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itsamylynne's review against another edition
Was overwhelmed with school and struggling to enjoy reading for pleasure. Would love to pick it back up
nhelregel's review against another edition
4.0
A very heartfelt exploration of what happens when someone goes missing: the holes they leave, the sickening worry, the endless searching.
Interestingly told through multiple points of view: the victim, her family, the searcher, the criminal, the accomplice. A well written Southern novel about hope, fear, and waiting.
Interestingly told through multiple points of view: the victim, her family, the searcher, the criminal, the accomplice. A well written Southern novel about hope, fear, and waiting.
marie_gg's review against another edition
4.0
http://mariesbookgarden.blogspot.com/2011/12/you-believers-inspired-by-true-story.html
I didn't realize that You Believers was based on true characters until after I'd finished the book. It's about people who are lost and people who seek: damaged souls who take revenge on other people for their own hurt...grieving ones who lose their loved ones...and generous, dedicated people who dedicate their lives to finding the lost ones.
Shelby Waters is a professional seeker--she runs a volunteer organization that finds people who are lost. Livy's daughter Katy Conner gets nabbed in a parking lot by two young punks who met in juvenile hall. Jessie is a psychopath, and he's recruited his less intelligent friend, Mike, to help him. Jane Bradley has an uncanny ability to give us a glimpse into the psychopath's twisted mind, and even give us a tiny bit of sympathy for him (that's until we realize what he's done).
The characters all have their flaws and are battling their own demons, including Katy, who was drawn to the bad boys and the wild side of life.
Warning: this book contains a disturbing rape scene, although it's handled in a way to show the strength of the victim.
After I finished reading this moving story of loss and redemption set in the south, I looked up Jane Bradley online and was fascinated to discover that she was compelled to write this book after she met the people who inspired the characters of Livy (the mom) and Shelby (the seeker). Livy was reeling after the abduction of Peggy Carr, who was abducted in broad daylight from a shopping mall parking lot in Wilmington, North Carolina. Monica Caison, a volunteer seeker, found Carr's body 7 months after she went missing.
Bradley was compelled to write Peggy Carr's story (and that of her mother and seeker), and her novel is a beautiful memorial in honor of all three of those women.
I didn't realize that You Believers was based on true characters until after I'd finished the book. It's about people who are lost and people who seek: damaged souls who take revenge on other people for their own hurt...grieving ones who lose their loved ones...and generous, dedicated people who dedicate their lives to finding the lost ones.
Shelby Waters is a professional seeker--she runs a volunteer organization that finds people who are lost. Livy's daughter Katy Conner gets nabbed in a parking lot by two young punks who met in juvenile hall. Jessie is a psychopath, and he's recruited his less intelligent friend, Mike, to help him. Jane Bradley has an uncanny ability to give us a glimpse into the psychopath's twisted mind, and even give us a tiny bit of sympathy for him (that's until we realize what he's done).
The characters all have their flaws and are battling their own demons, including Katy, who was drawn to the bad boys and the wild side of life.
Warning: this book contains a disturbing rape scene, although it's handled in a way to show the strength of the victim.
After I finished reading this moving story of loss and redemption set in the south, I looked up Jane Bradley online and was fascinated to discover that she was compelled to write this book after she met the people who inspired the characters of Livy (the mom) and Shelby (the seeker). Livy was reeling after the abduction of Peggy Carr, who was abducted in broad daylight from a shopping mall parking lot in Wilmington, North Carolina. Monica Caison, a volunteer seeker, found Carr's body 7 months after she went missing.
Bradley was compelled to write Peggy Carr's story (and that of her mother and seeker), and her novel is a beautiful memorial in honor of all three of those women.
adrienneambo's review against another edition
3.0
Local author visit for book club. Follows the storyline of two women who are tortured by young psychopath. Shelby Waters is a private investigator who profiles missing people and aids families in their searches. Well written, but a little all over the place with characters. Some of the group complained about the violence...I did agree with that complaint...realism may have haunted some readers.
taraber's review against another edition
3.0
Like this but just didn't love it. Would give it 3.5 if given the option.
whatsheread's review against another edition
You Believers is one of those novels that is seemingly simple until one goes to describe the plot to someone else. Only then does one realize just how layered and complex the story really is. In this case, what could be construed as a simple missing-persons thriller becomes a study of evil and loss, the need to help and the power of love. It is a psychological drama, a thriller, a murder mystery and family narrative all in one.
Told from different characters' points of view, the power of the novel lies in each character's unique perspective of the crimes at hand. Together, the reader gets a very real and very emotional image of just how pervasive the damage is for one missing person on that person's community, family and friends. The reader rushes from the heartbroken mother to the callously oblivious murderer, from the clueless accomplice to the emotionally raw volunteer and the roller coaster of emotions that ensue with each character.
You Believers is brutal in its honesty. The reader is under no false assumptions that there will be a fairy tale-like ending to this novel. However, along with the despair, Ms. Bradley weaves a very real sense of hope - hope that the perpetrator will be caught, that the family will find justice and peace, that maybe, just maybe, this will be one story that turns out well for everyone. It is as if Ms. Bradley is reminding the reader that in spite of all the heartache and tears, the sense of desolation and bleakness, one should never lose hope because when one does, the bad guys win. What an incredibly powerful message.
You Believers is another great offer from Unbridled Books. They are quickly becoming one of my favorite publishers because everything they offer is refreshingly different, thought-provoking and simply excellent. Ms. Bradley has created a novel that explores the dichotomy of human nature while ensuring that the good can overcome in the end. This duality expresses itself in every aspect of the novel, building one complex layer upon another to create a novel that is every bit as messy and emotional as real life. With this her first full-length novel, Ms. Bradley has proven that she has the ability to create an amazing story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Unbridled Books for my e-galley!
Told from different characters' points of view, the power of the novel lies in each character's unique perspective of the crimes at hand. Together, the reader gets a very real and very emotional image of just how pervasive the damage is for one missing person on that person's community, family and friends. The reader rushes from the heartbroken mother to the callously oblivious murderer, from the clueless accomplice to the emotionally raw volunteer and the roller coaster of emotions that ensue with each character.
You Believers is brutal in its honesty. The reader is under no false assumptions that there will be a fairy tale-like ending to this novel. However, along with the despair, Ms. Bradley weaves a very real sense of hope - hope that the perpetrator will be caught, that the family will find justice and peace, that maybe, just maybe, this will be one story that turns out well for everyone. It is as if Ms. Bradley is reminding the reader that in spite of all the heartache and tears, the sense of desolation and bleakness, one should never lose hope because when one does, the bad guys win. What an incredibly powerful message.
You Believers is another great offer from Unbridled Books. They are quickly becoming one of my favorite publishers because everything they offer is refreshingly different, thought-provoking and simply excellent. Ms. Bradley has created a novel that explores the dichotomy of human nature while ensuring that the good can overcome in the end. This duality expresses itself in every aspect of the novel, building one complex layer upon another to create a novel that is every bit as messy and emotional as real life. With this her first full-length novel, Ms. Bradley has proven that she has the ability to create an amazing story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Unbridled Books for my e-galley!
theangrylawngnome's review
Somebody @ the L of C has a sense of humor. The second sort code on this train-wreck is actually "Self Actualization (Psychology) - Ficton." Good one, guys.
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