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Invisible
Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Carla Buckley’s Invisible is a stunning novel of redemption, regret, and the complex ties of familial love.
Growing up, Dana Carlson and her older sister, Julie, are inseparable—Dana the impulsive one, Julie calmer and more nurturing. But then a devastating secret compels Dana to flee from home, not to see or speak to her sister for sixteen years.
When she receives the news that Julie is seriously ill, Dana knows that she must return to their hometown of Black Bear, Minnesota, to try and save her sister. Yet she arrives too late, only to discover that Black Bear has changed, and so have the people in it.
Julie has left behind a shattered teenage daughter, Peyton, and a mystery—what killed Julie may be killing others, too. Why is no one talking about it? Dana struggles to uncover the truth, but no one wants to hear it, including Peyton, who can’t forgive her aunt’s years-long absence. Dana had left to protect her own secrets, but Black Bear has a secret of its own—one that could tear apart Dana’s life, her family, and the whole town.
Growing up, Dana Carlson and her older sister, Julie, are inseparable—Dana the impulsive one, Julie calmer and more nurturing. But then a devastating secret compels Dana to flee from home, not to see or speak to her sister for sixteen years.
When she receives the news that Julie is seriously ill, Dana knows that she must return to their hometown of Black Bear, Minnesota, to try and save her sister. Yet she arrives too late, only to discover that Black Bear has changed, and so have the people in it.
Julie has left behind a shattered teenage daughter, Peyton, and a mystery—what killed Julie may be killing others, too. Why is no one talking about it? Dana struggles to uncover the truth, but no one wants to hear it, including Peyton, who can’t forgive her aunt’s years-long absence. Dana had left to protect her own secrets, but Black Bear has a secret of its own—one that could tear apart Dana’s life, her family, and the whole town.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
111 people are currently reading
2969 people want to read
About the author
Carla Buckley
16 books731 followersCarla Buckley is the internationally bestselling author of The Good Goodbye, The Deepest Secret, Invisible, and The Things That Keep Us Here, which was nominated for a Thriller Award as a best first novel and the Ohioana Book Award for fiction. She is a graduate of Oberlin College and the Wharton School of Business, and currently lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She serves on the board of the International Thriller Writers as Vice President, Awards and is at work on her next novel.
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January 16, 2013
I struggled with a 3 or 4 star rating here- there are shortcomings to the book but the stories overcame those easily. Read on to see why.
Carla Buckley’s Invisible is the first of my 2013 must-reads. From the first page, I had a hard time putting it down. Buckley gives us two compelling stories. First is a fractured family dealing with secrets long buried. Second is an epidemic of kidney disease in a small town in Minnesota. The two stories converge in the character of Dana Carlson.
Invisible was certainly fast paced, exploring not only Dana’s past but also possible chemical threats. There was enough plausibility to the nanotechnology angle that I found myself googling it just to see what is out there about the subject. I liked Dana, and I especially liked her niece, Peyton. Peyton felt like normal teenager to me, not someone drawn to a dysfunctional or perfect extreme. Buckley’s descriptions of oceanic life as metaphors for Peyton and her life were especially well done, and somewhat educational.
It’s hard to say what I liked so much about the book without giving away key plot points, so apologies for lack of a lot of detail here. Suffice it to say the story was intriguing and kept me interested from start to finish.
However, when Invisible ended my reaction was, “Wait. What? Is that it? It’s over?” It’s not that the ending is wholly unsatisfying, it is that it feels unfinished to me. It may be that Buckley’s intention was to leave so much open ended- the book does end on a hopeful note, after all- but it felt incomplete to me. Dana’s job was a major plot point at the beginning and Buckley spends time talking about Dana’s relationship and dissatisfaction with her business partner, but then doesn’t really close out the issue. We also don’t get to see closure with many of the relationships from Dana’s past that Buckley introduces.
Still, the story was compelling enough to me that Invisible overcomes the shortcomings of the ending, and I have already been recommending this book to friends. This is Buckley’s second book, and I’ve already ordered her first one to add to my reading queue.
Carla Buckley’s Invisible is the first of my 2013 must-reads. From the first page, I had a hard time putting it down. Buckley gives us two compelling stories. First is a fractured family dealing with secrets long buried. Second is an epidemic of kidney disease in a small town in Minnesota. The two stories converge in the character of Dana Carlson.
Invisible was certainly fast paced, exploring not only Dana’s past but also possible chemical threats. There was enough plausibility to the nanotechnology angle that I found myself googling it just to see what is out there about the subject. I liked Dana, and I especially liked her niece, Peyton. Peyton felt like normal teenager to me, not someone drawn to a dysfunctional or perfect extreme. Buckley’s descriptions of oceanic life as metaphors for Peyton and her life were especially well done, and somewhat educational.
It’s hard to say what I liked so much about the book without giving away key plot points, so apologies for lack of a lot of detail here. Suffice it to say the story was intriguing and kept me interested from start to finish.
However, when Invisible ended my reaction was, “Wait. What? Is that it? It’s over?” It’s not that the ending is wholly unsatisfying, it is that it feels unfinished to me. It may be that Buckley’s intention was to leave so much open ended- the book does end on a hopeful note, after all- but it felt incomplete to me. Dana’s job was a major plot point at the beginning and Buckley spends time talking about Dana’s relationship and dissatisfaction with her business partner, but then doesn’t really close out the issue. We also don’t get to see closure with many of the relationships from Dana’s past that Buckley introduces.
Still, the story was compelling enough to me that Invisible overcomes the shortcomings of the ending, and I have already been recommending this book to friends. This is Buckley’s second book, and I’ve already ordered her first one to add to my reading queue.
September 28, 2016
Need something a little dark, a little unsettling, very tumultuous and yet leaves you feeling a sense of hope rising from the ashes of pain? Carla Buckley’s Invisible is a tale full of secrets, some kept out of a deep love and others kept out of greed and a lack of care for humanity or the world we live in, while others are kept out of shame. The word Truth is a rare commodity in this heart wrenching tale of family, grief, loss and a hidden monster that is killing the people of Black Bear, Minnesota.
Two sisters made a pact over sixteen years earlier and until her dying breath, Juli kept that promise and Dana kept her distance from the family she loved. It was the pela form Juli’s daughter, Peyton to an aunt she didn’t’ know that brought Dana home, an unwelcome family member who came too late to save her sister. For Dana, all she could do was follow a hunch as to why people were dying of kidney failure in Black Bear and uncover the truth before more innocent victims lost their lives. What she didn’t expect was the animosity from her niece, a teen drowning in the grief of losing her mother, while looking for a scapegoat to blame.
Everyone has secrets and Peyton is lost, alone and discovers she is the reason for those secrets, while Dana discovers her sister’s perfect life was far from the dream status she had envisioned it to be.
Powerful emotions, entangled in the sins of the past and the search to discover the root of the illnesses in Black Bear, guilt is the constant partner between the lines of each page. Sometimes lies have a way of crushing all they affect and Carla Buckley sugar-coats nothing in this raw and gritty tale.
I received this copy from Random House Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Bantam (December 11, 2012)
Publication Date: December 11, 2012
ISBN-13: 9780440246053
Genre: Women's Fiction | Suspense
Print Length: 401 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bookstore
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Two sisters made a pact over sixteen years earlier and until her dying breath, Juli kept that promise and Dana kept her distance from the family she loved. It was the pela form Juli’s daughter, Peyton to an aunt she didn’t’ know that brought Dana home, an unwelcome family member who came too late to save her sister. For Dana, all she could do was follow a hunch as to why people were dying of kidney failure in Black Bear and uncover the truth before more innocent victims lost their lives. What she didn’t expect was the animosity from her niece, a teen drowning in the grief of losing her mother, while looking for a scapegoat to blame.
Everyone has secrets and Peyton is lost, alone and discovers she is the reason for those secrets, while Dana discovers her sister’s perfect life was far from the dream status she had envisioned it to be.
Powerful emotions, entangled in the sins of the past and the search to discover the root of the illnesses in Black Bear, guilt is the constant partner between the lines of each page. Sometimes lies have a way of crushing all they affect and Carla Buckley sugar-coats nothing in this raw and gritty tale.
I received this copy from Random House Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Bantam (December 11, 2012)
Publication Date: December 11, 2012
ISBN-13: 9780440246053
Genre: Women's Fiction | Suspense
Print Length: 401 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bookstore
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
April 30, 2013
Let's start off by saying that this isn't a bad book. In fact, it's quite an interesting storyline. An Erin Brockovich-esque novel, really. I was drawn to this book by the summary and it wasn't a novel I struggled through, really.
However, this novel felt predictable. I felt like I was one step ahead of the author the entire time when it came to all the plot-twists. The foreshadowing was painfully obvious throughout the entirety. None of the surprise twists were really that surprising.
I felt like the ending dragged on as well. It took nearly three (albeit short) chapters to get to the end of the novel and went over the same part repeatedly.
I will say, I did enjoy Buckley's play on first-person and third-person. It definitely made things easier to keep up with as the novel is from two different POVs: Dana's and Peyton's. I find that a lot of novels written primarily in first person with alternating POVs can be confusing, but this was done well. I will admit, at first I did not like the shifts, but I learned to appreciate it.
I do think this is a good novel to just read on the side when you're in the mood to just read something, anything.
However, this novel felt predictable. I felt like I was one step ahead of the author the entire time when it came to all the plot-twists. The foreshadowing was painfully obvious throughout the entirety. None of the surprise twists were really that surprising.
I felt like the ending dragged on as well. It took nearly three (albeit short) chapters to get to the end of the novel and went over the same part repeatedly.
I will say, I did enjoy Buckley's play on first-person and third-person. It definitely made things easier to keep up with as the novel is from two different POVs: Dana's and Peyton's. I find that a lot of novels written primarily in first person with alternating POVs can be confusing, but this was done well. I will admit, at first I did not like the shifts, but I learned to appreciate it.
I do think this is a good novel to just read on the side when you're in the mood to just read something, anything.
November 21, 2012
3.5 I think one of the most interesting parts of this book was when Peyton was the narrator. She had a huge interest in fish and aquariums, and each chapter of hers was prefaced by information of various sea life and also her feelings of the fish and their actions. It was a novel way to help the reader understand the character of this young girl, while imparting some very interesting information. This book flowed exceedingly well, Buckley writes as if she was standing right in from of you talking and her dialogue is very natural. I found some of this book frightening because it is actually quite a warning of the some of our new technology and how so much is rushed without thorough study of the long term consequences. It is also a book of family secrets and relationships. It was quite good and I look forward to reading more from this author. ARC from NetGalley.
January 7, 2013
In a word, oustanding! Carla Buckley delivers another page turner in her second novel, Invisible. She may be the most underrated published author that I read. Not that many people aren't reading her, but the national spotlight hasn't focused on her, yet. It will. Nobody does characters better than Buckley, and that includes a lot of better known authors, who might do them as well, but not better. Buckley's two novels, The Things That Keep Us Here and now Invisible, will grab you from page one. No waiting for the storyline or the characters to get interesting. They are immediately so. Both of her novels deal with pandemics of sorts. While The Things That Keep Us Here deals with a visible illness that devastates the country, Invisible showcases a silent killer that is harder to identify and fight. It is the people in these stories that make them real, that personalize the immense tragedies. Invisible does have a larger character roster, and each of those characters, from the main female lead of Dana to the waitress at the diner, are given their due and become a meaningful patch in the quilt that makes the elegant whole. From description to action to dialogue, Carla Buckley is simply a master at creating characters you want to know and a story that you can't wait to hear more of.
I was fortunate to meet Carla Buckley at a book festival last year where I bought her first book and obtained the usual author signature. There was nothing flashy or overly colorful about her, but in the brief few moments of talking with her, I had my suspicions that she was something special. It's quite gratifying to realize how right I was.
I was fortunate to meet Carla Buckley at a book festival last year where I bought her first book and obtained the usual author signature. There was nothing flashy or overly colorful about her, but in the brief few moments of talking with her, I had my suspicions that she was something special. It's quite gratifying to realize how right I was.
February 1, 2013
For the most part, I read for entertainment. I like to be swept away and into the story. I like tidy endings. I don't mind if there's a cliff hanger, as long as I know the next book is coming out. I was left hanging off several cliffs at the end of this book, which is the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars. There are several story lines going at one time and all of them disturbing. Is there an environmental problem in the town? Will Peyton find out the truth? Will Joe? What happens with Joe and Dana? Dana's job? Peyton? Will Peyton's grandma ever tell her the secrets? Could this work of fiction be true? I finished this book yesterday and found myself wondering on and off all day today. That doesn't usually happen. I move on to the next book. The chapters are divided into "Dana" and "Peyton." Peyton is a teenage girl in a MN town, dreaming of growing up to be a marine biologist. She has so much knowledge about marine life and every one of her chapters starts with some anecdote about sea life as foreshadowing for what's to come in the chapter. The marine facts I picked up were fascinating and added extra beauty to the writing. I highly recommend it, but you must also read the acknowledgments and short author essay at the end. It allows you a peek into the writer's process and the reality from which the story stemmed. Well done!
I was also glad to see an acknowledgment for Lisa Gardner's assistance to this author. Lisa is one of my favorite mystery/suspense writers of all time and to know that she's helping new authors makes me love her even more.
I was also glad to see an acknowledgment for Lisa Gardner's assistance to this author. Lisa is one of my favorite mystery/suspense writers of all time and to know that she's helping new authors makes me love her even more.
January 21, 2013
I just really did not like this book, which was a disappointment because after reading its synopsis, I was definitely looking forward to it.
The book had an interesting premise--estranged sister returns to her small-town roots to find out what sickened her sister and other neighbors. The book was told in two points of view. The first was Dana, the estranged sister. The other was Peyton, the daughter of Dana's sister. Dana's was told in first person, and Peyton's in third, which I think may have accounted for some of the awkwardness I struggled with--the story just did not go smoothly at all, especially in Peyton's part. The writing in those sections just seemed very stilted and choppy (this might seem super picky, but the author also didn't seem to like pronouns much here, so everything was Peyton said, Peyton thought, Peyton did, instead of "she" or "her", which got tiresome).
And unfortunately, these characters weren't the kind you root for, or even like a whole lot. In fact, I actively disliked Peyton. For all the talk about her maturity, she seemed to me more like a petulant 5 year old stamping her feet than a contemplative teen.
One more thing--for the premise of this book (think Erin Brockovich investigating hidden environmental ills), there was not a lot of science going on here. I would have liked to see that part researched more thoroughly so it could have introduced some interesting ideas.
The book had an interesting premise--estranged sister returns to her small-town roots to find out what sickened her sister and other neighbors. The book was told in two points of view. The first was Dana, the estranged sister. The other was Peyton, the daughter of Dana's sister. Dana's was told in first person, and Peyton's in third, which I think may have accounted for some of the awkwardness I struggled with--the story just did not go smoothly at all, especially in Peyton's part. The writing in those sections just seemed very stilted and choppy (this might seem super picky, but the author also didn't seem to like pronouns much here, so everything was Peyton said, Peyton thought, Peyton did, instead of "she" or "her", which got tiresome).
And unfortunately, these characters weren't the kind you root for, or even like a whole lot. In fact, I actively disliked Peyton. For all the talk about her maturity, she seemed to me more like a petulant 5 year old stamping her feet than a contemplative teen.
One more thing--for the premise of this book (think Erin Brockovich investigating hidden environmental ills), there was not a lot of science going on here. I would have liked to see that part researched more thoroughly so it could have introduced some interesting ideas.
January 21, 2013
Invisible
by
Carla Buckley
My summary...short...to the point...
Two sisters with a 16 year old secret have not seen each other in years. Tragedy brings one sister back home...and opens up a ton of secrets.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Hmmm...this was one of those lovely books...that begins with one old secret and just sort of meanders around to reveal quite a few old secrets. There is dysfunction and anger and sadness and it's always a great story when one of the main characters has been gone for a while and then comes home abruptly. This is the case with Dana. She hasn't seen her sister in years, she's been an absentee aunt, but a phone call from her niece Peyton brings her home. Her sister is ill...possibly dying...Dana has major issues with her own job...so she heads home to the town where she grew up. She is not really welcomed by her niece or her brother in law and once she begins digging into why so many people in the town are ill...she is even less welcome.
What I loved about this book...
I loved the characters and their interactions with each other. There were lots of emotional tirades and lots of secrets in this town. The plant that was making people ill was also the life of the town...almost everyone worked there. People had strong feelings about Dana and believed that she was a trouble maker. I also loved the writings about fish at the beginning of Peyton's chapters...she loved the ocean.
What I did not love...
There really wasn't anything that I didn't like about this book. I had a difficult time putting it down. It had great short chapters that sped by. I was caught up in it and literally read it in a day. Whew!
Final thoughts...
I found this book to be a really great reading experience. I will definitely read more by this author. It is the sort of totally dysfunctional family story that is just delicious to read. There were lots of things to ponder about that led up to the shocking ending.
My thank you's to the publisher who sent me this book via NetGalley via Amazon. I am always thankful to Amazon for publishing my reviews!
by
Carla Buckley
My summary...short...to the point...
Two sisters with a 16 year old secret have not seen each other in years. Tragedy brings one sister back home...and opens up a ton of secrets.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Hmmm...this was one of those lovely books...that begins with one old secret and just sort of meanders around to reveal quite a few old secrets. There is dysfunction and anger and sadness and it's always a great story when one of the main characters has been gone for a while and then comes home abruptly. This is the case with Dana. She hasn't seen her sister in years, she's been an absentee aunt, but a phone call from her niece Peyton brings her home. Her sister is ill...possibly dying...Dana has major issues with her own job...so she heads home to the town where she grew up. She is not really welcomed by her niece or her brother in law and once she begins digging into why so many people in the town are ill...she is even less welcome.
What I loved about this book...
I loved the characters and their interactions with each other. There were lots of emotional tirades and lots of secrets in this town. The plant that was making people ill was also the life of the town...almost everyone worked there. People had strong feelings about Dana and believed that she was a trouble maker. I also loved the writings about fish at the beginning of Peyton's chapters...she loved the ocean.
What I did not love...
There really wasn't anything that I didn't like about this book. I had a difficult time putting it down. It had great short chapters that sped by. I was caught up in it and literally read it in a day. Whew!
Final thoughts...
I found this book to be a really great reading experience. I will definitely read more by this author. It is the sort of totally dysfunctional family story that is just delicious to read. There were lots of things to ponder about that led up to the shocking ending.
My thank you's to the publisher who sent me this book via NetGalley via Amazon. I am always thankful to Amazon for publishing my reviews!
October 29, 2014
This story quickly drew me into the lives of Dana and her older sister Julie. When Peyton rings Dana saying that her mother Julie is critically ill, Dana who hasn’t been back to her home town of Black Bear Minnesota for many years makes her way home. Dana is unprepared for what she finds there and struggles to uncover the truth of what is causing the kidney disease and taking the lives of people of various ages in the town. But there are people who don’t want to know or would rather not face the truth.
The story is told from Dana’s point of view and also Peyton’s. The chapters from Peyton also include a lot of fascinating information about various fish and marine life as this is an interest of Peyton's. Interestingly, some of what is related about the marine life reflects things that happen in the human world.
This book left me questioning how close to truth it is and wondering what might be in the lotions, powders and sunscreens we use each day. I was thoroughly involved in this story and enjoying it until the ending which ended far too abruptly. It almost felt like the author had got sick and tired of the story and her characters and just decided to wrap it up as quickly as possible. I would have given this book an even higher rating except for the ending. However it is still well worth reading and will probably set you thinking about how close to truth some of it could be.
The story is told from Dana’s point of view and also Peyton’s. The chapters from Peyton also include a lot of fascinating information about various fish and marine life as this is an interest of Peyton's. Interestingly, some of what is related about the marine life reflects things that happen in the human world.
This book left me questioning how close to truth it is and wondering what might be in the lotions, powders and sunscreens we use each day. I was thoroughly involved in this story and enjoying it until the ending which ended far too abruptly. It almost felt like the author had got sick and tired of the story and her characters and just decided to wrap it up as quickly as possible. I would have given this book an even higher rating except for the ending. However it is still well worth reading and will probably set you thinking about how close to truth some of it could be.
January 26, 2013
Dana Carlson has been estranged from her sister Julie for almost 17 years, when she gets a call Julie's daughter, Peyton. Julie is in the hospital. Dana rushes back to her hometown, but is too late. Julie has died from kidney failure. Dana discovers that Julie was suspicious that something was making people in the town ill, and Dana starts investigating.
This story is an environmental warning story, as Dana discovers a possible source for the increase in kidney in Black Bear. The potential toxin that Dana uncovers is an interesting topic, and it makes you wonder about the possible dangers of modern products.
But Invisible strength is really in its strong characterizations. This story is told in alternating chapters by Dana and by 16-year-old Peyton. Dana has a lot of 'baggage' left over from her choices as a teenager. Peyton is dealing with the death of her mother, followed by the arrival of a not-very-welcome aunt, and her dad seems to be drinking more. Both Dana and Peyton are well-drawn characters, but I particularly enjoyed Peyton.
This story is an environmental warning story, as Dana discovers a possible source for the increase in kidney in Black Bear. The potential toxin that Dana uncovers is an interesting topic, and it makes you wonder about the possible dangers of modern products.
But Invisible strength is really in its strong characterizations. This story is told in alternating chapters by Dana and by 16-year-old Peyton. Dana has a lot of 'baggage' left over from her choices as a teenager. Peyton is dealing with the death of her mother, followed by the arrival of a not-very-welcome aunt, and her dad seems to be drinking more. Both Dana and Peyton are well-drawn characters, but I particularly enjoyed Peyton.
October 9, 2017
2.5 stars - This book was disappointing. An easy read and well written, but the storyline was flat and the ending left a lot to be desired. I really enjoyed Buckley’s “The Good Goodbye” but this book was bland.
November 29, 2012
*Genre* Contemporary, Mystery
*Rating* 3-3.5
*First thoughts*
Invisible, by Carla Buckley, is filled with twists and surprises and should hold readers attentions throughout the book. The story is told in the first POV by Dana Carlson and third person from 16 year old Peyton Kelleher’s perspective. Readers may or may not like the alternating POV’s, but, the one positive aspect is that they actually change after each chapter and not in the middle which is often confusing.
Dana Carlson's life takes a detour after a body is discovered under the debris of a building she just imploded. Since Dana was the one to trigger the explosion, guilt lies heavily on her consciousness. She then learns, via mysterious phone call, that her older sister Julie, whom she hasn’t seen for 16 years, lies dying in the hospital of her former hometown Black Bear, Minnesota. By the time she arrives back in Minnesota, Dana is left with more questions than answers.
16 years ago Dana made a fateful decision which she never looked back from. She moved on and did her own thing. She became a partner in a business called Down To Earth Implosion bringing down buildings that are eye sores or no longer necessary. She never thought she would have to return to her hometown where memories are etched in her brain and won’t ever go away from things she and Julie kept secret from everyone, including Julie’s own husband Frank.
Now, with her sister dead from Kidney disease, Dana decides to put her life behind her, and find out what is making the residents of Black Bear sick including children. Dana gets a quick lesson on nanotechnology and the supposed good uses it has for humans, as well as the things we take for granted like sunscreen. Dana is also forced to realize her own mistakes and short comings over the past 16 years that have left her standing on the precipice of permanent change in her life.
As for Peyton, you will find her chapters to be a life’s lessons in marine biology. It is almost as though Buckley was trying to piece the pieces together from point A, from when Dana made her fateful choice, to point B, when Peyton and Dana realize they are stuck together no matter how much one may not like each other.
Invisible really is a shock to the system once you read about the amazing new technology known as nanotechnology and the possible side effects it has on the citizens of the world. One of the main things I liked about this book was that the author doesn’t talk down to the reader or info dump a bunch of useless information for readers to wade through. She takes her time exploring the characters, and the world they live in.
*ARC recv'd via Edelweiss.com Expected publication: September 25th 2012 by Random House, Inc.
*Rating* 3-3.5
*First thoughts*
Invisible, by Carla Buckley, is filled with twists and surprises and should hold readers attentions throughout the book. The story is told in the first POV by Dana Carlson and third person from 16 year old Peyton Kelleher’s perspective. Readers may or may not like the alternating POV’s, but, the one positive aspect is that they actually change after each chapter and not in the middle which is often confusing.
Dana Carlson's life takes a detour after a body is discovered under the debris of a building she just imploded. Since Dana was the one to trigger the explosion, guilt lies heavily on her consciousness. She then learns, via mysterious phone call, that her older sister Julie, whom she hasn’t seen for 16 years, lies dying in the hospital of her former hometown Black Bear, Minnesota. By the time she arrives back in Minnesota, Dana is left with more questions than answers.
16 years ago Dana made a fateful decision which she never looked back from. She moved on and did her own thing. She became a partner in a business called Down To Earth Implosion bringing down buildings that are eye sores or no longer necessary. She never thought she would have to return to her hometown where memories are etched in her brain and won’t ever go away from things she and Julie kept secret from everyone, including Julie’s own husband Frank.
Now, with her sister dead from Kidney disease, Dana decides to put her life behind her, and find out what is making the residents of Black Bear sick including children. Dana gets a quick lesson on nanotechnology and the supposed good uses it has for humans, as well as the things we take for granted like sunscreen. Dana is also forced to realize her own mistakes and short comings over the past 16 years that have left her standing on the precipice of permanent change in her life.
As for Peyton, you will find her chapters to be a life’s lessons in marine biology. It is almost as though Buckley was trying to piece the pieces together from point A, from when Dana made her fateful choice, to point B, when Peyton and Dana realize they are stuck together no matter how much one may not like each other.
Invisible really is a shock to the system once you read about the amazing new technology known as nanotechnology and the possible side effects it has on the citizens of the world. One of the main things I liked about this book was that the author doesn’t talk down to the reader or info dump a bunch of useless information for readers to wade through. She takes her time exploring the characters, and the world they live in.
*ARC recv'd via Edelweiss.com Expected publication: September 25th 2012 by Random House, Inc.
August 23, 2012
I enjoyed the book even though it is not the type of book I normally read. I think it has lots and lots of topics that would make great book club read. My only major problem was that the entire premise of the book is based on fact that sisters had absolutely no contact for 16 years and I never really understood why. Especially after first few years. Were they each afraid they wouldn't be able to keep their secret if they saw each other - I would have thought that would have helped make sure they did.
February 5, 2013
Good book. Disliked how each chapter seemed to start off in the past then with no warning switch to the present. Most chapters I had to stop and reread then switch gears. For a speed reader, that is just aggravating on an OCD level. And the ending kinda left you like.. What's gunna happen?? No closure on any of the substories. The rest of the book was just plain awesome though.
October 3, 2021
Found this book and reading the summary, thought it’d be interesting. I was right. Though it started a little slow or rough in the beginning, it got better-and all the more tense and scary. Secrets were coming out piece by piece until they connected and exploded. I’m glad Dana figured out where she was really needed and that her former job/life wasn’t what she had thought it would be. The ending leaves it open to a point for things to be resolved and you hope that they will be.
On the other hand, it filled me in on ocean life that I didn’t know about-and about nanotechnology. That just freaks me out, but makes you think. Something we use in stuff everyday could become bad for us? Mind blowing. Never knew of such a thing till now. Will keep Carla Buckley as yet another author to keep watch/ up with.
On the other hand, it filled me in on ocean life that I didn’t know about-and about nanotechnology. That just freaks me out, but makes you think. Something we use in stuff everyday could become bad for us? Mind blowing. Never knew of such a thing till now. Will keep Carla Buckley as yet another author to keep watch/ up with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2021
Good story, a little far fetched and I found the ending rather abrupt, but I enjoyed it anyway.
December 10, 2012
I received an Uncorrected Proof of this book through NetGalley.
(u>The Blurb:
“Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Carla Buckley's Invisible is a stunning novel of redemption, regret, and the complex ties of familial love.
Growing up, Dana Carlson and her older sister, Julie, are inseparable - Dana the impulsive one, Julie calmer and more nurturing. But then a devastating secret compels Dana to flee from home, not to see or speak to her sister for sixteen years.
When she receives the news that Julie is seriously ill, Dana knows that she must return to their hometown of Black Bear, Minnesota, to try and save her sister. Yet she arrives too late, only to discover that Black Bear has changed, and so have the people in it.
Julie has left behind a shattered teenage daughter, Peyton, and a mystery-what killed Julie may be killing others, too. Why is no one talking about it? Dana struggles to uncover the truth, but no one wants to hear it, including Peyton, who can't forgive her aunt's years-long absence. Dana had left to protect her own secrets, but Black Bear has a secret of its own-one that could tear apart Dana's life, her family, and the whole town.”
Summary:
The story follows Dana, an explosives expert and Peyton, her niece.
Whilst on her work site one day, Dana receives a distressing call from Peyton asking her to come back to Black Bear - the place Dana swore 16 years before that she would never return to.
Peyton informs her that her (Dana’s) sister, Julie, is ill. Unfortunately Dana doesn’t make it in time and instead comes face-to-face with a very angry 16 year old and Julie’s widowed husband, Frank, who has sunk into old habits in the face of losing his wife.
Unbeknownst to Dana, Julie had for many years suffered with kidney disease and, on returning to Black Bear, whilst trying to break down the walls between herself and Peyton, she discovers that Julie was not the only one suffering from the disease and that there are many people, including children, in the town, who are mysteriously affected. Thus, begin her attempts at unraveling the reason why so many are afflicted and she discovers there is more to nano-technology than meets the eye.
Needless to say, there are some residents in the town who become extremely unhappy with her meddling and the revelation of her secret towards the end will have you reeling in shock.
My Thoughts:
A really poignant story of deception and chances lost, one in which you will discover that there may be a time when your deepest darkest secrets will come back to haunt you.
Carla Buckley has touched on a very real disease facing a large number of the world’s population today – that of kidney disease. Needless to say when I saw Ms Buckley being likened to Jodie Picoult (whose writing I absolutely love), I was immediately drawn to Invisible and Ms Buckley certainly did not disappoint. She introduces us to a bit of a contentious subject, that of nano-technology – one of which I had never previously read about. Whilst this is a work of fiction, nano-technology is definitely not and, after doing a little research of my own on the internet, I discovered that Scientists continue to debate its future implications. It is interesting to note from one of the articles I read that our country, Australia, was one of the first to act by regulating the exclusion of engineered nanoparticles from certified organic produce.
I really liked this book and found Ms Buckley to have a real flair with her descriptions. I also enjoyed the way in which she introduced Dana’s story in reverse, so that Dana’s journey ends in the first chapter and begins in the last. The characters are well-developed and I could relate to them.
About the Author:
Carla Buckley was born in Washington DC. She has worked in a variety of jobs, including a stint as an assistant press secretary for a US Senator, an analyst with the Smithsonian Institution and a technical writer for a defense contractor. She currently lives in Ohio with her husband and children. The Things That Keep Us Here is her first novel.
This book earns 3 stars from me and I wish to thank both NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group (Bantam Dell) for granting my request to read and review this book.
(u>The Blurb:
“Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Carla Buckley's Invisible is a stunning novel of redemption, regret, and the complex ties of familial love.
Growing up, Dana Carlson and her older sister, Julie, are inseparable - Dana the impulsive one, Julie calmer and more nurturing. But then a devastating secret compels Dana to flee from home, not to see or speak to her sister for sixteen years.
When she receives the news that Julie is seriously ill, Dana knows that she must return to their hometown of Black Bear, Minnesota, to try and save her sister. Yet she arrives too late, only to discover that Black Bear has changed, and so have the people in it.
Julie has left behind a shattered teenage daughter, Peyton, and a mystery-what killed Julie may be killing others, too. Why is no one talking about it? Dana struggles to uncover the truth, but no one wants to hear it, including Peyton, who can't forgive her aunt's years-long absence. Dana had left to protect her own secrets, but Black Bear has a secret of its own-one that could tear apart Dana's life, her family, and the whole town.”
Summary:
The story follows Dana, an explosives expert and Peyton, her niece.
Whilst on her work site one day, Dana receives a distressing call from Peyton asking her to come back to Black Bear - the place Dana swore 16 years before that she would never return to.
Peyton informs her that her (Dana’s) sister, Julie, is ill. Unfortunately Dana doesn’t make it in time and instead comes face-to-face with a very angry 16 year old and Julie’s widowed husband, Frank, who has sunk into old habits in the face of losing his wife.
Unbeknownst to Dana, Julie had for many years suffered with kidney disease and, on returning to Black Bear, whilst trying to break down the walls between herself and Peyton, she discovers that Julie was not the only one suffering from the disease and that there are many people, including children, in the town, who are mysteriously affected. Thus, begin her attempts at unraveling the reason why so many are afflicted and she discovers there is more to nano-technology than meets the eye.
Needless to say, there are some residents in the town who become extremely unhappy with her meddling and the revelation of her secret towards the end will have you reeling in shock.
My Thoughts:
A really poignant story of deception and chances lost, one in which you will discover that there may be a time when your deepest darkest secrets will come back to haunt you.
Carla Buckley has touched on a very real disease facing a large number of the world’s population today – that of kidney disease. Needless to say when I saw Ms Buckley being likened to Jodie Picoult (whose writing I absolutely love), I was immediately drawn to Invisible and Ms Buckley certainly did not disappoint. She introduces us to a bit of a contentious subject, that of nano-technology – one of which I had never previously read about. Whilst this is a work of fiction, nano-technology is definitely not and, after doing a little research of my own on the internet, I discovered that Scientists continue to debate its future implications. It is interesting to note from one of the articles I read that our country, Australia, was one of the first to act by regulating the exclusion of engineered nanoparticles from certified organic produce.
I really liked this book and found Ms Buckley to have a real flair with her descriptions. I also enjoyed the way in which she introduced Dana’s story in reverse, so that Dana’s journey ends in the first chapter and begins in the last. The characters are well-developed and I could relate to them.
About the Author:
Carla Buckley was born in Washington DC. She has worked in a variety of jobs, including a stint as an assistant press secretary for a US Senator, an analyst with the Smithsonian Institution and a technical writer for a defense contractor. She currently lives in Ohio with her husband and children. The Things That Keep Us Here is her first novel.
This book earns 3 stars from me and I wish to thank both NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group (Bantam Dell) for granting my request to read and review this book.
December 12, 2012
Dana Carlsen has made a series of unfortunate decisions in her life. Most of these weren't very well thought out and have resulted in somewhat dire circumstances. The first bad decision she made was a teenager when she ran away from her sister and niece, her only surviving family members, when she was seventeen. A series of rather dead-end jobs and a lack of training resulted in her accepting a business partnership with a somewhat unscrupulous man. Her business is under investigation and there aren't any funds in any account because her partner keeps using business money to bail out his family members overseas. Just when it doesn't seem like things could get any worse she receives a phone call that has her leaving her business and the investigation to return to her sister, Julie, and their hometown. Unfortunately her return is too late for reconciliation with Julie as she has died of acute kidney failure.
Dana finds that much has changed in her hometown. Her boyfriend is now a high school science teacher. The local bad boy has become the largest employer in the town. Her brother-in-law still can't stand her and apparently neither can her niece Peyton. It doesn't help that she hadn't called or returned in almost seventeen years. The death of her beloved sister Julie is just one in a long line of shocks that Dana must face. She knows that she can't make up for her absence but she tries to continue her sister's research into why so many people in such a small town are dealing with kidney failure. But Dana's research may put her family and hometown at risk. Obviously she couldn't save Julie, but can she save others including her niece Peyton before it's too late?
Invisible seems to make reference to many different things within the story. The first reference that comes to mind is Dana's invisibility with her family due to her prolonged absence. She may have had good reasons to disappear but it has taken quite a toll on her loved ones, especially her niece. The second reference may be to the invisible nano particles used in the manufacturing of body lotion. Dana seems to believe that these invisible particles may be the cause of the increased kidney problems in Black Bear but she's having a hard time convincing anyone else of this possibility. And finally "invisible" may refer to Peyton's feelings toward her father and her aunt. Peyton wants to be strong for her father, but she's beginning to feel as if she doesn't count since he's resumed his drinking. She also feels that her aunt has ignored her and her mom for all these years so they obviously don't matter. Invisible seems to be a coming-of-age story for both Dana and Peyton, mixed with family drama, along with a bit of an industrial-environmental mystery. The beginning of Invisible seemed to go a little slow with the constantly changing voices between Peyton and Dana, but I quickly became used to these dual perspectives and finished reading it with few interruptions. If you're looking for a well-written contemporary fiction read this winter, then I heartily recommend Invisible by Carla Buckley.
Dana finds that much has changed in her hometown. Her boyfriend is now a high school science teacher. The local bad boy has become the largest employer in the town. Her brother-in-law still can't stand her and apparently neither can her niece Peyton. It doesn't help that she hadn't called or returned in almost seventeen years. The death of her beloved sister Julie is just one in a long line of shocks that Dana must face. She knows that she can't make up for her absence but she tries to continue her sister's research into why so many people in such a small town are dealing with kidney failure. But Dana's research may put her family and hometown at risk. Obviously she couldn't save Julie, but can she save others including her niece Peyton before it's too late?
Invisible seems to make reference to many different things within the story. The first reference that comes to mind is Dana's invisibility with her family due to her prolonged absence. She may have had good reasons to disappear but it has taken quite a toll on her loved ones, especially her niece. The second reference may be to the invisible nano particles used in the manufacturing of body lotion. Dana seems to believe that these invisible particles may be the cause of the increased kidney problems in Black Bear but she's having a hard time convincing anyone else of this possibility. And finally "invisible" may refer to Peyton's feelings toward her father and her aunt. Peyton wants to be strong for her father, but she's beginning to feel as if she doesn't count since he's resumed his drinking. She also feels that her aunt has ignored her and her mom for all these years so they obviously don't matter. Invisible seems to be a coming-of-age story for both Dana and Peyton, mixed with family drama, along with a bit of an industrial-environmental mystery. The beginning of Invisible seemed to go a little slow with the constantly changing voices between Peyton and Dana, but I quickly became used to these dual perspectives and finished reading it with few interruptions. If you're looking for a well-written contemporary fiction read this winter, then I heartily recommend Invisible by Carla Buckley.
January 17, 2016
Author: Carla Buckley
Published by: Bantam
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 5
Review:
"Invisible" by Carla Buckley was some good mystery read. I feel this read would appeal to the women-chit-lit. This novel will have you still thinking of it long after the read. "Invisible" was all over the place with a real complex family relationship to environmental issues that lead to a deep mystery. There will be many twist and turns...along with some surprises as you read through this novel. "Invisible" is told in first person by Dana Carlson (aunt) and in third person from Peyton Kelleher's who was a sixteen year old.
"This story is an environmental warning story, as Dana discovers a possible source for the increase in kidney in Black Bear. The potential toxin that Dana uncovers is an interesting topic, and it makes you wonder about the possible dangers of modern products."
We find Dana Carlson gets a call from her niece letting her know that her mom, Julie was very ill, Dana rushed back to Black Bear, Minnesota to her sister. Even though Dana had not spoken to Julie for over twenty years, when arriving Dana find that Julie had died.Now, this is where and when all the secrets began to come out and when I say to you that you must pick up this good read to see not only where and when but you will also get all of the what and how in this excellently written read. It is some intriguing read that I wasn't able to put down until the end only to see how these two were telling this to us.
Questions that will be asked and answered.....
"Is there an environmental problem in the town? Will Peyton find out the truth? Will Joe? What happens with Joe and Dana? Dana's job? Peyton? Will Peyton's grandma ever tell her the secrets? Could this work of fiction be true?" "Invisible" was definitely one of "lost chances, forgiveness, and healing." How does all of this fit together?...well, this is where you will have to pick up the good read to find out.
I felt this author did a good job making you wonder if this really could happen. Only leaving me to say Wow, what a read. If you like family drama and secrets with realistic characters .. you have come to the right place for "Invisible" would be a excellent read for you that I would recommend.
Published by: Bantam
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 5
Review:
"Invisible" by Carla Buckley was some good mystery read. I feel this read would appeal to the women-chit-lit. This novel will have you still thinking of it long after the read. "Invisible" was all over the place with a real complex family relationship to environmental issues that lead to a deep mystery. There will be many twist and turns...along with some surprises as you read through this novel. "Invisible" is told in first person by Dana Carlson (aunt) and in third person from Peyton Kelleher's who was a sixteen year old.
"This story is an environmental warning story, as Dana discovers a possible source for the increase in kidney in Black Bear. The potential toxin that Dana uncovers is an interesting topic, and it makes you wonder about the possible dangers of modern products."
We find Dana Carlson gets a call from her niece letting her know that her mom, Julie was very ill, Dana rushed back to Black Bear, Minnesota to her sister. Even though Dana had not spoken to Julie for over twenty years, when arriving Dana find that Julie had died.Now, this is where and when all the secrets began to come out and when I say to you that you must pick up this good read to see not only where and when but you will also get all of the what and how in this excellently written read. It is some intriguing read that I wasn't able to put down until the end only to see how these two were telling this to us.
Questions that will be asked and answered.....
"Is there an environmental problem in the town? Will Peyton find out the truth? Will Joe? What happens with Joe and Dana? Dana's job? Peyton? Will Peyton's grandma ever tell her the secrets? Could this work of fiction be true?" "Invisible" was definitely one of "lost chances, forgiveness, and healing." How does all of this fit together?...well, this is where you will have to pick up the good read to find out.
I felt this author did a good job making you wonder if this really could happen. Only leaving me to say Wow, what a read. If you like family drama and secrets with realistic characters .. you have come to the right place for "Invisible" would be a excellent read for you that I would recommend.
December 5, 2013
While Dana Carlson finished setting up the building for its implosion, her mind was focused totally on the job. She felt that surge of control...something she needs in her life. In the demolition business, one must be in control.
So when the calls start coming from "private caller," she ignores them. Until finally, when the job is done, she picks up. And the voice of her teenage niece Peyton sweeps her back in time, sixteen years before, to a time and place she escaped. Running from her past and her secrets.
But Peyton is telling Dana that her sister Julie is very sick and needs a kidney transplant. So, almost on auto pilot, Dana agrees to go back to Black Bear, Minnesota. But will she be able to face what is there?
Back in Black Bear, she is stunned by what she finds. She is too late, and Julie is dead. And what Dana soon discovers is that many people in Black Bear are suddenly dying of kidney disease, in numbers too large to be random. What is happening?
As she begins to investigate, she is confronted by the rage of the community. By those who see her as an intruder...a threat to their livelihood. Is the large plant in town causing the problems?
What will Dana uncover, and who will be on her side? Will anyone help her or will everyone stand in her way? And which of Dana's secrets will come to light?
Narrated alternately by Dana and Peyton, we come to see beneath their surfaces as the story unfolds, and I came to care deeply for each of them.
Another unputdownable book from Carla Buckley, "Invisible: A Novel (Random House Reader's Circle)" is a reminder of what is hidden beneath the surface: from nano particles to deeply held secrets. And how many will fight desperately to keep things hidden. Five stars.
So when the calls start coming from "private caller," she ignores them. Until finally, when the job is done, she picks up. And the voice of her teenage niece Peyton sweeps her back in time, sixteen years before, to a time and place she escaped. Running from her past and her secrets.
But Peyton is telling Dana that her sister Julie is very sick and needs a kidney transplant. So, almost on auto pilot, Dana agrees to go back to Black Bear, Minnesota. But will she be able to face what is there?
Back in Black Bear, she is stunned by what she finds. She is too late, and Julie is dead. And what Dana soon discovers is that many people in Black Bear are suddenly dying of kidney disease, in numbers too large to be random. What is happening?
As she begins to investigate, she is confronted by the rage of the community. By those who see her as an intruder...a threat to their livelihood. Is the large plant in town causing the problems?
What will Dana uncover, and who will be on her side? Will anyone help her or will everyone stand in her way? And which of Dana's secrets will come to light?
Narrated alternately by Dana and Peyton, we come to see beneath their surfaces as the story unfolds, and I came to care deeply for each of them.
Another unputdownable book from Carla Buckley, "Invisible: A Novel (Random House Reader's Circle)" is a reminder of what is hidden beneath the surface: from nano particles to deeply held secrets. And how many will fight desperately to keep things hidden. Five stars.
December 24, 2012
http://charlotteswebofbooks.blogspot....
I jumped at the chance to read Invisible. While it didn't suck me in as quickly as I had expected, I really did enjoy the story. I enjoyed watching Dana get to know Peyton. And you know what - there is a twist there that I haven't even mentioned, the reason why Dana left Black Bear all those years ago and never returned. It adds even more of a dramatic flair to the story. While it hasn't been eighteen years since I was "home", I only get back once or twice a year, having just been there I could totally relate to Dana's feelings driving down the streets after all these years. The more things change the more they stay the same...
Bottom line, Invisible is a great dramatic read with a great environmental message. There are layers to this story that get peeled away with every page you turn.
I jumped at the chance to read Invisible. While it didn't suck me in as quickly as I had expected, I really did enjoy the story. I enjoyed watching Dana get to know Peyton. And you know what - there is a twist there that I haven't even mentioned, the reason why Dana left Black Bear all those years ago and never returned. It adds even more of a dramatic flair to the story. While it hasn't been eighteen years since I was "home", I only get back once or twice a year, having just been there I could totally relate to Dana's feelings driving down the streets after all these years. The more things change the more they stay the same...
Bottom line, Invisible is a great dramatic read with a great environmental message. There are layers to this story that get peeled away with every page you turn.
March 6, 2016
I really enjoyed Invisible. Carla Buckley is one of those authors that is amazing at using today's "what ifs" and creating an engrossing story that grabs at the reader and holds steadfast. There were a few twists and turns throughout, but overall I had things figured out before they came up in the story. The characters were well portrayed and written and the storyline very intriguing. My only real complaint is that the ending seemed a bit blunt and rather quick. It feels as though there should be more, to allow the reader a bigger picture. I do not know if there is a sequel coming out, but I do not believe so. Overall, however, I recommend Invisible to anyone looking for a great read and one that centers around an all-to-real possible scenario.
November 10, 2012
I want to read this book now...I can not wait til DECEMBER........HELP
November 17, 2013
Excellent! Felt like I knew the characters. Im definitely going to grab her other book.
December 27, 2018
This book was essentially Erin Brokovitch in novel format except Erin Brokovitch was way more interesting and clever than this book.
There's nothing inherently wrong with this book it just,,,,,,wasn't interesting or anything new. Like I said, Erin Brokovitch already exists.
The characters were pretty stupid and I don't really think they had all that much depth to them. Peyton was a bitch for literally no reason, especially to Dana, but to everyone in general. She repeatedly uses retard to describe a character who has schizophrenia which was just what really did it for me. Like she was pretty bad before but that was honestly like the last straw honestly fuck you bitch you have communication issues and relationship problems with everyone.
Not even sorry that she fucking blew herself up in the end. Speaking of that, what the fuck even was that, I don't even understand why she blew herself the fuck up like what did that do bitch? What did it achieve? I just don't get it like whyyyyyy would you blow yourself up?????
And everyone in the book was like oh I wonder why she doesn't have friends, and Dana is all she's an independent thinker. No she's a fucking bitch. That's why she ain't got no friends. That's it. Probably has some superiority complex as well. There's no mystery here. It's because she's a bitch.
Frank also had shits for brain. Dana is telling this man they found zinc caused renal failure in mice in a paper written by Chinese researchers and he's all "wElL THat'S miCE," yah no shit they're not going to give human beings renal failure on purpose. It's unethical. THERE'S A REASON WE USE ANIMAL MODELS FOR RESEARCH. AND THEY'RE NOT CHOSEN WILLY NILLY.
Dana was honestly just trying her best, I'll give her that, she wasn't a terrible main character. Kind of bland, but not terrible.
The foreshadowing was so heavy-handed that even I picked up on it and I never pick up on anything ever when it comes to mysteries.
The plot also dragged on for so long, I couldn't help but lose interest. I don't know if all thrillers are like this where you just follow the character throughout their day every day but that's what I'm encountering. I don't think thrillers are meant for me this stuff is just dry as hell, nothing ever happens. So yeah, nothing inherently wrong with this book, I just wasn't a big fan.
Honestly, just watch Erin Brokovitch don't bother with this.
There's nothing inherently wrong with this book it just,,,,,,wasn't interesting or anything new. Like I said, Erin Brokovitch already exists.
The characters were pretty stupid and I don't really think they had all that much depth to them. Peyton was a bitch for literally no reason, especially to Dana, but to everyone in general. She repeatedly uses retard to describe a character who has schizophrenia which was just what really did it for me. Like she was pretty bad before but that was honestly like the last straw honestly fuck you bitch you have communication issues and relationship problems with everyone.
Not even sorry that she fucking blew herself up in the end. Speaking of that, what the fuck even was that, I don't even understand why she blew herself the fuck up like what did that do bitch? What did it achieve? I just don't get it like whyyyyyy would you blow yourself up?????
And everyone in the book was like oh I wonder why she doesn't have friends, and Dana is all she's an independent thinker. No she's a fucking bitch. That's why she ain't got no friends. That's it. Probably has some superiority complex as well. There's no mystery here. It's because she's a bitch.
Frank also had shits for brain. Dana is telling this man they found zinc caused renal failure in mice in a paper written by Chinese researchers and he's all "wElL THat'S miCE," yah no shit they're not going to give human beings renal failure on purpose. It's unethical. THERE'S A REASON WE USE ANIMAL MODELS FOR RESEARCH. AND THEY'RE NOT CHOSEN WILLY NILLY.
Dana was honestly just trying her best, I'll give her that, she wasn't a terrible main character. Kind of bland, but not terrible.
The foreshadowing was so heavy-handed that even I picked up on it and I never pick up on anything ever when it comes to mysteries.
The plot also dragged on for so long, I couldn't help but lose interest. I don't know if all thrillers are like this where you just follow the character throughout their day every day but that's what I'm encountering. I don't think thrillers are meant for me this stuff is just dry as hell, nothing ever happens. So yeah, nothing inherently wrong with this book, I just wasn't a big fan.
Honestly, just watch Erin Brokovitch don't bother with this.
July 19, 2017
An interesting novel, to start with.
Dana and her sister, Julie, have a secret, so bad that Dana has to leave their small home town. Dana doesn't come back until 16 years later, when Julie dies from kidney failure.
The big secret that they have is pretty easy to figure out. As is the cause of Julie's illness. Many people in the town also suffer from kidney disease, but it is within the norms and no one is interested in Dana's conviction that there is some problem in the town that may be at the root of this.
Peyton, Julie's teenage daughter, is an usual teenager. She is smart, crazy about the ocean and the sea life in it. She has few friends and is left to grieve her mother by herself. Her father, Frank, is an alcoholic and he hates Dana. So, when Dana decides to stay in town to help the family through this difficult time, she is not welcomed by Frank or Peyton.
Prior to returning home, Dana, a demolition expert, had been involved in a tragedy of her own. While demolishing a building, a body was found in the wreckage. An investigation was started to see how liable Dana and her company were in this death.
The ending was quite abrupt. So much so that I went back to see if I'd missed a couple of chapters.
There were unresolved issues, questions unanswered. Where did LT, a schizophrenic off his meds, get the equipment and explosives needed to blow up the factory? How did he know how to rig it up? What happened to Dana's company? Her relationship with Hamlin and Ahmed?
A poor and rushed ending.
Dana and her sister, Julie, have a secret, so bad that Dana has to leave their small home town. Dana doesn't come back until 16 years later, when Julie dies from kidney failure.
The big secret that they have is pretty easy to figure out. As is the cause of Julie's illness. Many people in the town also suffer from kidney disease, but it is within the norms and no one is interested in Dana's conviction that there is some problem in the town that may be at the root of this.
Peyton, Julie's teenage daughter, is an usual teenager. She is smart, crazy about the ocean and the sea life in it. She has few friends and is left to grieve her mother by herself. Her father, Frank, is an alcoholic and he hates Dana. So, when Dana decides to stay in town to help the family through this difficult time, she is not welcomed by Frank or Peyton.
Prior to returning home, Dana, a demolition expert, had been involved in a tragedy of her own. While demolishing a building, a body was found in the wreckage. An investigation was started to see how liable Dana and her company were in this death.
The ending was quite abrupt. So much so that I went back to see if I'd missed a couple of chapters.
There were unresolved issues, questions unanswered. Where did LT, a schizophrenic off his meds, get the equipment and explosives needed to blow up the factory? How did he know how to rig it up? What happened to Dana's company? Her relationship with Hamlin and Ahmed?
A poor and rushed ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2018
This was an immensely readable novel by an author I think deserves more attention. Although I plowed through this book quickly, it was not the heart-stopping, breathless feeling of her first novel (The Things that Keep Us Here), which focused on a deadly flu outbreak. This story focuses on a different deadly element, in the form of ingredients in everyday products. But like before, this novel is more than the issues she writes about, but also the people who inhabit the story.
There's a lot going on here. Teenage pregnancy. Family divisions. Alcoholism. Strained marital relationships. Even bullying and schizophrenia. There's also Dana's life at the start of the book and the life she reinserts herself back into in her small hometown. Something I loved was how Peyton's chapters were always started with a description of some of the ocean life that Peyton loved, descriptions that also illustrated what was happening in the action of the story. That was very skillfully done.
As often happens, the novel leaves me with lots of questions. Does Dana walk-away from the business with Halim? Does she take on her role as Peyton's mother? Does she get back with Joe? What happens to Peyton? Frank? Even Black Bear? I also questioned how Julie and Dana left town when Dana got pregnant but then returned. How did they explain that? Did they lose their childhood home? I couldn't figure that out.
Regardless, this is a very entertaining book, a quick read. I only wish this author wrote faster and more prolifically!
There's a lot going on here. Teenage pregnancy. Family divisions. Alcoholism. Strained marital relationships. Even bullying and schizophrenia. There's also Dana's life at the start of the book and the life she reinserts herself back into in her small hometown. Something I loved was how Peyton's chapters were always started with a description of some of the ocean life that Peyton loved, descriptions that also illustrated what was happening in the action of the story. That was very skillfully done.
As often happens, the novel leaves me with lots of questions. Does Dana walk-away from the business with Halim? Does she take on her role as Peyton's mother? Does she get back with Joe? What happens to Peyton? Frank? Even Black Bear? I also questioned how Julie and Dana left town when Dana got pregnant but then returned. How did they explain that? Did they lose their childhood home? I couldn't figure that out.
Regardless, this is a very entertaining book, a quick read. I only wish this author wrote faster and more prolifically!
November 7, 2019
Dana is a partner in a demolition company. She gets a call from her sister's teenage daughter, Peyton, while on a job site. Peyton bears the shocking news that Dana's sister needs a kidney donor and Peyton is not a match. Dana must return to a home that she has not seen for 16 years and face the people she left behind.
The story is told from both Dana and Peyton's perspective. I am not a huge fan of the chapter openings describing sea life. I felt like I could have 'gotten there' without the not so subtle push from the author. I will not give any spoilers, however I was also unsure how many of the 'reveals' were meant to be a surprise. At times, there was so much foreshadowing, I could easily tell what was coming. This may have been purposeful.
One of Carla Buckley's strengths in her other books I've read is the ability to allow the reader to empathize with a protagonist who makes a decision that would be morally abhorrent under normal circumstances.
I did not find Dana to be particularly empathetic in this story.
October 31, 2025
2.5 stars
Unfortunately, this was just...not great. The best part was the literary device the author uses of introducing each of Peyton's chapters with the descriptions of sea life. But beyond that? The non-chronological timeline was all over the place and chaotic; there were plotlines that were left dangling ; and worst of all, this book just did not know what is was trying to be. Was it an environmental thriller? Was it a domestic novel? Was it really supposed to leave me with a "lingering sense of dread" like the cover promised? It was certainly not the "richly layered story" with complex characters and lyrical thoughtful prose. What it was, was a hot mess being pulled in a bunch of different directions and failing to arrive at any one destination.
Unfortunately, this was just...not great. The best part was the literary device the author uses of introducing each of Peyton's chapters with the descriptions of sea life. But beyond that? The non-chronological timeline was all over the place and chaotic; there were plotlines that were left dangling ; and worst of all, this book just did not know what is was trying to be. Was it an environmental thriller? Was it a domestic novel? Was it really supposed to leave me with a "lingering sense of dread" like the cover promised? It was certainly not the "richly layered story" with complex characters and lyrical thoughtful prose. What it was, was a hot mess being pulled in a bunch of different directions and failing to arrive at any one destination.
January 31, 2020
This was a pretty good thriller, and contrary to a number of other reviews for this book that I have read, I didn’t mind the ending. I prefer things left a bit up in the air rather than everything tied up in a neat little bow. But here is my take on the endings:
1. Peyton will survive.
2. Peyton knows that Julie and Frank aren’t her biological parents and Dana is her biological mother.
3. Eric is gone (he was only a teenage romance anyway).
4. Gerkey and his factory are gone, kaput, cactus (the one comeuppance I really wanted).
5. Dana and Joe have reconnected
6. Dana won’t be blowing up buildings anymore.
7. Dana and Frank are no longer estranged, so they will cobble some sort of family together with Peyton.
8. It doesn’t matter who is Peyton’s biological father because Frank is her father in all the ways that matter.
All of these are perfectly acceptable endings.
1. Peyton will survive.
2. Peyton knows that Julie and Frank aren’t her biological parents and Dana is her biological mother.
3. Eric is gone (he was only a teenage romance anyway).
4. Gerkey and his factory are gone, kaput, cactus (the one comeuppance I really wanted).
5. Dana and Joe have reconnected
6. Dana won’t be blowing up buildings anymore.
7. Dana and Frank are no longer estranged, so they will cobble some sort of family together with Peyton.
8. It doesn’t matter who is Peyton’s biological father because Frank is her father in all the ways that matter.
All of these are perfectly acceptable endings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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