Chris Whitaker
Historical Mystery Thriller
From the New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End comes a soaring thriller and an epic love story that spans decades.
1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending. Mohammed Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the small town of Monta Clare, Missouri, girls are disappearing.
When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, the most unlikely hero emerges—Patch, a local boy with one eye, who saves the girl, and, in doing so, leaves heartache in his wake.
Patch and those who love him soon discover that the line between triumph and tragedy has never been finer. And that their search for answers will lead them to truths that could mean losing one another.
A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, a unique twist on each, Chris Whitaker has written a novel about what lurks in the shadows of obsession, and the blinding light of hope.
-Excerpt taken from Goodreads.
Check Goodreads to see the book’s ratings.
My Opinion
“Time changes our ability to view the things that hurt us, but not the pain.”
(4 / 5) When the daughter of a wealthy family is being kidnapped, Patch, a young local boy with only one eye sees it happening and intervenes. This one act made a huge impression on each of their lives and many others too.
We follow Patch and his best friend Saint throughout the years and see the extreme toll the event took on so many people. There is little I can say that will not ruin parts of the story but this book left an impression on me. It felt more literary than thriller and while overly long at times, I needed to keep reading to hear the end of their story and get closure on their life events. It took me through the gamut of emotions multiple times. It was full of tragedy, friendship and what endures throughout the years. I recommend this to those who love thought-provoking thrillers interlaced with tragedy.
AUDIO REVIEW: Edoardo Ballerini was a great narrator for each voice. He needed a range of children to elderly adult voices and he handled it beautifully. He kept the mystery strong when needed but also held respect for the difficult parts of the story.
General content summary: F words= 20+
C***= 9
Language
Drowning (previous, no details)
Physical violence (stabbing, rock thrown, gun shots, brick hitting head, fight leads to internal bleeding, fist fight, choking, )
Spousal abuse (multiple kicks and punches, broken bones)
Many missing girls and the details of their cases
Multiple bones found
Young woman found (CPR)
Attempted rape and or kidnapping (young girl screams at a man and has torn clothes)
Child kidnapping (search, 2x)
Children playing with gun
Intimacy (m/f kids kiss, m/f teens kiss, references to intimacy or genitals, closed door scene with few details)
Tornadoes (many, deaths)
Alcohol (multiple, self medicating, some underage)
Captivity (multiple)
House fire (corpses found)
Young women corpses found in ground
Playboy (young boy has one)
Secret room found with blood all over trial and conviction
Corpse found parental death, few details
Gun threat and theft
Missing girl and prostitution
Misogyny
Pregnancy and abortion (multiple)
Pregnancy and child
Storm kills many
Cancer and the drawn out sickness (few details, child
Child sexual abuse and pregnancy (previous)
Stroke (few details)
Child custody discussion and placement
Suicide (previous with rope, gun)
Funeral of family member
M/M relationship
Killing (gun, very few details)
***SPOILERS***
Child searching out a pedophile and being stuck in his house
Kidnapped children kept together and what they went through together
Vague references to rape (girl taken by a man many times then returned)
Psychological trauma from the kidnapping
**Any quotes have been taken from the advance readers copy and may or may not be in the final, published copy.
Thank you to PRH Audio for the complimentary copy!
**As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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