Love Books, Read Books
A Readers Musings and Reviews
The Childfinder by Rene Denfeld
OUT NOW
A haunting, richly atmospheric, and deeply suspenseful novel from the acclaimed author of The Enchanted about an investigator who must use her unique insights to find a missing little girl.
“Where are you, Madison Culver? Flying with the angels, a silver speck on a wing? Are you dreaming, buried under snow? Or–is it possible–you are still alive?”
Description
Naomi Cottle finds missing children. When the police have given up their search and an investigation stalls, families call her. She possesses a rare, intuitive sense, born out of her own harrowing experience that allows her to succeed when others have failed.
Young Madison Culver has been missing for three years. She vanished on a family trip to the mountainous forests of Oregon, where they’d gone to cut down a tree for Christmas. Soon after she disappeared, blizzards swept the region and the authorities presumed she died from exposure.
But Naomi knows that Madison isn’t dead. Can she find the child – and also find out why this particular case is stirring the shadows of her own memories? Could her future be bound to this girl in a way she doesn’t understand?
Review
This is a gripping story of The Childfinder, Naomi, who is searching for an eight year old child, Maddison, missing for three years. The story is told by two voices – Noami and the Snow Girl. Not a style that I always enjoy but in no way did it detract from my enjoyment of this book. It is set in the brutal, yet beautiful landscape of Oregon a place that would be impossible for a five year old girl, not dressed for the weather, to survive. In her search Noami recalls her past – as much as she can – and it is one that has made her uniquely capable to perform this special role and motivates her to search, to believe she can give parents back their children – alive or dead.
There is another storyline of a missing baby which interweaves the main story which I felt enhanced the book as it further showed how Naomi dealt with people and situations.
The characters in the book are very well drawn. Naomi is a wonderful character. The voice of the Snow Child is stunning and told with great understanding and knowledge. There is great empathy in the writing of this book both story and characters.
There is heartache and joy in this story which is well told, well written and well worth reading.
Highly recommended.
Rating: 5*
Information
With thanks to HarperCollins for an uncorrected manuscript proof e-book provided via NetGalley, also thanks, for an unbiased review.
Paperback: ISBN-10: 0062692690
Hardback: ISBN-13: 978-006269269
Publisher: Harper; International ed. edition
Published: 5 Sept. 2017
Language: English
Rene Denfeld is an author, journalist, and death penalty investigator. She has written for the New York Times Magazine, the Oregonian, and the Philadelphia Inquirer, and is the author of four nonfiction books. The Enchanted received the Prix du Premier Roman Étranger in France
Love Books, Read Books 