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appalonia's review
4.0
I bought this ebook because it sounded interesting and because it was discounted. It ended up exceeding my expectations. I love it when that happens.
Brenna Spector is a single mother working as a P.I. after her divorce. (By the way, I thought it was refreshing that the author didn't demonize the ex, which happens so much in books nowadays.) Brenna suffers from a rare disorder that gives her the ability (and curse) to recall every detail of her life. As a child, Brenna watched her older sister get into a strange blue car, never to be seen again. Not only did this event kick-start her disorder, but it continues to color many other aspects of her life.
Brenna is hired by the husband of a woman named Carol Wentz, who has disappeared. Brenna eventually uncovers the fact that Carol was doing some investigating of her own -- into the disappearance of a neighboring child years before.
The story has twists you don't see coming, and interesting backstory interspersed with the plot. What I really loved was Brenna's burgeoning friendship with police Detective Nick Morasco. Whether exploring Brenna's lingering feelings and regrets about her ex, or the guilt and fear of a possible new relationship, the author did a terrific job of making you feel what the characters did, while avoiding cliches.
I will definitely be reading Alison Gaylin's next book.
Brenna Spector is a single mother working as a P.I. after her divorce. (By the way, I thought it was refreshing that the author didn't demonize the ex, which happens so much in books nowadays.) Brenna suffers from a rare disorder that gives her the ability (and curse) to recall every detail of her life. As a child, Brenna watched her older sister get into a strange blue car, never to be seen again. Not only did this event kick-start her disorder, but it continues to color many other aspects of her life.
Brenna is hired by the husband of a woman named Carol Wentz, who has disappeared. Brenna eventually uncovers the fact that Carol was doing some investigating of her own -- into the disappearance of a neighboring child years before.
The story has twists you don't see coming, and interesting backstory interspersed with the plot. What I really loved was Brenna's burgeoning friendship with police Detective Nick Morasco. Whether exploring Brenna's lingering feelings and regrets about her ex, or the guilt and fear of a possible new relationship, the author did a terrific job of making you feel what the characters did, while avoiding cliches.
I will definitely be reading Alison Gaylin's next book.
audreykerr's review against another edition
4.0
A solid PI mystery.
Few too many ham-fisted pop culture references and comments that took me out of it a little bit but overall kept me wanting to keep reading and guessing. Hopefully my library will have the next two in the series at some point...
Few too many ham-fisted pop culture references and comments that took me out of it a little bit but overall kept me wanting to keep reading and guessing. Hopefully my library will have the next two in the series at some point...
thestarman's review
3.0
VERDICT: 3 stars. (Book 1 of 3 in a series).
Mostly slow pace until the last 1/4. I guessed the whereabouts of a missing person before the P.I. & cops did. Otherwise, a perfectly adequate crime novel.
BONUS: Protagonist has an unusual gift/curse.
Would I read another book by Alison Gaylin? Yes.
Mostly slow pace until the last 1/4. I guessed the whereabouts of a missing person before the P.I. & cops did. Otherwise, a perfectly adequate crime novel.
BONUS: Protagonist has an unusual gift/curse.
Would I read another book by Alison Gaylin? Yes.
readinggrrl's review
3.0
This book reminded me of the show "Unforgettable" in fact I was wondering if the TV show was based on this book but it wasn't, it was based on another book very similar to this one.
This was a good quick read. The characters were interesting and believable, the dialogue kept me interested but the drifting off into different time lines did get a bit clunky at times. The play between Brenna and her assistant was fun and a nice break from the dreary topic of a missing child, missing woman and a stalker man who doesn't seem like he has any good intentions toward anyone.
There are a lot of different twists and turns to this story and when you think you may have it figured out it goes in an other direction. Very entertaining.
This was a good quick read. The characters were interesting and believable, the dialogue kept me interested but the drifting off into different time lines did get a bit clunky at times. The play between Brenna and her assistant was fun and a nice break from the dreary topic of a missing child, missing woman and a stalker man who doesn't seem like he has any good intentions toward anyone.
There are a lot of different twists and turns to this story and when you think you may have it figured out it goes in an other direction. Very entertaining.
cathy1665's review
2.0
Ugh. Needed editing for time lines. Obscure car central to the story. (I know Subaru and this wasn't a mainstream US model) Esplanade SUV? Shoulder patches on a tweed jacket? Story was ok.
ncrabb's review
3.0
This is book one in the Brenna Spector trilogy. She is a fictional private investigator whose life changed dramatically when, as a child, she watched her older sister get into a blue car with a dented bumper and a male driver never to be seen again. From that day forward, she developed perfect recall. That’s either a blessing or a curse depending on how you look at things.
Around the same time her sister disappeared, a three-year [old girl in the neighborhood disappeared, too. Both became cold cases. But Carol Wence knows something about what happened to the three-year-old. It’s been several years since the child went missing, and Carol disappears. Everyone assumes she has left her husband; he insists not so. Then they assume the husband killed Carol; again, he says he didn’t do it.
Brenna Spector is an interesting character. She is troubled in some ways, and she has joint custody of a teenage daughter.
They find Carol’s body in the trunk of her car in her garage. Before long, others will die because there is one secret that must be kept above all others. Brenna Spector’s life is endangered not just once, but twice.
This wasn’t the most dazzling mystery I’ve read all year, but I’ll read the second book in the trilogy in a few months.
Around the same time her sister disappeared, a three-year [old girl in the neighborhood disappeared, too. Both became cold cases. But Carol Wence knows something about what happened to the three-year-old. It’s been several years since the child went missing, and Carol disappears. Everyone assumes she has left her husband; he insists not so. Then they assume the husband killed Carol; again, he says he didn’t do it.
Brenna Spector is an interesting character. She is troubled in some ways, and she has joint custody of a teenage daughter.
They find Carol’s body in the trunk of her car in her garage. Before long, others will die because there is one secret that must be kept above all others. Brenna Spector’s life is endangered not just once, but twice.
This wasn’t the most dazzling mystery I’ve read all year, but I’ll read the second book in the trilogy in a few months.
melissacharitos's review against another edition
3.0
3,5 ster. Het verhaal is prima, maar niet bijzonder. Ik snap het “psychologische thriller” aspect ook niet helemaal. Het verhaal wordt rustig opgebouwd en het einde voelt niet afgeraffeld aan. Brenna is een leuk en menselijk personage met een interessante skill (die af en toe best irritant is, want sommige flashbacks zijn pure pagina opvulling) en haar assistent is grappig gevonden. Toch is er iets wat mij tegenstaat aan dit boek, waar ik mijn vinger niet op kan leggen. Het is denk ik het feit dat ik niet ben weggeblazen.
SPOILER!
Wat ik erg jammer vind en zeker meeweegt in de score, is dat er geen antwoorden komen op de vragen wat er met Cleo gebeurd is en of er inderdaad een verband is tussen de blauwe auto’s. Het zou kunnen dat het in één van de andere Spector boeken beschreven wordt, maar daar heb ik nu weinig aan. Ik haat open eindes.
SPOILER!
Wat ik erg jammer vind en zeker meeweegt in de score, is dat er geen antwoorden komen op de vragen wat er met Cleo gebeurd is en of er inderdaad een verband is tussen de blauwe auto’s. Het zou kunnen dat het in één van de andere Spector boeken beschreven wordt, maar daar heb ik nu weinig aan. Ik haat open eindes.
amandaolive93's review
5.0
I really like these types of books . They get you hooked and you don't want to put them down !