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The girl who lived : a thrilling suspense novel  Cover Image Book Book

The girl who lived : a thrilling suspense novel / Christopher Greyson.

Summary:

"Ten years ago, four people were brutally murdered. One girl lived. No one believes her story. The police think she's crazy. Her therapist thinks she's suicidal. Everyone else thinks she's a dangerous drunk. They're all right--but did she see the killer? As the anniversary of the murders approaches, Faith Winters is released from the psychiatric hospital and yanked back to the last spot on earth she wants to be--her hometown where the slayings took place. Wracked by the lingering echoes of survivor's guilt, Faith spirals into a black hole of alcoholism and wanton self-destruction. Finding no solace at the bottom of a bottle, Faith decides to track down her sister's killer--and then discovers that she's the one being hunted. How can one woman uncover the truth when everyone's a suspect--including herself?"--Back cover.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9781683993063
  • ISBN: 1683993063
  • Physical Description: 284 pages ; 24 cm
  • Publisher: [United States] : Greyson Media, [2017]
Subject: Murder > Investigation > Fiction.
Murder victims' families > Fiction.
Guilt > Fiction.
Alcoholism > Fiction.
Guilt > Juvenile fiction.

Available copies

  • 4 of 4 copies available at Missouri Evergreen. (Show)
  • 0 of 0 copies available at Webb City Public.
  • 0 of 0 copies available at Webb City Public Library.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 4 total copies.
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Syndetic Solutions - Kirkus Review for ISBN Number 9781683993063
The Girl Who Lived : A Thrilling Suspense Novel
The Girl Who Lived : A Thrilling Suspense Novel
by Greyson, Christopher
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Kirkus Review

The Girl Who Lived : A Thrilling Suspense Novel

Kirkus Reviews


Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

The sole survivor of a killer's attack searches for the murderer she believes she can identify in Greyson's (Jack of Hearts, 2017, etc.) psychological thriller. Faith Winters is nearly 23 when her yearlong stay at Brookdale Mental Health Hospital mercifully ends. She's been in and out of institutions for a decade since evading an assailant at a multiple-murder scene. Police have closed the case, surmising a murder-suicide. They theorize that Faith's dad, Michael, killed three peoplehis lover; Faith's bestie; and Faith's older sister, Kimbefore shooting himself. But Faith thinks the partially obscured man she saw attack Kim at the family cabin is the same individual she had spotted earlier and dubbed "Rat Face." Her release from Brookdale requires she regularly see a therapist and attend AA meetings, and she soon frequents a support group for survivors. Downing multiple whiskey shots is a setback, and it's also why others have trouble believing Faith when she says she's seen Rat Face again. She made the same claim over a year ago, prompting a public outburst that ended with her most recent stay at Brookdale. Certain the cops won't help her, Faith starts her own hunt for Rat Face. The threat of a killer's presence becomes tangible when someone following Faith starts humming "Happy Birthday," just like the murderer did. Greyson's dark, twisting mystery employs considerably less humor than his Detective Jack Stratton series. While Jack's investigations often feel like adventures, Faith is perpetually tortured by internal forces (e.g., alcoholism) or unknown menaces. The novel, however, isn't entirely bleak. Characters come with an array of fascinating subplots. Faith's mom, Beverly, for example, is a therapist who, in order to overcome her own psychological turmoil, wrote a book about her daughter's survival that brought Faith unwanted notoriety. Faith herself is a strong, confident protagonist. Even after someone terrifies her in the woods, she remains an amateur sleuth and makes a remarkable deduction. She's also not above cynicism, like pointing out the irony of the group of survivors: everyone seems dreary instead of happily sharing survival stories and "high-fiving each other or something." The narrative further strengthens Faith as a character with her recurring memories of Kim and the night in question. These images aptly showcase her determination in unmasking a murderer while struggling with her tenuous mental state. The mystery, too, is indelible. Though readers get an early indication as to Rat Face's identity, there is plenty to unravel, including the possibility of someone else's involvement in the murders. Nevertheless, it's during the final act when the plot turns come fast and furious. It's a convoluted but exhilarating ending with a few surprises and perhaps a red herring or two. Sharp characters enmeshed in a mystery that, particularly in its final lap, is a gleefully dizzy ride. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.


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