Mystery/Thriller
2013 William Morrow
Finished on September 18, 2021
Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)
Publisher's Blurb:
The summer of 1985 changed Reggie's life. Thirteen, awkward, and without a father, she finds herself mixed up with her school's outcasts-Charlie, the local detective's son, and Tara, a goth kid who has a mental hold over Reggie and harbors a dark secret. That same summer a serial killer called Neptune begins kidnapping women. He leaves their severed hands on the police department steps and, five days later, displays their bodies around town. Just when Reggie needs her mother Vera--an ex-model with many "boyfriends" and a thirst for gin--the most, Vera's hand is found on the steps. But after five days, there's no body and Neptune disappears.
Now a successful architect who left her hometown behind after that horrific summer, Reggie doesn't trust anyone and lives with few attachments. But when she gets a call from a homeless shelter saying that her mother has been found alive, Reggie must confront the ghosts of her past and find Neptune before he kills again.
With her signature style, Jennifer McMahon portrays the dark side of adolescent friendship and introduces characters who haunt the imagination, along with a disturbing web of secrets, betrayals, and murder.
The One I Left Behind turned out to be a great read for this year's R.I.P. challenge, but I wasn't sure about it when I first started reading the book. I didn't like any of the characters that were introduced in the opening chapters and the alternating timeline jolted me out of the story until I got further along and could anticipate each switch. And then there's Tara. Her manipulative hold over Reggie reminded me of the mean girls in junior high school. Ugh.
I almost abandoned the book, but decided to read a few more chapters. I'm glad I did, as it didn't take long to get engrossed in the mystery. I wound up reading late into the night, following each new lead, trying to figure out Neptune's true identity. There are several red herrings and with each new chapter, I changed my mind, sure that this time I knew who was responsible for the murders. The final chapters are so suspenseful and at one point, I found that I was holding my breath; I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!
I have to confess that I've owned an advance reader's copy of this book for close to a decade. I'm sure the publisher and author aren't exactly happy that they sent a reader an ARC only to have it languish on a shelf for so many years, but maybe my late-to-the-party review will create new interest in the book and the author's backlist. I know I can't wait to dive into some more of McMahon's suspense novels. Any recommendations?
I haven't read her books ... but that book cover is quite eerie. Looks pretty perfect for RIP. Enjoy your week. We will be away this week in the mountains ... so chat later.
ReplyDeleteSusan, this a very good thriller, but it's a little gritty. I'm not sure the cover fits the story, but it is eerie, isn't it? We're away this week, too. Have a great time in the mountains!
DeleteI'm glad you persisted with this one and it worked out well. I was just saying a slow start can be a good or bad thing. Sometimes it's just filler with meaningless ramblings but other times I find it welcomed as a way to develop the setting and characters.
ReplyDeleteDiane, some of my all-time favorite books took between 80-100 pages before I became fully invested. I'm glad I stuck with this one. It was quite good!
DeleteI hadn't heard of this one, but The Winter People has been on my list of possible reads for years. Glad you stuck with this... good RIP reading!
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, I'm going to try The Winter People next. I really like her writing.
DeleteI've really liked the two Jennifer McMahon books I've read. Or maybe it's three. Can't quite remember. I did like The Winter People and The Night Sister and I'm trying to think if I read Promise Not To Tell. Anyway, she's from Nan's part of the world - well, Vermont and not NH, but still. All her books are a bit spooky and perfect for RIP reading. I'll keep this one in mind. I may even have a copy. Ha!
ReplyDeleteKay, this was a good one for the RIP challenge. I'm eager to read The Winter People, which seems to be quite popular with other readers. I'll probably work my way through all of her books.
DeleteSo glad you stuck with this book!
ReplyDeleteI am too, Deb. Some books you just know are worth soldiering on. This was one of those.
DeleteI love when I keep thinking I know the identity of the "bad guy," but keep being wrong; it is the mark of a good thriller!
ReplyDeleteHelen, I love trying to beat the characters to the denouement. This was definitely a good thriller!
DeleteI've only read The Winter People by McMahnon and it's a nice suspense without being too much horror. Scary I guess I ought to say. I like her work but havn't gotten back to her. Seems my book piles and to-read lists is still growing!
ReplyDeleteTina, I'm planning to get a copy of The Winter People to read later this year.
DeleteI have so many authors that I have enjoyed reading, but haven't gone back to read more from their backlists. I should focus on that in January & February. I feel another list coming on!
OMG, I think I have an ARC of this one too which I haven't read yet! Yep, I'm that bad at reviewing ARCs yet I still request them. I always have great intentions so there is that. Haha... I've read a couple of her books and highly recommend them. The Winter People is excellent and The Invited was very good too. Both of those would be perfect R.I.P. reads.
ReplyDeleteOoh, you need to read it, Iliana! Isn't it a good thing that the publishers don't require us to read and review the books on a specific schedule? I suppose if you sign up for a book tour, you need to stick to that timeframe, but so many of the ARCs I've received in recent years have been giveaways on Goodreads. I like not feeling pressured to read them right away. I'll get to The Winter People and The Invited later this year. Thanks for the recommendations.
DeleteVicki, hope you get a chance to read it. I'm looking forward to reading more by the author.
ReplyDeleteGuess I'd better sign up for the RIP Challenge since I have The Picture of Dorian Gray all cued up. I wanted to give you a link to my review for Hamnet, since you will be reading it soon for your book club. I love the book dearly. Hope you do, too. Hamnet review
ReplyDeleteAnne, I think I've read The Picture of Dorian Gray, but don't remember much about it. Thanks for the link to your review. I'm about halfway through Louise Penny's latest mystery and will start Hamnet later in the week. I've enjoyed catching up on your posts--found my way to your blog via JoAnn (Gulfside Musings).
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