Author: Heather Gudenkauf
Publisher: Park Row
Genre: Thriller
Source: Emer at Harper Colllins

Goodreads:  A gripping thriller about three young girlfriends, a dark obsession and a chilling crime that shakes up a quiet Iowa town, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Silence .

For twelve-year-old Cora Landry and her friends Violet and Jordyn, it was supposed to be an ordinary sleepover–movies and Ouija and talking about boys. But when they decide to sneak out to go to the abandoned rail yard on the outskirts of town, little do they know that their innocent games will have dangerous consequences.

Later that night, Cora Landry is discovered on the tracks, bloody and clinging to life, her friends nowhere to be found. Soon their small rural town is thrust into a maelstrom. Who would want to hurt a young girl like Cora–and why? In an investigation that leaves no stone unturned, everyone is a suspect and no one can be trusted–not even those closest to Cora.

Before She Was Found is a timely and gripping thriller about friendship and betrayal, about the power of social pressure and the price of needing to fit in. It is about the great lengths a parent will go to protect their child and keep them safe–even if that means burying the truth, no matter the cost.

Ope’s Opinion: Heather Gudenkauf can weave a story like only a few other authors I have read.  There a few twists and many turns in this story – some of them you will see a little ahead of time, most will be a surprise.

The story is told through text, diary, and many points of view.  All the different perspectives give you information – some of that information is reliable, others aren’t completely straight forward.

This is one of those books that you won’t want to put down.  The ending was a complete surprise – not exactly sure how I feel about the ending… definitely not what I was expecting.