GONE AGAIN

4 stars out of 5

Told mostly from the perspectives of sisters Celia and Genevieve and in two different time frames - when they were kids living with holy-rolling parents from hell and the present, 25 years later - the details on both ends of the quarter-century span are engrossing, but disturbing. Once out of high school, Celia finally escapes to build a life elsewhere - leaving her beloved younger sister Genevieve and even younger sister Celeste to the not-so-tender mercies of their father and mother.

Not too long ago, Celia and Genevieve reconnect; in fact, thanks to Celia's generosity, Genevieve and her husband relocate to be near Celia and her husband. Celia has just celebrated her 40th birthday with a big bash, many gifts and a card with a nasty message that rattles her brain. Who would hate her enough to spoil her birthday? Unable to sleep, Celia wanders off to clear her head and disappears off the face of the earth. The rest of the story centers on efforts to find Celia and flashbacks to the sisters' childhood secrets - including one that's a whopper. Of course, I must keep it all a secret as well so as not to spoil it for others.

Now that I've finished, though, I must say it's rare for me to advise an author to lengthen a book - more often than not, books tend to be padded with pages of trivial details that are marginally significant to the plot. In this case, however, there are holes are big enough to drive a snowplow through with room to spare. I won't dwell on them, but say only that many readers, including myself, will be left with some heavy-duty questions that another 50 or so pages could have answered without making this almost-too-short-to-be-a-book too long.

But despite my leftover questions, I enjoyed the reading experience - to the point that I held up starting to make dinner because I was too close to the end to put it down willingly. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Gone Again by Minka Kent (Thomas & Mercer, March 2023); 239 pp.

UNMISSING

4 stars out of 5

I can't say the basic story is all that unique - a woman goes missing, is declared dead but turns up very much alive a decade later - but the details, including a couple of gobsmacking twists, give this one an edge that makes it quite entertaining and hard to put down. The victim is Lydia Coletto, who got married a relatively short time before her abduction; after 10 years of being held captive and tortured, she escapes - and shows up on her husband's doorstep. Problem is, that same husband had her declared dead years ago and is now married to another woman, Merritt, with whom he has a young daughter and a son on the way. Can you say oops?

For her part, Lydia insists she's just looking for some kind of closure;
understandably, Luca and Merritt are shaken to the core, but they vow to do what they can to help Lydia (except, of course, anything that would seriously damage their marriage). Over the years, they've built a successful business in the restaurant industry, in the process becoming rather wealthy and able to live a cushy lifestyle. They're not sure exactly what Lydia wants from them, but they decide to befriend her for the time being (figuring, I suppose, that it's easier to catch a fly with honey than vinegar).

Chapters alternate from the perspectives of Lydia and Merritt, so readers get a look inside their heads as the story builds. I must say I was never fond of Merritt, who seems quite a controlling (but a bit paranoid) woman. Similarly, I never quite trusted Lydia, especially when she ignored solid advice from a new friend and sets off in her own direction. But as the book description hints, more than one character has a secret - and let me tell you, a couple of them are doozies.

My only disappointment is the ending; it seemed a bit abrupt, and I would like to have learned more about what happens to a couple of the characters. But that said, it was quite enjoyable and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

Unmissing by Minka Kent (Thomas & Mercer, February 2022); 251 pp.

WHEN I WAS YOU

4 stars out of 5

I read a ton of pre-release books, and when I get them gratis or at low cost from publishers, I figure I owe it to my benefactors to finish them no matter what. And if I've learned one thing over many years and many more books, it's that I'm right to not be too hasty to call it quits.

Such is the case with this book, which I got through Amazon's First Reads program. Somewhere around the 10% mark, I was ready to call it a day. The main character, Brienne Dougray, depicts the kind of woman who, for the most part, I simply want to smack upside the head - the kind who refuses to listen to reason yet complains about her lot in life and can out-second-guess a paranoid schizophenic.

It didn't take long, though, for me to be glad I hung in there. You guessed it: Not only was I pleased (and surprised) by the turn of events, but in spots I was so close to the edge of my seat that I nearly fell off. I won't say Brienne and I could ever be best buds, but the whole thing kept getting better by the chapter.

The survivor of an attack, Brienne has holed up in the old, spacious home she inherited. Just so she won't constantly be alone, she advertises for a tenant; goodness knows she's got the extra room. The ad is answered by Dr. Niall Emberlin, who turns out to be the caring friend and helper she needs. But then, she learns that her identity may not only have been stolen, but another woman is actually living her life: Same name, same car, same physical characteristics. That's puzzling, to say the least - especially since no one seems to have tinkered with Brienne's substantial bank accounts or credit cards.

Gradually, readers begin to suspect there's much more going on here (as does Brienne). But what? And who? And why? Alas, my review must of necessity stop right here; otherwise, I'd be revealing too much. Suffice it to say it's an enjoyable roller coaster ride complete with a few surprise bumps that make it even more interesting.

When I Was You by Minka Kent (Thomas & Mercer, February 2020); 282 pp.