Things You Won't Say

A Novel

By: Sarah Pekkanen

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

In this timely and provocative novel, internationally best-selling author Sarah Pekkanen takes us inside a family in crisis and a marriage on the brink after a tragic shooting.

How far would you go to save your family?

Every morning, as her husband Mike straps on his SIG Sauer and pulls on his heavy Magnum boots, Jamie Anderson tenses up. Then comes the call she has always dreaded: There's been a shooting at police headquarters. Mike isn't hurt, but his longtime partner is grievously injured. As weeks pass and her husband's insomnia and disconnectedness mount, Jamie realizes he is an invisible casualty of the attack. Then the phone rings again. Another shooting - but this time Mike has pulled the trigger.

But the shooting does more than just alter Jamie's world. It's about to change everything for two other women. Christie Simmons, Mike's flamboyant ex, sees the tragedy as an opportunity for a second chance with Mike. And Jamie's younger sister, Lou, must face her own losses to help the big sister who raised her. As the press descends and public cries of police brutality swell, Jamie tries desperately to hold together her family no matter what it takes.

In her characteristic exploration of true-to-life relationships, Sarah Pekkanen has written a complex, compelling, and openhearted novel - her best yet.

©2015 Sarah Pekkanen (P)2015 Simon & Schuster

I loved this book

I think it portraid both sides of the story showing how forgiveness and honesty are healing. I think most tragedies are a combinations of mistakes from both sides

Not What You Think

Excellent. I was enthralled the entire read. And there were constant twists in the story.

Great summer read!

Overuse of the past perfect tense makes this book a bit annoying. The story is sweet, however, and Cassandra Campbell does a great job.

Perfect for my long car ride

I am listened to all of Sara Pekkanen's book and I have enjoyed them. Getting narrator, Cassandra Campbell read it just makes it better. I actually do a search for the narrator when choose this book.
It was a very interesting storyline, always enjoying the different character perspectives. I recommend this book.

Slow

Very important and timely topic, just found it hard to keep my attention. It is always imperative to look at the other side of the coin, but felt the focus was on the details not the events.

Gives a different point of view

great read. I listen in the car so i found myself excited to drive anywhere. gives a point of view from a police officer's stand point of a difficult situation.

I LOVED IT

This was such a great book with real life characters that are totally relatable. It deals with issues straight out of today’s headlines and gives such interesting insight into the life of a policeman. I also loved Lou, the sister of the main character who related to animals more than people. I loved learning about the inner workings of her zoo responsibilities and fascinating facts about the elephants she cared for. I really love how the reader starts out thinking so negatively towards Henry’s birth mother but learns more and more about her character as the book gradually gives more insight into her life’s experiences. The narrator was excellent and I plan to read more books by this author. I highly recommend it. It was a nice break from my usual murder mystery thriller type novels that I usually listen to...

Strong subject matter due to recent events

Would you consider the audio edition of Things You Won't Say to be better than the print version?

I have not yet read the print version, so I can not speak on this matter.

Would you recommend Things You Won't Say to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, especially due to how extreme this subject has become as of lately. I can not imagine what the families of police officers & the police officers themselves must go through each and every time they walk out of their door.

I pray everyday that people realize there are good/ bad in every part of the world, but good will ALWAYS prevail.

We can't attack the very people who are there to help us in life's biggest and scariest emergencies.

Have you listened to any of Cassandra Campbell’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I have not..

Who was the most memorable character of Things You Won't Say and why?

I really enjoyed Lu and her relationship with the elephants. I wish a bigger section of the book was dedicated to her and the new baby elephant.

Definitely 5 star!

The way the author wrote such a powerful story is incredible, and the narrator did a phenomenal job drawing you in too. The characters are very personable, and it’s easy to see how everything unfolds and how it impacts the other characters. The story is deeply moving! An ex girlfriend, a wife (both are mothers), children, a cop, and a nightmarish day when things went horribly wrong...guilty or not? Each of their lives seemed perfectly on course, and then within a few moments it started a chain of events that had life altering effects on all of them. You’ll be able to relate to the characters, and at the end, will be surprised. I’d highly recommend it!

One of the best books I've read in a long time

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Most definitely. With everything we hear about police violence these days, it was so interesting to get the story from the perspective of the police officer's wife. The characters were relatable and the suffering was real for each of them.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Things You Won't Say?

Honestly, when Jamie wanted a frappuccino and the thought of getting the kids out of the car and the hassle it would be to just get a frappuccino was too much. It was such a small moment, but it was such a relatable moment.

Have you listened to any of Cassandra Campbell’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to any of her other performances.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me think about things from different perspectives. There were a few times where I definitely was tearing up some.

Any additional comments?

I could not stop listening to this book. I would have loved for some parts of the story to be developed further. Honestly, I wanted this book to continue on and keep going. I felt like at the end everything was tied up a little too quickly like the author was just done, but it was still an excellent book.