The Murderer's Daughters

On the Book Jacket: Lulu and Merry's childhood was never ideal, but on the day before Lulu's tenth birthday their father drives them into a nightmare. He's always hungered for the love of the girl's self-obsessed mother. After she throws him out, their troubles turn deadly.

Lulu's mother warned her to never let him in, but when he shows up, he's impossible to ignore. He bullies his way past ten-year-old Lulu, who obeys her father's instructions to open the door, then listens in horror as her parents struggle. She runs for help and discovers upon her return that he's murdered her mother, stabbed her sister, and tried to kill himself.

For thirty years, the sisters try to make sense of what happened. Their imprisoned father is a specter in both their lives, shadowing every choice they make. Though one spends her life pretending he's dead, while the other feels compelled to help him, both fear that someday their imprisoned father's attempts to win parole may meet success.

The Murderer's Daughters is narrated in turn by Merry and Lulu. The book follows the sisters as children, as young women, and as adults, always asking how far forgiveness can stretch, while exploring sibling loyalty, the aftermath of family violence, and the reality of redemption.

My Thoughts: I have read a lot of books lately that jump perspective throughout the book either through flashbacks in time or from one persons perspective to another and I have really been digging it. I read a review online about this book that some felt they couldn't really dive into the characters I felt the complete opposite. When I am able to look at the characters through a variety of lens I think I enjoy them so much more.

Other books I have read with this type of jumping perspective that I like:
Those who Save Us by Jenna Blum
The Pact by Jodi Picoult
Stormchasers by Jenna Blum
East of Eden by John Steinbach
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
This list could probably go on and on...ohh and a fun and different voice is in the book that I am currently reading which is written from the dog's perspective "The Art of Racing in the Rain"

With so much in the news this week about the shootings in Arizona this book really opened my eyes to how the families of murders can really be innocent bystanders who suffer so much from the mistakes of their families.