BOOK REVIEW: My Sister's Bones by Nuala Ellwood

Ever woken from a nightmare, convinced it was real?
Kate Rafter is a high-flying war reporter.
She's the strong one.
The one who escaped their father.
Her sister didn't. Instead, Sally drinks.
But after their mother's death, Kate is forced to return to the old family home. And on the very first night she is woken by a terrifying scream...
What secret is lurking in her mother's garden?
And can Kate uncover the truth before she loses her mind?

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 12th January 2017

Wow this book was tense, such a fantastic read! Kate is a high-flying war reporter, she returns from war torn Aleppo when she heard of her mother's death. Returning to the family home, Kate wants to get her mother's affairs in order but her alcoholic sister is no help and nobody will believe her about the young boy she keeps seeing in her mother's garden.
This book took me by surprise, I thought the synopsis sounded great but it is much more than that. Kate is so effected by the atrocities she has seen in Syria; it becomes clear very quickly that she is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is a very clever feature from the author as you are constantly doubting what is real to Kate and what is being caused by her being ill. Can she really see a boy in the garden, are her childhood memories correct, should she be locked up for her own safety?
Nuala Ellwood does not hold back
when describing the horrors that Kate encounters in her job. I thought it was rather brave of her to tackle a subject that is so emotive and so prevalent in the media at the moment. We all have views on Syria but the author is effectively using the situation as a way to explore the devastating effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and she does it brilliantly. Kate cannot just slot back into normal life; sounds and even smells can transport her back to Syria and even she at some points realises that she is out of control- she knows her behaviour is erratic but she can't stop.
My Sister's Bones is a fantastic read, I think it's one of the best thrillers I have read this year and I think it will receive a lot of attention when it is published in January.