Still Missing

Still Missing
by Chevy Stevens
St. Martin's Press, 2010. 342 pgs. Mystery

Interwoven with the story of the year Annie spent as the captive of a psychopath in a remote mountain cabin, which unfolds through sessions with her psychiatrist, is a second narrative recounting events following her escape—her struggle to piece her shattered life back together and the ongoing police investigation into the identity of her captor.

I like psychological suspense and mysteries, but this book was almost a bit too much for me. The book is structured as a narrative by Annie with her doctor, and she is still angry and bitter about her experience (as she should be). Having an angry narrator makes it hard to really get into the book or sympathize with the protagonist, despite her graphic descriptions of her ordeal. I also thought the narrative format felt forced in some places and in others made the book veer too far towards telling rather than showing. This book has an interesting premise and compelling plot with some great twists, but it was not an easy or enjoyable read.

JC