Thank you Blackstone Publishing, #partner for the advanced copy of American Girl in exchange for my honest review. I got the audiobook as part of my Audible Subscription.
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing / Audible Originals
Published: October 17, 2023 / December 16, 2021
Summary:
A pulse-pounding novel about a small-town business owner found dead and the teenage girl caught in the crosshairs, American Girl is the latest thriller from international best-selling author Wendy Walker.
Charlie Hudson, an autistic 17-year-old, is determined to leave Sawyer, PA as soon as she graduates high school — in the meantime, she works as many hours as she can at a sandwich shop called The Triple S to save money for college. But when shop owner Clay Cooper — a man who is both respected and feared by many in this economically depressed community — is found dead, each member of his staff becomes a suspect in the perplexing case. Charlie must work to protect herself and her friends and uncover the danger that may still be at large in their tightknit community.
Best-selling author Wendy Walker returns with another riveting thriller, told through the eyes of an unforgettable protagonist.
My thoughts:
I have been a fan of Wendy Walker ever since reading her first psychological thriller, All Is Not Forgotten. Since then, I have read every single one of her thrillers and she has most definitely a must-read author. Of course, when I saw that this book was first released as an Audible Original back in 2021, I grabbed it, but as usual, time got away from me and I never ended up listening to it…until recently. And now it’s coming out in print and I’m so glad everyone is able to experience this book…it is such a fantastic story!
I loved that this is both a small-town mystery and a psychological thriller. We get a deep-dive into Charlie’s character, seeing the world from her perspective, which in this case was quite interesting as she is perhaps the only witness to the murder of Cooper and knows more than she is letting on. Is this because she is afraid to say what happened or because she is protecting those she loves? We also get complicated relationships, particularly the mother-daughter relationship that the author is known for exploring in her novels. In this small town story, this is particularly relevant in many ways.
I loved having it all told primarily from Charlie’s point of view, getting to really know her and see things from her perspective. She is an unforgettable character and I could not have loved her more. She is autistic and lives life according to her rules, but also is fiercely protective of those around her.
I also loved the mystery of this book and really became quite eager to find out who killed Cooper, even though I felt about him what everyone else in the town did – he really was a despicable guy! No wonder everyone had a reason to want him dead and it was hard to narrow down my guesses as to who I thought did it, which I loved! This one really kept me on my toes, with all the twists and turns it took.
I cannot recommend this book enough and am so glad that it is now going to be available in print. Whether you listen to it or grab the print version, it is a fantastic story and really showcases Wendy Walker’s storytelling ability. I only wish that we could get more of Charlie…she truly is a phenomenal character and I’d love to see her again!
Audio thoughts:
This audiobook production was amazing! I loved the female narrator used for Charlie – Page Layle – who also happens to be on the Autistic Spectrum. She did an amazing job with the performance and I love the authenticity this represents. There are some scripted scenes in the audio with a full cast and it was really well-done, with sound effects and everything!
