The Sea Sisters

Sisters Katie and Mia have been through a lot together including their Dad walking out on them and their Mum recently passing away. Complete opposites, older sister Katie is responsible and sensible, starting a new life in London with a good job, plus trying to look out for younger sister, free spirit Mia. One day Mia suddenly decides to go travelling around the world with her childhood friend Finn and she books her ticket straight away. Katie is left along for six months worrying and preparing for her wedding, but one evening she gets the news she has always dreaded - Mia has been found dead at the bottom of a cliff in Bali. And the official report is that it was suicide.

Katie can't help but blame herself, as they had a huge argument over the phone the previous day, but she also can't believe that Mia would throw her life away. When she receives Mia's travel journal, she does the first impulsive thing of her life and books a ticket to follow in Mia's footsteps, while reading her journal to try to understand what happened in the last few month's of her sister's life.

The Sea Sisters is full of mystery, intrigue and revelations. Lucy Clarke captures the exotic locations perfectly and I was surprised to read in the Q and A at the end of the novel that she does not actually have a sister, as the relationship between Mia and Katie feels very authentic as each character feels a complex mixture of love, hate, jealousy and resentment towards each other.

I was gripped throughout and sped through this in about three days. Mia and Katie each have their unique voice and both of them were likable 'real' characters. I think this is one of those rare books which will please fans of mystery / suspense novels and 'chick-lit'. This is a perfect holiday read and I am looking forward to discovering more of Lucy Clarke's work.

Watch the trailer for The Sea Sisters below: