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The Triumph of Katie Byrne
by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Hardcover, 352pp. ISBN: 0385501404
Doubleday & Company, Incorporated, March 2001
Review by Sheri Stritof
When a couple gets married, they bring to their marital life all the baggage from their past - both the good and the bad. If people can't share this aspect of their lives with those they love, their relationships will suffer. The Triumph of Katie Byrne explores this idea through the main character of Katie Byrne from her teenage years through adulthood and finding someone to share her life with.
I'm not a great lover of mystery novels. However, I did enjoy this interesting and intriguing mystery that shows how a traumatic, tragic experience in one's past can impact current relationships. Bradford's descriptions of how people cope with sudden tragedy are well written and very insightful. I also learned some new things about police procedures as the mystery is finally solved.
Katie Byrne is haunted by a vicious crime that left one friend murdered and another in a coma. She is fortunate to have the emotional support of her parents who have a strong, loving marriage, her brothers and other extended family members. Yet even with this support, she keeps much of her fear and doubts to herself. Ten years later, when Katie shares the tragedy with a friend, she becomes more introspective and understands herself, her behaviors and her needs.
I found myself thinking about Katie and her friends after I finished reading the book. It is well-written and easy to read, and I recommend it.
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