Author: Diane Chamberlain
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publication Date: 7th October 2014
Pages: 352
Book Source: St Martins Press & NetGalley
Synopsis: In The Silent Sister, Riley MacPherson has spent her entire
life believing that her older sister Lisa committed suicide as a
teenager. Now, over twenty years later, her father has passed away and
she's in New Bern, North Carolina cleaning out his house when she finds
evidence to the contrary. Lisa is alive. Alive and living under a
new identity. But why exactly was she on the run all those years ago, and
what secrets are being kept now? As Riley works to uncover the
truth, her discoveries will put into question everything she
thought she knew about her family. Riley must decide what the past
means for her present, and what she will do with her newfound reality, in this
engrossing mystery from international bestselling author Diane Chamberlain.
My
Thoughts:
It's no
secret I'm a huge fan of Diane Chamberlain's writing and I jumped at the
opportunity to read The Silent Sister. And in part it didn't disappoint; The
Silent Sister was a compelling, twisty read, a difficult one to put down, but
the ending was just too 'pat' for me taking the shine off an otherwise gripping
read.
It's a story
about the destructive nature of secrets; a dysfunctional family, a life built
on secrets and lies ... the damage caused and scars left. When Riley
cleans out her father's home following his death, tidying up her father's
estate becomes a search for truth.
You know from reading the synopsis Riley's sister Lisa is alive. Clues are drip-fed to the reader, but in such a way you're impatient and twitchy for the next, then a few unlikable characters muddy the plot further.
However once the pieces of the jigsaw fit together and you see the final picture, well there's nothing wrong with that picture but the ending ... it just felt 'meh'. Not predictable ... more like; really. is that it? but what about? ...
Connect with Diane Chamberlain
Sounds good!! I will have to check this one out!!!!
ReplyDeleteIf you like Diane Chamberlain's writing you'll want to read it Julie!
DeleteThat's pretty much the way I felt about it too :)
ReplyDeleteIf it had of ended strongly I think it would have been up there as a favourite!
DeleteMe too!
DeleteI've seen good and bad reviews on this one, and keep going back and forth on trying it. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteI did really enjoy it Brandie and would still recommend it, it was just the ending that let it down, for me anyway.
DeleteI think I enjoyed this one because I wanted to know who was telling the truth and I know a lot of readers didn't like Danny but I'd love a book about him!
ReplyDeleteI felt sad for Danny but I thought the trailer park couple were foul and I couldn't stand Jeanine's daughter lol. There's a short story, The Broken String, Chamberlain wrote it after The Silent Sister but it's a prequel and it goes into Danny & Riley's relationship, his injury in Iraq ... I wouldn't mind reading it.
DeleteYes, I must have an eye out for it. The trailer park couple were foul.
DeleteI STILL have not tried one of her books
ReplyDeleteRead The Midwife's Confession B ... and I've heard great things about The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes, that's next for me I think or Necessary Lies :)
DeleteI think it would be great on audio Felicia, most of her books I've read but I did listen to The Escape Artist and it was a great narration.
ReplyDeleteAww half-liked I hate those kind of books. I will check out one of her other ones
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing good things about this book and hadn't even heard of Chamberlain before this. Perhaps (however) I should start with one of her previous novels!?
ReplyDelete