I recently read, The Mourning Hours by Paula Treick DeBoard.  It was an author I hadn’t heard of but took a chance and am oh so glad I did.  It turns out that this is the author’s debut novel…but don’t let that scare you.  It’s good.

Here’s what Amazon has to say about it, “Kirsten Hammarstrom hasn’t been home to her tiny corner of rural Wisconsin in years-not since the mysterious disappearance of a local teenage girl rocked the town and shattered her family. Kirsten was just nine years old when Stacy Lemke went missing, and the last person to see her alive was her boyfriend, Johnny-the high school wrestling star and Kirsten’s older brother. No one knows what to believe-not even those closest to Johnny-but the event unhinges the quiet farming community and pins Kirsten’s family beneath the crushing weight of suspicion. Now, years later, a new tragedy forces Kirsten and her siblings to return home, where they must confront the devastating event that shifted the trajectory of their lives. Tautly written and beautifully evocative, The Mourning Hours is a gripping portrayal of a family straining against extraordinary pressure, and a powerful tale of loyalty, betrayal and forgiveness.”

I loved the book.  It portrays small town life perfectly.  The story is told through 9 year old Kirsten’s view point and that is something I love.  I can tell you that I suspected the cause of the disappearance of Stacy Lemke..but I also suspected a couple other things too so that kept me wanting to read and read to see if I have guessed correctly.  Those are my favorite types of books..books that I can guess but I’m not positive if I am right.  It is a wonderful portrayal of how a single event and choice in one’s life can change a path and the paths of those around completely.  The book comes out on June 25th…so you might have to wait a week but totally worth the wait.

In fact, I have started two different books since finishing this book.  I put both of them down.  Do you ever read a book that is so good that it ruins the next book that you were going to read??  I am just looking for the next good read..and those book I tried did not compare!

Here is a link to both the Kindle, paperback and audio editions:  The Mourning Hours.  Definitely an 4.5 star book!!