The Flower Sisters is a captivating tale that delves into the factual tragedy of a small Ozarks town, uncovering generational secrets and exploring the themes of searching and belonging. Through vivid and evocative storytelling, Anderson paints a rich tapestry of historical detail and memorable characters that will keep readers engaged from start to finish. This compelling narrative explores the weight of long-held secrets and the insatiable hunger for truth.

Based on true events ,this was a story that captivated me. It is beautifully written and told from two timelines. The tale blends family secrets, split second decisions, and forgiveness. Fantastic.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

"The Flower Sisters" by Michelle Collins Anderson is a captivating novel that earns a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars from me. From the very first page, I found myself completely engrossed in the lives of the characters and the intricacies of their small-town world. Anderson's writing style is both beautiful and nostalgic, effortlessly drawing readers into the heart of the Ozarks and the secrets that lie hidden beneath its surface.

What struck me most about this novel is the way it seamlessly weaves together past and present, with flashbacks to the 1920s adding depth and richness to the story. The tragedy that unfolds on one fateful night at an Ozarks dance hall reverberates through the decades, shaping the lives of the characters in unexpected ways. Anderson skillfully explores the ripple effects of this event, delving into themes of family, forgiveness, and the power of secrets.

One aspect of the book that particularly stood out to me was the vivid depiction of 1970s fashion. As I read, I could vividly imagine the characters' outfits and hairstyles, and I couldn't help but think that "The Flower Sisters" would make an incredible mini-series just for the fashion alone.

Overall, "The Flower Sisters" is a beautifully written, character-driven novel that offers a poignant glimpse into small-town life and the enduring legacy of tragedy. Fans of historical fiction and family sagas will find much to love in this heartfelt story.

A sincere thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

RECOMMENDED HIGHLY

I have been reading a lot lately, including old favorites and a number of ARCs. I was a bit unhappy with most of the ARCs lately until I got to this one.

This book was riveting historical fiction. Yes, there really was an explosion that destroyed a nightclub and the surrounding block (in reality, the Bond Dance Hall Explosion). No, it was not in a town called Possum Flats! And no, while the woman who died was a licensed embalmer—the first woman to be such a thing—she was not the woman we came to know.

I could not stop reading this novel, and calling it gripping seems a little cliched, but that is exactly what this book was -gripping. It had twists and turns that I never saw coming, and I loved the book more for that fact.

For those who love truth in their fiction, I highly recommend this book, especially if you like reading about the late 1970s. Learning about the 1920s was also really cool!

If you are intrigued, I would google Bond Dance Hall Explosion -it's worth the extra time.

*ARC supplied by the publisher John Scognamiglio/Kensington, the author, and NetGalley. My sincerest thanks for this wonderful novel.

Dual timelines are common in historical fiction, and The Flowers Sisters does an excellent job of making five different points of view and two decades fly by like they're no big deal. The novel loses some points for predictability, but the storytelling and characters make it all worthwhile.

It's 1928 and the titular Flowers sisters – identical twins Violet and Rose – often hang out at the local dance hall to bop about to some jazz music and, if they’re lucky, land their swain of choice. They’re almost impossible to tell apart and are able to fool their friends and family with ease. Violet is outgoing and flirtatious; Rose, introverted and serious. But they both love jazz and boys. In Possum Flats, Missouri, in those heady pre-Depression days, it’s the ultimate way to have fun.

One night, Violet comes alone to the dance hall to gain the attention of the dissolute but handsome Dash Emmonds, a preacher’s kid cutting loose with little planned for the future, while Rose stays home sick in bed. Violet and Dash are having a good time together when the joy of the night is rent by a sudden explosion. The Lamb’s Dance Hall is flattened, hundreds lie dying and Violet is among the casualties. Dash’s life has been saved, though he doesn’t come away completely unscathed physically or mentally. Live will never be the same for the sisters, for Dash, or for the town in general.

Fifty years later, Rose works as a funeral director and has taken in her teenage granddaughter, Daisy, while her eternally-rebellious daughter Lettie (named after Violet) spends the summer in California with her latest boyfriend. Lettie fled Possum Flats the second she turned sixteen and continues to avoid the conservative home established by Rose and her late husband. Daisy is just as rebellious, hating the smells and sights at the funeral home, but she’s also ambitious and yearns to become a reporter. Trapped in Possum Flats, she lands a spot as an intern at the local paper, the Possum Picayune. After a few up-and-down days at the paper, Daisy becomes intrigued by the story of the Lamb’s Hall Dance explosion and starts to research both it and Rose’s seemingly-minimal role in that night’s events. Rose is opposed to Daisy’s digging, as she harbors a secret about what really went down the night Violet lost her life.

Rose, meanwhile, often sees Dash, who long ago took up his father’s ministry and preaches in the town. Dash, too, has a teenage grandchild – a grandson named Joe – who starts to develop an interest in Daisy after they meet-cute when he runs into her (literally) on his paper route. When Joe and Daisy develop a teen romance, Dash and Rose are aghast, and even more secrets from fifty years past threaten to surface – along with the feelings they have barely been able to suppress for decades.

You can probably guess the twist that’s waiting ahead for you in this one. But the book’s character work and its intelligent portraits of small town life end up captivating the reader anyway.

Of the many PoV characters, Daisy, Dash and Rose interested me the most. As a matter of fact, Anderson could have cut out a few perspectives here, but most of them are necessary.

The Flowers Sisters is a very ambitious tale, what with its many characters and multiple time frames (we also flash back to the 1940s and 1950s while peering at Lettie’s childhood) and its stylistic choices. Yet generally, in spite of these issues, these twists and turns were easy things to follow.

It’s not a novel for the faint of heart, however. The book gives an honest, close-up look at the embalming room and what takes place within it, so those with tender tummies need not apply. It’s also frank about the destruction caused by the explosion, which is based on a real-life event – the explosion of Bond Dance Hall in West Plains, Missouri in 1928.

The ending of The Flowers Sisters leans a little too hard on the cheese and pat conclusions, feeling like it’’s escaped from Touched by An Angel and standing kitty-corner to the honesty that came before it. (You can judge for yourself whether or not the heaven one character finds is the sort you’d enjoy). But in the end, it’s a beautiful, sprawling, smart, enjoyable book that, while delightfully flawed, is certainly worth reading.

Michelle Collins Anderson's "The Flower Sisters" is a captivating exploration of family, tragedy, and the enduring power of secrets. Set against the backdrop of a small Missouri town, this multigenerational masterpiece weaves together the stories of the Flower sisters—Violet and Rose—and their descendants, as they grapple with the aftermath of a devastating event that occurred at a dance hall in 1928.

The novel alternates between two timelines, effortlessly drawing readers into both the past and the present. In 1928, the explosion at Lamb's Dance Hall left one twin dead and the other forever changed, casting a shadow over the lives of the survivors. Fifty years later, Rose's granddaughter, Daisy, embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind the tragedy, unraveling long-held secrets and confronting the ghosts of the past.

Anderson's prose is haunting, immersing readers in the heartache and resilience of the characters. Through vivid descriptions and authentic dialogue, she brings the small town of Possum Flats to life. The characters are richly drawn and deeply human, each carrying their own burdens and secrets.

"The Flower Sisters" is a story about the complexities of family relationships, the search for identity, and the consequences of past decisions. Anderson explores themes of love, loss, guilt, and redemption.

The novel expertly blends historical fact with fictional storytelling. Drawing on a real-life tragedy, Anderson sensitively portrays the impact of the explosion on the community while also delving into the personal struggles of the characters.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As an ARC reader for "The Flower Sisters" by Michelle Collins Anderson, I found myself utterly engrossed in this captivating tale from start to finish. Anderson's storytelling prowess shines as she transports readers to the quaint yet mysterious town of Possum Flats, Missouri, where secrets abound and history lurks in every corner.

The protagonist, fifteen-year-old Daisy Flowers, is a vibrant and relatable character whose journey of self-discovery amidst the backdrop of a decades-old tragedy is both compelling and heart-wrenching. From the moment Daisy sets foot in Possum Flats, I found myself rooting for her as she navigates the complexities of family dynamics, small-town politics, and the enigmatic past that haunts the town.

Anderson's vivid descriptions and richly drawn characters bring the story to life, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and emotions of Possum Flats. The mystery surrounding the 1928 Bond Dance Hall explosion is expertly woven into the narrative, keeping me guessing until the very end.

What truly sets "The Flower Sisters" apart is its exploration of themes such as resilience, redemption, and the enduring power of truth. As Daisy delves deeper into the secrets of Possum Flats, she uncovers not only the truth about the past but also the strength within herself to confront it.

Overall, "The Flower Sisters" is a masterfully crafted novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, mystery, and coming-of-age stories alike. Michelle Collins Anderson's debut is a testament to her talent as a storyteller, and I eagerly anticipate her future works.

This debut historical fiction novel based on the tragic Bond Dance Hall explosion of 1928 is a multigenerational masterpiece. Anderson populates Possum Flats with a cast of endearing characters living out their lives with painfully deep emotional and physical scars from that fateful night. The devastating, mysterious details of the tragedy are revealed through flashbacks by the twin Flower sisters, Rose and Violet, and other prominent townspeople. Now 1978, Rose’s granddaughter, Daisy, an intern for the town paper, is obsessed with getting the scoop on the dance hall explosion for the 50th anniversary. Through interviews Daisy delves into the compelling backstory on the upbringing and choices of the victims and survivors of the 1928 explosion. The Flower Sisters, a twisting, psychological mystery, is a study of twin connections, the search for identity, and survivor guilt. The tragic lesson is that consequences from split second decisions can ripple for a lifetime. Captivating. Surprising. Haunting.

In 1928, a dance hall explodes in small-town Missouri, changing many in the town. Fifty years later, a young girl discovers an article about the explosion. Her research for the story uncovers hidden truths about the town and her family.

I was drawn to this book because I grew up in Missouri. I liked the personalities of the main character and her grandmother. I enjoyed reading the perspectives of the survivors of the event. It is also a bit of a coming of age story. The ending is almost "too good" though. As a historical fiction fan, I loved the glimpses of life in 1928 and 1978.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I enjoyed the Flower Sisters. I enjoyed the multi generational stories. I like getting to know Daisy and the townsfolk of Possum Flatts. The mystery kept me interested. The story line was interesting and having the main character live above a funeral home was unusual. It's nice to have a historical fiction book that isn't focused on a war. I think there are a lot of things to talk about in this book. People can easily connect to this small town drama. I also appreciate the author's note at the end and the discussion questions provided for book clubs.

A beautifully written coming of age story and not just for the teenager involved in the main storyline but for her family and their entire small town as well. After all, we can come of age anytime in our convoluted lives. Based on an actual event, this retelling is nostalgic, evocative, charming and revealing. The Flower Sisters was one I didn’t want to end…

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

"Drawing on the little-known true story of one tragic night at an Ozarks dance hall in the author's Missouri hometown, this beautifully written, endearingly nostalgic novel picks up 50 years later for a folksy, character-driven portrayal of small-town life, split second decisions, and the ways family secrets reverberate through generations.

Daisy Flowers is fifteen in 1978 when her free-spirited mother dumps her in Possum Flats, Missouri. It's a town that sounds like roadkill and, in Daisy's eyes, is every bit as dead. Sentenced to spend the summer living with her grandmother, the wry and irreverent town mortician, Daisy draws the line at working for the family business, Flowers Funeral Home. Instead, she maneuvers her way into an internship at the local newspaper where, sorting through the basement archives, she learns of a mysterious tragedy from fifty years earlier...

On a sweltering, terrible night in 1928, an explosion at the local dance hall left dozens of young people dead, shocking and scarring a town that still doesn't know how or why it happened. Listed among the victims is a name that's surprisingly familiar to Daisy, revealing an irresistible family connection to this long-ago accident.

Obsessed with investigating the horrors and heroes of that night, Daisy soon discovers Possum Flats holds a multitude of secrets for a small town. And hardly anyone who remembers the tragedy is happy to have some teenaged hippie asking questions about it - not the fire-and-brimstone preacher who found his calling that tragic night; not the fed-up police chief; not the mayor's widow or his mistress; not even Daisy's own grandmother, a woman who's never been afraid to raise eyebrows in the past, whether it's for something she's worn, sworn, or done for a living.

Some secrets are guarded by the living, while others are kept by the dead, but as buried truths gradually come into the light, they'll force a reckoning at last.

Inspired by the true story of the Bond Dance Hall explosion, a tragedy that took place in the author's hometown of West Plains, Missouri on April 13, 1928.

The cause of the blast has never been determined."

True Crime merged with fiction, how did they know what I wanted to read?

Where do I begin? I’m going to cut straight through to my verdict: GET THIS BOOK! If you are a lover of historical fiction, you will eat this up! It is twisty and is loosely based on a real tragedy:: the Bond Dance Hall Explosion that occurred in West Plains, Missouri in 1928. The story is well crafted even though some of the funeral home basement activities are a bit graphic. Rose did make me laugh quite a bit…you’ll see. Her granddaughter Daisy is also quite a character half-child /half-adult as she struggles with being fifteen and pining for her mother to come get her from this small town hell her mother dropped her off in! She gets a job at the local paper and finds herself in the midst of a scandal as she researches and writes about the explosion of Lamb’s Dance Hall in 1928. Her stories explode the lid off of that town that had been compressed for fifty years. Riveting to say the least!

In 1928 on a hot night in a small Missouri Ozark town, a dance hall exploded killing dozens and forever changing the survivors. Fifty years later, 15-year-old Daisy is dropped off in that town with her grandmother and finds herself searching newspaper archives working to determine what really happened that night. The Ozark setting comes alive in this historical mystery.

This historical fiction book was based on a real tragedy i the author's home town.
Violet is an outgoing twin who loved to dance and liked a good time. She went to a dance with a group of friends on Friday, Aug 13, 1928. The group enjoyed dancing the Charleston. the Lindy ,etc, and partying (sometimes with a little hooch). The dance was in full swing when an explosion ends the evening and results in 39 deaths.
The story picks up 50 years later when Violet's twin, Rose's granddaughter, Daisy, is dropped off to spend the summer with her as her mother goes to California to look for a job and housing with her boyfriend. At 15 yrs old Daisy is lonely and bored in this small town, but talks her way into a summer internship at the local paper. Initially she writes obituaries, but comes across an article about the dance hall disaster and gets the editor to agree to her doing a series of articles about the survivors to commemorate the 50th anniversary.
The story gives the tragedy life as the survivors reluctantly share their experience that night, and as Daisy gets to know the people in this small town. I thought that the author did a great job describing the small town dynamics, the emotions of the survivors bringing up the tragedy and loss of that night, and the sensitivity with which Daisy pursued their stories. This character driven novel touched on love, loss, mystery, family connections, secrets and finding home. The ending was perfect as we had a final tour of Possum Flats.
I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Press and the opinions expressed are my own.

Based on a real life tragedy which occurred when the Bond Dance Hall in West Plains, Missouri blew up in 1928.

Violet, the vivacious, outgoing twin, is not feeling well one evening and convinces her identical twin, Rose, to go to Lamb's Dance Hall with Dash, Violet's boyfriend. Rose, quiet, shy, retiring, dresses in Violet's clothes and wearing Violet's necklace, sets out to have a good time. In 1928, the Charleston and the Lindy were popular dances and the women were able to show a lot of leg with these dances. Everyone is having a good time, when, unexpectedly, the building blows sky-high. Thirty-nine people died that night.

Fast forward to 1978, granddaughter Daisy is dropped off at grandma's house, while her mother, Lettie, goes off to find herself. Daisy has never met her grandmother and is bored silly because there is nothing to do in Possum Flats. She convinces the local newspaper to hire her as a summer intern and there she discovers the events of the 1928 explosion and fire. Wanting to do a 50th anniversary retrospective of this event, she convinces the editor to allow her to interview survivors and family members to get their take on what happened. Most don't want to talk to her about it. Some do and she discovers more than she wanted to know, including things that involve her own family.

This book tells of a terrible tragedy and how it affects a small town well into the future. Pinging between past and present, the characters are reluctant to relive a horrible event until an outside comes to town and starts asking questions. I enjoyed the writing, the character development and the historical setting. Would recommend.

The Flower Sisters is a story based on a real event, the Lamb’s Hall Dance Club explosion in Missouri in 1928. The characters and story is all fiction though. The story goes back and forth between current day (50 years after the explosion) and the 1928 time. Daisy, a 15 year old, is left in the care of her grandmother while her mother trots off to California. Daisy gets an internship at the newspaper and gets to write about people that are still alive from the 1928 explosion. I found that very unrealistic that any place would allow a 15 year old with no experience to write these articles and publish them. There are quite a few twists and turns in the novel that will keep you interested but the story does drag on and falls flat at times.

"The Flower Sisters" by Michelle Collins Anderson left me conflicted, as its promising mix of nostalgia and mystery was overshadowed by the novel's slow pacing and an unfortunate preoccupation with inconsequential details. In 1978, we follow Daisy Flowers, a spirited teenager, dumped unceremoniously in Possum Flats, Missouri, setting the stage for a compelling mystery rooted in a tragic 1928 explosion.

The strength of the narrative lies in the vivid depiction of small-town dynamics and the intriguing premise surrounding a decades-old tragedy. Anderson expertly weaves family connections and buried secrets, offering the potential for a satisfying resolution. However, the novel stumbles in execution, burdened by a plodding narrative that hinders overall engagement.

My frustration stemmed from the author's tendency to delve into minutiae, detracting from the central mystery. The focus on uninteresting and irrelevant details muddled the story's momentum, making it challenging to maintain interest. Despite promising characters and a well-crafted premise, the novel failed to deliver a gripping and well-paced narrative, ultimately leading me to discontinue reading.

While "The Flower Sisters" holds potential for those with patience to endure its slow pace, readers like me, seeking a dynamic and focused mystery, may find themselves frustrated by the lack of urgency and the distracting emphasis on less crucial elements.

This well written, character driven novel has dual time lines that take place in 1928 and 1978 in a small Missouri town. The story line is based on the Flowers sisters - identical twins Violet and Rose. In the 1978 time line, we also meet Lettie -Rose's daughter and Daisy - Rose's granddaughter.

1928 - Rose and Violet were twins in looks but had totally different personalities. Violet was always looking for a good time and loved to spend time dancing at the local dance hall. Rose was quiet and enjoyed being home. Despite their differences, the twins were very close and shared all of their secrets with each other. One night in August, 1928, their lives changed dramatically. Violet had gone to the local dance hall with her boyfriend. During that evening, a huge explosion at the dance hall claimed the lives of dozens of young people including Violet. Rose struggled with the loss of her sister and ended up marrying the son of the owners of the local funeral home.

1978 - Possum Hills was still a small town where everyone knew what was going on with all of the people in town. Rose still owned the funeral home and was estranged from her only child Letty, who had left town as soon as she could and never looked back. One day, Lettie arrived with a boyfriend and her 15 year old daughter. Lettie's stop in town was short -- she dumped her daughter with a grandmother that she never knew and then Lettie left town to start a new life in California with her boyfriend. Daisy wasn't happy with being in small town Missouri. She and her grandmother lived upstairs and the funeral home was below them. She didn't really know or understand her grandmother and didn't know anyone in town. She managed to get an internship at the local newspaper and learned about the dance hall fire fifty years earlier. She wanted to do a story about the fire to commemorate the 50th anniversary but when she tries to talk to the survivors, most of them don't want to talk about it. This small town holds some big secrets, and the more Daisy looks into the history of the town, the more secrets that come to light. Will the secrets that she uncovers bring the people in town closer to each other or will they continue to ignore the truth of the fire?

This book had some fantastic characters - Daisy was an inquisitive young girl who had a hard life moving around with her mother. At the beginning, she hated the small town and wasn't too impressed with her grandmother Rose. Even though Rose could be difficult and outspoken, she still wished for a relationship with her granddaughter. Rose was appalled when Daisy wanted to learn more about the fire fifty years earlier and wanted the town secrets to remain secrets. But are the prices that we pay for secrets worth avoiding the truth? The story is about grief and loss but also about love and forgiveness. This is a family of strong women that I won't forget. This is a debut novel for this author and I look forward to her future books.