Sunday Synopsis

 

Lying Next to Me by Gregg Olsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this novel. I had read Olsen's true crime book, If You Tell, several months ago and decided to give his fiction a try. Olsen is a great storyteller!

Set in Washington State, Adam and Sophie Warner decide to work on their marriage by taking a short holiday to Hood Canal over Memorial Day weekend. Adam and their 3 year old daughter Aubrey are on the water when Sophie is abducted by a stranger in broad daylight. All Adam can do is watch helplessly. Luckily, one of the responding detectives is an old friend of Adam's, his childhood best friend's little sister, detective Lee Husemann, someone he can trust. Also by luck, there was an eyewitness to the crime. An older gentleman beachcomber saw the whole thing.

An older woman is staying in the cabin next to the Warners along with her two grandchildren. They were in their cabin when it happened. The other cottage was rented by Connor and Kristen Moss who arrived very late the evening before the abduction and were still sleeping when it took place. Will Lee be able to put all the pieces together and find the killer? It might not be who you think it is.

The tone of this book reminded me of Gone Girl. Each chapter is written from a different character's point of view, and your opinion of each character will change based on what the others say about him or her. Sometimes there will be two chapters in a row by the same character, but you won't know which character to believe. Olsen masterfully builds each character's personality through introspection, conversation, thoughts, and actions. He keeps the plot moving forward by revealing new information bit by bit which builds so much suspense that when you get near the end, you can't put it down.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when authors don't write a resolution, and Olsen did not commit that offense. I liked this story from the first page, and I can't always say that about books!

View all my reviews