"Randy Susan Meyers's sensitive story about the legacy of domestic violence is painful to read at times, but unforgettable. Meyers delivers a clear-eyed, insightful story about domestic violence and survivor's guilt in "The Murderer's Daughters." It's an impressively executed novel, disturbing and convincing."—Boston Globe, Diane White
"Men kill their wives all too often, but the after-effects are as unique as the individuals who are forced to cope with them. . . How both sisters live, from the squalor of an orphanage to the empty silences of suburban living, is all too believable and heartbreaking because there is no acceptable answer for how to deal with one's part, as living victim, of a horrible crime -- only an often-lonely struggle to do what's supposed to be right that takes many more wrong turns." — Los Angeles Times, Sarah Weinman,"Knock Out Debuts"
"Dives fearlessly into a tense and emotional story of two sisters anchored to one irreversible act of domestic violence."-Miami Herald, Christine Thomas "
"A powerful portrait of two sisters growing up in the shadow of violence . . . tA thought-provoking, heart-tugging debut."—Boston Magazine
"For all the years that Randy Susan Meyers counseled male batterers, there was one question that stuck with her. "What about the children?'' she wondered. "They were sleeping'' during the violence was the batterers' frequent refrain. Yet Meyers knew that violence in the home reverberates beyond the dark of night.Meyers started writing, drawing on her familiarity with the world of batterers to produce a story that could have been ripped from the day's headlines. Her debut novel "The Murderer's Daughters'' (St. Martin's) is a gripping tale of sisters Merry and Lulu struggling for 30 years to find their way in the world, one devoted to their imprisoned father, the other enraged at him"—Boston Globe, Jan Gardner
The Murderer's Daughters is an astutely paced, beautifully written and heartbreaking work of fiction . . . she weaves shock and shame into a sad and redemptive story about sisterly love. . . Family dysfunction is a popular theme in contemporary literary fiction, and when it is done well -- as it is in such books as Bastard out of Carolina and White Oleander -- it can be both moving and mesmerizing. American Randy Susan Meyers' debut novel fits this category well . . . -Sharon Chisvin, Winnipeg Free Press
"Meyers' writing is dramatic without being overdone, and the plot is eminently plausible." —Associated Press, Boston Herald
"Lulu and Merry, ages ten and six, respectively, live with parents for whom marriage is a permanent battleground. One summer day in 1971, their father fatally stabs their mother in their Brooklyn apartment near Coney Island. Merry is also attacked but survives. When their father goes to jail, the sisters are shuffled from relatives to a group home to foster care. Lulu forever blames herself for her father's crimes, and Merry inexplicably continues to carry a torch for her father. How will they come to terms with their horrific past? Readers will follow them well into adulthood, hoping for the best. VERDICT First novelist Meyers draws on the eight years she worked at a batterer intervention program. Much like Janet Fitch's White Oleander or Jacquelyn Mitchard's The Deep End of the Ocean, her book takes readers on an emotional roller-coaster ride. Readers, get out your handkerchief and prepare to care."—Library Journal Review
"With excellent craft Randy Susan Meyers gets us inside the heads of sisters Lulu and
Merry. We are with them at the horrific event,as they are rejected by family members and
sent to a Dickensian orphanage, then into a safe but difficult foster home, and on into
adulthood, one as a doctor and one a paroleofficer. Choosing to hide their past from just
about everyone, the sisters are bound to each other by a promise that is wearing to the core.
Not a day passes without wrestling the tug of family loyalty vs. the wish for oblivion. We
share the ironies of their saving and giving life, finding and holding onto love, and above all
else the question of forgiveness." —Jewish Book World
"Beautiful language balms the dark plot"—Daily Candy, Best New Winter Books
"The engrossing debut The Murderer’s Daughters is a survival story, if ever there was one
. . a tightly written, unsentimental narrative that doesn’t let either the reader or the characters opt out."— Bookpage
"It's a special treat to read a first novel by someone new, especially when that novel is as compelling and satisfying as Randy Susan Meyers' The Murderer's Daughters."—Hudson Valley News, Ann LaFarge
"It is then with Meyer's astounding ability to craft a story that hope is offered as Lulu finds love and Merry discovers true forgiveness. It is through reading the book that a question began plaguing my mind. Can this story of tragedy and triumph be somebody's reality? But as usual it was possible. The debut author, a woman of seemingly endless empathy, was able to draw on her own experience after spending ten years of her life working with men who had destroyed their own families. With this, Meyer was able to become the much needed voice for the children left behind, haunted by their past. Realising that the portrayal of these characters was so accurate, as a reader I was pulled further into this passionate story. Meyer's debut book should definitely be read. Leave a few hours though, because once you start it is impossible to leave the lives of Lulu and Merry behind. Unilife Magazine, Georgia Kelly-Bakker
"A shocking act of family violence overshadows the lives of two sisters, from childhood to maturity. A riveting debut."— Book of the Month Club
"The book has been greeted with rave reviews. . . the book's themes are the connections of sisters, raising oneself in the world, and feeling isolated, invisible, and lost."—Jamaica Plain Gazette
"Meyers' empathetic, socially conscious debut considers the burdens carried and eventually shed by two sisters, survivors of domestic violence. Ten-year-old Lulu and eight-year-old Merry are caught up in adult turmoil when their father murders their mother in July 1971. Over the subsequent three decades, Lulu feels ineradicable guilt for letting him into the apartment that day and takes on the responsibility of protecting her sister. Eminently readable . . . with affecting moments and insights."—Kirkus Review
"This solid novel begins with young Lulu finding her mother dead and her sister wounded at the hands of her alcoholic father, who has failed at killing himself after attacking the family . . .psychologically complex characters make Meyers's debut a satisfying read."—Publishers Weekly
"The Murderer's Daughters is the unforgettable tale of Merry and Lulu, little sisters in sorrow, seared by their father's violence. Their heartbreaking story, which spans thirty years, will bring tears to your eyes...but there is a shining light of hope at the end of the tunnel"—Tatiana de Rosnay, New York Times bestselling author of Sarah's Key
"In her mesmerizing, empathic novel The Murderer's Daughters, Meyers explores the bond between two sisters clinging to each other in the aftermath of their mother's murder and their father's imprisonment...and how their bond is tested by the reappearance of the past. You won't be able to put it down."—Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Save Us
This wonderful, thought-provoking novel took hold of me on page one and never let me go. With lovely prose and an uncanny delicacy for such a horrific and oftentimes unspeakable topic, Randy Susan Meyers brilliantly succeeds in telling the untold story of what happens to the children of murder victims. Alternately told through the eyes of Lulu and Merry, the story spans over 30 years and gives us a rare 
A riveting read. . . Highly recommended." —Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
"In The Murderer's Daughters Randy Susan Meyers tells the intricate and absorbing story of two sisters, one of whom regards herself as an orphan. I love the sweep of this novel, from childhood to adulthood, from pain to understanding, and how intimately Meyers knows her characters and brings them to life. I finished The Murderer's Daughters with the sense that I had been on the best kind of journey."—Margot Livesey, author of The House on Fortune Street, Winner 2009 L. L. Winship/PEN New England Award
"Meyers' debut novel-inspired by her experiences working with victims of domestic abuse-starts out strong and displays a talented writer worth watching"—Booklist Online
"This story of two near-orphaned sisters is so haunting, intimate, and real it makes the heart ache. Merry and Lulu stand among the most memorable characters I've ever encountered-and grown to love. The Murderer's Daughters is a beautiful and hypnotic debut no one should miss."—Tish Cohen, author of Inside Out Girl and Town House
"It's impossible not to be moved by Meyers' heartbreaking tale of two sisters' resilience in the face of trauma and neglect. The story's hope lies in the unique and personal ways each finds the courage to move on."—Lynne Reeves Griffin, author of Life Without Summer
"The Murderer's Daughters perfectly captures the complex entanglements of family. After unspeakable childhood trauma, Merry and Lulu are two sisters who can neither easily love nor easily leave each other. Following the girls-then women-for three decades, Meyers proves to be a humane, honest and rich storyteller. A powerful, engaging read."—Miriam Gershow, author of The Local News
"Meyers's strength is in her descriptions of the heartbreak of the sisters' situation as children and their continued struggles as adults, as well as the clarity and individuality of their voices."-School Library Journal, Kelly Jo Lasher
"If you want to understand how a hidden event of violence resonates through the next generation, read this book. It is both unsparing and compassionate. It shows a deep understanding of family life, of violence, and of the terribe thinge men--not monsters--do."—Amin Ahmad, The Good Men's Project
This one is a great debut novel. . . The story is about these two sisters and the fallout of that fateful day. The characters have a lot of depth and were interesting. I found the psychological aspects of the book fascinating. Once you start this book you won't want to put it down. I look forward to more novels by this author.— Indianola Public Library Reviews
Lulu and Merry were left virtually orphaned with no one to care for them but each other. Through the story each sister grows, taking their secret with them, and dealing in their own way with the burden of their past. Lulu, an overachiever, pushes herself to great accomplishment while closing herself off emotionally. Merry, on the other hand, is always trying to please others first, including Lulu. Eventually, they must both recognize the ways that that pivotal moment has shaped their lives in order to finally move on. Randy Susan Meyers approaches her subject with grace and sensitivity. A thoughtful, if somewhat sad (but ultimately hopeful), story about family, sisters, and the tragic effects of domestic abuse and violence on children. —Bookbitch.com
This week's Book in Bloom features a novel compared to the likes of White Oleander and The Deep End of the Ocean. If you're looking for am emotionally gripping tale, consider THE MURDERER'S DAUGHTERS by Randy Susan Meyers. —bookendbabes.com
"This is a gorgeous novel - with breathtaking writing - about one of the most vile of all crimes. Often described as an "act of passion," the killing of a spouse/partner ironically is in deed a love lost. Consider how often newscasts or newspaper report such murders. How commonplace they have become, leaving us to sigh, shake our heads at "how sad," and then to forget. Yet do your thoughts linger a bit longer when learning "the children have been taken in by family", or are "in foster care?" That information is given to comfort, to let us know that the children are being taken care of...they're safe, they're fine.
What Randy Susan Meyers reminds us is nothing could be further from the truth. The guilt, shame and painful loss of both parents will last - in some degree - forever, affecting not only childhood but adulthood too. Lulu and Merry try to heal and hide from their emotional scars by coping in different ways, but neither can outrun the past. Only accepting what is as it is can ease their burden of being a murderer's daughter."—The Divining Wand
"I literally couldn't put this book down- it was powerful, heart-breaking, and ultimately redemptive all at the same time. The girls are wonderful characters whose voices and actions ring true without seeming stereotypical. I felt emotionally connected to these girls, invested in their well-being and frantic to try to keep them safe. The author's experience with the victims of violent crime serves her well and gives the reader a wonderful (and terrifying) insight into the lives these victims lead. Highly recommended!"—Foreign Circus Library
"The cover of this complex book will peak your interest. The title may off-set you. My first notion was that it was a mystery. No mystery here as a very important character is murdered straight away. And we know who killed her. And we find out why. . . The story spans thirty years in their lives, always with the real possibility of their father earning his freedom from prison a real possibility at some point. This is what makes this story so compelling for me: not knowing if or when the man will be free. Meyers is a powerful story teller who draws us in with the murder itself, then moves onto the story of Merry and Lulu. Definitely a good novel for discussion"—Maurice on Books
"This is one of the best written stories I've read in a long time. . . Violence, pathos, sorrow, empathy, love: these elements pack The Murderer's Daughters with hope."—Blogcritics.com
"At the heart of this story, is the unbreakable bond shared between these sisters, who witnessed the murder of their mother. As the oldest, Lulu feels tremendous guilt for the injuries Merry suffered, and dedicates her life to making sure Merry is safe. The irony is Merry never feels safe, as Lulu forces her to repress her feelings and memories. Regardless of their differing opinions, these sisters are forever united by the horror they witnessed, knowing that no one else will understand the events the events that unfolded on that hot summer day.
"'The most amazing thing about this book is that it deals with the complexities of familial relationships and obligations in an honest, straight-forward way, forcing the reader to place themselves in the characters situation. How do you choose between parents? How do you forgive a parent, the person who is supposed to protect you from harm, after they intentionally brought harm to you?" —Manhattan Literature Examiner
"Meyers, who worked with families for years, brings an authenticity to this coming of age novel, and insight into the process of healing."—Family Life Stories
"OK, at this point you are probably asking, "Why would anyone want to read such a gruesome story?" Well, without giving anything away, the fundamental story here is that of two sisters who never fail to be there for each other. Though the story continues to be rough at points (how could it not be?), it is the story of the kind of unfailing commitment that I think we all long for and wish for those we love. Clearly, this is not the story of ordinary, everyday families. But every family has its dysfunctions, and even if not quite so brutally obvious, every dysfunction has a way of "upping the stakes".That means that the themes that this story treats are not far from any of us; themes that deal with such things as what it means to be a family, the price of keeping secrets, and how living with our own failings, real or perceived, exacts its price. Despite the rather dramatic nature of the beginning, many of these themes are treated with subtlety, and you'll have to think about it to recognize them and fully appreciate their impact (at least I did). . . I liked this book because it let me believe that as awful as the world can be, there is always a reason to hope."— DaddyRoBlog
"This book is fascinating as it unfolds. While nothing much seems to happen after this pivotal moment, the action is psychologically unfolding throughout. It's a portrait of what childhood violence does to a lifetime. I read this one in one go; the author has an easy to read style and knows how to engage the reader. This is not beach book material as the topic is heavy and at times disarming. I think this one would be a fantastic book club choice because there are so many angels to discuss from as a group. This one will stay with you long after you read it.— Brandon Gazette
"A shocking act of family violence overshadows the lives of two sisters, from childhood to maturity. A riveting debut."— Book of the Month Club
"There are no easy solutions in Meyers' gripping book about a childhood that tests the bond of two sisters. Through their shared narrative, the women's story will make readers consider how lies and violence overshadow a person's life."— Romantic Times Reviews: Mainstream Fiction
"A story excepted from The Murderer's Daughter, SURE HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE YOU KILLED MAMA, placed third in the Perigee: Publication for the Arts 2008 Fiction Contest. Judge Thomas E Kennedy wrote about the story: "An unsentimental handling of a situation which might have, but doesn't, collapse into the terrible emotions it contains."—Thomas Kennedy, Frank Expatriate Award Winner, 2002
"THE MURDERER'S DAUGHTERS will appeal to many readers who have not experienced the exact circumstance of the characters but other family difficulties in varying degrees because of the author's insights into personality. While honoring the children to whom she pays tribute, Randy Susan Meyers does an excellent job at writing concrete characters with a detailed specificity whose appeal is also universal. Various readers might disagree whether or not the final drama is realistic or not in terms of real life, but as a development in this story, in the fictional lives of Merry and Lulu, the last scenes are perfectly chosen. THE MURDERER'S DAUGHTERS is a riveting story. Lulu and Merry easily become characters one cares about. While the circumstances they face are horrifying, their personalities and lives drive the story forward. Outrage at the actions of their father, not just then but throughout his imprisonment as he seeks a caretaker for himself, is well balanced by the author's ability to portray the strength, determination and brilliance of the daughters. Randy Susan Meyers does not simplify the scars they carry but neither does she simplify the force of their character. Each character has a brilliant force within her and indeed a beauty. An excellent reading choice!"—-Book Illuminations from Merrimon Book Reviews
"This book, from the first sentence, pulls you in: "I wasn't surprised when Mama asked me to save her life." Right away, you are swept into the lives of Lulu and Merry, sisters who must go through life after experiencing a horrible act when they were ten and six, respectively . . . I am still getting over the fact that this book is over. I keep on thinking... 'But it cannot be... no!' I love this book with all my heart. There were some points in it (which I will not explain, as it gives stuff away), but there were a few points where I literally stopped breathing until that section was over . . . I could go on for quite a long time about what is so great about this book, but then I'd have to explain for pages. So, instead in January 2010 go out and buy it!! — A Corner of The Universe Just For Books
"The Murderer's Daughter is a profound look at the survivors coping throughout their respective lifetimes when a family member commits an atrocity; exponentially devastating when the trauma is also against another family member."—Genre-Go-Round
