We Don't Talk About Carol

A Novel

De: Kristen L. Berry

Narrado por: Nicole Cash

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • 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).

“A well-written, emotionally wrenching tale.”—Associated Press

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.

©2025 Kristen L. Berry (P)2025 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“So much more than your typical missing person story, We Don’t Talk About Carol is a twisting mystery spanning six decades, as well as a stark reminder of the disproportionate treatment given to missing Black girls by the media. Kristen L. Berry has managed to weave such an elaborate web of thematic threads that when you take a step back to admire the full picture, it’s a pretty wondrous thing to behold. A fantastic debut.”—Stacy Willingham, New York Times bestselling author of Forget Me Not

“[A] nail-biting debut thriller.”—Booklist

“A riveting page-turner by a powerful new voice. I couldn’t put it down.”—Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of With My Little Eye

Amazing story with layers

I really enjoyed this story and loved the performance of the narrator. I enjoyed the spotlight the plot put on the disparities in the missing among Black people, especially Black girls and women. I enjoyed that out protagonist, Sidney, was who was ambitious and also felt relatable in her doubts and insecurities about the overall future direction if her life. I thought the her and Malik’s really was a great and healthy example of how two people can love each other deeply and still clash but with commitment find common ground even when it’s hard. As for the missing girls, I thought the story was really good and I enjoyed the twist that happens with Carol. I thought there good backstory and layers with Sidney’s fertility journey, her trauma from childhood, her relationships with her mom and sister and her previous struggles with being a crime journalist. Really great first read from this author and narrator and looking forward to more.

captivating!

it had me hooked since the first sentence. a must read! You will enjoy it!

What goes on here stays here!

Brava! This story has me on the edge! I loved it! Absolutely loved it! This is such an important story to tell as there are so many black/brown girls that have vanished and never thought twice! Every crippling detail that spilled off the pages such as the secrets within families and households , preying on you and impressionable young girls and excusing our elder’s behaviors was riveting! Great audio and I don’t believe there is another way that this story could have been effectively consumed!

Family Secrets

Saw this recommended in a Facebook group and I’m so glad I added it to my Audible library. I thoroughly enjoyed it!!

Engaging characters, important themes, and excellent mystery!

Mystery kept me guessing but also had depth and compassion for its characters, who had real flaws and were believable and likable. I appreciated learning more about racial disparities in missing women and appreciated the author’s sensitivity in handling difficult topics. The narrator was also top-notch!

Wow!!!!

This was an amazing debut novel! Cannot wait to read more from the author! Job well done!!!

I Didn't Want It To End

This book was so good that I had to break before the last 2 hours because I didn't want it to end

Great read for 2025

story kept me engaged and couldn't put it down. great read, it also educated readers on how Black Americans missing don't get a lot of police attention

Excitement and drama from start to finish!

This book was incredible! I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish sizing up possible suspects and outcomes. The author does an amazing job breathing life into each character—making the reader instantly feel invested in their outcome(s). I was drawn in from the very first chapter in eager anticipation of the things to come. This book is a masterpiece with an ending that will leave you speechless and begging for a sequel. And a movie!

• “A Gripping Mystery and a Moving Family Journey

Here’s a polished, sincere and very positive review you could use or adapt for We Don’t Talk About Carol:

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We Don’t Talk About Carol is a powerful, layered, and beautifully told story that lingers long after the last page. At its heart, it is both a mystery and a deeply human exploration of family, memory, and the weight of untold stories.

The novel follows Sidney, an investigative reporter whose career shift into public relations does not quiet her relentless drive for truth. When she discovers a hidden family secret—a missing aunt no one in her family will speak of—Sidney is drawn into a decades-old tragedy. The lives of six Black girls who vanished from Raleigh, North Carolina, in the 1960s become intertwined with her own search for answers. What unfolds is both a gripping investigation into injustice and a poignant reckoning with her own family’s silences.

The author does a remarkable job weaving together multiple strands: Sidney’s tender yet tested marriage with Malik, their fertility struggles, and her journey to find balance between her longing for motherhood and her responsibility to uncover a forgotten history. The dynamics with her mother and sister—complicated by a fragile childhood—add depth and authenticity, reminding us that healing the past often begins within our closest relationships.

What makes this book shine is the way it honors the humanity of the missing girls, while also illuminating the painful disparities that allowed their cases to go uninvestigated. It is both an urgent call to remember and a deeply personal story of resilience, love, and self-discovery.

Rich, layered, and emotionally resonant, We Don’t Talk About Carol is a triumph. It’s a story about truth-telling, about refusing silence, and about the courage it takes to uncover and face what has long been hidden. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves mystery, history, and family dramas that move the soul.

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Would you like me to also create a shorter version (like 3–4 sentences) you could use for places like Goodreads or Amazon where brevity works better?