Reviews

Publishers Weekly (starred review): In this “devastating, magic realism–dusted psychological thriller . . . Dionne paints a haunting portrait of a family hurtling toward the tragic destiny they can foresee but are powerless to stop.”

 

The Wicked Sister is “a mesmerizing psychological thriller full of deviance, deceit, death and denial . . . a disturbing, thought-provoking tale.” — Lansing State Journal

 

“A gut-clenching wilderness thriller.”–Minneapolis Star Tribune

 

“[A] neo-gothic psychological thriller that’s a true mind-bender…’The Wicked Sister’ brings to mind those classic Bette Davis quasi-horror flicks ‘Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?’ and ‘Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte.’ Dionne has fashioned a superb character study of murder and madness that reads like Alfred Hitchcock at his best in book form.” — Providence Journal

 

“Karen Dionne does a masterful job of creating a mystery with plenty of twists…This is a must-read for mystery fans, or anyone with an interest in UP Michigan.” — Faribault Daily News (Minnesota)

 

“This is classic good versus evil. A real live cat-and-mouse game. Moreover, it’s an absolutely eerie delight to read.” — Bookreporter

 

“Dionne knocks out a psychological thriller with a low-grade yet ever-present sense of danger.” — Library Journal

 

The Wicked Sister is massively thrilling and altogether unputdownable. Dionne is proving to be one of the finest suspense writers working today.”–Karin Slaughter, author of 20 International Bestselling Books

 

“A terrifying thrill-ride of psychological suspense. Karen Dionne is wickedly good at deception, deceit and misdirection and The Wicked Sister is seductively compelling. You will not stop reading.”
Robert Dugoni, New York Times Best-Selling Author of My Sister’s Grave

 

“In Karen Dionne’s wilderness, humans are the most dangerous animals of all. The Wicked Sister is enthralling and terrifying, and I couldn’t put it down.  A terrific novel.”Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of House on Fire

 

“A chilling portrait of a psychopath that will shock and fascinate you. Dionne is a master storyteller who has crafted a terrifying thriller that will haunt you long after the last page is read.” –Liv Constantine,  bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish

 

“Chilling and captivating, The Wicked Sister explores the complex layers of family bonds, guilt, and redemption. A beautifully written, haunting psychological thriller.”Megan Miranda, author of All the Missing Girls

 

“Karen Dionne is back with a dark, atmospheric and chilling tale set in the deep woods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Beautifully written, The Wicked Sister moves seamlessly between past and present, unraveling the truth behind a family tragedy. From her insightful depiction of both the grace and bitter cruelty of humanity, to her command of the plot and pacing, Dionne’s brilliance shines through on every single page. Prepare to be blown away!”Wendy Walker, bestselling author of The Night Before

“Fresh, truly original, and utterly unpredictable, Karen Dionne is at the top of her game with the gorgeously told The Wicked Sister. I devoured this book in one sitting! It’s hard to balance complex and heartrending familial relationships with pulse-pounding suspense, but somehow this book does exactly that. Propulsive and terrifying to the very shocking end!”Kate Moretti, New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing Year



The New York Times Book Review: “Subtle, brilliant and mature . . . In its balance of emotional patience and chapter-by-chapter suspense, “The Marsh King’s Daughter” is about as good as a thriller can be.”

 

Cosmopolitan: “a nail-biter perfect for Room fans.”

 

PEOPLE: “Spine-tingling.”

 

The Washington Post: “Karen Dionne takes a standard story involving the kidnapping of a woman and the life she experiences with her captor and elevates it to a new level in “The Marsh King’s Daughter” . . . a book that invokes raw emotion mixed in with the turning of pages.”

 

“This gorgeously written eerie suspense novel gave me chills as it raced toward an unexpected climax. I loved it!”—Karin Slaughter, author of Pretty Girls



“Troubling, sinuous and powerfully told, you won’t be able to stop turning the pages.”—Megan Abbott, author of You Will Know Me

 

“If you only read one thriller this year, make it The Marsh King’s Daughter. Its sensational.”—Clare Mackintosh, author of I Let You Go

 

Irish Times: “Helena’s ambivalence about her father is brilliantly, maddeningly done; the prose is sinuous and lush; the storytelling is relentless. The Marsh King’s Daughter is set to make the season’s other thrillers look undernourished.”

 

Irish Independent: “Stunningly good . . . grips like a vice.”

 

The Sunday Herald (Scotland): ” . . . one of the real standouts of the summer, packed with eerie suspense and mesmerising imagery that will have you hooked from the first page.”

 

Sunday Express (UK): “A sensitive and clever book . . . emotionally and intellectually thrilling.”

 

Daily Mail (UK): “Draws you in . . . compelling.”

 

Woman’s Weekly (New Zealand): ” . . . one of the best psychological thrillers of the year . . . a page-turning story with taut and terrific prose.”

 

“A masterpiece of crisp prose and fine storytelling.”—Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants and At the Water’s Edge

 

“[A] well-crafted, eerie, and unnerving psychological thriller. With a strong setting and swift pacing, this novel is recommended for readers who enjoyed Emma Donoghue’s Room and Travis Mulhauser’s Sweetgirl.”Library Journal

 

“Expertly written, gripping, compulsively readable.”—Melanie Benjamin, author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue 

 

Minneapolis Star-Tribune: “Karen Dionne’s breathtaking psychological thriller is a fairy tale writ large . . . the suspense in the plotting and the cold distance Helena’s voice projects [holds readers] entranced until the stunning climax.”

 

A&E: “a different sort of suspenseful narrative tide than The Room . . . The beautifully written stories of Helena’s remembered youth ebb and flow with stories from the present and dream-like excerpts from the fairy tale. Read this book if you’ve ever had the fantasy of being an accomplished outdoorswoman—a sort of Katniss MacGyver—who could take care of herself in any situation.

 

Lansing State Journal: “a creepy, moody, highly atmospheric psychological suspense novel . . . distinctly memorable, with spiraling, escalating tension and surprising dark revelations.”

 

iBooks – Most Anticipated Summer Reads; Best of June pick: “From page one on, The Marsh King’s Daughter features effortless storytelling, a deeply unsettling plot, and tight, twisting suspense. . . This gripping psychological thriller juxtaposes a sympathetic, relatable protagonist with top-shelf suspense that unfolds in the Michigan wilderness.”

 

Bookreporter: “THE MARSH KING’S DAUGHTER is both suspenseful and deeply evocative, the kind of novel that begs to be read in a single sitting — but possibly not the best choice for a vacation in the north woods, at least not if you want to sleep at night.”

 

Bookpage: Top Audio Pick – “powerful, intensely suspenseful, perfectly narrated.”

 

“Eerie and breathtaking, terrific and terrifying in the best possible way. Dionne holds you under her spell from the first word to the last—and then some.”—Tea Obreht, author of The Tiger’s Wife

 

“Totally compelling and different from anything I can remember reading before.”—Peter Lovesey

 

“Don’t think you know how this plays out, just hand the reins to Dionne, who is completely in control of this unexpected narrative, and of your pounding heart.”—Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean

 

The Providence Journal:a literary thriller of the highest order, reminiscent of John Hart, James Lee Burke and James W. Hall, as well as a superb exercise in riveting psychological suspense.”

 

Publishers Weekly – Starred Review: “Exceptional . . . Helena’s conflicting emotions about her father and her own identity elevate this powerful story.”

 

Shelf Awareness: “a psychological thriller of the highest level . . . sings with authenticity . . . a taut page turner that haunts the reader long after the last line is read.”

 

RT Book Reviews – “Top Pick”: “Dionne’s creativity is on display in her amazing imagining of the life of a child born to a mother held captive, and the child’s conflicted relationship with her abductor father. First‐rate plotting builds the tension with psychological suspense and action sequences. Chapters vary between present day and backstory, providing insight into the narrator’s character as an adult and as a child. The story is at once both horrific and fascinating.”

 

Fresh Fiction: “an edge-of-your your-seat suspense with every page that’s turned. The complex, compelling plot is nothing short of brilliant . . . a fantastic psychological thriller.”

 

New York Post: This Week’s Must-Read Books (6/11)

 

Coastal Living: 50 Best Books for the Beach This Summer

 

Amazon/Omnivoracious: Best Mysteries and Thrillers of June

 

Publishers Weekly: Best Books of Summer

 

American Booksellers Association: July Indie Next pick

 

Midwest Independent Booksellers Association: July Midwest Connections Pick

 

“I don’t use the word ‘brilliant’ often, but no other adjective feels adequate…It’s an understatement to say that The Marsh King’s Daughter is an exceptional achievement.”—David Morrell, author of Murder as a Fine Art; creator of the iconic character Rambo

 

“Everything I could ask for in a psychological thriller: a stunningly fresh and confident voice, gorgeous writing, originality, and a complex protagonist I could really root for. I wish it were possible to read a book for the first time more than once.”—Carla Buckley, author of The Deepest Secret