4/5 stars
Minotaur Books, 2013
313 pages
Adult Thriller
Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever read a book where something kind of silly just makes it difficult for you to connect? That happened for me here as the main setting for this book is Jefferson City, Jefferson County, CA. Well, there's no such place as I know abundantly from my work (random factoid: North Carolina has 100 counties-don't ask why I know that) and every time the county was mentioned, I grimaced. It was a little tic that got me constantly throughout the book especially because San Francisco and some other (real) big cities are mentioned indicating that the location is supposed to be plausible.
The premise for this book is quite chilling as is made abundantly clear by the cover. Reeve is a survivor of a kidnapping and captive situation; she has worked hard for six years to move past her time in captivity. Thus she is not thrilled to be called in to give support to another girl just rescued from her captor. She wants to move on, she doesn't want to receive more media attention but she can't just ignore another girl in such a similar situation. Once she's there, she also begins to play detective and stunningly makes several excellent deductions that may just end the work of a serial killer for good.
Moving on to the book's actual qualities, I was very impressed. As the story wore on, I was able to start making a lot of connections where earlier pieces of information paid off in satisfying ways. The characterization wasn't as deep as I'm used to in first-person centric YA narratives but I got a good picture of Reeve and her bravery as well, unfortunately, of the creep perpetrating these crimes. Reading from his perspective was creepy and yet so engaging because of his knowledge (of surveillance tactics for example), strategic abilities (planning out the abduction and torture of at least three girls without being caught), and determination to complete his course. And the most terrifying part is how ordinary he seems instead of looking like the disgusting pig he is.
One thing I was sad about is how Reeve's psychiatrist Dr. Lerner plays increasingly less of a role as the book progresses. He is an important character from the start and is the reason Reeve ends up in Jefferson City and involved in the case in the first place. But because she gains more confidence and because she has such a unique experience, he ends up out of the picture. I liked him so that made me sad. Another disappointment was the incorporation of Reeve's abductor whose menace hangs over her and who resurfaces from his continuing stint in a mental hospital. But nothing really happens from him and it felt choppily integrated. I would have liked his appearance to have more of a point to the plot.
Overall: Very chilling-the pace definitely ramps up as the book progresses, making you desperate for every word just the way a thriller ought!
Cover: Love the key-this has a really great meaning as the book progresses.
Content: The book is pretty clean except for some choice words and discussion of rape that may be triggers.
It does sound like a suspenseful story. I can't always read books like that. Occasionally they bug me because of how they are written (Still Missing by Chevy Stevens for example) and I can't finish reading.
ReplyDeleteI think it can add to the suspense and pacing of the story if you get the perspective of the killer added in. It is too bad that the author didn't make full use of the MC's abductor within the plot too.
The use of a fictional location near real locations allows the author to have some freedom I guess. I've seen it done before in other books. It doesn't usually bother me but I think if it was set in a place I am very familiar with then it might.
I thought this one was mostly well done except for that whole county thing, which would not bother anyone else I'm sure, just me because of my job and weird nature.
DeleteArggg, lucky you to get the Arc! I'm waiting for this book.
ReplyDeleteWell, the fake county wouldn't be a problem for me, ha ha, yes, how do you know that?
Now I wonder how many places in books are actually real? Why don't you find out?
I was very pleased to have a chance to read this. I know the county thing is weird but it was just one of those things that got in my brain and wouldn't let go.
DeleteI don't mind fictional places, particularly not for books like this where bad things happen and you might not want to associate it with a real place. It also means there's less chance for the author to screw it up horribly. (I say that, but I'd hate it in a travel book like Anna in the French Kiss. Anna goes to study abroad in made up city in France! just wouldn't work.)
ReplyDeleteAnd I definitely agree that it's nice how many little things in the beginning pay off.
I kind of wish she could have placed it in a real county though since she was already placing it in California. What about just vaguely setting it in the US? I like contemporary novels having a very fixed sense of place but I can sort of see why the author chose to go fictional in this instance.
DeleteLike Liviania, I don't mind fake cities in books. It means the author can do whatever they want within those limits.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting book. I think I'd like it!
I bet I'm the only one who would be bothered. I think this was a very well-done thriller and I hope you give it a shot!
DeleteI hadn't heard of this one before but it sounds good. The concept of it all anyway. The fake city and county wouldn't have been caught by me, but if it had been an area I was familiar with then I would have an it would have bothered me too.
ReplyDeleteI might watch for this at the library as it sounds like a subject that would interest me.
I think you might like this one especially if you're in the mood for a thrill!
DeleteBeing an Aussie I wouldn't have picked up on the city/county thing lol but I love a suspense thriller that has your heart in your mouth, 'desperate'
ReplyDeleteI'll keep an eye out for this one!
Well as you can see, even other Americans aren't picking up on it; it just so happens that I know my California geography (pretty much any other state wouldn't have affected me in the same way.)
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