"We Don't Talk About Carol" | Reviewed by Jenni Olson

"We Don't Talk About Carol," by Kristen L. Berry, is a suspenseful mystery that will have readers flying through the pages. This is a perfect book for fans of Tiffany D. Jackson, a complex mystery as well as a commentary on difficult, controversial topics like fertility, race and trauma. 

The main character, Sydney Singleton, is cleaning out her grandmother's house after her grandmother’s passing, only to find a picture of a stranger that looks almost identical to Sydney. When Sydney asks her mother about the stranger’s photo, she is told it is a picture of her Aunt Carol, adding "we don't talk about Carol."

Sydney begins to dig into the mystery and finally learns that Carol is one of six local North Carolina Black girls who went missing in the 1960s. Decades later, the mystery is still cold, and nobody ever speaks of the missing girls. 

Previously a journalist, Sydney is determined to learn the truth about what happened to her long-lost aunt. But she has misgivings about becoming involved because the last time she investigated a missing person, it lead to Sydney having a psychotic break. Still she forges ahead, and discovers one secret after another. Will Sydney be able to successfully unravel the mystery while maintaining her sanity and navigating marriage and fertility treatments? 

"We Don't Talk About Carol" is filled with mystery and twists and is certain to leave readers desperate for answers.

Buy the Book.