This was a recommendation from one of the ladies who is running our library. She told me that they had just gotten it in and that it was a huge hit in the US. So, I had the honor to be the first person to take it home. Well, usually I am not jumping on such arguments, but this one somehow had something, that kind of spoke to me. I am still trying to figure out what exactly the German cover is showing, but on the other hand, I don´t think it is THAT important. Do you?
All The Missing Girls*
by Megan MirandaPublisher Simon & Schuster on January 31, 2017
Genre Thriller
Pages 400
Format Softcover
Source Library
✶✶✶✶½
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.
Story
Nic has refused to go home for the past ten years. She wants nothing more but to live a normal life, to have a husband, and to be as successful as possible in her job. But when her father tells her that he saw that girl again, she is forced to go back and help him calm down and settle in his new home. If only the past would do the same.
Style
At first, I noticed the short and very concise style. The author shows her reader a little from here and there but never gives you the full picture. She jumps back and forth between the days, creates that way tension but confuses the reader as well with the fact that there seems to be no structure at all. And the fact, that the story is told backward, and that you read about things that have happened but will be told more detailed later in the book … well… not much helping either. But for some reason, I kept reading. I always had the feeling that if I could only read one more chapter, I might be able to get it. Sounds familiar? *smile* Because one thing is for sure. Megan Miranda has a fantastic psychological finesse built up in this book. You won´t be able to figure out the real story behind the story until the very end.
Despite her nested construction, this thriller is crazy, irritating, extraordinary, and very haunting in its very own way. Believe me, after you´ve started reading, you won´t be able to put it down. At least not, if you are reading the printed book. Don´t know about the audiobook …
Characters
Unlike other thriller authors, Megan Miranda doesn´t give you much of an insight into her figures. She isn´t going too deep into them. Only scratching the surface and giving you a gist that there might be more than you see at first sight. Some of her characters are totally crazy, some of them have no stamina at all while others are so pale and obedient, that it seems eerie and weird.
Corinne is a young, rebellious teenager who has a very creepy way to get what she wants. If Nic does something she wouldn´t usually do, you can bet on it that Corinne is the reason why. Corinne knows exactly how to manipulate the people around her. What to say to make them literally jump. But the moment she steps over her parents´ threshold and goes back inside, she´s not visible anymore.
Conclusion
That was what I call an overnight read. Yes, I literally couldn´t put it down, and though I was supposed to actually sleep, I read it in one swoop. This thriller got something that made it impossible for me to put it down. Only-one-chapter-more was my mantra here, and within no time the night was over. No thriller in the usual style, but for all thriller fans and those who like to read a bit unusual, this is a great opportunity.
Happy reading
*I read the German edition Tick Tack-Wie Lange Kannst Du Lügen by Penguin on November 13, 2017
Megan Miranda
Megan Miranda is the New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls. She has also written several books for young adults. Megan Miranda grew up in New Jersey, graduated from MIT, and lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children. The Perfect Stranger is her second novel of psychological suspense.
This is my first time hearing about this book and it sounds great! I'm so glad you loved it, and I hope you made up on sleep! Haha :D Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBrittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles
Thanks for stopping by!
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