Her Sister's Death

Written by K.L. Murphy

Narrated by Rachel Fulginiti, Kate Rudd and Curt Bonnem

A January 2023 Once Upon a Book Club Pick

"You'll get nothing done until you've reached the end of this excellent book." ―Lisa Regan, USA Today and WSJ bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series

"[A] riveting tale . . ." ―Library Journal

She wanted the truth. She should have known better.

When her sister is found dead in a Baltimore hotel room, reporter Val Ritter's world is turned upside down. An empty pill bottle at the scene leads the police to believe the cause of death is suicide. With little more than her own conviction, Val teams up with Terry Martin, a retired detective who has his own personal interest in the case, to prove that something more sinister is possible.

In 1921, Bridget Wallace, a guest on the brink of womanhood, is getting ready to marry an eligible older man. But what seems like a comfortable match soon takes a dark turn. Does the illustrious history of the stately Franklin hotel hide another, lesser known history of death?

• Language: English
• Publisher: CamCat Publishing
• Release date: Dec 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9780744307436

Reviews for Her Sister's Death

[clrichm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I dunno. The mystery aspect of this book was certainly the strong part, but I was a little put off by the whole “is it ghosts?” angle that it detracted from the overall book. Don’t get me wrong; I love a good paranormal tale, but it needs to commit, to be clear that that’s what it is. Here, you could almost have explained away security officer Terry’s experience as suggestibility based on shock and generational trauma, and Dani’s on possible schizophrenia. It was by no means the main thrust—Dani’s whole plan didn’t start anywhere near a hotel room, haunted or not—and I think the story would have been better without it.

[geauxgetlit · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mystery fans…this book is for you!

A rumored haunted hotel, suspicious deaths, dual timelines, and abusive husbands gave this book the perfect mix of suspense and mystery that made me fly through the book in one sitting!

This book has two storylines from the present and one from 1921.

Present Day: Val Ritter has been informed that her sister has committed suicide in a classic hotel in Baltimore, yet she doesn’t think for a second that her sister would do such a thing. She tells her story to a PI, Terry, who is intrigued by her story due to tales of many woman over the years dying. This hotel is rumored to be haunted but its all speculation.

1921: Young Bridget is to be married by a worldly man and her parents are pushing and encouraging her that he is the right man for her. Bridget has seen darker sides of him during their courtship, yet she keeps this a secret. They are married and their honeymoon stay is in the upscale Baltimore Hotel.

The author did an amazing job interweaving the two and I was shocked at how the two were connected.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @k.l_murphy and @camcatbooks for the gifted copy and having me on tour.

[karensiddall · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This riveting murder mystery mesmerized from the first page!Her Sister’s Death is a riveting tale of murder and deception. I was immediately invested in Val and Terry’s investigation and the flashback story of Bridget Wallace. The author makes the story come alive through three points of view: those of Val, Terry, and Bridget, and I was mesmerized by the telling.All three of the main characters are likable protagonists. Val is steadfast in her belief in her sister and dogged pursuit of the truth. She and Terry make engaging and formidable partners, and I liked how quickly they became an effective team. I wouldn’t mind seeing this pair again in a sequel.The 1921 storyline was frightening and tragic and all too easy to imagine happening. That poor girl is still so young and is facing a bleak future, even before she understands the true depths of her situation. The interactions with her fiancé and later husband, Lawrence, were almost too painful to read. And for me, there remain the questions: was it something evil inherent in the hotel, or is it the evil spirit of the man that continues to affect the guests of the Franklin, or has the spirit of the man become the spirit of the hotel?I recommend HER SISTER’S DEATH for mystery readers who enjoy a touch of the paranormal in their stories, dual timelines, or mysteries set in hotels, the 1920s, or Baltimore.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.