JDCMustReadBooks
An online marketing consultant, an avid reader of 400 + books a year. Professional reader, reviewer, and blogger. Enjoy ARCs and new releases.
Safe Keeping
ISBN-13: 9780778316169
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication date: 3/25/2014
Pages: 320
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 4 Stars
SAFE KEEPING by Barbara Taylor Sissel is a gripping suspense novel, a captivating saga of one family’s emotional journey, when forced to confront the real possibility that one of their own may have committed a horrible crime.
Set in Texas, two murders hang over this family’s 34-year old son, Tucker. They must all sort through their mistakes and misunderstandings to uncover the truth.
Tucker’s girlfriend Miranda was discovered dead, now another woman, Jessica, a friend Miranda’s has been found in the same stretch of woods, and the suspicion has fallen on Tucker once more.
Tucker’s family—father, Roy; mother, Emily; sister, Lissa; and brother-in-law, Evan—are deeply involved in the emotional chaos of the investigation, as well as questioning his innocence--could he capable of such inconceivable acts.
As these relationships are tested, will be bonds be strong enough to survive--a family under pressure, as they learn the truth, while considering the worst? Is forgiveness possible?
Lissa and Emily are uncertain where to lay the blame for Tucker’s issues and everyone has their own issues. Are they the result of the tremendous fear he experienced as a child when in the throes of an episode of post-traumatic stress? Or is Tucker’s troubled nature the result of faulty genes?
Emily and Roy make tremendous sacrifices in order to keep Tucker safe. How far would you go to protect your child?
The family slowly begins to crumble under the stress of the ongoing police investigation. Roy retreats from everyone, Emily tries to pretend everything is normal, and Lissa begins her own inquiries into the murders with sacrifices. Revelations about long held secrets expose the family’s dysfunction—a riveting and haunting read.
I enjoyed the conversation with the author at the end, and the inspiration for this novel ---fascination with the I-45 serial killings that plagued Texas for a number of years and its dynamics. Look forward to reading more from this talented author!
