Secrets She Left Behind was a real page-turner. I've been wanting to read a Diane Chamberlain novel for quite some time and this book did not disappoint! I just learned it's a sequel, but this book stands on its own. Now it's time for me to find and read the first book, Before the Storm.

The story begins with Maggie being released from prison for acts that led up to a fire that killed three people and seriously injured several others. The characters were very well developed and it was interesting to read about the aftermath of the fire from the various points of view. Maggie cannot forgive herself and must deal with not only the fury of the community when she's released after a year in prison, but the prison of her own self-loathing. Keith, one of the burn victims, deals with the physical pain from his burns and also the emotional scarring, particularly painful for a formerly handsome teen with many girlfriends. Keith is unable to accept his own new personal appearance and assumes everyone around him is repulsed as well.

Secrets She Left Behind shows how a tragedy can be life-altering, not ending with the horror of the event, but having a devastating, persistent impact on the lives of all involved. Forgiveness is an important theme of this novel. When one unintentionally commits an act that has tragic consequences, how does one forgive oneself or at least find a way to carry on? How does not forgiving someone keep us stuck in a resentful, bitter prison of our own? This novel was suspenseful and thought-provoking. I highly recommend it!