by Sarah Smith, Adult Services
I tore through âLike a Sister,â the latest novel by Kellye Garrett, in a single weekend and it kept me guessing right up to the end. I highly recommend this stand-alone story to anyone who enjoys a mystery packed with twists and turns, especially if, like me, you occasionally find yourself falling down the rabbit hole of Wikipedia articles about celebrity misdeeds.
In 2017 Garrett published âHollywood Homicide,” the first novel in her Detective by Day series, and sheâs since taken home the major awards for mystery novelists. I also recommend this series, particularly if youâre looking for something a little lighter in tone. Before starting her career as a novelist, Garrett was a screenwriter in Hollywood for shows such as âCold Case,â giving her a different perspective on the world of celebrity from behind the scenes.
âLike a Sisterâ delves into the world of celebrity from the perspective of a character who is on the fringes, closer to the action, but far from the spotlight herself. Lena Scottâs father has become one of the most successful music producers in the business, building his success in the world of hip hop from humble roots. Lenaâs half-sister, Desiree, is a celebutante known for a glamorous life of parties and a dramatic turn in reality TV. Lena is a graduate student living in her grandmotherâs home in the Bronx, where she has avoided the tabloids and her fatherâs money since her parentsâ relationship ended.
For most of their lives, Lena and Desiree were close. But Desireeâs growing problems with drugs and alcohol caused Lena to cut ties years ago. When Desiree is found dead, Lena is left to struggle with grief and regret, and she finds herself unable to let go of her questions about her sisterâs death. The way everyone, the police, the press, and Desireeâs friends and family, seem to dismiss Lenaâs suspicions, writing the death off as an inevitable tragedy of addiction, only further fuels Lenaâs determination to discover the truth.
Itâs hard to say much more without spoiling the suspenseful plot, but if youâre looking for a good mystery, “Like a Sister” is a real page-turner! Also, if you enjoy audiobooks, definitely give this a listen. The audiobook narrator is Bahni Turpin, whose performance is (as always) fantastic, full of emotion, and well paced.
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