The Good Sister - by Gillian McAllister (Paperback)

About the Book

Originally published in the United Kingdom by Penguin Books as: No further questions.

Book Synopsis

From the author of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick Wrong Place, Wrong Time and Just Another Missing Person comes an electrifying novel about the unyielding bond between two sisters, which is severely tested when one of them is accused of the worst imaginable crime.

Martha and Becky Blackwater are more than sisters--they're each other's lifelines. When Martha finds herself struggling to balance early motherhood and her growing business, Becky steps in to babysit her niece, Layla, without a second thought, bringing the two women closer than ever. But then the unthinkable happens, and Becky is charged with murder.

Nine months later, Becky is on trial and maintains her innocence--and so does Martha. Unable to shake the feeling that her sister couldn't possibly be guilty, Martha sets out to uncover exactly what happened that night, and how things could have gone so wrong. As the trial progresses, fault lines between the sisters begin to show--revealing cracks deep in their relationship and threatening the family each has worked so hard to build. With incredible empathy and resounding emotional heft, The Good Sister is a powerhouse of a novel that will lead readers to question everything they know about motherhood, family, and the price of forgiveness.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Good Sister
A Bustle "Perfect Vacation Read"

"[A] riveting psychological thriller...Authentic courtroom scenes, intricate family dynamics, the conflicts of motherhood, and a shocking ending all add up to a winner."--Publishers Weekly

"With fast-paced prose and several unexpected twists, [Gillian McAllister] skillfully weaves a web in which any of the characters might be the guilty party....A suspenseful courtroom drama full of poignant flashbacks and unique insights."--Kirkus Reviews

"This deeply felt, emotional story will appeal to readers of Jodi Picoult, who frequently mixes legal intrigue and strong character development."--Booklist

"With The Good Sister, Gillian McAllister explores the exclusionary power of intimacy. She captures that feeling of being in the circle of trust, outside of it. You come away with whiplash from empathizing with each character, even the judge. This is a deeply gratifying, taut courtroom drama and so much more. I don't know how Gillian did it, but I'm so happy she did."--Caroline Kepnes, author of You and Providence

"I've just raced through the impressive The Good Sister. Loved this gripping and thought-provoking read!"--B.A. Paris, author of Behind Closed Doors

"I read it in a breathless day and a half. Such a perfect balance of courtroom drama and family drama, so smooth and assured, it just flowed, seamlessly. I loved every page, every character, every twist and turn."--Lisa Jewell, author of Then She Was Gone

"I was totally swept up--and challenged--by this dark courtroom drama and am still wrestling with the brilliantly written dilemma at its heart."--Fiona Barton, author of The Child and The Widow

"The Good Sister is an ingeniously constructed courtroom drama with real flesh-and-blood characters and cliff-hanging suspense."--Louise Candlish, author of Our House

"An emotionally charged story about two sisters torn apart by the death of a child, it explores the joys and challenges that come with motherhood with a twist I didn't see coming."--Hollie Overton, author of Baby Doll and The Walls

"Heart-rending and brilliant. Such incredible storytelling."--Jill Mansell, author of This Could Change Everything

"I couldn't put The Good Sister down. An original, beautifully written and moving story about sisters that had me racing through the pages. That ending will stay with me for a long time. Perfect."--Claire Douglas, author of Last Seen Alive

"One of the most gripping and moving books I've ever read. Gillian McAllister tackles an unbearable situation with scalpel precision and incredible humanity. I read The Good Sister at every opportunity and haven't stopped thinking about it since. Unmissable."--Holly Seddon, author of Try Not to Breathe

"One of the best courtroom dramas I've ever read--keeps you guessing right up to the very end."--Cara Hunter, author of In the Dark and Close to Home

"Gripping and compelling but also nuanced and insightful and sad."--Tamar Cohen, author of The Mistress's Revenge, The War of the Wives, and The Fallout

About the Author

Gillian McAllister has been writing for as long as she can remember. She graduated with an English degree before working as a lawyer. She lives in Birmingham, England, where she now writes full-time. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Wrong Place Wrong Time and the Sunday Times bestsellers Everything But the Truth, Anything You Do Say (titled The Choice in the US), No Further Questions (titled The Good Sister in the US), The Evidence Against You, How to Disappear, and That Night. She is also the creator and co-host of the popular Honest Authors podcast.