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Monday, May 18, 2015

Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight

Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight was a book that seemed to take me forever to read.  I've been having a bit of an issue reading books in print - timewise.  Not sure what's going on with me, but in any case, I've been reading on this for over a week.  The story kept my interest, but I kept putting my Kindle down and doing other things.  I didn't dislike it at all, but somehow, not so much reading.  Just a bit before bedtime.  And then, finally, finally, I hit the spot - you know the one - where you cannot put it down.  And raced to the end.  So happy for that!

Last year, I read McCreight's first book, Reconstructing Amelia.  I was kind of on a 'teen girl as character' reading binge somehow.  I did like it a lot, and I was glad to see that this second book was published this year.

So, what's it about?  Well, Molly and her husband, Justin, live in Ridgedale, New Jersey with their little daughter.  They have come here from New York so that Justin can teach at a local university.  Molly, a lawyer by profession but now working as a freelance journalist for the local newspaper, is startled to be asked by her boss to cover a breaking story.  An infant girl's body has been discovered in the woods near the university campus.  No one knows who she is or how she came to be there.  All the other newspaper staff members are unavailable.  Could Molly cover this story?  The death of a baby is probably the worst thing that Molly could be asked to report on because she lost a child and experienced severe depression because of it.  Though this is a really tough situation, Molly agrees.  Who did the baby belong to?  How did she come to be in the woods?  Who was the mother, the father?  All questions that need to be answered.

Where They Found Her is told from several points of view.  Molly tells part of the story.  Sandy, a teen girl that lives in the area with her mother, Jenna, is the second narrator.  Jenna is a single mother and she and Sandy barely make ends meet, even with both of them working.  Jenna, who lived in Ridgedale growing up, has a part of the narration through diary entries.  The third narrator is Barbara, the police chief's wife.  Other aspects of the story come out through Molly's news articles and also some transcripts of her therapy appointments.

Ridgedale is an affluent community with white picket fences.  The secrets are everywhere, but well hidden.  In many houses, more goes on than anyone imagines and Molly must pick her way through the lies and half-lies in order to try to figure out what she needs to know.  The story moves at a good enough pace, but for quite a while it's tough to know how any of the strands the author gives us are related.  I kept thinking I knew and then I'd be wrong.  And then I'd have another idea and get shot down again.  I give the author credit for keeping me guessing, although there were indeed hints throughout.

The only quibble I might have is that when the various storylines begin to draw together, the pace moves very fast.  And then the end is there.  Boom.  Abrupt.  Maybe a little too abrupt for me.  It's a minor thing and was probably just how Kimberly McCreight planned it.  Would I read another book by her?  Absolutely.  Is this one recommended?  Yes.  Bring your puzzler mindset and see what you can figure out.

Sarah at Sarah's Book Shelves wrote a very nice spoiler-free review here back in April.  And then she also wrote another one that included a spoiler discussion here.  Feel free to join in!

30 comments:

  1. I've this book in my pile. I'm very curious to know how's the story is like and how it ends, and most of all the author's writing since I've not read anything by her.

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    1. You should also try Reconstructing Amelia. Might be more available.

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  2. I have just read a really good review for this one and I'm definitely going to consider reading it this year!

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    1. Melinda, you should try it. And good luck! LOL

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  3. I liked this one, too! Maybe not as much as her first book, but it was still good.

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    1. I think, for me, it was as good as the first. Maybe about the same. Just that abrupt ending.

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  4. This sounds like one I'd enjoy since I love to see how fast I can figure out the puzzle.

    I've been in a bit of a reading slump myself. Only reading right before bed, if that! I've been reading A Man Called Ove for a couple of weeks now. It really should have only taken a couple of days! I'm also in a blogging slump and not sure if I have the motivation to get back to it right now. Summers are always so busy, but I'm also get a bit weary of the whole thing. We'll see.

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    1. Les, I'm sorry about your slump - reading or blog related. You know that I understand the feeling. I'm not sure what's up with me and the printed word. I'm going great guns on that audio. Ah well, I'm sure it will pick up again and now that the shows I watch on TV are finishing up, more time for reading.

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  5. I have to admit I liked Reconstructing Amelia better, I thought this one was over thought if that makes sense.

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    1. Over thought - or maybe overly complicated, in a way. Think I know what you mean. I do think that it's difficult to keep everything straight early on - who's talking and really just who everyone is.

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  6. Your reading sounds a lot like mine lately.... just a few pages before bed, taking forever to get into a book, and then reaching a point where you cannot put it down!

    Anyway... I've been curious about this book, as well as her previous
    Reconstructing Amelia. They both sound like summer reads to me.

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    1. JoAnn, you should try them this summer. Know this type book is not really your preferred read though. As to my reading, well, I'm doing great on audio books, just not so much print. :-)

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  7. I love books that just about do your head in while you try and figure things out but I haven't read anything by Kimberly McCreight, maybe I should start with Reconstructing Amelia? Nice review Kay.

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    1. You'd probably be able to find Reconstructing Amelia easier. Either one though, since they are not related. And thanks!

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  8. I didn't love this one, but it did keep me reading. The ending is a little abrupt and The Big Reveal seemed really out of the blue for me. Glad you enjoyed the read!

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    1. Did you think so about the ending, Susan? I sort of saw it coming or saw something like it coming, but I thought there might be more. And don't even get me started on Barbara. A whole other kettle of fish.

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  9. I'm the same way lately - easily distracted! I really want to read this because I loved her last book.

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    1. You'd likely enjoy this then, Kathy. Maybe on a plane trip or on audio?

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  10. It seems that with many books I read, at about the half-way point, they pick up speed. I guess by then I get so interested that I don't want to put the book down.

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    1. Yes, I do relate to the escalation of tension in the story, but I like the ending to be a little more something - more volume or whatever. LOL

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  11. I wasn't aware that this is the same author who wrote Amelia. I read that one but felt it was a little unrealistic.

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    1. It is the same author. If you didn't like Reconstructing Amelia, you might not like this one. Just saying. :-)

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  12. I've been keen to read this one for a while and your review has served to make that desire stronger. Thanks for a great review.

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    1. I suspect you would like this one, Cleo. Seriously. :-)

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  13. I don't like the sudden ending but it seems to happen fairly regularly with the genre. I had originally decided to pass on this one because of the baby but it sounds like I could handle this one. I'll have to look for this though I will be expecting the sudden end.

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    1. I think you could handle it. It's not hugely graphic on the violence scale.

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  14. I did read her first book and liked it well enough, so I will also try this one at some point.

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    1. Good! Will be interested in your opinion if you get to read it.

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  15. I liked Reconstructing Amelia although I did have some quibbles with that so it looks like maybe some of the things I didn't quite enjoy also surface in this book. Hmm, I'd be willing to give it ago as I think it has a good premise but probably not high on my list for books to get to.

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Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!