Review: Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

Touted by: Lisa Gardner, Chelsea Cain, Gillian Flynn, Karin Slaughter, many more
Found out about from: Recommended by bookseller friend
Where I got it: Library
Shelf-life: Loan it
Rating: B

Sometimes, I ruin books for myself. I'm not quite Harry Burns, but somewhere around the middle of a story, I feel the urge to flip to the back and scan the last sentence or two. And then I get mad at myself, 'cause duh. Sure, the journey is more important than the destination, blah blah blah. I read a lot of mysteries tho, so this can be a chancy process. Also, I like to find out if the first word of the book is the same as the last word. Not sure where I got that from.

The last sentence of Still Missing doesn't give it all away, there's too much going on for that. But I did find out the answer to a question, and lessened the impact of that answer. So, boo for me. Plus, it would totally ruin a plot point if you flipped back there too early. Don't do it! At least, not until you've read past page 154.

Before and after page 154, however, there's plenty to hook you. The story of Annie O'Sullivan is certainly plausible. Realtor runs an open house, alone like they do, and is abducted. She is held captive for a year. Once she comes home, her ordeal is not over. How her story is told is interesting; Annie has some very much-needed sessions with a therapist and basically has a confessional-style conversational flow. It's all one-sided, which is a bit maddening. These flashbacks are intertwined with the on-going investigation and Annie's re-acclimation into what's left of her previous life.

If you're looking for gruesome and explicit details, you may be disappointed. Still Missing has tense moments and some truly distasteful depictions, but it's not a slasher-fest. This is a story of a woman who is rightly pissed about some god-awful stuff and trying to work her way through it as best she knows how.

The twist (because every book seems to have one these days) at the end is... well, I kinda liked it. I mean, I got it, but it was a bit convenient. Parts were conceivable, but the foundation was a bit weak. There were some nice touches throughout, and I think that speaks well for the career longevity of the author. A fresh turn of phrase, a realistically touching exchange between two people, these can go a long way to forgiving the flaws of a debut.

Overall, I say it's a good read. Definitely worth adding your name to the request list at the library. And a good buy once it comes out in paperback. If you've got the disposable income to buy hardcovers, I don't think you'll regret it.