This is yet another novel recommendation that I took from my favorite podcast, Literary Disco. They reviewed this one and after listening to the episode I was intrigued. Thankfully they do a wonderful job of curiosity whetting without spoiling, and my aim is to do the same.
Larry Ott is a man of a simple existence. He has lived in the same small town his whole life and spends his adult days reading, feeding his chickens, and waiting for customers at his mechanic repair shop. When a girl goes missing, everything changes. As the present-day investigation is underway, we learn of another missing girl and how her disappearance during Larry’s youth changed everything.
Franklin is a masterful storyteller of suspense. The details and character development really drive this narrative forward and as events unfold you wait with baited breath to see where it will all lead. This was a novel I didn’t want to put down, and also didn’t want to pick back up, in equal parts, as strange as that may sound. The mystery was intriguing but because if his skill at keeping you guessing I was on the edge of my seat and concerned as to where it would all lead. At some points you may see where he is heading, but for Franklin it is the getting there that is really the point.
I always enjoy a good mystery and this is one of the best constructed that I have ever read. As Richard Russo is one of my favorite authors, his recommendation on the book jacket certainly didn’t hurt. If you enjoy suspense as much as you like excellently drawn characters, this story is for you.
