The Silent Sister’s Back-of-the-book Description:

Riley MacPherson has spent her entire life believing that her older sister Lisa committed suicide as a teenager. It was a belief that helped shape her own childhood and that of her brother. It shaped her view of her family and their dynamics. It influenced her entire life.

Now, more than twenty years later, her father has passed away and she’s in New Bern, North Carolina, cleaning out his house when she finds evidence that what she has always believed is not the truth. Lisa is alive. Alive and living under a new identity.

But why, exactly, was she on the run all those years ago? What secrets are being kept now, and what will happen if those secrets are revealed? 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.

My Thoughts

Most of my reviews are about books I read a while back (so many books, so little time), but I actually just finished The Silent Sister! A friend had read it at some point and talked about it in a good enough light that I added it to my list.

I’m really torn with this review because, at first I did not like the writing style very much – it seemed like she was telling us every little thing that the main character was doing. “Too much telling, not enough showing” as they say.  But I suppose I eventually got over that because I found myself always wondering what was gonna happen next. Literally, about half way through the book I would think to myself “I can’t wait to get back home so I can read more of that book!”

Another issue was that I felt like she was trying to cram too much drama into the story line – she finds out her sister is actually alive, and then This happened! and then THIS happened! and then THIS is also going on, too! And the reader is left thinking “How many secrets can one family really have!?” In the end though, the whole thing is tied together bringing a nice cohesive feel to it, just be ready to be hit with all sorts of plotlines and twists.

I will say that her character and setting description is pretty nice, I had no trouble picturing the scenery and the characters and I always appreciate that in a book.

This was the first Diane Chamberlain book I’ve picked up and I don’t think it will be the last. My step-mother is a pretty big fan of hers so I figure there’s got to be a few other good ones out there.

The Best Quotes From The Silent Sister:

“There are all sorts of abuse.”

 

“No matter how many people care about you, if you can’t be open with them about who you truly are, you’re still alone.”  

 

“Religion seems to have twisted the idea of God into a way to control people.”  

In Conclusion

Tough call, but I’d say 3 out of 5 stars. Maybe 3 and a half. It wasn’t as bad book at all, and for sure it’s worth reading. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes family mysteries / dramas, or people who like books with a whole lot of twists.

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