Heather Gudenkauf is one of my must read authors and she didn't disappoint with "Before She Was Found".
This story revolves around three 12 yr old girls from a small town, their families and the urban legend that haunts the town. During a sleepover the three girls sneak out at midnight to go to the abandoned train yard to meet the legend. One of the girls is very seriously injured, close to death. What happened? Who committed this heinous crime?
This story tells the tale of pre-teen bullying and the dangers of social media all too often resulting in dangerous consequences.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin/Park Row for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Though the main characters of this book are children and teens, this is in no way an immature book. It’s fast paced and mysterious, with sinister intentions mixed into every page. This entire book, I questioned the motives of every character and had a difficult time figuring out what would happen in the end.

While some of the mysteries I figured out along the way, this book is far from predictable. With interwoven storylines and multiple points of view, there is an element of unease written into each chapter, because the reader doesn’t ever get the entire story. As in life, we only get one person’s perspective at a time. It’s left up to us to put everything together in a way that makes sense. Or in this, the author puts everything together, because I would not have figured it out without her explanations in the end.

The characters in Before She Was Found were refreshing because they were all so normal. Each wanting to believe the best in their own child, not seeing the bad, and making excuses for them whenever trouble presented itself. Not dealing with the hard truths of a child, instead using denial to shield us of unwanted problems, is typical human behavior, and the catalyst for this novel. If any one of the parents involved in this story had stopped to see their child, it’s possible that tragedy could have been avoided. But, it is easier and feels way better to pretend that our lives are perfect. That our pinterest family is as it appears.

I loved trying to figure out this book and was thoroughly entertained. If mystery is your thing, then this book is a must-read.

* Special thanks to Heather Gudenkauf, Simon & Schuster, and TLC Book Tours for providing a copy of Before She Was Found in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy stories from multiple POV's, and I like the use of various forms of story telling (dialogue, narrative, journal entries, text messages, etc), and that was done in this story. The pace is fast and held my attention, but I did have a few issues with some key points. It was a bit unbelievable that the characters (being eleven and twelve years old) could remember and document so much direct dialogue in their journal entries. These days, it'd be more likely that they'd do a YouTube video. It was also strange that they didn't seem to fear the possibility of being arrested. True, some teens may feel that they're above the law, but for the entire cast of characters to have that opinion seems unlikely. The girls came across as older than they were. Unless they're die-hard fans of shows like Law & Order, etc., it's unlikely that sixth graders would know so much about hiding evidence, etc. There is a creep factor that will certainly appeal to some fans.. The author provided clues throughout, so I was able to figure things out before they were revealed, and I didn't necessarily love the ending, but I still enjoyed this book overall. As a result, I'll likely check out other books by this author, as this was my first time reading anything by Gudenkauf.

I’m a fan of different POVs and this one was no exception. The difference POVs made the whole story. From texts messages to diary entries, to psychologist notes, to family POVs, you had all the suspense you needed.

The author was also very good at steering the readers into one direction, all the while inserting little clues here and there that foreshadow the upcoming twists. Unfortunately, for me, I picked up on those clues early on, so I wasn’t very surprised by the ending.

I did enjoy that the setting was in a small town, and mostly in an old train yard. I found it very creepy and could easily see the story unfold in this little rundown town.

Additionally, there was an urban legend aspect of this story, and I found it very fitting for the story. It reminded me of hearing crazy, creepy stories when I was a kid, and having a group of friends scaring each other.

Just be aware that this is a slow-burning mystery, which I personally don’t prefer. If you don’t mind a slow-burning psychological mystery, this one is for you.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so amazing. Gudenkauf is a favorite author, so I was happy when I saw she had a new book out. I have to say, I read this book in one day. I couldn't stop. There were so many twists and turns. When I figured it out, I found out I was completely wrong. Not only was it suspenseful, but it was thought provoking as well. I think anyone with preteens or teens would take away a lot from this book. What a roller coaster ride!

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

Wow. Did not see the ending coming. This book is like spending the weekend with the creepiest kids in town. It kept me engaged until the end and I never felt like I solved the mystery. Solid four

This was a very hard book to get into. I had to start a second time to try and get the story thread , but once I got into this heart wrenching story I was surprised at the different scenarios and how it kept you guessing from start to finish and the ending was one I sure did not see.

If you’re looking for a stay up late, who cares if you lose sleep creepy thriller to read this weekend then you’ve found it with Before She Was Found! This is my first novel by Heather Gudenkauf and I’m kicking myself for not reading her sooner because this book was fantastic.

The story centers around teens Cora, Violet, and Jordyn and I have to say the opening scene is probably the most chilling scene I’ve read this year….and I read mysteries and thrillers regularly. It was so chilling and dark and it perfectly set the tone for what was to come. ⠀⠀

The author gives us bits and pieces of the backgrounds of the girls as well as the current storyline in alternating perspectives that incorporate various forms of storytelling. There’s text messages, Cora’s journal entries, a psychiatrist’s notations, and various family members perspectives all intertwined with the girls’ perspectives and this structure worked to PERFECTION. Seriously, the structure of this story was part of the brilliance of how the author set it up to unfold and it kept me turning the pages late into the night. ⠀⠀

I really don’t want to say much about plot, just read the opening scene and I’d be so surprised if you told me you didn’t want to know who did it and how it came to be! Then prepare yourself for serious mean girl drama, family turmoil, small town secrets, and even a creepy urban legend. I loved this haunting, complex, edge-of-your-seat thriller!

Before She Was Found by Heather Gudenkauf is a finely written mystery with a surprise ending that will really rock your world. Cora and her friends are 12 years old and researching urban myths for a school project. Little do they know just how much this project will change their lives. Small town America might not feel safe again after reading this thriller. Read and enjoy!

<b> Short summary:</b>
Hard-to put-down, thrilling, suspenseful, emotional, tragic and absolutely believable! An innocent school project starts a domino effect that leads to a devastating outcome.

<b>My thoughts:</b>
If you haven’t read this author yet...you are in for an addictive ride!

OMG...kids and the internet/social media are a scary combo! Three young girls (12-year-olds) do a school project on a local urban legend. Jordyn is the “ring leader”. Cora and Violet are her naive and eager-to-please schoolmates.

Every school has one of “those girls”...pretty and popular, but a bully and back-stabbing bitch! Even though she treats you terrible—and you don’t really like her—it’s easier to be her friend than her enemy. And she always has a group of “followers” that are happy to join her in her ruthless, relentless and cruel hobbies. “That girl” is Jordyn!

I have found another “MUST-READ” author!

Thank you to NetGalley / Park Row / Heather Gudenkauf for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!

<b>My Rating: </b> 5 ⭐️’s
<b>Published:</b> Published April 16th 2019 by Park Row
<b>Pages:<b/> 368

<b>Recommend:</b> Yes!

<b>Book Blurb:</b>
For twelve-year-old Cora Landry and her friends Violet and Jordyn, it was supposed to be an ordinary sleepover--movies and Ouija and talking about boys. But when they decide to sneak out to go to the abandoned rail yard on the outskirts of town, little do they know that their innocent games will have dangerous consequences.

Later that night, Cora Landry is discovered on the tracks, bloody and clinging to life, her friends nowhere to be found. Soon their small rural town is thrust into a maelstrom. Who would want to hurt a young girl like Cora--and why? In an investigation that leaves no stone unturned, everyone is a suspect and no one can be trusted--not even those closest to Cora.

Before She Was Found is a timely and gripping thriller about friendship and betrayal, about the power of social pressure and the price of needing to fit in. It is about the great lengths a parent will go to protect their child and keep them safe--even if that means burying the truth, no matter the cost.

Park Row and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Before She Was Found. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Three preteen girls go to an abandoned train yard in the middle of the night. The aftermath of that fateful visit gives birth to this novel, told in multiple perspective format with a variety of writing styles. From police interviews, diary entries, therapist notes, and text messages, along with the normal storytelling, readers are given a complete picture of all that transpired.

I am conflicted about this novel because certain aspects of the plot really bothered me. Without ruining the mystery surrounding what happened to Cora, Violet, and Jordyn, I can only say that there are two plot lines regarding parental figures that are not fully fleshed out. The motivations of these characters are not really explored and their reactions to all that transpires does not make a lot of sense. The author was able to maintain a good amount of mystery, as some of the plot came as a complete surprise with other parts being a little transparent. As the truth emerges, readers are given a realistic view into the social media lives lived by teens and preteens today. Readers who are fans of the mystery suspense genre may like Before She Was Found for its convoluted plot and unreliable narrators.

Wow is all I can say. Such a great book. Fast paced and twisty. Loved the writing style. Loved the characters, loved the story. Love love love is all I can say. If you like twisted stories this book is for you.

4.5
Cora, Violet and Joryn are all in middle school. Core is very introverted and just wants to have friends and feel loved. Violet is the new kid in school and also just wants to be accepted. Jordyn runs hot and cold. One minute she is your friend, the next minute she is being a bully. One night during a sleepover, the three girls sneak out to a mostly deserted train yard. Cora is brutally attacked. This is the story of what led up to that fateful night and the aftermath.

Heather Gudenkauf has that wonderful ability of really delving into the souls of her characters and showing us what makes them tick. She hit the mark on the trials and tribulation of middle school - wanting to be popular, who eats lunch with who, who gets the "coveted" boyfriend. We see the struggles in each girls family that in part expalins at least some of their behavior.

I was all over the pace in trying to figure out who was responsible for the attack on Cora. The story really does go right down to the very end. Just know that this is not your typical who done it story.

My thanks to Harlequin Park Row and Netgalley.

I have never ever ever been disappointed in a Heather Gudenkauf book and the streak continues!

!2 year old Cora Landry is found stabbed and bloody on the train tracks. What lead to such a horrible crime? Our story takes us into the life of Cora as we read her diary. We also are brought along by the doctor in charge of finding out what is going on in her mind and the minds of her friends and family. We also hear from her friends’ mother and grandfather as they try to sort out just what happened. Jordyn, a classmate, has bullied Cora and yet she was spending the night with her that night. Violet is new to school and has been working on a project with Cora and Jordyn about urban legends. They are doing their report on a local man who supposedly killed young girls. Is he back? Who has Cora been talking to online?

This tale had some whopper twists! Finding out what happened to Cora was pretty darn shocking. I loved how we saw the happenings through the eyes of a few people. It made you look at it all with different perspectives. I felt so sorry for quite a few of them. I did wonder about how grown up the kids acted, being only 12, but kids grow up so fast these days (I sound old). The ending left me chilled. Heather Gudenkauf is always good for a good chill or two.

Thanks to Netgalley and Park Row for a copy of this book.

Before She Was Found, the latest offering from author Heather Gudenkauf, is the story of one innocent evening gone wrong, and it's a book that kept me reading late into the night.Twelve-year-old Cora is excited to be having a sleepover. For the past couple of years, she's struggled to fit in with the girls her age. Some of her classmates have bullied her pretty mercilessly, and nothing Cora has tried has put a stop to it. But this year, things feel different. Jordyn, the most ruthless of the bullies, has started making friendly overtures toward Cora, and Cora is definitely ready to forgive and forget. Plus, a new girl named Violet has recently moved to town, and she seems to want to be friends with Cora.When Violet and Jordyn arrive at Cora's house for the sleepover they've been planning for weeks, they're expecting to have a laid back evening filled with scary movies, plenty of gossip, and maybe even a session or two with the Ouija board, but when of the girls suggest they sneak out to a nearby railroad yard, things go terribly wrong. Suddenly, everyone connected with the girls and their families has questions to ask, and the answers are few and far between.You see, something very bad happened near the railroad tracks that night, something that leaves Cora alone and near death on the tracks with Jordyn and Violet nowhere to be found. The police are doing everything they can to learn the truth about what happened; it's obvious somebody hurt Cora, but who was it, and were Jordyn and Violet fellow victims, or could they have been involved in the terrible act?This is one of those books where the reader has no idea who to trust. The story is told from a various points of view, but it's clear that most of the narrators have something to hide. Even as I read the different accounts of the days leading up to the fateful sleepover, it was clear that no one was telling the truth, and I knew I couldn't take anything at face value. Some readers might find this style of storytelling a bit frustrating, but I was completely captivated from start to finish. I love a good puzzle, and Ms. Gudenkauf provided me with one of the best I've come across in quite some time.It's sometimes difficult to keep large casts of characters straight in your head, especially when each of them is relaying a slightly different version of events. Fortunately, Ms. Gudenkauf has managed to make each of the people in this story unique and three-dimensional, and I never found myself needing to refresh my memory about how this or that person factored into the story. In fact, it's hard for me to imagine this particular tale being told any other way. Every character feels necessary and relevant.There's a darkness to this tale that may prove off-putting to some potential readers. Ms. Gudenkauf doesn't shy away from the cruelty one person can visit upon another, and although I never felt her descriptions of violence were overly graphic, I know everyone's tolerance of these things is a little different. I can't give you too many clues for fear of spoiling things, but if you're easily disturbed by dark and gritty mysteries, you might want to give this one a pass.I was literally in awe of the twists the author incorporated into this novel. Although I might get some of the details wrong, I'm usually fairly good at figuring out the overall direction a story is going to take and it's rare for a thread of intrigue to mislead me as completely as this one did. The way things wrapped up shocked me in the very best way.I could go on and on about the greatness of Before She Was Found, but I'd much rather let you discover it for yourself. It doesn't matter if you're already a fan of Ms. Gudenkauf's work or if you're reading her for the first time, this book is sure to keep you glued to its pages. It's everything I love in a novel of psychological suspense and then some, and it's literally one of the best things I've read so far this year.Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/KoboVisit our Amazon Storefront

This is a story that grabbed me from the very first chapter and didn't let go until the very end. What an intense first chapter! So much was going on in those first few words that I needed to have straightened out and explained.

The ever changing relationships of the three young girls in this story was so indicative of the lives of teens today Some days they are best friends and then the next day, they could be conspiring against one another, planning and plotting to make the outcast friend miserable.

As the mystery of what happened that night in the abandoned rail yard unfolds, the reader learns all sides of the story and has to question who is telling the truth. What really happened that night? What is the truth?

I loved Before She Was Found for it's complexity and for all of the interesting characters whose lives became so intertwined. This is a story that I will definitely read again. I am pretty sure that now that I know how all the twists resolve themselves, I will see everyone and everything in a whole different light.

Right from the beginning, I was captivated with this story. The opening pulled at my heartstrings and then I spent my time dawning my sleuth hat trying to unravel this mystery.

There are many layers and different methods as to how this story plays out. Whether it’s a mother or grandfather's voice, pages from Cora's journal along with texting and chat rooms, I was not overwhelmed or distracted reading this book. The story flowed smoothly. It also helped that I really wanted to find out what was going on and found myself lost in the pages.

Before She Was Found is a story of friendship, trust, the need to fit in and how far will a parent go to protect their children. At times it had a YA feel to it, given the ages of the main players that makes perfect sense.

I have been a fan of Heather Gudenkauf's forever, her book Little Mercies (the audio is amazing!) is one of my favorites.

My thanks to the publisher (via Netgalley) for an advanced digital copy of this book.

I thought this really good! 4.5 stars ⭐️

I read this book along with some friends in the group, The Traveling Sisters. There were mixed feelings about the novel, but I was one of the ones that enjoyed it. The book is about three -12-year-old girls who sneak out of their house while having an overnight and go to a train yard. ..Where they believe they will meet up with a boy who supposedly died when he was 17, Joseph Whither , who takes little girls with him. He could be a ghost, or is he a real life boy like he says he is and he never died. Cora the main character believes that he lives forever and he wants to take her with him to be one of his special beloved girls.

The creep factor in this book is high. The story starts out intense. We find Cora has been beaten at the train yard and may not survive. Her two friends, Jordyn and Violet, seem to be victims as well, at least initially. We soon see why these two thoughtless “mean girls” become suspects in the crime.

The story is told by sharing entries from Cora’s diary, text messages, police recordings and interviews, and first person point of view from some of the parents and from a psychiatrist. It's a touchy subject no doubt. What is particularly disturbing is that it is a based on a true story.

Before She Was Found was a page turner for me and a quick read. I especially enjoyed reading the author's note at the end and looking at the questions for discussion. Lots to talk about here.
It's out today and I highly recommend it. Great suspense and timing. Well developed characters and solid plot.

Many thanks to the publisher, Park Row, and author via NetGalley for a digital edition to read and review. I look forward to adding more by Ms. Gudenkauf.

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I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley. It was another amazing book of realistic fiction. It felt so real. I loved how the author went back and forth between the characters and got all different points of view. I wish everyone would read this book. Bullying can be so dangerous. I couldn't put it down. Just couldn't wait to see what happened.

Beth Crow gave up her job and moved her two children clear across the country to join a boy friend who turned out had gone back to his wife. Now, she is living in a dingy little town. She worries about her children, Max and Violet.

One night, Beth hears sirens and knowing that Violet is having a sleepover with her friends, Jordyn and Cora, all 12-years-old, she is still terrified. So, she heads toward the source of the sirens and sees Violet walking toward her covered in blood. Another young girl, Cora, also covered in blood, is being whisked away in an ambulance.

At Grayling Children’s Hospital, Violet is being examined in the emergency room. She appears to be in shock. Dr. Madeline Gideon is a long time psychiatrist at the hospital and stops in to see if she could offer any help for Cora or the parents. She is met with a very angry father seeking revenge for his daughter’s injuries.

Reporters are pointing at the 75-year-old urban legend of Joseph Withers, a man who ran a crime spree in the town back in the 1940s.

Now, the police, parents, and doctors try to get to the bottom of what happened that night.

The author perfectly expresses the feelings of these immature and impressionable young girls in the agony of puberty and wanting to be accepted at school among their peers. She also shows how the parents’ reactions differ and how the police and medical professionals to to find out what truly happened that night.

This is a gritty and creepy story of the temptations facing young children each day and how difficult it is for parents to stay on top of everything happening in their children’s lives. I, for one, am happy mine are grown! I think readers will learn a lot from this story. Very good.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.