Search This Blog







2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2025 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas
- California (5)
- Colorado (3)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida (1)
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa (2)
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (5)
- North Carolina (2)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas (1)
- Utah
- Vermont (3)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming (1)
- Washington, D.C.* (1)
International:
- Australia (3)
- Canada (2)
- England (5)
- France (1)
- Puerto Rico (1)
- Scotland (1)


2025 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge



2025 Build Your Library Reading Challenge









Friday, May 01, 2015
Compelling Mystery Would Have Benefited From Subtlety, Tighter Structure
5:04 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Ridgedale, an idyllic New Jersey college town, has its share of minor crimes. Break-ins, domestic squabbles, robberies, etc. aren't uncommon, but murder? In the last two decades, there have been only two. When the body of a dead baby is found in a wooded area on university property, it appears as though that stat may be changing. Cause of death will take some time to determine, but in the meantime, everyone has a theory.
As a reporter for the local newspaper, Molly Sanderson covers the fun, artsy side of Ridgedale. Focusing on lively arts/lifestyle/human interest stories has helped lift her out of the oppressive grief she's felt ever since the loss of her own child. It's only a fluke that she's assigned the story of the newborn's death, but Molly's determined to find out what happened to the infant. Even if it kills her.
The more clues Molly uncovers, the more sinister the story becomes. Ridgedale may look like a peaceful little hamlet where nothing bad ever happens, but she's beginning to see the truth—the townspeople are keeping some pretty dark secrets. Unlocking them will put everything Molly holds dear at risk. It may even cost her her sanity or, worse, her life.
Where They Found Her, Kimberly McCreight's sophomore novel (Reconstructing Amelia was her debut), tells a chilling, suspenseful story about a grieving mother's desperate search for redemption. The sorrow and guilt that plague Molly make her a sympathetic character, one with whom it's easy to identify. As for the supporting cast, they all seem pretty stereotypical and bland. Plotwise, Where They Found Her has a clumsy, choppy structure. While some of its twists are well-crafted, others seem to come totally out of left field. The novel could definitely benefit from tighter plot structure and more subtlety. Although it's depressing, Where They Found Her is a compelling novel. It kept me turning pages, but in the end, I just didn't love it.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Where They Found Her from the generous folks at HarperCollins via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
The more clues Molly uncovers, the more sinister the story becomes. Ridgedale may look like a peaceful little hamlet where nothing bad ever happens, but she's beginning to see the truth—the townspeople are keeping some pretty dark secrets. Unlocking them will put everything Molly holds dear at risk. It may even cost her her sanity or, worse, her life.
Where They Found Her, Kimberly McCreight's sophomore novel (Reconstructing Amelia was her debut), tells a chilling, suspenseful story about a grieving mother's desperate search for redemption. The sorrow and guilt that plague Molly make her a sympathetic character, one with whom it's easy to identify. As for the supporting cast, they all seem pretty stereotypical and bland. Plotwise, Where They Found Her has a clumsy, choppy structure. While some of its twists are well-crafted, others seem to come totally out of left field. The novel could definitely benefit from tighter plot structure and more subtlety. Although it's depressing, Where They Found Her is a compelling novel. It kept me turning pages, but in the end, I just didn't love it.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, sexual content, and depictions of underage drinking and illegal drug use
3 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)


Reading
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Listening
If Walls Could Talk by Juliet Blackwell


Followin' with Bloglovin'

-
The Open Bible - NKJV17 minutes ago
-
10 Marchfield Square by Nicola Whyte2 hours ago
-
-
Bookish Quote of the Day!!!4 hours ago
-
Stacking The Shelves6 hours ago
-
A Fantastic Weekend for April Book Deals11 hours ago
-
-
Grave Empire By Richard Swan16 hours ago
-
-
-
-
Christie, Agatha "The Mousetrap"1 day ago
-
-
-
-
43. The Hobbit2 days ago
-
Miss Camper2 days ago
-
A Review of Heart of Water and Stone2 days ago
-
-
-
-
I have been reading...4 days ago
-
-
The Versailles Formula by Nancy Bilyeau1 week ago
-
-
Sunday Post #5681 week ago
-
-
-
-
February 2025 Reading Wrap Up1 month ago
-
-
One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery2 months ago
-
-
The Music of 2024: Q43 months ago
-
-
I'm Still Reading - This Was My October5 months ago
-
Review: The Duke and I8 months ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus9 months ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-

Grab my Button!


Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ▼ 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)


2025 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
2023 - Middle Grade Fiction
2022 - Middle Grade Fiction
2021 - Middle Grade Fiction

2020 - Middle Grade Fiction

Well at least it was a page turner. I've had very few of those lately.
ReplyDeleteI want to read this one, love the premise but I'm glad I'm forewarned about the bland secondary characters and not sure I'll like the twists that come out of the blue.
ReplyDeleteI have this one, but haven't read it yet. It's a bummer that the story wasn't as structured as it could have been. This wasn't super high on my TBR list, and now I'm not sure I will bother. Thanks for the honest review!
ReplyDelete