Dollycas's Thoughts
Jenna Barton is tormented by her friend Celia's disappearance. If only she had been on time for the meeting....could she have been able to change what happened? She can't give up, she is determined to find her friend even as she knows she may only find her body.
David Bell grabs the reader from the start. Jenna Barton has been called to an old barn because a body has been found. The press alerted her... not the police. The way the press handles this story rings so true to me. I didn't like it, but they dig and dig and report and release things to inform the public forgetting that people are struggling or grieving. I know the press has helped solve missing person cases so it is something the family and friends have to bear, but these journalists treated Jenna so awful it broke my heart.
The author introduces a second plot or subplot of Jenna's son, Jared and his girlfriend, mostly told from Jared's perspective. Teenagers, first love, only this time there are some twists that add to the main plot. Jenna, a single mom, works hard to provide for her son and tries to keep the lines of communication open with her son. This isn't always easy with a 15 year old. Jared seems a little more mature in some ways but a little behind in others. Both story-lines are important and so well written. I liked these characters very much. Their actions were sometimes impulsive and put them in danger but understandable in the realm of the entire story.
The pacing was perfect for me. It started out really strong. Then real life continued in everyone's life but the mystery was always in the forefront and there were some suspenseful moments. Then as the story was approaching the reveal the suspense rose to a high level again. When it ended I felt a bunch of different emotions.
I have read and reviewed all of David Bell's books. His is a brilliant storyteller. I look forward to each new book he writes and when the book arrives I have to read it right away. My favorite is still The Forgotten Girl, but they have all been powerful reads.
Jenna Barton is tormented by her friend Celia's disappearance. If only she had been on time for the meeting....could she have been able to change what happened? She can't give up, she is determined to find her friend even as she knows she may only find her body.
David Bell grabs the reader from the start. Jenna Barton has been called to an old barn because a body has been found. The press alerted her... not the police. The way the press handles this story rings so true to me. I didn't like it, but they dig and dig and report and release things to inform the public forgetting that people are struggling or grieving. I know the press has helped solve missing person cases so it is something the family and friends have to bear, but these journalists treated Jenna so awful it broke my heart.
The author introduces a second plot or subplot of Jenna's son, Jared and his girlfriend, mostly told from Jared's perspective. Teenagers, first love, only this time there are some twists that add to the main plot. Jenna, a single mom, works hard to provide for her son and tries to keep the lines of communication open with her son. This isn't always easy with a 15 year old. Jared seems a little more mature in some ways but a little behind in others. Both story-lines are important and so well written. I liked these characters very much. Their actions were sometimes impulsive and put them in danger but understandable in the realm of the entire story.
The pacing was perfect for me. It started out really strong. Then real life continued in everyone's life but the mystery was always in the forefront and there were some suspenseful moments. Then as the story was approaching the reveal the suspense rose to a high level again. When it ended I felt a bunch of different emotions.
I have read and reviewed all of David Bell's books. His is a brilliant storyteller. I look forward to each new book he writes and when the book arrives I have to read it right away. My favorite is still The Forgotten Girl, but they have all been powerful reads.
Since She Went Away by David Bell was an intriguing crime novel that kept my husband and I guessing. The plot has twists and turns that made us keep changing our mind as to what the conclusion would be. There were parts that seemed rather far-fetched and my husband is always one to say that some of the situations would be impossible. On the other hand, I can get sucked in to things like that.
I started this book and finished the next evening. Story about Jenna, a lovely, likeable single mom and her BFF who has been missing. She blames herself for being late to their meeting. Jared is her15 year old son who meets the love of his life, and she goes missing also.
Some twists and turns make this book hard to put down until finished.
Some twists and turns make this book hard to put down until finished.
Once I started reading, couldn't put it down. Engrossing story with some surprise twists.
