Title:Missing Pieces
Author:Heather Gudenkauf
Narrator:Christina Traister
Published:February 2016, Brilliance Audio / MIRA
Length:9 hours 9 minutes /288 pages
Source:Personal copy via Audible / Netgalley
A woman uncovers
earth-shattering secrets about her husband’s family in this chilling
page-turner from New York Times bestselling author Heather GudenkaufSarah
Quinlan’s husband, Jack, has been haunted for decades by the untimely
death of his mother when he was just a teenager, her body found in the
cellar of their family farm, the circumstances a mystery. The case
rocked the small farm town of Penny Gate, Iowa, where Jack was raised,
and for years Jack avoided returning home. But when his beloved aunt
Julia is in an accident, hospitalized in a coma, Jack and Sarah are
forced to confront the past that they have long evaded.Upon
arriving in Penny Gate, Sarah and Jack are welcomed by the family Jack
left behind all those years ago—barely a trace of the wounds that had
once devastated them all. But as facts about Julia’s accident begin to
surface, Sarah realizes that nothing about the Quinlans is what it
seems. Caught in a flurry of unanswered questions, Sarah dives deep into
the puzzling rabbit hole of Jack’s past. But the farther in she climbs,
the harder it is for her to get out. And soon she is faced with a
deadly truth she may not be prepared for.
My thoughts: What I love about Heather Gudenkauf’s books is that they suck you in from the get-go and never let up. This one was no exception! It is full of suspense and had me on edge the whole time.
How well can you really know someone? Sarah is about to find out when she and her husband of twenty years return to his hometown – a town he left and never looked back at. Once there, Sarah realizes that all the history Jack told her about himself isn’t quite true…and that’s only the beginning.
This book is filled with secrets and lies, and as Sarah starts uncovering things, the suspense starts building. Just who is her husband and why wasn’t he truthful with her from the start? What was he hiding and why? I kept trying to figure this one out, but never once did I guess correctly.
I also loved the twist with the Three Blind Mice clues that Sarah was being sent – scary that this was. It added another layer to the story and gave you the sense that Sarah really didn’t know who she could trust during this whole ordeal. Though she did have Margaret, Jack’s former babysitter, helping her out, she really was on her own in this. And what a team they made!
I really enjoyed this book. It definitely had me thinking and kept me engaged throughout! I need to catch up with some of Heather Gudenkauf’s backlist while I wait for her next book to come out.
Audio thoughts:I am a big fan of Christina Traister’s work – I have listened to quite a few books that she has narrated, so I know when I pick up a book with her name on it, I’m in for a treat. And this was no exception! She does such a great job with the characters, giving each character their own unique voice, infusing just the right amount of tension and suspense, and even humor into the voice when needed.
Sounds great! I need to start listening to more audiobooks — I feel like I'll get more chores done if I have a book to read while I do them. This sort of story idea always sort of scares me (Ah! What if that happens to me? What if my husband has a dark past?), but in a way that makes it more enjoyable to read, since that relatability factor is there. Thanks for sharing!
I really enjoy her books and recommend you read the others. This was my least favorite. Three Blind Mice was a nice touch.