Arden Maynor was only six when a traumatic event changed her life forever.
What’s It All About?
This story is a combination of the past and the present. The present point of view comes from twenty-six-year-old Olivia. The past is from news articles that were written twenty years ago. These articles are included at the beginning of each chapter.
Known for sleepwalking, six-year-old Arden Maynor was thought to have been swept into an underground drainage system by a torrential downpour. After an extensive search, there seemed no other explanation for what could have happened to her.
Then three days later she surprised everyone when she was discovered alive. And, yes, she was in the drainage system. And located just by luck.
She immediately gained a tremendous amount of publicity for being able to withstand the ordeal. Support poured in from the publicity. However, we read that not all of the publicity proved to be positive.
Twenty Years Later
Now, twenty years later, we learn that Arden has changed her name to Olivia Meyer, in hopes of leaving the past in the past. She doesn’t remember too much of the sleepwalking and publicity when she was six, and she certainly isn’t interested in talking about any of it now.
As a hospital administrator in rural Central Valley, North Carolina, she is finally beginning to think things are settling down. No one knows her true identity and life is good.
That is until she beings waking up at night outside her home. Sleepwalking? It hasn’t happened for years. Yet now it’s happening again. Then the worst happens. One evening while sleepwalking she stumbles over a man’s body. Blood is covering her hands.
Is her sleepwalking turning into a nightmare?
Details
- Title: The Girl from Widow Hills: A Novel
- Author: Megan Miranda
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster
- Book Available: (June 23, 2020)
- Pages: 336
My Thoughts
I have to admit this story didn’t capture my interest. I guess better stated, it was a rather slow mystery, but not a suspenseful, thriller. Though the majority of the mystery I had figured out before the end, there were still small things that needed sorting out. So, of course, I did need to continue reading to make sure my assumptions were correct and to untangle the things I hadn’t foreseen.
I always try to offer as much insight as I can as to why something doesn’t click for me. I think part of my disinterest came from a lack of character development. I just didn’t feel much toward Olivia. In fact, all of the characters felt flat and underdeveloped.
And as I mentioned earlier, the plot was just there. Though Olivia fretted somewhat over the thought that she might have killed the fellow that she tripped over, no one else acted overly concerned. It was just a mystery to be solved.
If you like a book that is full of mystery, but not overly suspenseful, this is still a book that you should consider.
What Concerned Me
Overall, it felt slow, somewhat far-fetched, and full of underdeveloped characters. And though I’m not usually good at figuring out endings, I had a good portion of this one solved and what wasn’t solved felt a bit silly and far-fetched.
What I Liked Most
The writing itself was just fine. And for those who like a surprise ending, this should make you happy.
I know Megan Miranda has a lot of fans and this book is worth a try if the plot sounds interesting to you.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC and the ability to post my thoughts.
About the Author
Megan Miranda is the New York Times bestselling author of ALL THE MISSING GIRLS, THE PERFECT STRANGER, and THE LAST HOUSE GUEST, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick. She has also written several books for young adults, including COME FIND ME, FRAGMENTS OF THE LOST, and THE SAFEST LIES. She grew up in New Jersey, graduated from MIT, and lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children.
photo: © Magen Marie Photography
