Like a Sister

By: Kellye Garrett

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

In this "crackling domestic suspense" filled with "wry humor and deft pacing" (Alyssa Cole), no one bats an eye when a Black reality TV star is found dead—except her estranged half-sister, whose refusal to believe the official story leads her on a dangerous search for the truth.

Edgar Award Finalist for Best Novel • Lefty Award Winner for Best Mystery Novel • A Book of the Month Club Pick • An Oxygen Book Club Pick • A Today Show Spring Fiction Pick • A New York Post Best New Book of the Week • A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year • A South Florida Sun-Sentinel Best Mystery of the Year • A CrimeReads Best Psychological Thriller of the Year

“A mystery that has everything I love most: an intriguing set up; an absorbing storyline that kept me guessing; a satisfying ending; and, most of all, incredibly well-developed characters I kept thinking about long after I finished the book.” ―Jasmine Guillory, Today Show

“I found out my sister was back in New York from Instagram. I found out she’d died from the New York Daily News.”

When the body of reality TV star Desiree Pierce is found on a playground in the Bronx the morning after her twenty-fifth birthday party, the police and the media are quick to declare her death an overdose. A tragedy, certainly, but not a crime.

Yet Columbia grad student Lena—principled, headstrong, and allergic to the spotlight—knows that can’t be the case. Despite the bitter truth that the two hadn’t spoken in two years, they were half-sisters. Lena knew Desiree. And Desiree would never travel above 125th Street. Something is very wrong with the facts. So why is no one listening?

While the two sisters had been torn apart by Desiree’s partying and by their difficult father, Lena becomes determined to find justice for Desiree. Even if that means untangling her family’s darkest secrets—or ending up dead herself.

“A briskly plotted, socially astute thriller.” ―Los Angeles Times

“Equal parts charm and heartbreak, with razor-sharp insights on class, race, and family.” —Laura Lippman

“Dishes up the glitz of the haves and the struggles of the have-nots, infusing classic noir storytelling with Big Apple glamour—#pageturner.” —Oprah Daily

“A twisty murder mystery with nuance and heart.” ―BookPage

“Noir for the media-struck generation...Original and witty.” ―National Public Radio

“Domestic suspense for the Instagram gen. #lovedit.” —Lori Rader-Day

©2022 Kellye Garrett (P)2022 Mulholland Books

Critic reviews

"Kellye Garrett, a break-out star in crime fiction since her debut, has upped the ante with her latest, Like a Sister. A traditional mystery set in the world of reality television and Instagram influencers, it is equal parts charm and heartbreak, with razor-sharp insights on class, race, and family. I'm happy to know that Kellye Garrett is just getting started. I can't wait to see what she does next." (Laura Lippman, New York Times best-selling author of Lady in the Lake)

"Brimming with suspense and wit, Like a Sister is a tense, twisting mystery that explores the complex bonds within family and the elusive nature of truth. Smart, sharp, and completely engrossing - an absolutely can’t-put-it-down read!" (Megan Miranda, New York Times best-selling author of All the Missing Girls and Such a Quiet Place)

“Like a Sister is one of those reads whose tight plotting and suspenseful pacing might tempt you to rush to its twisty end, but take your time and enjoy the ride as Kellye Garrett fills these pages with humor, heart, and whip-smart insights into class, race, family, and our contemporary media culture. Garrett deserves every bit of praise Like a Sister is certain to earn.” (Alafair Burke, New York Times best-selling author of The Better Sister)

Great story overall

Really well written story! The plot and the diversity of characters was great. I will say, the main character development was shallow. Main character has a few really odd corks (obsessive use of the word sh!tnuts) and we never understand even a small bit of why.
Worse part for me was the narrator. She speaks in the voice of an 8yr old the entire time! It was extremely annoying at times. It was like she was narrating a cartoon at certain points!

Excellent

I’m picky and this was a five star read for me. Great story line and nice twist.

Loved it!

This is my first read for this author and it was awesome. I loved not being able to predict what was coming. Will def be reading more from her.

definitely a page turner!

It was an interesting story, well organized and narrated. The clues came together only at the very end.

Loved it

I Drive many hours and Love listening to audiobooks, but am not a good writer myself. This is my fist review since I really loved this one. I want to know what happen to the Sister and it was a simple page turner. Loved it

kept you guessing

while the story was intriguing, the writing was good and kept you on your toes. However, the ending was lack luster and seemed rushed. The person and reasoning was lack luster and made no sense at all. For that alone I wouldn't recommend it, waste of time.

Great Narration!

Narrator made the whole book! She was phenomenal!
Story kept the mystery flowing till the very end.
Highly recommended!

Good story, but...

The story was actually great, but the author's overuse of similies made the story VERY annoying. At times, every other sentance was a simile. The narration was great with all characters having distinct voices.I would try another book by this author.

Twisty Mystery Strong female protagonist

Didn’t know anything about this mystery or author when I decided to listen. It was suggested by Early Bird Books under new mystery releases. what a wonderful suggestion! Lots of misdirection, extremely well done. Surprises constantly. will look for this author again. Good and bad characters of different races. Complex characters. I expect this to win awards. Performance is also good.

The story concerns two young adult sisters who are estranged from each other and their father, a wealthy hip hop music producer. One sister, a reality TV star, is found dead. The police say it’s a suicide, but the “serious “ sister, who is a college student, does not believe this, and decides to investigate. We don’t know how old the sisters are, but the “serious” sister
presents as much more mature than the average college student. She is living in her late grandmother’s house with her aunt in NewYorkCity, and commuting to college.

This is not a gory book, or particularly violent, but it is not a cute, cozy read either. I am pleased to say that no women or children get raped or graphically abused in this book, which I find often happens to women protagonists in contemporary crime fiction.
As a white woman in my 60s who is a fan of noir mystery, I am probably not the target market for this book, but I am so glad I listened to it. Very well done, and kept me thinking about it afterwards. I have already told friends about it.

Enjoyed

Loved main character. Loved narrator. “Shitnuts” became endearing. A lot of characters were confusing, but loved the core ones.