Review of:  Blood Sisters

Jim O’Shea.  Pelican Book Group, $5.99 (274p) ISBN 978-1-5223-0269-8

Daughter of a pastor and Choctaw mother, red-haired Libby Meeker is grieving the tragic death of her twin sister as she approaches her 30^th birthday [p. 4].  Her mother’s struggle with mental illness is also worsening, reflected in her obsessive painting of the same disturbing image [p. 12 ff].  After both of Libby’s parents die within months of each other she begins to see visions of her sister as if she were still alive [p.  41 ff].  Puzzle pieces then begin appearing in seemingly random places, and as she puts it together Libby recognizes an image of her and her sister as babies in the hospital nursery ward.  She grows more concerned about the state of her own mental health as her visions of her twin become more frequent [p. 49 ff].  Meanwhile, detective Troy Hunter investigates a series of murders that point to a serial killer at work dubbed the Ginger Killer, whose targets are all red-haired young women [p. 70 ff].  When Hunter believes Libby could be the killer’s next target, they must unravel secrets from her past as she questions her ability to distinguish reality from a mind growing increasingly disturbed.  This is a psychological thriller at its best, as O’Shea’s writing is evocative and his storyline harrowing.  Readers may catch on to subtle underlying biblical themes that illustrate the consequences of unforgiveness and unbelief as they eagerly turn pages late into the night, getting up only to close the windows and lock the doors.