Chloe was always the good sister while Nicky was tabled the "bad" sister. While they both grew up in the same household, Nicky saw things that Chloe never did. As they got older, Chloe went on to get a great job in publishing while Nicky stayed close to home, meets a young attorney named Adam and has a son, Ethan. The two sisters grow apart and barely speak for years.

But when her life just becomes too much to handle, Nicky turns to drinking and drugs for comfort. She becomes estranged from her sister and erratic with her family. Adam can't take her behavior anymore, and files for divorce, taking their son with him. After fifteen years or hardly any contact, Adam turns to Chloe for help, and Chloe find him a job in New York near her, so she can be there for him and her nephew. Inevitably, Chloe and Adam fall in love and get married. Chloe feels like things are going great until she comes home and finds out that Adam has tragically died...

During the investigation, the police call Nicky to find out where she was at the time of Adam's death. Nicky's phone records prove she was in her hometown, but Nicky feels like she has to go to New York to find out what is going on. When she arrives, she finds out the police have found evidence that leads them to believe Ethan killed his father. Working together for the first time after so long apart, Chloe and Nicky will do whatever it takes to get Ethan out of jail. But as they compare notes, they reveal secrets they've never told anyone, including Adam's horrible temper... Will they be able to help Ethan? And what will happen when the truth is finally revealed?

THE BETTER SISTER by Alafair Burke is a chilling and thrilling mystery. Even though you might not be speaking to a family member, this book proves that a bond is still there, and will always be there. Additionally, the people you think you know the best can be completely different. I was glued to this book and could not put it down. This is a great book to read for summer reading and will keep you engaged from start to finish.