PRINT REVIEWS
"From the very first page and straight on until the last, the clear and distinctive voice of Randy Susan Meyers's The Murderer's Daughters will have you enraptured and wanting more—even though self-preservation may curl you into a ball to shield yourself from the painful circumstances of the two sisters. This is a heart-breaking and powerful novel."—Massachusetts Center for The Book, Mass Book Awards Finalist & named as "Must Read Fiction"
"Dives fearlessly into a tense and emotional story of two sisters anchored to one irreversible act of domestic violence."
—Christine Thomas, The Miami Herald
"A powerful portrait of two sisters growing up in the shadow of violence . . . A thought-provoking, heart-tugging debut."
—Boston Magazine
"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."
—Jan Gardner, Boston Globe
"How both sisters live, from the squalor of an orphanage to the empty silences of suburban living, is all too believable and heartbreaking."
—Sarah Weinman, LA Times 'Knock-Out Debuts'
"A clear-eyed, insightful story about domestic violence and survivor's guilt . . . an impressively executed novel, disturbing and convincing."
—Diane White, Boston Globe
"Beautiful language balms the dark plot."
—Daily Candy, "Best New Winter Books"
"Unshakable truths at every turn. . . Meyers, in a remarkably assured debut, details how the sisters process their grief in separate but similarly punishing ways."
—Christian Toto, The Denver Post
"Asks with feeling and intelligence the limits of blame . . . absolutely amazing."
—Questions de femmes, France
"A wonderful and thoughtful, wise novel."
—Annabelle, Germany
"A magnificent novel. . . Sometimes funny, always incisive, a great novel about resilience."
—Glamour Magazine France
"Meyers's writing is dramatic without being overdone . . ."
—Boston Herald
"A touching tale that will truly move you."
—The Sun, UK
"Your heart will go out to Lulu and Merry. The tale of their grief and struggle to find their identities is beautifully written. A great debut novel."
—Rochelle Olson, Star Tribune, Minneapolis-St. Paul
"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
"A story of violence and sorrow but also of loyalty. An impressive, compelling novel."
—Daphne Curtis, The Daily Echo UK
"A complex look at justice, the nature of truth, and above all, at the reality of feelings." —Psychologies Magazine France
"As provocative as We Need to Talk About Kevin and as emotional as any Jodi Picoult novel."
—New Zealand Women's Weekly
"An astutely paced, beautifully written and heartbreaking work of fiction."
—Sharon Chisvin, Winnipeg Free Press
"Simply Unforgettable."
—Femme Actuelle, France
"A gut-wrenchingly powerful, emotional novel that takes a very real look at how today's society handles crimes of passions and their consequences. She handles the subject with a tough-love, gloves-off approach that is both sensitive and practical, and as a result gives readers a look into a life that many live and deal with on a daily basis."
—Sharon Galligar Chance, Wichita Falls Time Record News
"Profoundly empathic."
—TGV Magazine, France
"A haunting new novel."
—The Jewish Daily Forward (A Sisterhood Reading List Pick)
"A book about justice."
—Elle, France, (Pick for December)
" . . . above all else the question of forgiveness."
—Jewish Book World
"A magnificent book."
—Public Magazine, France
"Meyers makes the voices of each girl--and their different ways of feeling and dealing-novelistically rich, and their dilemmas poignant."
—Mopsy Strange Kennedy, The Improper Bostonian
". . . the relationship between the sisters, and their faltering attempts to shield each other from pain, comes across as achingly real."
—Winnipeg Jewish Review
"Psychologically complex characters make Meyers's debut a satisfying read."
—Publishers Weekly
"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
"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."
—Jillian Taratunio, Jamaica Plain Gazette
"Compelling and satisfying."
—Hudson Valley News
"Meyers's empathetic, socially conscious debut considers the burdens carried and eventually shed by two sisters, survivors of domestic violence . . . with affecting moments and insights."
—Kirkus Reviews
ONLINE REVIEWS
"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
"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
"A powerful book that stuck with me for days. After reading the first chapter, I wasn't able to put it down; I had to know how the story resolved. . . a fantastic debut novel about the impact of family violence on children."
—Calgary Library
"This isn't a story about a murder. It's a story about how two little girls grow into two complicated women and ultimately come to terms with the tragedy that defined their childhood. I highly recommend it."
—Bethanne Patrick, The Book Studio WETA
"The Murderer's Daughters is an exquisitely well crafted novel."
—The MetroReader
"The author has made an extraordinary thing. Her evocative prose moves to the core." —zwiedzamwszechswiat.blogspot.com
"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
"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 terrible things men—not monsters—do."
—Amin Ahmad, The Good Men's Project
"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. 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
"First-time novelist Randy Susan Meyers certainly knows how to draw a reader into her story while creating empathy for her characters."
—San Francisco & Sacramento Book Review
"Ms. Meyers weaves quite a story. One that is wonderful, haunting and heart-wrenching. She has a gifted way of making you understand both sisters and their struggles. To think that children deal with these issues in real life makes the problems you deal with look small and less significant. I don't think I have read a book like The Murderer's Daughters. It is truly unique and wonderful. I urge all of you to read this book. I for one, will not forget it."
—Girls Just Reading
"This one is a great debut novel. . .Once you start this book you won't want to put it down."
—Indianola Public Library Reviews
"Family blood stains the pages of Meyers' crisp and appealing melodrama in which two girls confront a devastating act of violence that shapes much of their lives. It is the author's humane and contemporary touch that brings so much depth to this novel, an affecting exploration of relationships framed around the powers of forgiveness and the evolving bonds of family love."
—Curledup.com
"Merry and Lulu try to step out from the shadow of their father's sins, and find redemption in their own lives. Meyers tackles a very difficult subject with grace and authenticity."
—MUSE
"A shocking act of family violence overshadows the lives of two sisters, from childhood to maturity. A riveting debut."
—Book of the Month Club
"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."
—bookendbabes
"Tragic and intense, The Murderer's Daughters will leave readers questioning everything they know about parenting and what it means to be a family. Its portrayal of the murder and the emotional aftermath is haunting yet lyrical, demanding the reader to continue with the story."
—Michelle's Masterful Musings
"A brilliant book that dealt with the emotional and psychological impact of childhood violence and one that I connected with on so many levels. The author, in my opinion, captured two distinct and valid ways that children internalize and cope with traumatic experiences and how it impacts them as adults. Reading this book actually helped me reanalyze my own feelings about my father and I'm grateful for it. I would encourage everyone to read this book."
—Wordsmithonia Blogspot
"Wow, I just don't know what to say. Even with the sensitive subject matter and tense moments I loved this book. It is definitely one you can't put down."
—'Til We Read Again
"A crime of passion destroys a family. And is it easy to overcome it? It is one of those books that lingers in our mind. We feel for the sisters and the stigma of being a murderer's daughter stays on."
—Everything Distills Into Reading
"A world that pulls you in page by page and will not give you up until the very last word. Once I started this book I had a hard time putting it down . . . this novel would make a fantastic book club selection."
—Life in the Thumb Blogspot
"A very accurate, well-written, no-holds barred view on what the reality is like for two girls who suffer from having a self-centered mother and an abusive father. . .for those of you drama lovers out there, this is a book you should not miss."
—The Lost Entwife
"Randy Susan Meyers has done an excellent job of describing the aftermath and fallout in families from violence."
—Booksie's Blog
"This book is immensely readable, grabbing my attention from the very first chapter."
—A Few More Pages
"A gripping novel that puts a human face on domestic violence and what it can do to families."
—Deb's Bookbag Blogspot
"Randy Susan Meyers's riveting debut novel is not only a compelling and disturbing tale, but also one that still haunts me when I realize that such painful occurrences are not sporadic, but for many, a daily, unending struggle for survival."
—Irene Yeates, Author Exposure
"The Murderer's Daughters is an ideal selection for a women's book club."
—Book Line & Sinker
"The Murderer's Daughters grabs you by the hand and pulls you into the lives of Lulu, ten, and Merry, five, from its very first page! After such an intense reading experience, it's difficult to let their world go! This novel is skillfully written and conceived by Ms. Meyers to unlock everyone's emotions. Highly recommended as a sensitive portrayal of those who act rashly and those who don't, and how both try to get along in this world."
—Book Room Reviews
"An impressive, fictional debut that had me in tears at one point. Beautifully told, sad at times yet ultimately hopeful. Book clubs would do well with this one. There is so much to discuss and much of it is still on my mind. I recommend it highly."
—Book Chatter
"The Murderer's Daughters takes an honest look into the eyes of grief and forgiveness." —Reading Lark
"An important book that will linger in your mind long after the final page is turned."
—Large-Hearted Boy
"Not once was the emotion overdone or exaggerated, though. The subtlety of the drama was too real, so believable . . . What I found MOST impressive was what Meyers DIDN'T say. It was the emotion between the words that blew me away. I could tell her debut novel was a labour of love for Randy Susan Meyers."
—Alison's Book Marks
"What a story. If you're interested in reading (or writing) about how certain events define us, or how pieces come together over a lifetime to form our characters, or how trauma influences one's concept of family, this book is for you. And if you're just looking for a captivating beach read for the summer? Ditto."
—Boston Writing Consultants
"Fraught with emotion, tragedy, and survival instinct, I thoroughly enjoyed this read."
—Mom Advice
AUTHORS
"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
"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
"A novel with a seamless understanding of everyone involved in the tragedy, and empathy for even the worst of the human heart."
—Chris Abouzied, author of Anatopsis
"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's 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
"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
