The Good Sister

April 1, 2019
Two sisters re-examine their relationship as one of them stands trial for murdering the other's infant. Martha Blackwater's 8-week-old baby, Layla, suffocated while she was under her aunt Becky's care. The book opens several months after the baby's death, as Martha attends Becky's trial, desperately hoping to be convinced of her sister's innocence. Becky had been working as a nanny for Layla, a plan the sisters hatched when Becky complained about her dead-end job as a set designer. Feeling as though she's never measured up to her perfect older sister, Becky is determined to excel at being a nanny. Doctors hypothesize that Layla suffers from gastric distress, but they are unable to alleviate her symptoms, and the baby cries incessantly. When Martha leaves town on a business trip at the same time that her husband, Scott, is traveling, Becky is left to care for Layla, and to suffer her endless crying, for two nights. The prosecution now insists that the child's interminable crying pushed Becky over the edge, leading her to smother Layla into silence. As Martha listens to the prosecution, she cannot believe that Becky would ever harm her child. However, with each witness's surprising testimony, Martha begins to wonder whether she's ever known her sister at all. As Martha and Becky take turns narrating this tale, they provide details on both the courtroom events and their personal histories, showcasing their deep bond and subtle resentments. The author also includes chapters told from the perspectives of several witnesses, with each of these chapters appearing immediately before the same witness testifies in court. Rather than feeling repetitive, this approach emphasizes the differences between real-life events and courtroom testimony, a medium through which facts can easily get warped. Through these varying perspectives, the author draws complex, nuanced characters while also illustrating the litany of emotions that can torment bereft parents. With fast-paced prose and several unexpected twists, the author skillfully weaves a web in which any of the characters might be the guilty party. For those who can withstand the difficult subject of infanticide, a suspenseful courtroom drama full of poignant flashbacks and unique insights.

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April 15, 2019
British author McAllister makes her U.S. debut with this riveting psychological thriller set in Brighton, England. Sisters Martha and Becky Blackwater have always been best friends. When work takes Martha to Greece and her husband, Scott, is going to be out of town on business, Becky agrees to look after their eight-week-old baby, Layla, who suffers from reflux and cries almost constantly. Lyla dies while under Becky’s care, an apparent victim of SIDS, but an investigation points to suffocation as the cause of death. When Becky is charged with murder, she claims innocence. The family torn asunder, Becky moves in with her parents while out on bail; Martha and Scott, both consumed by guilt, remain at home. The sisters don’t see each other for nine months, until the trial begins. During the trial, scrutiny of the sisters’ relationship leads to some startling revelations. Authentic courtroom scenes, intricate family dynamics, the conflicts of motherhood, and a shocking ending all add up to a winner. Agent: Clare Wallace, Darley Anderson (U.K.).

May 15, 2019
Becky Blackwater is on trial for the murder of her sister's child. Layla was only eight weeks old when Becky watched her overnight, and after an evening of the baby's colicky crying, Becky found her unresponsive in the morning. Evidence shows signs of asphyxiation. Martha Blackwater is convinced that her sister didn't do it?but what if she did? This is the premise of British lawyer McAllister's new page-turner, published in the UK as No Further Questions. As Becky's gripping trial unfolds, each witness receives a short point-of-view flashback vignette, allowing the reader to follow along with the past and the present simultaneously. The novel also explores the relationship between the sisters, both prior to and after the horrible event, as well as their relationships with their significant others. This deeply felt, emotional story will appeal to readers of Jodi Picoult, who frequently mixes legal intrigue and strong character development, and those who loved Angie Kim's debut, Miracle Creek (2019).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)