Cemetery girl

Bell's latest examines the grief, shock, and horror of parents whose child vanishes. Tom and Abby Stuart have no idea what happened to their 12-year-old, Caitlin, four years ago. Did she run away or was she kidnapped? Is she even still alive? With his marriage on the rocks, Tom still can't believe his daughter is dead. Abby wants to hold a funeral for her so she can move on. One day they receive a phone call to come down to the police station. An officer has found Caitlin, alive. The teenager in front of them is definitely their daughter, but she isn't the same little girl they lost. And she doesn't want to talk about what happened to her. Every parent's worst nightmare carries the story on a tense and terrifying journey that brims with emotional authenticity. Bell manages not only to build suspense effectively but also tell a story that goes way beyond simple thrills. Anyone with children who reads this will think twice about security and what is best for young people on the road to adulthood. Copyright 2011 Booklist Reviews.

Set in a small Ohio college town, Bell's suspenseful, disquieting debut thriller gets off to a strong start. The disappearance of 12-year-old Caitlin Stuart, last seen four years earlier walking the family dog in a park near her home, has severely tested the marriage of her parents, Tom and Abby. When Abby seeks closure by scheduling a "funeral," it places the final strain on their fragile relationship. Then the police pick up a teenager outside a mall late one night, somewhat dirty but basically okay, who turns out to be the missing girl. Since Caitlin, a private, self-contained child even before her abduction, is reluctant to share information about her experiences and captor with either her family or police, Tom wonders if she was somehow complicit in her disappearance. Tom's search for answers to what power held his daughter captive drives the narrative, and all his relationships become defined by his quest. Readers compelled to join Tom in his journey deserve a less pat resolution. (Oct.) [Page ]. Copyright 2011 PWxyz LLC

Tom's investigation into the disappearance and return of his twelve-year-old daughter, Caitlin, and her refusal to testify against the man thought to be responsible or discuss what happened to her leads to a shocking discovery.

Tom's investigation into the disappearance and return of his 12-year-old daughter, Caitlin, and her refusal to testify against the man thought to be responsible or discuss what happened to her leads to a shocking discovery. Original. 75,000 first printing.

"Tom and Abby Stuart had everything: a perfect marriage, successful careers, and a beautiful twelve-year-old daughter, Caitlin. Then one day Caitlin vanished without a trace. For a while they grasped at every false hope and followed every empty lead, butthe tragedy ended up changing their lives, overwhelming them with guilt and dread, and shattering their marriage. Four years later, Caitlin is found alive--dirty and disheveled yet preternaturally calm. She won't discuss where she was or what happened. Then the police arrest a suspect connected to the disappearance, but Caitlin refuses to testify, leaving the Stuarts with a choice: Let the man who may be responsible for destroying their lives walk away, or take matters into their own hands. And when Tom decides to try to uncover the truth for himself, he finds that nothing that has happened yet can prepare him for what he is about to discover"--

A missing child is every parent's nightmare. What comes next is even worse in this riveting thriller from the bestselling author of Bring Her Home and Layover.Tom and Abby Stuart had everything: a perfect marriage, successful careers, and a beautiful twelve-year-old daughter, Caitlin. Then one day she vanished without a trace. For a while they grasped at every false hope and followed every empty lead, but the tragedy ended up changing their lives, overwhelming them with guilt and dread, and shattering their marriage.Four years later, Caitlin is found alive—dirty and disheveled, yet preternaturally calm. She won’t discuss where she was or what happened. And when the police arrest a suspect connected to the disappearance, Caitlin refuses to testify, leaving the Stuarts with a choice: Let the man who may be responsible for destroying their lives walk away, or take matters into their own hands.  And when Tom decides to try to uncover the truth for himself, he finds that nothing that has happened yet can prepare him for what he is about to discover.

A missing child is every parent's nightmare. What comes next is even worse in this riveting thriller from the bestselling author of Bring Her Home and Somebody I Used to Know.Tom and Abby Stuart had everything: a perfect marriage, successful careers, and a beautiful twelve-year-old daughter, Caitlin. Then one day she vanished without a trace. For a while they grasped at every false hope and followed every empty lead, but the tragedy ended up changing their lives, overwhelming them with guilt and dread, and shattering their marriage.Four years later, Caitlin is found alive—dirty and disheveled, yet preternaturally calm. She won’t discuss where she was or what happened. And when the police arrest a suspect connected to the disappearance, Caitlin refuses to testify, leaving the Stuarts with a choice: Let the man who may be responsible for destroying their lives walk away, or take matters into their own hands.  And when Tom decides to try to uncover the truth for himself, he finds that nothing that has happened yet can prepare him for what he is about to discover.