Book review: Things you won't say by Sarah Pekkanen

Things you won't say by Sarah Pekkanen

Release Date: May26, 2015

Publisher:Washington Square Press

Buy or borrow:  buy.

Synopsis:  How far would you go to save your family?

Every morning, as her husband Mike straps on his SIG Sauer and pulls on his heavy Magnum boots, Jamie Anderson tenses up. Then comes the call she has always dreaded: There’s been a shooting at police headquarters. Mike isn’t hurt, but his long-time partner is grievously injured. As weeks pass and her husband’s insomnia and disconnectedness mount, Jamie realizes he is an invisible casualty of the attack. Then the phone rings again. Another shooting—but this time Mike has pulled the trigger.

But the shooting does more than just alter Jamie’s world. It’s about to change everything for two other women. Christie Simmons, Mike’s flamboyant ex, sees the tragedy as an opportunity for a second chance with Mike. And Jamie’s younger sister, Lou, must face her own losses to help the big sister who raised her. As the press descends and public cries of police brutality swell, Jamie tries desperately to hold together her family, no matter what it takes.

In her characteristic exploration of true-to-life relationships, Sarah Pekkanen has written a complex, compelling, and openhearted novel—her best yet.

My Thoughts:  The story line of this book could have been ripped directly from the headlines. A white police officer shoots a Hispanic/black boy, who the officer said had a gun, but can't be proven. Sound familiar? This book is full of what's happening in the world today. Jamie tries desperately to fix her marriage and save her husband, but at the same time she doesn't fully believe Mike, who is suffering from PTSD.  There is a character that will keep you laughing throughout the book. Christie, Mike's ex who believes he is innocent of all wrong doing. She causes trouble through the whole book, but at the same time keeps things lightened up a bit. I have read all of Sarah Pekkanen's books and this one ranks right up there with the others. If you're a Jodi Picoult fan, you'll love this book.

Recommendations: Nineteen minutes by Jodi Picoult

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