The Silent Daughter by Claire Amarti

The Silent Daughter by Claire Amarti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

May 7, 2020

Book Sirens

4/27/20: Read in 30 days

5/6/20-5/7/20

Fiction, arc, digital, 172 pages

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Book Sirens. My unbiased review is voluntary.

“There’s a before, and there’s an after.
There’s always a see-saw moment, the split-second where everything changes.”

The Silent Daughter is a quick read about complicated families held together by secrets and lies. Jan Kennedy visits her deceased daughter’s grave since Fiona’s untimely death. After graduating from Horton, she went off to Stanford while her friend, Sadie Kelly couldn’t wait to move from Connecticut. Sadie had a difficult relationship with her mother and didn’t know her father.

Jan became a surrogate mother to Sadie where she practical grew up. Sadie became estranged from her mother when she became a teacher eager to join an International School circuit. She enjoyed her travels abroad until she sees an opening at her alma mater Horton. Unfortunately, she only lasts a year before she becomes troubled by panic attacks and nightmares.

She stays with Jan while she recovers and begins a new job search. It seems that Sadie is unable to reconcile the past. There are many in her small town who resents her return and curiosity into past events. A student goes missing and rumors circulate as to her whereabouts. Why is Sadie allowing her past to involve her in the present confusion? She inserts herself into the details to help uncover what happened to the missing girl.

An interesting story with several twists and unexpected turns before the loose ends are tied up.