CEMETERY GIRL by David Bell

New American Library
December 18^th, 2012
978-0-451-23467-4
Mystery/Thriller
Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Library
3.5 Hearts


What would you do if your child just went out the door and never came back again? That is the reality Tom & Abby Stuart faced when their twelve year old daughter, Caitlin, took their family dog for a walk and then never came back. Fruitless search after search, the tragedy finally changing their marriage and their lives, leaving guilt and dread in its wake. But now four years later, Caitlin is back and she won’t tell anyone where she was, who she was with or what happened to her. Her eerie calmness leaves many unsettled and eager for answers. Tom Stuart is determined to find out what really happened during those four years to his daughter and he will find that by opening that door he is about to face his own past as well. What happens when a family is changed by tragedy and finds itself at a crossroads: let the past lay buried or discover the truth even if it means the truth will shatter your heart?

I got to admit I picked this up at my local library after reading a short review on it in a magazine and it sounded intriguing. CEMETERY GIRL is more than a mystery but also about one man’s journey into deciding if knowing the truth is more important than justice for his daughter. Mr. Bell delivers an engrossing, edge of your seat story that is just compelling. I just could not put this book down even to sleep. I had to force myself to put it down and not pick it up until the next day, it was that good. The many twists and turns left me reeling and the emotional aspect of the story comes across so lyrical, you can’t help but feel for the Stuart’s as they try to make their way through Caitlin’s reappearance, her refusal to tell them anything, the continuing investigation and more. What emerges is a picture that will at times horrify you and make you want to join Tom in his fight for that very truth.

CEMETERY GIRL is told from the father’s point of view and you get a sense of his roller coaster of emotions. From overwhelming loss to hope to fear and ore, the reader is transfixed as Tom searches for answers and tries to figure out if the truth is more important than his daughter’s well being. What really got to me was how this author was able to show how the disappearance of their daughter changed everyone in the Stuart family. The emotional aspect is quite a one-two punch in the gut especially as Tom and Abby try to figure out how to deal with Caitlin’s reappearance and the mystery surrounding her return. This is a fast paced storyline that leaves you breathless. I can honestly say I was checking on my kids at night to make sure they were still there in bed.

There were two things that I had some issues with in CEMETERY GIRL.  I didn’t care for Abby who made me want to smack upside the head. She just wasn’t quite a likeable character for me to enjoy. When her scenes came in the book, I just skimmed them and moved on. She did a lot of whining, crying and just made me want to scream ‘deal with it’ to her. Then there was the ending and the ‘big reveal’ which really was the whole thing the story was leading up to and it fell flat on its face. The ending had me scratching my head going ‘huh?’ The author did a remarkable job in keeping the reader glued to the pages, waiting for the answers of Caitlin’s last four years but when the time came, he glossed over it, and moved on. To me that was a huge let down since I was eager to see what happened. I do give the author props in creating an engrossing story that is every parent’s worst nightmare and delivering a fast paced thriller/mystery to enjoy. I just wished he made his characters a little more likable and relatable, in my opinion.

If you are looking for an intriguing story that has a few twists and turns to keep you glued to the pages, then you might try CEMETERY GIRL. Just be warned that you will want to stay up past your bedtime to see what happens next.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

CEMETERY GIRL By David Bell

Publisher: New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Date published: October 4, 2011
ISBN 978-0-451-23467-4
Suspense
Paperback
Reviewed by Lynne
Obtained via publisher.


Tom Stuart and his wife, Abby, seem to have it all. A nice house, a great marriage, successful careers, and a beautiful twelve-year-old daughter, Caitlin. But their world crumbles when Caitlin suddenly disappears one day without a trace.

The pressure of not knowing what has happened to their only child inevitably forces the Stuarts’ marriage apart. Abby involves herself at church and moves out of the family home, leaving Tom alone to combat his private demons. Abby believes her husband needs counseling in order to deal with everything they are going through, but he refuses, preferring to do things his way.

Abby is soon persuaded by her pastor to put Caitlin to rest once and for all, so Abby does just that, holding a funeral service. But Tom refuses to believe Caitlin is dead and is adamant about remaining at their home, never giving up hope of his daughter’s return. He eventually turns to others who try and help him deal with the situation and who present clues that may help unlock the mysteries surrounding Caitlin’s disappearance.

When Caitlin suddenly reappears four years later, she is unusually calm and unwilling to discuss her abduction. The guilt Tom feels at the loss of his child, over things he thought he could have done differently to prevent her abduction, draws him deeper into a downward, psychological spiral. There are so many questions he needs answered, but his beloved child refuses to set him at peace.

When Tom slowly begins to uncover the truth about Caitlin, he soon learns that nothing can prepare him for the shocking discoveries heading his way.

CEMETERY GIRL by David Bell is one incredible read. I absolutely loved it. It is a real page turner that I found difficult to put down and so well written it gives me goosebumps. It is a unique psychological thriller that keeps the reader spellbound from start to finish.

This book is told from the father’s perspective and is intriguing as Tom Stuart tries to deal with his daughter’s disappearance the best way he knows how. Distraught, Tom goes through various stages of psychological breakdown as he ponders what he could have done differently to prevent her from being taken.

Although I knew Abby was suffering over her daughter’s abduction, I found myself always siding with Tom. Abby appeared to be secretly involved with Pastor Paul who was always with her, influencing her decisions and persuading her to do things she may not have done otherwise. She is a negative influence on Tom, who always remains hopeful that Caitlin will one day return home to them. Abby never seems to support her husband, preferring instead to listen to what Pastor Paul is always whispering in her ear. I didn’t care for her much or the insipid pastor and was glad that Tom and Abby were eventually going to get divorced.

Mr. Bell does an exceptional job in sharing how Caitlin slowly changes over the time it takes to finally open up to her father about certain aspects of her kidnapping. But right up until the end, I was always trying to figure out the psychological aspect of the brainwashing she had obviously endured because of her kidnapper. That a teenager could be so enamored of a man older than her father was an interesting aspect of CEMETERY GIRL.

The characterizations in this story were well thought out. Each was unique in his or her own way, and I found myself liking some and disliking others, as I am sure the reader is meant to do. I love this aspect of CEMETERY GIRL. I often found myself feeling frustrated or aggravated, even angry, over things Tom was going through or had to deal with. It seems everyone is more against him because of what he believes than against Abby, who I came to dislike a great deal.

The dialogue in CEMETERY GIRL is very believable. Mr. Bell has a definite knack for this. And the twists and turns of the dark plot in this story kept me anxious to see what would happen next. I don’t think I have read a book quite this fast in a long while, it was that good. Also, the pacing was perfect, enough to always keep me on the edge of my seat as I eagerly awaited the thrilling conclusion of CEMETERY GIRL.

If you are anxious to read an exceptional, well-written thriller, then CEMETERY GIRL is a must-read for anyone interested. It will quickly suck you in and keep a strangle-hold on you until the very end. David Bell is a wonderful author who should move to the rank of ultimate master very quickly. I truly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to more from Mr. Bell in future. He is definitely one to watch.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.