The moment a new murder mystery hits streaming, I am usually quick to hit play. Prime Video's latest show, The Better Sister, caught my attention right away. This series, based on a book with the same name, tells the story of two sisters who are not close. They are very different, even though they share some key people in their lives. One of them, believe it or not, married the other sister's ex-husband! That is certainly a strange situation. But when that husband is suddenly murdered, the sisters have to come back together. They try to handle the wild situation as a family.

The cast for this show is just as exciting as the plot. It features some big names and experienced actors taking on these complex roles. I found myself looking forward to seeing each character as the story unfolded. It really feels like a strong group of performers bringing this interesting tale to life. They make the family drama feel very real, which helps keep you invested in the murder mystery.

Meet The Talented Main Cast And The Intriguing Characters They Bring To Life In The Better Sister

Discover Who Plays Who And How Their Paths Cross In This Family-Driven Whodunit

Chloe is a successful writer who appears to have a perfect life. She is married to a well-off lawyer. They have an amazing son from Adam's previous marriage. The only problem is that this previous marriage was actually with Chloe's sister, Nicky. Yes, it is very strange, and Chloe tries to keep it quiet so people do not find out. But when Adam is murdered, secrets start to spill. Jessica Biel brings a powerful intensity to Chloe. Biel first got her start on the family drama show 7th Heaven but quickly became well known. She has now starred in hit series like The Sinner and Candy so she knows how to handle a good thriller story. I found her performance here very compelling as Chloe slowly loses control.

Nicky is Chloe's sister. She is not as successful and has always struggled to settle down or keep a job. After Adam's death, she shows up at her sister's fancy penthouse apartment. They try to stick together to keep their family from totally falling apart. Elizabeth Banks needs no introduction. She is an actress and director with a seriously impressive background. You probably know her from big movie series like The Hunger Games and Pitch Perfect. She also appeared in TV shows like Wet Hot American Summer and 30 Rock. Banks captures Nicky’s damaged but well-meaning side really well. There are moments where her dramatic acting broke my heart.

Adam is a hot-shot lawyer in New York City. He is not quite as good at fitting into the high-class lifestyle as his wife Chloe is. He often worries about how their money affects their son Ethan. This goes on until Adam is mysteriously murdered in his home. Corey Stoll plays Adam. He is a New York native. You might remember him from House of Cards where he played Congressman Peter Russo. He has also been in Midnight in Paris, Ant-Man and its sequel, and the 2021 remake of West Side Story. Stoll brings a solid presence to the role, making you wonder what he was truly hiding.

Ethan is Nicky's biological son. He is Chloe's nephew and stepson which is still a weird family setup. He is 17 years old and gets along great with Chloe but has a more difficult relationship with his dad. Things get even worse when the police make Ethan their main suspect for his dad's murder. Maxwell Acee Donovan is just 20 years old and is a newer face in acting. If you watched That '90s Show, you already saw him playing Nate. Donovan does a great job balancing Ethan's guarded side with his kinder self. It makes you keep guessing if he did it, but you also feel for him.

The Supporting Players Who Help Unravel The Secrets In This Gripping Series

From Observant Detectives To Key Family Friends, Every Character Plays A Part

Nancy is one of the detectives looking into Adam's murder. She is very observant, picking up on every small clue. She is not afraid to tell people what she thinks, no matter their feelings. Fans of Fear of the Walking Dead will know Kim Dickens from her years playing Madison Clark. She has also been in House of Cards, Friday Night Lights, and the movie Lizzie where she played Lizzie Borden's sister, Emma. Dickens puts a grounded honesty and matter-of-fact humor into Nancy. It is almost hard not to root for her as she tries to solve the case. Her unique way of acting and the light she brings to the series make the show feel very much like a continuation of stories like Gone Girl.

Matt is Nancy's younger detective partner. He is also looking into the murder. He takes a quieter approach to the case than Nancy. But together they work well to try and find the suspect. Bobby Naderi is an Iranian actor who grew up between Iran, Europe, and Canada. He was in a few episodes of Netflix's Black Summer. His role in The Better Sister is one of his first big roles in a major production. I hope we see more of him very soon.

Jake is one of the lawyers at Adam's high-powered firm. He and Adam both felt a bit like outsiders there. They became close because of that. Jake is actually close with Adam's whole family. But the murder certainly puts that to the test. Gabriel Sloyer is an actor from New York. He has a lot of experience being in hit shows created by streaming services. He had roles in Netflix's Inventing Anna and Griselda.

Catherine Lancaster is one of the best in publishing in New York City. She has that strategic mind needed to be successful. She is also Chloe's boss and mentor. Lorraine Toussaint was born in Trinidad. She has built a long list of acting jobs and earned many awards. She spent years on the show Saving Grace and played Yvonne in Orange is the New Black. Her presence adds a lot to the show.

Michelle is a smart and respected lawyer. She is known for doing things her own way and not staying quiet. She might think she has seen it all until she meets Chloe and Nicky. Gloria Reuben is a Canadian-American actress. She is most widely known for her role as Jeanie Boulet on ER. If you prefer films she was nominated for an Emmy for her role as Elizabeth Keckley in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln.

Bill Braddock is one of the founding partners at Adam and Jake's law firm. He is a little unpredictable. He can be your best friend or worst enemy depending on how he feels that day. If you use your Netflix subscription a lot you will know Matthew Modine as Dr. Martin Brenner also called Papa from Stranger Things. He also played Rick Singer, who organized the college admissions scandal, in the movie Operation Varsity Blues. Modine always brings a unique quality to his roles.

Arty is a loyal guy from Queens. He is also the doorman at Chloe's luxury New York City apartment building. Michael Harney will always be remembered for playing corrections officer Sam Healy in Orange is the New Black. But he has also been in big movies like Erin Brockovich and Ocean's Thirteen. He brings a nice grounded touch to the series.

Why The Better Sister Stands Out Among Other Murder Mysteries And Thrillers

The Show's Twists And Strong Performances Make It A Must-Watch This Summer

The mix of mystery and character drama in The Better Sister might feel familiar at first. But the way the show plays with time and its secrets helps it quickly overcome that. We are thrown into the messy situation of Adam's death right away. This keeps us guessing effectively, much like Chloe and Ethan are. The show also makes good use of its eight episodes. It offers characters that feel very real and engaging. Chloe's desire to show off a perfect life feels a bit common, especially in recent shows about rich people. But the honesty in the writing helps Nicky rise above other characters in this type of story. Her dark past with family trauma and addiction feels very authentic.

I was not familiar with the book that inspired the show. This meant I could not guess how the investigation would turn out. This was a pleasant surprise. The reasons behind characters' actions often changed, so it was hard to pin down loyalties. But this was done in a way that did not make anyone feel too broad or badly written. Instead, it left enough false leads to keep me from figuring out the real killer too soon. I do think the middle episodes sometimes felt a bit stretched out. They added clues to the overall plot but some subplots started to take over the murder investigation. Some of these are even left unresolved by the show's end, possibly to make room for a second season. This slightly took away from the otherwise clear ending.

Where The Better Sister really shines is its tone. The show finds a good balance of mystery, comedy, and character drama. This makes it even more exciting to watch. Having characters that allow for laughter not only makes them easier to relate to but also makes you want to keep following their story. Overall, I found my time with The Better Sister very enjoyable. It is not perfect, but it delivers an exciting mystery with strong performances. It is definitely worth adding to your watch list if you like a good whodunit.