The Good Goodbye

For fans of Jodi Picoult comes an enthralling domestic thriller about the lies we tell, and let ourselves believe, in the name of love.

The first thing you should know is that everyone lies. The second thing is that it matters.

How well do we know our children? Natalie Falcone would say she knows her daughter, Arden, very well. Despite the challenges of running a restaurant and raising six-year-old twin boys, she’s not too worried as she sends her daughter off to college—until she gets the call that Arden’s been in a terrible fire, along with her best friend and cousin, Rory. Both girls are critically injured and another student has died. The police suspect arson.

Arden and Rory have always been close, but they have secrets they’ve never shared, secrets that reel all the way back to their childhoods, and which led them to that tragic night. Who set the fire, and why? As the police dig deep into both the present and the past, Natalie realizes that in order to protect her daughter, she’ll first have to find out who Arden really is, even if it means risking everything—and everyone—she loves most.

“Each chapter reveals a tantalizing new detail that further complicates the cousins’ bond. … Buckley’s characters are well-developed and interesting.”—Publishers Weekly

©2016 Carla Schwarz Buckley (P)2016 Recorded Books

phenomenal both literarily as well as performance.

loved it. couldn't wait to get back in the car. a new author for me!

A poignant exploration of family relationships

A beautifully crafted story about the relationships between parents and their children, and how far the bond of friendship can be stretched. Although I struggled to like Rory, in the end I felt nothing but a deep sympathy for her, and a much better understanding of her motives and her behavior. I loved Arden - a deeply insecure character who struggles in the shadow of Rory. It's been a long time since a book has touched me this much. The narrator for Natalie was especially impressive, moving me to tears more than once. One of my best reads so far for 2016.

Keeps you guessing!

I liked the overall storyline and the twists & turns it took. There were several times I was really surprised, times I was mad, & a variety of other emotions. There were times I felt the story was slow - maybe a little too much detail? But, I'd find I had to go back & re-listen because the story had lost me to a hair of boredom. Overall, though, I really liked it!

The readers

This book was very emotional and a great listen. The three readers were awesome and made it difficult to stop listening. I would highly recommend this book!

The Intertwined Lives

This story could be about any family. It takes you on a journey with two families held together with love, jealousy, secrets and lies. Each character plays their part in good times and tragedy. There is intrigue, deception and love. This book was a great read.