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    Somebody I Used to Know
    Somebody I Used to Know
    Somebody I Used to Know
    Audiobook10 hours

    Somebody I Used to Know

    Written by David Bell

    Narrated by Andy Paris

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    The breakout author of The Forgotten Girl and Cemetery Girl, "one of the brightest and best crime fiction writers of our time" (Suspense Magazine) delivers a new novel about a man who is haunted by a face from his past . When Nick Hansen sees the young woman at the grocery store, his heart stops. She is the spitting image of his college girlfriend, Marissa Minor, who died in a campus house fire twenty years earlier. But when Nick tries to speak to her, she acts skittish and rushes off. The next morning the police arrive at Nick's house and show him a photo of the woman from the store. She's been found dead, murdered in a local motel, with Nick's name and address on a piece of paper in her pocket. Convinced there's a connection between the two women, Nick enlists the help of his college friend Laurel Davidson to investigate the events leading up to the night of Marissa's death. But the young woman's murder is only the beginning ... and the truths Nick uncovers may make him wish he never doubted the lies.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJul 7, 2015
    ISBN9781501974656
    Somebody I Used to Know
    Author

    David Bell

    DAVID BELL is the author of five novels including NEVER COME BACK, THE HIDING PLACE, and CEMETERY GIRL. He is an Associate Professor of English at Western Kentucky University. To find out more visit: www.davidbellnovels.com

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    Reviews for Somebody I Used to Know

    3.5/5

    103 ratings30 reviews

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    • 4/5
      EllRay Jakes is a typical third grade student anticipating Christmas. A misunderstanding leads to friendship troubles and challenges to regain a friend. The challenges are hard and the hardest part is deciding to follow through with the biggest one. High quality narration by Corey Allen.
    • 3/5
      Another good installment in this early middle grade series about 3rd grader EllRay Jakes, this time tackling personal identity and friendship at Christmastime. EllRay accidentally embarrasses one of his friends, and to make amends must complete three (or more) challenges, one of which involves being the Emcee at the school's holiday performance. Which would be fine, if EllRay's goal in life wasn't to blend in. Warner, as always, has a good line on how kids think and act and speak, making this an enjoyable and relatable book.
    • 2/5
      This book had an interesting premise: a man sees a girl who looks exactly like his college girlfriend, who died twenty years ago. But it dragged on and on and on, and the twists weren’t as well done as they could have been - maybe just because of how long it took to get there.
    • 2/5
      Elroy Jakes 'accidentally' insults his best friend, and he knows he'll have to make it right somehow. And, the 'somehow' is in the form of three challenges handed down by his on-again-off-again best friend. The third challenge gives Ellray a bad feeling, especially when the whole school and parents are watching. You see Ellray has been given the role of emcee at the Winter Wonderland Holiday program and during the program Ellray has to do something that will not only embarrass himself, but bring shame to his family and 'The Community.'Having recently relocated to a new school, Ellray is painfully aware that he is in the minority with only two students with brown skin. His father constantly brings up the fact and expects Ellray to make them proud. Ellray Jakes Rocks the Holidays is overtly didactic and its dialogue is unrealistic and uncharacteristic of young children. Its 'diversity' lesson is taught with 'in-your-face', constant repetition. Not sure who this book would appeal to, but it in no way is a light and fluffy holiday story, as the title seems to indicate, but more of a lesson on race which is handled awkwardly and without any justification.
    • 4/5
      This was billed as a psychological thriller and I would agree, up to a point. The book had an interesting premise. A little more than half way through, it became tedious and I found myself hoping it would end soon. There were too many characters that were undeveloped and just thrown in as red herrings; they were easy to recognize. I have discovered as of late that a few years ago the average book was 300-350 pages. Now it seems to be over 400 pages and most authors can't handle this. 434 pages 3 1/2 stars.
    • 4/5
      This is an engaging novel about the trials and tribulations of being in the third grade, of trying to blend in, and of friendships, as well as what might be required to repair those friendships when someone gets their feelings hurt.It is also a thoughtful examination the matter of skin color--whether it matters, and why it might matter. Warner deftly navigates this territory from the perspective of a 9 year-old boy, one of only two brown-skinned people in his class. While this delightful book addresses the skin-color issue, the approach warner takes is of Ellray trying to figure these things out for himself; Warner doesn't preach, which I appreciated.My only issue with this audio book was that the narrator seemed to end most sentences on an up-note, making ever sentence seem like a question, which was particularly true when he was performing the children's parts.
    • 4/5
      While shopping in his local grocery store, 40 year old Nick Hansen is startled to see a young woman who looks almost identical to his long lost girlfriend, Marissa, who died 20 years earlier in a house fire. When he attempts to speak to the woman, however, she drops her items and runs out of the store. The next day, the girl is found murdered in a local hotel and Nick becomes a key suspect, not only because he was the last person to be seen with her but also because the girl had Nick's name and address in her pocket. While the police investigate him as a murder suspect, Nick strikes out on his own to try and figure out why this girl looks so much like Marissa. Was she related in some way? Did Marissa really die in the house fire? What really happened all those years ago? As he digs more into the past, Nick discovers that somebody may be trying to kill him to keep from exposing the truth about what really happened.I thought this was a fairly interesting novel with some predictable twists but also a number of red herrings to keep the plot from being completely obvious. The story was a little unbelievable due to the culmination of a number of unusual events and involvement of multiple devious people. However, it was somewhat suspenseful and it was a fast and entertaining read.
    • 3/5
      First of all - I liked the narrator of the story - Corey Allen. I thought he did a great job. However, I had some concerns when I first started listening - mostly because Ellray sorted out a lot of things by gender. Girls do this; boys do that. And maybe that is the way 3rd graders think. It's been a long time since I've been a 3rd grader. But it did get better as the story went along. Ellray accidentally hurts the feelings of one of his best friends, Kevin. To complicate matters, he and Kevin are the only two "brown skinned" kids in his 3rd grade class. And Ellray really wants to continue being his friend. Kevin comes up with a series of "challenges" that Ellray must complete in order to balance the scales. The first is that Ellray has to volunteer to MC the Christmas - um, er - Winter Wonderland holiday program at his elementary school. At first Ellray is terrified. But - he knows his parents are really proud of him and he has a long talk with his teacher, Mrs. Sanchez. While they are talking it dawns on him that Mrs. Sanchez has "brown skin" also - just a different shade. Ellray decides to do the best job he can being an MC. Right before the show, Kevin (egged on by the two class bullies) presents Ellray with one last challenge and Ellray has to decide if he is going to be bullied - or not. There's a lot to think about and Ellray grows up quite a bit over the course of this short book. It borders on being a bit didactic but it also brings up a lot of good discussion points.Full disclosure - I received the audio book from Recorded Books via Library Thing. Thanks! I plan on donating this to my library.
    • 3/5
      I didn't really like this book. The characters were unrealistic for the age they are in the story, The plot is very under developed and it over hammers the race issue where the race issue doesn't exist in the story. (Kid assumes everything that doesn't go his way is because he's black, instead of looking at reality.) I have liked others in the series and the narrator was decent, so I rated it 3 stars.
    • 4/5
      I have seen Ellray Jakes books on our school library shelves, have checked out quite a few to the student, but this is the first one I "read" myself. I really enjoyed the dialog. Ms. Warner definitely has an ear for young students. They definitely sound just like Ellray and his friends. Thei kids inability to understand at the way adults tend to make simple things confusing, e.g., Christmas Break is now called Winter Break. Wouldn't want to upset anyone... EllRay is only one of two black students in his class. Like all kids , he really wants to fit in, but well-meaning adults and kids always seem to make him stand out. This edition of Ms. Warner's popular series finds Ellray nominated to be the emcee of the Winter program. Ellray fears he is just a token minority. What makes this such a wonderful story is how humorously and gently difficult topics are handled. Between Ellray's anxieties, antics, and ever present lists, middle grade readers will barely recognize they've absorbed a lesson about relationships. I would love to give this book 4 stars, but I have to say I really don't feel the narrator of the audiobook, Corey Allen, captures Ellray. He voiced the dialog well because it is well-written, not because he recreates a child's voice. I believe I would enjoy this series much better in multicast format where Ellray would be played by a genuine 8 or nine year old ala Peanuts.Ultimately, however, the kids To whom I have read portions of this work (I have apaperback of this one too.) , are the real reviewers of this work. They love Ellray, and they want this one and more. Keep going, Ms Warner!
    • 4/5
      This book was a holiday story about a young boy who offends his best friend during the hiliday season. It addresses the issue of skin color among school aged children. Loved the voices and animation. Also loved the way lessons were intermingled in the dialog. My 4-8 year old grandchildren loved it.
    • 4/5
      This was billed as a psychological thriller and I would agree, up to a point. The book had an interesting premise. A little more than half way through, it became tedious and I found myself hoping it would end soon. There were too many characters that were undeveloped and just thrown in as red herrings; they were easy to recognize. I have discovered as of late that a few years ago the average book was 300-350 pages. Now it seems to be over 400 pages and most authors can't handle this. 434 pages 3 1/2 stars.
    • 5/5
      Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “Somebody I Used to Know” by David Bell, Berkley Press, December 31, 2018I would like to give everyone fair warning about reading David Bell’s , Author “Somebody I Used to Know” before going to bed. I couldn’t put “Somebody I Used to Know’ down after starting it, and as a result didn’t go to sleep. David Bell has written another thrilling, edgy, page-turning, intense, intriguing, captivating, riveting, suspenseful and thought-provoking novel. The Genres for this novel are Thriller, Mystery, Suspense and Fiction. The timeline within this novel goes back twenty years, when it pertains to the characters or events in the story, and is set in the present. David Bell describes his suspicious and quirky characters as complex and complicated.David Bell has an amazing style of writing some usual routine that turns into something mysterious and dangerous.. In “Somebody I Used to Know”, Nick Hansen, a typical single guy and main character stops to pick up some food to eat at the grocery store. Mind you, nothing exotic or extreme. Nick Hansen glimpses a young woman shopping who is a doppelgänger for his girlfriend,Marissa Minor that has been dead for 20 years in a fire. When Nick tries to talk to her she runs off.The next day, the police knock on Nick’s door , and question him about the woman he saw. The young woman had a note in her pocket with Nick’s name and address. Unfortunately the young woman is now dead.There are twists and turns, and ups and downs. Nick seeks out some friends that he can trust to find out while he himself seems to be considered a suspect. There are betrayals, attempted kidnappings, murder and danger. Many of his friends are not who he thinks. Many things are not what they appear to be.This Mass Market Paperback comes out December 31, 2018. I highly recommend this book for those readers who enjoy a suspenseful and thrilling novel. Only remember you have been warned, do not read this book before going to bed.
    • 4/5
      Twenty years have passed since Nick lost his first love Marissa when she died in a house fire, and he has never gotten over her. On a quick stop at a grocery store he notices a girl who looks just like Marissa, but when he speaks to her she freaks out and runs out of the store. The next day she is found dead with his name and address is in her pocket. What happens next, as this mystery unravels, kept me guessing until the last chapter. This is a great story from a talented writer. 4 stars
    • 3/5
      Would you do anything for you child even if such action was illegal? This is the primary question explored in this mystery/thriller.Nick Hanson and Marissa Minor were college sweethearts, madly in love with each other with plans to be married. However, one day during their freshman year, Marissa breaks it up with Nick telling him that she was not good for him. Four days later she dies with three others in a house fire. Now twenty years later, Nick is a housing authority caseworker, divorced, and still grieving the death of the love of his life. When he enters a convenience store one night, he bumps into a frightened young woman who bears a striking resemblance to Marissa. She bolts from the store and is found the next day in a hotel room strangled with Nick's name and address in her pocket. Nick is now a person of interest with the police. Why was the young woman so far away from her home? Why does she looks like and possesses many of the mannerisms of Marissa? Why was my name in her pocket? Is Marissa still alive? These are questions that Nick want answers to.Overall, I enjoyed this novel and the manner that the questions were answered. The plot advanced at a steady rate, never bogging down. I had a small issue with the resolution of the mystery; I thought some of the loose ends weren't satisfactorily tied up. This was only a minor flaw in my opinion not taking away from my enjoyment of this thriller.
    • 5/5
      Nick Hansen makes a trip to the grocery store one day and sees a young woman who looks exactly like his college girlfriend, Marissa. But Marissa died in a fire twenty years ago and when he tries to speak to the young woman, she gets spooked and runs off.

      The next morning the police arrive at his apartment bright and early to show him a photo of the young woman at the grocery store. She was murdered and a piece of paper was found in her pocket with his name and address on it.

      Nick is convinced there's a connection between the two women. With the help of his friend, Laurel, who happens to be a cop, they dig deep into the past and begin to unravel one hell of a story.

      This book was so good! It was a suspenseful, well-written novel - it flowed together well and the characters were three-dimensional. I'm an animal lover, so I was rooting for Riley the whole way!
    • 5/5
      Loved it! Loved the beginning, loved the middle, loved the end... until the very VERY end, the last couple of paragraphs... sorry, I just thought that after such a great book it would end a little more 'with a bang'... All in all, it was a really great book, couldn't stop reading. I highly recommend it!
    • 3/5
      This was a thriller about a man who twenty years after his college girlfriend's death, is still haunted by her memory and what could have been. One night as he is making a routine trip to the grocery store, he encounters a girl who looks very much like his old flame, and even shares some of her mannerisms. The next morning, he finds out the young girl he startled at the store has been found dead. What follows is a journey of murder, betrayal, and friendship. This book took so many twists and turns I honestly didn't know what was going to happen next. It was an intriguing read, but perhaps I was not in the right frame of mind to read this type of book. Although farely well written, I felt it lacked a sense of vibrancy, and I struggled to connect with the main character. He felt a bit too desperate and lonely to me, but perhaps I'm being cold.
    • 4/5
      I suppose this belongs more in the "suspense/thriller" category than mystery of my shelves, but I don't have one of those and I don't feel like making one. Really enjoyed this book. Looking forward to seeing more from this author. Nothing really felt cliched and the story felt pretty smooth.
    • 5/5
      Somebody I Used to Know is such a great mystery. I was hooked from from Page 1. It is the story of Nick Hansen and the mystery surrounding the supposed death of his college sweetheart. This mystery has gone on for 20 years. Suddenly things begin to fall into place so that it can be solved and all involved can move on with their lives. I'm pleased that Read It Forward chose to send me this book. I highly recommend it to mystery lovers.
    • 5/5
      'Somebody I used to know' is an engaging suspense mystery about loss, deceit, justice and revenge that raises the question how far would you be willing to go to protect your children and loved ones. Being an excellently paced story with authentic characters, it was hard to put down, and I finished it within a couple of days. While some aspects of the plot were somewhat far fetched, the author still managed to create a believable and captivating tale that was written very well. I really liked the main character Nick and thought the inclusion of his relationship with his dog was a nice touch. The book should appeal to fans of Harlan Coben's mystery thrillers. It was the first book by David Bell that I have read but I intend to check out his other works now. I received a complimentary copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
    • 4/5
      In David Bell's new novel, forty-year-old Nick Hansen sees a young woman in the grocery store who looks shockingly similar to his now-dead college girlfriend, Marissa Minor. When he approaches the girl and asks if she has ties to the Minor family, the girl runs away. The next day, Nick finds the police at his door, and they're investigating that same girl's murder--and wondering why she had Nick's name and address in her pocket when she died.What follows is a well written thriller with great pacing and a sometimes frustrating but always likeable protagonist. Nick Hansen is so hung up on the past, I wanted to smack him at times. However, as the book progresses, it becomes obvious that he's hung up on the past with good reason.Bell does a great job with his representation of a college relationship: the hope, love, promise, and lust that comes with youth and freedom. He also keeps the plot moving and develops tension and suspense throughout the book. There are many twists and turns throughout SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW, but with tight prose, Bell ensures the reader can keep up with the narrative.Thus far, every new book by David Bell has been better than his previous ones, and SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW is no exception. I enjoyed it and highly recommend it to fans of the genre, and I look forward to David Bell's next novel. Hopefully his trend of improving with each new book continues!
    • 5/5
      Who could this young girl be that looks so much like his ex girlfriend from college who died in a fire. This was the question that Nick asks himself. There was a lot of suspense in the book and a lot of twists and turns. I had a hard time putting this down. I could not wait to find out who the murdered girl really was. I look forward to reading more books by David Bell. I received this book through FirsttoRead for a fair and honest opinion.
    • 4/5
      The only reason that I did not give this book five stars is because I did not feel that every one else in this story raised to Nick's level. It was frustrating at times as I thought that Nick came off as the only sane and smart one including the police. It was like every one else was just along for the ride. Nick was way smarter and had to tell the cops what was going on. The chapters may be short to make for a quick read but it was Mr. Bell's writing that gets the credit for making this book a quick read. The mystery surrounding Nick's girl friend had my interest until the every end. Speaking of ending. It was a fitting one.
    • 5/5
      How is it that many readers aren't familiar with David Bell's books? I first read "The Hiding Place" several years ago, and then I was hooked read "Cemetery Girl" right after and have eagerly awaited his new releases every year. He writes well crafted mystery/thrillers full of twists and surprises that keep you reading breathlessly until the last page. I was thrilled to receive an ARC copy of his newest book. Nick Hansen is a man who is obsessed with the past. Although previously married and now divorced with a step son he adored, he can't let go of his feelings for his ex girlfriend Marissa, who died tragically in a fire 20 years ago, two days after breaking up with him. On a normal visit to the grocery store, he cannot believe his eyes when he sees a girl that looks just like Marissa, he runs after her and tries to talk with her, but she's terrified and disappears. And then her body is found, with his name and number on a piece of paper in her pocket, and he is a "person of interest".This starts a whole snowball of events to happen as Nick is determined to find out who this girl is. Piece by piece, he learns a little more leading him in all kinds of directions with all kinds of theories. He pesters the police endlessly with theories, they placate him for a while but think his suspicions have no merit. He goes from one lead to another, talking to old friends of the family or anyone that he thinks could help him find out the truth each one giving him just a little more information to lead him to someone else and another puzzle piece.His friend Laurel, we all need a friend like Laurel, helps him out; she isn't really convinced of any of his theories but knows something is off and she's a good friend being there to support him. And then there is Heather, who always seems to be waiting in the wings for Nick. I couldn't see many redeeming qualities in her, their on and off again romance, even before Marisa, is a little strange. She keeps going back to him knowing she will never be "good enough", that Marissa will always be it for him. She needs to move on but has an obsessions of her own going on.As events start to happen we have a ton of questions: Who is this girl that looks just like Marissa, the timing could mean that Nick is the father? Did Marissa really die in that fire 20 years ago? Was the fire an accident? There was no record anywhere of Marissa's family after her death, where did Marissa's family disappear to? Who was the woman in the cemetery? I thought I had all the answers, then there'd be another twist, another piece of the puzzle, I was constantly trying to put it all together.Is Nick really still in love with Marissa, or just the idea of Marisa? She was his first real love, we tend to put them on a pedestal. Either way, he cannot let go of the need to know and find out the truth even at the cost of danger to himself and others. I could identify with Nick and his need to know it all, we all have questions of someone in our past, this was the love of his life and he needed closure. I found myself wanting to read slower to savor "Somebody I Used to Know". It was like when you get that delicious piece of chocolate cake; do you eat it slowly and enjoy every bite, or do you devour it because it's so good and you can't help yourself. Well I did slow it down a little bit as I didn't want it to end, but the last half I read voraciously as I couldn't put it down and all the pieces were coming together.This is a fantastic fast paced thriller, lots of action, realistic and very well written. I am sure mystery readers will not be disappointed. I would also highly recommend the previous two novels of David Bell's that I mentioned above as well as "Never Come Back" and "The Forgotten Girl".I received an advance reader edition of this book from Penguin Group Berkely, NAL via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
    • 5/5
      David Bell has a knack for writing suspenseful crime fiction with a strong emotional, human element, and his latest, SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW, is no exception. This is his third novel that I've read, and once I get started, I just can't put them down.The book's opening is fantastic. The main character Nick sees a young woman who reminds him of somebody he used to know - his college girlfriend who died twenty years earlier. From that moment he is caught up in a web of lies, mystery, and murder. Nick is a very real, relatable character, determined to solve a complex puzzle to clear his name and uncover what really happened all those years ago when he lost his true love.This was a fast-paced, suspenseful novel with several surprise twists along the way. It's a perfect read for fans of dark mysteries and crime thrillers mixed with a poignant family drama. Loved it! 4.5-stars.Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      I've been hearing great things about David Bell for years and own several of his books, but the first one to make it to the top of my ridiculously high TBR pile (to the extent one can actually have a pile on an e-reader) was his newest, Somebody I Used to Know, a twisty, turny thriller about a man who discovers that his one true love may not have died 20 years earlier as he had thought. Nick Hansen sees Marissa's doppelgänger at the grocery store, but before he can discover her connection to Marissa, she is murdered, and Nick becomes the prime suspect. Bell gives the reader several possible explanations to chew upon, each of which seems equally plausible but none of which is as devious as the actual solution.Bell is an expert at weaving seemingly random events into a cohesive and satisfying plot, and his backlist has just moved to the top of my TBR stack. If his previous books are even half as good as Somebody I Used to Know, I'm in for a wild ride.I received a free copy of Somebody I Used to Know through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      Nick is a man who has been divorced but still tries to have a relationship with his young stepson. He is a social worker who is admired by his co-workers for his handling of difficult scenarios. The trouble with Nick is he is unable to move forward, he is really still pining for his first love, a girl named Marissa that he met in college. He still can't understand why she broke up with him a week before she dies in a house fire. Or did she? He has his doubts after encountering a young woman at the grocery shop, a woman who looks remarkably like his dead first love. A young woman who runs from him and than turns up murdered.I loved the character of Nick and his dog Riley. I definitely wanted to know what was going on in this book. Many of us have never forgotten our first loves, I;m sure but Nick, even through his marriage cannot quite let go of Marissa. A journey through the past as Nick must come to terms with the past and find out what is happening in the present. Not quite sure I can go with the ending though, seems quite out of character for Nick. Can't say more, it would be a spoiler but you can read it for yourself. A good story by an author that continues to write absorbing suspense.ARC from publisher.
    • 5/5
      A special thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Berkley/NAL and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Nice Cover! Having read David Bell’s Cemetery Girl, The Hiding Place, and The Forgotten Girl, was thrilled to read an early reading copy of SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW, a suspense mystery thriller keeping you page-turning into the wee hours of the morning!Nick Hansen is a social case worker (housing authority) helping those less fortunate find affordable housing. Nick is divorced, and was a stepdad to Andrew, his former wife Gina’s son. He is a lonely soul, grasping time with the boy, and lives alone with his dog (a hero). He has never gotten over the love of his life, Marissa (his first love), from his college days-- over twenty years earlier. She died in a campus fire and he still thinks of her yet today.. One evening, with a quick run to the nearby market, he is astounded when he runs into a young woman, who looks exactly like a younger version of Marissa. He is so shocked, as is the girl---dropping her milk and fleeing. Nick runs to try and catch up with her; however, she gets away. He cannot believe the resemblance to his former girlfriend. He cannot get the girl out of his head. The next day he discovers the girl he saw in the market the previous night has been murdered in a nearby motel, and to make matters worse, in her pocket was a paper with his name and address! Of course, he has no clue; however, the cops are on his door stop wanting answers. What comes next is a complex web of deceit, lies, and betrayal; a string of crimes centered around Marissa’s death, her sister, her family, and others all with hidden agendas; endless connections--- caught in the crossfire. Nick is obsessed and will stop at nothing to find answers. Is Marissa alive? Why did her family fall off the face of the earth? Could this be Marissa’s daughter? Was she faithful to him or was there another guy involved? Can his friend Laura help him find answers? Nick is a likable romantic soul; however, quite obsessed with Marissa (a lot); carrying his grief and unresolved issues, into his future failed relationships. He never had closure; not being able to grasp why she had broken up with him, when they were so in love--then her sudden death shortly thereafter, as well as her family's abrupt move and disappearance. However, some of the women in his life, not quite as nice. I was traveling while reading, unfortunately, with a lot of stopping and starting; dying to learn the identity of the killer-- pulling into Starbucks for a cozy seat and a Café Americano for the satisfying grand finale! David weaves a complex and intriguing plot with skill and finesse, keeping the intense high with twists and turns around every corner. A riveting tale, you could read in one sitting, as difficult to put down. An engaging and absorbing suspense mystery, not to miss ---Bell’s best work, thus far.
    • 5/5
      I received a copy from netgalley for review.I liked this book. It grabbed me from the very beginning and I finished it in less than three hours. We have the main character Nick who has had a lot of bad situations in his life pertaining to women. While in college he dates a woman named Marissa. Just days after breaking up with him she dies in a dorm fire along with her three roommates. Nick moves on with his life becoming a social worker. Then he marries a woman who has a young son from a previous marriage. Their marriage falls apart and they divorce. He has bonded with her son and wants to see him. She has him arrested. Move to present day and we find him shopping in a grocery store when he sees someone who is almost a dead ringer for his dead college girlfriend Marissa. She even has the same mannerisms. When he approaches her in the grocery store and asks if she is related to that family the girl drops her groceries and runs from the store. The next morning Nick is awakened by the police beating on his door. The young girl he saw in the grocery store has been murdered in motel and was found with his name and address. Nick quickly becomes the prime suspect. He reconnects with friends from college who knew Marissa. Two of those friends Heather and Laurel tell him things he never knew. Laurel convinces him to hire a lawyer. She can’t get what is happening to Nick out of her mind and once she latches on to something, she can’t let it go. The problem is someone somewhere doesn’t want anyone knowing the truth. Reading this book was like watching an episode of 48 Hours on TV. This could have been ripped from the current headlines. If you are one who loves mysteries then I definitely recommend this book. It is easy to read, the pacing keeps you turning pages. Definitely one you need to check out.