“An emotionally resonant tale of secrets, regret, and absolution that held me spellbound. You simply have to read it.” —Sara Gruen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants Spanning several decades and written in an authentic voice both lyrical and wise, The Sisters of Glass Ferry is a haunting novel about small-town Southern secrets, loss and atonement, and the unbreakable … and atonement, and the unbreakable bond between siblings.
Glass Ferry, Kentucky, is bourbon country. Whiskey has been a way of life for generations, enabling families to provide and survive even in the darkest times. Flannery Butler’s daddy, Beauregard “Honey Bee” Butler, was known for making some of the best whiskey in the state, aged in barrels he’d take by boat up and down the Kentucky River until the rocking waters turned the spirits smooth and golden. Flannery is the only person Honey Bee ever entrusted with his recipes before he passed on, swearing her to secrecy as he did so.
But Flannery is harboring other secrets too, about her twin sister Patsy, older by eight minutes and pretty in a way Flannery knows she’ll never be. Then comes the prom night when Patsy—wearing a yellow chiffon dress and the family pearls—disappears along with her date. Every succeeding year on the twins’ birthday, Flannery’s mother bakes a strawberry cake, convinced that this is the day Patsy will finally come home. But it will be two tumultuous decades until the muddy river yields a clue about what happened that night, compelling Flannery to confront the truth about her sleepy town, her family’s past, and the choices she and those closest to her have made in the name of love and retribution . . .
“Richardson has a knack for layering a landscape with secrets, for slowly revealing what’s hidden until suddenly you find what you’ve been chasing sitting in the palm of your hand. The Sisters of Glass Ferry is bountifully written—a place fully realized and packed with characters you won’t soon forget.” —David Joy, author of The Weight Of This World
“The Sisters of Glass Ferry peels back the layers of a small town to reveal a labyrinth of long-buried secrets and dangerous lies. Richardson delivers a gripping, hauntingly atmospheric Southern Gothic tale that stayed with me long after I turned the last page.” —Karen Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of Liar Temptress Soldier Spy
“This heart-rending, lovely family drama spans sixty years and four generations, peeling back the layers of a small town to reveal a labyrinth of long-buried lies and a wealth of dangerous secrets suspended between three families. The Sisters of Glass Ferry is so fast paced I couldn’t stop turning the pages, but then I’d smash into another jewel-like sentence and have to stop to reread it. Kim Michele Richardson writes with an authentic Southern voice straight out of Kentucky, well graveled, rough with moonshine, and damn near irresistible.” —Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of gods in Alabama and The Almost Sisters
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This heart-rending, lovely family drama spans sixty years and four generations, peeling back the layers of a small town to reveal a labyrinth of long-buried lies and a wealth of dangerous secrets suspended between three families. The Sisters of Glass Ferry is so fast paced I couldn’t stop turning the pages, but then I’d smash into another jewel-like sentence and have to stop to reread it. Kim Michele Richardson writes with an authentic Southern voice straight out of Kentucky, well graveled, rough with moonshine, and damn near irresistible.
The Sisters of Glass Ferry peels back the layers of a small town to reveal a labyrinth of long-buried secrets and dangerous lies. Richardson delivers a gripping, hauntingly atmospheric Southern Gothic tale that stayed with me long after I turned the last page.
Richardson has a knack for layering a landscape with secrets, for slowly revealing what’s hidden until suddenly you find what you’ve been chasing sitting in the palm of your hand. The Sisters of Glass Ferry is bountifully written — a place fully realized and packed with characters you won’t soon forget.
Very dark.
Twin sisters Patsy and Flannery were born 8 minutes apart. Until they were in their early teens, they were inseparable. On prom night in 1952, Patty and her boyfriend, Danny, disappeared.
For 20 years, their mother, Jean baked a cake on their birthday, hoping that Patsy would finally return. But, in 1972, they learned the truth.
This is a story of family secrets, jealousy, mental health, and murder in a small town.
The story kept me interested throughout, wondering how it would play out.
#TheSistersOfGlassFerry #KimMicheleRichardson
My feelings about this book have been mixed. I typically read at night, and along the way, I wasn’t sure I liked the book. But, I kept thinking about it all day. In the beginning of the book, the author explored the complicated relationships of families, sisters, young people, and the consequences of hastily made decisions. The latter part of the book happened too quickly – I was not convinced that the story line of the protagonist’s led to the ultimate climax.
This book gave me great insight into small-town Southern women’s lives, and its effect on them. The ending was unexpected, but when I thought back over the whole story, it wasn’t so unexpected. My favorite books are character-driven. This was definitely an excellently written example.
After reading The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek, I was eager to read another book by Kim Michele Richardson. This is another great Southern tale. Set in Glass Ferry, Kentucky, the story is told from the viewpoint of Flannery Butler. Flannery returns to Glass Ferry every year on her birthday- also the birthday of her twin Patsy who disappeared on prom night. Flannery would love to uncover the truth of her sister’s disappearance but that requires uncovering long buried secrets that some in the town would be prefer to keep buried. A story of love and loss. Beautifully written!
Kim has done it again! Great book! I will keep reading books by this author.
long book for only 215 pages. it would have been better of flannery told the truth in the beginning so they could have investigated how the kids died. Hollis should have had to pay for what he did and not the way her died.
Predictable
A good book about families and relationships
Loved this book, great characters and very memorable.
Where do I begin?
I wanted to like this book, but the author made it very hard. The writing style is frustrating. The character will be talking about Momma’s sad demeanor, for example, and then discuss how happy Momma had been until her sister disappeared.
Then a few pages about her sister going to prom the last night she was seen.
Then pages about Momma making her prom dress days before she disappeared.
Then pages about how Momma could shop all day for the materials she used. And they have such a great shop that carries wonderful fabric!
Then we get to read about who owns the fabric shop and how many children she has.
The we hear about in what cities those children now live.
Until we are so far away from Momma, and who cares anymore?
Not an easy book to like, and we all knew where the bodies were before everyone else did.
Yawn.
Enjoyed the story and history of the times and geography of Kentucky.
What a silly book and waste of time. I mean seriously, the girl is raped and hit in the face and she doesn’t think she can tell her mother? No one notices a fat lip? C’mon, too ridiculous for words. These characters are not in any sense believable or developed. I can’t say enough bad things about this book. Not even worth the $1.99 I paid for it.