{ Still Missing by Chevy Stevens }

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

2010 by St. Martin's Press - New York

Mystery/Thriller

Source - Library

from GoodReads:

On the day she was abducted, Annie O'Sullivan, a thirty-two-year-old Realtor, had three goals: Sell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for dinner with her ever patient boyfriend. The open house is slow, but when her last visitor pulls up in a van as she's about to leave, Annie thinks it just might be her lucky day after all.

Inter woven with the story of the year Annie spent captive in a remote mountain cabin - which unfolds through sessions with er psychiatrist - is a second narrative recounting the nightmare that follows her escape: her struggle to piece her shattered life back together, the ongoing police investigation into the identity of her captor, and the disturbing sense that things are far from over.

The truth doesn't always set you free.

Still Missing is that rare debut find - a shocking, visceral, brutal and beautifully crafted debut novel.

Review:

I find it hard to say that this was an awesome book, due the subject matter. But...it was an amazing book! This is one terrifying, intense, horrifying, heartbreaking story...to say the least. The story is told in the second narrative, by Annie, through sessions with her shrink. I was not too sure how I was going to like the writing style, but once I was into the second chapter, I really found that I liked it. Annie is a great character. She is completely believable. You start to question yourself while reading Annie's story though. Could I handle this? Would I do that? Which would be better? Being killed by the Freak, Annie's name for her captor, or being held captive and having to endure the Freak? Annie is an extremely strong willed woman. But there is only so much a person can take. Right? After everything she goes through, you wonder how she is not even more screwed up than she is!

The Freak? I don't know how much research Chevy Stevens, the author, did for this book, but she nailed it. He is the model psychopath. Terrifying one minute, gentle and caring the next. Well, maybe not totally. You can see some tiny rays of humanity in him at times...very few, but a few. The setting was perfectly terrifying as well. Almost another character on it's own. I will never look at a cabin in the woods the same again.

I 100% recommend this book. But, be forewarned. You are in for a terrifying, horrifying, brutal, edge of your seat, heart pounding read. I was brought to tears many times and there are some shocking plot twists that will leave you speachless. If you are a female realtor? You might want to skip this one!

Chevy Stevens? This is your first novel? You should truly be proud of this one! I look forward to the next one and the next one and the next one.

Rating: 5 stars!