Review: 4.5* Thriller to keep you on edge of seat
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 5, 2012
I downloaded a sample of this,  and as a victim of rape/incest/pedophilia myself,  was wary about reading it as I find most authors' handling of subject matter uninformed and sensationalized at best - looks like they're just trying to get on bestsellers' list. That's why I started with only a sample.As soon as I opened the sample I was plunged into stunningly good storytelling with marvelously realistic characters: flawed,  courageous,  frightened,  daring,  full of misgivings and self-doubt. The protagonist Sarah is wonderful and having experienced childhood abuse and witnessing what she believes to be a child's abduction,  makes the daring yet insanely stupid choice of following the suspected abductor before/without notifying police since she's afraid their delay might endanger the little girl who's been kidnapped. IF a little girl has,  indeed,  been kidnapped and Sarah's not projecting her own painful history onto what she thinks she's seen.The plot is expertly managed,  never slowing down to let you catch your breath as it weaves back and forth among multiple players: Sarah,  the possible kidnapper,  Sarah's husband (who desperately wants to believe that his wife is not delusional but fears for her own safety as she recklessly follows what may be a very dangerous man), the police detectives (who wonder why this story is coming from a man who says his wife claims she thinks she saw a child being kidnapped and sent him to police rather that contacting them herself). You get the picture: multilayered,  complex,  morally ambiguous, riveting,  masterful storytelling.Tastefully handled so no sensationalism for inflated sales. Author is always in tight control of story.The only thing that prevented my giving this 5* instead of the 4.5* which I did give it was one plot element near end of book (don't worry: NO Spoilers) that I simply found not only unrealistic and contrived but demeaning to real victims of such crimes. This plot device has been used too many times and simply disappointed me because it seemed to be saying,  child predators aren't a real threat while the rest of the book clearly demonstrated, through its excellent characterization,  that they are. "Crime" solved a little too handily but the ending still a surprise.Great read,  wonderful pacing. Very good plot (except for one unrealistic detail, as noted above) & memorable,  fascinating characters who stay with you after you've put the book down.I'd definitely read future books by this author. 4.5*/5