Review: Slow paced tale of grief
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 04 13, 2014
Last year Anna Thorne fell from the roof of her school. Now, her father Jon struggles to keep the family from falling apart, her mother Kate alternately withdraws and strikes out in anger and her younger sister Lizzie is secretly dating Anna's former boyfriend. Secrets about what really happened on the rooftop and Anna's relationship might pull the family further apart or being them closer together.Don't read SWORN SECRET and expect to find another RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA, or you'll be sorely disappointed. Don't expect the quality of writing, depth of character or fast pace. SWORN SECRET is primarily a study in profound, interminable grief and the effects on different family members. Since I'm American, it's tougher for me to judge writing from the UK, but I found this novel to be slow paced and filled with too much backstory that didn't help understand or deepen the plot. At least 25% could have been cut from this nearly 400 page book to improve the pace and keep interest.I might or might not read another book by Amanda Jennings, depending on the the topic and length.