Lizzie Armitage died many years ago but her sister Paula has never stopped thinking of her and her missing child. Now, encouraged by an old friend, Paula is determined to uncover the mystery behind her sister’s death and the disappearance of the lost baby. Meanwhile, in the present day, teenager Charlie is shocked to discover she is pregnant and is devastated by the father’s lack of interest in both her and the child.
Her Sister’s Child is quite an emotional read. I think it is obvious straightaway that there is a connection between Paula and Charlie but the full unravelling of the mystery lasts until the very end and there are many twists along the way.
This novel is both a family drama and psychological thriller. There are important topics covered including alcoholism, teenage pregnancy and infertility but also plenty of tension and action. The descriptions of the intensity and drudgery of the newborn days felt very accurate. They are so tough to endure yet now I can look back fondly!
Paula, Marian and Charlie are all likeable despite their sometimes dubious decisions. The emotional ups and downs of life cause huge upheavals in all their lives with dramatic consequences. Loss and grief for both loved ones and their hopes for the future made the characters very human and relatable.
Her Sister’s Child was a hugely enjoyable read, dealing with serious topics in a gripping way.
She rolls over and reaches for her instinctively: her baby. Her hand hits air and flaps redundantly. She stumbles out of bed and switches on the light. But this only confirms it. The baby is gone. Someone has taken her.
Sixteen years ago, Lizzie Armitage woke to find her newborn baby gone. Just days later, Lizzie was dead.
Her sister Paula swore she would do everything she could to find the child. If she hadn’t promised to keep Lizzie’s pregnancy secret, maybe the baby wouldn’t have disappeared. And maybe Lizzie would still be alive. But, in nearly a decade, Paula’s never found any trace. Until now…
When Paula bumps into an old friend from the past, she realises she wasn’t the only one who knew about her sister’s child. Someone knows what happened that day. Someone knows where Lizzie’s baby went.
But can Paula find out the truth before another family is ripped apart?
A twisty, unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you hooked until the last page. Fans of Behind Closed Doors, Friend Request and The Girl on the Train will love Her Sister’s Child.
Author Bio:
Born in the Cotswolds, Alison spent most of her formative years abroad. She studied languages at Oxford, then became a journalist and author, returning to university after her two children to take a law degree. After a three-year stint as a criminal paralegal, Alison worked as a commercial copywriter and then a TV storyliner, before coming full circle to write fiction again.
Pingback: The Guilty Wife, by Alison James - loopyloulaura