The Connellys of County Down is a heartfelt story of three siblings as one of the siblings is released from prison. I have read from Tracey Lange before and greatly enjoy the way she develops messy character dynamics in believable, flawed families. After loving We are the Brennans, I was eager to see what she would do in her sophomore book. 

In this second book, Lange tells us the story of Tara who is leaving prison after 18 months on a drug trafficking charge. But there is information that Tara isn't sharing, and as the reader we are eager from the get-go to find out what she was hiding and who she was protecting. Then there are the other siblings, a brother and sister who both have their own problems and secrets. 

I enjoyed the balance of plot and character development in this book and I'm pleased that I went into it without much knowledge. I don't think I even fully read the synopsis, and I think that's the way to go. Trust Lange to take you on a journey with messy but loveable characters who don't make pristine decisions. There's no sophomore slump here and I'll just be here be eagerly awaiting Tracey Lange's third book.