KEY POINTS:
THE SISTERHOOD
By Emily Barr
Headline, $38.99
While ferreting through her mother's wardrobe one day, Helen discovers she has a secret sister who was abandoned in infancy. She decides to find her and bring her to France to be reunited with their mother, no matter what lengths she must go to. All without revealing her familial identity and in top secret fashion.
However, long-lost sibling Liz is a less than willing participant in Helen's plans; she has bigger problems in her life, namely an unplanned pregnancy and a gay hubby.
It may sound fluffy, but The Sisterhood is anything but.
Far more Single White Female than soothing chick lit, this is a surprisingly dark story with a psychotic twist - even more unexpected given the pastel cover and cheery blurb.
Written in first person, the tale flips between the sisters and their mother. Somehow humorous moments and amusing minor characters such as Liz's layabout brother and wacky stepmother are slotted in, all of which provide welcome relief to what ultimately becomes a tense read.
Well-structured with building momentum, this is a superbly written and engrossing book that I consumed obsessively. It's Emily Barr's seventh novel and it's brilliant.
