An interesting story, a bit scary, yet quite interesting to read.
A slow burner, yet quite compelling once you are into the story.

This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Omg talk about a roller coaster read wow this book kept me on the edge of my seat threw out I just couldn't put it down this writer keeps you hooked and once your hooked your not letting go I found this book thrilling the characters were fantastic and well thought out and the little clues all the way threw keep you guessing until the end this book stays with you long after you close the book this book is well worth the read I promise you wont be disappointed

It has a slow start but then the twists and turns begin. Some of the twists were a little obvious but overall I enjoyed this book. It makes a good summer on a lounger read.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

Melanie lost her sister 10 years ago and her life has been dominated by this event. Hearing her sisters voice she feels she must solve the mystery of her death if not for her but for her nephew Luke. This was my fist Claire Kendal book and it did keep me gripped until the end.

This book was HARD to get into. The beginning is slooooooow. It took me several weeks of putting the book down only to pick it up later, not because I wanted to read more of the story but because I hate unfinished books.
The writing throughout seemed over-wordy and confusing. There were several plot points that didn't seem to have a function. The book flashes between the present time and the past, without any real definition, so it gets unnecessarily confusing. There were times that Ella has conversations with her (dead) sister, but the author doesn't really make it obvious, so the reader is left wondering who the hell she's talking to. In all, I was frustrated with how hard the author made it to follow the story and the characters and this ended up on the DNR shelf.

Twins in thought but not deed, and not age either but in looks, one sister vanishes and the other searches for her.

As she searches she uncovers some rather sinister people and has some rather chilling encounters.

I started this book and read it with interest but not compulsion until the prison scenes. These were detailed with such a chilling description of the prisoner that I really needed to know what he knew and what he had done.

If that air of suspense had been drawn throughout the book I would have ranked it higher but some of the writing was a little pedestrian and over detailed. Personally, I would have edited out half of the front art of the book and extended the last part. But other readers may disagree.

Plot: Ella’s sister, Miranda, disappeared years ago, leaving behind her baby and her whole life. Now thanks to new evidence, Miranda is linked to Jason Thorne, a man in prison for murdering women. Ella decides to find out the truth, no matter what it may cost her.

My thoughts: The book definitely had a slow start, but it was an excellent builder for a story that really packed a punch. The theme of relationships is clearly at the heart of this thriller, particularly family ties and how much they mean to you. There were parts that were, to me at least, a little bit obvious in the reveal, but I enjoyed the twists and turns the book took you through. This is, again, another novel that comes very recommended from me!

Th Second Sister is the first book I’ve read by Claire Kendal and won’t be my last as this was one twisty, feisty psychological thriller but was a little slow going at the start and a little far fetched in places but still worthy of 4 stars.
The book follows the Brooke’s family and their journey to uncover what happened to Miranda. Miranda’s sister, Elle, is the main character and is a great feisty one at that and we follow her journey to find out what happened to her sister. Miranda dropped her baby boy off with her mum and dad and never returned, ten years later it’s still a mystery what happened to her. Her family firmly believe she was murdered by the awful Jason Thorne, a man already in jail but firmly denies the murder of Miranda but did she simply walk away from her life??
There are a lot of characters in this thriller and not all of them are nice and there are some in sheep’s clothing. I did guess what kind of happened to her, no thanks to the red herrings but this didn’t deter my enjoyment.
I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

I find with a lot of these types of books you have to suspend your belief and accept that things may seem a little far-fetched. But isn’t that what fiction is all about? If you want realism and facts read an encyclopedia. I read for escapism and really enjoy getting lost in this kind of twisty thriller. Original and gripping, deffo my kind of book and I highly recommend.

Oof this was an exciting book. For the first part of it I thought that it was set in America. It was quite a surprise to read that it was actually set in the UK. I didn't really like the lead character and the obsession with her sister was odd. I also thought the sisters relationship with each other given the age gap was also weird. Story was good though hugely far-fetched but it did keep my interest to the end.

I believe this is Claire's 2nd book although it's the 1st I've read.
I was drawn in early on and enjoyed the book throughout. Well thought-out characters, creepy and I was pleased with the last few chapters.
Would recommend!

4 stars from me

This book really put me in mind of Sister by Rosamund Lupton (which I loved), but rest assured it is different enough to be well worth reading.

Ella Brooke is a great character and I really enjoyed the chemistry between her and Ted (spoiler alert) I was quite sad that he had betrayed her and it was left unresolved as to whether they would get back together - I so wanted them to get back together!

The story itself is a sad little tale beautifully brought to life by Claire Kendal. It was a book of two halves for me, it seemed to jog along quite nicely and then all of I sudden it was a roller coaster ride to the conclusion. I really found myself reading faster and faster towards the end as I had to find out what happened.

Very enjoyable read and if you read it and enjoy it I very much urge you to read Sister.

I couldn’t put this one down, it is chilling and incredibly creepy but so well-written. Some unexpected twists and turns keep you on your toes and I would definitely recommend!

10 years ago Ella's older sister Miranda disappeared without a trace, leaving behind her 10 week old son Luke. Unable to move on and still searching for her lost sister, Ella and her parents start a charity to support victims of serious crime whilst raising Miranda's now 10 year old son. Ella plays an inner monologue of what she knows her sister would say if she was still her. Determined to win justice for her sister and to unravel the mystery around Miranda's disappearance, Ella agrees to do an interview with the local press to raise the profile of the case and their charity. Soon afterwards, Ella starts to find clues into Miranda's past and slowly starts to fill in the blanks to uncover the truth.

The Second Sister sounds a promisingly good read but fell disappointedly short. I was so frustrated! Firstly, there is nothing likeable about any of the characters in the story, Ella is obsessive, aggressive, cold-hearted and I just couldn't grow to like her at all. Miranda is selfish, dishonest, materialistic, demanding and self-obsessed. It was annoying reading the conversation between these two characters and trying to follow who was talking to who in Ella's head. Luke is a spoilt little child who gets what he wants and while its debatable that this is acceptable because of what he's been through, I just didn't feel this was true to how adults treat children. Ted is supposed to be in love with Ella but does nothing to prove his love to her; there is no sense of emotion or love in their conversations and actions towards each other. Ella's conversations with people are awkward and jumpy and she suspects everybody or having some sort of involvement in her sister's disappearance. Her behaviour is wooden and I found it hard to imagine her supporting victims of serious crime as she doesn't seem to have the caring, emotional nature needed for that type of work.

The book is jam-packed with dialogue and even though I've just finished it, I don't remember everything that happened - which begs the question, how much of it was even relevant?! The vast majority of this book is slow and unrewarding. I finally started to get on board from about 70% in but even then, I don't know if it was just because I wanted the resolve and for the book to be over. The final 20-30% is action packed as the truth is uncovered but by then I felt it was too late to really pique my interest.

The Second Sister was just ok for me. I didn't absolutely hate it but I can think of more things I disliked than things I liked. I'm not sure I was even satisfied with the ending although the reveal was good. I guess this one just wasn't for me!

Thanks to NetGalley, Claire Kendal & the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book but a bit slow in parts, picked up better in the second half

This was a well written and gripping story...I really enjoyed.

A fantastic thriller that has you on the edge of your seat from the beginning until it’s conclusion.
Ella’s sister Miranda disappeared ten years ago and it is presumed that she has been murdered by a serial killer but her body has never been found and the serial killer has never admitted to her murder .
Ella has never believed that her sister would walk out on her newly born son and sets out to find out what has really happened to her sister but little does she know that the further she delves into her sisters disappearance the more danger she is putting herself in
Fantastic book which grips the reader from the very first page