Book Review: The Quiet Sister by Alex Stone

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Alex Stone back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Quiet Sister.

Keep your enemies close… your sister closer 🩸 Pulse-pounding thriller for fans of Sue Watson, Shalini Boland and Freida McFadden!

To outsiders, twins Mia and Chloe have always been close, like good sisters should be. But in private their relationship is one of jealousy, resentment and bitterness.

Popular and attractive Mia is always the centre of attention, loved by all. Quiet and reserved, Chloe is overlooked and underestimated, and has tried to build a life away from Mia and her manipulation. Finally she is happy and content.

But then Mia returns and makes it clear that she wants to be part of her sister’s life again, to have everything Chloe has…including her new fiancé Scott.

Chloe can’t allow Mia to ruin her life again. She’s done this too many times in the past – always taking things that don’t belong to her.

As old tensions, secrets and lies return, tragedy strikes. And one sister will use the opportunity to live the life she has always wanted…the life she has always deserved.

*****

Twins Chloe and Mia are outwardly identical in every way. That’s where the similarities end. Chloe is the introvert.  Mia is the extrovert who has always taken everything her sister has. Now she wants Chloe’s fiancé. 

It’s so lovely to be invited onto a blog tour hosted by Alex Stone. I am such a big fan of her novels, I couldn’t wait to get started on her latest release, The Quiet Sister. 

Being from and living in Bournemouth, I love the fact that Alex Stone’s novels are based in this area. It allowed me to have such a clear picture of the setting. That’s not to say that this isn’t painted superbly for anyone not familiar with the seaside town. 

This author also knows how to hook the reader from the first page. Immediately, there is a sense of huge tension, suspense, dread and menace that makes up this well developed psychological thriller. 

Told from the point of view of Chloe, the story jumps from present day to flashbacks of the preceding months and the twins’ childhood. Even though the story isn’t completely linear, it’s easy to follow. 

The characters are a varied bunch and it’s hard to know who to trust, even Chloe. I did have sympathy for her. My feelings for Mia were a bit more complicated. I don’t want to talk about the other characters as I really don’t want to give too much away. 

The Quiet Sister explores themes of grief, bitterness, resentment and family dynamics amongst others.  It is a complex and at times, a heartbreaking story that simmers before revealing an action packed ending. It’s an addictive read that I didn’t want to put down. It’s another brilliant psychological thriller from Alex Stone. Bravo. 

I can’t wait for the next book. 

About Alex Stone –

Alex Stone is an accountant from the West Midlands, who uprooted her life to pursue her dream of living by the sea and becoming a writer. She is proof that if you stick at it, anything is possible, and is now a psychological thriller author based in Dorset. This beautiful and dramatic coast is the inspiration and setting for her novels.

Alex has a keen interest in psychology, and her novels examine how situations in the past can shape a person for the better and the worst.

Her debut novel, The Perfect Daughter, has been described as; ‘cleverly written, powerful, shocking, and totally believable.’

Say hello to Alex via Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to her newsletter. 

The Quiet Sister was released by Boldwood Books on 10th March 2025. Click to buy on Amazon and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.