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Faultlines
It’s the phone call every parent in the middle of the night, Sandy Cline learns that her twenty-year-old son, Jordan, has been in a car accident. Her nephew, Travis, was also in the car, along with Travis’s girlfriend. All three are alive—but barely. The car was smashed against a tree along a remote and winding road, beautiful but deadly, in their rural Texas Hill Country town.
In the wake of the car crash, the close-knit family is tested like never before. Jenna, Travis’s mother, blames Jordan—as well as her sister, Sandy—after reports surface that Jordan had been driving. As the young adults struggle to survive, tension between their parents escalates. But when trust is broken and a shocking family secret is exposed, it creates a perfect storm of harrowing consequences. Rumors in the small town spread like wildfire. When details of the accident are questioned, Sandy and Jenna wonder if their family has been destroyed beyond repair.
As always, there’s much more to the story…if the family is to survive, they will have to come together to confront the terrible truth and overcome their pain. But are some betrayals unforgivable?
In the wake of the car crash, the close-knit family is tested like never before. Jenna, Travis’s mother, blames Jordan—as well as her sister, Sandy—after reports surface that Jordan had been driving. As the young adults struggle to survive, tension between their parents escalates. But when trust is broken and a shocking family secret is exposed, it creates a perfect storm of harrowing consequences. Rumors in the small town spread like wildfire. When details of the accident are questioned, Sandy and Jenna wonder if their family has been destroyed beyond repair.
As always, there’s much more to the story…if the family is to survive, they will have to come together to confront the terrible truth and overcome their pain. But are some betrayals unforgivable?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2016
1528 people are currently reading
2264 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Taylor Sissel
12 books711 followersBarbara Taylor Sissel writes issue oriented, upmarket women’s fiction that is threaded with elements of suspense and defined by its particular emphasis on how crime affects the family. Next to writing books she loves to edit them, and with more than fifteen years in the profession, both as a bestselling author and as a developmental editor, she's got experience. Contact her via her website if you're interested. Please include the details of your fiction project (a brief summary and total word count) for more information and her availability.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 448 reviews
February 6, 2017
Wow! Mr. Humphrey took the kids out for a few hours so that I could have some time to relax; I couldn't settle with my other books so I picked this up expecting to skim a few pages and nap. No go on the nap; I legit couldn't put this book down, so much so that I finished reading this cover to cover in about 2 hours! It's early days, but it's nice to have a clear favorite book of the year that's stands out above the rest. I'm new to the author but decided to give this one a go after all the fabulous reviews and the offer of it being sent from my Nana Book Bestie.
This was such a flawless blend of genres that I'm not really sure where it falls. Of course it was extremely suspenseful and thrilling, but it was also emotionally compelling as we grew closer to these families who had suffered such loss and were crushed by dark secrets that had been held close for years. There was even a slight (mature, but not graphic) YA feel as the main characters in the accident were young people. Honestly, this story was a shining example of how to draw a reader in and keep them hooked; this was about as darn near to perfection as you can get if this is the type of contemporary read that you enjoy. There were no cheesy parts and there were many smaller twists and shocks in addition to the big ones; as a reader I had to pay attention to all the details as they came together in the end to complete a perfect web of deceit, while bringing the story to a climax of forgiveness and appreciation of family and values.
Highly recommended to fans of contemporary family dramas, suspenseful mysteries, and stories with a glimmer of hope near the end. WELL DONE!
This was such a flawless blend of genres that I'm not really sure where it falls. Of course it was extremely suspenseful and thrilling, but it was also emotionally compelling as we grew closer to these families who had suffered such loss and were crushed by dark secrets that had been held close for years. There was even a slight (mature, but not graphic) YA feel as the main characters in the accident were young people. Honestly, this story was a shining example of how to draw a reader in and keep them hooked; this was about as darn near to perfection as you can get if this is the type of contemporary read that you enjoy. There were no cheesy parts and there were many smaller twists and shocks in addition to the big ones; as a reader I had to pay attention to all the details as they came together in the end to complete a perfect web of deceit, while bringing the story to a climax of forgiveness and appreciation of family and values.
Highly recommended to fans of contemporary family dramas, suspenseful mysteries, and stories with a glimmer of hope near the end. WELL DONE!
December 9, 2023
This book was a complete surprise for me as it’s been sitting on my Kindle for quite a while. The intensity of this book was unlike anything I’ve read in a thriller. And the twists that I didn’t see coming were jaw-dropping, to say the least. I was so invested in this book and I found it to be a quick read because I just couldn’t put it down and I needed to know how it was going to end.
This was a fantastic read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have no hesitation in HIGHLY recommending it to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced thriller, mystery or suspense novel.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.
This was a fantastic read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have no hesitation in HIGHLY recommending it to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced thriller, mystery or suspense novel.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.
August 30, 2016
Around 4am Sandy and Emmett Cline’s lives were shattered when they received a call to let them know their son Jordan, his cousin and best friend Travis, and Travis’ girlfriend Michelle had been in a serious car accident. The race to the hospital where they met up with Jenna, Sandy’s sister and mother of Travis was a long and grief-filled one. All three were severely injured and the two boys were airlifted to the larger trauma hospital a few hours away.
When Jenna’s hostility and anger levelled blame at Jordan and Sandy, Sandy was shocked. Learning the evidence showed Jordan was driving with the local Sergeant determined to arrest Jordan when he was conscious caused Emmett and Sandy intense heartache as well as denial. But fury was Sandy’s main emotion – she felt the family fracturing; felt she was unable to do anything about it. She felt grief at Travis and Michelle’s injuries; concern and love for Jordan who seemed to be recovering slowly – and then when Jordan vowed he wasn’t driving, confusion and guilt.
As the family struggled with what had happened, the secret which had been hidden for many years was suddenly and hurtfully revealed. And it seemed worse was to come – it was never-ending and heart-breaking – would the family survive, or would it be broken forever?
Faultlines by Barbara Taylor Sissel is a heart-stopping, intense ride from start to finish. The feeling of my heart in my throat was there constantly – the intricate details, the various characters who played their parts so well – all came together to form another brilliant read by this author which I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
When Jenna’s hostility and anger levelled blame at Jordan and Sandy, Sandy was shocked. Learning the evidence showed Jordan was driving with the local Sergeant determined to arrest Jordan when he was conscious caused Emmett and Sandy intense heartache as well as denial. But fury was Sandy’s main emotion – she felt the family fracturing; felt she was unable to do anything about it. She felt grief at Travis and Michelle’s injuries; concern and love for Jordan who seemed to be recovering slowly – and then when Jordan vowed he wasn’t driving, confusion and guilt.
As the family struggled with what had happened, the secret which had been hidden for many years was suddenly and hurtfully revealed. And it seemed worse was to come – it was never-ending and heart-breaking – would the family survive, or would it be broken forever?
Faultlines by Barbara Taylor Sissel is a heart-stopping, intense ride from start to finish. The feeling of my heart in my throat was there constantly – the intricate details, the various characters who played their parts so well – all came together to form another brilliant read by this author which I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
February 6, 2017
"Her mind circled the word trauma, keeping a distance from it. It might have been a snake, coiled and ready to strike."
Can there be anything worse than a phone call in the middle of the night about a loved one in a serious auto accident? In this case of Sandy Cline, it's her son, along with her nephew and another young female passenger, who have smashed into a tree along a rural Texas Hill Country road.
The accident is so serious that all three young people have to be transported by helicopter to a major hospital in Austin. It's clear that alcohol and speed were factors, but what remains foggy is just who was driving. Sandy's son, Jordan, seems the most likely to have been responsible, which causes a major rift between Sandy and her sister.
The family and local police seem to think Sandy is in denial about her son's proclivities. And what child reveals his secrets to his parents? Is Jordan a reckless alcoholic, as everyone suggests? Will he end up doing jail time for his behavior? Moreover, was he really the driver?
As events begin to worsen at the hospital, secrets begin to trickle out, causing even more trauma in the extended family. It appears it's not only Jordan who's been keeping secrets.
This gripping story takes some unexpected twists and turns, but the storyline doesn't necessarily rest on the whodunnit part of the tale. The focus on family and how people deal with traumatic situations is truly what's at the heart of this well written novel.
Thanks to Good Reads and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read this book.
January 7, 2019
This was a sad and depressing read. And now I feel sad and depressed especially on this gloomy, rainy day. I need to find a fluffy funny read in my TBR pile! (Or take a nap!) 2.5 stars
September 16, 2016
A special thank you to Lake Union and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Nice Cover!
Barbara Taylor Sissel delivers an emotional, gripping domestic suspense, FAULTLINES –how hidden fault lines and secrets threaten families.
From teens to parents—betrayal, guilt, trust, blame, forgiveness. A character-driven tale of how the secrets we hold closest, are the ones that can most tear us apart.
A heartfelt, moving and cautionary tale, of the lasting effects of grief and betrayal amidst family bonds—and the healing powers of love, honesty, and acceptance.
Fault lines among relationships are potentially disruptive boundaries between what people perceive as incompatible or irreconcilable differences. What makes a previously harmonious relationship quake?
Told from two POV, two women, Sandy and Libby. Two women which may not have anything in common. However, they may be similar in many ways.
Sisters, Sandy and Jenna are close. However, one of their sons causes the death of another. A car accident. Drunk driving. There is a secret. How will they ever go back?
Jenna swore to keep Sandy’s secret many years ago. A sister’s bond. However, something happens and she spills the secret. Broken trust. Desperation. Choices. A marriage in trouble. Pain. Consequences. Forgiveness.
Teenagers in a drunk driving accident. Who is to blame? Families torn apart. A son, nephew, brother and friend.
Lives and families are tested in many ways, from friendships, parenting, marriages, sisters, wives and husbands. A sympathetic exploration of family, where the characters each grapple with life's challenges. The author renders each of them with compassion and understanding!
Heartfelt, heartbreaking, and ultimately an uplifting novel sure to start an important dialogue about the secrets we keep... and it could even save lives. The consequences of drinking and driving. How we can help others, before it is too late.
An ideal choice for book clubs and further discussions (a great reading group guide included).
Fault line: “A divisive issue or difference of opinion that is likely to have serious consequences.” A fault line is something that will divide you and lead to some serious issues in a marriage. Physical fault lines are located beneath the surface of the earth. So they are not easily noticed.
The only way a fault line can be recognized is by going deep. By looking below the surface. Cracks. This involves communication-before it is too late. As in an earthquake, it often “causes great destruction or upheaval.” Destruction or survival. (Thought-provoking)
Mixed with domestic suspense and crime—Fans of Amy Hatvany, Randy Susan Meyers, Barbara Claypole White and Diane Chamberlain will enjoy the powerful and complex highly charged topics of family. My first book by the author, and look forward to reading more!
In addition to the digital reading copy, also purchased the audiobook narrated by Donna Postel, for an engaging performance. I always enjoy Postel –narrator of Donna Ball, Ellen Meister, J. Carson Black’s books, among others.
JDCMustReadBooks
Barbara Taylor Sissel delivers an emotional, gripping domestic suspense, FAULTLINES –how hidden fault lines and secrets threaten families.
From teens to parents—betrayal, guilt, trust, blame, forgiveness. A character-driven tale of how the secrets we hold closest, are the ones that can most tear us apart.
A heartfelt, moving and cautionary tale, of the lasting effects of grief and betrayal amidst family bonds—and the healing powers of love, honesty, and acceptance.
Fault lines among relationships are potentially disruptive boundaries between what people perceive as incompatible or irreconcilable differences. What makes a previously harmonious relationship quake?
Told from two POV, two women, Sandy and Libby. Two women which may not have anything in common. However, they may be similar in many ways.
Sisters, Sandy and Jenna are close. However, one of their sons causes the death of another. A car accident. Drunk driving. There is a secret. How will they ever go back?
Jenna swore to keep Sandy’s secret many years ago. A sister’s bond. However, something happens and she spills the secret. Broken trust. Desperation. Choices. A marriage in trouble. Pain. Consequences. Forgiveness.
Teenagers in a drunk driving accident. Who is to blame? Families torn apart. A son, nephew, brother and friend.
Lives and families are tested in many ways, from friendships, parenting, marriages, sisters, wives and husbands. A sympathetic exploration of family, where the characters each grapple with life's challenges. The author renders each of them with compassion and understanding!
Heartfelt, heartbreaking, and ultimately an uplifting novel sure to start an important dialogue about the secrets we keep... and it could even save lives. The consequences of drinking and driving. How we can help others, before it is too late.
An ideal choice for book clubs and further discussions (a great reading group guide included).
Fault line: “A divisive issue or difference of opinion that is likely to have serious consequences.” A fault line is something that will divide you and lead to some serious issues in a marriage. Physical fault lines are located beneath the surface of the earth. So they are not easily noticed.
The only way a fault line can be recognized is by going deep. By looking below the surface. Cracks. This involves communication-before it is too late. As in an earthquake, it often “causes great destruction or upheaval.” Destruction or survival. (Thought-provoking)
Mixed with domestic suspense and crime—Fans of Amy Hatvany, Randy Susan Meyers, Barbara Claypole White and Diane Chamberlain will enjoy the powerful and complex highly charged topics of family. My first book by the author, and look forward to reading more!
In addition to the digital reading copy, also purchased the audiobook narrated by Donna Postel, for an engaging performance. I always enjoy Postel –narrator of Donna Ball, Ellen Meister, J. Carson Black’s books, among others.
JDCMustReadBooks
June 13, 2016
What a fabulous story of suspense, family drama, and long-buried secrets. FAULTLINES opens with a horrific single car wreck that appears to be a tragic--but straight forward--case of underage drinking and speeding on a dangerous rural road. And yet nothing in this gripping novel is quite as it seems. As accusations of blame rip apart the families involved, Barbara Sissel masterfully unravels a shocking truth. Filled with twists I didn't see coming, this novel kept me flipping pages way past my bedtime. Loved it!
July 25, 2016
Faultlines was a decent book, a good read, a nice mystery story with all kinds of family issues woven into it. And I think that sums up my feelings on it: nice--not great, not bad, not outstanding, not horrible. To me, nothing stands out about it as far as the writing goes, or even the storyline. Even the character development wasn't what I would call deep. Still, it's a decent book if you have an afternoon to kill, just don't mistake this for literary fiction or a great mystery/thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2018
Faultlines focuses on a serious car accident involving young adults and the consequences of the incident.
This was a character led mystery that didn’t completely grip me, but I did find it quite enjoyable to listen to.
I borrowed this book in audiobook format through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
This was a character led mystery that didn’t completely grip me, but I did find it quite enjoyable to listen to.
I borrowed this book in audiobook format through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
August 5, 2016
Barbara Taylor Sissel is one sneaky author. She creates a world where things look fairly straightforward, but be aware, reader, that this book is about far more than you'd think at first glance.
Personally, I tend to avoid books I think might be sad. The real world has enough dark shadows that I don't seek it in my fiction. So a book that starts with a tragic car accident wouldn't be something I'd normally seek out, which in this case, would have been a shame because that's just the jumping off point for all kinds of twists and turns in the story.
I really loved this book. The writing was lyrical and lovely, and the characters nuanced. But most of all, I loved that I could connect emotionally with many of the characters. I was a little wrung out at times, if you want to know the truth.
If you're looking for your next book club book, this is it!
Personally, I tend to avoid books I think might be sad. The real world has enough dark shadows that I don't seek it in my fiction. So a book that starts with a tragic car accident wouldn't be something I'd normally seek out, which in this case, would have been a shame because that's just the jumping off point for all kinds of twists and turns in the story.
I really loved this book. The writing was lyrical and lovely, and the characters nuanced. But most of all, I loved that I could connect emotionally with many of the characters. I was a little wrung out at times, if you want to know the truth.
If you're looking for your next book club book, this is it!
January 31, 2017
It’s the phone call every parent dreads: in the middle of the night, Sandy Cline learns that her twenty-year-old son, Jordan, has been in a car accident. Her nephew, Travis, was also in the car, along with Travis’s girlfriend. All three are alive—but barely. The car was smashed against a tree along a remote and winding road, beautiful but deadly, in their rural Texas Hill Country town.
In the wake of the car crash, the close-knit family is tested like never before. Jenna, Travis’s mother, blames Jordan—as well as her sister, Sandy—after reports surface that Jordan had been driving. As the young adults struggle to survive, tension between their parents escalates. But when trust is broken and a shocking family secret is exposed, it creates a perfect storm of harrowing consequences. Rumors in the small town spread like wildfire. When details of the accident are questioned, Sandy and Jenna wonder if their family has been destroyed beyond repair.
My Thoughts: From the first moments, I immersed myself in the story of a family suffering one of the worst events that can happen to parents: a child in danger, possibly because of something reckless one of them did. Set in the Texas hill country, in a small town named Wyatt, we are offered a glimpse of the people, the setting, and how families cope in tragic moments.
Sandy, mother to Jordan, is blindsided when her sister Jenna, Travis’s mother, reveals a long-hidden secret in front of the family. And in a hurtful way.
It was easy to see that she acted out of pain, but the consequences would be long-standing, and the bitterness would last for the foreseeable future.
Emmett, Sandy’s husband, reacts to the revelation by leaving Sandy in the lurch…and ultimately, creating another chasm in the family.
Jordan makes another discovery that will lead him to an older woman named Libby Hennessey, whose husband Beck is somehow connected to him.
Meanwhile, so many events seem to collide and come together, in an almost domino effect, that had me, as a reader, wondering how everything would unfold. Why is the small town detective, Officer Huckabee, seemingly targeting Jordan? Why is he obsessed with Jenna, Travis’s mother? Who is cutting up and killing animals and displaying them on Libby’s property?
As the secrets, lies, and mistaken choices slowly come together, Faultlines reveals more of the darkness that lies within a small town and in a family, but also provides a glimpse of moments of healing. A five star read.
In the wake of the car crash, the close-knit family is tested like never before. Jenna, Travis’s mother, blames Jordan—as well as her sister, Sandy—after reports surface that Jordan had been driving. As the young adults struggle to survive, tension between their parents escalates. But when trust is broken and a shocking family secret is exposed, it creates a perfect storm of harrowing consequences. Rumors in the small town spread like wildfire. When details of the accident are questioned, Sandy and Jenna wonder if their family has been destroyed beyond repair.
My Thoughts: From the first moments, I immersed myself in the story of a family suffering one of the worst events that can happen to parents: a child in danger, possibly because of something reckless one of them did. Set in the Texas hill country, in a small town named Wyatt, we are offered a glimpse of the people, the setting, and how families cope in tragic moments.
Sandy, mother to Jordan, is blindsided when her sister Jenna, Travis’s mother, reveals a long-hidden secret in front of the family. And in a hurtful way.
It was easy to see that she acted out of pain, but the consequences would be long-standing, and the bitterness would last for the foreseeable future.
Emmett, Sandy’s husband, reacts to the revelation by leaving Sandy in the lurch…and ultimately, creating another chasm in the family.
Jordan makes another discovery that will lead him to an older woman named Libby Hennessey, whose husband Beck is somehow connected to him.
Meanwhile, so many events seem to collide and come together, in an almost domino effect, that had me, as a reader, wondering how everything would unfold. Why is the small town detective, Officer Huckabee, seemingly targeting Jordan? Why is he obsessed with Jenna, Travis’s mother? Who is cutting up and killing animals and displaying them on Libby’s property?
As the secrets, lies, and mistaken choices slowly come together, Faultlines reveals more of the darkness that lies within a small town and in a family, but also provides a glimpse of moments of healing. A five star read.
September 19, 2016
Once again, Sissel turns out a story of complicated drama, family, secrets & love. Never a dull moment. At some pages I went back to be certain I actually read the words I did. That many subtle twists in the plot.
February 22, 2018
Stark. Sad. Beautiful.
November 22, 2019
RECENSIONE COMPLETA: https://loveisinthebookblog.blogspot....
Avevo davvero bisogno di staccare da tutte le letture romance di quest’ultimo periodo, quindi ho sfogliato la selezione di thriller a disposizione e mi sono imbattuta in questa trama. Non sono un’amante dei thriller cruenti perché sono una persona molto suscettibile e potrei non dormire per giorni interi. Una famiglia colpevole rientra in quel genere di thriller che di quest’ultimo racchiude le componenti, ma presentandole in una veste più soft tanto da poter essere considerato un libro di narrativa con elementi di mistero e suspense.
Avevo davvero bisogno di staccare da tutte le letture romance di quest’ultimo periodo, quindi ho sfogliato la selezione di thriller a disposizione e mi sono imbattuta in questa trama. Non sono un’amante dei thriller cruenti perché sono una persona molto suscettibile e potrei non dormire per giorni interi. Una famiglia colpevole rientra in quel genere di thriller che di quest’ultimo racchiude le componenti, ma presentandole in una veste più soft tanto da poter essere considerato un libro di narrativa con elementi di mistero e suspense.
July 4, 2016
I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was completely sucked into Barbara Taylor Sissel's Faultlines, the story of a family ripped apart after a devastating accident involving three college students--two of them cousins as close as brothers.
Told with great skill and compassion, Faultlines had me feeling for so many of its flawed, but very human characters, each of them struggling toward the grace that can only come of forgiveness. My favorite of Sissel's many fine books, Faultlines kept me reading long past midnight, with its surprisingly unfolding secrets and a powerful, yet hopeful resolution will stay will me for a long time.
I was completely sucked into Barbara Taylor Sissel's Faultlines, the story of a family ripped apart after a devastating accident involving three college students--two of them cousins as close as brothers.
Told with great skill and compassion, Faultlines had me feeling for so many of its flawed, but very human characters, each of them struggling toward the grace that can only come of forgiveness. My favorite of Sissel's many fine books, Faultlines kept me reading long past midnight, with its surprisingly unfolding secrets and a powerful, yet hopeful resolution will stay will me for a long time.
July 30, 2016
In FAULTLINES, Barbara Taylor Sissel brilliantly weaves a compelling, suspenseful, and emotional family drama around teenagers and drinking and the aftermath of a horrific car accident. Through a multitude of twists and turns, each character is faced with difficult decisions that fracture family bonds while wondering who they can trust, let alone whether or not they can recover from the tragedy. As the parent of a teenager, I immediately connected with the story and the characters, and was hooked from page one. Ms. Sissel is a masterful storyteller when it comes to suspense and an exceptional writer. It’s a definite page-turner! I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
February 3, 2017
I do not understand how this book got so many good reviews. What am I missing?
August 8, 2017
I don't really know why I didn't like this book but I didn't. I found myself skipping paragraphs to get to the point of the story.
August 11, 2016
At 20, Jordy Cline's life should be just beginning. Instead, it seems as if he's looking at a long period in jail and a lifetime of guilt. It all begins when his mother, Sandy, receives the call every mother dreads: there's been a car accident. Jordy and his cousin, Travis, were thrown from the vehicle, and their passenger, Michelle, is in a coma. Both boys are seriously injured and even worse, it looks like they were drinking. Local law enforcement seems to think Jordy was drinking and driving--a natural assumption given his history of underage drinking and Travis' usual role as the designated driver--but Jordy is insistent that he wasn't. Suddenly, Sandy finds herself fighting for her son's survival and dealing with her sister Jenna's anger over Jordy's role in the crash. The crash also reveals more family and town secrets. Will things ever be the same? And was Jordy really responsible for the crash?
This is an intricate and crazily plotted book, filled with emotional characters and various plot twists. Some of the twists are exciting and completely unexpected, making the story more than just a family drama and almost making it a thriller at some points. A few twists toward the end struck me as rather transparent and easily guessed. A lot of the plot points are a little outlandish and far-fetched, but it does make the book a fairly quick and exciting read. It's not exactly fun, as the subject matter is pretty heavy and horrible, dealing with the sort of topics that are hard to read as a parent.
While none of the characters are fully fleshed out, I liked Sandy well-enough and found myself gravitating toward Jordy, even if I couldn't fully trust him. Jordy's nemesis, local police sergeant Huckabee, is easy to dislike, even as you're constantly guessing as to why exactly he harbors this hatred toward a near teen. The chapters alternate between Sandy and another character, Libby, and she's a sympathetic and enjoyable character as well.
Overall, the story is an intriguing one, which will keep you guessing and reading. It speaks well to the legacy parents leave, both from a biological and environmental standpoint. It represents the power of the good ol' boy system of the South as well and is a strong tale depicting the bonds of loyalty, small town politics, and the power and pain of family. It's both emotional and enjoyable. There were a few nagging plot points that bugged me, but it was still a good, quick read.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!); it is available for publication everywhere as of 09/06/2016.
This is an intricate and crazily plotted book, filled with emotional characters and various plot twists. Some of the twists are exciting and completely unexpected, making the story more than just a family drama and almost making it a thriller at some points. A few twists toward the end struck me as rather transparent and easily guessed. A lot of the plot points are a little outlandish and far-fetched, but it does make the book a fairly quick and exciting read. It's not exactly fun, as the subject matter is pretty heavy and horrible, dealing with the sort of topics that are hard to read as a parent.
While none of the characters are fully fleshed out, I liked Sandy well-enough and found myself gravitating toward Jordy, even if I couldn't fully trust him. Jordy's nemesis, local police sergeant Huckabee, is easy to dislike, even as you're constantly guessing as to why exactly he harbors this hatred toward a near teen. The chapters alternate between Sandy and another character, Libby, and she's a sympathetic and enjoyable character as well.
Overall, the story is an intriguing one, which will keep you guessing and reading. It speaks well to the legacy parents leave, both from a biological and environmental standpoint. It represents the power of the good ol' boy system of the South as well and is a strong tale depicting the bonds of loyalty, small town politics, and the power and pain of family. It's both emotional and enjoyable. There were a few nagging plot points that bugged me, but it was still a good, quick read.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!); it is available for publication everywhere as of 09/06/2016.
August 11, 2016
Firstly I'd just like to say thank you to Barbara Taylor Sissel, Netgalley, and the publishers for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication, for review purposes.
As usual, no specific details will be given in the below review so it's quite safe to read.
For me, this book just didn't grab me. It's not that I didn't empathise with what the characters were going through or find a tangible connection with them. It's just that it didn't do "it" for me... Whatever "it" is.
The storyline was rich and full, with a lot of secrets uncovered throughout and suspense built, but I *could put it down. And normally I can't put books down.
I'll try to explain a bit further. Initially, the first chapter grabbed me. It was told from Sandys perspective and the pace was quite fast and went straight in with emotion. Then the chapter ended. And I found myself with Libby, in quite boring circumstances (in contrast). I didn't pick up the characters names, I didn't quite understand who they were or what the relevance was, and I spent a good portion of the start of the book trying to remind myself who was who. I found it quite difficult to follow the story line.
Once the two stories met and the connection was established, I found it easier to follow but I'd spent so long trying to work at the book in order to work out who the 5 new characters were that chapter, that I'd lost a bit of the emotion to pull myself along with them.
The conclusion RE the accident was a fairly obvious one, and it was my initial thought right at the start when Jordy's injuries were described. That cleared it up for me straight away, and I spent the entire book waiting for everyone else to catch on.
However, I still give this 3 stars, because it was GOOD. As I said, the story was full and had all of the ingredients for an excellent book, but I just couldn't click with it, whether that was because I got lost at the start, or it just wasn't for me, I'm not sure.
But I will say that I would certainly like to read more from the author, Barbara Taylor Sissel. She is clearly very talented and has a way of painting a landscape within the pages, that is so descriptive and so real that her readers can live in it for a while. And that is quite something. Even if I did wander around that landscape aimlessly for a while wondering where on earth I was and "who all of these people are"! Lol!
As usual, no specific details will be given in the below review so it's quite safe to read.
For me, this book just didn't grab me. It's not that I didn't empathise with what the characters were going through or find a tangible connection with them. It's just that it didn't do "it" for me... Whatever "it" is.
The storyline was rich and full, with a lot of secrets uncovered throughout and suspense built, but I *could put it down. And normally I can't put books down.
I'll try to explain a bit further. Initially, the first chapter grabbed me. It was told from Sandys perspective and the pace was quite fast and went straight in with emotion. Then the chapter ended. And I found myself with Libby, in quite boring circumstances (in contrast). I didn't pick up the characters names, I didn't quite understand who they were or what the relevance was, and I spent a good portion of the start of the book trying to remind myself who was who. I found it quite difficult to follow the story line.
Once the two stories met and the connection was established, I found it easier to follow but I'd spent so long trying to work at the book in order to work out who the 5 new characters were that chapter, that I'd lost a bit of the emotion to pull myself along with them.
The conclusion RE the accident was a fairly obvious one, and it was my initial thought right at the start when Jordy's injuries were described. That cleared it up for me straight away, and I spent the entire book waiting for everyone else to catch on.
However, I still give this 3 stars, because it was GOOD. As I said, the story was full and had all of the ingredients for an excellent book, but I just couldn't click with it, whether that was because I got lost at the start, or it just wasn't for me, I'm not sure.
But I will say that I would certainly like to read more from the author, Barbara Taylor Sissel. She is clearly very talented and has a way of painting a landscape within the pages, that is so descriptive and so real that her readers can live in it for a while. And that is quite something. Even if I did wander around that landscape aimlessly for a while wondering where on earth I was and "who all of these people are"! Lol!
September 26, 2016
"I'm sorry." Jenna squeezed Sandy's hand, and she look over at her, seeing her through a prism of tears, the tine faultlines of their shared love and sorrow."
The one phone call every parent hopes they never get. It's 3am when the police notify Sandy and Emmet that their 20 year old son, Jordan, his cousin Travis, and his girlfriend, Michelle, have been in a horrible wreck.
Of course the questions begin. It's a small rural Texas town. Who is to blame and why? Alcohol, and or drugs? Will the three young people survive? It will divide the family since Travis is the son of Sandy's sister, Jenna. Emotions are running high, blame being placed.
As the truth is exposed it will either break them apart or bond them stronger. Sides will be chosen, lies exposed. Can any of this shattered family be saved? There are deep secrets within the family, as well as the mystery of what happened that fatal night. Jordan's mother, Sandy, was a strong character, in the sense she would do what most mothers would. Stand by her child, guilty or not.
This contemporary fiction shows us how a drunk driving accident affected so many people. Well thought out, and a steady pace made this a very enjoyable book.
Thank you Barbara Taylor Sissel, NetGalley, and Lake Union Publishing.
The one phone call every parent hopes they never get. It's 3am when the police notify Sandy and Emmet that their 20 year old son, Jordan, his cousin Travis, and his girlfriend, Michelle, have been in a horrible wreck.
Of course the questions begin. It's a small rural Texas town. Who is to blame and why? Alcohol, and or drugs? Will the three young people survive? It will divide the family since Travis is the son of Sandy's sister, Jenna. Emotions are running high, blame being placed.
As the truth is exposed it will either break them apart or bond them stronger. Sides will be chosen, lies exposed. Can any of this shattered family be saved? There are deep secrets within the family, as well as the mystery of what happened that fatal night. Jordan's mother, Sandy, was a strong character, in the sense she would do what most mothers would. Stand by her child, guilty or not.
This contemporary fiction shows us how a drunk driving accident affected so many people. Well thought out, and a steady pace made this a very enjoyable book.
Thank you Barbara Taylor Sissel, NetGalley, and Lake Union Publishing.
September 5, 2016
I have read all of Barbara Taylor Sissel's books and followed her writing career for many years. I have to say each book she writes gets better and better. Faultlines is her best yet! The only reason it took me four days to read it was life got in my way. I truly wanted to just sit and turn the pages as fast as I could read. There were characters that I grew to care about, and would think about when I wasn't reading. There were cliff-hangers that I couldn't wait to find out what happened! There were mysteries woven throughout the book that begged to be solved. When they were solved, it was a complete surprise. Sissel's style is prosaic and makes you want to read every word and ruminate on meanings and nuances. She sometimes used words I didn't know (which I love!) and was excited to look them up....yea! a new word to add to my vocabulary! I read incessantly and Fautlines is an easy and engaging read and has such a timely message (that of how the abuse of alcohol can destroy a young person's life and his family's as well). To me there was another message....that of the damage of keeping secrets from those you care about. I highly recommend Faultlines to any reader who is looking for a good mystery.
July 27, 2016
Barbara Taylor Sissel's novel "Faultlines" is a suspenseful and intriquing read. The author writes about a current day topic that concerns all parents of teenagers and young adults: drinking and driving.(In my mind that could be drugs and driving or cell phone usage and driving) In addition, the worst case scenario plays out, a tragic accident. Who is reponsible, ,or guilty.? Family relationships, betrayal, secrets, manipulation, and circumstances weave together to make this a complex novel. I would recommend "Faultlines". Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity for an advanced read.
December 27, 2016
A must read. Characters that will make you laugh and cry. They will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Kids that drink and drive. How one awful mistake can hurt so many people and tear families apart. Can there really be forgiveness? Read the book to find out.
February 6, 2020
Blood is not thicker than water, when the loss is too huge.
Sandy and Jenna are sisters and close. Until it happens. Their sons are involved in a car accident, drunk driving and a secret - one of them dies. A mother lost her only son and reveals her sisters biggest secret. Suddenly she’s on the brink of losing everything.
Jordy has a history of getting himself in trouble but small-town Detective Huckabee has given him an especially hard time lately. He also knows why, he just can’t tell his mother. And he swears, he drank but didn’t drive. Still, he woke up in the driver’s seat.
Libby and her husband Beck are new in town and she already had an encounter with Huckabee. A very strange one. And he keeps coming back because, as much as she loves their new property, someone leaves animals and strange notes, telling her to lock the door. Then Beck has an accident.
And witnesses aren’t so sure of what they saw anymore...
If I hate one thing, it’s injustice. And from the beginning you get the sense that there’s more to this. It’s suspenseful and thrilling yet an emotional, gripping family drama. There are many little twists and shockers along the way, but no cheesy parts.
The way it’s told is pretty much perfect. Two POVs, two women who seemingly have nothing in common, two completely separate storylines, you know they have to be connected somehow. That helps building the tension and right before there’s a clue or a revelation, they switch again.
It gave me so many mixed emotions. You get to go through all of this with the characters, suffer through the loss, crushed by secrets, betrayal, guilt and blame. But still, families get torn apart over teenagers in a drunk driving accident.
For example Jenna, I couldn’t believe her. It was so cruel, then again the woman clearly suffers but she seems so sober and calculating, though you get that she acts out of pain, she knows what she’s doing. And Sandy wasn’t right – at all. But Emmett leaving just then? Still, I felt sorry for all of them.
And Jordy was so good. The way he explains himself, behaves and does all of this, how he wants closure for all of them and a legacy for Travis.
And of course, forgiveness. Though, and I really loved that, it wasn’t a smooth way out in the end, more of a bumpy getting back on track.
Sandy and Jenna are sisters and close. Until it happens. Their sons are involved in a car accident, drunk driving and a secret - one of them dies. A mother lost her only son and reveals her sisters biggest secret. Suddenly she’s on the brink of losing everything.
Jordy has a history of getting himself in trouble but small-town Detective Huckabee has given him an especially hard time lately. He also knows why, he just can’t tell his mother. And he swears, he drank but didn’t drive. Still, he woke up in the driver’s seat.
Libby and her husband Beck are new in town and she already had an encounter with Huckabee. A very strange one. And he keeps coming back because, as much as she loves their new property, someone leaves animals and strange notes, telling her to lock the door. Then Beck has an accident.
And witnesses aren’t so sure of what they saw anymore...
If I hate one thing, it’s injustice. And from the beginning you get the sense that there’s more to this. It’s suspenseful and thrilling yet an emotional, gripping family drama. There are many little twists and shockers along the way, but no cheesy parts.
The way it’s told is pretty much perfect. Two POVs, two women who seemingly have nothing in common, two completely separate storylines, you know they have to be connected somehow. That helps building the tension and right before there’s a clue or a revelation, they switch again.
It gave me so many mixed emotions. You get to go through all of this with the characters, suffer through the loss, crushed by secrets, betrayal, guilt and blame. But still, families get torn apart over teenagers in a drunk driving accident.
For example Jenna, I couldn’t believe her. It was so cruel, then again the woman clearly suffers but she seems so sober and calculating, though you get that she acts out of pain, she knows what she’s doing. And Sandy wasn’t right – at all. But Emmett leaving just then? Still, I felt sorry for all of them.
And Jordy was so good. The way he explains himself, behaves and does all of this, how he wants closure for all of them and a legacy for Travis.
And of course, forgiveness. Though, and I really loved that, it wasn’t a smooth way out in the end, more of a bumpy getting back on track.
July 10, 2016
FAULTLINES takes on a scenario that feels familiar at first: three teenagers go out partying and end up in a driver's ed cautionary tale, their truck wrapped around a tree, their lives hanging by a thread. Heartbreak and legal hassles that ensue put a microscope on the tensions, secrets, and dormant issues that might haunt any family of overwhelmingly good people. What makes this book such a compelling read is the emotional wringer these people are put through. All the defense mechanisms fall away, raw emotions are laid bare, loyalties are tested, relationships are ripped apart, and the huge question hanging over every page is how - if - they'll be able to find each other and be whole again. If you're a fan of Jodi Picoult - a reader who loves to peel back the layers of a story and expose the beating human hearts that lie beneath a riveting plot - this might be your best read of the summer. Sissel is one of my favorite authors, known for her impeccable literary craft and for the compassion and insight she brings to intense family-centered drama.
If I were to nitpick, I'd say there are a few spots where the editing could have been a squinch tighter, but that might just be my editor brain. I have a hangup about people looking at other people in a book ("she looked at me and said") and little directions like that, but the pace is consistent throughout - it's a page-turner - and the melody of the writing is really beautiful. So many great moments that capture the nuances of expressions, emotions, and relationships. Sissel has an extraordinary talent for that.
(I read this book prior to the release date; a copy was offered to me in exchange for an honest review.)
If I were to nitpick, I'd say there are a few spots where the editing could have been a squinch tighter, but that might just be my editor brain. I have a hangup about people looking at other people in a book ("she looked at me and said") and little directions like that, but the pace is consistent throughout - it's a page-turner - and the melody of the writing is really beautiful. So many great moments that capture the nuances of expressions, emotions, and relationships. Sissel has an extraordinary talent for that.
(I read this book prior to the release date; a copy was offered to me in exchange for an honest review.)
March 23, 2018
thank you goodreads for giving me this book on kindle. a boy and his cousin were drunk driving with a girl seatbelted in the back seat. there was a crash, the cousin died and the boy was charged with murder as he was in the drivers seat tho he denies he was driving. the girl is in a coma and cannot be questioned. the boys father was going to give blood but his sister in law told him he was not the father which neither him or the boy knew. the aunt is very angry and wants nothing to do with any of them.
meanwhile another story is going on about a woman whos husband is a architect building a house in a rural area. they are having their property vandalized . they thought it might have been connected to a building that was improperly built but he was not charged as it was the builders fault, not the architect.
turns out the architect was really the boys father. but he died before he got to meet the boy. the boy went to his cottage and started working for his wife in the yard
his lawyer has a crush on his mom . the dad is living apart and the boy moved in with him.
the cop that is out to get him found out the boy was having a affair with his wife. the cops gun was taken by someone who killed the ladys sisters husband. the cop always loved her. he was after the boy to be the one driving cause he didnt want that lady to know it was really her son who was driving. he shot himself in the kitchen when they confronted him
they took dna off the passenger window and found out the dead boy was the one driving so they didnt charge the other boy with murder
meanwhile another story is going on about a woman whos husband is a architect building a house in a rural area. they are having their property vandalized . they thought it might have been connected to a building that was improperly built but he was not charged as it was the builders fault, not the architect.
turns out the architect was really the boys father. but he died before he got to meet the boy. the boy went to his cottage and started working for his wife in the yard
his lawyer has a crush on his mom . the dad is living apart and the boy moved in with him.
the cop that is out to get him found out the boy was having a affair with his wife. the cops gun was taken by someone who killed the ladys sisters husband. the cop always loved her. he was after the boy to be the one driving cause he didnt want that lady to know it was really her son who was driving. he shot himself in the kitchen when they confronted him
they took dna off the passenger window and found out the dead boy was the one driving so they didnt charge the other boy with murder
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2016
I was given an ARC of Faultlines from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
This book was very well written on a very serious subject, drinking and driving. This book surrounds a young man, Jordy, who is accused of driving a car that is involved in an accident with two other passengers, his cousin Travis and another young lady. Jordy swears he was not driving but Travis does not make it, causing all kinds of problems between his mother and her sister when family secrets and revealed in retaliation and the young the lady is in a coma so she is unable to tell her side of the story. It does not help that the Jordy was at one point in the driver's seat and the head of the police is out to get him.
I am not going to get into the book much more for spoilers but I am going to say this book is emotionally packed. Jordy goes through a lot from finding out he is being charged for killing his cousin who was like a brother in the car accident to finding out the man who he believed was he father really is not. This book brings to light police corruption, underage drinking, not using your seatbelt and a few other subjects that may shock you. I loved how the author handled so many subjects and with such grace. This book was very good and really very thought-provoking.
I am giving Faultlines five out of five stars.
This book was very well written on a very serious subject, drinking and driving. This book surrounds a young man, Jordy, who is accused of driving a car that is involved in an accident with two other passengers, his cousin Travis and another young lady. Jordy swears he was not driving but Travis does not make it, causing all kinds of problems between his mother and her sister when family secrets and revealed in retaliation and the young the lady is in a coma so she is unable to tell her side of the story. It does not help that the Jordy was at one point in the driver's seat and the head of the police is out to get him.
I am not going to get into the book much more for spoilers but I am going to say this book is emotionally packed. Jordy goes through a lot from finding out he is being charged for killing his cousin who was like a brother in the car accident to finding out the man who he believed was he father really is not. This book brings to light police corruption, underage drinking, not using your seatbelt and a few other subjects that may shock you. I loved how the author handled so many subjects and with such grace. This book was very good and really very thought-provoking.
I am giving Faultlines five out of five stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2017
This book was a bit of a let down. To start, the author introduced so many characters in the beginning that it became so confusing to keep track of who was who. The story is told from two points of view; Sandy and Libby. For the first half of the book I couldn't figure out the Libby story line and found it boring to say the least. It seemed completely unrelated to the rest of the story. Of course these two story lines do eventually come together, thankfully, and I did end up enjoying the end of this novel. It's not a terrible book but I don't think it's a memorable book and it was completely predictable. I had each twist figured out before they were revealed.
One other thing that irked me was Sandy constantly referring to her grown son as Jordy. His name is Jordan. He has been charged with drunk driving and manslaughter. Enough of the cutesy nickname. He's old enough to be referred to by his proper name, especially in this situation.
One other thing that irked me was Sandy constantly referring to her grown son as Jordy. His name is Jordan. He has been charged with drunk driving and manslaughter. Enough of the cutesy nickname. He's old enough to be referred to by his proper name, especially in this situation.
October 7, 2016
I only had one major issue with the story, that was the fact that there were so many characters introduced that I had a hard time keeping them straight and realizing exactly where they fit in with Jordan's character. That being said, I did enjoy the story. I thought it moved at a fast pace and held my interest throughout. The mystery aspects were well done. I had some things figured out quickly, but others surprised me. I could sympathize with the characters and felt saddened that they were dealing with so many tough issues. I would recommend to friends with the reminder that there are a lot of characters included and you may need to make a list of exactly where they fit into the storyline.
*Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
*Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
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