Interesting and easy to read. Kept you on the edge of your seat wondering which way this was going to play out.

Barbara Taylor Sissel, Author of “Tell No One”, has written a captivating, intense, riveting, and unpredictable novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Mystery, and Suspense. The timeline for this novel in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the events or characters in the story. The Author describes her characters as complex and complicated.

Caroline Corbett has many problems with her husband and their business and also has a daughter. Much of Caroline’s bitterness at life stems from the abandonment issues of her father leaving when she was a young girl. Her father left to marry another woman and become a father figure to her son. Then Hoff, her father just disappeared. Caroline’s dying Aunt, who is like a second mother to her, requests that Caroline find her brother Hoff.

With a heavy heart and ambivalent and angry feelings, Caroline begins her search by questioning certain people. Caroline finds herself threatened and in danger. The more she searches for answers, the bigger the danger. There are twists and turns, and I really never expected the way the story ended. What a surprise!!!

I appreciate that the author discusses the problems of drugs in today’s world, and the effects on the person, and loved ones in their lives. The dark secrets in this story also when revealed changed many things. I would highly recommend this novel for readers who enjoy a suspenseful mystery.

I've enjoyed this story. This was a good family drama and the first read of Barbara Taylor Sissel though it won't be my last. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me! Thank you Lake Union Publisher and Netgalley for this book in exchange for my honest review.

What was at its foundation a really good story was distorted by a lot of extra stuff. Every character seemed to have multiple issues in addition to the main story, which was supposedly finding Hoff, Caroline's father. Up until about 70% of the way through the book there are two completely distinct story lines. We know they have to meet up at some point. We even know their connection. But in addition to this set up, Caroline is having serious issues in her marriage and her step-brother, Harris, is going through his own problems. How much theses other story lines impact the main story line is less than how much they distract from it. Even when the story is done and the reader reaches the epilogue, it is dragged out and under by excessive details. An epilogue should be a concise, focused wrap up of any lose story threads there might be. That is it. And there is my main problem with the story. Individually I like the characters, I just wish things had been paired back or maybe save one of the extra story lines for another book?

Caroline Corbett’s Aunt Lanie was dying and when she begged Caroline to find her brother, Caroline’s father Hoff, Caroline was determined to do it. It had been thirty years since she’d seen her father. He’d left her mother and her, married another woman who had a young son and Caroline’s bitterness and jealousy had kept her from trying to find him. As well as her heartache over her aunt, Caroline’s marriage was in tatters.

Harris Fenton was head coach of the baseball team as well as athletic director at Wyatt High School. He had a beautiful wife and two sons he adored. But he was a mess. His life was spiraling out of control and he wasn’t strong enough to do anything about it. He couldn’t let go of the past; couldn’t deal with his ongoing problems.

As Caroline searched, she uncovered events from the long ago past which horrified her. She couldn’t believe it had really happened – but she soon found there were people who didn’t want her to continue. Her life could well be in danger…

Tell No One by Barbara Taylor Sissel is a contemporary drama novel with emphasis on “drama”. The two key players, Caroline and Harris, both had messy lives, although I liked them both. There was a lot of American sport – football and baseball – and I ended up skimming over those sections. I’ve previously read two by this author – Faultlines and Evidence of Life – I gave both 5 stars but Tell No One had too much going on – but the ending was excellent and I can now happily recommend it.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

What started with a simple plot - diverged into too many things.

Caroline Corbett hasn't seen her father in years. Her father's sister is dying - and her last wish is to be reunited with her brother. Caroline is determined to make this happen, despite her reservations about her father.

At the same time, Caroline is in the middle of business and marriage crossroads. She becomes obsessed with finding her father - and that helps her look at her own future.

It's...this is just so much. There's too much - too many subplots. And really, that's how life is. It's not all one note. People have stories, issues. It's not all clean and simple, with a singular issue to be solved in 300 pages.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book..

Thanks to netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to love it, I really did and I did like it, there was just a lot going on (just like my first sentence). I already have ADD so when a book is a little ADD I get lost quick. It wasn't super hard, just took more concentration than I was anticipating. Still a worthwhile read.

While the idea of the story was good, I found this book very long. I could see where it was going and yet it seemed to take too long to get there.

A lot of thought and care was give for the characters but I did not seem to fall in love with any of them. I wanted to find at least one person to champion but they all fell short.

I loved reading this book because the author describes everything in such a vivid way - I felt like if I closed my eyes, I could just picture myself there. I feel like the plot itself had some holes in it, it shifted around too much for my liking. But the writing style kept me hooked until the end. Looking forward to checking out some of the authors other works.

"It's not the lies you tell everybody else that matter so much, but the lies you tell yourself can kill you."

This tale is told from two points of view. Caroline and Harris. Caroline is trying to find the father that left when she was young and she shut out for good. But now her father's sister is dying and she needs to tell him something. Caroline is determined to find him all the while her own life is in  shambles.

Her story was rambling and all over the place and I had little patience for all of the jumping all over the place.

Harris was a little easier to feel for, but even then, it was just too all over the place I thought and the ending was okay.

I would have loved to have known more about the characters before we went on the rambling ride with Caroline.

NetGalley/ May 14th 2019 by Lake Union Publishing

I will review this on Amazon on May 14, 2019

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Tell No One by Barbara Taylor Sissel I believe this was the first book I have read from this author. Caroline is searching for her father whom she hasn't seen or heard from for many years, because her aunt Lanie has cancer and is dying and wants to see and talk to her brother one last time. The beginning of the book was a little slow for me, but it did improve over time. This book combined a little bit of everything. So many different issues that at times it was a little hard to keep up with it all. I did enjoy the book overall, although I do think sometimes less is more. When you are overloaded with all that is going on it can feel a little overwhelming. I would recommend this book to those that have enjoyed this author in the past.

3.5 ⭐

Right from the beginning, an aura of suspense had been created. We meet Caroline who visits Coach Kelly's house regarding her father and then ends up in an accident. Right from the beginning, there's a question of 'Who' and 'What'. And I believe the author did a commendable job keeping up with the mystery. Caroline was a strong willed woman entangled in a web of lies of her husband. She is determined but also naive and so very stubborn. At times, I found her so annoying. And at times, she reminded me of Emma Swan from Once Upon A Time.

The whole book has two stories intertwined together. One is of Caroline Corbett, Hoff's daughter, and Harris who is Hoff's son. Both the siblings have never met but as Caroline sets on her father's search, she knows Harris might know something. They lives criss-cross at the end, as truths and secrets are revealed, shattering every ounce of hope.

Now Harris's character was very raw and emotional. He had immense depth and even though I did not want to, I could sympathise with his situation. His drug addiction was cleverly tackled by the author, showing very well it's side effects too.

This book deals with addiction and abuse in a very emotional and deep sense. Everything is cleverly planned and executed. Apart from this, the theme of rigged sports recruits in colleges is also taken up. All these themes underlie in the modern reality today and has been written with utmost truth. It was fresh and harrowing and astonishing!

Although I did feel like there were too many characters and too many sub plots that at times deviated from the main plot. It felt unnecessary.

Overall, the whole story did seem a little stupid. A search for a person who went away thirty years ago, just to find out some terrible truths. At the same time, it was interesting too, topped with an equally interesting cover. It was a simple mystery novel with sharp twists and turns and truths, and I did enjoy reading it!

Thanks to netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really like the other books by this author, but this one not so much. The storyline itself was great but it had too many characters and plot lines to keep straight. I was too busy flipping back in the book, to figure out characters and their stories, to really get into this book.

Sissel is an author that I have really enjoyed reading, but her newest book, while a solid story, had too many plot lines going at once. It is not much of a mystery, but much more of a family drama. Too much drama to make it believable. The overall story was rather depressing and lacked the grit needed to keep this reader completely enthralled.

I had the hardest time getting into and through this book. I just didn't connect with any of the characters and the story line was boring to me. It has a slight twist at the end, but other than that the book just fell flat for me.

I have read several Barbara Sissel books. This one had a lot of sports material in it...which I am not a fan. It did have a lot of family secrets...which I do like. I think I will order this book for the library because I have some patrons which will enjoy this book.

The following review will appear on my book review blog on April 23, 2019:

With school winding down for the year and having finally finished writing my doctoral dissertation, I am all about looking for books that offer me an escape from my own reality. I am very much into books that are full of great plot and drama as well as those that take you to places that are far away from your everyday life. I am thoroughly enjoying escapism through reading. 

Tell No One by Barbara Taylor Sissel gave me all of what I have been seeking in a book lately. At the heart of a novel is an old truth: lies within families will fester and boil over in unexpected and shocking ways. They will trickle down among generations and touch lives that weren't even yet considered when the lies began. 

Beginning with a deathbed wish, family secrets spill over through the voices of two siblings as scandals emerge in the family. Several plots lines run throughout the book involving financial crimes, PTSD, addiction and secrets so scandalous they cannot be spoken about. Sometimes other people's choices and actions will shape us even though we think we are consciously avoiding being taken in by them. Also, sometimes good and bad go together and are no often so clearcut, but rather survive in our world as a gray area where distance sometimes means the difference between the two. 

Overall, Barbara Taylor Sissel delivers with Tell No One. She creates an immersive world where you remain the entire time that you are reading her book. As you read, you feel as though you are part of her story, watching as a family comes to terms with things long buried and ultimately meets a dramatic, action-fueled end at the conclusion of her narrative which in turn, will hopefully lead to what everyone is searching for: forgiveness both of other people and of themselves. 

Tell No One by Barbara Taylor Sissel shows the complexities of families and of the demons we both acquire from our families as well as though that we create for ourselves and in turn, unleash onto our families both consciously and unintentionally. 

Tell No One by Barbara Taylor Sissel will be available for purchase on May 14, 2019. It will be published through Lake Union Publishing with ISBN 9781542040457. This review was written after receiving an advanced electronic galley from the publisher in exchange for a review.

‘Tell No One’ by Barbara Taylor Sissel is a story surrounding a dying woman’s wish to see her brother one last time and a woman’s search for her missing father, who disappeared out of her life over 30 years ago.

This is a story of heartbreak, addiction, illness and betrayal but also a story of love, acceptance and closure.

There are many story lines which run alongside each other in ‘Tell No One’.

One of illegal activity in the sporting world, one of drug addiction, one of a woman heading for divorce, one of a mothers guilt, one of PTSD and more than one of sorrow.

It may be this reason that the book didn’t flow for me. I found it quite a difficult read and it took me a long time to complete it. I felt I really had to commit to it, however, it did make me feel real emotion. There were parts it really tugged on my heart strings and I did really grow to care for the characters. There was just something missing.

Even though there are so many story lines running throughout I felt ‘Tell No One’ lacked a thick plot. Something that gripped you and pulled you in. It’s not a book that will stay with you long after you finish. It’s not very memorable.

I do commend Sissel’s ability to portray emotion and her character development but unfortunately the gritty, well rounded story I was looking for wasn’t there.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in return for an honest review.

There is a LOT going on in this book, and while Sissel masterfully manages the narrative, allowing the reader to feel comfortable in the plotline -- not just be able to follow it -- this is a book you really need to be able to focus on. It's a complex plotline with intriguing and engaging questions about life and its choices. Characters face some truly monumental challenges, and as such there is a lot to discuss in book clubs and reading pairs. If you enjoy picking apart an epic story, this is the book for you. Very pleasing for those who want to get lost in a story, with lots of depth and some gorgeous phrasing that warrants some re-reads just to experience again that beautiful wording. Well done.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A woman in the midst of personal problems goes to search for the father who left her in her youth.