The Half Sister by Sandie Jones @realsandiejones BLOG TOUR @panmacmillan #TheHalfSister @EllisKeene

Kate and Lauren. Sisters who are always there for each other. But as they gather for their weekly Sunday lunch, a knock on the door changes everything.

The new arrival, Jess, claims to be their half-sister, but that would mean the unthinkable . . . That she’s the secret daughter of their beloved, recently deceased father Harry. Their mother Rose is devastated and Kate and Lauren refuse to believe Jess’s lies.

But as the fall-out starts it’s clear that each is hiding secrets and that perhaps this family isn’t as perfect as they appear.

Where there was truth, now there are lies and only one thing is certain, their half-sister’s arrival has ruined everything . . .

The Half Sister by Sandie Jones was published in paperback on 25 June 2020 by Pan Macmillan. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review and invited me to take part on this Blog Tour.

The Half Sister by Sandie Jones is an entertaining and quick read that kept my attention from the very first page.

Sisters Kate and Lauren lead very different lives and each of them have their own distinctive voice throughout the novel. They always meet for Sunday Lunch at their mother Rose's house, having recently lost their Father. Shock reverberates throughout the family when one Sunday, Jess arrives.

Jess claims to be their sister; the daughter of their late father. Jess's arrival will turn this family upside down and the reader learns that Jess is not the only secret held by the family members. 

The author allows her reader to get to know Kate and Lauren really well; giving them both a voice, especially during the first part of the novel. At times this felt a little slow, but once Jess arrives, the drama and tensions increases. What I really enjoyed was the author's ability to unpick the often complex family relationships, especially those between parent and child, and there are certainly some interesting dynamics played out here. 

I was especially interested in Rose's part in this story, and was trying to second guess just how much she really knew throughout the novel.

An interesting plot that maybe could have been a little faster paced at the beginning with some intriguing questions raised. More domestic drama than psychological thriller, but a well written and enjoyable read. 

Sandie Jones has been a freelance journalist for over 20 years, interviewing celebrities for Hello, Woman's Weekly and the national daily newspapers. Amongst her favourite people to talk to are Paul O'Grady, Joanna Lumley, Julie Walters and the late Bruce Forsyth.

Her debut novel, The Other Woman, is a psychological thriller about the destructive relationship between a woman and her partner's mother.

If Sandie wasn't an author she'd be an interior designer as she has an unhealthy obsession with cushions!

She lives in London with her husband and three children.

www.sandiejones.com

Twitter @realsandiejones

Instagram @sandiejones_author

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