Editorial Content for Good as Gone
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Reviewer (text)
Eight years ago, Julie Whitaker disappeared from her room in the middle of the night. The only witness to the event was her younger sister, Janie. The police searched far and wide, but no trace of her was ever found. Tom joined support groups, always holding out hope for his daughter’s safe return. His wife, Anna, had pretty much given up on the idea that she would ever see her little girl again.
Stunningly, though, Julie suddenly shows up on their doorstep, with no advance warning, and describes the things she has endured. She was kidnapped and raped by a man who sold her to several other men, who then turned around and sold her to a man in Mexico. She was held prisoner for eight years. When she was finally able to escape, she made her way home. But is any of this true?
"...a spell-binding tale of mystery, intrigue, trust and betrayal. The storyline twists and turns, much more than you would expect."
Anna should be happy that her daughter is back. She certainly is, but when she catches Julie in a couple of small lies and begins noticing inconsistencies between the "old" Julie and this one, can she just write them off as changes that have come about because of what Julie has been through? Or is something else at play here? Does Anna really know her daughter?
Debut author Amy Gentry spins a spell-binding tale of mystery, intrigue, trust and betrayal. The storyline twists and turns, much more than you would expect. The ending somewhat surprised me. I think I should have seen it coming, at least partially, as Gentry threw in enough clues. But as all good mystery writers do, she added a number of red herrings that were just enough to throw me off the trail.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading GOOD AS GONE. I found it hard to put down as I wanted to know immediately what would happen next. This is the type of book that I would expect from a seasoned author, not a debut novelist. I have a pretty good hunch that Gentry has a bright future ahead of her, if this impressive first novel is any indication.
Teaser
Thirteen-year-old Julie Whitaker was kidnapped from her bedroom in the middle of the night, witnessed only by her younger sister. Her family was shattered, but managed to stick together, hoping against hope that Julie is still alive. And then one night the doorbell rings. A young woman who appears to be Julie is finally, miraculously, home safe. The family is ecstatic --- but Anna, Julie’s mother, has whispers of doubts. She hates to face them but cannot avoid them. When she is contacted by a former detective turned private eye, she begins a torturous search for the truth about the woman she desperately hopes is her daughter.
Promo
Thirteen-year-old Julie Whitaker was kidnapped from her bedroom in the middle of the night, witnessed only by her younger sister. Her family was shattered, but managed to stick together, hoping against hope that Julie is still alive. And then one night the doorbell rings. A young woman who appears to be Julie is finally, miraculously, home safe. The family is ecstatic --- but Anna, Julie’s mother, has whispers of doubts. She hates to face them but cannot avoid them. When she is contacted by a former detective turned private eye, she begins a torturous search for the truth about the woman she desperately hopes is her daughter.
About the Book
Propulsive and suspenseful, GOOD AS GONE will appeal to fans of GONE GIRL and THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, and keep readers guessing until the final pages.
Thirteen-year-old Julie Whitaker was kidnapped from her bedroom in the middle of the night, witnessed only by her younger sister. Her family was shattered, but managed to stick together, hoping against hope that Julie is still alive. And then one night the doorbell rings. A young woman who appears to be Julie is finally, miraculously, home safe. The family is ecstatic --- but Anna, Julie’s mother, has whispers of doubts. She hates to face them. She cannot avoid them. When she is contacted by a former detective turned private eye, she begins a torturous search for the truth about the woman she desperately hopes is her daughter.
Audiobook available, read by Karen Peakes
