Shattered Lies

Disappointing Novel!

I just finished reading the book Shattered Lies by S.J. Francis. Katherine “Kate” Thayer is thirty years old, a veterinarian, and runs her grandmother’s farm, Magnolia Lane Farm in Thayerville, Mississippi. Kate was raised by her grandmother, Katherine after her parents passed away when she was a baby. Kate does not know much about her mother or her family. One day Kate goes into the attic and finds a journal written by her mother. This prompts her to start asking questions. Kate is going to uncover secrets that people have kept hidden her whole life. Everything is going to change. Secrets always have a way of coming out into the open (especially the ones you do not want to be known).

Shattered Lies sounded like such a good novel (it really sounded interesting/intriguing). Unfortunately, I was disappointed. This is a novel about secrets, hatred, and bigotry. I started getting a little into the novel toward the end, but it was hard to read (the writing style). There tends to be a lot of internal dialogue with the characters going on about whether they should or should not have kept the secrets and what should they do now (I think this makes up more than half the novel). The majority of the characters are really not likable (mostly because of their bigoted attitudes). All of the women seems to be strong, determined, and stubborn (there is nothing wrong with this). It is their way or the highway (you cannot always have your way in this world). I am amazed that no one was murdered in the novel (or severely injured). Several times I wanted to walk away from this book, but I persevered and finished it. There is a nice lesson about forgiveness and the ending is left so there can be a sequel (I will not be reading it). I give Shattered Lies 2.75 out of 5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of Shattered Lies from NetGalley and Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.