I almost didn’t read this book because it seemed like it was one of those “young girl gets kidnapped” books which I find too gut wrenching and impossible to read. But this has a very different twist to that genre and I am so glad I read it!

Laurel Mack is slowly getting her life back together. It has been ten years since her daughter disappeared. Ellie was 15 years old, looking forward to summer vacation after her exams were over. And then she was gone!

The police investigation hit a dead end quite quickly and Laurel’s marriage ended a few years after the disappearance. She tried to keep putting one foot in front of the other, raised her two other children and went to work, but things were never quite the same.

Now her children are grown and have left the nest, but she still wonders about Ellie. Her periodic inquiries to the police rarely produce any new information, making her feel stuck.  So no one is more surprised than Laurel when she meets a man in a cafe named Floyd and they seemingly hit it off.  Their relationship quickly develops into something deeper and soon she is meeting his daughters. They are both lovely girls, but Poppy, the younger one, takes Laurel’s breath away, because she reminds her so much of Ellie. Soon Laurel is full of questions. Why does Poppy remind her so much of Ellie? Did Ellie really run away like the police say or did something more sinister happen to her? Who is Floyd and why did he enter her life at this moment? With unanswered questions swirling, Laurel must carefully navigate a path forward to find out the truth about her daughter.

Jewell is a gifted writer who carefully constructs a complicated plot with many unexpected twists and turns. Her characters are quite interesting with complex motivations. Laurel’s efforts to find the truth about her daughter will resonate with all mother’s as she approaches it with the tenacity of a mother bear, while trying to keep her emotions and her expectations in check. This was an extremely satisfying and wonderful book!

Brenda’s Rating: **** (4 out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Marian, Sharon, and Keith

Book Study Worthy! Yes

Read in e-library format.