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Book Review of What She Knew

What She Knew
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4.0 out of 5 stars -- Nothing strikes fear into the heart of parents as much as the thought of a missing child -- their own missing child...

Eight year-old Ben Finch goes missing while out walking on a lovely autumn day near their home in Bristol. Ben had run on ahead by himself to a clearing to a rope swing and when Rachel Jenner, his mom, catches up -- Ben is gone! Brought to the edge of insanity by everything that transpires as police try to find her son, Rachel is undone by how the trust she innocently placed in others was misguided at best, and dangerous at worst. Who could have taken Ben? Neither the detectives nor the public are very sympathetic to Rachel, who is not behaving as expected. But no one involved is who they have held themselves up to be.

I enjoyed this fast-paced mystery thriller that alternated between the voices of Rachel and the lead detective assigned to the abduction, James Clemo, from the Avon and Somerset Constabulary. The details of the investigation were solid police procedural mixed with conflicting personal drama that interfered with the case. Although I wasn't all that keen on Rachel, I was empathetic to her situation and kept biting my nails and holding my breath at the red herrings and distractions that prevented me from guessing the identity of Ben's kidnapper. I found the conclusion quite satisfying and would recommend it to any fans of domestic suspense. If you like the novels of authors such as Linwood Barclay and Gillian Flynn, you'll not want to miss this.