The Murders of Lillian Ross by Sirena Van Schaik
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Murders of Lillian Ross by Sirena Van Schaik

5 out of 5 stars

This book is ever-woven into the fabric of my being. I could not put this book down. The Murders of LIllian Ross is a gripping, thought-provoking tale of finding who you are after trauma. Sirena doesn’t tiptoe around the issues; she jumps right and examines them from nearly every angle with reverence.

Lillian Ross is sitting on death row for two murders. She has not discussed the events surrounding the deaths, not with the police, not with her own defence attorney, not with the flocks of reporters. Lillian has decided she is ready to tell someone what happened, why two people wound up dead that night. Lillian has decided that she wants Allison McKinnon to tell her story.

Allison McKinnon is an experienced true crime writer. Allison has a reputation for writing from the view of the victim and not focusing on the sensational aspects of the case. This is what Lillian says is the reason she picked Allison. Allison starts visiting the prison to listen to Lillian’s story. As Lillian tells her side, Allison finds a kindred spirit. Could she be where Lillian is? If things had been different, could Allison be Lillian? Allison must confront the secrets of her own past to find those answers. Can Allison learn to live again? Will Lillian save Allison from becoming her?

Sirena weaves the strings of the past with the fabric of the current and strings of hope for the future of these women affected by their shared traumas. I don’t know how one reads this novel and is not affected by Lillian, Allison, Kaylee, or the others left in the wake of the power of men. This book is powerful. If all of Sirena’s works are written with such intelligence, grit, feeling and power, I will forever be a fan!!

This book contains detailed descriptions of domestic violence, child abuse and murder. The material discussed may trigger some readers.

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