She's Gone - Softcover

Bell, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1728254205 ISBN 13: 9781728254203

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire, 2022

Synopsis

A new page-turning thriller from USA Today bestselling author David Bell.

When a girl disappears, who do you suspect?

When 17-year-old Hunter Gifford wakes in the hospital on the night of homecoming, he's shocked to learn he and his girlfriend, Chloe Summers, have been in a terrible car accident. Hunter has no memory of the crash, and his shock turns to horror when he is told Chloe's blood has been found in the car―but she has disappeared.

Back at school, his fellow students taunt him, and his former best friend starts making a true-crime documentary about the case―one that points the finger directly at Hunter. And just when things can't get any worse, Chloe's mother stands in front of the entire town at a candlelight vigil and accuses Hunter of murder.

Under mounting pressure from the police, Hunter takes matters into his own hands by questioning anyone who might know the truth and posting videos to prove his innocence. When Hunter learns he and Chloe were seen arguing loudly outside the dance, he faces a sickening possibility. Was he angry enough to kill the person he loved?

Praise for David Bell:

"David Bell is a top-notch storyteller and Layover is his best book yet. I flew through this twisty, riveting psychological thriller at breakneck speed, hooked from the first page right up through the book's breathless conclusion."―Cristina Alger, New York Times bestselling author of Girls Like Us

"With hints of Patricia Highsmith's THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, this is a riveting thriller." ―Palm Beach Daily News

"Readers will find themselves thoroughly immersed in this riveting thriller…both compelling and surprising."―Booklist

"Bell is a brilliant craftsman as well as storyteller."―The Providence Journal

About this title

About the Author

David Bell is a USA Today bestselling author, Edgar Award nominee, and award-winning writer whose work has been translated into multiple foreign languages. He’s currently a Professor of English at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky where he lives with his wife, YA author M Hendrix. This is his Young Adult debut.

Reviews

Gr 9 Up-Despite his best efforts, Hunter cannot remember the events of Homecoming night-how he ended up in the hospital, why he and Chloe left the dance early, or even where she is now. Missing memories don't change an essential truth, though: Chloe is gone, and no one knows what happened to her. As the last person to see her, all eyes are on Hunter and fingers are quick to point. It's always the boyfriend, right? As Hunter sets out to restore his memories of what happened, readers get to know him better and find a likable enough lead in a well-meaning, vanilla sort of way. Other characters check off the other obligatory boxes: protective best friend, quirky sister, socially distant father. Despite several bland characters, the book is a page-turner with short chapters and a simple writing style, propelling readers on at a rapid clip. Large swaths of the central mystery are predictable by anyone familiar with the genre, but layers to the plot twists still provide surprises. There is diversity in terms of race and sexual orientation among the cast, though some awkward dialogue is given to the characters of color. VERDICT A solid if not spectacular mystery, this is a worthwhile read for students in need of their next plot-twist fix, but also one that will fade from memory almost as soon as it is over.-Nate Hippleα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1728254205
• ISBN 13: 9781728254203
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384