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Unspeakable Things: A Novel
How does a wife not know how to love her husband enough?
Renee, widowed a year, was breaking under the guilt of this kind of self-questioning when Silver swooped down and beguiled her with his forearms.
He pursued her, while recollections of her deceased husband Samone tip toed in and out.
Silver was everything he did not seem to be.
Renee was naive, lonely, and hungry to be loved. His perfect prey.
So their sexual encounter dragged her headlong into new grief. It also entangled her in a redneck mafia's web of murder and a fight for her life which brought her painful revelations and demanded she begin her own self-discovery.
Throughout it all, unexpectedly, her haven became Charlie, Samone's best friend.
Jackie Warren Tatum grew up in central Alabama and was widowed at age 25. Thirteen years later she earned her law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law and became the first female member of the Tippah County Mississippi Bar. Her rural law practice included, in part, representing criminal defendants. Later, as a Mississippi Special Assistant Attorney General, in addition to representing agencies, boards, and commissions, for a time one of her responsibilities was assisting in the criminal prosecution of defendants charged with exploitation and/or abuse of vulnerable adults. When she is not chasing her rescue dog Dallas out of her front yard vegetable garden, she can be found advocating for human rights and/or writing on her next novel. Jackie is the mother of two sons and the grandmother of eight grandchildren.
Renee, widowed a year, was breaking under the guilt of this kind of self-questioning when Silver swooped down and beguiled her with his forearms.
He pursued her, while recollections of her deceased husband Samone tip toed in and out.
Silver was everything he did not seem to be.
Renee was naive, lonely, and hungry to be loved. His perfect prey.
So their sexual encounter dragged her headlong into new grief. It also entangled her in a redneck mafia's web of murder and a fight for her life which brought her painful revelations and demanded she begin her own self-discovery.
Throughout it all, unexpectedly, her haven became Charlie, Samone's best friend.
Jackie Warren Tatum grew up in central Alabama and was widowed at age 25. Thirteen years later she earned her law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law and became the first female member of the Tippah County Mississippi Bar. Her rural law practice included, in part, representing criminal defendants. Later, as a Mississippi Special Assistant Attorney General, in addition to representing agencies, boards, and commissions, for a time one of her responsibilities was assisting in the criminal prosecution of defendants charged with exploitation and/or abuse of vulnerable adults. When she is not chasing her rescue dog Dallas out of her front yard vegetable garden, she can be found advocating for human rights and/or writing on her next novel. Jackie is the mother of two sons and the grandmother of eight grandchildren.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2017
11 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 3, 2018
I'm so glad my library finally got a copy of this book (thanks to Ms.Tatum herself)-- it was fantastic! It often takes me several days to get into a new book, especially by a new author, but not so this time-- I was engrossed from the beginning. The characters are so rich, and the style is so familiar, yet unique, I had a hard time putting the book down. The plot is completely original and very unexpected, and I couldn't wait to get back to my new favorite people every day! Even though the subject matter was often sad or terrifying, it was so compelling, just so readable, that I was totally swept up, page after page. I can't wait to read something else by Ms.Tatum-- I hope her new novel will be completed soon!
August 23, 2017
I usually am reading several books at one time, as I was, while I was reading "Unspeakable Things." However, I became completely engrossed in the story line and couldn't put this book down. It is a page turner and each character was vividly described. The author has a wonderful flair for description which I enjoyed as the phrases are wonderfully southern.
There is a lot of pain in the characters and the reader cannot help but feel this real pain. There are lots of twists and turns that keeps you guessing what will occur next. It is romance, suspense, and things which are indeed unspeakable.
I can easily see the author's characters in this book coming to life in a series
There is a lot of pain in the characters and the reader cannot help but feel this real pain. There are lots of twists and turns that keeps you guessing what will occur next. It is romance, suspense, and things which are indeed unspeakable.
I can easily see the author's characters in this book coming to life in a series
August 13, 2017
Great book. It kept me enthralled from page 1. It really is a page turner. I had to force myself to stop reading it to get things done. The characters are well developed. The southern dialect is written perfectly. The plot is well thought out and all the loose ends tie up just as they should. Definitely add this to your TBR stack.
April 17, 2017
In lieu of a review, I did a quick Q&A with the author for my blog today:
http://susancushman.com/qa-with-jacki...
http://susancushman.com/qa-with-jacki...
February 9, 2017
Unspeakable Things
Jackie Warren Tatum
4.5 Stars
Those of you who read my reviews know that I am a visceral reader and reviewer. You will probably not find spoilers in this review although it will be hard to pull it off and not divulge SOME stuffs.
This book was a challenge for me as it is out of my usual sphere of reading influence. And, initially to me, it seemed to take a while to get off the ground. I needed to relax and let the author’s writing rhythm seep into my psyche instead of trying too hard to get it. I had to put it down, walk away and return with renewed energy and determination to finish it. Well, let me tell you…I’m so glad I did. Thankfully, the structure of the book lends itself to page-turning…the chapters are short, so one feels a sense of accomplishment for finishing one and a desire to ‘read one more’. Before you know it, you’re ‘head, neck and ears’ into a creative, terrifying, and intricate story of Southern Discomfort. The characters are alive with the trappings of Southern culture from a sweet and nosy next door neighbor to a family dancing with fears of intimacy and guilt to a sociopath preying on the needy to a ne’er-do-well alcoholic puppet for a crime boss. The story is woven with skill; bringing all the complex pieces together seamlessly and artfully that once you reach a certain point, there is no turning back until the book is finished. And, there is wonderfully concocted humor borne only through personal knowledge of the Deep South…how we talk, how we dress, how we think and how we don’t think. See, I can say that because I AM from the Deep South.
You can get the detail of the story and characters from previous reviewers who are much more adept at dissecting and analyzing than I am. What you get from me is how the book spoke to my soul, my heart and my gut. You name it, I felt it. Empathy for both Samone and Renee; laughter at Josh’s encounter with something in his jeans; sadness at the cavalier disdain for human life; revulsion at one man’s ability to inflict pain on women (both physical and emotional); intrigue how actions can go very wrong and then very right; respect at the ability to pull oneself out of the depths and into the redemptive light; and finally, a deep internal smile at the passion play that is this book.
Ms Tatum has written a really strong debut novel that draws you into (albeit slowly and with deliberation) the good, the bad and the ugly of relationships and how early patterns of our lives set the stage for how we are intimate (or not) with others. You don’t have to be Southern to enjoy it; you just have to love a good read. Now we just need to have it in audio...always lends a new resonance.
Jackie Warren Tatum
4.5 Stars
Those of you who read my reviews know that I am a visceral reader and reviewer. You will probably not find spoilers in this review although it will be hard to pull it off and not divulge SOME stuffs.
This book was a challenge for me as it is out of my usual sphere of reading influence. And, initially to me, it seemed to take a while to get off the ground. I needed to relax and let the author’s writing rhythm seep into my psyche instead of trying too hard to get it. I had to put it down, walk away and return with renewed energy and determination to finish it. Well, let me tell you…I’m so glad I did. Thankfully, the structure of the book lends itself to page-turning…the chapters are short, so one feels a sense of accomplishment for finishing one and a desire to ‘read one more’. Before you know it, you’re ‘head, neck and ears’ into a creative, terrifying, and intricate story of Southern Discomfort. The characters are alive with the trappings of Southern culture from a sweet and nosy next door neighbor to a family dancing with fears of intimacy and guilt to a sociopath preying on the needy to a ne’er-do-well alcoholic puppet for a crime boss. The story is woven with skill; bringing all the complex pieces together seamlessly and artfully that once you reach a certain point, there is no turning back until the book is finished. And, there is wonderfully concocted humor borne only through personal knowledge of the Deep South…how we talk, how we dress, how we think and how we don’t think. See, I can say that because I AM from the Deep South.
You can get the detail of the story and characters from previous reviewers who are much more adept at dissecting and analyzing than I am. What you get from me is how the book spoke to my soul, my heart and my gut. You name it, I felt it. Empathy for both Samone and Renee; laughter at Josh’s encounter with something in his jeans; sadness at the cavalier disdain for human life; revulsion at one man’s ability to inflict pain on women (both physical and emotional); intrigue how actions can go very wrong and then very right; respect at the ability to pull oneself out of the depths and into the redemptive light; and finally, a deep internal smile at the passion play that is this book.
Ms Tatum has written a really strong debut novel that draws you into (albeit slowly and with deliberation) the good, the bad and the ugly of relationships and how early patterns of our lives set the stage for how we are intimate (or not) with others. You don’t have to be Southern to enjoy it; you just have to love a good read. Now we just need to have it in audio...always lends a new resonance.
June 13, 2017
Great book. Well drawn characters. Compelling plot. Literally had to force myself to put it down. Highly recommend to anyone who loves a good old fashioned page turner.
January 8, 2017
Unspeakable Things was a charming, delightful book with many twists and turns and a big dose of murder and mayhem. Set in a small Southern town in the 1960's, it primarily examines the relationship of Renee Sims and her husband Sam whose love story began as high school sweethearts. Things go terribly wrong in their lives, and a mysterious stranger named Silver creates turmoil early on in the narrative.
The author did a superb job of characterization and description.
After the first few chapters, I did not want to put this book down. It was as exciting and as page-turning worthy as any of John Grisham's thrillers but much better written. I say that to emphasize how easily I could visualize each character and the surroundings. In one particularly violent scene, I had a visceral understanding of the victim's pain and terror. At the same time, in many of the scenes, I was transplanted to Mayberry RFD.
I am saying very little about the overall plot for fear of spoilers. Trust me. Bring Unspeakable Things into your life. You'll be in for a treat and a hellava ride.
The author did a superb job of characterization and description.
After the first few chapters, I did not want to put this book down. It was as exciting and as page-turning worthy as any of John Grisham's thrillers but much better written. I say that to emphasize how easily I could visualize each character and the surroundings. In one particularly violent scene, I had a visceral understanding of the victim's pain and terror. At the same time, in many of the scenes, I was transplanted to Mayberry RFD.
I am saying very little about the overall plot for fear of spoilers. Trust me. Bring Unspeakable Things into your life. You'll be in for a treat and a hellava ride.
December 31, 2016
Do you have this book written by my dear friend and Mississippi author, Jackie Warren Tatum? If not, please do yourself a favor and go get it to read immediately!! I started it Thursday evening and begrudgingly put it aside for other obligations. Picked it back up yesterday and didn't put it down until I finished it last night! It drew me in from the very first words and kept hold of me to the very last. Jackie Warren Tatum has delivered a beautiful piece of work that portrays powerful and poignant life lessons within a story of complex and real characters. It's truly a page turner!! Thank you, Jackie for sharing your creative genius with all of us!!
February 11, 2018
Jackie Warren Tatum’s descriptive story-telling is woven with suspense as the reader is taken through this compelling novel at a rapid pace. ‘Unspeakable Things’ quickly gained my curiosity with its page-turning plot and intriguing characters.
The protagonist, Renee, is seeking consolation and redemption during the aftermath of a life tragedy involving her husband, Samone. When she crosses paths with an attractive stranger, he seizes her vulnerability to fulfill his own twisted needs. Searching for comfort in all the wrong places leads to dangerous outcomes and tensions tighten as connections between the web of characters put each of them at risk.
The only thing I regret about this book is that I didn’t read it sooner.
The protagonist, Renee, is seeking consolation and redemption during the aftermath of a life tragedy involving her husband, Samone. When she crosses paths with an attractive stranger, he seizes her vulnerability to fulfill his own twisted needs. Searching for comfort in all the wrong places leads to dangerous outcomes and tensions tighten as connections between the web of characters put each of them at risk.
The only thing I regret about this book is that I didn’t read it sooner.
April 27, 2020
Couldn't put this book down
I read this book in one sitting. The story and the characters were written so that I just had to see how things turned out. While it is a story of evil, revenge, and loss, it is also a story of a woman who realizes that life is too short not to appreciate it and live it to the fullest. Jackie Warren Tatum is an excellent storyteller
I read this book in one sitting. The story and the characters were written so that I just had to see how things turned out. While it is a story of evil, revenge, and loss, it is also a story of a woman who realizes that life is too short not to appreciate it and live it to the fullest. Jackie Warren Tatum is an excellent storyteller
December 28, 2017
Loved the fast-paced and inventive plot, and especially loved the voices of the book. A thriller mystery by a Mississippi-based writer who I hope will keep them coming.
June 27, 2020
Wonderfully and Powerfully descriptive. Intensely Dark. Well developed characters. Thriller murder mystery. All I can say is read it.
April 15, 2017
A breath of fresh air
I've been in a reading rut. I have been spoiled by the amazing storytelling of Michael Robotham, Robert Galbraith and Michael Connelly and longing to find another author who could keep me interested during the entirety of a novel like they do.
Enter Jackie Warren Tatum. Her novel, "Unspeakable Things," is the real deal. A true page turner.
Tatum is a first-rate story teller. She patiently develops the characters in her novel, naturally revealing in them the qualities -- insecurities, strength, human desires -- we all share. She spares no detail in describing life and relationships as they exist in a small, Southern community.
This novel checked all the boxes for me. I'm eager to read what comes next for Renee and Charlie and Mrs. Mabel. A sequel perhaps?
I've been in a reading rut. I have been spoiled by the amazing storytelling of Michael Robotham, Robert Galbraith and Michael Connelly and longing to find another author who could keep me interested during the entirety of a novel like they do.
Enter Jackie Warren Tatum. Her novel, "Unspeakable Things," is the real deal. A true page turner.
Tatum is a first-rate story teller. She patiently develops the characters in her novel, naturally revealing in them the qualities -- insecurities, strength, human desires -- we all share. She spares no detail in describing life and relationships as they exist in a small, Southern community.
This novel checked all the boxes for me. I'm eager to read what comes next for Renee and Charlie and Mrs. Mabel. A sequel perhaps?
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews