4.5 stars.

Safe Keeping by Barbara Taylor Sissel is a beautifully complex and multi-layered novel that is quite compelling. When their adult son Tucker is the main suspect in the deaths of two young women, Emily and Roy Lebay are at odds over more than his guilt or innocence. Roy is ready to wash his hands of their troubled son while Emily cannot fathom deserting him when he needs them most. Siding with Emily, oldest daughter Lissa risks her marriage, and quite possibly her life, in her efforts to prove her brother's innocence.

When it becomes increasingly clear that Tucker will most likely be arrested for murder, Emily's and Lissa's search for the truth about Tucker raises some very unsettling questions. Both wonder if the seeds of violence could have been sown in the kids' turbulent childhood as Roy struggled with PTSD after returning from Vietnam. After a violent and traumatic incident with Tucker, Emily insisted Roy finally seek treatment and their home life improved. However the family was never quite the same afterwards. Roy and Tucker's relationship became increasingly contentious, Emily slipped in to the role of peacemaker between them and Lissa became an overprotective older sister.

The family slowly begins to crumble under the stress of the ongoing police investigation. Roy retreats from everyone, Emily tries to pretend everything is normal and Lissa begins her own inquiries into the murders. Revelations about long held secrets expose the family's dysfunction and an admission from Lissa appears to affirm Tucker's claims of innocence.

Safe Keeping is an intriguing mystery and the Lebay family dynamics are incredibly fascinating. Barbara Taylor Sissel's thought-provoking storyline raises interesting questions about nature vs. nurture and the possible role genetics play in violent behavior. The novel's ending is dramatic and takes an unexpected turn that is impossible to predict. A riveting and suspenseful read that is incredibly poignant and rather haunting.
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Tucker Lebay is 34 years old and still lives at home with his doting mother and Vietnam vet father who suffers with PTSD. Tucker has been emotionally scarred after an extreme incident when he was 4 years old with his father, and his mother continually makes excuses for him while his father, who realizes he is at least partially responsible for his son's problems, nevertheless has written him off. Tucker is a suspect in at least two murders, and his mother and sister zealously defend him and will not believe he could be guilty. I actually thought the murderer was someone other than it turned out to be, so the author did keep me guessing. One note: people's hearts in this book are very active - they lurch, jump into the throat, pound, break, ache, and sink into the pit of the stomach. Also, one of the characters mentions running her fingertips around the edges of her ears a few times, an odd gesture that I had to stop to think about. The fact that these things caught my attention indicates to me that the author needs to find some new, more diverse literary devices to characterize the emotions of her characters. An OK book. ( )

SAFE KEEPING BY Barbara Taylor Sissel is a gripping suspense novel, a captivating saga of one family’s emotional journey, when forced to confront the real possibility that one of their own may have committed a horrible crime.

Set in Texas, two murders hang over this family’s 34-year old son, Tucker. They must all sort through their mistakes and misunderstandings to uncover the truth.

Tucker’s girlfriend Miranda was discovered dead, now another woman, Jessica, a friend Miranda’s has been found in the same stretch of woods, and the suspicion has fallen on Tucker once more.

Tucker’s family—father, Roy; mother, Emily; sister, Lissa; and brother-in-law, Evan—are deeply involved in the emotional chaos of the investigation, as well as questioning his innocence--could he capable of such inconceivable acts.

As these relationships are tested, will be bonds be strong enough to survive--a family under pressure, as they learn the truth, while considering the worst? Is forgiveness possible?

Lissa and Emily are uncertain where to lay the blame for Tucker’s issues and everyone has their own issues. Are they the result of the tremendous fear he experienced as a child when in the throes of an episode of post-traumatic stress? Or is Tucker’s troubled nature the result of faulty genes?

Emily and Roy make tremendous sacrifices in order to keep Tucker safe. How far would you go to protect your child?

The family slowly begins to crumble under the stress of the ongoing police investigation. Roy retreats from everyone, Emily tries to pretend everything is normal, and Lissa begins her own inquiries into the murders with sacrifices. Revelations about long held secrets expose the family’s dysfunction—a riveting and haunting read.

Enjoyed the conversation with the author at the end, and the inspiration for this novel ---fascination with the I-45 serial killings that plagued Texas for a number of years. Look forward to reading more from this talented author!
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I picked up a copy of this book because it falls in the genre that I like. However it did not intrigue me. I got to page 56 and put the book down. I came back to a long while later and started reading it again as I was determined to read the book. Sadly though I only got a few more pages into the book and finally gave up on it. None of the characters or storyline were drawing me in and keeping my interest. Plus, I really did not like the way that they talked. Such a bummer as I thought this book would be good. Oh well. On to the next book. ( )