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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Quick Pick book review: The Good Liar, by Catherine McKenzie

• Opening lines: (Cecily)
  I was late. That's why I wasn't there when it happened.
  
  Not in the building, not even that close. 
• Reason I picked up the book: I have read books by Catherine McKenzie in the past and enjoyed them; also, the synopsis was intriguing. 
• And what's this book about?
Can you hide a secret with the whole world watching?

When an explosion rips apart a Chicago building, the lives of three women are forever altered. A year later, Cecily is in mourning. She was supposed to be in the building that day. Instead, she stood on the street and witnessed it going down, with her husband and best friend inside. Kate, now living thousands of miles away, fled the disaster and is hoping that her past won’t catch up with her. And Franny, a young woman in search of her birth mother, watched the horror unfold on the morning news, knowing that the woman she was so desperate to reconnect with was in the building.

Now, despite the marks left by the tragedy, they all seem safe. But as its anniversary dominates the media, the memories of that terrifying morning become dangerous triggers. All these women are guarding important secrets. Just how far will they go to keep them?
• Recommended for: Anyone who likes books that have a lot of twists and turns. 
• Favorite paragraph: Kate let her down against her pillows gently and stroked her damp hair. It was silky and thin. No one told her, before she had children, that being a mother would be like reliving her own childhood, only worse. That she'd have to re-feel all the slights and worries a hundredfold. 
• Something to know: Pay close attention to the characters in this book because some are not who they appear to be. Also, the book focuses on a 9/11-esque tragedy, that takes place in Chicago, but 9/11 is mentioned once or twice so that still exists in this world too.
• What I would have changed: Nothing.
• Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars. (yes, it was THAT good!) 
• Where can I find this book? Click here to order on Amazon - it's currently free for Kindle Unlimited users, also.

*Disclosure: I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley, for reviewing purposes. The opinions expressed here, however, are my own.

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