Moderator---Dee Dee
No spoiler alert is necessary when describing the story as a kidnapping where the victim comes out alive. You find it out immediately as each chapter is labeled 'before' or 'after'. The characters telling the story are Eve Dennett, the mother of the victim, Gabe Hoffman, the detective in charge of the case, and, Colin Thatcher, the kidnapper.
Mia Dennett, school teacher and daughter of prominent Chicago judge, James Dennett, is missing. A friend from school calls the Dennetts to see if they know where Mia is. The police are called in and Det. Hoffman becomes closely involved with the disappearance. Mia's past and present are looked at and a timeline puts her at a certain bar where she leaves with a stranger, Colin Thatcher. A search of his apartment turns up her purse and IDs. Mia is no longer a simple missing person, she is now the victim of a kidnapping.
It is now known who has her but finding her before something worse happens becomes a priority. With a hint of Ann Patchen's beautiful novel, Bel Canto, in the story, you just might dismiss any thoughts that this is simply Stockholm Syndrome. But what is it? The first person recantings by the main characters keeps you informed and just when you are sure you know the story, there is a final surprise.
Author Mary Kubica pens her 2014 first novel and it uses the very popular trend of putting "Girl" in the title. Writers Digest wrote an article in 2017 about the trend-- finding that the most popular titles with 'Girl" are about broken and not really nice girls. Starting with Gone Girl, then The Girl on the Train helped put the word in demand. Other books began capitalizing on the theme and trend. Writers Digest mentioned The Good Girl as one such book.
Mia's Missing Birthday Meal
Lasagna with toppings, Italian bread and cake and ice cream
"More of a 'why' than 'who' dunnit. Fast paced yet you get to know
the characters".---Dee Dee
"Easy and trite. No original content. Ending twist a surprise."---Kim
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