The Language of Secrets

by Dianne Dixon

From a fresh and exciting new voice in women's fiction, The Language of Secrets unflinchingly examines the lifelong repercussions of a father's betrayal.

Justin Fisher has a successful career as the manager of a luxury hotel, a lovely wife, and a charming young son. While all signs point to a bright future, Justin can no longer ignore the hole in his life left by his estranged family. When he finally gathers the courage to reconnect with his troubled past, Justin is devastated to learn that his parents have passed away. And a visit to the cemetery brings the greatest shock of all—next to the graves of his father and mother sits a smaller tombstone for a three-year-old boy: a boy named Thomas Justin Fisher.

What follows is an extraordinary journey as Justin struggles with issues of his own identity and pieces together the complex and heartbreaking truth about his family.

With great skill and care, Dianne Dixon explores the toll that misunderstandings, blame, and resentment can take on a family. But it is the intimate details of family life—a mother's lullaby for her son, a father's tragic error in judgment—that make this novel so exceptional and an absolute must for reading groups everywhere. The Language of Secrets is the story of an unspeakable loss born of human frailty and an ultimate redemption born of human courage.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary, Book Club, Audiobook, Adult, Family

258 pages, Hardcover

First published March 23, 2010

About the author

Dianne Dixon (winner of the Humanitas Prize for Excellence in Screenwriting and double Emmy nominee) regularly received glowing reviews for her work in television: “Her characters dance off the page.” (Jane Hewland/Sky Television, UK) “An enormously gifted writer.” (LaVerne McKinnon/CBS Television) “Her knowledge of storytelling is both clear and articulate.” (Nate Hopper/Sony Pictures).

Now Dianne is receiving equally enthusiastic response to her work as a novelist: “Captivating, fascinating.” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) “Absorbing and provocative.” (Huffington Post) “Convincing prose, particularly the dialogue.” (Kirkus) “An exciting new writer, capable of creating a well-paced, emotional page-turner of the best kind.” (Katie Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Girls in Trucks and The Magnolia League).

The Language of Secrets is Dianne’s debut novel. Her second book, The Book of Someday, has a September 2013 publication date. And her third novel is scheduled for in summer/fall of 2014.

Reviews

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Justin Fisher seems to be doing well in life but there is something missing. When he finally decides to try and connect with the family he has been estranged from for many years, he finds the house in Lima Street has changed hands. He then learns his parents are both dead. His visit to the cemetery reveals three graves, those of his parents but it is the one of three and a half year old Thomas Justin Fisher, which gives him a jolt. His own name, how can that be? And so begins his search to uncover and reconstruct his past and to find out exactly what happened. He doesn’t remember a lot from his childhood, though he remembers the house in Lima Street, a lullaby his mother daughter him and the names of his two sisters.
This book had all the earmarks of being a good story. The premise was interesting, but ultimately I was left disappointed by a story about a number of selfish characters who made choices and then whined and blamed others for their choices. I also disliked the peppering of crude language which was totally unnecessary. And as for the ending! I just shook my head. I wanted to like this book as I like books about families and secrets but ultimately I found this book left me feeling very flat. It had the potential to be really good but for me, it wasn’t. Others may disagree. To my mind, the characters never rang true and some whole scenes struck me as totally unnecessary.

[Kathy (Bermudaonion) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justin’s past is murky in his mind and he doesn’t remember his family well. When he decides to reconnect with them he’s surprised to learn both of his parents have passed away. When he goes to the cemetery to pay his respects, he’s shocked to see a grave for himself as a three year old.

This well written story of family secrets and betrayals is sad and heartbreaking. My heart ached for most of the characters, especially Justin as he tries to piece together his past. I was drawn to the book and Dixon’s writing but also found it so sorrowful I had to set it down from time to time. I do think it would be a great choice for book clubs because there’s so much to discuss.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

In The Language of Secrets, Justin Fisher has been long estranged from his family. He returns to Southern California with his wife and young son, deciding to reconnect with the family from whom he has been long estranged, but when he arrives he is in for a shock. He learns that his parents have died, and when he visits the cemetery, he notices on the gravestone, not only the names of his parents, but his name as well. The dates next to his name indicate he died when he was just four year's old. Having little memory of his childhood or his parents, slowly details emerge about Justin's painful past.

MY THOUGHTS - I so wanted to love this book. I loved the title, the cover was gorgeous, but in the end I was disappointed. The story goes back and forth in time, and at times it was difficult to keep track of the many characters and their story lines. The dialogue seemed strained, and for me, the book was easy to put down, and harder to pick back up. The novel is one of betrayal, infidelity and long buried secrets. Ultimately, a depressing story, about a troubled man with a painful past whose long repressed memories slowly are revealed. (Rating 2/5 stars)

[Gail Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever noticed how often lately we've been pleasantly surprised when reading or listening to a book by a first-time author? It's almost as if you've suddenly discovered something wonderful, and can't wait to tell your friends about it. Many are telling their pals about THE LANGUAGE OF SECRETS by California screenwriter Dianne Dixon. It's original, compelling, and tends to make one think about his or her personal values.

Justin Fisher should be happily content. He's the manager of a plush hotel, happily married to a wonderful woman, and father of a fine young son. However, his contentment isn't quite complete because he wonders about his past - he has been estranged from his boyhood family and there are some really blank spots in his early years.

Feeling that it's time to put questions and unhappiness behind him he returns to California in hopes of reconnecting with his family. Once there it is shock after shock. The house he once lived in is now home to strangers. He goes to the nursing home where his father had lived only to learn that his father had passed away just several weeks before Justin's arrival. Upon going to the cemetery to visit the graves of his parents he finds not two graves but three, and one belongs to him. Thomas Justin Fisher apparently died at the age of three.

Dixon relates Justin's search bu revealing his life in flashbacks to his childhood. We are privy to both past and present as he slowly and painfully discovers the truth about his mother, father and himself.

Film and stage actress Rebecca Lowman delivers a sterling reading of this highly emotional drama.

Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

[BB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Justin (TJ) was given away by his dad when he was 3 because he was the product of his wife cheating on him. The premise was ridiculous, how the mom allowed it to happen was not justified at all and the whole book was based on that. Besides that though the book was well written and i enjoyed a lot of the characters and the story. I wanted his two sister to know what their dad did and would have liked them to meet up with Justin when he figured it all out. They always loved their dad and he was such a total creeper. But the overall premise was too far fetched.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how engrossing this book was and it really hooked me into it, but I absolutely hated the ending. I like books that have closure, and this one ended horrifying. Tragic. There is enough sadness in life without putting you through this one. Very good writing though. Want another ending. About the saddest book I have ever endured, though I wanted to finish it. That is why it is a 3. "Torn."

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Won this book as part of a First Reads giveaway.

I have to say that the second half of the book was better than the first. The first part seemed clumsy to me--like the author was playing at being a writer and alternately wasn't that into it or was trying too hard. The prose just did not flow. The characters lacked dimension. I was also bothered by the fact that she had two kids fighting over who got to be Smurfette and have the Smurf doll while playing in 1971. The Smurfs didn't make it to the States until 1981! I thought the author could have done some research to see what toy may have actually been popular in the US (or at least in production) in 1971.

Anyway, the story had a good hook, but it just didn't come together well. I was also disappointed that the "big revelation" at the end of the book (literally on the last page) was obvious to me on page 38. There were also some plausibility issues in the plot (well, for me it centered mostly around identity/legal issues; I don't want to give anything away). I think the second half was better than the first because she finally started to reveal some information that made it interesting (and, she seemed to hit more of a rhythm as a writer and find a comfort level in her prose that was lacking in the first half). However, it wasn't clear if it was Justin remembering things or just the author relaying what happened (if it was the former, then he sure did suddenly have his memory open like a floodgate, whereas for a year he was getting little trickles). It was as if in the first half she was so intent on making things mysterious that she didn't really have anything happen in any depth so she didn't accidentally give things away.

This review may sound a bit harsh, but I don't mean it to be. It was a good book, and I give a lot of credit to someone who tries to make a cohesive, comprehensible story out of a relatively complex storyline. It just was not a great book. It did remind me quite a bit of The Memory Keeper's Daughter--secrets kept, trying to give your kids what you didn't have and thinking you are doing well by them when really you're messing them up anyway, etc.

[Prom · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. I gave it two stars because I enjoyed reading it to the end and it did stir an emotion in me. For a debut novel, it wasn't bad. If the author stays in this business, I really hope of the serious flaws are corrected for the next work.

A gaping-holed mystery, this novel teases at your curiosity from the beginning. The disappointment only arrives several chapters in and you're too committed now to put it down.

Filled with absolutely ridiculous story lines that never, ever, ever connect, the reader starts to feel sort of let down with the way the characters never interlope. Amy's relationship with her parents? Was any part of that story necessary? The near rape in Hawaii? What does that have to do with anything? No growth was made. No purpose it served. What happened with Donald, the uncle? Barton and lily? Lissa and Julie? The ending felt unfair and I was let down. I don't expect a happy ending from everything I read, but give this guy a break. He deserved a little happiness and truth.

There were some highly intellectual lines mixed thought the story. But it read like a soap opera, overall. I would recommend this to someone who wanted to kill some time, but not a serious read.

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are looking for a nice little read, something light hearted...this isn't it. I can't remember ever reading a book where I didn't find at least one character that was likeable. The characters in this book are all self-absorbed, petulant, whining people. Even the main character, Justin Fisher, who has been through astounding psychological trauma from the age of three into adulthood is unlikeable. If a reader doesn't like the characters its a bit hard to care about what happens to them. The only reason I finished this book was because it was short and I was curious to see if any of the characters would grow up....they didn't.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because the story moves has frequent flashbacks and is revealed through the memories of different characters, it held my interest, but at times left me backtracking to determine whose voice was doing the storytelling.

The opening quote, "...the beast residing at the center of the labyrinth is also an angel" by Thomas Moore did have me wondering from the start, which of these characters is being referred to (or even if it could be more than one). By page two, we're told that Justin is "deliberately choosing to let go of his past...But he didn't know why," so immediately, the reader is pulled into the mystery. The characters are complex and the story emotional as the heartbreaking truth of this family's history is revealed. I admit I was surprised at the ending, which left me even more disappointed with the characters, especially Caroline. She wasn't so powerless that she had to lie and commit suicide!

Food for thought from Amy, Justin's wife:

p. 236 - "'At the house in Hawaii, my mother discovered somebody had driven a huge nail into one of the trees. She was frantic to pull it out, but the gardener said the damage was done, the nail had been put there a long time ago and pulling it out now would only make things worse. The trunk had grown around it and made it part of the tree. You could see where it had gone in, where the scar in the wood was, but the gardener said the tree was coping and if we left it alon, it would survive Still be strong. Even with a spike through its heart. Justin, sometimes the right thing to do is to prevail. To let the wound heal over, and to keep on living.

p. 254 - "You turned out to be an incredibly good man. And maybe if you'd had a life different from the one you had, you wouldn't be you. Maybe we have to go through the craziness we go through so we can be who we are right at this moment. Maybe that's what destiny is. Maybe there's a plan to all of it and maybe all of it isn't about us. Maybe it's about other people and the things we do for them. Maybe it's something more amazing and more complicated than we can ever figure out."

p. 254 - "The other thing I wanted to say is that I really think there are times in alife when a person can do the wrong thing for the right reasons. I think sometimes there can be a line between right and wrong that gets so fine that it disappears. We just have to trust it's still there, and then do the best we can. that's allany of us can do, Justin. The best we can."

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Language of Secrets is a tightly wound mystery, with a plot unlike any other I’ve ever run across. The entire story is unusual and grabs you immediately. The main character had moved to London to pursue a career, and remained out of touch with his immediate family. After many, many years, he returns to California and tries to reconnect. He finds his parents have died, and when he visits their graves, he sees another headstone next to them. His. Showing that he died at age four. Immediately he’s bounced into a living hell of flashbacks, waking delusions, and disquietude that infects his own marriage. He has no idea who he is and what has happened.



Thus begins this twisted and complex tale that takes you through the lives of several members of his family. It is suspenseful and anxious…so much so that I felt nauseated at times. Perhaps it was the suspense of the missing four year, nearly the same age as my own child, which made me anxious. All I can say is that this story fascinated me by just how off-the-wall it was. I read a lot, and running into an utterly unique premise is unusual.

That said, it’s apparent that this is a plot driven story rather than built on solid characters. I felt a bit cheated that some of these amazing situations came from some rather superficial characters who seemed predictable despite the unpredictable plot. Some were so shallow that I could actually foresee their actions, and others exemplified tremendous character values yet no rationale for their behavior was given. It was the characters that detracted me from the story.

The story proceeds at a quick pace, and the only other “blip” that occurred was when one character’s almost unimaginable actions were explained, in an ‘aside’ by the author, where she attempts to justify the actions in light of the socio-political values of the time period. It was only two paragraphs, but it didn’t fit. She should have been able to show those details without such an invasive explanation. It felt a bit preachy, actually, and it derailed the pace. And while she tried to account for the actions, it wasn’t sufficient to overcome the initial doubt about the behavior, and effectively made her argument less powerful.

This is a intriguing book, and one that I will share with friends. The minor flaws it has doesn’t take away from this tremendous story and fascinating plot.

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started The Language of Secrets, I wasn't sure what to expect. The book opens with Justin Fisher pulling up to a beautiful old wooden house 20 minutes from Los Angeles. Justin is so nervous that he's trembling and he hides this from his young wife. It is clear that Justin doesn't know what to expect and is somewhat disoriented, we don't know why his memory appears spotty - whether there is something wrong with Justin's mental state or if some event has caused these "missing pieces -- blank spaces where important parts of his past should have been". It is clear that there's a mystery and that it began over a decade ago.

Justin discovers that the dreaded family reunion has been postponed. It has taken him so long to return to the house on Lima Street, that it is too late to see his parents. When he discovers his grave next to theirs, Justin begins to wonder about his grip on reality. To be h0nest, I did too -- Dianne Dixon keeps us guessing about the mystery of Justin's gravestone and who Justin Fisher really is.

This uncertainty, coupled with the stresses of a new job and relocation from England, and the growing pains of his recent marriage put additional pressure on Justin just as he appears fragile. Dixon is careful not tip her hand - and the details and the writing draw us into the mystery and keep us wondering.

As Justin slowly comes across clues to his past and Dixon reveals what happened during those "missing years", she weaves in the story of Justin's different parents. Once Dixon introduced Caroline and told her story, The Language of Secrets transformed from a good read to an amazing story. As the book will affect each reader in a unique way, to me The Language of Secrets was a book about motherhood - the sacrifices, pains, joy, and misunderstood moments. The Language of Secrets is a unique book, beautifully crafted and powerful.

It strikes me as a book perfect for book clubs. I would love to find out how other people felt about Justin, his family and what they went through.

ISBN-10: 0385530633 - Hardcover
Publisher: Doubleday (March 23, 2010), 272 pages
Review copy provided by the publisher.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really do not know what to make of this book. It was recommended to me by Marilyn Hudson, who sent it, along with several others, as a suggestion for book club.

The story was so horrifying that it really sucked me in. There were a couple of different time periods being dealt with, and I found the one in present day lacking quite a bit compared with the one dealing with the main character's past. Plus there was a bit of a side story going on that really went nowhere.

The other thing that bothered me was that the author tried to justify one of the character's behaviors by claiming that she had no choice because of the times in which she lived. Apparently abortion would have solved all of her problems. You can imagine how that went over with me.

There was some language as well.

I'm not sure if I'll end up suggesting this for book club, I need some additional feedback on the story before I do, but I am sure if we end up reading it it will lead to some interesting discussion.

[Nikielston · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I was thinking about what to write in this review, I decided there are two types of books I like. One is well written with a great characters, a good story, and a perspective that really makes you think. These types of books stay with you long after you've finished them. The other is pure entertainment. As the reader, you see some holes in the plot, you know the writing isn't perfect, but the story pulled you along and you were entertained. This book was the latter.

The Language of Secrets is about a man, estranged from his family, who returns to his hometown to find his parents have passed away. When we visits their grave he is shocked to discover a third grave-marker with his name on it. The story unfolds in two parts - through Justin trying to piece together his spotty memory and through Justin's mother (as flashbacks).

Some of the characters were a little weak, and the writing wasn't always the greatest, but the story line was enough that I couldn't put the book down and finished it in less than 2 days. Overall a good read!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good characters, but a little choppy in their development. I think the author meant to write it that way to be "mysterious" and throw the reader off track so she could have a "surprise" ending, but I had already figured out the ending so that aspect of the writing got a little bothersome. Sad stories, especially since the daughters didn't realize all that went in to their parents relationship and didn't empathize with their mother at all.

[Sana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot say that I liked this novel, overall it was very depressing. The motifs were repetitive, for example, the reader hears over and over again Justin's song about the house on Lima Street. The novel loses momentum over time and the seriousness of the situations is compromised turning into melodrama that is hard to accept.

[Leslie Nettleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book in a box of books I was sorting, and it looked interesting. It was--- The Language of Secrets is about how a terrible secret and a terrible action wrecked a family-- causing pain for the characters in different ways.

Justin is a 30 something, married to Amy, who he loves, and with a young child. They have just moved to the US from London. He has a job he loves, a wife he loves, and a child he loves, but he has a lot of holes in his past. He has not remained in touch with his family--and really isn't sure why. Now that he's back near his childhood home, he decides to confront those holes and questions. He goes to his childhood home, and finds out that his parents are dead and the home now belongs to someone else. He goes to the home of his sister, and she doesn't know who he is and yells at him to go away. He goes to the cemetery and sees the graves of his parents--- and next to them, a smaller grave---with his name on it, showing that he died at the age of three.

Clearly this is a mistake! He isn't dead! This story seeks to unravel the mystery.

It is an interesting story, but there was such sadness to it. And when i finished, I felt a little sad--not just for the characters, but for all children who for no fault of their own, end up the victim of the secrets and lies told by adults----and how they so often perpetuate the same issues when they have families of their own. I found myself interested in one of the minor characters, Cassidy, that he met along the way. How I would have liked to hear her survival and redemption story! Justin seemed to be in the position where he could break free of his past. I hope he did.

[Maria Regina Paiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Secrets can destroy a family. This novel centers on Justin Fisher, a man with huge gaps in his memory, who returns to his family's homestead to discover secrets and clues about himself, his past, and the secrets that destroyed his life.

The narration carries the reader along on what seems to be a great story. But... although trauma can distort a person's recollections of the past, making memory unreliable and fragmented, I find it highly improbable that a man can believe in a family that existed only during his first four years of life, obscuring the rest of his years and even an alternate identity under a different name, until adulthood. It's too far-fetched a premise, even though the story engaged me along for the ride.

[Holli · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a profoundly sad novel but also a real look at family and the secrets within them. I honestly had a hard time putting it down. The ending was not what I wanted it to be but was instead an ending that was true to life and I have to respect that

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books are there to tell you a story; to take you into the lives of some fictional characters; to escape your own life for a time. A book that completely captures your imagination and keeps you up until all hours of the night reading is what makes for a great book. The Language of Secrets did that for me. This story had me under a spell from the beginning (especially by the end of chapter 2) that I could not go to sleep until I had finished the novel. I started it at about 5pm EST and finished it around 1am EST. I was so absorbed in this literary mystery right along with the main character, trying to piece things together and figure out what actually happened in his life.

Justin Fisher moved back to the USA from London to accept a new job. Being back in the area he remembers growing up in gives him the courage to finally face his past and his memories. He has vague images of his parents, and of where he used to live in California. He hasn't seen them in over 30 years.

Yes - you read that right. He has not seen nor spoken to his parents in over 30 years. Justin sets out to find answers to his past, of who he was, and of who he is as a man today.

The story is told in alternating voices and timelines each chapter, with headers letting the reader know who is narrating the chapter and when it is taking place. It is mainly from the POVs of Justin and his biological mother, Caroline. The chapters correlate well with each other. As Justin searches his past, with the help of a psychiatrist friend and private detective, Caroline's chapters reveal the "real story" of what happened to Justin. And, it is not a pretty story.

I was appalled at the actions of some of these characters. I was enraged, furious. And I felt for little 3 year old Justin. My heart ached for him and broke for him. What he must have suffered through is beyond my comprehension. No wonder he is such a tortured man 30 years later.

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat (or bed!) until the final, shocking page is read. As soon as you think you know the story, the author throws that very last page in there and gives the reader a last gasp as the book closes. Literally, I gasped out loud and I'm pretty sure my chin hit the floor. It truly was the perfect ending.

Do you hear a BUT coming? Yeah, it's coming and here it is.

I felt that some issues went unresolved in the story. Justin's relationship with his siblings, for example. I would have liked to have seen a better resolution of those issues, because there is a lot of story to be explored there and I really felt like a big hole was missing in the book because of it. I kept waiting, wondering how it would be resolved and....nothing happened. I was really disappointed. This book is so wonderful and engaging that it would nudged my review up to the 5 star mark had that issue been addressed.

Loved this book and definitely recommend it.

Jennifer
http;//www.crazy-for-books.com

[Colleen Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I say that with some trepidation, because I almost feel bad loving a book that had so much heartbreak in it. There was not one character in this book that was solid, happy and completely void of secrets. Even my favorite character, Barton (priestly friend of Carolyn and Robert) had a devastating secret that isn't revealed until the last page. Every single character is making monumental mistakes that lead to often devastating consequences. Some don't mean to do it while others know what they are doing is wrong. But in the end, no one is perfect and that is what makes this a wonderful book to read. It is real, it is achingly tender and it is full of secrets, lies, recrimination and struggle. So is everyday life.

When the story opens up Justin Fisher is returning home from Europe after spending ten years abroad. Since he has left he has gotten married and had a son. He does not keep in touch with his family and does not have a lot of memories of growing up. When he returns to California and goes to the home he remembers growing up in, a new family has moved in and he is directed to the convalescent home where his father had been sent. He finds out his father has died and goes to the cemetery where his father is buried. There he finds his father's headstone along with his mother's and, shockingly enough, a headstone for him. This opens up the floodgates of anxiety and memory of exactly how Justin grew up.

We find his father, Robert, trapped in the home he grew up in and in a job he never wanted to have; we find his mother, Caroline, longing for more from life and tempted to the brink by unhappiness and loneliness; we find Robert and Carolyn's two college friends, Barton and Mitch, both in love with Carolyn in sometimes hidden and sometimes blatantly obvious ways; and we find two sisters, Lissa and Julie, who just want a normal and loving home. When Carolyn makes a disastrous mistake that is eventually found out by Robert, Robert in turn makes a choice no man should make, one that involves their Justin and one that will cause Justin and Carolyn unaccountable devastation for the rest of their lives.

In the end this story is about choices, good and bad, that we each make and the consequences of those choices. Within each life we keep secrets from each other that weave and mesh together to create a life we think we want. But what happens if those secrets we keep devastate others we aren't considering? Loved it and highly recommend.

[Haley Mathiot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justin Fisher was just an ordinary guy—he was a manager of a hotel, married with a son, and a great future ahead of him. But he decides that he must go back to his home, because he hasn’t spoken with his family in years.

When he arrives, his parents are dead—and his gravestone is beside theirs.

Justin embarks on an amazing terrifying journey of mystery, self discovery, and secrets to try to fix his broken past—or at least figure out who he is.

The Language of Secrets was powerful, ironic, and profound. I was instantly swept away by Dixon’s prose and illustrations. My jaw literally dropped as I read the opening paragraphs, the writing was so fluid and descriptive. It was all written in third person, but switched perspectives every few chapters.

Near the middle I felt like I was in the middle of two separate stories, and I wasn’t sure how they connected, but I knew they did because they were about the same characters. Watching the story unfold in almost a mystery-novel way was incredible: it was a complex series of events woven together expertly so that you can’t even find the seams.

I loved the ending. The Language of Secrets finishes up the story, concludes it, leaves you satisfied, and then throws something at you in the very last paragraph of the very last chapter that you didn’t expect. It sent my eyebrows to the ceiling and my jaw to the floor. I think my eyeballs are still rolling around on the ground somewhere.

The Language of Secrets was amazing—it’s staying on my shelf for a definite re-read.

Content: medium language, some violence, mention of sex but no details, mention of rape but no details.

Recommendation: Ages 16+

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of the three books I took with me on vacation, The Language of Secrets was the only one that I actually had time to read. I am so glad that I chose this one to begin with. Dixon captured my attention immediately and I didn't want to put the book down. I loved how the story was told from a variety of perspectives and time frames. The reader more fully understands Justin's story than he ever will because of the way information is revealed. Alternating between the present and the past, chapters are clearly labeled with the place, time, and characters contained within. This made the story lines very easy to follow. If the story had been told from the perspective of only one character, I think it would have felt incomplete because there would be too many missing pieces.

I found many of the characters in the book difficult to like because they are all so deeply flawed. Often the choices they made were beyond my understanding because their value systems seemed to be so different from my own. I think this added to the emotional charge of the book though because the choices some of the characters faced seemed so horrible.

It is rare for me to find a book where I notice both the story and the language used to tell it. Usually if I am caught up in the story, I don't notice the language or if I am noticing the language, then the story isn't holding my attention. Dianne Dixon manged to keep me interested in both of these aspects in the novel. The story was compelling and the language used to tell it is beautiful.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justin Fisher has returned home to play his respects to his parents. He comes back to a huge surprise. One that will change his life and everything he knew about it forever.

Justin goes to the grave yard. There he finds his mother’s and father’s headstones. Justin also sees another headstone. The name on the head stone says Thomas Justin Fisher…born August 5, 1972 to February 20, 1976. It is Justin’s headstone but how can that be as Justin is alive. Justin is about to travel down a path that he can’t turn back from. Just who really is Thomas Justin Fisher?

To be honest, when I picked The Language of Secrets, I had no clue what it really was about. I skimmed over the summary and thought it sounded intriguing. When I actually sat down to start reading it, I was blown away by how much I found myself really getting into this book. The past was more exciting then the present. I found every time the story traveled back to the past, the story built on itself and got more interesting as the story went on. I felt for Justin as a little boy. All of the characters had great depth and range of emotions. It was hard not to get entangled by what was happening in toe story. Clear some time off your schedule as you will find yourself discovering the Language of Secrets by Dianne Dixon.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Language of Secrets by Dianne Dixon is a comprised of a mystery around a life. Justin Fisher wanted to introduce his family to his wife and child. Only to find out that he is dead and buried next to his father and mother. Before you have time to assimilate how horrid the situation is, you are dragged into a story that goes back and forth in time. Pieces are slowly revealed, but in ways that the whole truth is not seen by the characters all the time.

On the GoodReads site the last line of the promo for the book says,” The Language of Secrets is the story of an unspeakable loss born of human frailty and an ultimate redemption born of human courage.” That says it most of it. What is doesn’t say is how the book will affect you. It doesn’t say how the story keeps drawing you back in (even when you have chores to do). This is a book that will go on my “can’t let it go list.” It is a fabulous debut for Dianne Dixon’s first novel. I know I will need to add her to my list of authors to read.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I have seen some reviews criticizing the writing, the plot, the characters but guess what - if the story is as good as this one was in keeping my attention and keeping me guessing and trying hard to figure it out - then I don't even notice if it lacks a little in other areas and, to be honest I really have nothing to criticize. It would have been nice to have more details about some of the characters and the things that occurred but that would have made for a much longer novel and also may have cut the suspense. I was making notes as I read and going back and rereading and in the end, most of my notes were wrong.
There is so much to say about this novel that I can't really do here without giving too much away. Would love to give my thoughts on some of the characters and some of what happened so I'm going to recommend it to at least one friend and then possibly to book club because I think it would make for a lively discussion.
I thought she did a good job of showing how children and parents can look back at things and see them differently.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book though was disappointed in the resolution of the stories lines. I was much more interesed in Caroline's story than the supposed main character of Justin. I was really disappointed that there was not a reckoning of sorts regarding what happened to Justin-not only between her and her husband but with her daughters. They never knew what happened and clearly had no understading of her. I also did not understand why she stayed with the husband after the daughters were grown. If she stayed for them, so they would have the stability that she never did, she could have left her husband after they were grown. In addition, I did not understand or feel that connected to Justin as a character at all. Again, I think that this is a beach read to be enjoyed and then passed on.

[Amy (literatiloves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This was a roller coaster ride of a book. There were twists and turns from the beginning to the VERY.LAST.PAGE! I read this book in two days. It is hard to put down once you start reading. The book begins with Justin visiting the house he grew up in (or so he thought), wanting to find out why large chunks of his memory are missing. This leads him to a tombstone that has his name on it. He starts uncovering information that he has seemingly forgotten, or has chosen to subconsciously hide away. The book is told alternately from Justin's and his mother Caroline's perspectives. And I enjoyed both. The only part of the book I didn't get was to storyline about Amy and her father. I thought it just fizzled out but that wasn't a really big deal for me. I would recommend the book if you are looking for a fast-paced, exciting read.

[Bridget · Rating 2 out of 5]

Family doesn't have one solid definition. For Justin Fisher, this knowledge is all too real. After years of not speaking to his parents, he decides to take a trip bringing his wife and son with him. When he finds out that his parents have passed away, he is more than shattered. While visiting the cemetery, he sees that there is a three year old boy named Thomas Fisher buried right next to his parents. All of a sudden he begins to remember his life as a young boy. The drama has just begun for Justin, he wants to know the truth after all the lies.

I wouldn't say this book is spectacular but it does have a good plot. I felt like it was a little drawn out.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read! Highly recommend it.
Justin Fisher has a lovely wife, a young son, nd a successful career as a manager of a luxury hotel, but he's troubled by the hole in his life left by his absent family. Hardly sure anymore why they became estranged in the first place, Justin gathers the courage to reconnect, only to find that his parents have passed away. And a visit to the cemetery brings the greatest shock of all.......... next to the graves of his father and mother sits a smaller tombstone for a three-year-old boy: a boy named Justin Fisher. A story of betrayal and forgiveness, as well as one man's search into a forgotten past.