The Night Before by Wendy Walker– 320 pages
ARC from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review
Book Blurb:
Twelve hours earlier, she was…
Hopeful.
Excited.
Safe.
Now she’s gone.
My Review: 4 stars
I really enjoyed Wendy Walker’s last book, All is Not Forgotten, so I took a chance on The Night Before. The simplicity of the book blurb was the first thing that got me hooked. So ominous and open-ended. Most of you know I’ve gotten wiped out with the thriller genre that is so popular right now, so I’m very choosy about what I’ll read. Glad I chose this one. I stayed up way past my already late bedtime to finish.
The powerful bond of sisters is at the forefront of this book, as is the ability to move on post breakup. Nothing helps moving on happen faster than online dating and the randomness, fear, yet also the possibility of starting a new relationship. With a deeply connected cast of characters from kids to adulthood, the story proves that not everyone is who they seem. It’s really scary to think about because it happens in real life, not just in fiction. The nightly news proves this all time when the perfect “normal” neighbor turns out to be running a meth lab or is a stalker.
Memory is also tested in this book as each character remembers things differently. Sometimes that will make characters seem unreliable, but not in this book. I truly believed all of their versions of the truth, while hoping I would learn the factual truth. This author has proven herself and I won’t hesitate to read her next one. This is a book that will keep you guessing with many twists and turns along the way.
Quotes I liked:
People could hide. And hide well. Even the people you love the most.”
