Book Review: "The Winter Sister" by Megan Collins
“The Winter Sister” by Megan Collins
Synopsis: Sixteen years ago, Sylvie’s sister Persephone never came home. Out too late with the boyfriend she was forbidden to see, Persephone was missing for three days before her body was found—and years later, her murder remains unsolved.
In the present day, Sylvie returns home to care for her estranged mother, Annie, as she undergoes treatment for cancer. Prone to unexplained “Dark Days” even before Persephone’s death, Annie’s once-close bond with Sylvie dissolved in the weeks after their loss, making for an uncomfortable reunion all these years later. Worse, Persephone’s former boyfriend, Ben, is now a nurse at the cancer center where Annie is being treated. Sylvie’s always believed Ben was responsible for the murder—but she carries her own guilt about that night, guilt that traps her in the past while the world goes on around her.
As she navigates the complicated relationship with her mother, Sylvie begins to uncover the secrets that fill their house—and what really happened the night Persephone died. As it turns out, the truth will set you free, once you can bear to look at it.
The Winter Sister is a mesmerizing portrayal of the complex bond between sisters, between mothers and daughters alike, and forces us to ask ourselves—how well do we know the people we love most?—Simon and Schuster
Rating (out of 5): 3.75
Review: Thank you so much to Andrea Bartz for suggesting this read as one of the year’s best thrillers. I really enjoyed this and read it in about a day! Because we know I am very critical, I need to open by saying naming the dead sister in the book Persephone seemed just a little heavy-handed, but I will forgive and move on!
Sylvie is floundering a bit after being laid off when she hears that her mother is ill with esophageal cancer. They’ve had a difficult and strained relationship since her Sylvie’s sister’s death, but she agrees to go back home and care for her mother. She stumbles upon the man she’s always suspected of killing her sister, a young man from a powerful family, now working as a nurse in the facility where her mother receives chemo.
From here we begin a twisty ride as Sylvie seeks out the truth behind her sister’s fate. I can reveal very little without getting into spoilers, but things in this town (and in Sylvie’s mother’s life) are very much not what they seem.
I really enjoyed this book and connected to both Sylvie and her mother, as difficult as she was. That’s one of my hallmarks of good writing: characters are multi-faceted and sympathetic, even with their personal struggles. The greatest test of a good mystery is the ending, and I do have to say that it did not capture me as fully as the rest of the book, but I would not go so far as to say I was disappointed by it!
This is a mystery with an excellent premise and very good execution. I look forward to more from Megan Collins!
TL;DR: A very solid mystery effort from Megan Collins. Family secrets, unsolved mysteries, forbidden romances…(am I being Stefon again?). Not the tightest ending I’ve ever read, but still absolutely worth a read.
If you liked this, try:
“The Witch Elm” by Tana French
“The Lost Night” by Andrea Bartz (see my review here)
“Give Me Your Hand” by Megan Abbott
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