Friday, May 19, 2017

BOOK REVIEW: ALL THE MISSING GIRLS by Megan Miranda

*  Book Review: BONE GAP by Laura Ruby
*  Book Review: THE MEMORY BOOK by Laura Aver
*  Book Review: FRACTURE by Megan Miranda

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ALL THE MISSING GIRLS
Megan Miranda
Simon & Schuster
Audio Book

It’s been ten years since Nicolette Farrell left her rural hometown after her best friend, Corinne, disappeared from Cooley Ridge without a trace. Back again to tie up loose ends and care for her ailing father, Nic is soon plunged into a shocking drama that reawakens Corinne’s case and breaks open old wounds long since stitched.

The decade-old investigation focused on Nic, her brother Daniel, boyfriend Tyler, and Corinne’s boyfriend Jackson. Since then, only Nic has left Cooley Ridge. Daniel and his wife, Laura, are expecting a baby; Jackson works at the town bar; and Tyler is dating Annaleise Carter, Nic’s younger neighbor and the group’s alibi the night Corinne disappeared. Then, within days of Nic’s return, Annaleise goes missing.

Told backwards—Day 15 to Day 1—from the time Annaleise goes missing, Nic works to unravel the truth about her younger neighbor’s disappearance, revealing shocking truths about her friends, her family, and what really happened to Corinne that night ten years ago.

MY REVIEW:

I've read every book written by Megan Miranda and have loved them all.  ALL THE MISSING GIRLS did not disappoint. It is sort of a murder mystery, a classic whodunit? but in a very unusual format -- the story is told backwards.

I will be honest that at times I had a hard time following the events as they moved from the last day to the first, because my brain naturally moves in a linearly forward motion. So it took a little bit of effort to keep things straight, but not so much effort as to distract from the brilliance of the story.

Megan Miranda is a powerhouse of a writer, and should be ranked right up there with the likes of Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins, though I've been a fan for years, long before these other authors became popular. ALL THE MISSING GIRLS left me guessing with every page turn. I found myself mulling over possibilities long after I'd turned off the book (I listened to it on CD) to do other things. I thought I had it figured out, but the ending had plenty of surprises. And it was all very satisfying.

And the backwards story thing is not just a gimmick. It is necessary. It's a story that really cannot be told any other way. Brilliant, Megan!

This is an adult book, not to be confused by Megan's YA books, which have far less profanity. (Note: What is the point of excessive profanity in any book? Sometimes I think writers use it to wave a flag signifying that their book is indeed for grown-ups. Still, completely unnecessary, in my opinion.) Otherwise, an engrossing and thrilling read.



CONTENT RATING:

Profanity: Excessively High
Violence:  Moderate
Sexuality: High (not graphic)

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