One of the best things about being a book blogger is being introduced to authors you may not have heard of otherwise. I was first introduced to Juliet Conlin a few years back via The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner in Six Days. Now she is one of my favourite authors. Here is her latest book.
Goodreads Blurb
Sisters of Berlin by Juliet Conlin
Berlin 2019. The 30th anniversary of the fall of the Wall, and the city is gearing up for a celebration of unity and liberation. But, beneath the surface, are those for whom the divisions and allegiances of the past remain close to home.
In her hushed and leafy corner of Berlin, Nina’s life is a comfortable, conventional one – until her younger sister Marie, a free-spirited writer, is attacked and left for dead. For Nina, Marie’s brutal demise – and that of her unborn child – tips her own carefully controlled life into a nightmare. Stonewalled by official incompetence and subterfuge, Nina begins to realise that her sister’s past and the secrets of the once-divided city are connected in unimaginable ways. As she seeks out justice for Marie, Nina becomes caught in a tangle of obsessions, lies and hidden truths that threatens to destroy her marriage, her livelihood and all that she holds dear.
Review
Firstly, how amazing is that book cover? I love the inclusion of the barbed wire. Not only does it represent a divided Berlin, it also shows the harsh parts that can run through an outwardly appearance of a happy life.
Sisters of Berlin opens straight away with the attack on Marie. Not only does it have us instantly interested in what happened, it also starts us questioning Nina’s family relationships.
For me, Sisters of Berlin is really about these relationships. The book is a slow burner in terms of Marie’s murder; it is the unravelling of Nina’s life that has me coming back for more. Through Nina, it is interesting to see how old habits can resurface with grief. *Trigger Warning* Nina has an eating disorder that was never properly dealt with, and she falls down that slippery slope again early in the book.
Even more so, this is a book about grief. We see the journey Nina’s grief takes her on and how it has an effect on not just Nina, but her family too. Keep an eye on the minor characters, such as Nina’s husband parents, to see the important role they play.
Overall, another Juliet Conlin book that you have to add to your list. I already can’t wait for the next one!
Pick up your copy of Sisters of Berlin here.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Joyful Antidotes 
I haven’t heard of this author before but this sounds like a great read. I like the focus isn’t so much on the murder but on the effect it has on Nina. Great review – thanks for the recommendation, an author I’ll be looking out for in the future.