Desire Lines A Novel, Christina Baker Kline. (Hardcover 0688151078)

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Desire Lines A Novel
Author: Christina Baker Kline

Desire Lines is a taut, penetrating new novel filled with psychological suspense, sensitivity, and emotional complexity by the critically acclaimed author of Sweet Water.On the night of her high school graduation in 1986, Kathryn Campbell's best friend, Jennifer, vanished without a trace. It's been ten years since then, but Kathryn... more » still feels the conspicuous void in her life--- and the nagging, guilty sense that she has failed her friend.When a divorce sends Kathryn reeling back to the Maine town where she grew up, the young journalist finds herself face-to-face with her past. At twenty-eight, she's been living for far too long on memories and questions; now she needs to take a hard look at her own life at the same time that she is delving into the mystery of what happened to her friend.As she explores the seemingly random series of events that led up to Jennifer's disappearance, a pattern slowly begins to take shape. All the puzzle pieces are at her fingertips--it's a matter of whether Kathryn can put them together in a way that makes sense. As she faces her own fear and grief, she is finally able to come to terms with the ways in which the loss of her friend has shaped her life and the lives of those who knew her. In the process, Kathryn realizes that if she is ever going to understand the circumstances of Jennifer's disappearance, she is going to have to expose herself to the same risks and dangers. Ultimately, Kathryn's quest to find out the truth becomes a quest to save her own life as she races against time to keep Jennifer's fate from becoming hers. Desire Lines is a remarkable novel about friendship, memory, loss, and resurrection.Desire Lines is a taut, penetrating new novel filled with psychological suspense, sensitivity, and emotional complexity by the critically acclaimed author of Sweet Water.On the night of her high school graduation in 1986, Kathryn Campbell's best friend, Jennifer, vanished without a trace. It's been ten years since then, but Kathryn still feels the conspicuous void in her life--- and the nagging, guilty sense that she has failed her friend.When a divorce sends Kathryn reeling back to the Maine town where she grew up, the young journalist finds herself face-to-face with her past. At twenty-eight, she's been living for far too long on memories and questions; now she needs to take a hard look at her own life at the same time that she is delving into the mystery of what happened to her friend.As she explores the seemingly random series of events that led up to Jennifer's disappearance, a pattern slowly begins to take shape. All the puzzle pieces are at her fingertips--it's a matter of whether Kathryn can put them together in a way that makes sense. As she faces her own fear and grief, she is finally able to come to terms with the ways in which the loss of her friend has shaped her life and the lives of those who knew her. In the process, Kathryn realizes that if she is ever going to understand the circumstances of Jennifer's disappearance, she is going to have to expose herself to the same risks and dangers. Ultimately, Kathryn's quest to find out the truth becomes a quest to save her own life as she races against time to keep Jennifer's fate from becoming hers. Desire Lines is a remarkable novel about friendship, memory, loss, and resurrection.

ISBN-13: 9780688151072
ISBN-10: 0688151078
Publication Date: 1/6/1999
Pages: 343
Rating:

Currently 3.6/5 Stars.

3.6 stars, based on 9 ratings

Publisher: William Morrow Company
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 3
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

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Bonnie S. (Bonnie) - reviewed Desire Lines: A Novel on 2/13/2022 + 422 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

This is the first book by this author that I didn't like, didn't finish. Supposed to be a mystery, but I couldn't get past 45 pages of a self-absorbed heroine, her non-relationships with her husband, her old friend, her mother, and good grief when we got to the grandmother I just quit.
I did start this with hopes as it is set in Bangor, ME, and I lived a few towns away for a few years and usually enjoy settings I can identify with. I could not identify this Bangor at all.

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Susan D. (mom2nine) reviewed Desire Lines: A Novel on 3/19/2015 + 343 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Kline's Orphan Train may be her best known book, but it is not my favorite. This book is based in Bangor, ME, nice start as I love that area. A girl disappeared on graduation night 10 yrs earlier. Kline does a good job showing how this would affect her closest friends, how they and their friendships will never be the same. Kathryn returns to Maine and writes an article for the local paper, in doing so she interviews many people and tries to reinvigorate the search. Story is a nice blend of characterization, mystery and a bit of romance.

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Kristin D. (kdurham2813) reviewed Desire Lines: A Novel on 9/19/2014 + 753 more book reviews

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings

An interesting take on a mystery/thriller with a disappearance of a high schooler right near graduation and ten years as they gather for a reunion, there is still no body and no clues as to where she could possibly be. With a tight knit group of friends, they all didn't know the secrets that were between them and as Kathryn tries to find more clues about Jennifer's disappearance some of their secrets will come out into the light and may cause some drama.

I loved that the author used Kathryn's journalistic profession to get her to go looking into the clues from the past and to try to find new ones. It was a perfect avenue to get her into interviewing the players from the past and trying to put the old pieces together with new puzzle pieces. I thought I had a clue as to the truth behind Jennifer's disappearance and I was pleasantly surprised by the real truth and even how it unfolded. I was glad I was wrong in my guessing!

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