The Wicked Sister by Karen Dionne

"Hope. Such a meager consolation for people who have no way out."

A few years ago, Karen Dionne's novel The Marsh King's Daughter flew onto the scene and demanded to be read and loved. It had the perfect combination of thriller elements and strong characters, all brought together by a narrative that mirrored a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. I was completely enamored with the book and shared my love for it with just about anyone who would listen to me. Needless to say, I was anxiously awaiting the release of whatever Dionne came up with next. I waited and waited until earlier this year, her publisher finally reached out with an ARC of her latest novel, The Wicked Sister. I jumped at the chance to read it, and I'm pleased to say that it does not disappoint!

When we first meet Rachel, she is speaking to a spider in her room. It sounds crazy, but she's always been able to speak to animals. Well, maybe it actually is crazy. You see, she has spent the last 15 years as a patient in a mental institution, not for talking to animals, but for something much darker. The facts surrounding the events that landed her there are not exactly clear. Both of Rachel's parents were shot dead in the secluded cabin in the woods that the family called home. Whether she simply witnessed the killings or was the one who pulled the trigger is unclear. Even murkier are the days that followed. Rachel ran from the scene and was swallowed by the rugged wilderness only to emerge with no recollection of how she survived in the harsh weather and unforgiving environment. Therapy and medication have done little to open her memory. She is 26 years old and shows no signs of ever being able to leave the institution. All signs point to a lifetime of isolation in the clinic until a young reporter and brother of a fellow patient presents her with information that could change everything.

Chapters of Rachel's present day situation alternate with those of the past. Jenny is a young mother facing a difficult reality. A small neighbor boy tragically drowned in their pool, and Jenny's daughter Dianna seems to have witnessed the event. At least that's what Dianna says happened. Jenny fears something much worse. She found her daughter in soaked clothes and had to change her into a dry outfit before the authorities arrived. Determined to leave the past behind, Jenny and her husband decide to quit their jobs and take up residence at his family's cabin. Isolated from the rest of the world, Jenny hopes to provide Dianna with an upbringing that is safe and enriching. She hopes this different approach to parenting will give her daughter a chance at being normal. But as time progresses and Dianna acts out in new and often horrific ways, Jenny must face the truth. She is raising a psychopath.

In The Wicked Sister Karen Dionne writes another twisted thriller that shocks and terrifies. She does a fantastic job weaving the two seemingly separate narrative threads into a unified whole, building suspense as each perspective reveals more and more that impacts the other. The Wicked Sister is often dark and uncomfortable to read, but a story about a psychopath should be uncomfortable. Dionne relishes in the passages that make you squirm, terrified to read on but unable to look away. She balances these with strong and engaging characters that help propel the reader through even the most harrowing sections. Like her previous novel, The Wicked Sister sees Dionne use the setting of the rugged cabin and surrounding wilderness to great effect. It almost becomes another character in and of itself, a vast and foreboding spirit that permeates each page. As I started this book, I wasn't sure what I was getting into, and nothing could have prepared me for the intense journey I was beginning. The Wicked Sister cements Karen Dionne as on of my must-read authors and will no doubt be one of my favorite thrillers of the year.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2020, 34)

This entry was posted on Monday, August 3, 2020 and is filed under ,,,,,,,,,. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response.

24 Responses to “The Wicked Sister by Karen Dionne”

  1. Yes, indeed- a story with a psychopath should be uncomfortable. Yay for your patient wait to be rewarded with such a gripping and atmospheric story.

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    1. It was well worth the wait, but now I start waiting all over again haha.

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  2. Love the sound of this one! That whole raising a psychopath thing really got to me. Here's hoping there aren't a hundred holds already on this one at my library. :)

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    1. It publishes tomorrow, so you might still be able to get in front of the holds!

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    2. It will be worth the wait either way!

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  3. I am really interested in that previous book too! Must check the library
    And this new one sounds good too

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  4. We are oddly fascinated with psychopaths. Sound too dark for me, but also sounds like it was executed quite well.

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    1. It is extremely dark, but so good! She manages to really delve into the internal struggle of her characters.

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  5. This does sound good! I love it when the setting takes on characterization of its own. It makes for an amazing atmosphere.

    Great review!

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    1. The setting really added to the entire story!

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  6. I very much wanted to like the Marsh King' Daughter -- in fact from the blurb, I was on pins and needles for it, and then... it just didn't work for me. I don't know if this one will either, but my goodness does your review have me appreciating the skill she brings to her writing!

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    1. I can see how TMKD could be divisive. The relation to the fairy tale might be a bit too on the nose for some. This one is set much more in a reality, but she does still include some of the whimsy of fairy tales.

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  7. Ooh this sounds so intense, and I AM HERE FOR IT! I imagine realizing you're raising a psychopath would be really difficult to deal with, and a bit tough to read about. Glad to hear you loved this one!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. It really is the only way you can write about a psychopath, so I was very pleased with it.

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  8. Like Sam mentioned, this one sounds quite a bit darker than my usual fare but I am so intrigued by the story. I like how you mention how the setting itself is so well created and becomes almost another character.

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    1. The setting really added to the suspense of this one.

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  9. Oooh, this one sounds super intriguing. Right up my alley. I'll have to see if my library has this one. Thanks for the heads-up!

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    1. You'd definitely enjoy this one and The Marsh King's Daughter if you've never read that one!

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  10. I am glad to read your review, I listened and thought it was fantastic, so I am glad you found it to be as well.

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  11. I'm wondering what happened with Rachel! Raising a psychopath would be terrifying. What can a parent do when they realize this? I guess get them help, but I'm not sure that works with them. I just hope they didn't have any other kids... My curiosity is piqued!

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