I detest female protagonists that think like a Hallmark channel heroine. Sooooo annoying. Story is okay, basically read all the way to the end for a decent twist to the ending but man, you could cut out 40% of this book with all the treacly made-for-TV inner monologue and have a much more interesting book.

4 stars! A great story and read about a missing boy that takes place over a 10 year span with rich characters and interesting side plots. This is the 9th Brian Freeman book I've read over the last 2 years and I have to say they've all been excellent. He has definitely become one of my very favorite authors and I can not recommend his books highly enough. All feature strong characters in very cinematic settings with clever plot twists along the way, usually from the first to the very last page. The great news is because I'm such a late comer to his stories, I still have lots to read.

Not my usual style, but I read it for book club and enjoyed it.

Good little mystery. I really like the main character and will definitely read the next in the series. Docking one star because I thought the way the mystery was solved/wrapped up/explained was boring and too contrived as if from a bad movie.

4.5. Rounded up. I have read Brian Freeman’s Jonathan Stride series and enjoyed it. This is a new series with Deputy Shelby Lake. It starts with her backstory and then the crime 10 years previously. We move ahead 10 years and the case is still open. Shelby Lake is an interesting character and her father is the Sheriff but also suffering from early dementia. You won’t see the ending coming. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I was given a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

4.5. Rounded up. I have read Brian Freeman’s Jonathan Stride series and enjoyed it. This is a new series with Deputy Shelby Lake. It starts with her backstory and then the crime 10 years previously. We move ahead 10 years and the case is still open. Shelby Lake is an interesting character and her father is the Sheriff but also suffering from early dementia. You won’t see the ending coming. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I was given a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

A great mystery but also a great story with many plot lines that all intertwine. I finished it in under 24 hours.

A decent listen, but too many things that didn't seem like they could have happened.

2.5