Book Summary
In *The Better Sister*, Alafair Burke crafts a riveting domestic noir centered on Chloe Taylor, a high-powered magazine editor whose life unravels when her husband, Adam, is murdered in their Hamptons home. The twist? Adam was previously married to Chloe’s estranged sister, Nicky, and their teenage son, Ethan—now raised by Chloe—becomes the prime suspect. Burke masterfully layers the plot with secrets, from Chloe’s betrayal of Nicky to Adam’s shady legal dealings, creating a taut narrative where familial loyalty clashes with self-preservation .
Burke’s strength lies in her ability to balance a propulsive murder mystery with nuanced character studies. Chloe’s icy perfection contrasts with Nicky’s chaotic vulnerability, and the sisters’ fraught dynamic drives the emotional core of the story. While the courtroom drama in the latter half elevates the suspense, some readers may find the pacing uneven, with the middle sections dragging slightly before a explosive finale .
Key Themes
Sisterhood and Betrayal: The novel delves into the complexities of sibling rivalry, exploring how Chloe and Nicky’s shared history of trauma and competition fuels their estrangement. Burke interrogates the “good sister/bad sister” trope, revealing how societal expectations and personal choices shape their identities. Chloe’s marriage to Adam—Nicky’s ex—becomes a metaphor for the ways women are pitted against each other, even in familial bonds .
Moral Ambiguity: Burke refuses easy answers, particularly in the morally gray ending. Characters like Ethan and Nicky defy initial judgments, while Chloe’s curated perfection hides complicity in systemic injustices. The novel’s exploration of legal ethics (Adam’s corrupt law firm) and media manipulation (Chloe’s #MeToo-adjacent activism) adds timely social commentary .
What Makes It Unique
Domestic Noir Meets Courtroom Thriller: Unlike typical domestic suspense, Burke integrates a gripping trial sequence in the final act, complete with legal strategizing and surprise witnesses. This hybrid structure keeps readers guessing, as the focus shifts from “whodunit” to “how will they prove it?” .
Unreliable Narration with a Twist: Chloe’s first-person perspective initially paints Nicky as a reckless addict, but Burke subtly undermines this bias as the story progresses. The revelation that Chloe’s narrative is selectively honest—a tactic rare in single-POV thrillers—adds depth to the sisters’ reconciliation .
Reader Reactions
Critics praised Burke’s “cunning” plotting and “morally ambiguous” finale, with *The Washington Post* noting its “twisty garden path” conclusion . However, some readers felt the middle section lagged, with one reviewer stating, “The courtroom drama saves it, but the sisters’ backstory needed more room to breathe” .
The adaptation starring Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks (2025) reignited debate about the novel’s themes, with audiences split on whether the TV version’s added subplots enhanced or diluted the story. Fans of Burke’s *The Wife* will appreciate the similar blend of feminist critique and page-turning suspense .
About the Author
Alafair Burke is a *New York Times* bestselling author and former prosecutor, known for her legal thrillers and domestic suspense novels. With a law degree from Stanford and experience as a Deputy DA, Burke brings authenticity to courtroom scenes and criminal investigations. Her thematic trilogy—*The Ex*, *The Wife*, and *The Better Sister*—explores how women navigate systemic injustice and personal betrayal .
Burke’s background informs *The Better Sister*’s nuanced take on gender and power. As a law professor at Hofstra, she often integrates contemporary issues like #MeToo and reproductive rights into her plots, making her work resonate beyond the thriller genre .
Memorable Quotes
“Keep your enemies close and your sister closer.”
“Nicky was the hurricane. I was the eye.”