The Stolen Sisters

Am I the only person who had never heard of Louise Jensen? What have I been missing out on? Really enjoyed this domestic psychological thriller. Totally hooked from chapter one. This book was gripping and full of unexpected twists. Told from multiple points of view over past and present timescales just added to the tensions. I particularly enjoyed reading the long term emotional and mental health impacts the kidnapping had on the girls. Definitely going to get my hands on Louise Jensen’s other books.

Thank you to @netgalley for access to this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a gripping and interesting thriller with a great storyline. The plot took some unexpected turns and kept me enthralled throughout.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Stolen Sisters but that has in no way influenced my review.

I am a HUGE Louise Jensen fan. I have read every single psychological thriller she has written, and will continue to do so because she is a master storyteller. I was really, REALLY looking forward to reading The Stolen Sisters and I was not disappointed. I loved this book. It gave me everything I was hoping for and so much more.

Carly, Marie and Leah Sinclair. Three sisters who went through hell twenty years ago when they were snatched from outside their home by two men and locked up in a dank and dilapidated room for days on end. Miraculously, the girls managed to escape, but that was only the beginning. Hell left their prison with them and followed them all the way home. Now, twenty years older, each of the sisters is bearing the brunt of those traumatic days as captives. Leah's compulsions threaten to destroy her marriage and take her young son from her. Marie's drinking problem has spiralled out of control, and Carly has never forgiven herself for not protecting her younger twin sisters enough and won't let anyone get close to her. And let's not forget the secrets. How much longer can the truth be kept hidden...?

The Stolen Sisters is an astonishingly good book and I savoured every moment I had with it. When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about it. Pondering on the girls' situation, trying to work out where the author was going to take the story (I failed at that, by the way) and generally relishing the author's ability to tell a blimmin' good story. It's an absolutely cracking novel and if you love a family-driven psychological thriller, make sure you grab a copy. You won't be disappointed.

The story is told from the past - we watch as the girls are taken from near their house at the tender ages of 13 and 8 - and the present day - where the reader witnesses the devastating long-term effects of the trauma suffered by the girls all those years ago. Leah's compulsions, and how they impinge on her life, are eye-opening. The reader gets to see the gradual increase and deterioration of her condition as the anniversary looms. I found her anxiety and fear palpable. So cleverly written by the author. Out of all the characters in the book, we most closely follow Leah so I found myself warming to her more than the other two sisters. The majority of the chapters from the past are told from Carly's point of view and my heart absolutely ached for her. Her disappointment in herself for not protecting her sisters enough and the mother role she took on whilst the girls were trapped, it almost broke me.

If you've read books by this author before you will be aware that she is a master at deceiving her reader (in the very best way possible). This is another wonderful example of why Jensen's books are so incredibly popular. I had no idea where the story was going but when we got there, WOW! Dark and twisted - just how I like my books. I certainly didn't see that one coming! I was gripped from start to finish. Even though it's clear from the outset that the girls escape, the chapters set in the past still had me on the edge of my seat.

Would I recommend this book? I most definitely would, yes. I loved The Stolen Sisters. It's the most enjoyable, absorbing and exciting psychological thriller I have read in a long time. I was 100% in the pages of this book living the story alongside the characters. A highly emotive read that is incredibly tense and the ultimate page-turner. Did I mention that I loved The Stolen Sisters? Oh well, worth mentioning again. I loved The Stolen Sisters! Louise Jensen is a superb writer. It was an absolute joy to read this book and I will savour the memory of it for a long time to come. Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review an eARC of The Stolen Sisters. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

A gripping story about 3 sisters and the secrets they have kept since they were abducted. Their experiences in captivity and the aftermath of their release have haunted them for a long time. Each sister is battling a demon, dealing with feelings of guilt, betrayal and sadness. Ultimately they all have to face their fears. A very good read with lots of twists.