Safe Keeping

February 17, 2014
Past secrets contribute to present-day angst in this solid suspense novel from Sissel (Evidence of Life). Emily Lebay routinely makes excuses for her 34-year-old son, Tucker, who still lives at home with Emily and her husband, Roy, in their small Texas town. To Emily’s dismay, Tucker comes under suspicion for the murder of Jessica Sweet. Jessica’s body was found near the site of an earlier murder, that of Miranda Quick. Tucker was questioned extensively about Miranda’s slaying, but police eventually cleared him. Convinced that Tucker didn’t kill Jessica, Emily and her daughter, Lissa, work to exonerate him. Meanwhile, Emily is desperately trying to prevent the fracturing of her family, as Roy, a Vietnam vet, struggles with PTSD and wants Tucker out of the house. Despite his failings, Tucker remains a likable yet flawed character, and the even pacing keeps the reader’s interest until the captivating conclusion. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary Agency.

February 15, 2014
In crisis as the shadows of two murders hang over their 34-year-old son, a family must sift through a lifetime of mistakes and misunderstandings to uncover the truth. Like most families, the Lebays have had their share of ups and downs, but where their children were concerned, most of the ups had to do with their daughter, Lissa, while most of the downs were due to their son, Tucker. The last year has been especially stressful, since Tucker's girlfriend, Miranda, was discovered dead, and he has felt the cloud of suspicion over him ever since. Now another woman, a friend of Miranda's, has been found in the same stretch of woods, and the glare of suspicion has fallen on Tucker once more. Tucker's family--father, Roy; mother, Emily; sister, Lissa; and brother-in-law, Evan--are embroiled in the emotional chaos of the investigation, as well as their own difficult questions regarding his innocence, his weaknesses and their own potential culpability in Tucker's becoming the man who might be capable of such inconceivable acts. Relationships are re-examined, and the natures of families, love and truth are tested in Sissel's (Evidence of Life, 2013, etc.) most recent family drama that hinges on a mystery that is more played out than solved. The story is thought-provoking and well-paced, and Sissel is truly gifted at setting up emotional conflict and heart-rending doubt. The characters' misgivings toward their own actions and the fragility of their loved ones are powerful, and Sissel builds a believable and poignant examination of a family under pressure and their attempts to learn the truth while bracing for the worst. A few elements that don't quite hang perfectly and an ending that ties things up neatly but not satisfactorily keep the book from being completely successful, but the impressive writing and affecting subject matter will keep most readers engaged.

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 1, 2014

Emily Lebay doesn't want to believe that her grown son Tucker could be a murderer, but her intuition seems to confirm her worst suspicions. When a woman is found dead in the same wooded area where Tucker's girlfriend died under similar circumstances the previous year, Tucker quickly reemerges as a person of interest. While Emily and daughter, Lissa, fervently search for clues to exonerate Tucker, additional incriminating evidence is introduced. As the search for the killer continues, family secrets and lies reach a boiling point and the family's seemingly strong foundation begins to buckle and spiral out of control. The Lebays' unwavering hope for Tucker's innocence is repeatedly tested and eventually falters when his alibi begins to crumble. Sissel's (Evidence of Life) psychological thriller delves deeply into the psyche of a family dealing with a crisis and magnifies the heavy toll a crime suspect's family faces, long before guilt or innocence is determined. VERDICT A gripping read for enthusiasts of this genre. The characterizations are vividly real. Perfect for a book club, complete with thought-provoking discussion questions.--Mary Todd Chesnut, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.