Day: July 5, 2021

Book Review: The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon

The Night Sister
Author: Jennifer McMahon
Published:  March 8, 2016
Audiobook

Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 3 stars

Book Description:

Once the thriving attraction of rural Vermont, the Tower Motel now stands in disrepair, alive only in the memories of Amy, Piper, and Piper’s kid sister, Margot. The three played there as girls until the day that their games uncovered something dark and twisted in the motel’s past, something that ruined their friendship forever.

Now adult, Piper and Margot have tried to forget what they found that fateful summer, but their lives are upended when Piper receives a panicked midnight call from Margot, with news of a horrific crime for which Amy stands accused. Suddenly, Margot and Piper are forced to relive the time that they found the suitcase that once belonged to Silvie Slater, the aunt that Amy claimed had run away to Hollywood to live out her dream of becoming Hitchcock’s next blonde bombshell leading lady. As Margot and Piper investigate, a cleverly woven plot unfolds—revealing the story of Sylvie and Rose, two other sisters who lived at the motel during its 1950s heyday. Each believed the other to be something truly monstrous, but only one carries the secret that would haunt the generations to come.

Kim’s Review:

I listened to this book on audio and thankfully, the narrator was a good one! It was a very easy listen and I was able to keep up without any trouble. The characters were mostly likeable and interesting. Even though many of them were younger during most of the story (different timelines), there wasn’t all that horrible YA drama. I was a little confused by the paranormal aspect. It was hinted at at the beginning, but I wasn’t really expecting it. Here I was, looking for metaphorical meanings, when in reality, the paranormal aspect was actually weaved through the plot. I get that paranormal is not supposed to be overly realistic, and unfortunately, I think it took away from the story. It felt a little anticlimactic.

Overall, this was a pretty good book; it’s got a horror tinge, without being super scary. I did very much love the Tower Motel as a setting! So I’d say it’s a good book to recommend to those who enjoy mysteries.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK