Helpful Score: 16
This is an excellent read by a great new author. The plot is so well written that you will be very suprised at the end. It is very hard to put down and a thiller that will keep you guessing. You would almost think that it is based on a true story it is written with such personal knowledge. A great read I have recommend this book to several people!
Helpful Score: 12
5.0 out of 5 stars Best suspense thriller I've read in a long while..., July 6, 2010
This review is from: Still Missing (Hardcover)
I'd forgotten the great feeling a reader gets when she/he picks up a novel and is treated to a fresh, original story and a unique point of view to the narrative. This suspense thriller by Chevy Stevens is fresh, original, and quite possibly the best novel of this genre that I've read for a very long time.
Real estate agent Annie O'Sullivan is abducted from an open house by a man she refers to as The Freak. She is held prisoner for nearly a year in a remote mountain cabin and subjected to physical and mental abuse. Her story is told within the framework of 26 sessions that she has with a psychiatrist after she escapes. Without going into further details that might spoil the story, Annie finds that her return to home, family, and friends is fraught with difficulty. She feels that she is "still missing" to them and to herself because of the horrific experiences she had while with her captor.
Annie is an unforgettable protagonist and her journey of reintegration is at times terrifying and often heartbreaking. The other characters in the book were well developed and the plot line moved beyond the predictable to a surprise ending that really makes the heroine even more sympathetic. I found this to be a book that I didn't want to put down.
Recommendation -- buy this one and enjoy a satisfying and suspenseful thriller.
This review is from: Still Missing (Hardcover)
I'd forgotten the great feeling a reader gets when she/he picks up a novel and is treated to a fresh, original story and a unique point of view to the narrative. This suspense thriller by Chevy Stevens is fresh, original, and quite possibly the best novel of this genre that I've read for a very long time.
Real estate agent Annie O'Sullivan is abducted from an open house by a man she refers to as The Freak. She is held prisoner for nearly a year in a remote mountain cabin and subjected to physical and mental abuse. Her story is told within the framework of 26 sessions that she has with a psychiatrist after she escapes. Without going into further details that might spoil the story, Annie finds that her return to home, family, and friends is fraught with difficulty. She feels that she is "still missing" to them and to herself because of the horrific experiences she had while with her captor.
Annie is an unforgettable protagonist and her journey of reintegration is at times terrifying and often heartbreaking. The other characters in the book were well developed and the plot line moved beyond the predictable to a surprise ending that really makes the heroine even more sympathetic. I found this to be a book that I didn't want to put down.
Recommendation -- buy this one and enjoy a satisfying and suspenseful thriller.
Helpful Score: 8
I rated this book a definite 5. I work in the mental health field so I can definitely say the description of the trauma after effects is very realistic. I could not stop reading this book. I actually closed my office door and kept reading after lunch - hoping my boss wouldn't discover me!
Helpful Score: 7
I can't believe this is her first novel! What a great fast read. I didn't want to put it down!
Helpful Score: 5
A great book by a talented new author! I have read lots of buzz about this book, so I broke down and bought it. Then, I devoured it.
The book centers around Annie, a real estate agent, who is abducted while holding an open house. Each chapter of the book is a conversation that she has with her psychiatrist when she comes back home. This format was very interesting and gave you a lot of detail about Annie and her experiences.
Reading about what happened to her in the cabin was riveting and revolting at the same time. This part of the book was quite well written. There were some great surprises and shocks and a few times, I just had to put the book down to breathe.
The inevitable ending (the who-done-it, if you will) was the weakest part of the book for me. I felt as though the book "jumped the shark". (From Wikipedia: Jumping the shark is an idiom used to describe the moment of downturn for a previously successful enterprise. The phrase was originally used to denote the point in a television program's history where the plot spins off into absurd story lines or unlikely characterizations. )
The book was a mystery, a crime thriller, a psychological examination, all at the same time. I will not soon forget it. Well worth the read.
The book centers around Annie, a real estate agent, who is abducted while holding an open house. Each chapter of the book is a conversation that she has with her psychiatrist when she comes back home. This format was very interesting and gave you a lot of detail about Annie and her experiences.
Reading about what happened to her in the cabin was riveting and revolting at the same time. This part of the book was quite well written. There were some great surprises and shocks and a few times, I just had to put the book down to breathe.
The inevitable ending (the who-done-it, if you will) was the weakest part of the book for me. I felt as though the book "jumped the shark". (From Wikipedia: Jumping the shark is an idiom used to describe the moment of downturn for a previously successful enterprise. The phrase was originally used to denote the point in a television program's history where the plot spins off into absurd story lines or unlikely characterizations. )
The book was a mystery, a crime thriller, a psychological examination, all at the same time. I will not soon forget it. Well worth the read.
Helpful Score: 5
This book is definitely 5 stars. It moves very quickly. I read it in less than 24 hours and I was sorry when it ended. Some parts are hard to read because of the content but it is still worth it.
Helpful Score: 5
Terrific debut thriller which derserves all of the positive reviews that it has generated. Warped, scary, and fast paced, I couldn't read it fast enough. Kudos, Ms. Stevens, I can't wait to see what you do next.
Helpful Score: 4
This book is FANTASTIC! It captures you right away, and takes you on a ride of emotions. The characters were amazing. Chevy Stevens books will be in demand! I CAN NOT wait to read her next book!
Helpful Score: 3
Was this book a book about a woman who survived being held hostage and the psychological terror that results from surviving, a sick voyeuristic look into the mind of a hostage taker through the eyes of his victim, a who done it mystery or a simple horror/thriller? I do not know and I do not think the author knows either. The writing, while good, seems all over the place. Almost like the author could not decide what she wanted out of her own book. Maybe that is why it appealed to so many since they could take a particular part of the book they liked and run with it. Again, I do not know.
I liked the story and I enjoyed the psychological elements to it but I did feel like it was the car crash on the side of the road. You do not want to look but you cannot help yourself (aka morbid curiosity). As for the weird ending, I felt like it made the book a book rather than a recounting of a horrible event without any real purpose to it. I did not like the twist but I did feel it was necessary.
I liked the story and I enjoyed the psychological elements to it but I did feel like it was the car crash on the side of the road. You do not want to look but you cannot help yourself (aka morbid curiosity). As for the weird ending, I felt like it made the book a book rather than a recounting of a horrible event without any real purpose to it. I did not like the twist but I did feel it was necessary.
Helpful Score: 3
Wow. What a debut novel. I can hardly wait until the next book. Annie is abducted and held by a sadist, rapist who changes the way Annie views life. This book is written mostly through visits to Annies shrink. The book is very well written and grabs your attention. Very realistic. I highly recommend this book. Read and enjoy.
Helpful Score: 3
Loved the book - did not expect it to be so riveting. I would highly recommend it. It is a page turner!
Helpful Score: 2
This was my least favorite book this year - thank goodness it was a short one. There were only about 75 or so pages in which I found myself a bit captivated by the story, but I did not care for the first half of the book, nor did I like the last quarter of the book.
Here are my reasons why: 1) every important character in this book was self-absorbed, self-loathing, and a "victim"; 2) the number of bodily fluids described in joyous detail during the first half of the book caused me to physically grimace as I read and their mention was unnecessary; 3) the characters were cliches; 4) the author did too much telling (instead of just showing) as if she didn't trust the reader to "get it" or understand without her injection of information; 5) the plot was preposterous and completely unbelievable; and 6) the protagonist was so overly dramatic and unlikeable and, given what she was going through, I don't think I was supposed to laugh out loud at her dilemmas.
Not many who read this book disliked the New York Times Bestseller as much as I did, but there were a few. One of those recommended Room by Emma Donoghue which I bought since finishing this book. The book that stood out for me as a worthy alternative was My Story by Elizabeth Smart. The abductor in Elizabeth's memoir is just as sick and creepy and the circumstances of her abduction are preposterous and unbelievable (but actually true); however, it is her grace following the abduction that truly separates Elizabeth Smart from the protagonist in this novel.
Here are my reasons why: 1) every important character in this book was self-absorbed, self-loathing, and a "victim"; 2) the number of bodily fluids described in joyous detail during the first half of the book caused me to physically grimace as I read and their mention was unnecessary; 3) the characters were cliches; 4) the author did too much telling (instead of just showing) as if she didn't trust the reader to "get it" or understand without her injection of information; 5) the plot was preposterous and completely unbelievable; and 6) the protagonist was so overly dramatic and unlikeable and, given what she was going through, I don't think I was supposed to laugh out loud at her dilemmas.
Not many who read this book disliked the New York Times Bestseller as much as I did, but there were a few. One of those recommended Room by Emma Donoghue which I bought since finishing this book. The book that stood out for me as a worthy alternative was My Story by Elizabeth Smart. The abductor in Elizabeth's memoir is just as sick and creepy and the circumstances of her abduction are preposterous and unbelievable (but actually true); however, it is her grace following the abduction that truly separates Elizabeth Smart from the protagonist in this novel.
Helpful Score: 2
This book was fantastic. I got it in the mail at 9:30, and finished it around 4:30. I couldn't put it down. It was so good.
This book sends chills down your spine. The suspense and mystery is great.
It's about a woman who gets abducted, and the story just tornadoes from there.
I promise, you will not be able to put it down!!
This book sends chills down your spine. The suspense and mystery is great.
It's about a woman who gets abducted, and the story just tornadoes from there.
I promise, you will not be able to put it down!!
Helpful Score: 2
My oh my! What a book! I was hooked right from the start. I read this book in three days, which is an accomplishment considering I work full-time! I wonder where the author would get an idea for a story like this, especially the details, since it is fiction. Its a great story, wonderful read for a especially for a first-time author.
Helpful Score: 2
Loved this book. I didn't want to put it down. I was constantly wanting to know what was coming on the next pages. After reading, I have passed it on to my neighbor, who had the same experience. We are now looking forward to reading other books by this author! I always wonder about new authors. Chevy Stevens is definitely an author I will look for again and again.
Helpful Score: 2
First time author--very good!! Written very well, easy to read, short chapters, not a lot of foul language, not a lot of graphic details, very easy to get involved with Annie.
After Annie is abducted and kept prisoner for nearly a year, she finally returns home and as the time goes by and the investigation proceeds it takes a twist and a turn you just don't expect!
After Annie is abducted and kept prisoner for nearly a year, she finally returns home and as the time goes by and the investigation proceeds it takes a twist and a turn you just don't expect!
Helpful Score: 2
This i believe is Chevy Stevens first novel--WOW--I was blown away, and haven't said that for any of my reviews before. I hope there will be more very soon as i didn't get my fill of this author yet!! This story is so different and nothing run of the mill about the writing. I see dollars for Chevy Stevens. I wanted to read all night and just kept turning pages as fast as i could--now i know--- everyone says that about the book they just finished--but you won't know what that really means until this book is in your hands. Since there are 500 some people waiting for this book i will send it out, but i will also be buying this book for gifts.
Helpful Score: 2
When I started reading this, I kept thinking... interesting that a man could write about the rape of a woman this way. Either this man has some interest in bondage of women or really did some research in order to present these events from a woman's point of view. THEN I finished the book and found out CHEVY is a woman. I was thinking like Chevy Chase.
This book is written in the format of our victim telling her story to her newest shrink. By doing it this way, and Annie telling her shrink some ground rules of how these session will go, it makes the format work. For one thing the female shrink can not ask questions or ask Annie how she feels. Once in a while Annie will comment on the shrinks appearance in a positive way, just to remind us that these stories are part of a counseling session. Each chapter in fact is called Session not chapter.
The story that unfold is sad, but not violently, graphic, although the crimes committed against Annie were heinous and violent, and unpredictable. Annie is obviously suffering form PTSD, and is trying to get better. After her release, things begin to unfold, that make you wonder how much it Annie's PSTD, and how much is based on reality. I liked the twists towards the end, it kept me guessing. The very last page was the best way to end the story.
So yes, grab this book and put it on the top of your to be read pile. Dont put it off, like me.
This book is written in the format of our victim telling her story to her newest shrink. By doing it this way, and Annie telling her shrink some ground rules of how these session will go, it makes the format work. For one thing the female shrink can not ask questions or ask Annie how she feels. Once in a while Annie will comment on the shrinks appearance in a positive way, just to remind us that these stories are part of a counseling session. Each chapter in fact is called Session not chapter.
The story that unfold is sad, but not violently, graphic, although the crimes committed against Annie were heinous and violent, and unpredictable. Annie is obviously suffering form PTSD, and is trying to get better. After her release, things begin to unfold, that make you wonder how much it Annie's PSTD, and how much is based on reality. I liked the twists towards the end, it kept me guessing. The very last page was the best way to end the story.
So yes, grab this book and put it on the top of your to be read pile. Dont put it off, like me.
Helpful Score: 1
Still Missing is an above average thriller about the abduction of a young woman, Annie O'Sullivan, and her year-long captivity. It was difficult reading about her life with her disturbed captor. The only thing making it bearable at times was knowing from the get-go that Annie got out of the situation (because Annie is describing these events after the fact to her psychiatrist). The second part of the novel that deals with Annie's trauma and the police investigation is just as thrilling and twisted.
Helpful Score: 1
I recently finished this book and I absolutely loved it. I would have read it in one sitting if my schedule allowed or if sleeping wasn't a necessity! Although the plot/subject matter is disturbing, I seemed to focus more on the main character's strength and her amazing ability to get through such a nightmare with determination. No matter how difficult any given day had been for her, defeat was something she refused to entertain. Aside from the ordeal which the main character experienced, you also see the true meaning of unconditional love as well as the disappointment from those who let her down when she needed them the most. I highly recommend this book - you will not be disappointed.
Helpful Score: 1
One of the authors reviewing this book on the back of the jacket said "I had to remind myself to breathe." And it was true for me. Written from a different perspective - we know she surived her ordeal as she talks to her psychiatrist - the book is terrifying, brutal, absorbing with a character you'll never forget. Her fight to stay alive during her one year captivity is a lesson in bravery and determination.
This is one of the best books I've read all year. Wow!
This is one of the best books I've read all year. Wow!
Helpful Score: 1
This is a great read one that will keep you guessing until the very end. It is about a young woman's story about being kidnapped by a psycho who wants to control everything she does and how she manages to keep her sainty and regain as much as a normal life as possible.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was not at all what I was looking for when I picked it up. And because it was so different, I put it down for a while and almost didn't pick it back up. But I'm one of those who pretty much always has to finish a book. And I guess I'm glad I did. I didn't gain anything by reading it, but once I got past the rough patch at the beginning, I found it to be holding my interest. An ok read but probably not one that I'd recommended.
Helpful Score: 1
Wow! I have never read a story written like this one, it brought out a lot of emotions in me I didn't know I was holding on to. This story is unusually written, each chapter is a new therapy session where Annie, while telling us everything that happened while in captivity, is trying to regain her life and come to gripes with her year of abuse and torture at the hands of her kidnapper. We are also learning about her relationships with her mother, best friend, and boyfriend. And mixed in with the dialogue is her day-to-day life drama. There are so many layers to this story. I was blown away by it and read it all in one day. For me, it was very emotional and at the end I felt like having a good cleansing cry. And just when you think we are at the end of a very emotional road, we are thrown into a tail spin when the real truth is revealed. This is definitely a keeper book for me.
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http://www.goodreads.com/whatstacy
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of the best books I've read in awhile. I literally could not put it down. I don't even want to repost it because I know I'll want to read it again.
Helpful Score: 1
This is an excellent book. The character development was detailed and very realistic. Highly recommended!
Helpful Score: 1
I read Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens. I found her writing to be quite different, so I was debating on reading another one of her books. I am so glad that I did because I loved Still Missing . I couldn't put the book down. It kept me intrigued the whole time. There was even a twist at the end.
Helpful Score: 1
I've never had a book affect me so much, even after finishing, I'm still haunted by the story. This isn't the type of book I normally read, but a coworker recommended it. Well I couldn't put it down once I started it and the ending was totally unexpected! I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys suspense. Can't wait to read more from this author.
Helpful Score: 1
Wow! This book is intense! It is a gripping page-turner. I couldn't get anything else done until I finished it. It is laid out in "Sessions", instead of chapters and is told completely by the victim in conversations with her therapist. Parts were definitely disturbing and I usually avoid disturbing, but it is laid out where, though heart-wrenching, I was absorbed and able to continue. It was well worth it.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was a GREAT read. Once I darted it, I woke up at night to continue reading. I love to try new authors and this one is well worth the trouble. I am looking forward to any future books she may write. Surprises await .. So get to your reading!!
I was really surprised by how much this book truly dragged me in. Let's just say when I got it absolutely no housework got done that day or the next till I finished it. That rarely happens to me.
Annie is the focus here and the story is about her in the present talking to her psychiatrist about being held for a year in captivity. The abuse, physical, mental and verbal she withstood among many other tragedies she endured while being a prisoner. I really appreciated the story being told the way it was. I knew Annie had survived so it wasn't a tragedy right? Wrong. There are so many creepy twists and turns here that I actually felt very emotional for Annie and everything she had to process. I read books all the time but my one guilty pleasure has always been pyschological thrillers because those get under your skin and for me add some meaning to life whether its good or bad. Read this book but its not for the faint of heart its sad, thrilling, beautiful and a bitch all stacked between 2 covers. I am going on to read Chevy Stevens' other books because I am now very interested in what she has to say.
Annie is the focus here and the story is about her in the present talking to her psychiatrist about being held for a year in captivity. The abuse, physical, mental and verbal she withstood among many other tragedies she endured while being a prisoner. I really appreciated the story being told the way it was. I knew Annie had survived so it wasn't a tragedy right? Wrong. There are so many creepy twists and turns here that I actually felt very emotional for Annie and everything she had to process. I read books all the time but my one guilty pleasure has always been pyschological thrillers because those get under your skin and for me add some meaning to life whether its good or bad. Read this book but its not for the faint of heart its sad, thrilling, beautiful and a bitch all stacked between 2 covers. I am going on to read Chevy Stevens' other books because I am now very interested in what she has to say.
Don't start this book unless you have the time to get at least half-way through it without putting it down. It's that good. A suspenseful drama about a woman who is abducted by a psychopath and held against her will for a year. The story is told in her own words as she talks with her therapist, making it that much more personal and intimate.
It is a story that will break your heart and scare you to death, ending with a plot twist that slowly evolves until it cannot be denied. Stevens must have had good readers and a great editor because the story is pretty tight for a first novel. I hope her next book is just as good.
It is a story that will break your heart and scare you to death, ending with a plot twist that slowly evolves until it cannot be denied. Stevens must have had good readers and a great editor because the story is pretty tight for a first novel. I hope her next book is just as good.
This is a wonderfully crafted story of a women's worst nightmare, being abducted by "The Freak", and then as the details unfold, the nightmare only becomes more unimaginable. A nightmare that only gets more complicated and devistating as the facts and circumstances are revealed through Annie's journey from abduction to healing. There is so much more to this book than a typically thriller. It's about a women's journey to overcome, understand, heal and trust. And, the twists and turns keep the pages turning. I look forward to more from this author! I exprect to see this on the "big screen" someday soon.
At first blush, Chevy Stevens' debut novel Still Missing (Winner of the 2011 Thriller Award for Best First Novel issued by the International Thriller Writers) wouldn't be something I would consider for the R.I.P. Challenge VI, as it is neither Gothic or supernatural, although there is a mystery. I am reading Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, which I love and would definitely count for the Challenge, so I thought this audiobook was more to while away the ten-plus hour road trip from Florida to Virginia last week. I wanted to try something a bit different, something suspenseful with an even better mystery to sort out.
When Still Missing was first released, it garnered rave reviews in the blogosphere and the general view was unanimous that the reader should dive into the book not really knowing too much of the plot. Wise advice, so here's a snapshot: Annie is a young realtor holding an open house on a beautiful day by the water in a quiet residential neighborhood in Vancouver. By the end of the day, tired and packing up, waiting for her boyfriend to meet her for dinner, the last walk-in arrives. Debating if she should turn him away, she instead decides to go ahead and show him the house. He seems harmless enough.
It was not what I was expecting. Since I plan to read more than four books for Peril the First, I am going to list this as my first book for the R.I.P. Challenge because there is a mystery and it is extremely scary.
What follows after Annie shows the house to the last minute walk-in is terrifying. Told through Annie's first-person perspective to her therapist after the crime has been committed, it is disturbing and horrifying, witnessing Annie's terror from the abduction and other offenses that are committed. And while the reader (listener) is reeling from the events of the story, it is only then that you learn that there is much, much more to keep you up at night. While surrounded by a small circle of friends, Annie continues to be tormented by the realization that the horror may not be over yet and that those around her could very well be more than they seem.
Chevy Stevens has certainly left her mark - while the subject matter in Still Missing was difficult and horrifying, it was a story that we couldn't stop listening to and it brought out a range of emotions for us. But I will not sugar coat this. This is an extremely tough story due to both the crime itself and the subsequent aftermath and mystery, and through an audiobook it is even more disturbing. However, since the story is told in first-person, the audio version seemed to suit the story best in that format, almost simulating the listener as Annie's therapist and engaging you into the story even more. Be warned - while an incredible and memorable story and one I recommend, the subject matter is graphic and violent. If you do listen to the audiobook, please let me know your thoughts.
When Still Missing was first released, it garnered rave reviews in the blogosphere and the general view was unanimous that the reader should dive into the book not really knowing too much of the plot. Wise advice, so here's a snapshot: Annie is a young realtor holding an open house on a beautiful day by the water in a quiet residential neighborhood in Vancouver. By the end of the day, tired and packing up, waiting for her boyfriend to meet her for dinner, the last walk-in arrives. Debating if she should turn him away, she instead decides to go ahead and show him the house. He seems harmless enough.
It was not what I was expecting. Since I plan to read more than four books for Peril the First, I am going to list this as my first book for the R.I.P. Challenge because there is a mystery and it is extremely scary.
What follows after Annie shows the house to the last minute walk-in is terrifying. Told through Annie's first-person perspective to her therapist after the crime has been committed, it is disturbing and horrifying, witnessing Annie's terror from the abduction and other offenses that are committed. And while the reader (listener) is reeling from the events of the story, it is only then that you learn that there is much, much more to keep you up at night. While surrounded by a small circle of friends, Annie continues to be tormented by the realization that the horror may not be over yet and that those around her could very well be more than they seem.
Chevy Stevens has certainly left her mark - while the subject matter in Still Missing was difficult and horrifying, it was a story that we couldn't stop listening to and it brought out a range of emotions for us. But I will not sugar coat this. This is an extremely tough story due to both the crime itself and the subsequent aftermath and mystery, and through an audiobook it is even more disturbing. However, since the story is told in first-person, the audio version seemed to suit the story best in that format, almost simulating the listener as Annie's therapist and engaging you into the story even more. Be warned - while an incredible and memorable story and one I recommend, the subject matter is graphic and violent. If you do listen to the audiobook, please let me know your thoughts.
This is not a bad story at all. I have read worse and this is not one of those. Annie is just very human and flawed and honest with her feelings. The author does a great job portraying all the different facets of the characters, their good feelings, their torments and their vulnerabilities. At some point I even felt sorry for the bad guy but that didn't last long.
Got this book from my local library's "free" cart. Per the summary on the inside of the book jacket, it sounded interesting. Almost immediately the reader knows that Annie, the protagonist, was abducted but reappeared a year later. The narrative is in the first person. The story unfolds when Annie is talking with her therapist. The chapters aren't called chapters but "Session One," "Session Two," etc. The therapist never speaks--the entire book is Annie's monologue about her experience.
As Annie described her first few days with The Freak (her name for the kidnapper), I wasn't sure I wanted to finish the book since it's very dark. But, knowing that Annie somehow got free kept me interested as I wanted to know how that happened.
SPOILERS: Annie escaped after killing The Freak. The way she did so was improbable--The Freak had asked Annie to come outside to help him stack wood that he had cut. He, an ultimate control freak, was not paying attention as she went back and forth stacking wood. She suddenly grabbed the ax, which was behind The Freak, and drove it into the back of his head. Instead of immediately leaving the scene since she was now free, Annie decided she needed to hide The Freak's body.
SPOILER CONTINUED: When Annie found her way to a police station in a very small town, she ended up being interviewed by an officer called in from another jurisdiction. He was her main contact as the investigation continued. One night (I believe it was months after Annie's return) she called him and learned he was out of town (about an hour away) following up on some leads in her case. Annie decided to drive up there (for reasons I don't recall) and spent the night with him and of course, they had sex. I was thoroughly disgusted. It was gratuitous and added nothing to the story. Furthermore, I found it highly unlikely that a police officer who was investigating an abduction case would then have sex with the victim.
SPOILER CONTINUED: There's a second abduction attempt which Annie fights off. Oddly, Annie, who often sleeps in a closet because of her trauma, continues to go jogging by herself. Finally, there's a big twist at the end where we learn that Annie's mother engineered the initial abduction and then the abduction attempt after Annie returned. The rationale for these two incidents was also completely off the wall. END OF SPOILERS
I found this a rather unsatisfying read. I had no empathy/sympathy for Annie. Annie's mother was also very unlikeable. I wouldn't recommend this.
As Annie described her first few days with The Freak (her name for the kidnapper), I wasn't sure I wanted to finish the book since it's very dark. But, knowing that Annie somehow got free kept me interested as I wanted to know how that happened.
SPOILERS: Annie escaped after killing The Freak. The way she did so was improbable--The Freak had asked Annie to come outside to help him stack wood that he had cut. He, an ultimate control freak, was not paying attention as she went back and forth stacking wood. She suddenly grabbed the ax, which was behind The Freak, and drove it into the back of his head. Instead of immediately leaving the scene since she was now free, Annie decided she needed to hide The Freak's body.
SPOILER CONTINUED: When Annie found her way to a police station in a very small town, she ended up being interviewed by an officer called in from another jurisdiction. He was her main contact as the investigation continued. One night (I believe it was months after Annie's return) she called him and learned he was out of town (about an hour away) following up on some leads in her case. Annie decided to drive up there (for reasons I don't recall) and spent the night with him and of course, they had sex. I was thoroughly disgusted. It was gratuitous and added nothing to the story. Furthermore, I found it highly unlikely that a police officer who was investigating an abduction case would then have sex with the victim.
SPOILER CONTINUED: There's a second abduction attempt which Annie fights off. Oddly, Annie, who often sleeps in a closet because of her trauma, continues to go jogging by herself. Finally, there's a big twist at the end where we learn that Annie's mother engineered the initial abduction and then the abduction attempt after Annie returned. The rationale for these two incidents was also completely off the wall. END OF SPOILERS
I found this a rather unsatisfying read. I had no empathy/sympathy for Annie. Annie's mother was also very unlikeable. I wouldn't recommend this.
Interesting book.
I'm the exception in the book reviews. I did not enjoy this book at all. What the main character went thru should stir feeling of sympathy & sadness from the reader. I frankly didnt care for her at all. I found her snotty & overall just unlikable. I didnt care for the jumping back & forth from present to past.
5 stars! Still Missing is my first time reading Chevy Stevens work, and I will definitely be reading more of her novels. Great book and well written. The suspense is throughout the book and I couldn't put it down. The story was one of a kind and kept me intrigued throughout. I can't wait to get a hold of another one of her books!
This was one of the best books I've read in a while. Well formatted with a emotional, thrilling plot. I highly recommend.
JUST GREAT !
This book had a pretty interesting premise. A woman is abducted by a madman for a year, and the reader learns the details as she shares them with her therapist; although we never hear from the therapist directly. Everything comes through Annie O'Sullivan's eyes...and they're quite bleak.
Annie's tone is bitter, sarcastic, angry and negative. So at first she can be off-putting. But once you understand everything she'd been through, it's easier to take.
The way things unfolded was something to behold...but the getting there began wearing thin. Annie tended to ramble in her recounting of day to day life with the captor, her early childhood, family, and present day to day life. I found myself urging her to get on with it, to move the plot along. How did you escape??
When we finally find out what went down, many unnecessary events were thrown in, which just weighed the plot down in my opinion and became distracting. It seemed everyone and their mother had some horrible thing happen in their past in this book. It felt a bit much.
Overall, it held my interest, but I found the tone dreary and depressing and was disappointed there wasn't much light at the end of Annie's tunnel. I could've read something else.
Annie's tone is bitter, sarcastic, angry and negative. So at first she can be off-putting. But once you understand everything she'd been through, it's easier to take.
The way things unfolded was something to behold...but the getting there began wearing thin. Annie tended to ramble in her recounting of day to day life with the captor, her early childhood, family, and present day to day life. I found myself urging her to get on with it, to move the plot along. How did you escape??
When we finally find out what went down, many unnecessary events were thrown in, which just weighed the plot down in my opinion and became distracting. It seemed everyone and their mother had some horrible thing happen in their past in this book. It felt a bit much.
Overall, it held my interest, but I found the tone dreary and depressing and was disappointed there wasn't much light at the end of Annie's tunnel. I could've read something else.
Excellent novel from a first time author. The story is suspenseful but easy to follow and the characters are believable. I loved this book!
This was a great and quick read. There are some hard parts to read but a mush read..
This story is written about a female realtor who is abducted at the end of an open house. Her captor takes her to a remote cabin in the mountains and she remains with him for almost a year before she is able to get away, by finally killing him. The book is written in the first-person style, but we are given two different views. The first is Annie's view and thoughts during the abduction and captivity. The second view/thoughts are Annie talking to her psychiatrist. While sounding confusing writing it here, it's actually easy to keep track of which time we're in. The ending is also very surprising, to say the least!
I found the story to be somewhat emotionally disconcerting, and even though the author doesn't give us grizzly, graphic details, she does give us enough to let our minds draw the picture. And it's written so well that at times the reader may forget that it is a book of fiction and not a true-crime novel. While out of my normal genre, I like to make a change now and then to keep my mind alert, and this book fit the bill. I actually looked for more Chevy Stevens' books, it was THAT good.
I found the story to be somewhat emotionally disconcerting, and even though the author doesn't give us grizzly, graphic details, she does give us enough to let our minds draw the picture. And it's written so well that at times the reader may forget that it is a book of fiction and not a true-crime novel. While out of my normal genre, I like to make a change now and then to keep my mind alert, and this book fit the bill. I actually looked for more Chevy Stevens' books, it was THAT good.
I was not able to put the book down! What an amazing story from start to finish.
One of the best books I've read.
One of the best books I've read.
This book was excellent. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. As others have mentioned some parts are a little hard to read but made the book that much more compelling. I am looking forward to reading Chevy Stevens' next book.
For a first book by a new author this book is amazing!!! Actually for any book by any author this book is amazing! I read this in one day because there was no way I was putting it down. It has every twist and turn imaginable and on top of that the writing style is that of therapy sessions and it just has a flow that makes you keep reading.
Good book !!!
One of the better books I have read recently. I hope that Chevy can keep up the good work.
This was a fantastic debut novel for Chevy Stevens, and I can't wait to see what is next. Just when you think you have it all figured out, BAM! You are thrown for a loop.
The story line is this: A woman is kidnapped and held captive for a year. She tells her story to her therapist, but you also learn of the events as they happened, so almost real-time and looking-back perspectives.
There is real character development, and an interest in how it turns out. I'd be interested in knowing how it turns out for the accused down the road.
The story line is this: A woman is kidnapped and held captive for a year. She tells her story to her therapist, but you also learn of the events as they happened, so almost real-time and looking-back perspectives.
There is real character development, and an interest in how it turns out. I'd be interested in knowing how it turns out for the accused down the road.
Not as good as "That Night" but a good read..
Easy read and very engaging but a little on the dark and disturbing side.
LOVED this book! It took me less than 24 hours to finish it...kept me intrigued the entire way through!
Great book! If her future novels are as good as this first one, she will be a mega-author like James Patterson, Kristin Hannah, Jodi Picoult, Danielle Steele, Nicholas Sparks, etc. This book is a mystry thriller, a page turner, and easy read. This "who done it" will surprise you.
I couldnt put this book down. i read it in a day. disturbing in subject matter, but well done.
When I started this book I thought it was NOT going to be as good as I had thought it would be, but someone very special to me bought the thing brabd new for me and there was no way I was not going to finish it... I am so glad I stuck with it!!!! it turned out to be so good, and I cannot stop thinking about it.... BUT, don't count on getting my copy, I don't re-gift!!!!!!!
I don't know what to make of this book. The first two thirds described the protagonist's year with a psycho who has kidnapped her. Though suspenseful and well-written, I found the level of detail excruciating, particularly when she describes how her torturer raped her regularly. It almost seemed gratuitous, and I kept hoping to find some redeeming value. Alas it was not to be. The latter part of the book is a whodunnit, and did not have the same sense of realism that the grizzly parts did. The latter part seemed contrived to me. Although this author clearly has a ton of talent, this book was too uneven and the good parts too sadistic to be enjoyable.
It's been a while since a book has kept me up at night! I couldn't put this one down! This story of a young woman abducted and held hostage for over a year is riveting. The story is told by Annie as she tells it to her psychiatrist - from the day of the abduction until the shocking conclusion. I could see the transition from the "before the abduction Annie" to the "after abduction Annie" in her thoughts and actions. I thought the author did a fantastic job making the story realistic from start to almost the end - although the end is shocking, it's a little bit out there. I have already been recommending this book to others and will definitely add Ms. Stevens to my "must read" author list. 5 stars!
I was not expecting the rape details but once I got past it the book was hard to put down.
Absolutely loved this book! Almost didn't order it but the other reviews convinced me. I am so glad I did! Great psychological thriller
Absolutely riveting, Start reading when you have free time because you won't be able to put the book down.
Book Description:
On the day she was abducted, Annie O'Sullivan, a thirty-two-year-old realtor, had three goalsâsell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for dinner with her ever-patient boyfriend. The open house is slow, but when her last visitor pulls up in a van as she's about to leave, Annie thinks it just might be her lucky day after all.
"Will have you glued to the page."âPeople magazine
Interwoven with the story of the year Annie spent captive in a remote mountain cabinâwhich unfolds through sessions with her psychiatristâis the second narrative recounting the nightmare that follows her escape: her struggle to piece her shattered life back together, the ongoing police investigation into the identity of her captor, and the disturbing sense that things are far from overâ¦in Still Missing.
My Review:
This is a heart-stopping debut about a woman realtor's abduction from an open house. It pulls you in from page 1 and does not let you go until the very surprising ending. It's a definite hard-to-put-down emotional ride with unexpected twists and turns. The book is very well-written and I look forward to reading more of Chevy Stevens' books in the near future. I would highly recommend this book to those who like psychological thrillers.
On the day she was abducted, Annie O'Sullivan, a thirty-two-year-old realtor, had three goalsâsell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for dinner with her ever-patient boyfriend. The open house is slow, but when her last visitor pulls up in a van as she's about to leave, Annie thinks it just might be her lucky day after all.
"Will have you glued to the page."âPeople magazine
Interwoven with the story of the year Annie spent captive in a remote mountain cabinâwhich unfolds through sessions with her psychiatristâis the second narrative recounting the nightmare that follows her escape: her struggle to piece her shattered life back together, the ongoing police investigation into the identity of her captor, and the disturbing sense that things are far from overâ¦in Still Missing.
My Review:
This is a heart-stopping debut about a woman realtor's abduction from an open house. It pulls you in from page 1 and does not let you go until the very surprising ending. It's a definite hard-to-put-down emotional ride with unexpected twists and turns. The book is very well-written and I look forward to reading more of Chevy Stevens' books in the near future. I would highly recommend this book to those who like psychological thrillers.
Spoiler-did not see the ending coming.
Enjoy this author.
