Legacy of Silence: A Novel

I picked this book up randomly from my stacks and stacks of books when I couldn't decide what to read next. I just decided to grab something and read it. I was pleasantly surprised. The book covers 3 generations, well, 4 really counting the grandparents. It starts in Berlin, Germany in 1938 and continues on as sisters are forced to flee Nazi Germany to America. The characters are well drawn and I just couldn't put the book down. I read it in one day. And, though I finished it last night, I'm still pondering it today. If you've read the reviews, you will know that there is a big secret revealed at the end. I didn't see it coming at all, yet in hindsight it seems perfectly logical. It wasn't something just thrown in for shock value. This was my first book by this author, I only hope her others are as good.

Belva Plain made the characters come to life in this novel. I thought the ending was excellent. Lore was a very interesting character and Belva kept her doings a secret to the end. There was a lot of interesting history in this book, the second world war, the nazis, the persecuted Jews. It really gave you a feeling of what those years were like for some people. It was a very realistic story of what could have happened in those years. All of the emotions of life were displayed...death, birth, war, hate,love, loyalty, honesty, dishonesty and so on. Belva, hurry with another novel and I will be the first in line to buy it.

Belva Plain knows how to capture your attention right from the start. Her characters are perfect and the story is one you won't want to put down. Endings can be disappointing in many books, but not in this one. Right to the end, you will be surprised and captivated. Bravo, Belva!

Belva Plain has crafted a splendidly stunning story in her novel, "Legacy of Silence," which leaves one begging for more. Not since Sidney Sheldon's "The Other Side of Midnight" have I encountered a story that I could not put down. It has all the ingredients a family saga needs: Two strong woman characters, a plot that continually moves along and unfolds and a great amount of suspense which finally explodes. To reveal the plot in any great detail would be a mistake. "Legacy of Silence" is about deceit, lies and the means in which one can control the history of ones family. The characters of Caroline and Lore will remain with the reader long after the last page has been read. The New York Times once said of Belva Plain, "She is the queen of family sagas." Yes, she is!

Belva Plain has crafted a splendidly stunning story in her novel, "Legacy of Silence" which leaves one begging for more. Not since Sidney Sheldon's "The Other Side of Midnight" have I encountered a story that I could not put down. It has all the ingredients a family saga needs: Two strong woman characters, a plot that continually moves along and unfolds and a great amount of suspense which finally explodes. To reveal the plot in any great detail would be a mistake. "Legacy of Silence" is about deceit, lies and the means in which one can control the history of ones family. The characters of Caroline and Lore will remain with the reader long after the last page has been read. The New York Times once said of Belva Plain, "She is the queen of family sagas" Yes, she is!