Live to Tell

Live to Tell is a suspense/mystery novel by Wendi Corsi Staub.  I believe that it is part of a series, but that each book can also stand on it's own.  There are three stories that run concurrently in this book, each one dealing with families that are dealing with turmoil and secrets.

The first story deals with a family that is struggling through divorce.  Lauren Walsh's husband left her for another woman.  She is trying to pick up the pieces and assemble some sort of normal life for her three children.  But when Lauren's ex-husband makes a simple, albeit careless, mistake, little do they know that they have all been thrown into a conspiracy that could cost the entire Walsh family their lives.  And the youngest Walsh is keeping a secret, that could save or destroy the family.

The second story relates to a husband and wife who lost their seven year old son fifteen years ago.  Elsa still struggles to find closure.  Brett is trying to keep his wife sane and support her, but also move on from the tragedy.  Elsa is still trying to figure out what happened to her son, and still has a PI digging into the past.  The secrets that he might unravel could alter Else and Brett's lives.

Finally, the Garvey Quinn is running for Governor and has the White House in his sights.  His picture perfect family isn't so perfect though.  He has a dangerous secret that he needs to keep quiet or his future will be ruined.  He is a man that is willing to do whatever it takes, and then wash his hands and move on.  He has had one goal for most of his life and will let nothing get in his way.

The reader is pushed through the book wondering how exactly these stories connect.  Little by little, the author weaves the web, and lets the reader try to piece it all together.  The result is a novel that is fast paced, but sometimes a little confusing.  It was a good suspenseful novel though, and while the author moves the story along a little too quickly sometimes, the reader still gets the full story and a satisfying race to the finish.

Happy Reading!