Quick Synopsis

A dedicated journalist unearths a generations-old family secret—and a connection to a string of missing girls that hits way too close to home—in this “nail-biting debut” (Booklist).

Publisher’s Synopsis

In the wake of her grandmother’s passing, Sydney Singleton finds a hidden photograph of a little girl who looks more like Sydney than her own sister or mother. She soon discovers the mystery girl in the photograph is her aunt, Carol, who was one of six North Carolina Black girls to go missing in the 1960s. For the last several decades, not a soul has talked about Carol or what really happened to her. But now, with her grandmother gone and Sydney looking to start a family of her own, she is determined to unravel the truth behind her long-lost aunt’s disappearance, and the sinister silence that surrounds her.

Unfortunately, this is familiar territory for Sydney: Years earlier, while she worked the crime beat as a journalist, her obsession with the case of another missing girl led to a psychotic break. And now, in the suffocating grip of fertility treatments and a marriage that’s beginning to crumble, Sydney’s relentless pursuit for answers might just lead her down the same path of self-destruction. As she delves deeper into Carol’s fate, her own troubled past reemerges, clawing its way to the surface with a vengeance. The web of secrets and lies entangling her family leaves Sydney questioning everything—her fixation on the missing girls, her future as a mom, and her trust in those she knows and loves.

Delving into family, community, secrets, and motherhood, We Don’t Talk About Carol is a gripping and deeply emotional story about overcoming the rot at the roots of our family trees—and what we’ll do for those we love.

Book Review

When cleaning out her grandmother’s house, Sydney finds a photo of a girl who turns out to be her unknown aunt – one of six Black girls who vanished in 1960s North Carolina. As former journalist Sydney investigates the girls’ disappearances, her dark past resurfaces and threatens her mental health, strained marriage, and hopes of starting a family. As long-buried secrets emerge, Sydney must decide how far she will go to uncover the past and what she is willing to risk to find out the truth. 

We Don’t Talk About Carol is a beautifully written debut novel about buried secrets, familial trauma, and self-discovery. Kristen Berry masterfully weaves together multiple timelines to create an intimate and sweeping narrative that feels like a true crime story. The book is a bit of a slow-burn mystery; yet, Berry creates a compelling narrative that will hold your attention regardless of pace. With a vivid setting and strong emotional insight, We Don’t Talk About Carol unravels hidden truths, buried pain, and the complex legacy of silence passed down through generations. I enjoyed the novel’s complex characters, sharp social commentary, and true-to-life mystery.

Overall, We Don’t Talk About Carol is one of the strongest debut novels I have read this year. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys character-driven stories, unique family dynamics, atmospheric reads, or slow-burn literary mysteries.