Revere native Dianne C. Braley introduces third novel

By Melissa Moore-Randall

Revere native Dianne Braley debuted her first novel, “The Silence in the Sound,” in 2022. Set in both Revere and Martha’s Vineyard, her book detailed the devastating effects of growing up in addiction.

On the heels of the success of “The Silence in the Sound,” Braley released her second novel, “The Summer Before,” in 2024. The synopsis of the book is based on the friendship of Madeline and Summer. Madeline and Summer, as close as sisters, share everything—except for a dark secret. When Summer’s painful truth comes to light, it shatters their world. Six years after the trial, Madeline, now in Boston, battles guilt and suicidal thoughts. To move forward, she must face her past and those involved in the trial that tore her family apart.

Dianne grew up in Revere with her brother and parents, including an alcoholic father in a life she referred to as “uncomfortably in dysfunction and unpredictability.” Her journey has included working as a nurse and a writer and living on Martha’s Vineyard, caring for a reclusive, Pulitzer Prize–winning author. Her time at Martha’s Vineyard and her time as a caretaker inspired her to finally take writing seriously.

Now, she is ready to release her third novel, “Drive City.” “If my first book was inspired by the author who changed my life, and my second was shaped by a real trial that bled into the edges of my world, then Drive City is the story I never thought I’d have the guts to tell. It’s about something I’ve only mentioned in passing. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it’s real. I grew up in Revere, Massachusetts, and in the late ’90s, things were wild. I never thought of myself as a bad kid, but I ended up doing some very bad things. I was part of a car theft ring. I dealt drugs. Life was chaotic, dangerous, and at times, it felt like there was no other way. But Revere—my hometown—isn’t just grit and trouble. It’s loyalty, its friendship, it’s survival. It’s full of people clawing for more, even when the city keeps pulling them back. And that’s what Drive City is about: a raw, unflinching story of growing up hard, trying to break free, and the ties that bind you even when you run. This book is fiction, but it’s built on truth. My truth. The world I came from. This is my third baby, my next journey. And as terrifying as it is to share, I’m ready. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.”

Here is a sneak peak of “Drive City.”

Chapter 1

The sharp screech of tires tore through the humid summer night. Jane lay in bed, unable to sleep, her eyes following the restless shadows crawling across the cracked plaster walls. The bitter scent of burning rubber drifted in through the open window, mixing with the stale, salty air that had clung to the house for days. Sweat trickled down her chest, soaking the fabric of her nightgown, making the thick, suffocating heat feel unbearable.

In Revere, chaos wasn’t unusual. Not on the boulevard. Beach kids lit up the road all summer—smoke shows, engines screaming, rubber burned to nothing until the cops rolled in. Jane barely flinched anymore. Cars weren’t her thing. Just junk like her dad’s rusted-out Ford that coughed every time it left the driveway. But that would change. Life spins fast. And when you live like we did, you don’t swerve—you crash. That’s just physics.

To learn more about Dianne’s latest novel you may visit her website at https://diannecbraley.com.