Review: The Sisters of Glass Ferry by Kim Michele Richardson

Spanning several decades and written in an authentic voice both lyrical and wise, The Sisters of Glass Ferry is a haunting novel about small-town Southern secrets, loss and atonement, and the unbreakable bond between siblings.

Glass Ferry, Kentucky, is bourbon country. Whiskey has been a way of life for generations, enabling families to provide and survive even in the darkest times. Flannery Butler's daddy, Beauregard "Honey Bee" Butler, was known for making some of the best whiskey in the state, aged in barrels he'd take by boat up and down the Kentucky River until the rocking waters turned the spirits smooth and golden. Flannery is the only person Honey Bee ever entrusted with his recipes before he passed on, swearing her to secrecy as he did so.

But Flannery is harboring other secrets too, about her twin sister Patsy, older by eight minutes and pretty in a way Flannery knows she'll never be.

Then comes the prom night when Patsy--wearing a yellow chiffon dress and the family pearls--disappears along with her date. Every succeeding year on the twins' birthday, Flannery's mother bakes a strawberry cake, convinced that this is the day Patsy will finally come home. But it will be two tumultuous decades until the muddy river yields a clue about what happened that night, compelling Flannery to confront the truth about her sleepy town, her family's past, and the choices she and those closest to her have made in the name of love and retribution . .

Paperback, 272 pages

Expected publication: November 28th 2017 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Terri's Thoughts

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

I was drawn in to this story as I wanted to find out more about Patsy's story and what happened to her.  The story slowly unfolds as it goes between the past and the present (although the present is still in the past).  The reader finds out about the dynamic of each member of the Butler family while waiting to find out what Patsy's fate was.

Although I found the story overly descriptive at times in my need to find out what happened, it was told in a way that allows the reader to really know each of the characters, the town, and the era in which the story takes place.

To be honest, at first I thought Patsy's fate was revealed too soon.  I wondered how there could be so much book left once the secret was revealed.  I didn't think there would be enough to hold my interest.  Then....bam, something else happened and more secrets were revealed.  I then began invested again.

While overall I was conflicted with the character of Flannery, finding her perhaps not as strong as she was intended to be portrayed, I still enjoyed the story.  As a twin myself, any story revolving around twins tends to be of interest to me.  While not an overly fast moving story, this was an enjoyable read to me.

About the Author

Kim Michele Richardson resides in Kentucky mostly, and part time in Western NC. She is a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and an advocate for the prevention of child abuse and domestic violence, and has also partnered with the U.S. Navy globally for domestic violence abuse awareness and education.

Liar’s Bench is her first novel. She is also the author of the bestselling memoir The Unbreakable Child. Kim Michele is a contributor to the Huffington Post. Her second novel, GodPretty in the Tobacco Field is out in stores Spring 2016. Her third novel, The Sisters of Glass Ferry arrives in bookstores November 28, 2017.

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