George Foss never thought he'd see her again, but on a late-August night in Boston, there she is, in his local bar, Jack's Tavern.
When George first met her, she was an eighteen-year-old college freshman from Sweetgum, Florida. She and George became inseparable in their first fall semester, so George was devastated when he got the news that she had committed suicide over Christmas break. But, as he stood in the living room of the girl's grieving parents, he realized the girl in the photo on their mantelpiece - the one who had committed suicide - was not his girlfriend. Later, he discovered the true identity of the girl he had loved - and of the things she may have done to escape her past.
Now, twenty years later, she's back, and she's telling George that he's the only one who can help her...
George Foss thought Liana Dexter was dead. She shows up at the bar and asks him to help her. He does help her and everything turns crazy. This is a psychological thriller that is a haunting debut. It is full of twists that make you want to read to the end. This is my 2nd Swanson book but won't be my last. Great book!

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I can't remember when I have felt quite so furious -- and quite so conned. Please, learn from me, if you are having any doubts, and think you might just read on: those are hours of your life that you aren't going to get back.

I was under no illusion that this was a heart-breaking work of staggering genius -- but it was creeping up toward 2, maybe even 3-stars, as it kept me turning the pages, and I stuck with it, hoping to see if the narrator suddenly got any less stupid, or (miracle of miracles) the author pulled a fast one, and something happened that I did not see coming a mile off. He (the narrator) did not. He (the author) did not. And then, yes, there was the ending, and I am just so very, very VERY annoyed. Can you tell?

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George Foss is enjoying drinks with his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Irene, in a Boston bar when he is convinced he has spotted his college girlfriend, Liana. When George returns later that evening, his suspicions are confirmed. George hasn't seen Liana for twenty years, since she disappeared in a cloud of uncertain (and illegal) circumstances after their first semester freshmen year. As such, he knows that Liana has probably been on the run for the entire period. She quickly asks George for help, and he finds himself embroiled again in Liana's drama. Immediately, he wonders if his safety (and hers) is at sake.

This is the second book I've read by Swanson now, and I've liked them both well-enough, but haven't been overly impressed with either. So many people seem to love him, so I was kind of disappointed that I didn't enjoy this one more. I never connected with any of the characters, and the book just sort of meandered about, taking a while to get to its various points. Yes, it certainly has some twists and turns, and some "aha" moments, but I was always waiting for some big shocking moment that never came. Instead, the plot was rather straightforward. George was a rather spineless creature who seemed to get into trouble easily, while Liana was never fully fleshed out. I would have liked to learned more about her - besides the fact that she was "heartless."

Overall, while I found the plot for this one intriguing, it didn't wow me, and I don't think this one will stay with me very long. More at http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com

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This author is just not for me, I've given all his books only 1 star

I thought it started out interesting but yet it didn't take long for it to dwindle down to just a chore to turn the page

It written in the format of before in italics(which I hate) and the after(or current) take your pick

Once you kind of get the gist about Liana I skipped the 'before' chapters as I didn't find them at all interesting and then it just got boring as it just seemed to slow down to a snail's pace

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