My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Many Thanks to Net Galley and Quercus Books for a chance to review this book,
Gone Girl meets Room is the description given for this book and suffice to say, I was a little apprehensive going into it. I haven’t read Room; the subject matter is a bit difficult for me and probably am one among the few people who is not a huge fan of Gone Girl, I just liked it OK. And starting to read, it felt like all my fears were confirmed, a particular scene making me cringe and shudder that I had to stop reading and take a break. But then the story moves at just breakneck speed that the reader is left gaping and thunderstruck. I mean, what the??
Lena Beck has been missing for 4825 days, over 13 yrs. but Mathias Beck has counted and cursed each day and grieved for his daughter. Even when persuading themselves that there is no hope left, Karin and Mathias have hope. So, when informed about a woman named Lena admitted to the hospital following an accident, they both rush down to bring their lost daughter home. Lena has had an accident, a hit and run, the only witness her daughter Hannah, who sounds odd but intelligent and even though her appearance is of an 8-year-old girl, she’s 13. Nothing seems to be as it is, as the cops and Mathias finds out to their horror, Lena is not the missing Lena? Consequently, what is the truth and who is lying and even when the truth is out, can it be believed? The monster who abducted Lena is dead then who is sending threatening letters to Lena?
Romy Hausmann has done an extraordinary job in this thriller, keeping the readers biting their nails as Lena, Hannah and Mathias all try to muddle thru the maze and make sense of the bewildering puzzle. The opening chapter itself about likening the abductor to God, sends chills down the reader’s spine. And except for some scenes in the shack that had me keeping the book down and walking around (well, not the book’s fault obviously) I loved every part of this riveting and chilling thriller. Lena’s escape and her trauma affected me badly and then when it came to the kids Hannah and Jonathan, I really have no words. Hannah’s thought process and her practical reasoning of things are very painful to read but it was the epilogue chapter that had me cheering to the hilt and helped me close the book with a smile. Freaking Awesome!
Blurb
Gone Girl meets Room in this page-turning thriller from one of Germany’s hottest new talents
A windowless shack in the woods. Lena’s life and that of her two children follows the rules set by their captor, the father: Meals, bathroom visits, study time are strictly scheduled and meticulously observed. He protects his family from the dangers lurking in the outside world and makes sure that his children will always have a mother to look after them.
One day Lena manages to flee – but the nightmare continues. It seems as if her tormentor wants to get back what belongs to him. And then there is the question whether she really is the woman called ‘Lena’, who disappeared without a trace 14 years ago. The police and Lena’s family are all desperately trying to piece together a puzzle which doesn’t quite seem to fit.