The Twelfth Child
An uplifting tale of trust, love and friendship…
Papa wasn’t someone who’d flat out kill a person, but he surely knew how to destroy a woman from the inside…a slice of spirit, a piece of pride, a chunk of heart, until one day there’s nothing left but a walking around shell to do the cooking and laundry…thus begins the story of Abigail Anne Lannigan, a willful daughter determined to overcome the past.
Leaving the Shenandoah Valley of the early 1900’s behind, Abigail finds a way to survive in a world of joblessness and speakeasy’s. Now, at the tail end of her years, her best friend is accused of embezzling one million dollars and Abigail is helpless to save her. She knows the truth of what happened, but will never have the chance to tell.
Reminiscent of Fannie Flagg’s “Fried Green Tomatoes” the May-December friendship of these two unforgettable women is sure to settle in the soft spot of your heart.
The Twelfth Child, told in the timeless tradition of Southern Fiction, is a novel rich with emotion, humor and tenderness. A Historical Mystery set in the 20th Century; this is a story of love, friendship and one woman’s struggle to survive America’s Great Depression.
The Twelfth Child by Bette Lee Crosby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If I would have just judged the first half of the book, I probably would have given it a five-star rating. Now, I don’t mean to sound negative, so read on before you think I am bashing the book because nothing could be farther from the truth. This is a fabulous book full of romance, hardship, mystery, and even some history. It is well-written and full of the tragedy and resilience of the human spirit. And it celebrates the strength of women in spite of a sexist society.
So why did I mark the book down? Thankfully, it was not for sex scenes because there were not any. The profanity did not become an issue for me until halfway through the book, and I will admit that I found it often unnecessary. Even so, that did not affect my perception of the book. My issue was mine and mine alone. When something shifted with the narrator of the story–the main character–I struggled to find the account believable. I don’t want to give away the author’s technique here, and many people will enjoy the technique. This goes back to personal preference. And once I got past that portion, I was able to set that aside and enjoy the remainder of the book.
This book is full of stories that will tug at your heart, and I think the ending may be a bit of a surprise to you. This is a book that I can recommend to anyone who likes a good human interest story.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
ABOUT BETTY
USA Today Bestselling Author and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction—the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.
More information over on her website.
