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    Before She Was Found: A Novel
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    Before She Was Found: A Novel
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    Before She Was Found: A Novel
    Ebook416 pages6 hours

    Before She Was Found: A Novel

    By Heather Gudenkauf

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    A gripping thriller about three young girlfriends, a dark obsession and a chilling crime that shakes up a quiet Iowa town, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Silence.

    For twelve-year-old Cora Landry and her friends Violet and Jordyn, it was supposed to be an ordinary sleepover—movies and Ouija and talking about boys. But when they decide to sneak out to go to the abandoned rail yard on the outskirts of town, little do they know that their innocent games will have dangerous consequences.

    Later that night, Cora Landry is discovered on the tracks, bloody and clinging to life, her friends nowhere to be found. Soon their small rural town is thrust into a maelstrom. Who would want to hurt a young girl like Cora—and why? In an investigation that leaves no stone unturned, everyone is a suspect and no one can be trusted—not even those closest to Cora.

    Before She Was Found is a timely and gripping thriller about friendship and betrayal, about the power of social pressure and the price of needing to fit in. It is about the great lengths a parent will go to protect their child and keep them safe—even if that means burying the truth, no matter the cost.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarlequin
    Release dateApr 16, 2019
    ISBN9781488095429
    Unavailable
    Before She Was Found: A Novel
    Author

    Heather Gudenkauf

    Heather Gudenkauf is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Weight of Silence and Not a Sound. Heather lives in Iowa with her family.

    Read more from Heather Gudenkauf

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    Reviews for Before She Was Found

    4/5

    140 ratings19 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Timely story inspired by current headlines. The story is told from multiple perspectives and not presented sequentially; attention needs be given to the dates on the individual narrations. The interplay of family relations is fascinating, each family finds their child the victim.
    • 4/5
      Urban legends. We all know them. Stories deemed as truth that maybe or maybe didn’t happen. For three young girls, Jordyn, Cora and Violet; their project was on one of the these legends, a local legend. A legend from their town about a Joseph Wither, who was responsible for the disappearance of many young girls spanning over a century. But for one of these three, Joseph becomes more than just a legend and caused an gruesome event involving the three of them with the result of one becoming severely injured. Like many of this author’s works, this story involves many aspects and elements and chocked full of emotion. All young girls want to belong. With peer pressure and mean girls, they can be your friend one minute, then a cruel taunter the next. All girls want to be important to someone and are often eager to believe in anything to achieve that. Our desire to be special sometimes overrides logic. This novel also touches on strong family ties and how family will go to any length to protect the ones they love even if that means accepting the person isn’t who they thought. Heather Gudenkauf has been one of my favourite authors since I read her first one many years ago. The emotional issues draw you in and it’s always a story that intrigues and captivated the reader. This one for me, lacked a bit of the magic I expect from this author; it didn’t flow for me the same way as other previous works. However, I still enjoyed the read and gets a solid four stars.
    • 5/5
      Three teenage girls, sometimes friends, sometimes not, have a sleepover and end up at the old railroad yard where one almost dies. There are a number of twists and turns as the police investigate the case, where a number of people are looked at as possible suspects until the mystery is finally solved. Interspersed are text messages, diary entries, police interviews and chapters written from various characters' perspectives. It was a fascinating look at a crime committed in the modern age of social media.
    • 4/5
      Friendship, urban legend, obsession, and so much more… Heather Gudenkauf’s Before She Was Found is a chilling and creepy thriller, one that’s hard to put down.Together for the sake of a school project, Cora, Violet, and Jordyn have clear differences, but a single sleepover is capable of upending each of their lives. The story, full of mystery and suspense, unfolds skillfully as Gudenkauf delivers twists that kept me riveted until the very end.A fast-paced read that shouldn’t be missed, Before She Was Found is intriguing, for sure—I recommend it.I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
    • 4/5
      Before She Was Found ByHeather GudenkaufWhat it's all about...Jordyn, Cora and Violet are supposed to be having a sleepover at Cora’s house. They are twelve years old, not quite great friends, and not really getting along. Cora is quiet and gullible, Violet is a temperamental follower and Jordyn is the self proclaimed not so nice leader. They sneak out at midnight to an old train yard and one of them is severely injured while the other two seem intent on not telling anyone the truth about what happened. They were working on a school project based on an old school story about someone named Wither and the disappearance of other young girls. This story seems to be based loosely on the tale of the Slender Man. My thoughts after reading this book...Cora was the most fragile of these girls. She believed that Wither was real. She was bullied by Jordyn and even bullied by her own sister. It was almost too easy for her to be caught up in the story of Wither and do whatever he wanted her to do. The parents of these girls were also an integral part of this story. Cora’s parents were too possessive, Violet’s mother wasn’t accessible and Jordyn’s grandparents were overwhelmed by her and often made excuses for her bad behavior. What I loved best...This story was skillfully told. I was bouncing from character to character and had no idea who was responsible for injuring Cora. The book had a fast pace and was always interesting. I had a bit of trouble with the ending but that might have just been me. I liked the question/answer section at the end of the book. A few things were clarified for me there.What potential readers might want to know...Potential readers should find this book very interesting! I received this book from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my choice to read and review it.
    • 5/5
      I'm going to jump right on the fan-girl bandwagon and tell you I loved this book. The opening scene is a jaw-dropper, and from then on I was caught in an emotional whirlpool. The writing style puts us right there with the characters, so we feel their emotions and experience events along with them.This story has multiple adult narrating characters, as well as excerpts from Cora's diary and snippets of text conversations between the girls. This type of format can often be choppy and disjointed, but that is absolutely not the case here. Heather Gudenkauf manages the transitions with ease, maintaining an even flow throughout. I love that we get to see the events unfold from a variety of perspectives, which I think makes this story all the more powerful.I noticed some readers are labeling this a YA novel. I personally wouldn't. Yes, the story centers around three young girls, and therefore will appeal to some young readers. Yet, much of the insight, depth, and struggles presented are very much adult. This story has broad appeal, and labeling it as YA runs the risk of minimizing the impact on adult readers.*I received an advance copy from Amazon Vine.*
    • 4/5
      Well this one reeled me in, hook, line and sinker! And no there are no actual fish in this story. Fishy occurrences yes, real fish, no. Though to be honest this author and I have a good relationship between writer and reader. Three twelve year old girls, sneak out of the house on midnight, of the girl hosting the sleepover. One is discovered in terrible condition, clinging to life after being beaten and stabbed. Another is found covered with blood, in shock but otherwise unhurt. The third ran home and maintains she never went as far as the railroad. Plus, none are saying what happened, blaming it on a person from an urban legend who would now be in his seventies.Have to admit I'm attracted to urban legends. We have a few in my town, one even made into the movie Munger Road. Plus, what happened to these girls? Enticing read, enticing mystery.Covers also some pertinent themes such as the harm bullying causes. How lying can ruin a person's reputation, even if the lies are proven untrue, doubt sets in. What extent a parent or guardian will go in protecting their children, and the harm of what seems at first a funny prank. So a mystery, a thriller but much more than at first meets the eye. All in all a very good read.ARC from Edelweiss.
    • 4/5
      Warning as you pick up this book to start reading it...you will lose track of time and have a hard time putting it down. I found myself starting this book before bed and telling myself I would quit after one more sentence that than lead to one more page. I finally had to stop myself or wake up a zombie for lack of sleep. To be honest, of the three girls Cora, Violet, and Jordyn; I was not overly fond of any of them. Although, I probably would say that I felt the most sorry for Violet and Cora. Jordyn was the "mean" girl. She bullied both the other girls. When I first read started reading this book; I instantly flashed to the urban legend of the Slender Man. Where two girls lured the third girl into the woods and stabbed her to impress the Slender Man. Thus; as I was reading this book, I could not help but make some comparisons to what happened to Cora, Violet and Jordyn with the other event. The ending was alright. I was not happy but I was not totally mad with it. Overall, though I would suggest this book to fans of thrillers.
    • 5/5
      This book delves into feelings we can relate to. From being the twelve year old who feels left out, the twelve year old who is devious enough to feel superior, and the twelve year old who is just along for the ride. It covers bullying, manipulating, feeling ostracized, feeling helpless. And more.The adults in the book are in a similar place, but on a different level. I enjoyed this book to the fullest, as it stays current as well as relatable. It scares us, it makes us sad, it makes us feel vulnerable. What a well-written book! I won't go into more detail because you need to read it for yourself! Enjoy!I was provided an ARC by NetGalley and I thank them.
    • 4/5
      This one got my attention, so I was able to finish it in a day. There are some strange turns, but ultimately I think the ending is worth it. My biggest issue was with the journal entries. They sound very much like an adult trying to write for a child , which...I mean it was, and no child uses completely correct grammar/spelling. It made Cora a little less believable in my opinion.
    • 4/5
      Well done. As a single male parent, it makes me wonder how many things I overlooked in my daughter’s life at that age. As now a teacher of children that age, I’ll now be more attuned.

      Again, well done.
    • 4/5
      Scary as a parent

      I love Heather Gudenkauf’s releases in the last few years and I decided I needed to read her backlist as well. The writing is superbly done as it flows so well. When three 12 year old girls sneak out at midnight, everything changes in the small town of Flint. One of the girls is severely injured and another is in a catatonic state. They claim an old towns ghost did it, but the adults know this ghost story is a hundred years old and a fictional ghost couldn’t hurt young girls like this.
    • 3/5
      I really enjoyed reading this book. It had me hooked and I did not want to put it down. I HAD to know what happened and so I read this book in two sittings. Then I got to the end. I am so disappointed in the finale. I was expecting so much more. I can think of several endings that would have been better than the one that was given. There was so much build up and the end was bland. There could have been more. Imagine being 8-years-old, and Monday your mom tells you that she's going to take you to the candy store Friday and you can fill an entire bag full of any candy you want. You are so excited and thinking about this Candy everyday, the excitement is building up. Thursday night you can't even sleep because you know you're about to get this candy in less than 12 hours. You get to the candy store and all they have is black licorice.
    • 5/5
      Great story! You can broaden your audience by publishing your story on Novel Star Mobile App
    • 3/5
      I was really engaged for at least half the book, and the narrator is great. But it there was too much middle school "frenemies" drama; I can't care that long, without wanting to smack the pre-teens. And the ending was not satisfying.
    • 5/5
      I have been a fan of Heather Gudenkauf's books since her first book, The Weight of Silence in 2009. Many times in this genre, the mystery is the central part of the book and the characters are not as important. What makes her books so fantastic is that there is always a central mystery but it's about characters that we feel like we know and that we care about -which to me, makes the mystery even more intense.This book is about three 12 year old girls. Cora and Jordyn had lived in their small town in Iowa for their whole lives. They had a strange relationship - sometimes they were friends but most of the time Jordyn bullied Cora and turned their other classmates against her. When Violet moves to town, she and Cora becomes friends until Jordyn tries to take that friendship away from her too. When the three of them start working on a class project about an urban legend, it ends with Cora badly injured, Violet totally traumatized and Jordyn unhurt. What occurred during their last sleep over is the mystery of the novel. As the secrets begin to unravel and the truth comes out, everyone is a suspect even those closest to the three girls.This is a wonderful exciting book by an author who writes fantastic books in the genre. As a reader, I cared about the three girls and their families. I wanted them all to be ok and I wanted the 'bad guy' to be punished for what happened to these girls. The ending was perfect and I never saw it coming! This is a novel about friendship and family and wanting to belong no matter the cost.Thanks to Edelweiss for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
    • 5/5
      The way the story unfolds will be confusing to some readers. It’s told through text messages...journal entries.... therapists' notes... as well as various family members' perspectives. All aid the reader in learning more about the girls and their relationships with each other as well as the small mid-western town they call home. Gudenkauf does an excellent job of using social media and urban legends to give the “fear factor” to the story. The characters are all engaging. That combined with a really terrifying...entirely too real topic.... combine to create a story of suspense set in a small Iowa Midwestern town that you will be compelled to read to the very last word...and wish there was more.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars.

      Before She Was Found by Heather Gudenkauf is a heartrending mystery about a twelve year old girl who has been brutally attacked.  

      Cora Landry has always been a bit of an outcast at her elementary school but she is hoping that will change now she is in middle school. So she is relieved when she befriends new to town Violet Crow. Unfortunately, Violet is also friends with mean girl and bully Jordyn Petit, and Cora is disappointed when the three girls are assigned to work on a school project together. They are soon engrossed in their research about an urban legend that started in 1944. Teenager Joseph Wither is suspected of murdering and kidnapping teenage girls from their small hometown in Pitch, Iowa. But after their project is complete, the girls have a falling out that lasts quite a few months. Cora gradually wins back Violet's friendship but she is suspicious about Jordyn's unexpected overtures. She is anxious about Jordyn's motives for suggesting the sleepover that Cora is coerced into hosting. Why would Cora, Violet and Jordyn go the the abandoned train station in the middle of the night? Do the girls know who attacked Cora? And more importantly, why?

      Cora, Jordyn and Violet are from very different backgrounds. Cora lives with her parents and older sister Kendall.  Cora's parents are overprotective but this has not stopped their daughter from being targeted by bullies.  Violet's mother Beth is divorced and they, along with her older brother Max, recently moved to Pitch. Beth works long hours to support the family and she is relieved her daughter spends her afternoons at Cora's house.  Jordyn's grandparents have raised her from the time she was a toddler. Her grandmother is currently in a rehab hospital where she is recovering from a broken hip so her grandfather Thomas is taking care of her on his own. Jordyn has been in her fair share of trouble in the past, but Thomas is certain she is telling the truth about what happened at the train station.

      Psychiatrist Madeline Gideon is called in to help Cora deal with the aftermath of her injuries. She is a little troubled by some of the family's dynamics but she continues to encourage Cora to confide in her. Madeline is also asked to talk to Violet who is clearly terrified about what happened the night Cora was attacked. By talking with both girls, will Madeline find out the truth about what happened that fateful night?

      Weaving back and forth in time, Before She Was Found is an absolutely spellbinding mystery. The story unfolds through different points of view, police interviews, diary entries, text messages, and on-line correspondence.  None of the girls are completely forthcoming about the events that led up to Cora's injuries.  But is their reluctance to talk because they were somehow involved? Or is their silence due to fear? Heather Gudenkauf answers these intriguing questions with an absolutely twist-filled and jaw-dropping denouement that is impossible to predict. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this cleverly written and suspenseful mystery.
    • 5/5
      Three young girls have a sleepover, but instead of staying home, they sneak out to the train yard. One of the girls is badly injured, another covered in blood, and the third seems fine. No one can understand why the girls snuck out. As the story unfolds, we find out about the girls, their relationship to each other and to others in their lives (parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers), and also about the psychiatrist that is treating some of the girls.This novel is a thriller which examines how social media plays a big part in our view of the world, and also how young children are easily influenced. It also delves into the fragility of our psyche. I loved how the author told the story in multiple voices. I didn’t see the ending coming, although the clues were there. I thought the ending was spine-tingling. Novels like this one really make me think about children and how important it is to be kind and loving to them.#BeforeSheWasFound #HeatherGudenkauf