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Thursday, July 6, 2023

Quick Pick Book Review: Have You Seen Her, by Catherine McKenzie

  • Opening lines: "We're losing light!" Ben yells over the whir of the blades. "We need to go!"

    I turn to look out over the field to the tree line, taking in the scene of the crime. The dark green conifers, with their exposed lower limbs. The trampled glass. A wrapper from a protein bar tumbling over and over like a gymnast. A dark patch in the dirt that looks like it's tinged by rust. 

    I can't hear anything but the helicopter's whine, but the screams are still caught in my thoughts—sharp, terrified, then cut out, cut off.
  • Reason I picked up the book: I'm a big fan of Catherine McKenzie's books—you can read my previous reviews of them here.
  • And what's this book about? 
    A thrilling and timely novel about three women with dark secrets whose lives intersect in the picturesque and perilous Yosemite National Park from the USA TODAY bestselling author of the “propulsive” (Laura Dave, author of The Last Thing He Told Me) Please Join Us.

    Equipped with a burner phone and a new job, Cassie Peters has left her hectic and secretive life in New York City for the refuge of her hometown of Mammoth Lakes, California. There, she begins working again with Yosemite Search and Rescue, where a case she worked a decade ago continues to haunt her.

    She quickly falls into old patterns, joining a group of fellow seasonal workers and young adventurers who have made Yosemite their home during the summer. There, she meets Petal, a young woman living in a trailer with her much older wife, keeping a detailed diary of the goings on of the park, and Jada, a recent college graduate on a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend, documenting their journey on Instagram.

    When these three women cross paths, Cassie’s past catches up with her, and the shocking consequences ripple out far beyond what any could have imagined in this unputdownable thriller from an author who “never fails to impress” (Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author).
  • Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys thrillers or books with a twist.
  • Favorite paragraph: Fuck.

    My heart is pounding as I check each comment—the original post and three other people who were wondering where I'd gotten to.
    Question answered, one of them said. Crazy, someone else said. I'm not sure if they meant me or the situation, but I don't care. These women aren't connected to anyone else I know in New York. No one knew I was going to that gym. I paid for my membership in cash and hid my climbing gear at the back of my closet. 

    But then there's a final comment on the threat that stops me cold.

    Should we tell the husband?
  • Something to know: This was a great thriller read, and the ending really surprised me. I could definitely see it being made into a movie at some point, too.
  • What I would have changed: Maybe a little more detailed regarding the ending—it was believable, but I still thought there were one or two plot holes.
  • Overall rating: 4 stars out of 5.
  • Where can I find this book? Click here to buy on Amazon.

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