Seven Sisters (Katherine Kovacic, HarperCollins)

Katherine Kovacic’s latest novel is an intense, page-turning psychological thriller that explores the depravity of domestic violence, the failings of the justice system and the lengths families will go in order to exact revenge. A group of grief-stricken women, under the guidance of their therapist, support each other in weekly group sessions, sharing the horrific stories of how they each lost their sister to the hands of a manipulative and dangerous man. Through these sessions, a plan begins to take shape that will, in the end, leave a trail of bodies in its wake. Although the writing and narrative set-up feel slightly weak in the beginning, the plot of Seven Sisters hits its stride as the story unfolds, gripping the reader with two-handed fury. Kovacic cleverly positions her audience to align their morality with that of these six grieving women, who plot to hunt and murder the men that killed their sisters and faced little, if any, legal repercussions. While Kovacic handles the subject of domestic violence carefully, it is worth noting that this book may trigger some readers due to the inherently intense and confronting nature of the content. Perfect for fans of Patricia Highsmith, Candice Fox and Jacqueline Bublitz, Seven Sisters will have you questioning your idea of justice and how far you would go to help others—including taking an eye for an eye.

Kate Frawley is a former bookseller and a librarian in training.

Category: Reviews