After She's Gone

I hope everyone is having a lovely Saturday!  I have a feeling many of you are staying inside where it is warm (it is in the 50s here in Florida)!  I do not blame you one bit!  Today is National Pie Day! If you like pie, today is the day to indulge!  It is also Measure Your Feet Day (who knows why someone created this day).   Children get their feet measured when they get new shoes, but I cannot think of another reason to measure your feet!  Can you?  Ready for some history (the answer is yes).  In 1957 Wham-O introduced the Frisbee.   It was originally invented by Walter Morrison, a WWII pilot.  He sold them on Santa Monica Beach as Pluto Platters!  In 1571 the Royal Exchange opened in London (it is now retail shops and restaurants).  In 1855 the first bridge over the Mississippi River opened in what is now considered Minneapolis (crossing made today by Hennepin Avenue Bridge).  Elizabeth Blackwell is awarded her M.D. in 1849 by Geneva Medical College in Geneva, New York.  She is the first woman to become a doctor in the United States!  Also, Duke Ellington played at Carnegie Hall for the first time in 1943.  There were some interesting events on January 23 in history.

After She’s Gone by Lisa Jackson is the third book in the West Coast series.  Cassie Kramer and her younger sister, Allie grew up with a famous mother.  Their mother, Jenna Hughes was a famous actress.  When she was a child, Cassie (and her mother) had a horrible incident with a crazy (and very dangerous) fan.  Cassie still has issues with it to this day.   However, that did not stop Cassie from moving to Hollywood to try her hand at acting.  When her sister, Allie turned eighteen, Cassie encouraged her to join her.  Allie was an instant success (with some help from their father).  They are filming (actually filming it again) a scene for Allie’s latest movie Dead Heat, when Allie turns up missing.  When Cassie ends up being the number one suspect, she checks herself into a psychiatric hospital in Portland, Oregon.  One night Cassie gets a visit from someone dressed like an old-fashioned nurse (with the cape and nursing cap).  The person tells Cassie that her sister is still alive (was she visited by a real person or was it a hallucination).  Cassie checks herself out of the hospital the next morning and sets out to find her sister (she thinks she is the only person who can find her).  Will Cassie be able to find her sister? 

After She’s Gone sounded like a great novel of suspense, intrigue, and mystery.  It was actually a very predictable book with little intrigue (or suspense).  The characters are very unlikable (especially Cassie).   Cassie had so many issues (anger, trust, blackouts, hallucinations) that I wanted to commit her.  There were so few clues that would help the reader solve the mystery (though it was very easy to figure out).  The author used the same phrases and sentences several times throughout the book (it was like she was short on the required word count so she copied and pasted).  There is also many pages of Cassie’s internal dialogue.  It was monotonous (I just started skimming past it after a while).  This novel was tedious and dragged on for too long (sorry, but just being truthful).  I give After She’s Gone 2.5 out of 5 stars.  

The other two books in the West Coast series are Deep Freeze and Fatal Burn.   I received a complimentary copy of After She’s Gone from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading Louisiana Saves the Library by Emily Beck Cogburn.  I am off to finish a little cleaning and then I am going to read! This is the perfect day for it (plus every joint in my body aches).  Have a great day, stay warm, and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader