In December 1963, thirteen-year-old Alison Carter vanishes from an isolated village in the English countryside. Her disappearance is investigated by newly promoted inspector George Bennett. The people of the village don't like outsiders, so George must earn their trust in order to solve the case. As days pass and clues are uncovered, George believes he will not be finding Alison alive.
This story is told in basically three parts. First we have the disappearance and the procedural investigation. Next we have an arrest and trial. The last section of the book happens 35 years later, when George tells his story to a journalist who is writing a story about the murder of Alison Carter. Suddenly George asks that the book not be published because he has discovered new information that he will not divulge. The journalist sets out to discover what really happened in the small village in 1963.
Even though I thought the book was a little too wordy and could have been edited better, I was hooked from the start, wanting to know what happened to Alison. Most authors would have ended the mystery after the arrest and trial, but McDermid continues the story 35 years later where some surprising revelations are uncovered. If you like police procedurals or mysteries with a twist, you'll like this book. My rating: 4 Stars. (It would have been 4.5 if the book was streamlined and cut about 75 pages out of it.)
This story is told in basically three parts. First we have the disappearance and the procedural investigation. Next we have an arrest and trial. The last section of the book happens 35 years later, when George tells his story to a journalist who is writing a story about the murder of Alison Carter. Suddenly George asks that the book not be published because he has discovered new information that he will not divulge. The journalist sets out to discover what really happened in the small village in 1963.
Even though I thought the book was a little too wordy and could have been edited better, I was hooked from the start, wanting to know what happened to Alison. Most authors would have ended the mystery after the arrest and trial, but McDermid continues the story 35 years later where some surprising revelations are uncovered. If you like police procedurals or mysteries with a twist, you'll like this book. My rating: 4 Stars. (It would have been 4.5 if the book was streamlined and cut about 75 pages out of it.)
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