pickWhat Mother Won‘t Tell Me, by Ivar Leon Menger (2022, transl. 2024)
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Premise: A teenager living with her family on a remote lake becomes increasingly convinced that her parents aren‘t telling the truth about their circumstances.
Review: There‘s a lot that this does well: It‘s perfecly atmospheric, I was hooked immediately and the propulsive plot helped me get through it in two short sittings. ⬇️
pickI read this book in 2 days. It was captivating and incredibly moving. The human spirit is so strong and even under conditions that are impossible to imagine, the mind can find peace. Amanda and Nigel went through a horrific kidnapping and this story describes Amanda‘s experiences which brought me to tears on several occasions. The forgiveness and compassion she showed was truly inspiring and I will reflect back on this story in my day to day life.
A coworker gave me this book, it was her son‘s. I was in the mood for a quick read and this was handy. The main character who is 15 got on my nerves a little with her anxiety and I felt bad for her boyfriend who seems like a good guy. Then it ended with a cliffhanger. There‘s 5 more books in a series. So much for a quick read lol.
Zinnias in the background.
pick#Wardens2025 #Read2025
Before the notoriety of John (Revé) Walsh & ‘America‘s Most Wanted‘, there was Stan & Julie Patz.
Etan‘s story will stay with me for a very, very long time. I‘ll be placing this on my permanent shelf? I highly recommend this read.
so-soI had high hopes for this one. I have read most of Johansen‘s thrillers especially those featuring Eve. The Death Mask brought a few of my favorite characters from previous books and introduced two new ones. With so many, there ended up being little for them to do. The villains are brutal, ugly and a little slow. The plot seemed designed to bring the characters together to say farewell. Only 2+ ⭐️ for a less than satisfying read.
so-soI didn‘t enjoy this one as much as Lippman‘s later books.
This book is disturbing on every level. I knew the name but wasn't familiar with the story. On one hand, I appreciate the fact that she hasn't sanitized what happened to her. People need to know that there are monsters all around us, and I think awareness is the only way to spread that message. However, I wouldn't say I'm enjoying reading it. Considering she was captive from age 11-almost 30, it is remarkable she has written a book.⬇️
pickI stayed in bed way later than I meant to this morning, completely absorbed in Jaycee's story. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering she endured. It's hard to believe there are people in the world who can do such horrendous acts, and she doesn't shy away from sharing exactly what her abuser did to her. It's honest, hopeful, and very well-written especially given the memory blackouts she experienced. Trigger warning for explicit descriptions.
