Before She Was Found by Heather Gudenkauf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Heather Gudenkauf is one of the most reliably excellent authors I’ve ever read, so I was delighted to read an early copy of Before She Was Found. The story is about three pre-teen girls who sneak out to the train tracks during a sleepover. One of them ends up almost dead.
Told through numerous journal entries, text messages and therapists notes, as well as the parents and girls themselves, we unravel the story of what happened to Cora, the girl who ended up near death, as well as who tried to kill her. There was literally no point where I guessed the truth. I just didn’t know who was telling the truth and who was lying.
A cleverly crafted, beautifully told tale full of twists and turns, Before She Was Found explores friendship, betrayal, family, and how far parents will go to protect their children. It takes a very close look at the dangers of social media and how vulnerable adolescents are to their peers and social pressures. In fact, I found it highly relevant in the age of Slenderman.
I loved this book and highly recommend it to any fans of domestic suspense or thriller novels.
