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Where They Found Her
From the author of the New York Times bestseller and 2014 Edgar and Anthony nominee Reconstructing Amelia comes another harrowing, gripping novel that marries psychological suspense with an emotionally powerful story about a community struggling with the consequences of a devastating discovery.
At the end of a long winter, in bucolic Ridgedale, New Jersey, the body of an infant is discovered in the woods near the town’s prestigious university campus. No one knows who the baby is, or how her body ended up out there. But there is no shortage of opinions.
When freelance journalist, and recent Ridgedale transplant, Molly Anderson is unexpectedly called upon to cover the story for the Ridegdale Reader, it’s a risk, given the severe depression that followed the loss of her own baby. But the bigger threat comes when Molly unearths some of Ridgedale’s darkest secrets, including a string of unreported sexual assaults that goes back twenty years.
Meanwhile, Sandy, a high school dropout, searches for her volatile and now missing mother, and PTA president Barbara struggles to help her young son, who’s suddenly having disturbing outbursts.
Told from the perspectives of Molly, Barbara, and Sandy, Kimberly McCreight’s taut and profoundly moving novel unwinds the tangled truth about the baby’s death revealing that these three women have far more in common than they realized. And that their lives are more intertwined with what happened to the baby than they ever could have imagined.
At the end of a long winter, in bucolic Ridgedale, New Jersey, the body of an infant is discovered in the woods near the town’s prestigious university campus. No one knows who the baby is, or how her body ended up out there. But there is no shortage of opinions.
When freelance journalist, and recent Ridgedale transplant, Molly Anderson is unexpectedly called upon to cover the story for the Ridegdale Reader, it’s a risk, given the severe depression that followed the loss of her own baby. But the bigger threat comes when Molly unearths some of Ridgedale’s darkest secrets, including a string of unreported sexual assaults that goes back twenty years.
Meanwhile, Sandy, a high school dropout, searches for her volatile and now missing mother, and PTA president Barbara struggles to help her young son, who’s suddenly having disturbing outbursts.
Told from the perspectives of Molly, Barbara, and Sandy, Kimberly McCreight’s taut and profoundly moving novel unwinds the tangled truth about the baby’s death revealing that these three women have far more in common than they realized. And that their lives are more intertwined with what happened to the baby than they ever could have imagined.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2015
About the author
Kimberly McCreight
12 books4,577 followersKimberly McCreight is the New York Times bestselling author of several literary thrillers including RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA, A GOOD MARRIAGE and FRIENDS LIKE THESE. Her next book LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER (Knopf) is forthcoming in July 2024. She has been nominated for the Edgar, Anthony and Alex awards and her books have been translated into more than twenty languages. She attended Vassar College and graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She lives in Brooklyn with her two teenaged daughters. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook and at kimberlymccreight.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,833 reviews
August 19, 2015
3.5 stars
A baby's body is found in the quiet upperclass town of Ridgedale, New Jersey. The normal crime beat reporter is out of town and Molly (who usually does the fluff pieces) is pulled in to do a report on the scene.
Molly is a recent addition to the town so she doesn't know the history of the area. She starts digging in for answers and finds out that another death had happened at the same place.
Molly had also recently lost a baby herself and her friends and husband question her as to whether she can handle being so close to this case.
The story is told from multiple viewpoints including Barbara, the helicopter mom who is married to the chief of police.
Sandy, a teenager from the wrong side of the tracks who is used to taking care of her "wild child" mom Jenna. Now Jenna is missing.
Is she off with another man or is something more sinister happening?
This is a pretty decent thriller and it moves fast. The twists and turns all end up with everything being related in small town life. It lost me with who the missing baby's dad turned out to be. It was just too over the top and cost the book a star from me.
Book source: Library.
A baby's body is found in the quiet upperclass town of Ridgedale, New Jersey. The normal crime beat reporter is out of town and Molly (who usually does the fluff pieces) is pulled in to do a report on the scene.
Molly is a recent addition to the town so she doesn't know the history of the area. She starts digging in for answers and finds out that another death had happened at the same place.
Molly had also recently lost a baby herself and her friends and husband question her as to whether she can handle being so close to this case.
The story is told from multiple viewpoints including Barbara, the helicopter mom who is married to the chief of police.
Sandy, a teenager from the wrong side of the tracks who is used to taking care of her "wild child" mom Jenna. Now Jenna is missing.
Is she off with another man or is something more sinister happening?
This is a pretty decent thriller and it moves fast. The twists and turns all end up with everything being related in small town life. It lost me with who the missing baby's dad turned out to be. It was just too over the top and cost the book a star from me.
Book source: Library.
May 12, 2015
The Hook - A starred review from Kirkus and good marks from my GR friends had me scrambling to read Where They Found Her
The Line – ”Because, lately, his doing what she wanted seemed in inverse proportion to his affection for her.”
The Sinker – It started out fine. A body of a baby is found in the river of a small University town. Molly, the reporter sent out to cover the story is on the edges of being back to life after her own tragic miscarriage making the assignment doubly challenging. Sorry to say I did not like this as much as I had hoped. A few things downright annoyed me. Double dashes abounded here and just distracted me. The use of point of view as each of the main female characters told their story was confusing and didn’t bring the story forward. Forget the few men, particularly the Chief of Police, Steve. He seemed a very weak person for someone in charge. The plot did not engage me and I didn’t “feel” for any particular character. I had trouble finishing and knew where the story would end. For me, this thriller wasn’t thrilling.
My feelings about this haven't discouraged me from wanting to read Reconstructing Amelia. Maybe I'll like this one better.
The Line – ”Because, lately, his doing what she wanted seemed in inverse proportion to his affection for her.”
The Sinker – It started out fine. A body of a baby is found in the river of a small University town. Molly, the reporter sent out to cover the story is on the edges of being back to life after her own tragic miscarriage making the assignment doubly challenging. Sorry to say I did not like this as much as I had hoped. A few things downright annoyed me. Double dashes abounded here and just distracted me. The use of point of view as each of the main female characters told their story was confusing and didn’t bring the story forward. Forget the few men, particularly the Chief of Police, Steve. He seemed a very weak person for someone in charge. The plot did not engage me and I didn’t “feel” for any particular character. I had trouble finishing and knew where the story would end. For me, this thriller wasn’t thrilling.
My feelings about this haven't discouraged me from wanting to read Reconstructing Amelia. Maybe I'll like this one better.
July 16, 2016
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
poop.
I hate attempting to write reviews about books I felt “meh” about. Although I read a little bit of everything, the mystery/thriller genre is definitely the one I gravitate toward most frequently. That being said, I’m extremely hard to please. A 3-Star rating is gooooooood for me. I also have high expectations from authors who I have previously read and enjoyed. Unfortunately for authors like McCreight (as well as others like Samantha Hayes and Chevy Stevens) I have a habit of stumbling across either their best (or at least most noted) books first and everything else pales in comparison. Such was the case with Where They Found Her after reading Reconstructing Amelia.
Let’s start with the positive – Kimberly McCreight writes readable stories. The premise of Where They Found Her was one of those “ripped from the headlines” types. A baby’s dead body has been discovered near the university and a local reporter has been assigned to follow the case. The story also follows the life of a high-school dropout whose mother has gone missing and that of a “helicopter” mother whose young son has started demonstrating some not-so-perfect behaviors.
Here’s where things get a little shaky for me. I don’t dig extra drama added to a plot that I feel is done only for drama’s sake. I’m sure many will disagree with me here (and that’s perfectly okay – just please don’t troll my review to tell me I’m an idiot), but I thought having the reporter recently having a stillbirth of her own just gummed up the works. I’m heartless, I know. Same goes for the actual mystery. I want a "James Woods" type of experience that leads me on a twisty trail . . . .
I’m not going to spoil anything, but the old saying “thou doth protest too much” really comes into play in a lot of thrillers and leaves me with some serious disappointment when I know the whodunit immediately.
I’m also not a fan of authors using the same approach to multiple books. Reconstructing Amelia had a “mixed media” vibe with e-mails, texts, IMs, journal entries, etc. telling the story – and it worked well. Using newspaper clippings, therapy records, etc. in this book turned the writing style into more of a crutch or gimmick.
Bottom line? Where They Found Her makes for a great poolside read for those of you who, like me, like to mix a little of the dark side of summer fluff along with the ol' slap-n-tickle.
poop.
I hate attempting to write reviews about books I felt “meh” about. Although I read a little bit of everything, the mystery/thriller genre is definitely the one I gravitate toward most frequently. That being said, I’m extremely hard to please. A 3-Star rating is gooooooood for me. I also have high expectations from authors who I have previously read and enjoyed. Unfortunately for authors like McCreight (as well as others like Samantha Hayes and Chevy Stevens) I have a habit of stumbling across either their best (or at least most noted) books first and everything else pales in comparison. Such was the case with Where They Found Her after reading Reconstructing Amelia.
Let’s start with the positive – Kimberly McCreight writes readable stories. The premise of Where They Found Her was one of those “ripped from the headlines” types. A baby’s dead body has been discovered near the university and a local reporter has been assigned to follow the case. The story also follows the life of a high-school dropout whose mother has gone missing and that of a “helicopter” mother whose young son has started demonstrating some not-so-perfect behaviors.
Here’s where things get a little shaky for me. I don’t dig extra drama added to a plot that I feel is done only for drama’s sake. I’m sure many will disagree with me here (and that’s perfectly okay – just please don’t troll my review to tell me I’m an idiot), but I thought having the reporter recently having a stillbirth of her own just gummed up the works. I’m heartless, I know. Same goes for the actual mystery. I want a "James Woods" type of experience that leads me on a twisty trail . . . .
I’m not going to spoil anything, but the old saying “thou doth protest too much” really comes into play in a lot of thrillers and leaves me with some serious disappointment when I know the whodunit immediately.
I’m also not a fan of authors using the same approach to multiple books. Reconstructing Amelia had a “mixed media” vibe with e-mails, texts, IMs, journal entries, etc. telling the story – and it worked well. Using newspaper clippings, therapy records, etc. in this book turned the writing style into more of a crutch or gimmick.
Bottom line? Where They Found Her makes for a great poolside read for those of you who, like me, like to mix a little of the dark side of summer fluff along with the ol' slap-n-tickle.
May 24, 2015
3.5 Loved the different formats, e-mails, journal entries, newspaper articles and comments, used in telling this story. A small town, a newborn baby found dead, and an investigation ensues. Secrets are revealed and some of them go back years, and some of the leaders of this town are exposed. Nothing is as it seems.
A fast paced and intriguing story with some interesting characters, some that will do, anything to keep the truth from coming out.
ARC from Publisher.
A fast paced and intriguing story with some interesting characters, some that will do, anything to keep the truth from coming out.
ARC from Publisher.
April 29, 2015
4.5 Stars. I was hooked right away! Wow is this the page turner! Loved it! I never finished Reconstructing Amelia because I couldn't get into it but decided to give this author another try. I am so glad I did! This was a much better read for me.
The only problem I had was with the character, Barbara. I found her a little too tedious, annoying, and over the top even though she is supposed to be that way. Nonetheless, "Where They Found Her", was excellent! Psychological thriller fans put this on the top of your To Read list!
A word of advice for thriller readers like me who think about the ending right when the book begins. Don't think about the "whodunit" aspect too much. This book is worth reading in its entirety and not just for the ending. Enjoy the ride!
Highly recommend!
The only problem I had was with the character, Barbara. I found her a little too tedious, annoying, and over the top even though she is supposed to be that way. Nonetheless, "Where They Found Her", was excellent! Psychological thriller fans put this on the top of your To Read list!
A word of advice for thriller readers like me who think about the ending right when the book begins. Don't think about the "whodunit" aspect too much. This book is worth reading in its entirety and not just for the ending. Enjoy the ride!
Highly recommend!
January 11, 2022
I enjoyed this story. It got emotional for me at times and left an impression long after. I read the physical book as well as listened to the audiobook and both were great. The narrators for the audiobook did an amazing adding dimension and humanizing the characters.
The body of a young infant is found in the snow in the woods near a prestigious university in Ridgedale, New Jersey. The rumors start flying, but no one has any real idea about who the baby is, why she was left there, and most importantly who left her there.
Journalist Molly Anderson is tasked with covering the story. This is a unique situation because Molly lost a baby of her own and as a result suffered from severe depression. Molly starts digging an uncovers numerous unreported sexual assaults at the university.
Simultaneously, high school dropout Sandy is on a quest to find her mean, missing mother. In addition Barbara is struggling to help her son who is suddenly having strange outbursts.
These three women with their unique stories have no idea that they are all connected.
The body of a young infant is found in the snow in the woods near a prestigious university in Ridgedale, New Jersey. The rumors start flying, but no one has any real idea about who the baby is, why she was left there, and most importantly who left her there.
Journalist Molly Anderson is tasked with covering the story. This is a unique situation because Molly lost a baby of her own and as a result suffered from severe depression. Molly starts digging an uncovers numerous unreported sexual assaults at the university.
Simultaneously, high school dropout Sandy is on a quest to find her mean, missing mother. In addition Barbara is struggling to help her son who is suddenly having strange outbursts.
These three women with their unique stories have no idea that they are all connected.
October 30, 2015
What a roller coaster.
February 17, 2016
Beginning half of the book-2.5 stars
Last half of the book-3.5 stars
I had a hard time connecting with this book right from the start. So many characters to remember and multiple story lines made it hard for me to figure out what was what. On the plus side, the lead story was what kept me turning the pages...I did want to know whodunit and why. Finally a little over half way through the story lines started to come together and my questions were answered. The author really does know how to spin a twisted tale!!
As I've enjoyed her previous work, I will absolutely be keeping my eyes open for for her next big thriller!
Last half of the book-3.5 stars
I had a hard time connecting with this book right from the start. So many characters to remember and multiple story lines made it hard for me to figure out what was what. On the plus side, the lead story was what kept me turning the pages...I did want to know whodunit and why. Finally a little over half way through the story lines started to come together and my questions were answered. The author really does know how to spin a twisted tale!!
As I've enjoyed her previous work, I will absolutely be keeping my eyes open for for her next big thriller!
June 3, 2015
Here is another book that others seemed to really enjoy but that fell flat for me. As another reviewer said, perhaps I, too, have read too many of these non-linear mysteries with multiple POVs and jostled storylines. Here I found the characters (and there were so many!!) very one-dimensional and interconnected past the point of believability. How all these seemingly cursory characters proved important in the end was a little weak and the relationship that was the most important piece of the puzzle was left unexplained...as was any legal follow-up to that branch of the story. A confusing road to an unconvincing ending made this journey somewhat forgettable. Giving this 3 stars feels generous, yet 2 might be a little low. 2.5
May 5, 2015
Twisty and enjoyable mystery, but fairly forgettable - lands somewhere around a 3.5. I'm not sure if these types of books are getting more generic or if I've just read so many that they no longer stand out...
August 28, 2022
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The premise hooked me, but the execution left me feeling pretty split. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. The good parts are that McCreight can write. I mean, girl knows her characters. She knows their tone and their vibe. They are raw and honest and human in a very visceral way. She knows how to make dialogue flow to the point that you don't feel like you're reading, you feel like you're watching.
But, this was written like a character study that didn't know it was a character study. And I didn't like any of the characters. There was zero levity to any of them and I don't really want to spend 8 hours of my time hanging out with characters who are annoying, constantly complaining and can't stop crying. Like, chill the fuck out for one chapter.
The drama was turned up to eleven from start to finish. Some might call that page-turning, I call it draining. And in most instances, the dramatics really had nothing much to do with the central plot of the novel. A lot of this book felt like it existed just for the sake of it. It was so overbearing that I'm still trying to figure out where the thrills and suspense came in.
For me, every good thing about this novel had an equally undesirable counterpoint. It all cancels each other out.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
The premise hooked me, but the execution left me feeling pretty split. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. The good parts are that McCreight can write. I mean, girl knows her characters. She knows their tone and their vibe. They are raw and honest and human in a very visceral way. She knows how to make dialogue flow to the point that you don't feel like you're reading, you feel like you're watching.
But, this was written like a character study that didn't know it was a character study. And I didn't like any of the characters. There was zero levity to any of them and I don't really want to spend 8 hours of my time hanging out with characters who are annoying, constantly complaining and can't stop crying. Like, chill the fuck out for one chapter.
The drama was turned up to eleven from start to finish. Some might call that page-turning, I call it draining. And in most instances, the dramatics really had nothing much to do with the central plot of the novel. A lot of this book felt like it existed just for the sake of it. It was so overbearing that I'm still trying to figure out where the thrills and suspense came in.
For me, every good thing about this novel had an equally undesirable counterpoint. It all cancels each other out.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
July 31, 2016
Seriously, Kimberly McCreight? Why do you do this to me? Every damn time. I always fall victim to your tantalizing, suspense- fueled, and addicting plots! (I also enjoy every minute of it and will continue to do so again and again).
In “Where They Found Her”, a newborn baby’s dead body washes up on the shore of a town in New Jersey, sending all of the inhabitants into a state of blame-placing. The story is told through the eyes of three women- Molly (a news reporter who is still dealing with the death of her own stillborn baby), Barbara (the wanna-be Supermom and wife of the police chief and Jenna (the “low-class” woman from the “wrong side of the tracks” who had more of a part to play than anyone suspected).
As is customary in her writing, McCreight’s novel is full of suspense and mystery. It is wonderfully written, and kept my attention from the very beginning (I finished the novel in a day and a half- there is never any “pacing myself” where McCreight is involved). The characters were raw and honest, and the plot never faltered-every page and every chapter full of drama and intrigue. I love McCreight’s books because they always (this one included) have a definitive, satisfying ending. A reader knows what happened to each and every character, and is satisfied with the way justice plays out.
Intense, passionate and a book I absolutely adore. I cannot say enough about this author. None of her books have ever disappointed me, even in the slightest, and this one is no different.
In “Where They Found Her”, a newborn baby’s dead body washes up on the shore of a town in New Jersey, sending all of the inhabitants into a state of blame-placing. The story is told through the eyes of three women- Molly (a news reporter who is still dealing with the death of her own stillborn baby), Barbara (the wanna-be Supermom and wife of the police chief and Jenna (the “low-class” woman from the “wrong side of the tracks” who had more of a part to play than anyone suspected).
As is customary in her writing, McCreight’s novel is full of suspense and mystery. It is wonderfully written, and kept my attention from the very beginning (I finished the novel in a day and a half- there is never any “pacing myself” where McCreight is involved). The characters were raw and honest, and the plot never faltered-every page and every chapter full of drama and intrigue. I love McCreight’s books because they always (this one included) have a definitive, satisfying ending. A reader knows what happened to each and every character, and is satisfied with the way justice plays out.
Intense, passionate and a book I absolutely adore. I cannot say enough about this author. None of her books have ever disappointed me, even in the slightest, and this one is no different.
June 27, 2015
As the book cover informs, this psychological thriller is told from the viewpoint of three different women. Kimberly McCreight does an excellent job on voice; each character has a distinct personality and expression. The main character, Molly, is the weakest character in that she’s supposed to be a journalist, but doesn’t seem very curious or inquisitive. The most difficult character to read is Sandy, who is a teenager with foul language and harsh idiolect. I almost abandoned the book after Sandy’s first chapter because the book seemed to be moving in a crass manner. I have a 50-page rule though: give the book 50 pages before abandoning, and I’m glad I followed the rule. By the time I got to Barbara’s (classic over-bearing mother) chapter, I was hooked.
The body of an infant is found near an upscale small college town. How the baby got there; who’s is it; and was it murder or foul play are plot questions throughout the book.
This is a novel that you need to keep up with. I read it almost in one sitting, as it’s a fast and absorbing read. There are many characters, with emotional tentacles reaching to different characters. It takes place in a small New Jersey town, with many of the characters “townies”. Hence, there are subtle ties interwoven throughout the novel. I do adore complex novels.
I did guess a few things correctly, but much of the plot is stunning in subterfuge. Pieces of the puzzle are provided, but not until the last pages does the reader get the whole story.
This is not a commuting novel. To fully appreciate this novel, you need to give it your full attention for long periods of time or else you won’t get the fabulous nuances. I highly recommend it when you have the time to lose yourself in a wonderful drama.
The body of an infant is found near an upscale small college town. How the baby got there; who’s is it; and was it murder or foul play are plot questions throughout the book.
This is a novel that you need to keep up with. I read it almost in one sitting, as it’s a fast and absorbing read. There are many characters, with emotional tentacles reaching to different characters. It takes place in a small New Jersey town, with many of the characters “townies”. Hence, there are subtle ties interwoven throughout the novel. I do adore complex novels.
I did guess a few things correctly, but much of the plot is stunning in subterfuge. Pieces of the puzzle are provided, but not until the last pages does the reader get the whole story.
This is not a commuting novel. To fully appreciate this novel, you need to give it your full attention for long periods of time or else you won’t get the fabulous nuances. I highly recommend it when you have the time to lose yourself in a wonderful drama.
December 31, 2015
Where They Found Her is a standalone, mystery novel written by author Kimberly McCreight. This is only Ms. McCreight's second full-length novel and after an amazing debut (Reconstructing Amelia), I know so many readers were looking forward to it. Sadly, I must admit that I didn't enjoy Where They Found Her anywhere near as much as her debut. I felt confused too many times and I think that had to do with the multiple POV's and storylines going on. It prevented me from following the flow of the story consistently and it definitely impacted how engaged I felt. However, in terms of the main plot, it was interesting to see how the people of a small town can all respond differently to a community crisis, and I liked the addition of the online message boards. Also, I thought Ms. McCreight did an excellent job of drawing awareness to the emotions that often follow a miscarriage. Those parts were well-written and felt profoundly real.
Overall, I liked this book. Personally, I couldn't give it more than 3 stars, but I would still recommend it to readers who plan to follow Kimberly McCreight's work. When you love an author, you partake in everything they create, and based on her debut, Ms. McCreight definitely deserves some love-struck followers. I look forward to seeing what other mysteries are hidden in this new writer's imagination!
My favorite quote:
“Not everything about where you're going has to be about where you've been.”
05/08/2015:
Not as good as Reconstructing Amelia but I still liked it. Found myself a little confused at times following the multiple POV's and storylines but that could have been just me. My personal rating is a toss up between 3 and 3.5 stars. Still deciding.
Full review to come...
Overall, I liked this book. Personally, I couldn't give it more than 3 stars, but I would still recommend it to readers who plan to follow Kimberly McCreight's work. When you love an author, you partake in everything they create, and based on her debut, Ms. McCreight definitely deserves some love-struck followers. I look forward to seeing what other mysteries are hidden in this new writer's imagination!
My favorite quote:
“Not everything about where you're going has to be about where you've been.”
05/08/2015:
Not as good as Reconstructing Amelia but I still liked it. Found myself a little confused at times following the multiple POV's and storylines but that could have been just me. My personal rating is a toss up between 3 and 3.5 stars. Still deciding.
Full review to come...
January 13, 2022
so iʼve just finished this book and i liked it ! this was my 1st Kimberly McCreight book and it wasnʼt my favorite, but i still had a great time !
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this story felt more like a mystery to me rather than a thriller. i wasnʼt really thrilled about any of the details in this story, but i was still enjoying the reveals at the end.
the writing style was also really easy to follow and get into, so thatʼs always a plus !
i also never guessed who was responsible for the dead baby being in the creek nor the babyʼs parents wow. iʼve had a lot of suspicions, but i still didnʼt guess it lmao, maybe cos i actually suck at guessing stuff in mystery/thriller books 😂
i did enjoy the plot, albeit not that shocking since itʼs quite a common trope in these type of books.
i did love reading Mollyʼs POV the best. she actually felt real 🧡
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however, i did have a few issues with this book.
first, i did not like how much cursing was written in the story and it seemed so forced at times. i donʼt mind the cursing in books, but that was just bit too much for my liking. i found it a bit frustrating.
i also found the whole story overall underwhelming. i suppose plot twists and some details of the story are supposed to shock you in some way, but it didnʼt happen reading this book. i found it surprising, yes, but not shocking. i needed it to be more convincing.
and also, i fucking HATED Barbaraʼs character. idk if sheʼs meant to be unlikable, but she was so judgemental, insensitive and blaming everyone around her but herself for things happening to her. i hated being in her head ugh.
and i do get when people say there are too many characters in this book, i also had to write them all down, cuz i was like “wait who tf is this person” LMAO there were pretty many characters ngl.
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overall, i do recommend it, but donʼt expect it to be thrilling and keeping you on the edge. also, before picking this up, make sure you check TW 🧡
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this story felt more like a mystery to me rather than a thriller. i wasnʼt really thrilled about any of the details in this story, but i was still enjoying the reveals at the end.
the writing style was also really easy to follow and get into, so thatʼs always a plus !
i also never guessed who was responsible for the dead baby being in the creek nor the babyʼs parents wow. iʼve had a lot of suspicions, but i still didnʼt guess it lmao, maybe cos i actually suck at guessing stuff in mystery/thriller books 😂
i did enjoy the plot, albeit not that shocking since itʼs quite a common trope in these type of books.
i did love reading Mollyʼs POV the best. she actually felt real 🧡
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
however, i did have a few issues with this book.
first, i did not like how much cursing was written in the story and it seemed so forced at times. i donʼt mind the cursing in books, but that was just bit too much for my liking. i found it a bit frustrating.
i also found the whole story overall underwhelming. i suppose plot twists and some details of the story are supposed to shock you in some way, but it didnʼt happen reading this book. i found it surprising, yes, but not shocking. i needed it to be more convincing.
and also, i fucking HATED Barbaraʼs character. idk if sheʼs meant to be unlikable, but she was so judgemental, insensitive and blaming everyone around her but herself for things happening to her. i hated being in her head ugh.
and i do get when people say there are too many characters in this book, i also had to write them all down, cuz i was like “wait who tf is this person” LMAO there were pretty many characters ngl.
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overall, i do recommend it, but donʼt expect it to be thrilling and keeping you on the edge. also, before picking this up, make sure you check TW 🧡
May 1, 2015
The body of an infant has been found near a creek on the campus of Ridgedale University. No one knows whose baby this was, who killed the baby, and, of course, why someone would have done such a terrible thing. Molly Sanderson, a freelance journalist who has mainly covered the arts, lifestyle, and human interest beat for the
Ridgedale Reader
finds herself assigned to cover the story, and she is unprepared for the toll it will take on her psyche.
Following the loss of her second baby, Molly suffered a near-nervous breakdown, which took a toll on her marriage and her ability to care for her other daughter, who was still quite young. And although she was able to overcome this deep depression, and her husband's job at Ridgedale has given them a chance for a fresh start, this story—and the memories it unearths—has the potential to tear open wounds that time has healed. While she knows inherently she should give up the story, and her husband all but begs her to turn it over to another reporter, Molly is determined to get to the bottom of the story in the hopes it may provide some closure for her. As Molly begins to uncover a series of secrets many people in power would prefer to leave hidden, she finds herself getting entangled in a web where many people's behavior appears suspect, including several people she knows well.
Where They Found Her is narrated not only by Molly, but two additional, very different women, each with a linkage to the story. Sandy, a high school dropout desperate to right her life and find the correct path for her future, is forced to play parent for her tremendously immature and undependable mother. And Barbara, the wife and mother determined to have the "perfect" life, is haunted both by memories she hoped she'd never have to deal with again, and problems faced by both of her children.
There is no such thing as the "perfect" community, or the "perfect" family. But Ridgedale has more than its share of secrets and dysfunction. And Molly is determined to find out where all of the paths converge, especially if she can figure out what happened to the baby, and who she belonged to, no matter what it does to her, her life, and her relationships in the process.
As I was reading Kimberly McCreight's new book, I found myself wondering which alternative I like better: a book in which you figure out what is going to happen before it is revealed, or a book that introduces so many possible solutions you haven't a clue what is going to happen. I think I prefer the latter, in which category this book definitely falls. McCreight definitely keeps you guessing, and her writing is taut and compelling. If I had any criticism of this book, it's that there are a lot of characters to keep straight, not all of them likable, so when the characters I didn't care much about narrated the book or appeared in the story, I wasn't as interested as I was otherwise. However, on the whole, this was a very interesting and suspenseful read, more so than I imagined, even though I figured out part of the plot.
McCreight is a really talented writer. Her first book, Reconstructing Amelia , was one of my favorite books of 2013. If you like mysteries with a lot of emotion, give either of her books a try.
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
Following the loss of her second baby, Molly suffered a near-nervous breakdown, which took a toll on her marriage and her ability to care for her other daughter, who was still quite young. And although she was able to overcome this deep depression, and her husband's job at Ridgedale has given them a chance for a fresh start, this story—and the memories it unearths—has the potential to tear open wounds that time has healed. While she knows inherently she should give up the story, and her husband all but begs her to turn it over to another reporter, Molly is determined to get to the bottom of the story in the hopes it may provide some closure for her. As Molly begins to uncover a series of secrets many people in power would prefer to leave hidden, she finds herself getting entangled in a web where many people's behavior appears suspect, including several people she knows well.
Where They Found Her is narrated not only by Molly, but two additional, very different women, each with a linkage to the story. Sandy, a high school dropout desperate to right her life and find the correct path for her future, is forced to play parent for her tremendously immature and undependable mother. And Barbara, the wife and mother determined to have the "perfect" life, is haunted both by memories she hoped she'd never have to deal with again, and problems faced by both of her children.
There is no such thing as the "perfect" community, or the "perfect" family. But Ridgedale has more than its share of secrets and dysfunction. And Molly is determined to find out where all of the paths converge, especially if she can figure out what happened to the baby, and who she belonged to, no matter what it does to her, her life, and her relationships in the process.
As I was reading Kimberly McCreight's new book, I found myself wondering which alternative I like better: a book in which you figure out what is going to happen before it is revealed, or a book that introduces so many possible solutions you haven't a clue what is going to happen. I think I prefer the latter, in which category this book definitely falls. McCreight definitely keeps you guessing, and her writing is taut and compelling. If I had any criticism of this book, it's that there are a lot of characters to keep straight, not all of them likable, so when the characters I didn't care much about narrated the book or appeared in the story, I wasn't as interested as I was otherwise. However, on the whole, this was a very interesting and suspenseful read, more so than I imagined, even though I figured out part of the plot.
McCreight is a really talented writer. Her first book, Reconstructing Amelia , was one of my favorite books of 2013. If you like mysteries with a lot of emotion, give either of her books a try.
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
June 8, 2015
4.5★s
When Molly Anderson, journalist for the local paper in Ridgedale was asked to cover the discovery of a body at the Ridgedale University’s campus grounds, she knew she was their last resort. But she also wanted this to work – she had been ill with a severe case of depression for the past eighteen months after the loss of her baby. Her daughter Ella and husband Justin were the only things keeping her sane. So the opportunity to get back into the work she loved was too good to resist. Erik, her boss had confidence in her – she needed to have confidence in herself. But when Molly joined the police contingent on campus and spoke to the Detective in charge, she was horrified to discover the body was that of a baby…
Sandy, living in the slum area of Ridgedale, and struggling to pay the rent as well as keep her mother Jenna from going off the rails completely, was being tutored by Hannah, daughter of police chief Steve, and Barbara, president of the PTA. When Jenna suddenly disappeared at the same time as Sandy discovered the last few months’ rent hadn’t been paid, she was distraught. But Barbara had problems of her own; approached by her young son, Cole’s teacher, she was shocked to hear what her quiet and sensible son had been up to at school…
As investigations into the death of the baby deepened, Molly discovered terrible secrets about some of the long-time residents of Ridgedale. But not just those particular residents – the tangled web of secrets was drawing closer and closer around the three women who were directly connected; but who didn’t have any idea there was a connection. What would happen to these three women? When the truth finally came out, who would it affect?
Where They Found Her is an excellent psychological thriller filled with taut and terrifying truths, lies and betrayal. Riveting and intensely gripping, this is a powerful story which will draw you in so you’re unable to put it down. I have no hesitation in recommending Where They Found Her very highly.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster AU for my copy to read and review.
When Molly Anderson, journalist for the local paper in Ridgedale was asked to cover the discovery of a body at the Ridgedale University’s campus grounds, she knew she was their last resort. But she also wanted this to work – she had been ill with a severe case of depression for the past eighteen months after the loss of her baby. Her daughter Ella and husband Justin were the only things keeping her sane. So the opportunity to get back into the work she loved was too good to resist. Erik, her boss had confidence in her – she needed to have confidence in herself. But when Molly joined the police contingent on campus and spoke to the Detective in charge, she was horrified to discover the body was that of a baby…
Sandy, living in the slum area of Ridgedale, and struggling to pay the rent as well as keep her mother Jenna from going off the rails completely, was being tutored by Hannah, daughter of police chief Steve, and Barbara, president of the PTA. When Jenna suddenly disappeared at the same time as Sandy discovered the last few months’ rent hadn’t been paid, she was distraught. But Barbara had problems of her own; approached by her young son, Cole’s teacher, she was shocked to hear what her quiet and sensible son had been up to at school…
As investigations into the death of the baby deepened, Molly discovered terrible secrets about some of the long-time residents of Ridgedale. But not just those particular residents – the tangled web of secrets was drawing closer and closer around the three women who were directly connected; but who didn’t have any idea there was a connection. What would happen to these three women? When the truth finally came out, who would it affect?
Where They Found Her is an excellent psychological thriller filled with taut and terrifying truths, lies and betrayal. Riveting and intensely gripping, this is a powerful story which will draw you in so you’re unable to put it down. I have no hesitation in recommending Where They Found Her very highly.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster AU for my copy to read and review.
June 17, 2015
Another thoroughly well written novel by author Kimberley McCreight. I had the novel 'Reconstructing Amelia' recommended to me and really enjoyed it so it was an easy choice to read this book and I was not disappointed. The book is not full of action but it has very well written dialogues that build up the various characters to have them clear in your mind. The story is well laid out and makes perfect sense by the end of the book and is extremely well paced.
May 3, 2017
Kimberly McCreight, delivers a multi-layered suspense, psychological crime mystery thriller, WHERE THEY FOUND HER; leaving you page-turning into the night to discover the devastating secret of the lives connected to these dark secrets.
Set in an idyllic small suburban town of Ridgedale, NJ, we hear from different women with a multi-generational perspective.
Molly is a freelance journalist, and lives with her professor husband Justin and five-year-old daughter, Ella. Molly is assigned the story of a newborn discovered dead by Essex Bridge, adjacent to the college. This happens to be an emotional time for Molly as she lost her own baby two years earlier while slipping into a deep depression. Justin does not like her bringing up old wounds by working on the story.
We also hear the recorded psychiatric sessions, and parts of a therapy journal, and published articles for the local paper. But when Molly discovers that the victim in the river is a newborn girl, Molly is forced to confront the haunting pain of her own baby's death; in the process, she uncovers dirty secrets about a town that strives to maintain its idealized image and some are too close for comfort.
In the meantime, we hear from two other characters: Sandy, is a high school drop out with a wacko crazy mom, Jenna, who vanishes and Barbara, PTA President and perfect mom of kindergarten classmate of Ella’s, Cole who is exhibiting troubling behavior. Barbara is completely obsessed with controlling her husband who is a cop and her kids.
There is quite the complex relationship between two teenage girls from different sides of the tracks. At sixteen, Sandy is more mature than her wild mother, Jenna, who brings men in and out of the house with drugs and sex constantly.After dropping out of school to help earn money for rent, Sandy is trying to get her GED diploma with the help of tutor Hannah Carlson, a high school senior whose is totally different. She is the daughter of Ridgedale's police chief, and a demanding mother, Hannah.
The more Molly digs into the town’s background, the parentage of the baby threatens to tear the town apart. We continue hearing from Molly, Barbara, and Sandy and how these lives become intertwined for a suspenseful climactic ending, as dark secrets come to the surface from one generation to another. Who is the unidentified newborn girl is found in the woods near the college campus? The more she digs she uncover decades-old secrets which have been buried, including sexual assaults.
While listening to the audiobook it gets a little confusing at first with the introduction of different characters. While I thought the book was suspenseful and well-written, it was narrated by Tavia Gilbert, Lauren Fortgang, Rachel F. Hirsch, Therese Plummer and one of the girl’s voice was rather annoying and distracting; found myself constantly fast forwarding over her part. Would recommend reading versus listening.
Next up: The Scattering, coming 5/2/2017. Have purchased the audiobook and looking forward to reading #2 Outliers.
JDC Must Read Books
Set in an idyllic small suburban town of Ridgedale, NJ, we hear from different women with a multi-generational perspective.
Molly is a freelance journalist, and lives with her professor husband Justin and five-year-old daughter, Ella. Molly is assigned the story of a newborn discovered dead by Essex Bridge, adjacent to the college. This happens to be an emotional time for Molly as she lost her own baby two years earlier while slipping into a deep depression. Justin does not like her bringing up old wounds by working on the story.
We also hear the recorded psychiatric sessions, and parts of a therapy journal, and published articles for the local paper. But when Molly discovers that the victim in the river is a newborn girl, Molly is forced to confront the haunting pain of her own baby's death; in the process, she uncovers dirty secrets about a town that strives to maintain its idealized image and some are too close for comfort.
In the meantime, we hear from two other characters: Sandy, is a high school drop out with a wacko crazy mom, Jenna, who vanishes and Barbara, PTA President and perfect mom of kindergarten classmate of Ella’s, Cole who is exhibiting troubling behavior. Barbara is completely obsessed with controlling her husband who is a cop and her kids.
There is quite the complex relationship between two teenage girls from different sides of the tracks. At sixteen, Sandy is more mature than her wild mother, Jenna, who brings men in and out of the house with drugs and sex constantly.After dropping out of school to help earn money for rent, Sandy is trying to get her GED diploma with the help of tutor Hannah Carlson, a high school senior whose is totally different. She is the daughter of Ridgedale's police chief, and a demanding mother, Hannah.
The more Molly digs into the town’s background, the parentage of the baby threatens to tear the town apart. We continue hearing from Molly, Barbara, and Sandy and how these lives become intertwined for a suspenseful climactic ending, as dark secrets come to the surface from one generation to another. Who is the unidentified newborn girl is found in the woods near the college campus? The more she digs she uncover decades-old secrets which have been buried, including sexual assaults.
While listening to the audiobook it gets a little confusing at first with the introduction of different characters. While I thought the book was suspenseful and well-written, it was narrated by Tavia Gilbert, Lauren Fortgang, Rachel F. Hirsch, Therese Plummer and one of the girl’s voice was rather annoying and distracting; found myself constantly fast forwarding over her part. Would recommend reading versus listening.
Next up: The Scattering, coming 5/2/2017. Have purchased the audiobook and looking forward to reading #2 Outliers.
JDC Must Read Books
May 18, 2015
It seems every thriller these days gets held up to Gone Girl. There's no doubt Gillian Flynn is a very talented writer, but I dunno, something about her books always leaves me feeling a little dirty and grubby. I read Reconstructing Amelia a couple of years ago, and while it doesn't have the same level of fame and popularity as GONE GIRL I infinitely preferred it.
Stylistically, WHERE THEY FOUND HER has similarities to Amelia. The book encompasses several viewpoint characters, and includes excerpts from diaries, newspaper articles (and the comments on those articles from the public reminded me a lot of comments my local newspaper gets except with better spelling!), and transcripts from therapy sessions. As an aside, I always cringe reading therapy sessions in books - they are SO poorly written.
One of the things that sets McCreight apart from many in the thriller genre, is her characterisation. We are given characters whom have depth, and who feel real. This is where McCreight style really supports her writing as well, because we see how characters perceive themselves, and then how that character is perceived by others. It is quite interesting to see a character and understand their internal motivation, but to then see how their behaviour is seen by others who don't understand that.
While McCreight writes nail biting stuff, I find it better quality than much in the genre because of her characterisation, her understanding of people, and her skill as a writer. As with most thrillers there is a 'twist' here, though I had that pegged from early on. Unlike The Good Girl, for example, that had a twist that was thrown in just for the sake of it, McCreight's show the twists and turns an investigation makes trying to find out what has happened.
This is an intelligent and riveting nail biter. Read at your manicure's risk.
Stylistically, WHERE THEY FOUND HER has similarities to Amelia. The book encompasses several viewpoint characters, and includes excerpts from diaries, newspaper articles (and the comments on those articles from the public reminded me a lot of comments my local newspaper gets except with better spelling!), and transcripts from therapy sessions. As an aside, I always cringe reading therapy sessions in books - they are SO poorly written.
One of the things that sets McCreight apart from many in the thriller genre, is her characterisation. We are given characters whom have depth, and who feel real. This is where McCreight style really supports her writing as well, because we see how characters perceive themselves, and then how that character is perceived by others. It is quite interesting to see a character and understand their internal motivation, but to then see how their behaviour is seen by others who don't understand that.
While McCreight writes nail biting stuff, I find it better quality than much in the genre because of her characterisation, her understanding of people, and her skill as a writer. As with most thrillers there is a 'twist' here, though I had that pegged from early on. Unlike The Good Girl, for example, that had a twist that was thrown in just for the sake of it, McCreight's show the twists and turns an investigation makes trying to find out what has happened.
This is an intelligent and riveting nail biter. Read at your manicure's risk.
August 28, 2017
3.5 stars
WHERE THEY FOUND HER is the second book I have read by their author (her previous one was RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA), and despite the 3.5 star rating, I would definitely seek out other books she writes in the future.
The story is certainly intriguing, and the writing very smooth. I initially found the multiple POVs/time jumps a bit confusing, but you get used to it. I am a big fan of multiple POVs (when done right), and I felt it really gave this story momentum. The down side is that, inevitably, there are characters one prefers. In this case, I was mostly interested in Molly, though I felt for poor Sandy. I didn't care for or about Barbara, however. That said, none of the characters struck a real chord with me (as was the case in RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA as well), and I thought I had best write this review upon finishing the book, because I fear they will fade in my memory rather quickly. That is largely the reason I am not giving this book another star, because the characters were just not hugely sympathetic, even though the situations they found themselves in were. I also found the ending quite hurried, and to be honest, a bit confusing, as there were a lot of loose ends to be tied up. I ended up going back, because I had missed an important detail...oops;-)
One should perhaps note that there is a lot of swearing in this book. I don't mind, but occasionally it didn't even make sense, and was just used, I think, to enforce the fact that a character was just sooo chill, which wasn't necessary.
McCreight does write good suspense, though, and I would pick up her next book simply because this one and RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA were fast-paced and engaging reads.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
WHERE THEY FOUND HER is the second book I have read by their author (her previous one was RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA), and despite the 3.5 star rating, I would definitely seek out other books she writes in the future.
The story is certainly intriguing, and the writing very smooth. I initially found the multiple POVs/time jumps a bit confusing, but you get used to it. I am a big fan of multiple POVs (when done right), and I felt it really gave this story momentum. The down side is that, inevitably, there are characters one prefers. In this case, I was mostly interested in Molly, though I felt for poor Sandy. I didn't care for or about Barbara, however. That said, none of the characters struck a real chord with me (as was the case in RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA as well), and I thought I had best write this review upon finishing the book, because I fear they will fade in my memory rather quickly. That is largely the reason I am not giving this book another star, because the characters were just not hugely sympathetic, even though the situations they found themselves in were. I also found the ending quite hurried, and to be honest, a bit confusing, as there were a lot of loose ends to be tied up. I ended up going back, because I had missed an important detail...oops;-)
One should perhaps note that there is a lot of swearing in this book. I don't mind, but occasionally it didn't even make sense, and was just used, I think, to enforce the fact that a character was just sooo chill, which wasn't necessary.
McCreight does write good suspense, though, and I would pick up her next book simply because this one and RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA were fast-paced and engaging reads.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
October 6, 2015
Imagine this...
You have had a hard time getting pregnant, you have been through some terrible struggles to become a Mother.
Then joyously you give birth and you rear a daughter, a wonderful daughter.
The your job takes you to a place near water where there is a baby, a little baby dead.
Its only been a couple of years since she said goodbye to her still born baby. Even though she has a child now, if anyone has been through loosing a baby, miscarriage, stillborn, cot death or for whatever reason, those children still belonged to you.
So to see this dead child was horrific for Molly Sanderson who was a newspaper reporter.
There is no one else to take on this case, she has to.
Learning more and more details about the death of this child leads her more into its web.
Molly learns that the place this baby was found is the same place that a body was found years ago. Intrigued she wants to learn more.
She uncovers far more than she should, and her future is in the balance.
When I first began reading this, it took me a while to relate to each character as there was a lot of business going on. But once I got into it deeper I really had to stay with it.
The ending literally threw me. I loved it.
My verdict is......a thoroughly smashing read.
My thanks to the author and **Simon and Schuster UK Fiction via Net Galley ** for my copy
April 28, 2016
** This ARC was gifted to me by HarperCollins Canada as part of their newly re-launched program #HCCFirstLook in exchange for an honest review **
—
Wow. This was really REALLY good. I love a good psychological thriller, especially when they are as well thought out and well written as Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight.
When I first read the synopsis for Where They Found Her, I was a little worried knowing that this novel was going to be told from three different points of view. I really do love when novels are written from multiple perspectives, especially within a psychological thriller, but three is a lot and can sometimes make the story hard to follow especially when the perspectives are alternating. At first I will admit, it was hard to keep track of all of the different characters within each perspective but once I started to realize how all of the stories were connected, it made it a lot easier to follow.
This story is so intricate in the way that all of the stories connect, which I believe must have taken a lot of thought and careful planning. Each story weaves together perfectly and the novel ended with a feeling of closure as nothing felt unfinished or forgotten. The writing style was fantastic and as much as I dislike comparing psychological thrillers to the writing of Gillian Flynn, this book was right up there with Gone Girl, Dark Places and Sharp Objects as one of my favourite dark and thrilling reads. I do truly believe that fans of Gillian Flynn will love Where They Found Her.
All of the characters were well thought out and their stories were carefully written. Each character had their own complicated stories to tell, but what was so amazing was the shocking way that they all connected. Molly is new to the town of Ridgedale and a reporter for the Ridgedale Reader. She is overcoming a personal tragedy all while reporting on the mysterious death of the baby. She’s new to reporting and starts out a little naive and nervous but grows throughout the novel as she continues following the mysterious story. Barbara is another mother in the area. She is a control freak and very intense. Out of all of the characters, she was the one I despised the most and who was driving me a little insane while reading from her perspective. Sandy is a young teenager who grew up in a broken home with a troublesome and unreliable mother. Despite her tough upbringing, she is smart and working on obtaining her GED. All of the puzzle pieces started to fit together as their stories went on. I went into this novel thinking I would get to play detective and try to figure out the mystery behind the body of the baby, and although I was trying to figure out the mystery throughout the entire novel I was also unexpectedly trying to figure out little mini mysteries within each character’s story. As always with a psychological thriller, I find myself making guesses and predictions, but I can honestly say that all of my guesses were completely wrong and in my opinion, that is what makes a suspenseful thriller successful.
Although this novel was dark and chilling, it was definitely a fun and thrilling read that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I have not read Kimberly McCreight’s other novel Reconstructing Amelia, but after enjoying Where They Found Her as much as I did, I will definitely be picking up a copy.
—
Wow. This was really REALLY good. I love a good psychological thriller, especially when they are as well thought out and well written as Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight.
When I first read the synopsis for Where They Found Her, I was a little worried knowing that this novel was going to be told from three different points of view. I really do love when novels are written from multiple perspectives, especially within a psychological thriller, but three is a lot and can sometimes make the story hard to follow especially when the perspectives are alternating. At first I will admit, it was hard to keep track of all of the different characters within each perspective but once I started to realize how all of the stories were connected, it made it a lot easier to follow.
This story is so intricate in the way that all of the stories connect, which I believe must have taken a lot of thought and careful planning. Each story weaves together perfectly and the novel ended with a feeling of closure as nothing felt unfinished or forgotten. The writing style was fantastic and as much as I dislike comparing psychological thrillers to the writing of Gillian Flynn, this book was right up there with Gone Girl, Dark Places and Sharp Objects as one of my favourite dark and thrilling reads. I do truly believe that fans of Gillian Flynn will love Where They Found Her.
All of the characters were well thought out and their stories were carefully written. Each character had their own complicated stories to tell, but what was so amazing was the shocking way that they all connected. Molly is new to the town of Ridgedale and a reporter for the Ridgedale Reader. She is overcoming a personal tragedy all while reporting on the mysterious death of the baby. She’s new to reporting and starts out a little naive and nervous but grows throughout the novel as she continues following the mysterious story. Barbara is another mother in the area. She is a control freak and very intense. Out of all of the characters, she was the one I despised the most and who was driving me a little insane while reading from her perspective. Sandy is a young teenager who grew up in a broken home with a troublesome and unreliable mother. Despite her tough upbringing, she is smart and working on obtaining her GED. All of the puzzle pieces started to fit together as their stories went on. I went into this novel thinking I would get to play detective and try to figure out the mystery behind the body of the baby, and although I was trying to figure out the mystery throughout the entire novel I was also unexpectedly trying to figure out little mini mysteries within each character’s story. As always with a psychological thriller, I find myself making guesses and predictions, but I can honestly say that all of my guesses were completely wrong and in my opinion, that is what makes a suspenseful thriller successful.
Although this novel was dark and chilling, it was definitely a fun and thrilling read that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I have not read Kimberly McCreight’s other novel Reconstructing Amelia, but after enjoying Where They Found Her as much as I did, I will definitely be picking up a copy.
November 27, 2017
A baby is found dead and a town is in turmoil. Molly Anderson is asked to cover the story for her newspaper, although she is still recovering from the loss of her own baby years earlier. As she digs deeper into the story, secrets from the past become uncovered and effect many lives in the tony college town.
The story is told from 3 POVs: Molly, whose husband does not want her to cover this story, Barbara, the wife of the police chief and who tries to project a perfect life, and Sandy, a 16 year old high school drop out who is struggling with her dysfunctional mother. All the characters in the story are very well portrayed, even the really unlikable ones. (I'm talking about you, Barbara and Stella!)
The story has a lot of unexpected twists and turns. Don't even think you know where this one is going. You're wrong! The characters are very complex and so is the plot. So just enjoy the ride.
I will admit it took me a while to get into the story, but once I did, the pages just flew.
This is a definite recommend!
The story is told from 3 POVs: Molly, whose husband does not want her to cover this story, Barbara, the wife of the police chief and who tries to project a perfect life, and Sandy, a 16 year old high school drop out who is struggling with her dysfunctional mother. All the characters in the story are very well portrayed, even the really unlikable ones. (I'm talking about you, Barbara and Stella!)
The story has a lot of unexpected twists and turns. Don't even think you know where this one is going. You're wrong! The characters are very complex and so is the plot. So just enjoy the ride.
I will admit it took me a while to get into the story, but once I did, the pages just flew.
This is a definite recommend!
September 5, 2015
Molly Sanderson and her husband Justin, an English professor at Ridgedale University, have recently re-located to the idyllic town some time after the stillbirth of their second daughter. Molly, a journalist, struggles with the guilt of what happened and has only just started working for the local newspaper, “The Ridgedale Reader,” covering fluff pieces when she is called to investigate a report of a body found on land that belongs to the University. Molly is aware that the editor is only sending her as there is nobody else available and is horrified to discover that the body is that of a female newborn baby. What follows sees Molly unwilling to give the story up, but her digging is about to uncover some very nasty secrets from both the present and the past.
I really found this thriller a fascinating read. Molly, despite her doubts, is a great mother to her little daughter, Ella, and an intuitive journalist. Being a small town, the author is able to link many of the characters through Ella’s kindergarten class – her classmates include Cole, the son of the Ridgedale Chief of Police, Steve Carlson and also the son of her friend, Stella. Ella’s teacher, Rhea, is also involved in providing Outreach Tutoring to students to need help, and Steve Carlson’s daughter, Hannah, is a volunteer at the programme. This opens another strand to the storyline, involving a young girl, Sandy, whose mother Jenna is unable to provide the care that her daughter needs.
Rarely would I say that a novel has more appeal to female readers than male (or vice versa), but much of this book will resonate with women. Molly’s guilt about her baby, her unresolved feelings about her own troubled mother – which links to Sandy’s story – the classroom issues between Stella and Barbara, Steve’s wife, were all things I could identify with. Obviously, this idyllic University town is not as perfect as it first appears and cracks in seemingly happy relationships and in the lives of prominent citizens soon become apparent. Jenna goes missing, a baby is found dead, rumours and speculation abound and we read quotes from various internet forums throughout the book; including ‘Frat Chat’ where students begin to point fingers.
By the time the mystery of who the baby was is solved, many lives in the town will change and there are many plot twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed the characters, even the less pleasant ones, like the judgemental and bossy Barbara (there is one in every school!). I have not read any of the author’s previous novels, but I must explore her work as I enjoyed this very much. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
I really found this thriller a fascinating read. Molly, despite her doubts, is a great mother to her little daughter, Ella, and an intuitive journalist. Being a small town, the author is able to link many of the characters through Ella’s kindergarten class – her classmates include Cole, the son of the Ridgedale Chief of Police, Steve Carlson and also the son of her friend, Stella. Ella’s teacher, Rhea, is also involved in providing Outreach Tutoring to students to need help, and Steve Carlson’s daughter, Hannah, is a volunteer at the programme. This opens another strand to the storyline, involving a young girl, Sandy, whose mother Jenna is unable to provide the care that her daughter needs.
Rarely would I say that a novel has more appeal to female readers than male (or vice versa), but much of this book will resonate with women. Molly’s guilt about her baby, her unresolved feelings about her own troubled mother – which links to Sandy’s story – the classroom issues between Stella and Barbara, Steve’s wife, were all things I could identify with. Obviously, this idyllic University town is not as perfect as it first appears and cracks in seemingly happy relationships and in the lives of prominent citizens soon become apparent. Jenna goes missing, a baby is found dead, rumours and speculation abound and we read quotes from various internet forums throughout the book; including ‘Frat Chat’ where students begin to point fingers.
By the time the mystery of who the baby was is solved, many lives in the town will change and there are many plot twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed the characters, even the less pleasant ones, like the judgemental and bossy Barbara (there is one in every school!). I have not read any of the author’s previous novels, but I must explore her work as I enjoyed this very much. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
February 26, 2016
- My Description -
She was found near the water's edge.
Her small body was underneath the skinny trees that long ago had lost their leaves.
Ridgedale Reader reporter Molly Sanderson is asked to write the news report on a dead body found near the Ridgedale University campus.
A dead body is newsworthy anyway but this isn't just any dead body.
This is a newborn baby girl.
Molly takes on the case because she has to. There's no one else.
Years before, Molly had lost a baby due to a miscarriage.
At first, She doesn't really want to take on the case. It's a sensitive situation.
After she learns more details, she realizes she has to help solve the case.
This baby girl deserves justice.
Molly interviews various people, sometimes putting herself in unsafe situations.
Being a reporter can be dangerous work.
- My Review -
When I first started reading this book, I wasn't too impressed with the author's writing style.
It just didn't mesh well with me.
I trudged on, because I don't like leaving a book unfinished.
The writing style got better later on. Yippee!
The book was pleasantly surprising to me, especially the ending.
I didn't see it coming.
October 15, 2017
Sorry, but it's only 2.5 stars from me.
A bit disappointing really as there was so much potential and plenty of opportunities to turn this abrupt and quite boring at times (many times!!) narration into a great psychological thriller with great suspense.
I even liked some of the characters! But that didn't help.
Molly is a journalist, she is trying to get her life back to normal after losing a baby.
She is doing well for the most part. She is working for a local newspaper and taking care of here little daughter, she is trying to get her relationship with her husband, Justin, back to the stage of romance and excitement... Justin is a lecturer in college.
All seem to be going at its own pace until one day Molly is called to cover a story about a body of the baby that had been found near the college... The baby's body had injuries, no identity and it is assumed that it has something to with the college... Many years ago somebody was killed nearly in the same spot.
So, sure enough, everyone involved is connected to the story and to the past, one way or another.
All along I was hoping that the obvious links and connections were tactical distractions and that next page or a page after something unexpected will pop up and will turn the whole story inside out and there'll be a new twist, a new event... something...
Eh... no, all went as expected, the ones who looked quilt, turned out to be guilty, the bad guys were bad, the good guys were good.
All that would be not too bad, if it was written in a manner that took over the actual events of the story and made enjoyable the process of reading. You know, great style, good sense of humour, elaborate descriptions, interesting characters.... Eh, it's a NO again. Dry descriptions, flat, most times torturously boring, characters, not a sprinkle of humour. The whole lot felt like unfinished work.
This author is on my miss list.
A bit disappointing really as there was so much potential and plenty of opportunities to turn this abrupt and quite boring at times (many times!!) narration into a great psychological thriller with great suspense.
I even liked some of the characters! But that didn't help.
Molly is a journalist, she is trying to get her life back to normal after losing a baby.
She is doing well for the most part. She is working for a local newspaper and taking care of here little daughter, she is trying to get her relationship with her husband, Justin, back to the stage of romance and excitement... Justin is a lecturer in college.
All seem to be going at its own pace until one day Molly is called to cover a story about a body of the baby that had been found near the college... The baby's body had injuries, no identity and it is assumed that it has something to with the college... Many years ago somebody was killed nearly in the same spot.
So, sure enough, everyone involved is connected to the story and to the past, one way or another.
All along I was hoping that the obvious links and connections were tactical distractions and that next page or a page after something unexpected will pop up and will turn the whole story inside out and there'll be a new twist, a new event... something...
Eh... no, all went as expected, the ones who looked quilt, turned out to be guilty, the bad guys were bad, the good guys were good.
All that would be not too bad, if it was written in a manner that took over the actual events of the story and made enjoyable the process of reading. You know, great style, good sense of humour, elaborate descriptions, interesting characters.... Eh, it's a NO again. Dry descriptions, flat, most times torturously boring, characters, not a sprinkle of humour. The whole lot felt like unfinished work.
This author is on my miss list.
May 29, 2017
I loved this book more than I expected to! I chose a slower read, about an hour per day at my pool in the evenings after work, and it was the perfect way to read it. I was able to concentrate and enjoy the narrative as it unfolded. A lot of reviews have covered the plot, so I won't recap it too much. I will say that some criticism has been that there were too many characters and extra drama, but I didn't think that at all!
Every character and storyline was a thread that was necessary to get to the conclusion. In the same way gossip and secrets can detract from the truth in our own lives, the novel shows the same phenomenon. Nothing is a red herring in the plot tool sense of the word. All of the story lines were necessary for Molly's and the reader's investigation. You pick up small threads, you see connections that you think are one thing, and end up being another. At the end, you feel satisfied that everything that happened has a solution, but they aren't the solution you expected.
Another reviewer mentioned not to jump ahead at the beginning to figure out whodunnit, and I whole-heartedly agree. The joy of this novel is the intricate web of lies and secrets that surround the mystery. Every plot line has a role, and they are all valuable to the conclusion. I recommend staying in the moment with them and allowing the author to lead you through the story in the way the characters experience it.
Every character and storyline was a thread that was necessary to get to the conclusion. In the same way gossip and secrets can detract from the truth in our own lives, the novel shows the same phenomenon. Nothing is a red herring in the plot tool sense of the word. All of the story lines were necessary for Molly's and the reader's investigation. You pick up small threads, you see connections that you think are one thing, and end up being another. At the end, you feel satisfied that everything that happened has a solution, but they aren't the solution you expected.
Another reviewer mentioned not to jump ahead at the beginning to figure out whodunnit, and I whole-heartedly agree. The joy of this novel is the intricate web of lies and secrets that surround the mystery. Every plot line has a role, and they are all valuable to the conclusion. I recommend staying in the moment with them and allowing the author to lead you through the story in the way the characters experience it.
March 21, 2015
I absolutely loved Reconstructing Amelia and was so excited to get a chance to read this one early. My expectations were really high, as well, and I completely adored this book, as well.
It's not another Reconstructing Amelia, except it's just as compelling. (This one centers around a newborn girl who was found dead in a relatively remote area. Nobody knows who her mom is, or how she got there, and obviously it has the small town in an uproar.)
I love that Kimberly McCreight chose to have Barbara co-narrate. If I had only heard about her in Molly and Sandy's chapters, it would have been impossible to even remotely like her. I'm not going to say that it made me wish Barbara and I were friends, but it allowed me to see where she was coming from and it made me empathize with her a little bit. (She's still a jerk, but it was nice to see exactly why.)
Where They Found Her is incredible. I kept thinking I knew where it was going and I had no idea. I have to say, I absolutely love books that can take me by surprise.
I can't wait for Kimberly McCreight's next book.
Highly recommended.
It's not another Reconstructing Amelia, except it's just as compelling. (This one centers around a newborn girl who was found dead in a relatively remote area. Nobody knows who her mom is, or how she got there, and obviously it has the small town in an uproar.)
I love that Kimberly McCreight chose to have Barbara co-narrate. If I had only heard about her in Molly and Sandy's chapters, it would have been impossible to even remotely like her. I'm not going to say that it made me wish Barbara and I were friends, but it allowed me to see where she was coming from and it made me empathize with her a little bit. (She's still a jerk, but it was nice to see exactly why.)
Where They Found Her is incredible. I kept thinking I knew where it was going and I had no idea. I have to say, I absolutely love books that can take me by surprise.
I can't wait for Kimberly McCreight's next book.
Highly recommended.
September 24, 2015
3.5 Stars
A dead infant is found on a college campus. A freelance journalist is chosen to be the reporter on this case, which is extra difficult for her, as she is still reeling from the loss of her own baby. Molly is determined to uncover the truth over this case, even if it means discovering deep, dark secrets of this sleepy college town.
I really liked this author's first novel, Reconstructing Amelia, so I was looking forward to this one. It was slightly muddled in the middle, and I had a little difficulty keeping the female characters apart (ie. who was whose mom, whose kids were whose, etc). However, the ending was really good and suspenseful and did take me by surprise. I look forward to more works from this author.
A dead infant is found on a college campus. A freelance journalist is chosen to be the reporter on this case, which is extra difficult for her, as she is still reeling from the loss of her own baby. Molly is determined to uncover the truth over this case, even if it means discovering deep, dark secrets of this sleepy college town.
I really liked this author's first novel, Reconstructing Amelia, so I was looking forward to this one. It was slightly muddled in the middle, and I had a little difficulty keeping the female characters apart (ie. who was whose mom, whose kids were whose, etc). However, the ending was really good and suspenseful and did take me by surprise. I look forward to more works from this author.
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