Hello everyone!
I'm still reeling from reading 'The Second Sister', a gripping thriller from Ripol Classic that's been on my radar for ages.
I pre-ordered it at Labyrinth for 582 rubles, and I'm not sorry I did.
Book Design: The cover is absolutely stunning - it's what first caught my eye. The paper quality is top-notch, and the font is just right for a 500-page book. I did notice a few typos towards the end, but overall, the printing is excellent, and the soft-touch cover is a nice touch.
The Plot:
A schoolgirl named Siu-Man takes her own life by jumping out of a 22nd-floor window. Her older sister, a librarian, refuses to believe it was a suicide and reaches out to a mysterious figure known only as N, a hacker with expertise in cybersecurity and manipulation of human behavior. But can N be convinced to take on her case?
My Thoughts: I've been devouring thrillers lately, and I've even written reviews for a few. But this book has been on my wishlist for ages - it was announced back in summer 2021, and we finally got it in December.
The younger sister, Nga-Yi, is being cyberbullied and can't take it anymore. Nga-Yi can't believe her sister would do such a thing and wants to know why. She turns to a detective, who suggests she contact the hacker Mr. N.
Nga-Yi's life is tough - her dad died at work, her mom was raising two daughters on her own and left them when her dad passed away, and now Nga-Yi is left with her sister. There's a huge gap between them, but Nga-Yi only realizes it after her sister's gone.
The author does a great job of revealing the main antagonists' names, but I quickly realized it's not that simple. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns. I usually have a good idea of who the bad guys are and what's going to happen, but this book keeps you guessing until the very end. The author has woven a complex web of events that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The protagonist is a regular person, not a tech-savvy individual, and she makes mistakes and asks questions. But she's relatable, and I believed in her from the start to the finish. She's not always right, but I felt for her and understood her.
We have our mysterious hacker, Mr. N, who wears so many masks that I found myself squinting by the end of the book. He's certainly intriguing, but sometimes I wanted to shake him.
And then there are some not-so-nice people. A man in a train touches the girl - once. The girl gets into a bad situation and is afraid of what people will think, because she's been drugged and had some compromising photos taken - twice. As I read through the book, I thought I knew what was going on, but every time, there was another twist.
This book doesn't have a hero you can say is good or bad. Some people are worse, some are despicable, but there aren't any heroes. And that's how life is. Thanks to books like this, I'm tired of feeling like I'm either good or bad. I just get it now - I'm normal.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. If you want to exercise your brain, love thrillers, or enjoy crime stories, this is for you.
What I love about this book is that it's not just a simple thriller. It's a thought-provoking story that makes you question the world around you. It's a book that will keep you up at night, wondering what's going to happen next.
The author's writing style is engaging and easy to follow. The pacing is well-balanced, with a mix of action, suspense, and emotional moments. The characters are well-developed and complex, with their own motivations and backstories.
One of the things that stood out to me was the way the author handled the theme of cyberbullying. It's a serious issue that affects many people, and the author tackles it in a realistic and thought-provoking way.
I'm so glad I pre-ordered this book. It's a must-read for anyone who loves thrillers, crime stories, or just a good page-turner. So, if you're looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, look no further than 'The Second Sister'.
Thanks for reading!