Friday, September 25, 2015

Black-Eyed Susans

Black-Eyed Susans
by Julia Heaberlin

I have been reading Julia Heaberlin's books since I was first introduced to her writing in 2013 during the Texas Library Association's annual conference when Playing Dead was the book for One Book, One Conference. I was thrilled when I saw Lie Still was available through NetGalley a few weeks later. I was equally excited when I discovered her latest book, Black-Eyed Susans on NetGalley as well.

The main character is Tessa. As a teenager she was found buried in an abandoned field with bones and the body of another young girl. The book is told in different voices - Tessa and Lydia (her best friend), and moves from 1995 to the present. The years are presented in flashbacks, therapy sessions, diary entries, and trial questioning.

The time is quickly approaching when the man charged with and convicted for the deaths of the Black-Eyed Susans (named because of the flowers spread over their bodies) will be executed. Because of a variety of events, Tessa no longer believes this man (Terrell) is guilty of the crimes for which he has been convicted, and has started working with an attorney and forensic scientist to overturn his conviction.

Ms. Heaberlin is from the Fort Worth area, so fans of the great city will enjoy reading about local attractions and facilities. Like all of her previous books, this psychological thriller will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a great suspenseful tale.

*To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Random House Publishing has provided an electronic copy of Black-Eyed Susans for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the publishing company.