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Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Tuesday - First Chapter - First Paragraph - The Silent Sister



Each Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile By the Sea shares the first part of a book that she is reading or thinking about reading.  This week I'm sharing the first few paragraphs of The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain.  I think I've read one other book by Diane Chamberlain, The Good Father.  Enjoyed it very much and a little different take on things as it is told from the viewpoint of a young father.  Anyway, I always love the covers on her books.  And I want to read more of them.  The premise of this book intrigued me.  See what you think:



January 1990

Alexandria, Virginia

     All day long, people stopped along the path that ran through the woods by the Potomac River.  Bundled in their parkas and wool scarves, they stood close to one another for warmth and clutched the mittened hands of their children or the leashes of their dogs as they started at the one splash of color in the winter-gray landscape.  The yellow kayak sat in the middle of the river, surrounded by ice.  The water had been rough the night before, buffeted by snowy winds, rising into swirling whitecaps as the temperature plummeted and the waves froze in jagged crests, trapping the kayak many yards from shore.
     The walkers had seen the kayak on the morning news, but they still needed to see it in person.  It marked the end of a saga that had gripped them for months.  They'd looked forward to the trial that would never happen now, because the seventeen-year-old girl--the seventeen-year-old murderer, most were sure--now rested somewhere beneath that rocky expanse of ice.
     'She took the easy way out', some of them whispered to one another.
     'But what a terrible way to die', others said.


Blurb:

Riley MacPherson has spent her entire life believing that her older sister Lisa committed suicide as a teenager. Now, over twenty years later, her father has passed away and she's in New Bern, North Carolina cleaning out his house when she finds evidence to the contrary. Lisa is alive. Alive and living under a new identity. But why exactly was she on the run all those years ago, and what secrets are being kept now? As Riley works to uncover the truth, her discoveries will put into question everything she thought she knew about her family. Riley must decide what the past means for her present, and what she will do with her newfound reality.

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I'm curious - have you read this book or others by Diane Chamberlain?  What was your experience?  Would you keep reading?

38 comments:

  1. I have read a couple of Diane Chambelain's books, and enjoyed them. This one sounds good from the opening too - I want to know what happened as I love books that look back into the past. Here is my Tuesday post https://cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com/2015/06/16/first-chapter-first-paragraph-june-16/

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    1. I'm enjoying it so far. I'm only a little way into the story, but so far, so good.

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  2. Oh, yes. This is the theme Harlan Coben writes, too--loved ones gone missing--and I love his books, so, yes, I would give this a shot.

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    1. Yes, Harlan Coben does have a way doing the ordinary person with extraordinary problems. I like his books.

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    1. Intro was little more mystery like than the books seems to be, but I'm not that far along yet.

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  4. Love that intro! That author is on my list...

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    1. Yes, she's been on mine to read more for quite a while.

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  5. Great intro and love the premise. I'm adding this one to my list

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    1. I thought the blurb was intriguing. Can't wait to see what happens. There seem to be lots of secrets.

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  6. Another one! -grin-

    I like those did-they-or-didn't-they plots. And of course, cover art can draw me in! :-)

    OK! Another one on the list!

    Hugs,
    Tessa

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    1. This author's books have such beautiful covers. Usually very poignant.

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  7. I love the intro and the cover, so I'd keep reading! Love the setting of Alexandria, too.

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    1. Well, we've very quickly moved to North Carolina, but we may get back to Alexandria. We'll see.

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  8. I have read Diane Chamberlain's The Courage Tree. I added this one to my list last week, completely unaware of the story line. Now I must get a copy! Great intro!

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    1. The Courage Tree - thanks for telling me. I'll check that one out.

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  9. Such a cold setting described in that first paragraph! Mental relief for this heat. I do like the intro. And from the synopsis you shared, it sounds like I would definitely enjoy the book.

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    1. Yes, anything that involves ice right now seems appropriate. LOL

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  10. I have yet to read this author, although I think I have 2 of her books on my shelves. Friends who have read her books like Chamberlain very much. Hope you enjoy it.

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    1. I had this one on my Kindle and I actually may have another one. She's written a bunch of books.

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  11. I love this author...and this book was one of my favorites the year I read it. Hope you love it, too. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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    1. Oh, good to hear, Laurel. Your tastes and mine are often similar. Bodes well. :-)

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  12. I've heard of this author but haven't read any of her books. Looks like I've been missing some great stories! Based on the description in the opening and the synopsis, The Silent Sister sounds like a book I'd enjoy.
    My Tuesday post features A Walk in the Woods.

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    1. It's good so far, Sandra. We'll see how it goes. I suspect I'm going to like it very much.

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  13. I read this book and enjoyed it very much. Then again, I've been reading the author since almost the beginning of her writing career, on-again off-again. I've skipped some but those I read I enjoyed-- some good, some very good.

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    1. Rita, good to know that you liked it too, along with Laurel. You two read a lot of the same books I do and our tastes seem similar. I need to check out this author's backlist.

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  14. I must say that's a really great start - I'd definitely want to read on. In fact, I do want to! I hope your review will be telling us it lives up to its promise...

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  15. This definitely is intriguing. Hope it's a good one. Here's Mine

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  16. Wow - that's a very gripping start to the story. Hard to stop right there. I now have to find this one.

    By the way, I wanted to say how much I enjoy all the photos you give us in the headline spot. They are all so well done. When I come to your blog I always pause there for quite some time.

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    1. Margot, what a sweet thing to say. You know, all the pictures I share in the header are taken with my phone. Usually on vacation. The one above is of the Oregon coast.

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  17. This sounds so good. I've been wanting to read Diane Chamberlain and this book in particular for awhile now. Can't wait to get started!

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  18. I haven't read this one yet, but I really want to! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the book when you finish.

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    1. I'm about at the halfway point now. I'll share about it soon.

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  19. I've only read a couple of her books and this was one of them. I actually listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts once you've read it.

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    1. Coming up on the halfway point soon. I think I'll have a thing or two to say about it. :-)

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Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!