This emotional debut by Randy Susan Meyers tells of two sisters torn apart by domestic tragedy. When her mother throws her father out, young Lulu is told never to let him in again. But Lulu disobeys, and the consequences are heartbreaking. Lulu's mother ends up killed, and Lulu and her sister Merry are orphaned. Now, as the sisters grow into adulthood, they find the ghosts of their past are difficult to outrun.
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"Very intense full of surprises book absolutely love it. A lot of it was around my experience. Impossible to put down easy to follow. Very gripping to the last word. Horrible reality for anyone to live through but human cruelty has no bounds. Also I understand that some would be able to forgive. From trauma standpoint I can see that there were barriers in both lives and broken family connections. Well-written"
— DARIA Koudriqcheva (5 out of 5 stars)
“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“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.”
— Los Angeles Times“A tense and emotional story of two sisters anchored to one irreversible act of domestic violence…Meyers painstakingly traces their lives to show just how much everyone else pays for that one act of violence.”
— Miami Herald“The author delivers unshakable truths at every turn…Meyers, in a remarkably assured debut, details how the sisters process their grief in separate but similarly punishing ways.”
— Denver Post“The psychologically complex characters make Meyers’ debut a satisfying read.”
— Publishers Weekly“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" This story fell flat to me. The premise was interesting enough -- an estranged Father shows up and kills the Mom and wounds the younger sister. How would these two girls heal? While my heart went out to these two girls, I never felt that I connected with any of the characters. I really didn't understand their actions and by the end of the story I was a little perplexed by the outcome. This story had much promise but just didn't live up to my expectations. "
— Kristi,, 2/19/2014" I have mixed feelings about this book. I wanted to like the main characters, but the annoyed me throughout most of the story. "
— Jameelah, 2/4/2014" Very good story, read it in a couple of days. "
— June, 2/3/2014" Kept my attention. Very messed up family dynamics. "
— Phuong, 1/15/2014" The book was an easy reading and easily transitioned through the years and lives of these two girls. I wouldn't call this an excellent book but I think it was a good book and definitely showed the different feelings and perspectives that a person could go through when dealing with this situation. Unfortunately this type of scenerio is to common in todays society. "
— Michelle, 1/6/2014" I thought this book was pretty good. I would probably give it 3.5 stars if I could. It was an interesting (and different) premise. "
— Karen, 1/4/2014" Ok,so I had just finished (not to long ago) another book about murder and how to feel about it in relation to the death penalty. Too much of that can get ya down! This was totally different.... very well written - I really enjoyed it~! "
— Caitlin, 11/29/2013" Thought I would like it more than I did. 2.5. "
— Jackie, 10/29/2013" I liked this novel, the story of the two sisters, the family broken by tragedy. The ending was abrupt for me, and I could have used another chapter or two to complete the long, long cycle we'd been on. But an enjoyable read. "
— Jessica, 9/15/2013" just didn't hold my attention . . . don't feel like finishing it . . . too many other books out there for me to read . . . "
— Lisa, 7/25/2013" This was a great book. However, I found myself angry with the younger sister because she didn't handle things the way I would have. I thought her weak even though in a way I understood why she did what she did. "
— Ashley, 2/6/2013" I stayed up until 1230 AM to finish this book - - and I wasn't disappointed. "
— Maggie, 12/7/2012" Yes, I liked it. But it's not a book for everyone. Fairly strong language and some tough subject matters. Very interesting read though. "
— Jane, 11/6/2012" Lulu and Merry's father murdered their mother in 1971. The novel follows them struggling through the next 30 years; through living with their grandmother, a group home, a foster home, and into adulthood. "
— Mary, 11/3/2012" I didn't think the quality of the writing was amazing but what I liked was that the plot was realistic & not all tied up neatly into a happy ending. Broken families are not tidy. "
— Ceri, 9/6/2012" Started off slow. Was a bit redundant. But an okay read. Would read more by her. "
— Jessi, 5/24/2012" The subject was a good idea but it wasn't treated very well. "
— Margot, 2/6/2012" This book was one of the best new books I have read in the last five years. The story was believable and so were the characters. I appreciated how her two main characters dealt with the all too common reality of a father who murdered their mother. "
— Debbie, 8/1/2011" this book is a rare gem,makes you laugh cry and root for the sisters, just awesome, "
— Gina, 6/10/2011" So boring! Spent the whole book waiting for SOMETHING to happen "
— Jessica, 5/19/2011" I enjoyed the double-first-person format as the story followed both sisters through their lives and their respective dysfunctions as a result of what happened. I thought the writing was good and the story was good. I'd recommend it, and will probably re-read it as I often do with books I like. "
— Cathy, 5/18/2011" This story was very haunting. It stays with you long after you finished the book. "
— Diane, 5/16/2011" Got this one at Target....from their book club. "
— Sharon, 5/16/2011" I like this author's style. She captured my attention from the very first page. I enjoyed the book, but I didn't think it was great. Something felt like it was missing. "
— Tamie, 5/14/2011" What a great book! This was a very deep book about two sisters who were orphaned after their father was sentenced to life for an unthinkable crime and the consequences of this throughout their lives. It was hard to put down. "
— Gabriella, 5/8/2011" This book was okay...I'd give it 2.5 stars. Having a sister, I enjoyed reading about the individual personalities of the two "daughters", but kept waiting for a climactic moment that never happened. "
— Kala, 5/7/2011" LOVED this book. I am always a sucker for traumatic childhood stories. This was beautifully written. I fell in love with the sisters and became totally wrapped up in their lives like they were friends of mine. A must read! "
— Jenn, 5/4/2011" The best book I have read in a long time. I look forward to reading more books by the author. "
— Cherlynn, 5/4/2011" Great book. Just wanted it to go on and on. My interest never waned. Definitely recommend. "
— Kathie, 4/27/2011" I enjoyed reading this book. The power of sister ties and the love of a husband held my interest to see how the story would end "
— Cheryl, 4/26/2011" Started a little slow but it was a very good book. She is a really good writer. "
— Kari, 4/21/2011" i liked this book alot. It involves the lives of two sisters who witness at a very young age their fathermurder their mother and how this effects their entire future "
— Lisa, 4/20/2011Randy Susan Meyers is
the coauthor of the nonfiction book Couples with Children. Her short fiction
has been published in Perigee, Fog City Review, and Grub Street Free Press. Meyers spent
eight years as assistant director of Common Purpose, a batterer intervention
program, and was director for the Mission Hill Community
Centers, where she worked with at-risk youth. She currently lives and works in Boston,
Massachusetts.
Angela Goethals is a native New Yorker who has appeared on and off Broadway in Picnic, Four Baboons Adoring the Sun, and The Good Times Are Killing Me, for which she won an Obie Award and a Drama Desk nomination. Since moving to Los Angeles with her husband, she has appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, Without a Trace, and Boston Public, with a recurring role on 24.
Susan Bennett, Earphones Award-winning narrator, has enjoyed an extensive career as a vocal artist. She has worked with major agencies on such accounts as Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, AT&T, Blue Cross, Goodyear, and Club Med. She also dabbles in the music industry as the singer and keyboardist for The Interactive! Band. Along with her guitarist husband, Rick Hinkle, she is the co-owner of Audiocam Music, a full-service recording studio.