I use this blog usually to recommend books for middle school and young adult aged people because there are so many kids that don't know what to read and parents don't know what to recommend. However, this adult book was so good that I just had to share.
If you are into mystery and suspense, then this book is for you. It was one that I just picked at random to listen to (as an audio book) and I was thrilled! I couldn't stop listening.
It starts with Cara Burrows running away from her family for a little break. She is happily married with two young teenage children and she's found out she's pregnant again. The rest of her family is not too happy with this new development, and, feeling upset and confused, she heads to Arizona to a 5-star spa to figure out her own feelings. She arrives late her first night and checks into an already-occupied room. A man and 14 year old girl wake up and find Cara. Cara excuses herself after trying to explain why she ended up in their room. When she gets down to reception, the receptionist is so upset, she upgrades Cara to her own casita. Cara just wants to sleep so she accepts and tries to forget what happened.
The next day, Cara hears an old woman explaining to the receptionist that she saw Melody. Cara, having no idea why this is weird, tries to dismiss it, but something sticks. When she looks up information about Melody, she finds that Melody was a 7 year old girl who was killed by her parents 7 years ago. However, a body was never found even though everyone believes she's dead. When Cara sees a picture of the 7 year old Melody, she realizes it looks just like the girl she saw in the hotel room. There are other, non-disputable things that connect Melody with the girl in the hotel room. Could it really be her? Could her parents be in prison for life for a murder that never happened? Or is it all a ruse? A fake? A look-alike?
Cara teams up with other guests from the resort to investigate more, and she gathers more information about the long ago case. When Cara gets kidnapped, she knows she getting too close to something. The other guests get the police the involved, basically reopening the case of Melody and trying to find Cara. Cara escapes after a few days and the case if figured out after some good detective work. Many people were involved in a few deceptions, sending the story into different paths of thought. But just when you think you know everything, a major plot twist shakes everything up that left me with my jaw on the floor for a while afterwards. I also couldn't get it out of my head so I ended up thinking about it for a long time after I finished listening.
I know the summary may not make this book as exciting as I want it to be, but it is really good. I don't want to give too much away because I want you also to be surprised. The surprises are great!
Some of the characters in this book are fun and engaging. Cara, the main protagonist, is complex but not always constant. Sometimes she's weak and cautious about her words, but at other times, she comes right out and says her mind even though she usually doesn't like to. I guess characters can change, but sometimes it was too much change. The action was just enough to keep you wanting to know more, the suspense dragging you along until you just want to know the answer! There is some language in the book, some F-bombs and "God-damns" but it wasn't overwhelming. You need to be good at keeping track of a bunch of characters because there are quite a few, and most of them are necessary. Some a not really needed.
Overall, this was an exciting book, and the ending was phenomenal! I still am slightly in shock at the way it ended. It leaves me wondering two different ideas of what the author might mean by it, but isn't that what a good book should do? Stay with you? Leave you with something to think about?
I would recommend this book for adults who like mystery, suspense, and thrills. It wasn't scary suspenseful, but kept you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out what happens next. I highly recommend it!
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