Necessary Lies

By: Diane Chamberlain

Narrated by: Alison Elliott

Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Best-selling author Diane Chamberlain delivers a breakout book about a small southern town 50 years ago, and the darkest - and most hopeful - places in the human heart. After losing her parents, 15-year-old Ivy Hart is left to care for her grandmother, older sister, and nephew as tenants on a small tobacco farm. As she struggles with her grandmother’s aging, her sister’s mental illness, and her own epilepsy, she realizes they might need more than she can give.

When Jane Forrester takes a position as Grace County’s newest social worker, she doesn’t realize just how much her help is needed. She quickly becomes emotionally invested in her clients' lives, causing tension with her boss and her new husband. But as Jane is drawn in by the Hart women, she begins to discover the secrets of the small farm - secrets much darker than she would have guessed.

Soon, she must decide whether to take drastic action to help them, or risk losing the battle against everything she believes is wrong. Set in rural Grace County, North Carolina in a time of state mandated sterilizations and racial tension, Necessary Lies tells the story of these two young women, seemingly worlds apart, but both haunted by tragedy. Jane and Ivy are thrown together and must ask themselves: How can you know what you believe is right, when everyone is telling you it’s wrong?

©2013 Diane Chamberlain (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

There but for the grace of God......

As a woman born in 1961, who has epilepsy, this book hit close to home. You think this sort of thing as far off in the distant past, not in your own lifetime. My life circumstances were more fortunate than Ivy's, but what if they hadn't been? Hard to take in, but while I'm processing, I want to thank Diane Chamberlain for tackling the topic. It needed to be told, and she did a great job. Not preachy, but insightful and a damn good story.

Loved this book!

A great story and narration that draws you into the lives of the characters. You will learn something of an era and an issue that should not be forgotten or ignored. A very good read.

4.25 overall

This is not an exciting story, but it will make you think. I had no idea that the subject matter (sterilization) was something that happened. The narration was amazing!

Amazing

Amazing! Amazing book!!! So many times, I was sitting with my mouth wide open. The narrator to the story, all just amazing. I agree with the last person. I hope they make this into a movie.

Enthralling

This book was very engaging. The story wasn’t necessarily exciting or thrilling, but it was very captivating. The author did a wonderful job of painting a story with her writing.

loved it must read

Suspense filled will not be able to put down or stop reading endlessly. Author gets an a+ for attention to detail and painting a vivid picture.

I rarely rate 5 stars

This was a very interesting story very well narrated and moved along at a good pace. Great character development and rich period detail enhance the story as well. Plus listen to the bonus material at the end. Highly recommend!

High praise

This is my first book review after being an audiobook fanatic for about 15 years. This was my very best listening experience yet! I saw a life that I've never come close to experiencing, and it was very eye-opening. The ending brought closure which I always hope for in my listening. Hard hard to put down this one.

LOVED!!!

Would you listen to Necessary Lies again? Why?

I would. I LOVED this book! I fell in love with the characters and really rooted for them! SO well written and well performed! I'm sad that the book is over. I will miss these characters.

one of there best I have heard

Wow, I like Diane Chamberlain's books, but this one is her best in my opinion. kept my attention from the beginning and left me wanting more.