Never Knowing http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/Never-Knowing-Chevy-Stevens/9780751545685

By Chevy Stevens

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About the Author

CHEVY STEVENS grew up on a ranch on Vancouver Island and still lives on the island with her husband and daughter. When she's not working on her next book, she's camping and canoeing with her family in the local mountains. Her debut novel, Still Missing, won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel. Visit Chevy at www.chevystevens.com

Reviews

Block off the weekend, grab a comfy seat, and prepare for the rocket ride of your life Lisa Gardner A terrifying, chilling scenario that unfolds into a nightmare that had me keeping the light on at night Rosamund Lupton Those accomplished female thriller writers such as Kathy Reichs and Karin Slaughter had better watch out, for they have a real competitor on their hands in Stevens. If [Still Missing] is anything to go by, she can only get better Daily Mail on Still Missing Stevens's unnerving stand-alone thriller about a woman's search for her birth parents matches the intensity of her impressive debut, Still Missing... the skilful storytelling never flags Publishers' Weekly Frank, fierce, and sometimes even funny, this is a dark tale pinpricked with light-and told by an unforgettable heroine Gillian Flynn on Still Missing

Stevens's unnerving stand-alone thriller about a woman's search for her birth parents matches the intensity of her impressive debut, Still Missing. Growing up on Vancouver Island, Sara Gallagher felt emotionally detached from her adoptive family. Now 33, Sara finally locates her birth mother, university professor Julia Laroche, but is devastated when Julia wants nothing to do with her. Sara learns that she was conceived when her birth mother was attacked by the Campsite Killer, a serial killer responsible for a 40-year reign of terror, who has never been caught. When the circumstances of Sara's birth become public, her biological father contacts her, demanding to meet her and her six-year-old daughter. If she refuses, he will continue to kill. Stevens chillingly portrays a woman searching for her identity who's not just horrified by the results but fearful she or her child has inherited violent tendencies. While the plot flirts with cliches, the skillful storytelling never flags. 150,000 first printing. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Stevens's debut, Still Missing, was a word-of-mouth (and critical) success. Her second thriller once again uses a flashback structure to set a suspenseful mood. Her protagonist, Sara Gallagher, tells her story in sessions with a therapist. Given up for adoption as a newborn, Sara has always felt the abandonment keenly, not least because her adoptive father seems to value her less than his two biological daughters. Now Sara has the chance to learn who her birth mother is. Though she is happily engaged and the mother of a six-year-old daughter, Sara needs to know-to an annoying degree. But her birth mother wants nothing to do with her and in fact seems somehow frightened of Sara. Undeterred, Sara continues to investigate and opens up a hornet's nest when she learns her birth father is a serial killer still on the loose. VERDICT Still Missing was such a strong debut, but everything that worked in that first novel has the opposite effect this time around, making the plot feel forced and the heroine unlikable. That said, this is a book fans will be anticipating, so some copies are a must. [A 150,000-copy first printing; library marketing; see Prepub Alert, 1/24/10.]-Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.