A woman uncovers earth-shattering secrets about her husband’s family in this chilling page-turner from New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf Sarah 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 … 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.
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Heather Gudenkauf always does a fantastic job at creating twisted plots that keep the reader guessing until the end. I thought several times I had it all figured out, only to be proven completely wrong. This was a page-turner of the best kind. Gudenkauf does a great job of creating a cast of characters that are relatable, especially in their imperfections. Great psychological thriller!
This is a book worth reading. The story is a good mystery. I actually did not figure it out until the end (which is no easy task). The tight writing will keep you guessing until the end. A couple return to the husband’s home town after his aunt passes away in an accident. Years ago Jack (husband) found his mother dead in the cellar. The storyline may sound familiar but then the surprises begin. The family may seem welcoming but as with all families there are always secrets that soon surface. Be prepared for a good solid read.
This thriller sucked me in so hard I read it in a day. Missing Pieces is the kind of family mystery that makes you wonder about those you think you know. This was my first Heather Gudenkauf book, but it won’t be my last.
A plot that is twisty and keeps you turning pages until the final piece is expertly put into place with a shock! For fans of general market psychological thrillers, I recommend.
I could not put this book down! This is the first book that i finished in one day!!
I’ve had this book for awhile and just now have had a chance to read it. I enjoy this genre and thought it was a good read. The plot was good- Jack and his wife Sarah return to his hometown after his aunt has an accident. Sarah starts to discover that Jack has not been truthful about his past and Sarah is drawn into the mystery of the death of Jack’s mother years ago. I was annoyed with Jack for not trusting Sarah with the truth but Sarah seems to have been happy with their lovely marriage until what she discovers doesn’t match up with what she thought was the truth. Gudenkauf’s writing was good and made me want to pick up another of her books!
This American novelist has a talent for writing stories in which small town America and the people who live there are shown to be as interesting, flawed, good and bad as in any big city.
Missing Pieces is about what happens when journalist Sarah Quinlan and her husband Jack fly out to Penny Gate, Jack’s home town in Iowa, to visit Jack’s aunt Julia. She has had a bad fall and is in hospital.
Jack has not been home for twenty years and Sarah hardly knows his family. Jack is not a very forthcoming person and Sarah has never pressed him to talk about his past. Jack’s reason for staying away is that he says it’s too painful to visit a place where his parents died suddenly while he was a teenager, leaving him and his sister Amy orphaned.
Sarah has never had any reason to disbelieve Jack’s story. But, when she arrives in Penny Gate and meets his family, she starts to feel that nothing is right. Why and how did Julia, who isn’t particularly elderly or fragile, fall down those steps at home? Why are her injuries so severe? When Julia has a sudden seizure and dies, right there in her hospital bed, it turns out she has been poisoned. Someone definitely wanted Julia dead – but who? Jack? Or his neurotic sister Amy? Or Julia’s apparently grieving widower? Or Julia’s aggressive son Dean? Or Dean’s beautiful and docile wife Celia, who it turns out once expected to marry Jack? Or the local sheriff who was just a deputy when Jack left Penny Gate for good? Or the sheriff’s dispatcher, who seems extraordinarily (and suspiciously?) willing to help Sarah in any way?
Missing Pieces is a little bit of slow burn in my opinion. The first third of the book dragged by for me, but once Sarah went into journalist mode, it really picked up. I had the who figured out early on, but couldn’t figure out the why, so the ending was still exciting. I look forward to reading more books by Ms. Gudenkauf.