Stand Alone Sunday, my pick 1-29-17: The Hiding Place, by David Bell

Standalone Sunday is a meme created by Megan at BookslayerReads. Where each Sunday you feature a book that is a standalone (not a part of a series) that you really like and would recommend to others. (Visit the BookSlayerReads page for more info).

 

The Hiding Place by David Bell is a book that I read a few years back on a whim.  It was given to me by a friend, well okay, I kind of just took it from her. But in my defense she was threatening to throw a bunch of books out because “she’s not a big reader, and doesn’t know why she has them anyway.” ….. That’s right, her words exactly as I remember them. Did I smack her? no… Should I have? Probably…  Did I walk away with practically her entire stash of paperbacks? ABSOLUTLY!

Anyhow I’m glad that this particular book was one that I took from her because it was a fantastic story!!  The secrets that are hidden within the pages of this book are shocking, and kind of tend to linger long after you’ve found them. It’s most definitely a book worth reading AND recommending.  And, I’m pretty sure I let my friend know what a fool she really was for owning such an amazing book and passing it up for who knows how long she had it without ever devouring its pages.

Now because I didn’t write an actual review at the time I read it, and because I absolutely hate writing reviews so long after reading, (personally I feel its a complete and utter injustice to a good book and to good Authors to write reviews when the intricate details of a story isn’t fresh in memory and/or emotions) I’m not posting one.

So here it is. My stand alone recommendation, without a review. This book is phenomenal!

DESCRIPTION:

Twenty-five-years ago, the disappearance of four-year-old Justin Manning rocked the small town of Dove Point, Ohio. After his body was found in a shallow grave in the woods two months later, the repercussions were felt for years.

Janet Manning has been haunted by the murder since the day she lost sight of her brother in the park. Now, with the twenty-fifth anniversary of Justin’s death looming, a detective and a newspaper reporter have started to ask questions, opening old wounds and raising new suspicions. Could the man convicted of the murder — who spent more than two decades in prison — really be innocent? Janet’s childhood friend and high school crush, who was in the park with her that day, has returned to Dove Point, where he is wrestling with his own conflicted memories of the events. And a strange man appears at Janet’s door in the middle of the night, claiming to know the truth.

Soon, years of deceit will be swept away, and the truth about what happened to Janet’s brother will be revealed. And the answers that Janet has sought may be found much closer to home than she ever could have imagined.