The Good Girl: An addictively suspenseful and gripping thriller (utgåvan 2015)

I think that it is EXTREMELY misleading to have this book listed as a "thriller." This is one of the most lifeless, prosaic books I have ever had the misfortune to pick up. Blah. ( )

I think that it is EXTREMELY misleading to have this book listed as a "thriller." This is one of the most lifeless, prosaic books I have ever had the misfortune to pick up. Blah. ( )

The format of this novel needs a bit of time to get used to. I just loved the story and characters. Very well written and the ending, what?! I sure didn't see it coming. ( )

I'm really impressed this was a first novel. It was utterly absorbing once I got used to the changing perspectives. I would give it 3.75 stars. Not literature but very good for what it was. Mia is abducted and held hostage for about 90 days. She returns with no memory of what has happened. The story is told thru the eyes of her mother Eve, her kidnapper Colin/Owen and the detective looking for her Gabe. ( )

I had high hopes for this book, but was underwhelmed. Still not sure what the cryptic backwards "R" refers to in the title, other than the twisted/reversed expectations of a truly good girl. But the author makes it clear from the beginning that Mia Dennett was not the good girl. She was the troublesome, embarrasing younger daughter for Judge Dennett who apparently prizes his reputation above all else. Mia has never fit the family mold -- teacher, not lawyer -- out to save the world, support herself and turn her back on her parents' money and upper-crusty lifestyle. When Mia gets kidnapped and the whole thing gets botched, it takes an implausible turn. The chapters are labeled Before and After -- so it is no surprise that Mia is returned, but she has lost all memory of the traumatic event so the book is the process of recovery and solving the bigger picture of who set up the kidnapping and why. Colin Thatcher is the grunt-work grabber who is supposed to turn Mia over to the mysterious and evil Delmar. For unclear reasons, Colin doesn't go thru with the turn-over and heads out of town to his estranged father's remote lake cabin. They pass thru Eau Claire (which is a fun detail- but part of the implausibility -- no way could they make it there that fast!) The initial Chicago setting is neat too, but that's about it. Mia is in captivity for about 2 mos. during which time Stockholm syndrome sets in with the man she only knows as Owen. That they fall in love could be sweet, but there are no initial hints of attraction from the captor, so I just don't buy the transformation. Some parts are downright cheesy. The last 3 pages present a worthwhile twist, but I was pretty much already tuned out, so it wasn't very satisfying. Decent read for a plane trip or pure killing time, but don't put it too high in your queue if you are looking for substance. ( )