finished reading

Where do I even begin to praise this audiobook? Edoardo Ballerini's narration is captivating; he breathes such life into this compelling story that I found myself utterly unable to pause. But what truly elevated my experience was the author's masterful genre blending. At its heart, this felt like a coming-of-age story, yet it pulsed with the relentless tension of a psychological thriller and was underscored by a poignant love story. The narrative unfolded like a high-octane cat-and-mouse game.

As I listened, I was immediately drawn into the central characters' struggle with the profound aftermath of a traumatic event, their realities fractured and their perceptions constantly in question. From the very first moment, a palpable sense of unease settled in me, drawing me deep into the characters' growing dread and leaving me breathlessly anticipating what came next.

From the publisher:

1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending. Muhammad Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the smalltown of Monta Clare, Missouri, girls are disappearing.

When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, the most unlikely hero emerges—Patch, a local boy, who saves the girl, and, in doing so, leaves heartache in his wake.

Patch and those who love him soon discover that the line between triumph and tragedy has never been finer. And that their search for answers will lead them to truths that could mean losing one another.

A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, a unique twist on each, Chris Whitaker has written a novel about what lurks in the shadows of obsession and the blinding light of hope.