Still Missing - Book Review

This is my first month participating in an online book club and I am feeling a bit rushed because I didn't quite understand when to post my review!

The coordinator/host is Julie with Peanut Butter Fingers. I actually found her site from a book review last month on a different site.

Julie's site already has a review and the book discussion going on in the comments.

So here is my review. If you don't like books spoiled you should not read this review.

Had I not just joined a book club and been so excited to participate I am not sure I would have gotten much past the first chapter of "Still Missing" by Chevy Stevens. Unfortunately I didn't like the "voice" of the primary character Annie and I am such a written word person that I can be pretty sensitive to books that I don't like their written tone.

The book opens with Annie talking to her newest therapist. Annie is rough and talks with such a defensively rude wall that I was somewhat annoyed with her from the beginning.

As the book moves on, the abduction and related sexual and emotional abuse is hard to read. I would say I am pretty average when it comes to graphic scenes in movies or books although probably lean a bit more sensitive. The scenes in this book are written to make you uncomfortable and I am sure that there are readers who will not want to read those scenes. The way he enforces and establishes control is pretty overwhelming. He even allows her to "tame" a duck only to kill it in front of her later. This scene is thankfully short and to the point but bothered me all the same and you definitely feel Annie's heartbreak.

One of the first times I start to really feel for her as a character is with the birth of her child while still in captivity. She is so overwhelmed with love for a baby that is the product of terrible circumstances. This section of the book had me fairly on edge because of the abductor's jealousy and already established pattern of unpredictable reactions to things he didn't feel he was controlling.  Annie's frantic hopelessness as the baby gets sick I felt in my gut.

Whether the ending is believable or not - hard to say. But it was the ending I needed. I needed to see her get away and I definitely wanted sharp resolution when you realize this was orchestrated by her mother. Annie remains rough as a narrator throughout the book and I wouldn't say I loved her a ton more at the ending, but I could respect where she was coming from.


"Still Missing" is a fast read. It absolutely sucks you in. I definitely enjoyed it more once Annie got away and started to unravel the mystery of who was behind the abduction.

I can't wait to see what book June brings!