What I’m Reading: What She Knew

I just finished up the audio book What She Knew: A Novel by Gilly Manmillan.  When I was off recovering from my foot surgery I got a note from our daughter Kayla that included a gift of three Audible books.  That sure was sweet and so very appreciated.  That took me on a hunt to find a couple good books.  It was nice because I actually had time to browse.  So often I just grab something. The bad part though.  I had a couple on line library books that I had to finish first.  Finally I got to the book from Kayla.

When I read the review of this book it compared it to “The Girl on the Train”.  I loved that books so I had to try this one…right?

Try it, I did…and here’s what I thought.Great for a debut book.  Well written, well thought through.  I’ll definitely try another of her books.  I was a little disappointed that there really wasn’t a twist or simple clues that lead to “who dun it”.  Although I enjoyed this book I like suspense books that give me tiny clues along the way.  This book did, but all the clues that were given were to false leads.  Like I said, I still very much enjoyed the book.

Here’s what Amazon had to say, “In her enthralling debut, Gilly Macmillan explores a mother’s search for her missing son, weaving a taut psychological thriller as gripping and skillful as The Girl on the Train and The Guilty One.

In a heartbeat, everything changes…

Rachel Jenner is walking in a Bristol park with her eight-year-old son, Ben, when he asks if he can run ahead. It’s an ordinary request on an ordinary Sunday afternoon, and Rachel has no reason to worry—until Ben vanishes.  

Police are called, search parties go out, and Rachel, already insecure after her recent divorce, feels herself coming undone. As hours and then days pass without a sign of Ben, everyone who knew him is called into question, from Rachel’s newly married ex-husband to her mother-of-the-year sister. Inevitably, media attention focuses on Rachel too, and the public’s attitude toward her begins to shift from sympathy to suspicion.

As she desperately pieces together the threadbare clues, Rachel realizes that nothing is quite as she imagined it to be, not even her own judgment. And the greatest dangers may lie not in the anonymous strangers of every parent’s nightmares, but behind the familiar smiles of those she trusts the most.

Where is Ben? The clock is ticking…”

Amazon readers say 4.3 stars.  I’d agree.  With my gift certificate from Kayla I got a couple more titles.  I’m off to start listening to another of those.