The Secret of Lies by Barbara Forte Abate

"Propelled by an insurmountable sense of desperation, Stevie Burke is recklessly abandoning home, husband, and outwardly contented life under cover of night; at last resigned to defeat in her long battle against the tortured memories of her past.

Days later, lost and floundering in a dreary motel room without plan or destination, it is a long ago song playing on the radio that gently tugs Stevie back through the dust of remembrance. 1957 - The last summer spent at the ancient house overlooking the North Atlantic. A season which had unfolded with abundant promise, but then spiraled horribly out of control - torn apart by a shattering tragedy that remains splintered in fragments upon her soul. And it is only now, when Stevie at last lifts her eyes to stare deep into the heart of her long sequestered memories, that the long held secrets of past and future are at last unveiled."

The Secret of Lies is Barbara Forte Abate's first book. The story is intriguing. As the summer of 1957 unfolds and the story is explained through Stevie's eyes, I found myself saddened by the events in her life and wondered how she would cope with the discoveries. The family interactions were interesting and I loved the way Abate wrote the relationship between Stevie and her sister. The story then follows Stevie into adulthood as she tries to leave the tragedies of that summer behind her. She is sometimes unloveable and yet I could understand her confusion and abrasive behaviour. The ending left me a little unsettled, but I think it is because I am used to things being tied up neatly. This book leaves many questions for the reader to answer with their own imagination.

What I really loved about this book was the author's writing style. Abate has a way with words and I would often find myself stopping to read her sentences over again just to savor the beauty of the words. The story was interesting and well told. I enjoyed this book and recommend it. Abate is a good writer and I'm interested in seeing what she writes next. You can learn more about Barbara Forte Abate at her website and you can purchase the book here.