(65)Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight

Sunday, August 16, 2015



Molly Sanderson's sleep is disturbed by a call from her editor.  All of the "real" reporters in her small-town newspaper are unavailable and her boss needs her to go cover a story.  A body was found out near the local university and the paper needs somebody on the scene.   So Molly goes and she is shocked to discover the body is that is of a baby girl.  The revelation brings up all sorts of old feelings for Molly as it has barely been two years since she lost her own baby.  But Molly is determined to stay on the story and report the story in an impartial manner, trying to build credibility for her new career.  As she starts digging into the story she realizes that some dark secrets may have to be revealed in order to find out the truth about what happened to that baby.  Secrets involving her best friend, Stella, Stella's teen son, and the university that employs Molly's husband. Will Molly be able to remain impartial and get the job done?

Whey They Found Her is told from the viewpoint of three Ridgedale women.  Molly Sanderson, Barbara - a local mother and wife of the chief of police, and Sandy - a local teen from the wrong side of the tracks. The three women couldn't be more different, but they are bound by that poor baby.  There were many times throughout the story that I found myself wishing I could just smack Barbara.  She was so over-the-top that it made it tough to like her and "reading" the book on Audible only makes her that much more unlikable. The tone of her voice was so harsh and judgmental in almost every instance she instantly became the bad guy.    Sandy, on the other hand,  was easy to like .  Her mother's life is a cautionary tale, but Sandy did want better for herself and that is how her path crosses with Barbara.  Barbara's daughter, Hannah, has been tutoring Sandy for her GED, which Barbara says will look good on college applications. Kimberly McCreight does a great job of dissecting the relationships and dynamics of a small town and the intricacies of the secrets that hold the town together.  The whole time you are reading the book you are trying to guess two things - who did the baby belong to and how did she end up in that creek. By the time you get to the end of the book several shocking secrets have been revealed, including the father of the baby found in the creek and it is jaw-dropping.

Bottom line - Kimberly McCreight is making a name for herself as one of the premier suspense authors our time.  She builds her stories in such an intricate and layered fashion that you find yourself unable to tear yourself away from her world.  It makes for a thrilling read.

Details: 


Latest Instagrams

© Charlotte's Web of Books. Design by FCD.