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No Place to Lie

Secrets Unlocked, a Promise Kept

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No Place to Lie

By: Helen Garlick
Narrated by: Helen Garlick
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On St David’s Day 1981, Helen receives a phone call in St Louis from her distraught father in Yorkshire, leading her to a heart-searing path of discovery. Her brother David’s shocking death at 20 in a remote mansion triggers a quest to unravel truths shrouded in secrets and silence.

Vividly evocative, Helen’s debut memoir No Place to Lie takes the listener on an extraordinary journey through suicide, trauma, and shame to shine a light on what really happened to David, and the startling secret her mother took to her grave. Helen’s courageous and uplifting book brings powerful messages about hope, the healing power of talking, stepping towards recovery and connection to a life filled with humour, joy, and love.

©2021 Helen Garlick (P)2021 Helen Garlick Grief & Loss Personal Development Relationships Inspiring Feel-Good Heartfelt
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Loved every sentence, telling true, personal stories that have been hidden for decades takes guts. An admirable piece of writing, beautifully narrated too!

Written with so much sensitivity and courage.

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I saw an article in the Waitrose magazine about the author and on the back of that decided to download the audible version of this book. It was read by the author, whose voice was ok, although not the best I’ve heard. The story promised a lot as it got going, however to my mind it never really delivered. Although it is undoubtedly heartbreaking and life changing to lose one’s brother in such sad circumstances, I’m not really able to define what the author was trying to say. She spoke about the family dynamics and the personalities within it, but didn’t seem to hold herself under the same microscope she held on others. The revelations that came out of reading her late Mother’s letter, appear to irritate her, not least because she felt she should have been told earlier. She promotes ‘talking’ as a therapy which is a positive, but only if people want to share. Presumably her brother and Mother didn’t want to ‘share’ and her sense of injustice over this is irritating. Mother’s are aloud to have lived their own lives and keep their own secrets. Other people don’t live to serve our needs entirely and the author comes across as a little trite to be honest. Overall the story was a bit lack lustre and to be honest I found myself adding my own conclusions (do we know if her brother’s friend Nick actually had homosexual tendencies?) The only thing that surprised me about this book is that all the paths created by the author, didn’t actually lead to where I thought they would! I’ve heard worse, I’ve heard better!

I’m not sure what to make of this book

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Superbly written and extraordinarily moving. Listening to this had a powerful impact on me – you will not have heard a story like this before. It grabs you and won't let go. Helen Garlick's writing is fluent, touching and poetic; and at the end we are left with an uplifting message. A terrific buy.

Extraordinary story – you'll be moved and uplifted

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This is a true story about family life in the raw; an ordinary family (mother, father, son, daughter) traumatised by the death of the only son. The author reveals the story in layers describing the reaction and coping mechanisms of each family member, starting with disbelief about the reason for the death and the slow dawning reality that the death was self inflicted - with the ramifications continuing long after the tragic event. It is told a little in the style of a novel, but also at times you feel that the author is sitting next to you talking over a cup of tea. It is well written and full of insight. I always prefer books - particularly of this kind - when they are read by the author, as in this case. It gets you even deeper inside the story

A fascinating and deeply personal account of a family coping with a tragic loss

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This book is brilliant. I loved it.
so beautifully written, with heartfelt stories that capture a tragic event and how it affects the lives of friends, family and beyond.

Read by the author it makes it even more beautiful, with her gentle humour, and sadness flowing through.

This book will make you think, it will inspire you.
I've listened to it twice already and I know I'll listen again.

A beautifully written book

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