The Wicked Sister

By: Karen Dionne

Narrated by: Kristen Sieh, Andi Arndt

Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

She thought she'd buried her past. But what if it's been hunting her this whole time?

From the best-selling and award-winning author of The Marsh King's Daughter comes a startling novel of psychological suspense as two generations of sisters try to unravel their tangled relationships between nature and nurture, guilt and betrayal, love and evil.

You have been cut off from society for 15 years, shut away in a mental hospital in self-imposed exile as punishment for the terrible thing you did when you were a child.

But what if nothing about your past is as it seems?

And if you didn't accidentally shoot and kill your mother, then whoever did is still out there. Waiting for you.

For a decade and a half, Rachel Cunningham has chosen to lock herself away in a psychiatric facility, tortured by gaps in her memory and the certainty that she is responsible for her parents' deaths. But when she learns new details about their murders, Rachel returns, in a quest for answers, to the place where she once felt safest: her family's sprawling log cabin in the remote forests of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

As Rachel begins to uncover what really happened on the day her parents were murdered, she learns - as her mother did years earlier - that home can be a place of unspeakable evil and that the bond she shares with her sister might be the most poisonous of all.

©2020 Karen Dionne (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

One of Publishers Weekly's Best Suspense Books of 2020

"A gut-clenching wilderness thriller." (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

"[A] neo-gothic psychological thriller that’s a true mind-bender...The Wicked Sister brings to mind those classic Bette Davis quasi-horror flicks Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte. Dionne has fashioned a superb character study of murder and madness that reads like Alfred Hitchcock at his best in book form." (Providence Journal)

"Dionne paints a haunting portrait of a family hurtling toward the tragic destiny they can foresee but are powerless to stop." (Publishers Weekly)

Fantastic book

This book was mysterious and thrilling. I had an excellent storyline I couldn’t put it down. And also it’s based in Michigan my home state! Highly recommend this book

Well developed plot and characters

Well developed characters (human and creature). Plot was plausible, and craftily twisted and revealed.

slow start but a great listen

I really enjoyed this book. The first third was kind of slow and was a little confusing as it bounced between characters, but once I got the cadence of the story then it started to pick up, it was like the downhill slope of a roller coaster. No huge twists, in that you pretty much know who is the evil sister, but the revelations that come to light are shocking. I'm so glad I stuck it out through the uphill portion so I could enjoy the rest of the ride.

So good

Very suspenseful book. Hard to stop listening to it and go to bed. The narrator did an excellent job. Would highly recommend this book.

Twisted ending

I was hooked throughout the entire book. Great narrators. Good introduction towards the realism of mental disorders.

Dive into the Enigmatic World of The Wicked Sister

I absolutely loved "The Wicked Sister"! This book is a true gem, unlike anything I've ever read before. The uniqueness of the storyline and the depth of the characters kept me completely engrossed from start to finish. It's a thrilling blend of mystery, psychological suspense, and family drama that constantly had me guessing. The author's ability to create a dark and haunting atmosphere is truly remarkable. I couldn't put it down, and I found myself thinking about it long after I finished. If you're looking for a captivating and one-of-a-kind read, "The Wicked Sister" is an absolute must. Five stars all the way!

The wicked sister

Suspenseful well written, loved it! Narration was excellent also! Highly recommend if you like suspense with a little drama twist.

predictable

had the end of the story figured out half way through the book. it was a quick listen and we'll read though

Definitely recommend!

I was hooked from the first line! I didn't think I was going to like this one as much as I did, but I actually really enjoyed it! loved the characters, narrator., and story line!

Couldn’t stop listening

This book caught me from the very beginning and wouldn’t let me go. I know it’s good when I find myself thinking about it at all hours and can’t wait to see how it ends.