Nina Laurin

What My Sister Knew by Nina Lauri is a highly recommended psychological thriller.

Andrea "Addie" Warren has just been in a car accident and the circumstances surrounded it are all hazy. Did she really see a man by the side of the road? At the hospital, her foster mother shows up to take Addie to her home, not Addie's, and it becomes clear that something else is going on, something Addie doesn't have a clue about. At her foster mothers she manages to catch a TV news clip and sees that her twin show more brother, Eli, is back in the news. What did Eli do this time?

Eli killed their mother and stepfather by burning down their house fifteen years ago, when they were both twelve. He was locked up, and when he was finally released it was under the condition that he does not contact Addie. A sensational book was written about the horrific crime so Eli's name is relatively well known. Now a woman has been found murdered in his apartment and the police are searching for him. Naturally, they are interested in talking to Addie too.

The narrative switches between current events and the past. Included before some chapters are excerpts from the true crime book written about Eli. These excerpts along with Addie's recollections about her childhood help create a picture of the childhood of the twins before the murder. We also learn about Addie's current life and the struggles she has been trying to overcome. Do the twins really have a connection, as the police suspect?

The writing is quite good and Laurin provides some twists and surprises along the way. Perhaps you will guess the twists, but, honestly, it's my opinion that Laurin wants you to fear Eli is back to torment Addie. Why else would she have Addie see a mysterious figure during the car crash right at the opening? Laurin does spend some time developing her characters, especially Addie, which adds a depth to the novel and helps intensify the suspense. This is a satisfying, albeit somewhat disturbing, thriller. Addie's scrambling in the middle might go on a tad too long, but, ultimately, What My Sister Knew held my attention and the ending was satisfying.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Grand Central Publishing.
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Girl Last Seen by Nina Laurin is a tense and suspenseful psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seat as it explores trauma, survival, and the haunting consequences of a traumatic past. The novel follows a troubled main character who is grappling with the scars of her past—particularly the memory of being kidnapped as a child. She is struggling to build a “normal” life, but her coping mechanisms are self-destructive, and her mental health continues to be a show more battleground.

Things take a chilling turn when she sees a missing person’s poster of a young child who bears an uncanny resemblance to herself. As the plot unfolds, Laurin masterfully intertwines the main character's present with dark revelations from her past. The premise is intriguing, and there’s a palpable sense of suspense throughout the book.

Laurin does a solid job of exploring the psychological weight of trauma and the complicated dynamics between abuser and victim, creating an intense atmosphere of fear and survival.

However, the pacing of the book is uneven. At times, the plot seems to lose its momentum, bogged down by filler or side plots that distract from the main narrative.

One of the most problematic elements of the novel is the relationship that develops between the main character and the cop who helped rescue her from her abductor as a child. While it’s clear that they share a deep connection, it’s difficult to ignore that their bond is, at its core, a trauma bond—a connection based on shared past trauma and unhealthy emotional dependence.The relationship is presented in a way that almost romanticizes the dynamics of a trauma bond, and it’s uncomfortable to watch. It’s clear to any reader that their relationship is deeply flawed, and while the cop does eventually realize that their connection is toxic, the brief moment of romance at the end feels off.

Despite these issues, Girl Last Seen is still an engaging psychological thriller with moments of gripping suspense. Laurin does a solid job of building tension and crafting a twisty, unpredictable narrative. The twists themselves are intriguing, and the revelations about the protagonist's past and the identity of the real abuser are satisfying. If you’re a fan of thrillers that delve into the complexities of trauma, survival, and the lingering effects of abuse, this book will likely pull you in. show less

Thrillers are an addiction. Ask anyone. Sometimes they just thrill and sometimes they get under your skin and tie you up for years at a stretch, doing unspeakable things to you... and then they let you loose, making you feel like a monster for years and years.

Well, it hasn't been years, rather... minutes since I finished this book, and I can tell right away that I'm going to stay in a bit of shock.

This is a dark one.

I love the premise, the connection over many years, but I probably love show more other kinds of entanglements even more. I'm talking about you, Ella and Shaw. :)

There's a good deal of perfect twists and turns in the plot, but it's the downward spiral of poor Ella that takes center stage, the victim blaming the victim all the way, and yet, always holding onto tiny little sparks and obsessions to keep her going. I love it!

If this doesn't become the next big thing, I don't know what will! It goes down smooth. Real smooth. And scary.


(The fact that I know the author has nothing to do with my judgment of the book. I literally couldn't put it down from the time I picked it up.) :) show less

4.5 stars.

The Starter Wife by Nina Laurin is a gripping domestic mystery.

Claire and Byron Westcott have been married for two years. She is an aspiring novelist and he is a college professor. Twenty years younger than Byron, Claire lives in the shadow of his first wife, Colleen, who committed suicide years earlier. At first blissfully happy, Claire is troubled by a recent distance between herself and Byron. But exactly how far is Claire willing to go to save her marriage?

Claire initially show more comes across as an even-keeled woman who is naturally upset by the changes in her husband's attention to her. But she figures she is partially to blame for the growing rift. The past few months have gone by in a bit of haze due to drinking and strange bouts of not feeling quite herself. Claire thinks she knows exactly what she needs to do to hang on to her man, but she has a few obstacles to overcome to achieve her goal. She also becomes obsessed with finding out more details about Colleen so she turns to an acquaintance who reveals some very enlightening information. As Claire begins snooping around in Byron's past, she begins to slowly unravel.

Byron is a bit of an enigmatic figure since he is spends most of his time away from home. He is quite solicitous of Claire, but she cannot help but wonder if he has an ulterior motive. Byron takes steps to rekindle their waning romance, but will Claire be receptive to his overtures?

Passages written from an unknown person's perspective add a high degree of suspense to the unfolding story. This person is clearly a bit unhinged and willing to do anything to get close to the object of their obsession. But is this person involved with some of the troubling events occurring in Claire's life?

The Starter Wife is a very entertaining and engrossing mystery. Claire is an intriguing character who slowly devolves over the course of the novel. The storyline is quite clever and fast-paced. With a few well placed red herrings and a series of misdirects, Nina Laurin brings this brilliant mystery to a twist-filled, jaw-dropping conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this suspenseful mystery to readers of the genre. show less