Lieutenant Anna Koray thought she’d finally found solid ground and escaped her past as the daughter of a notorious serial killer. A loving boyfriend, a loyal dog, a life that almost feels normal—except darkness has a way of seeping in. When she saves a boy from drowning, the strange marks on his body tell a disturbing story: something in the depths tried to drag him under.

Days later, another victim surfaces with identical marks and Anna’s instincts scream that these are no accidents. Both victims are connected to the Kings of Warsaw Creek—men of the town’s wealthiest and most influential families. And they have enemies.

Others whisper that there are witches in Bayern County, seeking revenge for a long-ago murder. Perhaps it’s the work of Vivian Carson, the enigmatic bartender who’s rumored to cast hexes on those who wrong her. Or maybe it’s a secret coven who’s been leaving serpentine symbols and skulls behind at the scenes of the drownings.

But Anna’s investigation reveals an even more sinister truth: something is stirring in the water, and it wants the Kings to pay.

With time running out and more victims appearing, Anna must separate superstition from truth. But in Bayern County, where legends and curses run deep as the water itself, one wrong step could drag her into the depths—this time for good.

The Sister’s Curse by Nicola Solvinic is a compelling mystery, with supernatural elements that not only keep you reading but keep you absorbed in Anna’s story. One of the elements that Nicola Solvinic uses is Anna’s dreams of the past to pull the reader in but also inform into the nature of Anna’s relationship with her mother and how it impacts her in this investigation. As Anna unpeels each layer, the murderer isn’t quite who you expect and the past bears weight on the present in unexpected ways. The twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very end. 

This is a true mystery thriller to the very end. Even when Anna discovers the truth, she must find a way to stop the killer but will she want to when she finds out the full truth of the past and her part in her family’s drama. How will it all tie together?  

If you love mysteries and thrillers, you will find this novel a compelling mystery. I love the supernatural elements, even as the reader is never sure how much is true and how much is part of Anna’s own mind. This is a fantastic edge of your seat thriller ride.

Rating: 5 out of 5 dreams

Penguin RandomHouse

Nicola Solvinic website