Caroline Webb knows what it means to lose the person you love most. Twenty years ago, her five-year-old daughter, Hayley, was the light of her life, her treasure, her angle. Then came the terrible day when Hayley was kidnapped from her favorite swing. More than a month passed before her burned, lifeless body was found. All that remained was the silence of Caroline's heartache--and her guilt... Now, Caroline has started over with a new husband. She even has another precious daughter, Melinda. She thinks she has put the ghosts of her past behind her. But without warning, those ghosts once again start to echo in the night. Suddenly, Hayley's favorite doll reappears...strange murders rock the Webbs' small town...Caroline even claims she has heard the voice of the little girl she lost all those years ago. Could Hayley still be out there somewhere, somehow? Now a killer waits in the wings--waiting to make Caroline live her worst nightmare yet...
Since this is the first book I'd read by Carlene Thompson (a present from my mother-in-law), I wondered until near the end if this book was going to be one with supernatural elements. The characters were interseting enough to keep me reading, but when I'd finally given up and decided, yep, this was going to be one of THOSE books, which was greatly disappointing. But I kept reading. And hopefully you will too. The ending was a great surprise (and not one of THOSE books after all!), and everything came together very neatly. What I liked most about this book was Thompson's theme, Black for Remembrance, which was well placed throughout the book. It was a great hook. The characters were pretty well rounded, too. In addition, the surprise ending was perfect: I was convinced I knew who-done-it and was WRONG. I found very few flaws in the mystery plot of this book, in fact. I liked it so much, that I will hurry out and find another book by Thompson, hoping it's even half as good!
Great Book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
This is an awesome book from an amazing author. I could not put this book down once I started reading it. It's a good creepy book. It starts with the kidnapping and murder of Hailey Corday. Twenty years later her mother Caroline is remarried with two more children. Creepy things start to happen, Hailey's doll suddenly reappears, her daughter meets a new friend who bears a striking resemblance to Hailey. People that were involved somehow with Hailey start meeting horrible ends. Has Hailey come back from the dead? Well you'll have to read it yourself to find out. Trust me you won't be dissapointed.
A True Page Turner
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
This is the only book that I have ever stayed up all night to read. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. The book was so spooky and chilling that I was scared to move from my chair because I was afraid that there was going to be someone there. I love Carlene Thompson's books so much and I'm glad that this book is FINALLY coming available in paperback. The only place I could find it was the library. The ending smacks you right in the face and you don't even see it coming. The only reason that I gave it only 5 stars is because the rating doesn't go higher, it actually deserves at least 10 stars!
Chilling, Gripping Great Mystery!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
This book kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end! The characters were great and the mystery kept you guessing throughout the whole story. This was the first book Carlene Thompson ever published and what a great first novel. How talented she is. It is scary enough to thrill but not too overdone. I like the way this author always introduces so many characters into her plots that they all begin to look suspicious and so you are never sure until the end. That is a sign of a good "whodunit". I highly recommend this book.
Scary, smart, and spell-binding
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
A great read for a stormy winter's evening. The plot is strong, and the twists and turns will keep you enthralled. The characters are believable and complex. Thompson keeps you wondering until the last page:whodunit?
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