Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Fiction
Source: Lake Union Publishing ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: The truth behind a teenage girl’s disappearance becomes something to conceal in a gripping novel about justice, lies, and impossible choices by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.

When nineteen-year-old Jill Moss goes missing near the Utah-Arizona border, everyone has an opinion. Only Norma Gallagher, a search and rescue volunteer, knows the real story.

Norma’s already found Jill, huddled in a cave and terrified that her abusive boyfriend, Jake, will kill her. If he ever sees her again. To protect Jill from a dangerous man, Norma quietly delivers the girl to her grateful parents in California, even though she’s conflicted. Keeping Jill safe and hidden from Jake, the press, and the public will be their secret. But secrets can’t last forever.

Five years later, the disappearance stirs a new media frenzy when Jake is arrested for the murder of Jill Moss—and Norma knows he didn’t kill her. As Jake is about to stand trial, lust for retribution inflames public opinion and Jill’s family refuses to come forward, forcing Norma to make a life-changing decision.

What are the consequences if she stays silent? And what are the risks if she dares to finally tell the truth?

Ope’s Opinion: This was somewhere between a three chair and four chair. It started out very slow and I felt like I was being told a story, not like I was involved in the story. It took me a long time to get into it, the characters felt stiff at first. It definitely got better.

The premiss of the story was a very good one. It showed abuse from a lot of different perspectives. It also had a few twists and turns I did not see coming – which I thought were really good – that is why I had a hard time deciding between a three and four chair.

I have read Catherine Ryan Hyde before and I will read her again, but this one is not my favorite of her writings.