The Reappearance of Rachel Price

     If you're a hard core fan of Holly Jackson's chillers then getting your hands on her latest is a for sure thrill. And she gets better with each book. The Reappearance of Rachel Price is sure not to disappoint.

     "It was easy to push people away when you knew how. Bel had a clean record; she was very, very good at it. Making people leave her before they chose to away anyway."

     It's easy to see why Bel would feel that way. Before her second birthday her mother, Rachel, had taken off, leaving her strapped in her car seat. It was a mystery that had captured media attention big time and then faded away...

     ...Until a British media company had learned about it sixteen years later and made Bel's father, Charlie, an offer he couldn't refuse to involve the family in a true-crime documentary. Bel is fed up with this on camera intrusion into their life. She can't wait for it to be over.

     But something quite unexpected happens before then. Rachel stumbles into town, claiming to have been kidnapped and been held captive by a man she can't identify, changing the focus of the documentary. 

     Bel sees inconsistencies in Rachel's story. She is afraid of her returned mother,  determined to expose her before she endangers her family. The rest of the clan doesn't share her suspicion. But there isn't a feel good Hallmark reunion. Secrets and animosities start coming to light. An extended family dinner arranged and filmed for the documentary turns into something resembling a Jerry Springer episode. Charlie seems to be unable to be at home with Rachel...

     ...until he disappears without a trace. 

     If you can't get enough of roller coaster narratives, ones where every seeming resolution is followed by destabilizing revelation get down to your favorite book store or library. 

On a purrrsonal note, I had a carefully planned to do list for today. Only I woke up this morning just having to read the last over a hundred pages. Now with daylight burning I'm still at home in my pajamas...no regrets whatsoever. 

A great big shout out goes out to Holly Jackson. Whatever she comes up with next, I can't wait to share it with you.

Jules Hathaway 

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