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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A good and easy thriller to read.
This book was well written and moves along easily. You think that you know what happens but then you find out that you were wrong all along.
The author does a good job to throw twists at you and she does a good job introducing the character's feelings and emotions in a pleasant way.
It's not the best thriller I have read but it's still a lovely one to read, I think I read this in a day seeing how it's such an easy and addictive read.
This book was well written and moves along easily. You think that you know what happens but then you find out that you were wrong all along.
The author does a good job to throw twists at you and she does a good job introducing the character's feelings and emotions in a pleasant way.
It's not the best thriller I have read but it's still a lovely one to read, I think I read this in a day seeing how it's such an easy and addictive read.
I would give this 3.5. It was a very good storyline and once I got half way I couldn’t put it down. Not necessarily because of what was happening in the book but just the luring question (not a spoiler as it’s the first chapter) is she the real Olivia and that’s why I kept reading cause I wanted to know.
The beginning though lagged a bit and it took me a while to get into it. The end though you get your answer it does leave you with even more questions in answered which is great for some people but I like firm facts and not having to make an ending up in my head :) overall pretty well done, I like how she tied in the two stories of Lily and Olivia.
The beginning though lagged a bit and it took me a while to get into it. The end though you get your answer it does leave you with even more questions in answered which is great for some people but I like firm facts and not having to make an ending up in my head :) overall pretty well done, I like how she tied in the two stories of Lily and Olivia.
A six-year-old girl is taken from her family's garden in a very small town. She comes back as an adult years later in an attempt to reunite with her family. Naturally this is the dream of any parent who's child has gone missing. After so many years the hope for their return still exists, but as the author points out in her book, the hope becomes unrealistic.
In chapter one, Kerry Wilkson throws you into the monumental moment of mom and daughter being reunited. We don't know any of the circumstances of Olivia Adams' disappearance. I admit that I would have liked more from this moment. Placing myself in Sarah's position, I imagine I would react much more intensley to the return of my missing child. Mom to mom, I related to Sarah. It took her just a moment to realize she was looking at her own daughter. In an instant, she knew her daughter had returned. Things only get more interesting as the story progresses from here.
Olivia's disappearance made her an unfortunate icon of her tiny town. A memorial was placed in a tree at the school, kids were warned that if they weren't careful that they could end up like Olivia. Even children born after her kidnapping "knew" who she was. So of course the question now is, what happened?
I was suspicious of Olivia because after telling her story to her mother, she doesn't tell it again. When questioned by the police Olivia prefers to keep silent about her story. She isn't a criminal and can't be forced to tell, yet that begs the question, why keep it a secret? She develops a relationship with her mother despite not wanting to pursue criminal charges against those who kidnapped her; however, it is much more troubling with her step-dad.
Step-dad and his brother are suspicious of who she is and why she has returned. They don't have a motherly connection to Olivia so they are not so keen to welcome her into the family. This causes reader suspicion around Olivia and definitely around the brother who is overly aggressive towards her.
Call me a know-it-all, but I've read so many books that I tend to find themes and hints that point to the end before it happens. I was wrong this time. CLOSE, but still wrong. This is a book that kept me up till 1:00 am "turning" the pages (kindle). That is quite a feat because I value my sleep. If you are looking for a gripping story with more than one jaw-dropping surprise, read The Girl Who Came Back.
In chapter one, Kerry Wilkson throws you into the monumental moment of mom and daughter being reunited. We don't know any of the circumstances of Olivia Adams' disappearance. I admit that I would have liked more from this moment. Placing myself in Sarah's position, I imagine I would react much more intensley to the return of my missing child. Mom to mom, I related to Sarah. It took her just a moment to realize she was looking at her own daughter. In an instant, she knew her daughter had returned. Things only get more interesting as the story progresses from here.
Everyone knows everything in a small town.
Olivia's disappearance made her an unfortunate icon of her tiny town. A memorial was placed in a tree at the school, kids were warned that if they weren't careful that they could end up like Olivia. Even children born after her kidnapping "knew" who she was. So of course the question now is, what happened?
I was suspicious of Olivia because after telling her story to her mother, she doesn't tell it again. When questioned by the police Olivia prefers to keep silent about her story. She isn't a criminal and can't be forced to tell, yet that begs the question, why keep it a secret? She develops a relationship with her mother despite not wanting to pursue criminal charges against those who kidnapped her; however, it is much more troubling with her step-dad.
Step-dad and his brother are suspicious of who she is and why she has returned. They don't have a motherly connection to Olivia so they are not so keen to welcome her into the family. This causes reader suspicion around Olivia and definitely around the brother who is overly aggressive towards her.
I admit, I thought I had it all figured out by Chapter Two.
Call me a know-it-all, but I've read so many books that I tend to find themes and hints that point to the end before it happens. I was wrong this time. CLOSE, but still wrong. This is a book that kept me up till 1:00 am "turning" the pages (kindle). That is quite a feat because I value my sleep. If you are looking for a gripping story with more than one jaw-dropping surprise, read The Girl Who Came Back.
What I Liked
The storyline and conclusion were unique. They were captivating and easy to follow, leaving me hooked until I finished the book as quickly as possible. I enjoyed the English setting here. A child kidnapped out of the back garden of her quiet, peaceful village - the scene was perfect for a good mystery.
What I Didn't Like
Most people's reactions to Olivia's return seemed a little too underwhelming and even glib. It was almost a "Yay, we're so happy you're home," situation when in reality a child had been taken for thirteen years and was now back with the vaguest of explanations.
I wish the mystery would have been a little more vague. Lily's parts throughout the story made me instantly guess the ending - as did the obvious villains. I would have enjoyed a little more mystery with this mystery.
And finally, it was a bit odd to me to have this written in first person without revealing the identity of the character. The whole point of the story was "is this girl Olivia Adams?" So having her tell the story herself was a bit confusing; if I'm reading a character's thoughts, how is she so close-lipped on her own identity?
One more note...
The storyline and conclusion were unique. They were captivating and easy to follow, leaving me hooked until I finished the book as quickly as possible. I enjoyed the English setting here. A child kidnapped out of the back garden of her quiet, peaceful village - the scene was perfect for a good mystery.
What I Didn't Like
Most people's reactions to Olivia's return seemed a little too underwhelming and even glib. It was almost a "Yay, we're so happy you're home," situation when in reality a child had been taken for thirteen years and was now back with the vaguest of explanations.
I wish the mystery would have been a little more vague. Lily's parts throughout the story made me instantly guess the ending - as did the obvious villains. I would have enjoyed a little more mystery with this mystery.
And finally, it was a bit odd to me to have this written in first person without revealing the identity of the character. The whole point of the story was "is this girl Olivia Adams?" So having her tell the story herself was a bit confusing; if I'm reading a character's thoughts, how is she so close-lipped on her own identity?
One more note...
Spoiler
the ending ultimately made me dislike the protagonist intensely. How selfish.
Lots of twists
Great read. Enjoyed the story. Guessed the ending 30% in (which is actually farther into the book than normal). Highly recommend!
Great read. Enjoyed the story. Guessed the ending 30% in (which is actually farther into the book than normal). Highly recommend!
Just finished this.
I liked it but it felt kind of like there was something missing - it felt really short. The twist, or one of them at least, was obvious to me extremely early on. I liked the main character and many of the side characters. Overall I enjoyed this book quite a bit.
I liked it but it felt kind of like there was something missing - it felt really short. The twist, or one of them at least, was obvious to me extremely early on. I liked the main character and many of the side characters. Overall I enjoyed this book quite a bit.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I always enjoy Kerry Wilkinson’s books. Interesting characters and psychological thrillers that slowly build to an exciting end. In this one, Olivia Adams went missing over 13 years ago at the age of 6. Despite an extensive police search, no trace of her was ever found. As the book opens, we see her reappear in the café where her mother works. Her parents are convinced it’s her. Others aren’t as sure. This novel has an interesting structure as unlike many kidnapping novels, it takes place entirely in the future timeline, rather than any of the action taking place when the actual kidnapping occurred, so we’re really seeing the effects thirteen years and the devastation of Olivia’s disappearance have caused on her family and the town as a whole. We also have the POV of Lily, who lost her mother at a young age and lives with her father. The question is… how do these two stories intersect? Some plot points I guessed early on, but there were still plenty of surprises! I liked the way that as the narrative slowly unfolded, the characters developed in surprising ways.
Trigger warnings:
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
Trigger warnings:
Spoiler
sexual abusePlease excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.