By The Book

I love a twisty thriller, especially if it has an unreliable narrator! That kind of story keeps me on my toes. I found that and more in The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch. This book set in a picturesque secret-filled Maine coastal town was full of unexpected revelations, aha moments, and seriously creepy subject matter. (Content warnings: pregnancy loss and child abuse.) Gwen is the perfect character for the first person narration — fiercely devoted to finding justice, but broken in so many ways — she tells a compelling story as she seeks a new life with her doctor husband. Unfortunately, the house they move to will not let them achieve the peace they so dearly need. I could not put this haunted house novel down! While this story is told through a Christian worldview, the references are subtle. I especially liked the juxtaposition of crows and black-capped chickadees — you’ll know it when you see it. 😉 This book is for those who don’t mind a bit (or a lot) of creep-factor, like surprises around every corner, and love a very satisfying ending. I think this book is a good choice for a book club. Lots of things to discuss — Can justice be achieved in a broken world? Does growth come from pain? Can past trauma be redeemed?

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

She bought this house to save her marriage. Unearthing its secrets might just claim her life.

Gwen McDaniel’s life is broken. But she knows the perfect place to fix it. Cold Harbor, Maine, an idyllic small town with views of Acadia National Park, is where she used to vacation with her parents as a child. Here, she and Steven can start over, renovating their cliff-side fixer-upper while patching up their marriage. Soon, everything will be better.

Except from the moment they arrive, Gwen sees and hears things, and it’s more than just the drafts and shadows that are part of any old house. Steven downplays her fears, warning her not to fixate on problems as she has in the past. But Gwen spent years as a homicide detective, and her instincts don’t lie. Something happened here. Proof comes when she rips up the attic’s carpet to discover a chilling message carved into the wood underneath.

As Gwen delves into the history of the house and the Cold Harbor community, she begins to piece the fragments together. And gradually, a terrifying picture emerges: A missing girl. A house of horrors. And a dark, decades-old nightmare that is more haunting than Gwen ever imagined…

Jessica R. Patch is a New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than thirty novels. Known for her pulse-pounding plots, emotionally charged characters, and signature twists, Jessica’s stories explore themes of justice, resilience, and the unshakable power of hope.

Whether weaving inspirational stories of danger edged with romance or crafting chilling thrillers that probe the shadows of the human heart, Jessica delivers fiction that thrills while shining light in the darkest places.

She makes her home in Northwest Mississippi, where she enjoys life with her family, a good cup of tea, and dreaming up her next edge-of-your-seat story usually over tacos and queso.

Tags: Jessica R. Patch, suspense fiction, thriller

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Title: The Other Sister
Author: Jessica R. Patch
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Genre: Thriller, Domestic Thriller, Psychological Thriller

She thought she was the only one lying about her identity. Until she stepped into her sister’s life.

Charlotte Kane has always dreamed of a different life, one where she isn’t living paycheck to paycheck. An existence worlds away from the chaos of her own. Then her estranged mother dies, and Charlotte makes a stunning discovery—she has an identical twin who was given up for adoption.

Acelynn Benedict is polished, successful and seems to have everything Charlotte yearns for—a wealthy, doting family in Savannah, a handsome boyfriend, a great career. She’s just as surprised as Charlotte to learn she has a sister. But when tragedy hits and Charlotte is forced to assume Acelynn’s identity in a desperate moment, she uncovers something altogether darker…

No one in her sister’s life is quite who they seem to be. And every discovery leads Charlotte deeper into a web of deadly secrets. Charlotte may have wanted Acelynn’s life, yet now that she’s living it, she wants out. But if she reveals the truth about herself, it will mean returning to her old life—and she’s already a dead woman there.

Excerpt

“One last thing before I go.” He steps onto my porch, then turns, and his dark eyes are dancing again. “I really like that paint you picked for me. Got a guy coming out this weekend to strip the old wallpaper off. Thanks.”

He doesn’t trust me. He knows I’ve been in his office, and he thinks I’m lying in regard to this case, yet his compliment is genuine. His eyes, sincere. I have no idea what to make of this man. Why didn’t he throw out the samples? Why show up on my doorstep like this? Other than to shake me up. I know what he thinks about me. Liar. And he’s not wrong. I am a liar. A deceiver. And many other things.

I feel guilty simply by being in his presence, and I haven’t done anything sinister in regard to Dru. Okay, the snooping was wrong, and I’m genuinely remorseful for that.

I’m not who he thinks I am, except part of me wonders if he knows I am an imposter. He’s just doing his job, but his job happens to threaten me and my future.

“You did? You do? You know you can paint over wallpaper. Saves time.”

“I could.” He eyes me in that weird way again. “But when you paint over another layer like that, it eventually peels, and what’s underneath is revealed. A real eyesore that you wanted covered up in the first place. I find stripping away the old, even if it appears pretty, is the right way to go about it. It’s so much easier to work with a completely bare source. It’s fresh and clean and ready for color. I don’t mind the time it takes. I’ll be happier with the results.” He shrugs one shoulder.

My heart pinches. “Are you actually talking about paint?”

He rubs his chin. “Do you think I’m talking about paint?”

Always a question with a question. “I don’t know.”

He reaches out and takes my cross necklace in his hand. I don’t flinch at his move into my personal space—not like I would with any other man. As quickly as he holds it, he drops it and steps back. “Or maybe you do.”

My Impressions:

What a twisting ride Jessica R. Patch takes readers on in the suspense thriller, The Other Sister! This is my first book by Patch, but it won’t be my last because this book really kept me on my toes. The novel follows Charlotte Kane, a product of a horrible mother and a foster system that failed her. Charlotte has desperately tried to find her place, trying to fit in as best as she can. When presented with the ultimate new life — trading places with a twin sister she never knew of — Charlotte convinces herself she is doing what she has to do. I found Charlotte to be a really interesting character. I wanted so much to like her, and for the most part I did, but she fools herself while fooling others. Her character grows a lot, but in the end she is forced to make the right decisions. If things had gone differently, would she have made the same choices? The novel presents a lot to ponder. As to the events surrounding Charlotte’s story, things aren’t all they seem in genteel Savannah, Georgia. Charlotte’s story is juxtaposed with another point of view from an unnamed character that gets creepier and creepier. Honestly, I knew I was missing something important, but I never guessed until the end just what that was. How perfect is that for someone who figures out whodunit more often than not. If you like creepy and thought-provoking, then The Other Sister is the book for you.

Recommended.

Audience: Adult.

(Thanks to Just Read Publicity Tours for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

About The Author

Connect with Jessica by visiting jessicarpatch.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to her email newsletter “Patched In” updates and receive a FREE short thriller.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of The Garden Girls & a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 22, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 29, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Tags: Jessica R. Patch, suspense fiction, thriller