but friendly and sweet! So when Samuel goes missing one night, both sisters who were close to Samuel are shocked and scared along with the rest of the village. Then night Samuel went missing Heather, pretending to be asleep saw Rosie climb in the window with her muddy clothes torn and tears streaming down her face. Heather never told anyone what she saw, but the secret has weighed on her and Rosie's relationship. A decade later both sisters come face to face in Buckthorpe while saying their last goodbyes to their dying mother. Soon sinister things start happening, A gun is robbed from their house, a threatening note left and Heather always feels like she's being watched. Does she trust Rosie enough to let her back in her life? Did Rosie have something to do with Samuel's disappearance? And will her questions of the night Samuel disappeared be answered?

The characters in this book are excellent and very believable. Heather is an emotionally-damaged but smart girl who's last few years have been rough. Sister Rosie is equally emotionally damaged, perhaps worse but loses to the circumstances and becomes addicted to substance abuse. Both characters have been described so beautifully and the story is just so believable. I love the description of Buckthrope and its idyllic bluebell field. I can almost picture it in my mind! Even supporting characters of Samuel, Iris right down till Buckthrope Jack are so vivid and entertaining! The plot in this one is excellent!! All the twists and turns leave you wondering what's coming next. This story has a lot of twists and quite literally the mother of all twists at the end will guarantee to leave you shocked! I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good psychological thriller peppered with family drama.

Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture and Sarah Denzil for an arc!

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a brilliant psychological thriller this turned out to be! It initially feels like a story of everyday folk in a mildly dysfunctional family but then there are so many twists, mysteries, surprises and shocking revelations. It definitely kept me guessing until the last quarter when everything starts to come together, but what a journey!

This story effectively starts and ends with letters. The first letter is written by Heather to her sister, Rosie. It definitely sets the scene and explains key events from ten years ago when they were young teens and Heather’s best friend mysteriously disappeared. It shares how she has interpreted them and explains why she daren’t actually question her sister about just what happened. Now Heather has been looking after their mother who has terminal cancer and her Mum is asking to see Rosie. Rosie left home and rarely returned, the sibling relationship broke down and they haven’t seen each other for five years, when Rosie was drunk at their father’s funeral. When Rosie returns, can Heather discover just what happened all those years ago and why it affected Rosie so badly?

The family dynamics, the close knit community, threats, danger, murder, adultery, secrets and blackmail all have their parts to play in this intriguing page turner. Just when you think you might have sorted it all out, there’s another surprising discovery that has you rethinking your assumptions. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with family dramas, grab yourself a copy of this fantastic book!

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quiet,reserved Heather and boisterous,wild Rosie have always had a bit of a passive/aggressive relashionship. The sisters were polar opposites in looks,demeanour and behaviour but despite their differences they did enjoy spending their time together riding their horses and exploring the woods near their childhood home. But then everything changed the day that Samuel Murray entered their lives. Samuel lived on a farm near their home and was the victim of bullying by the children at their school and treated with disdain by the local residents because of his gothic attire and love for reptiles. Rosie was horrified and maybe just a tiny bit jealous when Heather and Samuel became very good friends. Then one night Heather witnesses her dishevelled sister creeping in through their bedroom window and the next day learns that Samuel has disappeared.

Ten years later, the estranged sister's are forced to return to their childhood home because their mother is dying. They are shocked by the hostility and animosity that they are subjected to by the locals. After they start receiving threatening letters and items go missing from their cottage, Heather is convinced that the strange events are in some way connected to Samuel's disappearance and is determined to uncover what happened all those years ago.But Rosie and the locals insist that the past is the past and should be left alone. Heather is torn between her loyalty to her sister and her desire to uncover the secrets of the past. What happened to Samuel? Why don't the locals want Heather digging into the past? How much does Rosie know about what happened on the night that Samuel disappeared?

The chapters alternate between the sisters with Heather's chapters being set in the present day and Rosie's starting off in the past and then eventually being set in the present day. I really liked Heather both in the past and the present day. I loved how she was prepared to be friends with Samuel despite the bullying and the prejudice that he was subjected too just because he chose to be different. I also admired her determination to uncover what has happened to him despite the possibility that Rosie might have been involved in his disappearance. Rosie was a complex character who I had mixed feelings about throughout most of the book and I was never really sure what her motives were. I also had mixed feelings about Samuel due to the allegations that were made about him before and after he disappeared. Because the story is set in a small rural area, there is only a small cast of characters many of whom were not very likeable or trustworthy. I loved the settings that featured in this story, Ivy Cottage where the girls grew up,Buckbell Woods,the gorgeous bluebell field and the ramshackle cottage in the woods which was allegedly were mysterious Buckthorpe Jack lived. It sounded like a wonderful place to grow up and spend as much time as you can having adventures out in the woods.


The Liar`s Sister is a extremely well written psychological page turner that hooks the reader in from the first page. The reader is drip fed the events of the night that Samuel disappeared,what happened in the woods and who was involved. There was twists and turns,lies,deceptions and unexpected betrayals throughout this gripping story that keeps the reader guessing and frantically turning the pages. This is the first book that I have that was written by this obviously very talented author and most definitely will not be my last. Very very highly recommended.

Many thanks to Bookouture and Noelle Holten for the opportunity to read and review this gripping mystery/thriller and take part in the Blog tour

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted a little more from this. There were no amazing revelations at the end. The pace and plot was ok, but I wanted more action, more suspense.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★ 4 stars

Having thoroughly enjoyed both "The Silent Child" and "Only Daughter" , I of course had high hopes for THE LIAR'S SISTER. I was not disappointed. Sarah Denzil has the ability to draw you into an isolated existence where there is just you and the handful of characters with all their secrets and lies unraveling before you. It's chilling and yet it's completely riveting.

Ten years ago, local boy Samuel Murray went missing in the small Yorkshire village of Blackthorpe, never to be seen again. On the night Samuel disappeared, 16 year old Heather awoke to her 17 year old sister Rosie stealthily climbing in through their bedroom window, her clothes muddied and her appearance disheveled. Heather watched her sister through the thin cover of her bed sheets, never once letting on that she had seen.

The next morning Samuel's mother came over in tears to tell them that he was missing. Heather was shocked. Samuel was her friend; her best friend; her secret boyfriend...and now he was missing. But then as she was riding her pony through the woods...until a glint of something catches Heather's eye. Rosie's bracelet. Heather knew she'd been wearing it when she went to bed last night. Pocketing the bracelet, Heather made her way back home and quietly walked into their bedroom where Rosie sat on the bed with her headphones in. Rosie watched as Heather crossed to her sister's chest of drawers and without a word, placed the bracelet on top of the cabinet. Neither said a word.

But Heather always remembered that day, replaying it over and over in her mind and leaving her wondering - did Rosie have something to do with Samuel's disappearance? Did she kill him? After all that had happened, she wouldn't be surprised if she had. But the guilt continues to eat away at her and Heather wonders...is her sister a murderer?

Whatever took place that night changed their lives forever. Things were never the same between them again. They went off to university but the sisters drifted apart and Rosie spiraled into a world of addiction of alcohol and drugs. She only returned home when their grandfather died and then their father's funeral five years earlier. Now their mother is dying and is asking for Rosie but Heather isn't sure how to contact her. Her mobile has been disconnected and all she has is an old email address that Rosie never seemed to check with any kind of regularity. But she sends one off anyway and is surprised to receive a response almost immediately. Rosie is coming home.

But neither sister receive a warm welcome from villagers, and when their mother quietly passes shortly after Rosie's return, things take on a more sinister turn. They receive an unwelcome visit from the local police outlining that it might be best if they sold up and left the village. Their presence apparently was distressing the Murrays given the history between their families. But then they receive a threatening note and someone breaks into their house, steals a few items as well as their father's shotgun with which he used to kill himself five years before. Why would their mother even keep that??

The atmosphere in the village is no different. All eyes are on the sisters as everyone seems to pass judgement on them and their presence there. But Heather cannot escape the past. Her memories of what she saw, what she suspected, what she feels - all of it is tied to Samuel's disappearance. Heather knows she must find out what really happened to him, and she believes Rosie holds the key. But how to unlock her sister's resistance is another matter. Rosie appears reluctant to give up her secrets. But Heather needs to know.

However...it appears someone else in the village may not want Heather to uncover the truth. Someone is following her, stalking her, frightening her. Is it Rosie? Or is it someone else? Can she trust her sister?

There are so many secrets and lies buried in the past that when the shocking revelations start to surface, they just don't stop. The tension builds to a point that everything just explodes and enigma of families, betrayal, incest, murder, suicide, abuse and grief are just the tip of the deceptive iceberg that eventually crumbles under the weight of all its secrets and lies.

While some aspects of the mystery may seem obvious, there were a few reveals that even I didn't see coming that just blew me away. The final chapter, which I think would have best been titled as "Epilogue" was an appropriate end to the story...and while it was obvious that it had played a part of that night, all those secrets were finally unveiled within those final pages.

Told in dual timelines between Heather and Rosie, THE LIAR'S SISTER unveils its secrets at an even pace as we progress to the present day, with the revealing chapters dipping back ten years near the end to expose what really happened. The final chapter from a surprising perspective uncovers the remaining truth that will leave you breathless.

Overflowing with secrets and lies, THE LIAR'S SISTER is well plotted and moves at a good pace to keep the reader engaged. With each chapter delivering new revelations, this compelling read will have you so intrigued as its end that you will not be able to put it down until the final pages.

THE LIAR'S SISTER is a heart-pounding twisted psychological thriller that will have you devouring every word on every page until the very end. I have no hesitation in recommending it to fans of this genre - both domestic and psychological thrillers.

I would like to thank #SarahADenzil, #NetGalley,/b> and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLiarsSister in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Małgosia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

[Lexy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book was okay

[Silvia F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm honestly not even sure where to begin with this review. This was a fascinating read and one heck of a THRILLER.

Let's start with the bad... It took me until I was about 60% through the book to actually start getting into it. The beginning had caught my attention with the letter that Heather wrote to Rosie about the disappearance of her boyfriend 10 years earlier. This was of course a very intriguing way to start any book and I was into it until about chapter 5 where I didn't feel the book was moving forward.

jump to 60% of the way through (mind you it took me MONTHS to get here) and BAM. Everything went a million different directions. The book gripped me and took me for one hell of a ride. It took me less than 2 hours to read the last 40% of the book. IT WAS INTENSE.

This book kept me guessing right until the last freaking page. The more I read the more I couldn’t believe what I was reading. It was everything you would expect and want from a psychological thriller. Keeps you guessing, throws you for a loop, lets you think that you have the solution, then screws with your mind and throws you for another loop until your mind is literally blown.

I would recommend this to anyone into any sort of Thriller as it is exactly what you want from this genre.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

[Lavins · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is dragging for the most part and we get told the same stuff over and over again. The ending has so many things unrevealed that is beyond realistic.

[RedRedtheycallmeRed · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is so much going on at the end, twist after twist, but it couldn't quite make up for the slow start. The story unfolds in alternating POV from the two sisters: Heather's chapters are set in present day, Rosie's take place in the past, starting when they were young teens.

With their mom in hospice, Rosie comes home to be with her sister after a five year absence. They haven't been close since Samuel disappeared, and Heather goes back and forth between thinking Rosie killed him (and may be after her) and wanting to mend fences. I really struggled with why Heather didn't come out and ask Rosie to tell her the truth straight out. All of Heather's hand-wringing angst made the book drag.

When the end finally comes and the truth is out...wow. I did not see all that coming. Over the top and pretty twisted, but it made me a lot more invested than I had been.

[Lisa Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah’s books never cease to amaze me. I am always shocked by the twists at the end and I absolutely love it. Was so excited to read this and just like her others it left me so satisfied and shocked. I can’t wait for her next book! Thanks NetGalley.

[Kasia (kasikowykurz) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odkąd przeczytałam pierwszą książkę autorki - jej debiut, jestem na bieżąco i jest to ten typ autora, do którego wracam z ogromną przyjemnością. Zawiodłam się póki co tylko na jednej książce, więc póki co uważam wynik za jak najbardziej udany! "Śmiertelne kłamstwa" tooo... piąta już książka autorki.

Bardzo podobała mi się ta książka! Taka Denzil w najwyższej formie. Nie udało mi się przewidzieć końcówki, z czego bardzo się cieszę, bo nic mnie tak nie wkurza, jak rozszyfrowanie zagadki w połowie książki. Nie lubię tego, nie jestem typem czytelnika, którą rozwiązuje zagadkę razem z detektywem, wolę się delektować dobrą powieścią. Nie lubię też wiedzieć, co się zdarzy, bo kompletnie odbiera mi to radość z czytania.

Trochę z innej bajki, ale strasznie mnie denerwują okładki. Ostatnio rzuciło mi się w oczy, że kilku innych autorów ma podobne, co dla mnie jest słabym chwytem e jest to od Mrocznej Strony Filii, ale okładki są do siebie tak podobne - identyczne rozmieszczenie napisów i czcionka, że czułabym się rozczarowana, gdybym przypadkiem chwyciła nie tą książkę, co trzeba. Jestem zdecydowanie fanem różnorodnych okładek, charakterystycznych dla danego autora, nie grupy autorów...

Do pewnego momentu strasznie denerwowała mnie postać Rosie - taka rozpieszczona laleczka, która w ogóle nie umie odnaleźć się w świecie i odsuwa od siebie wszystkich i wszystko, ale w miarę jak historia się rozwijała zyskiwała mój szacunek, a końcówka? No rozjebała system i zdecydowanie już Rosie zapulsowała w moich oczach.

W ogóle to zakończenie! Uwielbiam takie zwroty akcji, kiedy cała nasza wiedza na temat bohaterów i wydarzeń jest rozwalana w drobny mak, bo nagle na światło dziennie wychodzi prawda - a takiej prawdy się nie spodziewaliście. Bardzo, ale to bardzo mi się to podobało. Nie wiem,czy czasami nazywanie jej książek trillerami psychologicznymi jest dobrym wyjściem, ale zdecydowanie Denzil wie, jak budować postacie i tkać ich historię. Dla mnie to jest zdecydowanie odkrycie i po tych pięciu książkach mogę z czystym sumieniem powiedzieć, że jest jednym z moich ulubionych autorek.