The Night She Went Missing - by Kristen Bird: Book Review

Title: The Night She Went Missing
Author: Kristen Bird
Pages: 352
Publisher: Mira Books
Publishing Date: February 8th 2022
Genre: Suspence
Themes: missing teenager, small town Texas
Format: Kindle
Rating: 3*

I chose to read this novel because I needed something dark-ish and a mystery. The build-up was at a steady pace, as one would expect from a mystery novel. Just when it seemed it'd start to drag, the story picked up and things intensified. The ending is not the shocking and jaw-dropping twist we're always promised with this kind of books. I don't think The Night She Went Missing is a memorable novel, one I'll never forget, but it is a good choice for when you want to break your usual choice of books, and enjoy a soft domestic drama novel.

The idea I can take away is that sometimes accidents happen, and one such accident can alter the course of a person's whole life. I liked the small town set-up on an island. The novel is told in third person, except for Emily's perspective, which she tells herself. Her disappearance ignites a series of events that lead to second-guessing and doubts among the residents of Galveston Island, Texas. Emily's character is not that well developed, despite she being the person who ignites the whole action of the novel. Better developed are the three adult women we get to know more about. Catherine, Morgan, Leslie are all part of the Galveston Islnd community and of the Preparatory school their children attend. They have secrets of their own they need to protect in order to keep the facade of a normal, successful life. I liked all three women, and their stories and their struggles didn't make them any less likable. However, the one person who made the whole novel seem like a weird TV series led by a matriarch with a patriarch's tendencies is Rosalyn, Catherine's mother-in-law.

There are a few elements which seem unbelievable throughout the novel, but not in a plausible, sure-this-could-happen way. The events of the second half are quite unlikely to happen, and it also picked up the pace, throwing a lot of details and revelations the reader's way; it felt a bit too much all of a sudden, and in a short time span. At the same time, they weren't shocking, just far-fetched. The ending offers closure, but I can see why some readers would be left unpleased with the author's choice. I personally don't like when a whole novel is based on a secondary character's mistake. 

 All in all, the build-up and the getting-to-know the characters was more enjoyable than the last quarter of the novel, which offered the resolution.

I received a free copy of the e-book of this novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

The Incredible Winston Browne - by Sean Dietrich: Book Review

Title: The Incredible Winston Browne
Author: Sean Dietrich. Sean of the South
Pages: 352
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publishing Date: 2nd March 2021
Genre: General Fiction, Small Town
Format: Kindle
Rating: 5*

I loved this book so much! It tells the story of Winston Browne's last months on earth before he moves to Ethernal Glory. It's the kind of southern tale that moves slowly like a lazy river, but the flow picks up when the rains come. 

Winston's a World War Two veteran, now the sheriff of Moab, Florida. He's been a Moabite his whole life, a well respected Methodist, beloved by his community, seen as a hero by the local children. He's best friends with Jimmy Abraham, who has been postponing marrying Eleanor Hughes for tens of years. They're all in their early 50s now. 

The approaching death due to his cancer makes Winston look at things differently. He's not affraid to become very good and close friends with Eleanor, who finally leaves behind the confining mentality of the small town and embraces some bold fashion choices. Eleanor and Winston's friendship makes Jimmy Abraham quite jealous, indeed.

These small town people's lives are changed when a ten year old girl, Jessie, makes her appearance in Moab. She's the child of one of the women from a strict religious organisation up in Pennsylvania. Jessie ends up living with Eleanor, all the while being searched by people from the organisation. The passages about these people's search for Jessie and for Ada, her mom, are suspenseful and made my heart beat faster. It was the right amount of additional plot to make the novel wholesome.

Buz Guildford's drunken grandfather drowned, leaving him and his polio striken mother to live a small, poor people's life. Buz's mamma works long hours, while Buz left school to work to earn money. Winston Browne takes Buz under his wing after an unfortunate night when Buz and his friend P.J. tried to steal gasoline from a Pensacola gas station to sell for cash. Winston sees a lot of himself in Buz, and Buz sees in Winston the father figure he needs in his life.

Baseball plays an important role in the story. Every good Moabite is a Brooklyn Dodgers fan. In 1955 the Dodgers won the Wolrd Series, and their victory was celebrated down to Moab, Florida. Winston Browne loves himself some baseball.

The thing is that Winston Browne changed everyone's life for the best - he's the sheriff, and the town's little leage baseball coach, he's the one delivering groceries, he's the one people can count on. It's not a surprise that he dies in the end, but he left the world a better place in his wake. 

The novel ends with Buz being a grown-up, now a sheriff himself, just like his hero Winston Browne, and he's now married to his teenage years sweetheart, Becky. Jessie, too, is married with one child. Eleanor and Jimmy are enjoying the tranquil years of grandparenthood for Jessie's baby boy. 

This is both a heart warming novel and a heart gripping one - it leaves you wanting to be a better person. I loved it so much, and I want to read more of what Sean Dietrich has written so far.

I received a free e-book copy of the novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.