Member Reviews
This book is a real page turner. The 5 word title gripped me from the beginning as it showed a glimmer of hope for one mother who's life had been almost destroyed by every parents worse nightmare - child abductiion. Ignoring the total denial of her ex husband she carries on alone to discover the truth of what did happen to their daughter who she has always believed is still alive. The descriptive text hooked me in to almost see, feel and hear the story unfolding, albeit at times some of the action became a little unbelievable. The final chapters did not bring a finale of happy ever after that most thrillers do but left me knowing there is more to come. Roll on the sequel!
Ten years earlier Francine’s daughter Autumn disappeared without a trace. Tortured by the heart breaking event she finds solace in the company of alcohol. One day she receives an unmarked envelope containing a note with the words I KNOW WHERE SHE IS. Francine is a mother who has never given up hope of seeing her only child again and this might be her only chance to get answers.
Will is her ex husband and media personality with a new family. Lena, a young girl with problems, claims to know Autumn and how she can be found. She provides fresh information which might help track down their daughter. Will refuses to help his ex wife believing the stress has been too much for her and she is having some sort of breakdown. Out of desperation Francine decides to go it alone and possibly put her own life at risk. While making enquiries she discovers police and several high profile identities are part of a group involved in shocking crimes against young women.
I really felt for Francine and could only imagine how far reaching the effect would be on a mother. Her dogged determination was impressive with Will appearing a tad wimpish until I found he too struggled to cope, unable to express his feelings openly.
I was expecting all those involved to be caught and held responsible for their crimes. Discovering most of the ring escaped punishment was a bit disappointing. I felt the ending didnt really shut the door on past events and hopefully that will be rectified if there is a sequel.
Readers who enjoy crime thrillers and good mystery with a cultish theme will enjoy this book.
I would like to start with a huge thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Initially I did struggle with this book; I had just finished Gather the Daughters and had been left more than a little disturbed by the subject matter, so it was pretty tough to go on to another book which had the sexual abuse of young women as a plot point.
I felt the title got off to a slow start, and I started off not liking any of the characters. The predictably strained relationship between Francine, her ex-husband Will, and his new wife, was disappointing. I got annoyed by Lena's character very quickly after her introduction. I wondered whether it was worth persevering with. However, I am really glad that I did.
Once Autumn (Melody) was the focus, it felt like the book turned a corner and my interest was peaked. Autumn was a much stronger and more likable character. There were some elements of this section that I did skim read, just because they were quite graphic. I was gripped and would've finished the second half in one sitting, if I hadn't had to get up for work the next day!
I will absolutely be recommending I Know Where She Is, and look forward to reading more work by S.B. Caves.
This is one of my favourite reads this year by a mile. Hard reading at times but such a fantastic story. Huge 5 stars.
This book is absolutely brilliant. I didn't know what to expect when I downloaded this. It's heartbreaking in parts, especially how they where treated by their captors. It's the best psychological thriller I have read in a while, I would love to see this on the big screen. It would be an absolute brilliant film. The ending I thought went too quickly I would have liked for just a bit more. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.
This is a good, fast paced thriller, and anyone looking for a book for the beach should get a copy. The story involves girls who are captured and kept as sex slaves, for many years. I found this heart breaking, particularly as there have been several real life cases of this. The main character (Francine) is sympathetically drawn. However, ultimately, the plot became too far fetched for me, and I needed up speed reading the final chapters, hence 3 stars.
thank you netgalley and Canelo for this arc in exchange for my honest review. Francine's daughter went missing. Ten years later she receives a mysterious letter saying 'I know where she is'. Francine is drawn into a depraved world to save her daughter. This book was so quick paced it leaves you gasping for breath! Again one of my favourite style where you are casting the characters into their movie role and then boom it's finished. Loved it
A unique concept, one that's quite dark, definitely page turning material. This book had the potential to be something great but I felt that it was rushed and ended to abruptly.
This book is a must read! It had me gripped from page 1 right through to the end and no idea as to how it was going to pan out. The story was well written and followed a good progression. I didn't think there were any parts of it that made me debate whether to carry on.
This was a truly good read!!
I thought this was a really interesting read and the book is easy to follow which is a major plus. Francine's daughter was kidnapped when out shopping as a child, she has always felt autumn wasn't dead. Then one day a young girl shows up at her work telling her that her daughter is alive and is essentially a slave in a house Lena has just escaped from. Francine has to uncover a whole tangled web of lies, deceit and danger to get her daughter back. Definitely a good debut for the author. Thanks net galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for the honest review
This is a very tense story right from the start. I cannot say I enjoyed it, the subject matter is simply too awful. But overall it is a really excellent read. It feels very real, and your mind tells you that this does happen, perhaps not to the scale suggested. Francine is very well written, I can imagine a mother disintegrating like this if her only child is abducted, and never found. The reactions of her husband are very understandable too. The bravery of Autumn is remarkable, but she has little choice, her life is on a knife edge.
The book does have a somewhat happy ending, but the abruptness of the end suggests there might well be a sequel. This is not a book to be read in one, at least not for a timid soul like me! I had to read two or three chapters at a time, then stop for something lighter. So the story haunted my dreams for a few nights!
I found the writing absolutely spellbinding, S B Caves is definitely a writer to watch out for.
I know where she is by s b caves.
On the tenth anniversary of her daughter Autumn's abduction, Francine receives an anonymous note containing just five words: I KNOW WHERE SHE ISWhen a young woman approaches her the next day claiming to have sent the letter Francine wants to dismiss it as a cruel, twisted joke.But the stranger knows things that only Autumn would know.It soon becomes clear that Francine must go to dark places in order to learn the truth about her child’s kidnapping.She will discover that danger comes from unexpected sources. She will do things she never imagined herself capable of.But will Francine get her daughter back – or is it too late?
This was a fantastic read with brilliant characters. I was hooked from page one. I didn't expect that. Full of twists. I do hope there is more to come. It feels like there will be. 5*. Netgalley and can Elodies.
I received a mysterious email from the publisher about I Know Where She Is and it totally caught my attention. I wanted to know more so I requested it on NetGalley as soon as I could.
Wow this book got under my skin! I felt invested in Francine's story almost as soon as I started reading, I wanted the same answers as she did - I wanted to know what had happened to her daughter. I think being a mother myself made the storyline even more real for me, my motherly instincts took over and I couldn't help but feel involved. This wasn't always a good thing because there were some scenes that were incredibly difficult for me to read and brought tears to my eyes. The further I read, the more sinister things became.
When the storyline switched to Autumn's perspective I felt a variety of things, mainly horror but also intrigue because by this point I had so many questions circling around my mind. What followed was uncomfortable at times and so tense but I just couldn't stop reading, waiting for the outcome that I was hoping for.
Autumn turned out to be my favourite character, she was surprisingly strong but there was also a quiet mysterious side to her which, I think, gave her a dangerous edge.
This was a disturbing but addictive read that was difficult to put down and left me desperate to know what happens next!
This story was definently enthralling and it kept me hooked throughout, so much so that I managed to complete it in a day. Although, please be warned some may find the content triggering.
This is the story of Francine whose daughter was kidnapped 10 years ago. We open with Francine receiving a note echoing the title of the book 'I Know Where She Is'. We then follow Francine's journey as she follows the note and it's sender in the hope of finding her daughter.
I definently enjoyed the story. I found it to be quiet thrilling and, as I said before, it kept me hooked throughout. The chapters were short which is something I like in thrillers. I find this keeps the story moving at a fast pace and I always find myself saying just one more. Also, to me Francine came across as a slightly unreliable narrator, especially at the beginning and this also kept me engaged with the story as I didn't always know what to think.
Although I definently enjoyed the reading experience there were a couple of things I struggled with throughout. I thought there were some aspects of the plot, which I won't mention specifically because of spoilers, that I found a bit too far fetched. To me they felt somewhat too easy to accomplish and therefore unrealistic. I also felt some plot points weren't explained in as much detail as I would of liked them to be, again I won't mention to much because of spoilers, and I would of liked a bit more of Lana' s story.
That being said I did enjoy the characters. I liked the fiestyness and perseverance both Francine and Autumn displayed. They both had strong personalities, especially Autumn, and they didn't give up easily. Which are traits I always like in female characters.
Overall I found this to be quite an enjoyable read. It kept me engaged throughout and I would definently recommend it to people looking for a good page turner. I would give this a 3.5 overall.
Your daughter goes missing and for 10 years this dominates your life. Then one day a strange girl turns up on your doorstep and says " I know where she is" Interesting read which you will want to keep going so you can find out what happens.
Francine is a mess. 10 years ago her daughter (Autumn) disappeared whilst they were out shopping. In those 10 years her husband will has divorced her and remarried and made a fortune on the back of the disappearance. Out of the blue Francine meets Lena who claims that Autumn (now known as Melody) is being held in a house in the woods along with many other girls. The house is visited by male celebrities and even the Police are involved. Francine tries to get her husband involved but he refuses to believe her story. Lena then dies and Francine starts investigating on her own. This is a story of a mothers love and determination to find her daughter whatever has happened. This is a fast paced book as the story evolves and it carries you along with it.
I found this book disappointing. The plot is so unlikely and the book ends with nothing resolved so presumably another book to be written. As a retired Teacher of English I also was not impressed by writing style.
10 years ago Francine's daughter, Autumn, was abducted, whilst Francine dallied in a store. Abducted - in an eye-blink. Gone. Any parent's worst nightmare. It caused an inevitable rift with her snowflake of a husband, who blames her for what took place. On the tenth anniversary of her daughter's disappearance Francine receives a note pushed through her letterbox: "I know where she is". The next day a young woman approaches Francine, claiming to have sent the note. The stranger knows things only Autumn would know. Get prepared for a white-knuckle ride. A descent into the dark world of child kidnapping with unseen terrors that Francine will face - alone. A world so shocking in the scope of its evil and depravity that it had me reeling. And Francine embarks on a journey fraught with danger and will accomplish things she never thought herself capable of. As the story unfolds and Francine begins to learn the truth about Autumn's kidnapping, the relentless pace of her terrifying journey had me totally gripped. Not for the squeamish - this is a novel of real intensity that you won't be able to put down.
With thanks to NetGalley for this uncorrected proof copy.
Read this book in one sitting. I enjoyed the story, no twists, no red herrings, just a good story that has been left open for book two. I would highly recommend this book.
At the start of this I was a little intrigued as to where the plot would go but the further it went I was totally gripped. To be honest this wasn't the easiest of reads with some of the 'dark' content but the author still managed to hook me in and keep me reading. Francine was an interesting character and while I'm still not sure I like her. The ending felt a bit abrupt and there are some unresolved issues which makes me wonder if there will be a sequel.
I do recommend this book but feel I need to qualify it with the mention of the dark subject matter.