Happy Aloha Friday! I am happy to be today's stop on the TLC Book Tour for Behind Her Lives by Briana Cole.
Publisher's Blurb:
From bestselling author Briana Cole, an enthrallingly suspenseful new story of secrets, sibling rivalry, and a woman searching for a missing sister who may not want to be found. For fans of multicultural psychological thrillers and edgy dramas by Shanora Williams, Kiki Swinson, Saundra, Wahida Clark, Ashley & JaQuavis, Victoria Christopher Murray, and Shelly Ellis.
“That’s not my sister.” Overwhelmed by shock and relief, those are the only words Deven can muster when she is called to identify the body of a suicide victim. A body she was informed was her sister, Kennedy. But as she stares at the lifeless stranger, she’s filled with questions: Who is this woman? Why was Deven listed as family? And most important, where is Kennedy? Her intuition tells her just one thing: this can’t be a total coincidence.
Desperate to put the pieces together, Deven launches her own investigation. Soon, she finds herself tangled in a web of secrets and lies so twisted that it blurs the lines between fact and fiction. And between the sister she thought she knew and the one who seems to have many hidden, dangerous lives. But only Kennedy would have the answers to increasingly urgent questions. Just one possibility is clear: Kennedy isn’t missing. Maybe she just doesn’t want to be found. And maybe you can never truly know another person. Even your own sister.
Publisher: Dafina (October 25, 2022)
Paperback: 320 Pages
My Review:
Behind Her Lives starts out with Deven being visited by the police, who inform her that her younger sister, Kennedy has been found dead of an apparent overdose in her apartment. From the start, Deven wants to believe it isn't true--her sister didn't do drugs and is traveling to the Dominican Republic. Taken to the. police station to identify her, she insists that the body they have is not her sister despite all evidence to the contrary. Is she just in denial? The police certainly think so. Deven takes matters into her own hands and starts trying to find Kennedy, finding out that she may not know her sister as well as she thinks.
Behind Her Lives was a quick read, that drew me in immediately with the premise and the action as Deven investigates and tries to prove the police wrong. Told mostly from Deven's point of view with some of Kennedy's diary entries mixed in, it jumps back-and-forth between present day, to different times before Deven's world is shattered by the police visit. At times this made the book feel disjointed and it got a little confusing. There are lots of twists and turns, some of which I saw coming and some I didn't, and a plethora of secrets and lies are uncovered. Deven is not always likable and makes some questionable choices, but at the end of the day, I wanted to see her succeed and found myself turning the pages quickly to get resolution. If you like psychological thrillers, mysteries, and multicultural books with lots of action, you will likely enjoy this one.
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Author Notes: Briana Cole is an acclaimed author, motivational speaker, sex educator and actress. Her novels are known for exploring unconventional relationships and making readers question all expectations about love, lust, and monogamy. An Atlanta native, she graduated cum laude from Georgia Southern University and is a proud member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Her motto and ultimate drive toward success is a famous quote from Mae West: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
Connect with Briana online at BrianaCole.com, and on Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, and Twitter @BColeAuthor.
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Note: A review copy of "Behind Her Lives" was provided to me by the author and the publisher via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
You can see the stops for the rest of this TLC Book Tour and learn what other reviewers thought about the book below.
Tour Dates:
Monday, October 24th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy – excerpt
Monday, October 31st: Run Wright and @karen_runwrightreads
Monday, October 31st: @books_wine_and_sunshine
Tuesday, November 1st: @booksnbikram
Tuesday, November 1st: Jathan & Heather – excerpt
Wednesday, November 2nd: @bearyintobooks
Wednesday, November 2nd: @beachesandreads
Thursday, November 3rd : @diveintoagoodbook
Thursday, November 3rd: @bookmarked.by.becky
Friday, November 4th: @bookish.kels
Friday, November 4th: Kahakai Kitchen
Saturday, November 5th: @books.with.courtney
Sunday, November 6th: @readergirlie
Monday, November 7th: @sometimesrobinreads on TikTok
Monday, November 7th: @nina_the_bookworm
Tuesday, November 8th: @angiearoundwonderland
Tuesday, November 8th: From the TBR Pile – review and excerpt
Wednesday, November 9th: @brianas_best_reads
Thursday, November 10th: @blackbiracialandbookish
Thursday, November 10th: @erynereads
Friday, November 11th: @readdrinkandbemary
Friday, November 11th: 5 Minutes for Books
TBD: Wednesday, November 2nd: @bourgeoisiebookworm on TikTok
