Winter Sisters: A Novel

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From the New York Times bestselling author of My Name Is Mary Sutter comes a rich and compelling historical novel about the disappearance of two young girls after a cataclysmic blizzard, and what happens when their fate is discovered. New York, 1879- After an epic snow storm ravages the city of Albany, Dr. Mary Sutter, a former Civil War surgeon, begins a search for two little girls, the daughters of close friends killed by the storm who have vanished without a trace. Mary's mother and niece Elizabeth, who has been studying violin in Paris, return to Albany upon learning of the girls' disappearance-but Elizabeth has another reason for wanting to come home, one she is not willing to reveal. Despite resistance from the community, who believe the girls to be dead, the family persists in their efforts to find the two sisters. When what happened to them is revealed, the uproar that ensues tears apart families, reputations, and even the social fabric of the city, exposing dark secrets about some of the most powerful of its citizens, and putting fragile loves and lives at great risk. Winter Sisters is a propulsive new novel by the New York Times bestselling author of My Name Is Mary Sutter.

Reviews

Engrossing . . .a meaty historical novel that sensitively addresses issuesamong them gender equality, the rights of minors, corruption and child abusethat plague us even today.
The Seattle Times

We recommendWinter Sisters. . . .Even though its set in a time over 100 years ago . . . youll see a lot of references to the things women arestillfighting for (and against) today.
HelloGiggles

Oliveira crafts a complex, multifaceted historical novel that is both a captivating story and a commentary on the laws that have, for far too long, oppressed and endangered women. . . .Entertaining at times, deeply political at others; a perfect example of a historical novel that also illuminates present-day issues.
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Oliveiras beautiful, expertly researched novel showcases the lives of women overcoming societal constraints and living fearlessly.
Publishers Weekly

Oliveira is as gently direct with her traumatized characters as Mary is with her patients. The story shines in depicting Albanys diverse geography and society, and the eras antifemale bias feels downright infuriating . . . a multifaceted and affecting portrait of courage.
Booklist

Oliveira blends mystery, historical detail, and courtroom drama in a compelling story that will pleasehistorical fiction fans.
Library Journal

The real charm ofWinter Sistersis the story of family, love, and perseverance, and the commentary on how women were and still are treated in society. . . . Populated with strong female characters and an oft-lyrical prose, this is a definite must read.
The Historical Novels Review

Robin Oliveira has a remarkable gift for bringing the past to life. In Winter Sisters, she matches a bold, vivid story with a rare sensitivity to the natural world in all its serene beauty and deadly force. This is a compelling novel that will keep you up all night.
Lauren Belfer, New York Times bestselling author of City of Light, A Fierce Radiance, and And After the Fire

Equal parts exquisitely detailed historical drama and riveting literary thriller,Winter Sistersdeftlyexploresthe brutal costs of child exploitation, while elegantly demonstrating the healing power of true compassion and profound sisterly devotion.
Kimberly McCreight,New York Timesbestselling author ofReconstructing AmeliaandWhere They Found Her

After two young sisters vanish in a snowstorm, the whys and hows of theirdisappearance quickly become acompelling and increasingly complex mystery. Robin Oliveira renders nineteenth-century Albany, New York, with exactitude and vividness, but her novels ultimate concerns are timelesssuffering and healing, the loyalty to family versus loyalty to justice. Ive long been a fan of Robin Oliveiras work, and Winter Sisters only increases my admiration.
Ron Rash,New York Timesbestselling author ofSerena

Raw beauty and devastation, both; this is true of the forces of nature and the foibles of men that propel the plot of Winter Sisters toward its stunning climax. But as always in Robin Oliveiras novels, its the women who provide the heartbeat and the moral compass in this gripping tale of suspense set in Albany, New York during the Gilded Age. This is a book as thrilling as it is poetic.
Melanie Benjamin, New York Timesbestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue

Winter Sistersis a dazzling and evocative mystery that brings history to life on the page. Robin Oliveira has created an exquisitely layered story that explores the intricacies of an American town haunted by the violence of the Civil War and the shifting tensions between womens claim for equality and the societal forces that resist change. Suspenseful and beautifully written, shot through with wisdom and grace, this is a book you will stay up late fora book you will read and love and share.
Dawn Tripp, bestselling author ofGeorgia

A haunting tale of terror and enduring love,Winter Sistersis tense and vivid. It kept me immersed to the last page.
Nancy Horan,New York Timesbestselling author ofLoving FrankandUnder the Wide and Starry Sky

Winter Sisters commands the readers attention. Both a missing-person thriller and a courtroom drama that appeals powerfully to the heart, this novel shows a society on the brink of change at the end of the nineteenth century. While blizzard and floods ravage Albany, New York, on the domestic front, equally strong forces are changing the lives of the women who live there, who through their talent and bravery are creating new paths and raising the next generation of girls to be even more resilient than themselves.
Sena Jeter Naslund, bestselling author of Ahabs Wife; Four Spirits; and Abundance, A Novel of Marie Antoinette

A true tour de force, Winter Sisters is the best period thriller Ive read since The Alienist. Robin Oliveira is a novelist working at the height of her powers. Beautifully written, compelling, sensual and cinematic, I couldnt put it down.
Thomas Christopher Greene, author of The Headmasters Wife and If I Forget You

Winter Sisters is a brilliant literary triptych: part tender family saga, part feminist narrative, part wild mystery. Only the author who introduced us to the unforgettable and tenacious Mary Sutter could spin a tale so captivating and empowering, of winter devastation followed, we can only hope, by the renewing bloom of spring. Winter Sisters had me cheering, cursing, gasping, and sneaking off to read whenever time permitted. An absolutely enthralling read.
Julie Barton, New York Times bestselling author of Dog Medicine

Author Bio

Robin Oliveira is the New York Times bestselling author of My Name Is Mary Sutter and I Always Loved You. She holds a BA in Russian and studied at the Pushkin Language Institute in Moscow. She received an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is also a registered nurse, specializing in critical care. She lives in Seattle, Washington.