Before She Was Found by Heather Gudenkauf
This novel, published in 2019 by Park Row, shines as both a psychological thriller and mystery! The mystery ‘event’ is based on a true crime case (Slender Man) and includes three twelve-year-old girls, Cora, Violet, and Jordyn. As the book progresses, the reader learns more about the girls, their relationships with each other, and the school assignment that brings them together: an assignment which leads the girls to an obsession over an old murder case with an urban legend surrounding it. The author, who is an educator, absolutely nails the portrayal of each of the girls and their developing relationships and interactions. She presents each in a way that inspires and then builds the reader’s empathy.
The narrative is a combination of excerpts from Cora’s journal entries; psychiatrist Dr. Madeline Gideon’s case notes; transcribed police interviews; the first-person voice of Violet’s mom; a third person voice describing the thoughts and actions of Thomas Petit, grandad of Jordyn; and (remember these are teenagers) text messages. The author does an extraordinary job of weaving these pieces together so that the reader is never bored and has no idea whose version of events to trust. In parts puzzling, creepy, heart-breaking, and thought-provoking, this is a binge-worthy read for sure!
If you have not yet read a novel by Heather Gudenkauf, try Before She Was Found. If you love it as much as I did, she has written plenty more thriller/mysteries from which to choose. The Overnight Guest (2022) and Little Mercies (2012) are her highest rated novels on Goodreads while The Weight of Silence (2008) earned a Barry Award Nomination for Best Paperback Original (2010), an Edgar Award Nomination for Best First Novel by an American Author (2010), and a Goodreads Choice Award Nomination for Fiction (2009). If you would like to listen to one of the author’s offerings, they are available in audiobook format; if you would like to read one for your book club, discussion questions may be found on the author’s website.
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