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Sister Mine
Shae-Lynn Penrose drives a cab in a town where no one needs a cab—but plenty of people need rides. A former police officer with a closet full of miniskirts, a recklessly sharp tongue, and a tendency to deal with men by either beating them up or taking them to bed, she has spent years carving out a life for herself and her son in Jolly Mount, Pennsylvania, the tiny coal-mining town where she grew up.
Two years ago, five of Shae-Lynn’s miner friends were catapulted to media stardom when they were rescued after surviving four days trapped in a mine. As the men struggle to come to terms with the nightmarish memories of their ordeal, along with the fallout of their short- lived celebrity, Shae-Lynn finds herself facing harsh realities and reliving bad dreams of her own, including her relationship with her brutal father, her conflicted passion for one of the miners, and the hidden identity of the man who fathered her son.
When the younger sister she thought was dead arrives on her doorstep, followed closely by a gun-wielding Russian gangster, a shady New York lawyer, and a desperate Connecticut housewife, Shae-Lynn is forced to grapple with the horrible truth she discovers about the life her sister’s been living, and with one ominous question: Will her return result in a monstrous act of greed or one of sacrifice?
Tawni O’Dell’s trademark blend of black humor, tenderness, and a keen sense of place is evident once again as Shae-Lynn takes on past demons and all-too-present dangers.
Two years ago, five of Shae-Lynn’s miner friends were catapulted to media stardom when they were rescued after surviving four days trapped in a mine. As the men struggle to come to terms with the nightmarish memories of their ordeal, along with the fallout of their short- lived celebrity, Shae-Lynn finds herself facing harsh realities and reliving bad dreams of her own, including her relationship with her brutal father, her conflicted passion for one of the miners, and the hidden identity of the man who fathered her son.
When the younger sister she thought was dead arrives on her doorstep, followed closely by a gun-wielding Russian gangster, a shady New York lawyer, and a desperate Connecticut housewife, Shae-Lynn is forced to grapple with the horrible truth she discovers about the life her sister’s been living, and with one ominous question: Will her return result in a monstrous act of greed or one of sacrifice?
Tawni O’Dell’s trademark blend of black humor, tenderness, and a keen sense of place is evident once again as Shae-Lynn takes on past demons and all-too-present dangers.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
45 people are currently reading
741 people want to read
About the author
Tawni O'Dell
13 books590 followersTawni O'Dell is the New York Times bestselling author of Fragile Beasts, Sister Mine, Coal Run, and Back Roads, which was an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection. Tawni's screen adaptation of Back Roads is currently in development to be made into a film with Adrian Lyne set to direct. Her work has been translated into 15 languages and been published in over 30 countries.
Tawni was born and raised in the coal-mining region of western Pennsylvania, the territory she writes about with such striking authenticity. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and spent many years living in the Chicago area before moving back to Pennsylvania where she now lives with her two children.
Tawni was born and raised in the coal-mining region of western Pennsylvania, the territory she writes about with such striking authenticity. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and spent many years living in the Chicago area before moving back to Pennsylvania where she now lives with her two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
February 6, 2017
2 stars =It was just OK.
Her Back Roads and Angels Burning were much better.
I already spent a lot of time listening to this so won't spend much time on the review. I thought this would be about sisters and although it was that, just as the story got interesting it would meander into one side story after another. It took a long time for it to get into the meat of the story and by that time my opinion of the narrator, Shae - Lynn, could not have gone any lower. And we don't really get to know why sister Shannon acted as she did. This author centers her stories in coal country and that's always interesting. But these characters and the things they did all seemed a bit ridiculous.
Her Back Roads and Angels Burning were much better.
I already spent a lot of time listening to this so won't spend much time on the review. I thought this would be about sisters and although it was that, just as the story got interesting it would meander into one side story after another. It took a long time for it to get into the meat of the story and by that time my opinion of the narrator, Shae - Lynn, could not have gone any lower. And we don't really get to know why sister Shannon acted as she did. This author centers her stories in coal country and that's always interesting. But these characters and the things they did all seemed a bit ridiculous.
July 11, 2011
This novel was a VERY light read...as in: no thinking required. But it was entertaining in a sassy, "Lifetime Movie" sort-of way. I finished it in about a day.
Shae-Lynn was the only character that was fully developed. All the other characters were superficial and marginal to the actual plot, yet important to the telling of Shae-Lynn's story and her current state of mind. The story was definitely plot-driven: clever and engaging. But I couldn't help but feel a bit cheated by the ending, as it wrapped up so quickly after building over 360+ pages. If you are looking for a story that will stick with you after you read it, you should pass on "Sister Mine." But if you are looking for a book that quickly engages you, requires no mental involvement on your part, and isn't a huge time commitment, then this novel might just be for you. 2.5 stars
Shae-Lynn was the only character that was fully developed. All the other characters were superficial and marginal to the actual plot, yet important to the telling of Shae-Lynn's story and her current state of mind. The story was definitely plot-driven: clever and engaging. But I couldn't help but feel a bit cheated by the ending, as it wrapped up so quickly after building over 360+ pages. If you are looking for a story that will stick with you after you read it, you should pass on "Sister Mine." But if you are looking for a book that quickly engages you, requires no mental involvement on your part, and isn't a huge time commitment, then this novel might just be for you. 2.5 stars
October 4, 2016
A man spends his whole life trying to prove his worth to others. A woman spends her life trying to prove her worth to herself <\b>
"TRIGGER WARNING FOR RAPE AND HEAVY ABUSE"
Finally read this book, its been on my tbr shelf for the longest time.
It was in itself a good book with powerful themes, that made me have a greater perspective on victims of traumatic experiences such as Rape, Domestic violence etc. Shae-Lynn(protagonist) Strong, independent and such a well drawn character made the book for me... She had away with people and her humanity and love was just awesome, even though some side characters treated very badly, she manages to rise fron the ashes. Overall I am glad i read it, even though its not the type of book I normally read.
"TRIGGER WARNING FOR RAPE AND HEAVY ABUSE"
Finally read this book, its been on my tbr shelf for the longest time.
It was in itself a good book with powerful themes, that made me have a greater perspective on victims of traumatic experiences such as Rape, Domestic violence etc. Shae-Lynn(protagonist) Strong, independent and such a well drawn character made the book for me... She had away with people and her humanity and love was just awesome, even though some side characters treated very badly, she manages to rise fron the ashes. Overall I am glad i read it, even though its not the type of book I normally read.
December 3, 2009
In just two novels Tawni O'Dell has secured herself as one of my favorite authors. I do hope that her prowess extends beyond coal mining towns, but even if it doesn't I will be happy to spend more time in her gritty, hard working, troubled world.
I can't really find the right words for this one yet, just that it wraps up so much about humanity, about women and mothers and sisters, and somehow does it without ever once feeling trite or overcooked. I absolutely LOVE that we get to know the characters honestly, that the knowledge comes organically through the living of their lives rather than a poorly disguised monologue review of their past. They are what they are, and the reader is left to infer how they got there, the wrinkles and thrusts of their lives unfolding with the story. It's purely brilliant.
I can't really find the right words for this one yet, just that it wraps up so much about humanity, about women and mothers and sisters, and somehow does it without ever once feeling trite or overcooked. I absolutely LOVE that we get to know the characters honestly, that the knowledge comes organically through the living of their lives rather than a poorly disguised monologue review of their past. They are what they are, and the reader is left to infer how they got there, the wrinkles and thrusts of their lives unfolding with the story. It's purely brilliant.
January 4, 2013
Although this is "chic lit" and an Oprah pick, I did enjoy this book. It's pretty well written and tells the story with a bit of wry humor that makes it more readable. The main character, Shea-Lynn, has endured physical abuse, betrayal, exploitation and abandonment yet perseveres with wit and nerve. Her sister, whom she raised when their mother died after childbirth, disappeared without a word decades previously, then suddenly reappears. The book takes off with a bit of mystery as we watch Shae-Lynn find the truth about her sister. The book keeps you interested without annoying shifts to a sub-plot just as the the current plot develops into a cliff-hanger, leaving you waiting to see it resolved a sub-plot or two later.
April 5, 2010
Overall, I liked this book, largely because I came from the same area as Ms. O'Dell and enjoy how she writes with accuracy and authority about the culture, landscape, and people. I would have considered this her best book except for several problems that really bothered me, like the cheesy scene where she propositions the Marine--very poorly handled. I have a lot of problems with the final chapter but can't explain without spoilers. However, everything I did not like about the book is mentioned in other people's reviews, so there is no need for me to further elaborate since I felt the positives well outweighed the negatives.
July 16, 2022
A VERY light read. Tortured woman surrounded by tortured family and friends. A fast Beach read but hardly literature. Poorly developed characters that are one dimensional. About the best you can say is it paints a realistic and totally desperate pic of the mining industry as it chews up coal from the earth and pulverizes peeps and their lives.
May 14, 2021
This book was surprising awesome. I really enjoyed it and the plot was wild. I never could do what Shae-Lynn’s sister did for a living. A very eye opener to things that go on in other parts of America. Actually all over America.
September 21, 2019
I have owned this book for a long time and was initially interested in it because I had read two others by this author and they were pretty good. This one was a big disappointment. ShaeLynn was a mess of a character and I just couldn't care about her or any of her issues. Very disfunctional. I'm just glad to be done.
February 26, 2021
This book really surprised me. On the first page, I thought, Oh yeah, I can read this, I liked the voice of Shae-Lynn. By the middle of the story I wasn't sure if there was even one likable character in it. By the end, I was totally appeased.
Shae-Lynn is quite a character. She dresses like a hooker at 40, runs her own taxi cab service in her bright yellow Subaru Outback for her job. There's not a real big call for rides in the small mining town of Jolly Mount. Shae-Lynn was formerly a cop and likes to fight. She fights verbally and physically. She raised her younger sister from the age of six. That was Shae-Lynn's age, not Shannon's. It's tough to be motherless and even though it seems as if Shae-Lynn took the brunt of it, apparently Shannon was not unaffected by their childhood either. She's been missing for years.
Shae-Lynn and the people of Jolly Mount are not only shell-shocked, they have built up a thick crust to protect themselves. After a miraculous rescue of five miners that were trapped underground for days, it's easy to see why there would be some anger, some listlessness and lots of mistrust among the residents of this town.
There's a lot more going on in Sister Mine and Jolly Mount and the lives of these people. The story is rich and satisfying at the end, like a warm bowl of soup or perhaps paprikash. There were also three or four paragraphs that would make incredible quotes or excerpts but I forgot to mark the pages. It's amazing that these characters could so quickly turn and grow on you so that by the end, you may have a warm fuzzy feeling for them.
Shae-Lynn is quite a character. She dresses like a hooker at 40, runs her own taxi cab service in her bright yellow Subaru Outback for her job. There's not a real big call for rides in the small mining town of Jolly Mount. Shae-Lynn was formerly a cop and likes to fight. She fights verbally and physically. She raised her younger sister from the age of six. That was Shae-Lynn's age, not Shannon's. It's tough to be motherless and even though it seems as if Shae-Lynn took the brunt of it, apparently Shannon was not unaffected by their childhood either. She's been missing for years.
Shae-Lynn and the people of Jolly Mount are not only shell-shocked, they have built up a thick crust to protect themselves. After a miraculous rescue of five miners that were trapped underground for days, it's easy to see why there would be some anger, some listlessness and lots of mistrust among the residents of this town.
There's a lot more going on in Sister Mine and Jolly Mount and the lives of these people. The story is rich and satisfying at the end, like a warm bowl of soup or perhaps paprikash. There were also three or four paragraphs that would make incredible quotes or excerpts but I forgot to mark the pages. It's amazing that these characters could so quickly turn and grow on you so that by the end, you may have a warm fuzzy feeling for them.
November 2, 2012
Warren County Public Libraries chose Tawnie O’Dell as their 2011 selected author for their Read Along the River Community Read Program. The author visit was October 21 at the Warren Public Library. She began her talk by thanking the representatives of the local libraries for their important work and their ability to continue on in spite of cutbacks in funding. The Public Library in her hometown of Indiana, PA, had recently closed due to lack of funding.
She refers to her books as her children. Sister Mine is her girl and is written in first person female
At her book signing, I purchased Sister Mine. Last week I decided to take a break from required reading and picked up it up. I can honestly say that it is one of the worst books I have ever read. None of the characters were likable. None. The main plot was stupid. The subplots were worse. The protagonist is a forty year old ex-cop who now runs a taxi service with her yellow Subaru. She gets beat up, a lot. Her long lost sister makes a living selling her babies created in one night stands. Her son is now a cop was fathered by an unidentified man. They all are reeling from a mine explosion….Gag me with a spoon! What a waste of my time!
She refers to her books as her children. Sister Mine is her girl and is written in first person female
At her book signing, I purchased Sister Mine. Last week I decided to take a break from required reading and picked up it up. I can honestly say that it is one of the worst books I have ever read. None of the characters were likable. None. The main plot was stupid. The subplots were worse. The protagonist is a forty year old ex-cop who now runs a taxi service with her yellow Subaru. She gets beat up, a lot. Her long lost sister makes a living selling her babies created in one night stands. Her son is now a cop was fathered by an unidentified man. They all are reeling from a mine explosion….Gag me with a spoon! What a waste of my time!
August 4, 2013
I hesitated in giving SISTER MINE a two-star rating but the story line was rambling and other times interesting. The ending was not as I expected nor was it climactic. I have read O'Dell's COAL RUN and enjoying the storyline of Western Pennsylvania and the coal culture. I have attended college and worked in this region and appreciate the contributions of coal miners and their families. Coal miners and families are hardworking and hard living. SISTER MINE does reflect this lifestyle. I will read BACK ROADS in a few days and hope it will be a better read.
October 13, 2013
I like characters with grit, and I love that even when they're incredibly flawed, you still root for them. This was not that book. The characters were so flawed that it was almost unreadable at times. This took me five weeks to finish, and though I'd like to say it took me so long b/c it was the start of the school year, the bottom line was that I just wasn't excited to read it.
November 3, 2012
I was captivated by this book and the characters. I kept wantng to know more about them and their backstories, which kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed reading it, but was a little underwhelmed with the ending, still a very good read though.
May 8, 2015
Finished much better than I thought it would. Didn't like the cut-aways into past stories for Everyone. Just wanted the story to move along. But, when it did finally get going it was a good tale of love.
September 29, 2012
Renee Raudman did a good job in storytelling.
March 30, 2016
Another great one by Tawni O'Dell. Her stories are very familiar yet distinct and original. I recommend them all. They all have a bit of drama and a bit of humor.
September 22, 2017
Of the four O'Dell novels I've read I'd say this is the weakest so far. It still carries O'Dell's characteristic style of storytelling and her skill with characterization. The weak spot of this novel was the meandering thought. I thought it went a bit too far with the flashbacks and the mid-action stops to reflects for pages and pages on how we got here in the first place. Too heavy-handed and I can see many readers giving up before they really get to know the characters because the thought process is so tangled.
The story was also the weakest, by far. The relationships never felt quite right and were a little too contrived and predictable. I enjoyed the protagonist and her spunk and resilience, but I didn't like her supporting cast. They were almost nothing people, with very shallow motivations and not enough soul.
All that being said, this was still a very good novel. Maybe my expectations were a little high, given how much I enjoyed the other three novels I've read by this author. I'm definitely not sorry I read this book and ultimately enjoyed it very much. I look forward to my next O'Dell novel.
The story was also the weakest, by far. The relationships never felt quite right and were a little too contrived and predictable. I enjoyed the protagonist and her spunk and resilience, but I didn't like her supporting cast. They were almost nothing people, with very shallow motivations and not enough soul.
All that being said, this was still a very good novel. Maybe my expectations were a little high, given how much I enjoyed the other three novels I've read by this author. I'm definitely not sorry I read this book and ultimately enjoyed it very much. I look forward to my next O'Dell novel.
February 16, 2023
I didn’t love this book, but it grew on me. The main character, Shae-Lynn Penrose, is 40 and has moved back to her hometown of Jolly Mount, a small coal mining town. Her mother died when she was 6 years old, leaving her with an abusive father and an infant sister to raise. As a teenager, she had a son of her own who she raised as a single mother and who is now a sheriff in Jolly Mount. Shae-Lynne left to go to college and then into law enforcement in Washington, DC, then Jolly Mount. Now she drives her own cab. Her sister who disappeared 18 years ago, when she was 16, returns to Jolly Mount pregnant with a story of her own. The story deals with the problems that both sisters have faced and are facing, as well as the future of 5 coal miners who were rescued several years ago after being trapped in a mine for 4 days.
October 15, 2023
I enjoyed O'Dell's writing and found the storyline interesting. It touches on a number of issues/themes.
Main character, Shae-Lynn, is well portrayed and fun. O'Dell has a way of surprising you -mostly in dialogue. I smiled or chuckled out loud now and then - which is rare for me. Often books described as 'hilarious' do nothing for me. The ending was satisfying and realistic. Oh. And I learned quite a bit about coal mining. The info was placed in the plot at a good point and enhanced the impression of the place and time and a life I know nothing about.
My first read by her in spite of another of her books being an Oprah pick.
Main character, Shae-Lynn, is well portrayed and fun. O'Dell has a way of surprising you -mostly in dialogue. I smiled or chuckled out loud now and then - which is rare for me. Often books described as 'hilarious' do nothing for me. The ending was satisfying and realistic. Oh. And I learned quite a bit about coal mining. The info was placed in the plot at a good point and enhanced the impression of the place and time and a life I know nothing about.
My first read by her in spite of another of her books being an Oprah pick.
September 27, 2024
OMG, I loved this book so much. Favorite book I read in September and will beat "All the Ugly and Wonderful Things" - but only because that was a re-read and wouldn't be fair to this in my favorite book of the year. It's actually very similar to that book and I was searching online if the two authors mention the other's work. I love the main character, Shae-Lynn, and she is super strong and can kick basically anyone's a$$ (including men). She doesn't take anyone's shit. I don't even remember where I got this book from, but I'm glad I have it. This book was about 400 pages long, and I read it in one day. I could not put it down.
March 28, 2018
This isn't just a story about a dysfunctional family, it is a story about a dysfunctional family living in a dysfunctional town!
Warped childhoods lead to warped adult decisions. Doesn't seem to me that there should be a lot of judging going on considering the decisions most of these people make, but judging does indeed take up a large part of this book.
The area is more well executed than the human characters, in my opinion, but the story is interesting though there are significant times where I had to suspend my belief in what the human body can handle.
Warped childhoods lead to warped adult decisions. Doesn't seem to me that there should be a lot of judging going on considering the decisions most of these people make, but judging does indeed take up a large part of this book.
The area is more well executed than the human characters, in my opinion, but the story is interesting though there are significant times where I had to suspend my belief in what the human body can handle.
May 13, 2018
Another of Tawni O'Dell's books that I just could not get into. She seems to excel at writing unpleasant characters who I don't care about in the slightest. More than anything, this book was a lot of cringe. I'm still not thrilled with her writing style, but I could enjoy it if I didn't hate her stories so much. At least this time I went in prepared for the rape and abuse that seems prevalent in everything she writes.
April 2, 2021
Excellent characters, small coal mining community -- the personal connections to each other, the miners to their jobs, the mine too the community, the family friends, the kids you grew up with.... and your siblings. Also bristles with the toxic relationships of some families and how it impacts the kids and how that comes out in adult life. Loved Shar-Lynn with her warmth and chip on her shoulder.
January 6, 2020
A book that is a little like a mystery. A sister who disappeared 18 years ago shows up and has been living a life of deceit and has people after her. It takes place in the coal mine part of central Pennsylvania and the main character is Shae-Lynn who is tough and tries to find out what her sister has been up to all these years.
October 6, 2020
Brings me back to my younger days growing up in what had been primarily a coal town, only in northeaster Pennsylvania. Lots of reminders. Well-written story of a sister's love for her younger sister, even as older develops through her own series of life choices.
June 2, 2025
The story is good, but it’s more than annoying and completely disrespectful that the author didn’t take the time to research the Marines. She repeatedly refers to the Marines as soldiers and called the staff sergeant as sergeant.
December 10, 2025
Former cop Shae Lynn mourns the disappearance of her sister Shannon from their small Pennsylvania coal-mining community. Shannon’s return, dragging many subplots, clarifies and confuses many issues of their life. Good characterization, unique story.
July 19, 2017
I listened to the audio book and I really liked the reader. Descriptive enough I could envision the characters and the setting but not overly boring with too many details.
August 11, 2017
Good story line. Could have done without the explicit sex scenes and foul language.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews