A spellbinding novel about an unspeakable secret that could destroy a family, from the New York Times bestselling author of Finding Emma.Elle is a survivor. She’s managed to piece together a solid life from a childhood of broken memories and fairy tales her mom told her to explain away bad dreams. But weekly visits to her mother still fill Elle with a paralyzing fear she can’t explain. It’s just … fear she can’t explain. It’s just another of so many unanswered questions she grew up with in a family estranged by silence and secrets.
Elle’s world turns upside down when she receives a deathbed request from her grandfather, a man she was told had died years ago. Racked by grief, regrets, and a haunted conscience, he has a tale of his own to tell Elle: about her mother, an imaginary friend, and two strangers who came to the house one night and never left.
As Elle’s past unfolds, so does the truth—if she can believe it. She must face the reasons for her inexplicable dread. As dark as they are, Elle must listen…before her grandfather’s death buries the family’s secrets forever.
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This is a story about secrets, family secrets! A family unit can be a complex dynamic! Never more so than in this story of the Walker family. Their secrets go deep, so deep, questions as to the identity of its members come to be all that matters as one of them is at death’s door!
“Love isn’t always pretty or clear cut. It can’t be wrapped in a nice box and presented with a bow. Sometimes it’s ugly and hurtful and does more damage than good.” Do we cover up wrongs made in the name of love? The Walker’s did, read this one to find out how that worked out for them!
Such an amazing book! A true page turner…can’t put it down type of story.
A compelling story about mental illness. Fascinating story even if the pace did get slow at times. I’m still trying to piece things together. The ending, which I think is supposed to clear up any identity questions, confused me. Just before the ending, In chapter thirty-nine, the journal records this about the mother, “She says I have to change my name. That I have to be two people at the same time and that I can never tell anyone my real name.” So, I’m still scratching my head. Perhaps it was the author’s objective to set the story up to leave that in question, or possibly it explains the dissociative personality disorder. Regardless, it’s a chilling journey into the mind of madness and into the minds of those experiencing a loved one’s descent into madness. Not surprising that an impressionable child observing family dysfunction would develop dissociate identity disorder. I love when a book still has me thinking about it after finishing the last page.
Every story holds a kernel of truth” that’s the start of David Walkers tale to the granddaughter he never met
Elle is a nurse at the same hospital where her grandfather is dying. She meets him through a strange coincidence and he begins to tell her his stories. Are these just stories or is there any kernel of truth. ? Elle and her roommate start to delve deeper Into the truth to find out what’s true and what’s a story!
This book was written with such deep emotion and such a roller coaster ride of emotions. I was instantly hooked and along for the ride. So beautifully written with characters I just wanted to hug and cry with!
Thank you Steena for such an emotionally charged book with characters that will stay with you long after the last page.