The Missing/Caroline Eriksson/222 pgs

The Missing is a Swedish-language book that's been translated into English. I thought the translation was well done, though of course I have no idea how closely it hews to the original.

The book begins with Greta, Alex, and 4-year-old Smilla heading out across Lake Malice in a motorboat. They dock at an island in the middle of the lake, and Alex and Smilla get out to explore. Greta is urged to accompany them but she declines. Next thing you know, Alex and Smilla are missing. Greta searches for them but does not go to the police, at least initially.

This story is told almost entirely from Greta's 1st person point of view. To be honest, I found it very difficult to be inside of Greta's head. There is a lot going on there, much of it confusing, depressing, and frustrating. I found I couldn't read very much of this book at one sitting because of this. And I have to say that I am shocked the book is only 222 pages long because it felt like it was at least twice that.

I must warn that this book deals with a number of issues that may disturb readers, including but not limited to:  child in peril, animal abuse, graphic domestic violence, assault, and murder. The main focus of the story is domestic violence and while I don't expect sunshine and roses from my suspense novels, parts of this story situation just felt too real. The book was compelling in its own way but I can't say I enjoyed reading it. I will say that despite the grim subject matter the story did end on a somewhat positive note.

Prostitute's Daughter / Adrienne D'nelle Ruvalcaba 468 p.

Prostitute's Daughter / Adrienne D'nelle Ruvalcaba 468 p.

Cece Graves has been running from her past for 27 years.  When a deadly fire engulfs her apartment building, Shane Gregory is the one who carries her to safety.  She is extremely resistant to love.  It takes the steadfastness of Shane's friendship to keep the relationship going.  She was once dominated in the cruelest way, but she fights back.  Determined to not be a victim again, she trains in the martial arts.  Shane, also, has issues.  He has his own tragedy to deal with.  Ruvalcaba tackles domestic abuse.  This may not be an easy story to read as Cece Graves abuse is revealed.

Big Little Lies / Liane Moriarty / 480 p.

WOW! That's how I would sum up this book in one word. It is full of humor (I LOVE Madeline!) but it is a serious book about serious issues...and quite a few secrets. AND somebody (?) gets killed. It is set in Australia, but this could just as easily have been the U. S. It centers around a group of parents of new kindergarten students. Jane: a single mom who's child is accused of bullying from the first day. Madeline: struggling to deal with having her ex's child in the same kindergarten as her o...more WOW! That's how I would sum up this book in one word. It is full of humor (I LOVE Madeline!) but it is a serious book about serious issues...and quite a few secrets. AND somebody (?) gets killed. It is set in Australia, but this could just as easily have been the U. S. It centers around a group of parents of new kindergarten students. Jane: a single mom who's child is accused of bullying from the first day. Madeline: struggling to deal with having her ex's child in the same kindergarten as her own kindergartner with her 2nd husband--not to mention problems with the daughter they share. Celeste: who has the biggest secret of all. Terrific storytelling! For readers of realistic, contemporary family fiction that centers on the family in all its forms.

Into the Darkest Corner/Elizabeth Haynes/400 pgs.

Debut author Elizabeth Haynes has written a psychological page turner that kept me up until the wee hours of the morning to see how it ended. It is ultimately a story of domestic violence told through the victim's voice--Catherine "Cathy" Bailey. The tension builds as Cathy provides the reader with the background to her relationship with Lee Brighton which starts as a "normal" situation up through the time it spins out of control. It's an incredible journey with twists and turns along the way--I don't think I've been this tense reading a book in a long, long, time. Highly recommended!