The Other Sister

This uneven fairy tale–tinged mystery from Zettel (Let Them Eat Stake) features two sisters—one good, one bad. Troubled Geraldine Monroe left her hometown of Whitestone Harbor, Mich., soon after their mother’s death, which she blamed on herself, more than 25 years ago. Marie Monroe stayed in the family home, called the Rose House, a loving mother to her son, Robbie, but under the thumb of their manipulative father, who may have been responsible for his wife’s death—as well as other murders. Now Geraldine has returned, supposedly for Robbie’s high school graduation, and she and Marie concoct a potentially lethal plan. The book’s strength derives from the sisters’ pathological love/hate relationship, their inability to fully trust the other, and how they deal with their father’s viciousness. At first, allusions to fairy tales complement the plot, but it stalls midway through with repetitive action before succumbing to a predictable and uninspiring ending. Hopefully, Zettel, a popular SF author, will do better next time. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency. (Aug.)