Synopses & Reviews
In this "tense, twisting mystery" and "absolutely can't-put-it-down read" (Megan Miranda), no one bats an eye when a Black reality TV star is found dead in the Bronx — except her estranged half-sister, whose refusal to believe the official story leads her on a dangerous search for the truth.
When the body of disgraced reality TV star Desiree Pierce is found on a playground in the Bronx the morning after her 25th birthday party, the police and the media are quick to declare her death an overdose. It's a tragedy, certainly, but not a crime.
But Desiree's half-sister Lena Scott knows that can't be the case. A graduate student at Columbia, Lena has spent the past decade forging her own path far from the spotlight, but some facts about Desiree just couldn't have changed since their childhood. And Desiree would never travel above 125th Street. So why is no one listening to her?
Despite the bitter truth that the two haven't spoken in two years, torn apart by Desiree's partying and by their father, Mel, a wealthy and influential hip-hop mogul, Lena becomes determined to find justice for her sister, even if it means untangling her family's darkest secrets — or ending up dead herself.
"A riveting, read-through-the-night thriller." —Liv Constantine
"Equal parts charm and heartbreak, with razor-sharp insights on class, race, and family." —Laura Lippman
"Smart with twists you never see coming." —Walter Mosley
"Domestic suspense for the Instagram gen. #lovedit." —Lori Rader-Day
Review
“Lena's relatable conflicts and her crafty, tenacious investigation will easily draw fans. A strong mystery that benefits from the tension between Desiree's glamour and Lena's cynical practicality.” Booklist
Review
"Like A Sister is a wholly captivating novel, one that grows more complicated — and tense — as the story unfolds. Loaded with twists and turns, this book will keep you guessing, and reading, until the last shocking page." Samantha Downing, bestselling author of My Lovely Wife and He Started It
Review
"Like a Sister is a marvel and a must-read story for the current moment. Garrett, with deft humor and perfect eye for the blurred lines of social media and reality TV, has crafted a gripping narrative of domestic suspense which delivers hard, essential truths about race, class, and makes us question why some women's stories are too often disbelieved." Ivy Pochoda, author of These Women
Review
"With utterly convincing family relationships, a deft eye for the slippery nature of trust, and a red-hot take on right now, Like a Sister sees multi-award-winning cozy author Kellye Garrett laying down a very different beat to bring us a sure-fire hit. Magic!" Catriona McPherson, award-winning author of Strangers at the Gate
Review
"Like a Sister is one of those reads whose tight plotting and suspenseful pacing might tempt you to rush to its twisty end, but take your time and enjoy the ride as Kellye Garrett fills these pages with humor, heart, and whip-smart insights into class, race, family, and our contemporary media culture. Garrett deserves every bit of praise Like a Sister is certain to earn." Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of The Better Sister
Review
"Kellye Garrett is a fantastic new voice in crime fiction, and Like a Sister is her best book yet. A twisty mystery that takes a deep dive into celebrity, social media — and the dangerously false perceptions they can create — Garrett's latest is razor-sharp and utterly absorbing. I dare you to try and put it down." Alison Gaylin, author of If I Die Tonight
Review
"Brimming with suspense and wit, Like a Sister is a tense, twisting mystery that explores the complex bonds within family and the elusive nature of truth. Smart, sharp, and completely engrossing — an absolutely can't-put-it-down read!" Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and Such a Quiet Place
Review
"I can't say enough good things about Kellye Garrett's highly anticipated new novel. Like A Sister is a smart, twisty, timely thriller that kept me guessing the whole way through. Garrett is a rising star, and a refreshing, standout voice in crime fiction." Jennifer Hillier, award-winning author of Jar of Hearts and Little Secrets
Review
"A tour-de-force by one of crime fiction's best, Kellye Garrett delivers a knock-out in Like A Sister. Garrett's incredible range and depth of storytelling bring New York City to life as this thriller unfolds layer-by-gripping-layer. Through the inevitable media boil surrounding celebrity death, a powerful family keeping secrets of their own, and a grieving sister's relentless quest for answers, Garrett clarifies an important truth about the voicelessness of the dead: When they've left a sister behind, they often aren't." PJ Vernon, author of Bath Haus
Synopsis
In this "crackling domestic suspense" filled with "wry humor and deft pacing" (Alyssa Cole), no one bats an eye when a Black reality TV star is found dead--except her estranged half-sister, whose refusal to believe the official story leads her on a dangerous search for the truth.
"A mystery that has everything I love most: an intriguing set up; an absorbing storyline that kept me guessing; a satisfying ending; and, most of all, incredibly well-developed characters I kept thinking about long after I finished the book." ―Jasmine Guillory, Today Show
"I found out my sister was back in New York from Instagram. I found out she'd died from the New York Daily News."
When the body of reality TV star Desiree Pierce is found on a playground in the Bronx the morning after her twenty-fifth birthday party, the police and the media are quick to declare her death an overdose. A tragedy, certainly, but not a crime.
Yet Columbia grad student Lena--principled, headstrong, and allergic to the spotlight--knows that can't be the case. Despite the bitter truth that the two hadn't spoken in two years, they were half-sisters. Lena knew Desiree. And Desiree would never travel above 125th Street. Something is very wrong with the facts. So why is no one listening?
While the two sisters had been torn apart by Desiree's partying and by their difficult father, Lena becomes determined to find justice for Desiree. Even if that means untangling her family's darkest secrets--or ending up dead herself.
A Book of the Month Club Pick - An Oxygen Book Club Pick - A Today Show Spring Fiction Pick - A New York Post Best New Book of the Week
"A briskly plotted, socially astute thriller." ―Los Angeles Times
"Equal parts charm and heartbreak, with razor-sharp insights on class, race, and family." --Laura Lippman
"Dishes up the glitz of the haves and the struggles of the have-nots, infusing classic noir storytelling with Big Apple glamour--#pageturner." --Oprah Daily
"A twisty murder mystery with nuance and heart." ―BookPage
"Noir for the media-struck generation...Original and witty." ―National Public Radio
Synopsis
In this "tense, twisting mystery" and "absolutely can't-put-it-down read" (Megan Miranda), no one bats an eye when a Black reality TV star is found dead in the Bronx--except her estranged half-sister, whose refusal to believe the official story leads her on a dangerous search for the truth.
"I found out my sister was back in New York from Instagram. I found out she'd died from the New York Daily News."
When the body of disgraced reality TV star Desiree Pierce is found on a playground in the Bronx the morning after her 25th birthday party, the police and the media are quick to declare her death an overdose. It's a tragedy, certainly, but not a crime.
But Desiree's half-sister Lena Scott knows that can't be the case. A graduate student at Columbia, Lena has spent the past decade forging her own path far from the spotlight, but some facts about Desiree just couldn't have changed since their childhood. And Desiree would never travel above 125th Street. So why is no one listening to her?
Despite the bitter truth that the two haven't spoken in two years, torn apart by Desiree's partying and by their father, Mel, a wealthy and influential hip-hop mogul, Lena becomes determined to find justice for her sister, even if it means untangling her family's darkest secrets--or ending up dead herself.
"A riveting, read-through-the-night thriller." --Liv Constantine
"Equal parts charm and heartbreak, with razor-sharp insights on class, race, and family." --Laura Lippman
"Smart with twists you never see coming." --Walter Mosley
"Domestic suspense for the Instagram gen. #lovedit." --Lori Rader-Day
Synopsis
In this "tense, twisting mystery" (Megan Miranda), no one bats an eye when a Black reality TV star is found dead--except her estranged half-sister, whose refusal to believe the official story leads her on a dangerous search for the truth.
"I found out my sister was back in New York from Instagram. I found out she'd died from the New York Daily News."
When the body of disgraced reality TV star Desiree Pierce is found on a playground in the Bronx the morning after her 25th birthday party, the police and the media are quick to declare her death an overdose. It's a tragedy, certainly, but not a crime.
But Desiree's half-sister Lena Scott knows that can't be the case. A graduate student at Columbia, Lena has spent the past decade forging her own path far from the spotlight, but some facts about Desiree just couldn't have changed since their childhood. And Desiree would never travel above 125th Street. So why is no one listening to her?
Despite the bitter truth that the two haven't spoken in two years, torn apart by Desiree's partying and by their father, Mel, a wealthy and influential hip-hop mogul, Lena becomes determined to find justice for her sister, even if it means untangling her family's darkest secrets--or ending up dead herself.
"A riveting, read-through-the-night thriller." --Liv Constantine
"Equal parts charm and heartbreak, with razor-sharp insights on class, race, and family." --Laura Lippman
"Smart with twists you never see coming." --Walter Mosley
"Domestic suspense for the Instagram gen. #lovedit." --Lori Rader-Day
Video
Watch the Powell’s virtual event with Gigi Pandian, Kellye Garrett & Alex Segura!
About the Author
Kellye Garrett is the acclaimed author of Hollywood Homicide, which won the Agatha, Anthony, Lefty and Independent Publisher "IPPY" awards for best first novel and was named one of BookBub's Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time, as well as Hollywood Ending, which was featured on the TODAY show's Best Summer Reads of 2019 and was nominated for both Anthony and Lefty awards. Prior to writing novels, Kellye spent eight years working in Hollywood, including a stint writing for Cold Case. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Sisters in Crime and is a co-founder of Crime Writers of Color.