Synopsis:
An explosive, gripping thriller for fans of Karin Slaughter, Linwood Barclay and Karen Dionne, don’t miss this heart-stopping debut.
On the tenth anniversary of her daughter Autumn's abduction, Francine receives an anonymous note containing just five words: I KNOW WHERE SHE IS
When a young woman approaches her the next day claiming to have sent the letter Francine wants to dismiss it as a cruel, twisted joke.
But the stranger knows things that only Autumn would know.
It soon becomes clear that Francine must go to dark places in order to learn the truth about her child’s kidnapping.
She will discover that danger comes from unexpected sources. She will do things she never imagined herself capable of.
But will Francine get her daughter back – or is it too late?
Review:
I didn't know what to expect as I went into this book but whatever it was I was completely blown away by the whole thing.
Francine who is visibly struggling with the anniversary of her daughters abduction, its been nearly 10 years but then one night she gets a note under her door and at first she think it's an incredibly sick joke being played on her because her name isn't listed anywhere, neither is her number, she's basically incognito so things like this don't happen. The following day whilst at work she notices someone lingering by her car and she confront them, only to find out her name is Lena, she sent the note and she knows where Autumn is.
And there Francine begins the riveting roller coaster ride as she follows her gut to reunite with her daughter dead or alive. Francine is completely human, flawed and utterly believable and true. Her ex Will however is a complete swine, he seems to have given up all hope on finding his daughter, he's married again and now there's a child on the way and when Francine approaches him about something to do with their long lost daughter he's quick to shoot her down, thinking there is something wrong with his ex but I can see where he's coming from with it all I mean some people lose hope after 10 years but Francine is a fighter and is full of hope.
As the book goes on the whole situation behind Autumns kidnapping unravels and we're shown the brutal and deprived world that had everything to do with it. I'm not even able to imagine how heart breaking and all losing a child in such a way would truly be but I can feel the determination in Francine throughout the book as she follows her mothers instinct and gut. It's a beautiful book, it shows the determination of a mother to find and protect her daughter even though she believes she failed years ago when her daughter was taken from her. It's a book showing strength and resilience but also corruption and the sick, unhuman acts on innocent people.
A gripping page turner, I was gripped from the very start and I was on a rollercoaster with Francine as she goes through all of these situations. My heart broke, mended but still cracked and so much more. If you like your thrillers then this is definitely one you should check out. It's a 5/5 from me and I'll be keeping my eye out of S.B Caves in the future because I'm sure his future work will be just as great at this debut.
