The Delta Sisters

Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful
Review: Well written, the novel is set in New Orleans and even dabbles in voodoo. This multi-generational novel allows us to see the effects of generational curses and also the effect on mother daughter relationships.

Rating:
Summary: Buried Secrets Revealed
Review: When I sat down to read The Delta Sisters, I was mentally prepared to read a novel about the adventures of pledging a sorority and being a part of a sisterhood. But author Kayla Perrin took me in a totally different direction with this brilliantly written novel of murder, suspense and betrayal. Sylvia Grayson is the matriarch of an affluent African-American family in New Orleans. Her family heritage includes being the daughter of one of the original founders of Delta Gamma Psi sorority. The women of this family carry down the traditions of attending Dillard University and pledging Delta.

Being of an elite heritage, Sylvia marries a jazz musician, whom is considered beneath her by her family standards. From the union, a daughter named Olivia is conceived. It is expected of her to follow in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother and attend Dillard and pledge Delta.

During the summer of 1975, when a stranger moves to town and a young girl is murdered, the nature of Sylvia and Olivia's relationship is changed forever. An incident from Sylvia's past comes back to haunt her. She believes that the young man she has hired to do some work around the estate knows what she would prefer to keep hidden. She pays the young man to leave town. This totally devastates Olivia, who has developed a relationship with him.

Olivia grows up to be the author of horror stories. She is an embarrassment to her mother because of her drinking and the erotic nature of her fiction. Although a Delta member, Sylvia barely acknowledges her presence and overlooks her for committees. Olivia realizes her mother still considers her a disappointment. She fails to recognize the relationship with Rachelle is failing miserably. Rachelle develops a rebellious streak after her best friend; Alette tells her she overheard Olivia admitting she deceitfully altered the path of Rachelle's future. Rachelle goes against her upbringing, even contemplating not following the tradition of becoming a Delta.

A person from Olivia's past reenters her life around the same time Sylvia is receiving threats and accusations concerning the murder of a young girl in 1975. Through a series of events, secrets are revealed that hurt and change the way Olivia sees her mother. It all culminates with dead bodies, explosive revelations of "who done it" and eventually, restored relationships.

Kayla Perrin did an outstanding job keeping me guessing and flipping pages. I thought the drama would never end. Just when you think you have it figured out, there's another plot twist. This is a really good read.

Reviewed by Paula Henderson of Loose Leaves Book Review