Annabelle has finally made peace with the loss of her beloved husband. Until she finds out he wasnt alone when he died
Since a pla... read full description
Since a pla... read full description
reviews
Feb 07, 2011
bookczuk
rated it: 
(There is a moderate spoiler after the 3rd paragraph. Not enough to hide the whole review, but enough, that if you are serious about reading the book, you might not want to know ahead of time, though I will try and be vague as possible.)
I feel really bad that I just don't like this author's premises that much, but obviously it doesn't keep me from trying again when a book of hers comes my way. She loves the low country. I love the low country. We have that meeting ground. But hones More...
I feel really bad that I just don't like this author's premises that much, but obviously it doesn't keep me from trying again when a book of hers comes my way. She loves the low country. I love the low country. We have that meeting ground. But hones More...
Jan 18, 2009
Kathleen
rated it: 
This book just continued to draw me in - the characters, the plot's twists and turns, the author's use of language. Two years after her husband dies flying a small plane, the main character is trying very hard to juggle all her responsibilities as mother, friend, professional while still grieving for the loss of her husband. His plane is found along with the body of a female passenger. Despite their long history together, his reputation as father, friend and husband, his unquestionable profess
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Mar 19, 2009
Vivian
rated it: 
Patti Callahan Henry's writing just gets better and better. This one is a definite page turner that hooked me from the first page with its beautiful descriptions of the Lowcountry. Ms. Henry is a talented Southern writer in the tradition of Mary Alice Monroe, Dorothea Benton Frank and Anne Rivers Siddons.
Two years after Annabelle's husband dies in a plane crash, his body and that of a woman are found in the wreckage. With the help of her family and friends, Annabelle explores the rea More...
Two years after Annabelle's husband dies in a plane crash, his body and that of a woman are found in the wreckage. With the help of her family and friends, Annabelle explores the rea More...
Jul 01, 2009
Molly
rated it: 
To be honest, I didn't completely read this book. I got it for free when I went to VA beach last year and it has just been sitting on my shelf. So I finally grabbed it to read on the metro. The first 100 pages were super easy to read. Nothing to process, just a mental break, which is nice. However, again, I just couldn't relate to the characters. I felt like the author was trying to be Mary Higgins Clark in her descriptions and trying to add suspense to the story, but it just didn't do it for me
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Jul 24, 2011
Nancy
rated it:
Really enjoyed this book about Trust, and knowing the people in your life to the core. Hidden secrets and how they affect those around us. The story of a woman who loved her life and thought she lost it. The story of another who hid hers by fear. The story of finding.
All of this in a story about a woman whose husband died in a plane crash and they find there was a woman with him which alters everything she thought she knew about him but in the end really did know. Also about loving person More...
All of this in a story about a woman whose husband died in a plane crash and they find there was a woman with him which alters everything she thought she knew about him but in the end really did know. Also about loving person More...
Aug 03, 2009
Amy
rated it:
Rather lame. When Annabelle Murphy finds out her dead husband was in a plane wreck with another woman, Liddy, she understandably starts to questions her relationship with her husband. The rollercoaster though of up and down emotions is a bit annoying. From jumping to conclusions to just accepting after all the questions/frustrations seemed a bit too easy. When she finally finds out the majority of what happened, she seems to accept it and then finds love with her best friend, Shawn. The fa
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Jan 24, 2012
Erika
rated it:
Overall it was just okay. Some parts were a little unbelievable, for instance, the main character had known her husband since elementary school and their group of frineds were their same friends from high school. The novel is mainly about Sophie's, Liddy's, and Knox's secrets, but Sean also reveals a very big secret of his to Anabelle. Anabelle's daughter, Keeley, is exasperating because she is so rude. The beginning is slow but once you start to learn more about Sophie the novel gets more i
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Oct 03, 2008
Nancy
rated it:
I have two categories for books I don't like: books I don't like but can finish, and books I don't like and can't finish. This fell into the former category. I didn't object to the fact that this was a light fluff read. But, I was really irritated by Sophie who is one of the main characters. She's a dolphin researcher who is researching why dolphins get caught in the nets of commercial fishermen so that regulations can be imposed to prevent it. She does her research from the boat of a loca
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Aug 23, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
Annabelle Murphy is a widow. Her husband knoxdird in a plane accident. For two years Annabelle has mourned his loss and tried to move on with her life.
Just when her life has reached some normalcy, her husband's plane is found in a remote area of Colorado. But the plane not only contains her husband, but unidentified woman. And annabelle's world is upturned.
The novel explores how we can't always know everything about those we love.
Just when her life has reached some normalcy, her husband's plane is found in a remote area of Colorado. But the plane not only contains her husband, but unidentified woman. And annabelle's world is upturned.
The novel explores how we can't always know everything about those we love.
Jul 19, 2009
george
rated it:
It was alright. I enjoyed the images of the small coastal town, mainly because I've been to so many like the one described. The character of Sophie intrigued me, not so much because of her secrets, but because of her mindset. Although, to be honest, the main reason I finished the book was to finally find out what the hell her secret was. By that point it was not longer charming.
Jul 30, 2009
Carol
rated it:
Great book...started it while waiting for a baseball game and read half of it b/f the game started. Easy read with a good love story plot. But what intrigued me is that it really makes you think not only about your own "secrets" but about those of those close to you. I do believe it to be true....we all have secrets....whether we admit it or not.
Jul 10, 2009
Jen
rated it:
A man's plane crashed and was missing for 2 years. When the reckage is uncovered, a woman's body is found along side the pilot's.
The man... Knox... was thought to be the perfect husband and father. However, who was this woman? Why was he flying with her.
The book is centered around KNox's family, as they try to uncover the secrets of his past.
The man... Knox... was thought to be the perfect husband and father. However, who was this woman? Why was he flying with her.
The book is centered around KNox's family, as they try to uncover the secrets of his past.
Oct 13, 2011
Jessi
rated it:
I really, really, really liked this book until about half way through. I read the first half in about 4 days, and since then have been forcing myself to finish the story. I wanted to know what happened, but the author really started to drag the story out. The book easily could have lost 50 pages. I also did not like Belle, the main character. I found her to be whiny, annoying, and sometimes I really just wanted to hit her. I had such Hugh expectations for yhis book after the first few chapters t
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Oct 14, 2011
Brandy
rated it: 
Writers. Artists. Love and loss. Tragedy. The Carolinas. Mythology. Dolphins.
"The Art of Keeping Secrets" by Patti Callahan Henry has it all, pitting Annabelle Murphy's need for the truth about her late husband Knox against Sofie Milstead's need for secrecy about her past. I found this story toying with my expectations as the story unfolded. I'd spend a hundred pages wondering before a question was addressed casually and naturally, only to set up a newer, more pressing questi More...
"The Art of Keeping Secrets" by Patti Callahan Henry has it all, pitting Annabelle Murphy's need for the truth about her late husband Knox against Sofie Milstead's need for secrecy about her past. I found this story toying with my expectations as the story unfolded. I'd spend a hundred pages wondering before a question was addressed casually and naturally, only to set up a newer, more pressing questi More...
Nov 28, 2009
Laren
rated it:
Two years ago our protagonist's husband was killed in a plane crash. Now the wreckage has finally been found, and it turns out that there was a female body in the plane with him. Was he cheating on her, or should she continue to trust in what she believed of him? This is an interesting study about love, trust and commitment, and all the complications that come with these things.
Aug 07, 2011
The premise of the novel was interesting, but in the end it was a bit disappointing for me. It did not feel believable in parts. You do however take away the fact that you can never know everything about someone you love, only that you love them. Interesting, but I will not be rushing back to this author.
May 19, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
Love this author. She makes me want to live in the South Carolina Lowcountry. I had a hard time relating with the heroine. It was such a stretch for me to distrust the husband just because a woman was found in the wreckage of his plane. It felt very innocent to me. But I still loved the story.
Apr 25, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
This book started out with a bang and ended with a little whimper. I really enjoyed the first 2/3 but was disappointed with the lat 1/3. A plane crash killed Annabelle Murphy's husband and 2 years later, the wreckage is found. His body is there along with the body of a female. Of course, this makes Annabelle and her children wonder if their entire life with husband and father was a big ole lie.
I wish the relationships with Annabelle's circle of friends had been a bigger part of the book. More...
I wish the relationships with Annabelle's circle of friends had been a bigger part of the book. More...
Jun 25, 2009
Toni
rated it:
Can you keep believing /trusting when everything points to the opposite. Or perhaps should you keep believing when everything points otherwise. It's an easy beach read that takes place in the Charleston lowcountry. It held my interest to find out the secrets.
Aug 01, 2011
Eh. Fairly decent plot marred by a superbly anticlimatic end. The author also overplayed the Southern fiction aspect of it. It was kind of like Paula Deen: way too much in-your-face-Southern-ness when it's totally unnecessary.
Aug 19, 2009
Sara
rated it:
A book about trust, what you believe and what you choose to believe. I really enjoyed this. The mystery became less important when I realize that what happened wasn't as important as what they believed was true.
Jan 12, 2009
Stephanie
rated it:
never read her before it was a good read. the suspense kept me reading. I love books that take place in this area of the country. can't wait to discuss it with my book club next month it was my pick :)
Mar 08, 2009
I read it to page 19, from BAMM Fiction Book Club. Annabelle's husband died in a car crash two years ago. Now they found his plane and his body, with a body of a woman... An interesting mystery...
May 12, 2010
Pati
rated it:
Oh my goodness, I have never read a book with more self pity! I kept reading with hope she would realize the gifts she still held in her life, instead she bored me to the very last page!
4 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Jul 05, 2010
Amanda
rated it:
I felt that it wasn't very well-written. There also didn't seem to be much in the way of a climax or resolution...Overall, I didn't really enjoy this book.
Jan 18, 2009
Jena
rated it:
The author says she idolizes Anne River Siddons...it shows. Interesting twist with the dolphin researcher. A nice lazy day read.
Sep 21, 2009
Jeannie
rated it:
Patti Henry is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This was set in SC, and was a touching story of secrets and trust.
Jul 22, 2010
Shelley
rated it:
This book is definitely one that keeps you on your toes and guessing until the very end. I couldn't put it down!
Dec 29, 2008
Jennifer
rated it:
This was a good, fast read. The theme of the story was enjoyable and well written. Would recommend.
Jul 19, 2010
Jesse
rated it:
Pretty good read about life, the secrets we all keep, and how they affect us, and the people around us.
