My Sister's Shadow

Jake thought he had left the ghosts of his past behind, but the death of his father drags him back into the heart of a family fractured by secrets, loss, and betrayal. Once a bright and loving home, their sprawling estate now feels like a labyrinth of grief, where the memory of Lucy, Jake’s adopted sister who vanished without a trace, haunts every corner.

As Jake reconnects with his estranged family, he begins to uncover the tangled web of lies and resentment that shaped his childhood. His mother’s obsession with appearances, his father’s unravelling mind, and the mysterious figures who once orbited their lives all seem to point to the same dark truth: Lucy.

When strange visions of her begin to creep into his waking life, Jake is forced to question his own sanity. Is Lucy calling out for justice – or pulling him into the same despair that consumed his father?

In this psychological thriller, family loyalty collides with buried truths, and the cost of uncovering them might be more than Jake can bear. As time runs out, Jake must face a terrifying question: Is the past ever truly gone, or does it grow stronger the longer it stays hidden?

Danielle Jay lives in North West England with her two Chihuahuas, husband Jack and son Thomas.

Danielle Jay works as an English teacher and writes in her spare time. This is her first full-length novel. She is an avid reader and always shares her love of books on TikTok @daniellejayauthor and Instagram @daniellejayauthor.

Customer Reviews

4.6

5 reviews

Katie

Great read! Full of twist and turns! I could not put the book down!
Nicole Waldron

Amazing first book, good story, easy read, my kind of book if you like thrillers then you will enjoy it. Can't wait for the next book, well done Danielle Jay!
Sophie

This is not my usual reading genre, but I’m so glad I branched out and after this I will definitely be reading a lot more and of course more from this author. This book is a psychological paranormal thriller read which packed in all types of emotion. There was something about the writing style that had me hooked from the beginning, and it just made the story flow. Also just an honourable mention for the cover art!! Through this story Jake sifting through family secrets and looking for the truth. He is still dealing with the loss of his sister and feels like he sees her wherever he goes, like he’s being haunted by her (which was how I saw it). Through the book we see how the disappearance of his sister really affected him emotionally and how it had a lasting effect on his wellbeing. While your reading the writing style makes you feel the emotions that he is feeling, you can see how his mental health is effecting him and how his loyalty to his sister is making him question everything to do with her disappearance, what has been kept from him by his family and what he’s know his entire life. Through this book it shows us that the quest for truth is needed for closure, no matter how much emotion comes with it. There are twists and turns in this book that keeps you reading on. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to branch into a different genre like I did or of course anyone that likes the genre already. There was no predictability to this book which meant you never knew what was coming next.
Stacy Foord

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Gripping and Emotionally Charged My Sister’s Shadow by Danielle Jay is a compelling read that kept me turning the pages late into the night. The story masterfully weaves together mystery, emotional depth, and family secrets, creating a haunting atmosphere that lingers long after the last chapter. The dynamic between the sisters is particularly well-drawn—complex, raw, and painfully real. Jay does an excellent job of exploring the impact of trauma and the shadows that follow us from the past. Her writing is vivid and evocative, making it easy to picture each scene and feel each twist of emotion. I did find a few pacing issues in the middle, where the narrative slowed a bit before picking up again for a powerful conclusion. However, this didn’t detract much from the overall impact of the story. If you enjoy dark family dramas with psychological depth and a touch of suspense, this book is well worth your time. Danielle Jay is definitely an author to watch.
XENA

4.5 stars I had the pleasure to read this as an ARC reader and I was hooked! The suspense and The gaslighting, the poor MMC was going through, I wanted to pull my hair out and hug. Throughout the whole book, I felt very tense, the suspense and anticipation was there. Giving you little breadcrumbs with each page to finding out “the truth”. As someone who loves thrillers, suspense, paranormal genres, this is perfect for you! The writing is very well executed. Short chapters, hooks you in very quickly and you do not want to put it down. I loved this! And I cannot wait to see what this author does next and how her writing grows! I’m invested!