The Girls She Left Behind

Today I thought I would tell you what happened on this day in the past. In 1971 All in the Family premiered on CBS (I thought this one would give you a laugh).  In 2004 the largest ocean liner the RMS Queen Mary 2 made its maiden voyage.  Hattie Caraway became the first women elected to the United States Senate in 1932. The United States House of Representatives rejected the proposal to give women the right to vote on this day in 1915 (it will take four more years for us to get the right to vote).  To check out other events that happened on this day, click here (Wikipedia).

The Girls She Left Behind by Sarah Graves is the second book in A Lizzie Snow series.  Elizabeth “Lizzie” Snow is a former Boston Homicide Detective who moved to Bearkill, Maine.  Lizzie is now a deputy with the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department (she is the liaison from the sheriff's department for the town).  Lizzie gave up her dream job (as a detective) to look for her deceased sister’s (Cecily) daughter, Nicki who has been missing for eight years.  There was a sighting of Nicki in the area (but it is a big wooded area in this part of Maine).  The Girls She Left Behind starts fifteen years prior when a man kidnaps Jane Crimmins and her cousin, Cam.  Jane manages to escape from the man, but she never tells anyone of what happened to her, her cousin, or the other girls in the basement.

Fifteen years later three girls are rescued from the basement of the man’s house.  Cam is one of the girls rescued.  Henry Gemerle is the kidnapper, but he is found incompetent to stand trial.  He is sentenced to a mental hospital.  In Bearkill, fourteen-year-old Tara Wylie has disappeared.  At first her mother, Peg believes that Tara just took off for a day again.  Tara usually shows back up.  This time Tara does not return and actually misses school (something she has never done before).  Then Lizzie finds out that Henry has escaped from the mental asylum and may be in the area.  Did Henry take Tara?  Lizzie will have to work quickly to find Tara but she has the added difficulty of forest fires breaking out in the area.  The might have to evacuate the area at any moment.  Lizzie works with Dylan Hudson of the Maine State Police (and Lizzie’s ex-lover) to find Tara.  But Lizzie thinks Peg is hiding something from her.  Is Peg Wylie’s secret more important than her daughter’s life?

The Girls She Left Behind is a good book, but not as wonderful as the first book in the series.  I had a little trouble getting into The Girls She Left Behind.  The mystery and suspense are excellent (and the book does pick up the pace and get much better as you get further into the book).  I am, though, tired of the relationship between Lizzie and her two (maybe) beaus (Dylan Hudson and Trey Washburn).  (Spoiler Alert) The relationships really do not advance or change in the book.  There is also no further progress on Lizzie's search for her missing niece. (Spoiler complete)  I found that part of the book to be frustrating (and really unnecessary).  I give The Girls She Left Behind 4.25 out of 5 stars (which means I liked it).  I look forward to the next book in this series (I hope the boyfriend situation will be resolved).

The first book in  A Lizzie Snow series is Winter at the Door (which is excellent).  I received a complimentary copy of The Girls She Left Behind from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another book that came out today is Dirt on Ninth Grave by Darynda Jones (I will do a review soon).  I am currently reading Sanctuary Bay by Laura Burns and Melinda Metz.  Do not forget about my contest to win a copy of The View from Prince Street (see my post from Saturday).  You still have time to leave a comment to win a copy of this book!  Have a great afternoon and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader