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Stolen Things
A sensational crime, a missing teen, and a mother and daughter with no one to trust but themselves come together in this shocking debut thriller by R. H. Herron.
“Mama? Help me.”
Laurie Ahmadi has worked as a 911 police dispatcher in her quiet Northern California town for nearly two decades. She considers the department her family; her husband, Omid, is its first Arab American chief, and their teenaged daughter, Jojo, has grown up with the force. So when Laurie catches a 911 call and, to her horror, it’s Jojo, the whole department springs into action.
Jojo, drugged, disoriented, and in pain, doesn’t remember how she ended up at the home of Kevin Leeds, a pro football player famous for his on-the-field activism and his work with the CapB—“Citizens Against Police Brutality”—movement. She doesn’t know what happened to Kevin’s friend and trainer, whose beaten corpse is also discovered in the house. And she has no idea where her best friend Harper, who was with her earlier in the evening, could be.
But when Jojo begins to dive into Harper’s social media to look for clues to her whereabouts, Jojo uncovers a shocking secret that turns everything she knew about Harper—and the police department—on its head. With everything they thought they could rely on in question, Laurie and Jojo begin to realize that they can’t trust anyone to find Harper except themselves . . . and time is running out.
“Mama? Help me.”
Laurie Ahmadi has worked as a 911 police dispatcher in her quiet Northern California town for nearly two decades. She considers the department her family; her husband, Omid, is its first Arab American chief, and their teenaged daughter, Jojo, has grown up with the force. So when Laurie catches a 911 call and, to her horror, it’s Jojo, the whole department springs into action.
Jojo, drugged, disoriented, and in pain, doesn’t remember how she ended up at the home of Kevin Leeds, a pro football player famous for his on-the-field activism and his work with the CapB—“Citizens Against Police Brutality”—movement. She doesn’t know what happened to Kevin’s friend and trainer, whose beaten corpse is also discovered in the house. And she has no idea where her best friend Harper, who was with her earlier in the evening, could be.
But when Jojo begins to dive into Harper’s social media to look for clues to her whereabouts, Jojo uncovers a shocking secret that turns everything she knew about Harper—and the police department—on its head. With everything they thought they could rely on in question, Laurie and Jojo begin to realize that they can’t trust anyone to find Harper except themselves . . . and time is running out.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2019
About the author
Rachael Herron (RH Herron)
36 books767 followersUnofficial bio: Rachael eats way too many Cadbury Creme eggs, no matter time of year it is. She lives with a menagerie, and battles dog hair on a full-time basis. She's a Knitter with a capital-K, and she reads WAY more than she'd ever even think about exercising.
Official bio: Rachael Herron (RH Herron) is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thriller, mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she teaches writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. She is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer’s Board. She’s a New Zealand citizen as well as an American.
Find her at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rachael.Herr...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rachaelherron
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rachaelherron
Blog: http://rachaelherron.com/blog
Official bio: Rachael Herron (RH Herron) is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thriller, mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she teaches writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. She is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer’s Board. She’s a New Zealand citizen as well as an American.
Find her at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rachael.Herr...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rachaelherron
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rachaelherron
Blog: http://rachaelherron.com/blog
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 637 reviews
June 3, 2019
So, let me start out by saying I read A LOT of psychological thrillers and suspense novels. It's my favorite genre what can I say? :)
Stolen Things definitely starts out with a bang with that action. Let me tell you! You're definitely kept on your toes from the start.
There is a lot going on in this novel. The author brings up a lot of sensitive topics... murder, rape, police brutality, race issues, and class.
I feel like the story dragged on to much in my opinion after the initial beginning. It was fantastic that is started off at a bang but then it just stopped being interesting.
I also felt that the author's beliefs towards the major topics as mentioned above were laid on a tad bit thick for me. I can handle a lot going on in a novel but I don't particularly like to read a book where you can DEFINITElY see the author's beliefs on the issues that are being discussed.
Overall, 3 stars.
Thank you to Dutton and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub day: 8/20/19
Published to Goodreads: 6/3/19
Stolen Things definitely starts out with a bang with that action. Let me tell you! You're definitely kept on your toes from the start.
There is a lot going on in this novel. The author brings up a lot of sensitive topics... murder, rape, police brutality, race issues, and class.
I feel like the story dragged on to much in my opinion after the initial beginning. It was fantastic that is started off at a bang but then it just stopped being interesting.
I also felt that the author's beliefs towards the major topics as mentioned above were laid on a tad bit thick for me. I can handle a lot going on in a novel but I don't particularly like to read a book where you can DEFINITElY see the author's beliefs on the issues that are being discussed.
Overall, 3 stars.
Thank you to Dutton and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub day: 8/20/19
Published to Goodreads: 6/3/19
November 14, 2019
3.5 stars
A 911 dispatcher receives a call. It's her daughter. What would you do?
Writing: ★★★★ 1/2
Concept: ★★★★
Reveals: ★★★
Suspense: ★★★★
Have you ever had a thriller where the writing was so good, so intense, that you enjoy yourself even as the plot takes off in odd directions? Yeah, that's Stolen Things.
Laurie is a 911 dispatcher. Her husband, Omid, is the local police chief. One day at work, the woman on the other end of the line isn't a stranger—it's Laurie's daughter, Jojo, and she's been drugged, assaulted, and left in an unknown location.
There is no force stronger than a determined woman with nothing to lose and everything to save.
Laurie, Omid, and the police team find Jojo quickly and discover that she's in the home of famously anti-police pro football player Kevin Leeds. Leeds' athletic trainer is found dead near Jojo. Jojo's friend, Harper Cunningham, is still missing. What happened?
Stolen Things takes off like a rocket. A woman on a mission, Laurie commits to finding the perpetrator and avenging her daughter's assault with a vengeance that was one of the reasons she voluntarily took herself of the police force—Laurie didn't trust herself to act rationally when it came down to the wire. Well, now it's down to the wire. And Laurie says f*** it.
One of the many things I loved about Stolen Things was its portrayal of motherhood as a source of strength, not weakness. Laurie was a strong character, and while some of her decisions where definitely questionable, I have to admit that I understood them. Her choices were bad or more bad, and she chose based on what would be the best for her family. There was a ruthlessness that I admired.
Things I didn't like:
The writing was killer, but the references to this exact place in time were numerous. As I was reading, I was able to resonate with certain cultural references, but at the same time it kept throwing me out of the story as I was reminded that this story was happening NOW, in 2019. I'm not sure these references will hold up in 5 years. I also struggled with the author's intense opinions shining through the mystery. Now, for the most part I was in agreement with the author's stance, but just because I agreed doesn't mean it wasn’t distracting—in my opinion, the mystery should have been the forefront.
*****
Original notes: This was such an engaging read. I actually bit my nails while reading—call this an honest nail biter. Others have mentioned the heavy-handed beliefs of the author detracting from their reading experience, and I have feelings about that too. Review to come!
Thank you to Dutton via Netgalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
A 911 dispatcher receives a call. It's her daughter. What would you do?
Writing: ★★★★ 1/2
Concept: ★★★★
Reveals: ★★★
Suspense: ★★★★
Have you ever had a thriller where the writing was so good, so intense, that you enjoy yourself even as the plot takes off in odd directions? Yeah, that's Stolen Things.
Laurie is a 911 dispatcher. Her husband, Omid, is the local police chief. One day at work, the woman on the other end of the line isn't a stranger—it's Laurie's daughter, Jojo, and she's been drugged, assaulted, and left in an unknown location.
There is no force stronger than a determined woman with nothing to lose and everything to save.
Laurie, Omid, and the police team find Jojo quickly and discover that she's in the home of famously anti-police pro football player Kevin Leeds. Leeds' athletic trainer is found dead near Jojo. Jojo's friend, Harper Cunningham, is still missing. What happened?
Stolen Things takes off like a rocket. A woman on a mission, Laurie commits to finding the perpetrator and avenging her daughter's assault with a vengeance that was one of the reasons she voluntarily took herself of the police force—Laurie didn't trust herself to act rationally when it came down to the wire. Well, now it's down to the wire. And Laurie says f*** it.
One of the many things I loved about Stolen Things was its portrayal of motherhood as a source of strength, not weakness. Laurie was a strong character, and while some of her decisions where definitely questionable, I have to admit that I understood them. Her choices were bad or more bad, and she chose based on what would be the best for her family. There was a ruthlessness that I admired.
Things I didn't like:
The writing was killer, but the references to this exact place in time were numerous. As I was reading, I was able to resonate with certain cultural references, but at the same time it kept throwing me out of the story as I was reminded that this story was happening NOW, in 2019. I'm not sure these references will hold up in 5 years. I also struggled with the author's intense opinions shining through the mystery. Now, for the most part I was in agreement with the author's stance, but just because I agreed doesn't mean it wasn’t distracting—in my opinion, the mystery should have been the forefront.
*****
Original notes: This was such an engaging read. I actually bit my nails while reading—call this an honest nail biter. Others have mentioned the heavy-handed beliefs of the author detracting from their reading experience, and I have feelings about that too. Review to come!
Thank you to Dutton via Netgalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2019
4.5/5
Thrillers and I have not been the best of friends lately, to say I’ve struggled with the majority of them is putting it mildly, so while I was definitely intrigued by the premise of this one, I was very hesitant. Thank god I set my hesitation to the side and gave this a fair chance, because it was excellent y’all! It’s much more than just a synopsis that sounds good and doesn’t actually deliver, what’s described is actually the tip of the iceberg and I was here for it the whole way through.
This is inspired by the authors time as a 911 dispatcher which was cool, it definitely gave the whole thing an air of authenticity, something that I always appreciate, especially in a sea of unbelievable thrillers. The action begins right from the start when Laurie gets an emergency call from her teenaged daughter and it never lets up for a second. The story unfolds at a rapid pace and then there are some seriously sharp twists and turns. This one definitely kept me guessing, but I was also invested as well, I not only wanted to know what would happen next, I cared about what would happen as well.
I’m going to go ahead and recommend this to anyone who has been struggling with thrillers as of late, it reeled me in instantly and was one of the only books I’ve read recently that I felt drawn to when I wasn’t reading it, the characters were calling to me even when I wasn’t reading! This probably would’ve even received a five star rating for me, but the ending felt a little rushed and I would’ve liked a little more closure, but overall a solid read.
Stolen Things in three words: Addictive, Pacey and Gritty
Thrillers and I have not been the best of friends lately, to say I’ve struggled with the majority of them is putting it mildly, so while I was definitely intrigued by the premise of this one, I was very hesitant. Thank god I set my hesitation to the side and gave this a fair chance, because it was excellent y’all! It’s much more than just a synopsis that sounds good and doesn’t actually deliver, what’s described is actually the tip of the iceberg and I was here for it the whole way through.
This is inspired by the authors time as a 911 dispatcher which was cool, it definitely gave the whole thing an air of authenticity, something that I always appreciate, especially in a sea of unbelievable thrillers. The action begins right from the start when Laurie gets an emergency call from her teenaged daughter and it never lets up for a second. The story unfolds at a rapid pace and then there are some seriously sharp twists and turns. This one definitely kept me guessing, but I was also invested as well, I not only wanted to know what would happen next, I cared about what would happen as well.
I’m going to go ahead and recommend this to anyone who has been struggling with thrillers as of late, it reeled me in instantly and was one of the only books I’ve read recently that I felt drawn to when I wasn’t reading it, the characters were calling to me even when I wasn’t reading! This probably would’ve even received a five star rating for me, but the ending felt a little rushed and I would’ve liked a little more closure, but overall a solid read.
Stolen Things in three words: Addictive, Pacey and Gritty
July 3, 2020
Laurie is working as a 911 dispatcher, when she gets the most terrifying call of her career, in this captivating and convincing thriller!
Not your typical child abduction story. That’s just the beginning and there is so much more to this tense story...deep-seated scandals, terrifying secrets and oh-so-twisted deceit.
It was hard to figure out who to trust and who you didn’t want to turn your back on, but what a ride while trying to figure it out!
Thank you to Edelweiss, Dutton and RH Herron for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion!
My Rating: 3.5 ⭐️’s (rounding up)
Published: August 20th 2019 by Dutton
Pages: 368
Recommend: Yes. This audiobook had perfect narrators, that kept me glued to my headset.
@RachaelHerron @DuttonBooks @weiss_squad
#Edelweiss #StolenThings #AudioBook #TenseThriller
After publication, my reviews can also be found:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amz...
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/takemeaway21
BN.com, BookBub
”No one ever called 911 because they were having a great day.”
Not your typical child abduction story. That’s just the beginning and there is so much more to this tense story...deep-seated scandals, terrifying secrets and oh-so-twisted deceit.
It was hard to figure out who to trust and who you didn’t want to turn your back on, but what a ride while trying to figure it out!
Thank you to Edelweiss, Dutton and RH Herron for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion!
My Rating: 3.5 ⭐️’s (rounding up)
Published: August 20th 2019 by Dutton
Pages: 368
Recommend: Yes. This audiobook had perfect narrators, that kept me glued to my headset.
@RachaelHerron @DuttonBooks @weiss_squad
#Edelweiss #StolenThings #AudioBook #TenseThriller
After publication, my reviews can also be found:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amz...
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/takemeaway21
BN.com, BookBub
August 23, 2019
My thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for sending me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the publisher.
This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. It's compulsively readable and fast-paced, but the twist at the end is a bit much to swallow. I loved the alternating perspectives. "Mom who is practically married to her job" alternating with "teen daughter who the mother doesn't know half as well as she thinks" is a little overdone in the genre at this point, but I thought it worked really well here.
There is a wide divide between the two POV characters, not just for typical "angsty teens are unreachable" reasons, but because Jojo is at a point in her life where she's figuring out her own politics and value system, and they don't align with those of her parents. Mystery/thriller novels are best, in my opinion, when they're not driven solely by the mystery; Stolen Things has lots of interesting relationship dynamics to keep the story interesting.
One of the predominant themes of the book is police brutality, and that is part of what's driving a wedge between Jojo and her parents, who both work in law enforcement (her father as a police chief and her mother, a former police officer as a 911 dispatcher). Also prominent in the story is an exploration of rape culture and victim blaming. While including social issues like these in a story can be admirable, I'm not sure that a fast-paced thriller is really up to the task of treating these topics with the gravity that would be necessary for them to feel like a natural part of the story. While the book is not categorized as Young Adult and is a bit too dark to fit into the genre, some of the passages which centered on social issues had a very YA feel to them.
Overall, this was definitely a page turner, but some sections felt awkward and fell flat. Stolen Things was worth a read and may be a great choice for fans of authors like Mary Kubica and Megan Miranda.
You can read all of my reviews on my blog, Jenna Bookish!
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This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. It's compulsively readable and fast-paced, but the twist at the end is a bit much to swallow. I loved the alternating perspectives. "Mom who is practically married to her job" alternating with "teen daughter who the mother doesn't know half as well as she thinks" is a little overdone in the genre at this point, but I thought it worked really well here.
There is a wide divide between the two POV characters, not just for typical "angsty teens are unreachable" reasons, but because Jojo is at a point in her life where she's figuring out her own politics and value system, and they don't align with those of her parents. Mystery/thriller novels are best, in my opinion, when they're not driven solely by the mystery; Stolen Things has lots of interesting relationship dynamics to keep the story interesting.
One of the predominant themes of the book is police brutality, and that is part of what's driving a wedge between Jojo and her parents, who both work in law enforcement (her father as a police chief and her mother, a former police officer as a 911 dispatcher). Also prominent in the story is an exploration of rape culture and victim blaming. While including social issues like these in a story can be admirable, I'm not sure that a fast-paced thriller is really up to the task of treating these topics with the gravity that would be necessary for them to feel like a natural part of the story. While the book is not categorized as Young Adult and is a bit too dark to fit into the genre, some of the passages which centered on social issues had a very YA feel to them.
Overall, this was definitely a page turner, but some sections felt awkward and fell flat. Stolen Things was worth a read and may be a great choice for fans of authors like Mary Kubica and Megan Miranda.
You can read all of my reviews on my blog, Jenna Bookish!
Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr
October 23, 2019
This story starts strong and never lets up on the pacing. I felt like something new and WTF was happening at every turn. But it wasn't overly done and felt eerily real. There's no one in this story without any guilt - well maybe except for a couple of characters... but like with humans in real life, we all have faults. There's an outstanding feeling of realness here - the family bonds.. how you think you really know someone and then you're forced to see a side you never knew was there. Then to have to reconcile all of that and decide how you feel after.
Teenagers think they're so grown. Parents think they're still kids. Really, they're in between. The protectiveness of parents towards their children. ALL the things behind the scenes you never see and are shocked to find out. I just really liked how the author put all these things together.
At first I thought this was going to just be your typical cop family with a kid who got the bad end of the stick and let's see how the mystery unfolds. I got a LOT more than I was expecting. Unfortunately with the political climate these days and with the (now more public) displays of police brutality and racial tensions that are rising, we see this across the board via live streaming, the news, via T.V. shows, movies, books... and this novel also touches greatly on police corruption. So at times, this definitely felt heavy. Almost reminds me of one of the latest episodes of 9-1-1 (one of my favorite shows) and for good reason - this is loosely based on the author's experience as a 9-1-1 dispatcher and it shows. This is the reason you read author's notes, everyone. Sometimes it can make you see the book in a different light then you did when you were actually reading it.
Teenagers think they're so grown. Parents think they're still kids. Really, they're in between. The protectiveness of parents towards their children. ALL the things behind the scenes you never see and are shocked to find out. I just really liked how the author put all these things together.
At first I thought this was going to just be your typical cop family with a kid who got the bad end of the stick and let's see how the mystery unfolds. I got a LOT more than I was expecting. Unfortunately with the political climate these days and with the (now more public) displays of police brutality and racial tensions that are rising, we see this across the board via live streaming, the news, via T.V. shows, movies, books... and this novel also touches greatly on police corruption. So at times, this definitely felt heavy. Almost reminds me of one of the latest episodes of 9-1-1 (one of my favorite shows) and for good reason - this is loosely based on the author's experience as a 9-1-1 dispatcher and it shows. This is the reason you read author's notes, everyone. Sometimes it can make you see the book in a different light then you did when you were actually reading it.
October 24, 2019
3.4 Stars or so rounded down. This was a pretty good mystery read, although a bit predictable. I enjoyed the representation of the queer and Asian and black communities. I think sometimes we take for granted the privilege we have and in a roundabout way this book made me realize this. I did predict the end so that took a little bit away from my overall enjoyment of this one. Definitely going to continue reading this author!
February 22, 2019
For nearly two decades, Laurie has worked as a 911 dispatcher. Her worst nightmare suddenly becomes a reality when she gets a 911 call from her 16-year old daughter, Jojo, who has no idea where she is and what happened to her. The last thing she remembers is hanging out with a friend of hers—Kevin Leeds—a much older, pro football player that Laurie had no idea about. Laurie’s husband, Omid, is Chief of Police and is the first to arrive at Leeds’ home where they find traumatized Jojo.
Since Jojo has no recollection of what happened, Omid is forced to rely on what’s in front of them to tell them what happened. They discover a dead body—a young man named Zach—in the closet and Kevin downstairs, claiming to not know what happened. Jojo is wondering where her best friend, Harper, is since her last memory is of them being together.
Omid and Laurie don’t think that things could be any worse, but when Jojo’s rape kit comes back positive, they are proven wrong. They’re thrown for a loop because Jojo never mentioned Zach or Kevin and she hasn’t hung out with Harper for over two years. It’s becoming apparent that Omid and Laurie don’t know their little girl as well as they thought they did.
And when Harper appears missing from her bedroom, the PD not only have a murder and rape case on their hands, but a missing person, too. But Laurie and Jojo discover that the department is not as clean as they want to appear. Something isn’t right and they need to figure out the truth for themselves. If they don’t put the dots together fast, they may not be able to save Harper...
Stolen Things is R.H. Herron’s premiere novel. A crime mystery set in our current social climate, told through the perspectives of mom and daughter—Laurie and Jojo. This story takes place in Northern California, so I felt drawn to it initially. But I felt the story wasn’t compelling and dragged on. I appreciated the subject-matter, but felt the ideals of the author were laid on a little too thick for my liking. I don’t think I’d be interested in reading anything else by this author. 2.5/5 stars.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Dutton and R.H. Herron for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Since Jojo has no recollection of what happened, Omid is forced to rely on what’s in front of them to tell them what happened. They discover a dead body—a young man named Zach—in the closet and Kevin downstairs, claiming to not know what happened. Jojo is wondering where her best friend, Harper, is since her last memory is of them being together.
Omid and Laurie don’t think that things could be any worse, but when Jojo’s rape kit comes back positive, they are proven wrong. They’re thrown for a loop because Jojo never mentioned Zach or Kevin and she hasn’t hung out with Harper for over two years. It’s becoming apparent that Omid and Laurie don’t know their little girl as well as they thought they did.
And when Harper appears missing from her bedroom, the PD not only have a murder and rape case on their hands, but a missing person, too. But Laurie and Jojo discover that the department is not as clean as they want to appear. Something isn’t right and they need to figure out the truth for themselves. If they don’t put the dots together fast, they may not be able to save Harper...
Stolen Things is R.H. Herron’s premiere novel. A crime mystery set in our current social climate, told through the perspectives of mom and daughter—Laurie and Jojo. This story takes place in Northern California, so I felt drawn to it initially. But I felt the story wasn’t compelling and dragged on. I appreciated the subject-matter, but felt the ideals of the author were laid on a little too thick for my liking. I don’t think I’d be interested in reading anything else by this author. 2.5/5 stars.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Dutton and R.H. Herron for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2020
I confess that I am a major fan of psychological thrillers and crime novels. Suspense draws me quickly into its web of evildoers and their heinous ways. I may be a little unbalanced myself – or maybe just a bored old lady!
For seventeen years, R.H. Herron worked as a 911 fire/medical dispatcher, and this book is loosely inspired by actual events. In her debut suspense novel, the author grabs your attention with a multi-layered and very busy plot in a story that is every parent’s worst nightmare and then some. She mixes both crime and societal prejudices. This may cause problematic triggers and comfort zone issues for some readers.
A diversified cast of characters that includes a teenage girl discovering herself, along with her whacked-out best friend, caring parents, clueless parents, a NFL football star and more, along with a whole passel of cops (more bad than good in this situation, I’m afraid).
With points of view from both mother and daughter, Laurie and JoJo expose themselves and allow readers to really see the weaknesses within the individuals and their relationships. I loved this aspect of the story and how really personal it became.
The book keeps you on the edge of your seat and breathlessly awaiting what will happen next. The characters are flawed and aren’t altogether likeable. However, I felt sorry for the pain and agony they found themselves in.
It fulfills the criteria for a successful page-turner. Very well-written and plotted literally diving immediately into an action-packed storyline that never quits. Its whack-a-mole scenario refuses to stop and keeps readers challenged by sending them chasing one problem after another and just when one problem is solved, another immediately pops up.
The ending was a little weak and abrupt and left some dangling ends that I felt definitely needed to be tied up, but that’s the only complaint that hit my negative radar. Overall, Herron hit her mark! This book delivers in spades. And kudos on the captivating cover art.
For seventeen years, R.H. Herron worked as a 911 fire/medical dispatcher, and this book is loosely inspired by actual events. In her debut suspense novel, the author grabs your attention with a multi-layered and very busy plot in a story that is every parent’s worst nightmare and then some. She mixes both crime and societal prejudices. This may cause problematic triggers and comfort zone issues for some readers.
A diversified cast of characters that includes a teenage girl discovering herself, along with her whacked-out best friend, caring parents, clueless parents, a NFL football star and more, along with a whole passel of cops (more bad than good in this situation, I’m afraid).
With points of view from both mother and daughter, Laurie and JoJo expose themselves and allow readers to really see the weaknesses within the individuals and their relationships. I loved this aspect of the story and how really personal it became.
The book keeps you on the edge of your seat and breathlessly awaiting what will happen next. The characters are flawed and aren’t altogether likeable. However, I felt sorry for the pain and agony they found themselves in.
It fulfills the criteria for a successful page-turner. Very well-written and plotted literally diving immediately into an action-packed storyline that never quits. Its whack-a-mole scenario refuses to stop and keeps readers challenged by sending them chasing one problem after another and just when one problem is solved, another immediately pops up.
The ending was a little weak and abrupt and left some dangling ends that I felt definitely needed to be tied up, but that’s the only complaint that hit my negative radar. Overall, Herron hit her mark! This book delivers in spades. And kudos on the captivating cover art.
August 31, 2019
Stolen Things is a book about a dispatcher and policeman wife/husband team and their 16 year old daughter. The story showed promise in the beginning, as suspense builds regarding a crime the daughter is involved in. But soon the writing became repetitive and almost juvenile. I was disappointed it was so poorly written but continued reading to find out what happened. It got worse as cliches were used regarding police brutality. The ending was so improbable and unsatisfying; I wish I hadn’t wasted my time. Be forewarned.
August 20, 2019
In a time when thrillers are a dime a dozen, it’s really refreshing to find one that stands apart - fortunately, this was the case with RH Herron’s Stolen Things. What starts out with 911 dispatcher Laurie receiving a call from her daughter in trouble, things only escalate - from police tension, kidnapping, sexual assault and murder, Stolen Things leaves no subject untouched and will keep you on your toes in the process. This fast paced thriller is sure to keep you hooked from start to finish and I highly recommend.
Thank you to Dutton for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Dutton for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
June 8, 2020
RATING: 3.5 STARS
2019; Penguin Group/Dutton
Stolen Things started out with a bang, but soon ran out of steam, pace wise. Laurie Ahmadi works as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, in Northern California, when she receives a call from her own daughter, Jojo. She is drugged and disoriented, but not sure where she is. When the call is disconnected, she looks to the police to help her find her daughter. The police, who employs Omid, Jojo's father, find her in a home of "Kevin Leeds, a pro football player famous for his work with the Citizens Against Police Brutality movement". Jojo has been raped and Kevin’s friend and trainer, whose beaten corpse is also discovered in the house. Harper, Jojo's best friend, who was with her the night before is now missing. Laurie and Jojo must dig through Harper's life to find her. I liked this novel on the whole, but it was a bit easy to figure out. I am looking forward to her next book.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2019; Penguin Group/Dutton
Stolen Things started out with a bang, but soon ran out of steam, pace wise. Laurie Ahmadi works as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, in Northern California, when she receives a call from her own daughter, Jojo. She is drugged and disoriented, but not sure where she is. When the call is disconnected, she looks to the police to help her find her daughter. The police, who employs Omid, Jojo's father, find her in a home of "Kevin Leeds, a pro football player famous for his work with the Citizens Against Police Brutality movement". Jojo has been raped and Kevin’s friend and trainer, whose beaten corpse is also discovered in the house. Harper, Jojo's best friend, who was with her the night before is now missing. Laurie and Jojo must dig through Harper's life to find her. I liked this novel on the whole, but it was a bit easy to figure out. I am looking forward to her next book.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
February 12, 2019
4 stars!
Fantastic debut!
I loved the two pov's and they they are told from the mother and the daughter.
I loved the diversity in the cast.
There were some "twists" that I saw coming early, but it didn't detract from the overall enjoyment because I was invested in the characters.
Cant' wait to see more from this author.
Fantastic debut!
I loved the two pov's and they they are told from the mother and the daughter.
I loved the diversity in the cast.
There were some "twists" that I saw coming early, but it didn't detract from the overall enjoyment because I was invested in the characters.
Cant' wait to see more from this author.
March 26, 2022
I loved this! Fast paced story that has everything from murder and corruption, to family secrets and betrayals, I couldn't stop listening. My mind kept going from "this is slightly farfetched" to "but is it though?" (especially with current events being the way they are). It did leave a few questions unanswered, but overall, I really enjoyed it.
Content warning - rape is a pretty big theme throughout this book and has detailed scenes of a forensic examination.
Content warning - rape is a pretty big theme throughout this book and has detailed scenes of a forensic examination.
March 12, 2022
I'm as critical of police as anyone but this takes every stereotype you can think of and doesn't see any of them through. This book is all over the place. It had a lot of potential if they'd picked a topic and stuck with it. It started out fast and really interesting. Then it got silly but I was too far in to not finish, but it was a struggle.
I also get tired of the "I hate cops but also I am one" trope. Pick a struggle. This was like recent SVU. 🤡🤡🤡
I also get tired of the "I hate cops but also I am one" trope. Pick a struggle. This was like recent SVU. 🤡🤡🤡
January 15, 2020
I couldn't focus on book due to the author's clear hatred of cops.
October 18, 2019
Jojo was raped. Her best friend found dead. Another gone missing. Who did it? Who would be this violent?
Jojos mom is a 9-1-1 operator while her dad works at the police station she should have been safe. Been protected.
Knowing the ending its hard to write a review without unintentionally spoiling who did it. But what i will say is that i really liked this and the who done it fooled me.
I also really liked that the author was previously a 9-1-1 operator so she took from her own experiences, which I suppose could be seen as a bad thing considering her story was rather dark.
Jojos mom is a 9-1-1 operator while her dad works at the police station she should have been safe. Been protected.
Knowing the ending its hard to write a review without unintentionally spoiling who did it. But what i will say is that i really liked this and the who done it fooled me.
I also really liked that the author was previously a 9-1-1 operator so she took from her own experiences, which I suppose could be seen as a bad thing considering her story was rather dark.
October 18, 2019
Horrible! Small minded, racist, and not close to being appropriate for YA shelf.
September 10, 2019
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for my copy of Stolen Things by R.H Herron. This title released August 20, 2019.
August was possibly one of my worst reading months - we had a flood in our home just after the long weekend and the first half of the month was spent dealing and thinking of that with little to no motivation to sit and read. It's amazing how life can do that sometimes. It also seemed that every book I tried to pick up during this time just didn't quite grab my attention enough to distract me from what was going on or keep me engaged long enough to truly enjoy the distraction....until I picked up Stolen Things.
I started this one with minimal expectations for no other reason than because of the month I was having and to my surprise this book not only grabbed my attention from the first page, it held my interest and attention right to the end. And best part: it was a DEBUT!
Anyone who knows me and my reading, it's been a great year for me in reading incredible debuts - this was no exception. This book had all the ingredients for the perfect binge read and will not disappoint. The story unfolds pretty quickly and takes on some intense twists and turns. It will keep you guessing right until the very end, which I love - it's a sure way to keep a reader's interest.
When I found out it was loosely based on the author's personal career as a 911 dispatcher, the story took on more meaning for me in the authenticity department and truly had me invested. No subject is off the table in this one, so be prepared for some heavy content - but if you are a true fan of thrillers and suspense, you will not be disappointed.
A solid thriller read, I highly recommend this book be added to your TBR if it isn't already.
August was possibly one of my worst reading months - we had a flood in our home just after the long weekend and the first half of the month was spent dealing and thinking of that with little to no motivation to sit and read. It's amazing how life can do that sometimes. It also seemed that every book I tried to pick up during this time just didn't quite grab my attention enough to distract me from what was going on or keep me engaged long enough to truly enjoy the distraction....until I picked up Stolen Things.
I started this one with minimal expectations for no other reason than because of the month I was having and to my surprise this book not only grabbed my attention from the first page, it held my interest and attention right to the end. And best part: it was a DEBUT!
Anyone who knows me and my reading, it's been a great year for me in reading incredible debuts - this was no exception. This book had all the ingredients for the perfect binge read and will not disappoint. The story unfolds pretty quickly and takes on some intense twists and turns. It will keep you guessing right until the very end, which I love - it's a sure way to keep a reader's interest.
When I found out it was loosely based on the author's personal career as a 911 dispatcher, the story took on more meaning for me in the authenticity department and truly had me invested. No subject is off the table in this one, so be prepared for some heavy content - but if you are a true fan of thrillers and suspense, you will not be disappointed.
A solid thriller read, I highly recommend this book be added to your TBR if it isn't already.
April 8, 2019
My review of Stolen Things by R.H. Heron
5/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I was just granted a wish to read this book 7 hours ago and I read it in one setting! This is most definitely a 5 star read. This book was superb! Action packed from the very first page with scenes that knock you out of your seat. You'll feel as if you're at the movies while reading this. I simply couldn't put this book down. I kept wanting to know who had hurt Laurie's 16 year old daughter, JoJo, and who had kidnapped JoJo's best friend, Harper? All of the mystery surrounding the could be crooked/bad cops that Laurie and her husband Omid worked with kept me intrigued and turning the page. And not to mention JoJo's secret life and the activist group, CapB, she's been involved with. I haven't read a book this fast in ages. Everytime I thought I had the perpetrator figured out, another clue would be thrown in and I'll have to go right back to the drawing board to figure things out. Towards the end I did have a very good inkling as to who was behind all of the crimes and drama. It turns out that I had pegged one of the perpetrators right all along. This book discusses race, homosexuality, current political views involving racial police brutality, teenage love, rape, murder and so much more. There are some pretty graphic scenes involved. This has been the absolutely best thriller I've read all year and I'll definitely be recommending this book to others. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this amazing and literary satisfying story. Kudos to the author for creating this masterpiece.
5/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I was just granted a wish to read this book 7 hours ago and I read it in one setting! This is most definitely a 5 star read. This book was superb! Action packed from the very first page with scenes that knock you out of your seat. You'll feel as if you're at the movies while reading this. I simply couldn't put this book down. I kept wanting to know who had hurt Laurie's 16 year old daughter, JoJo, and who had kidnapped JoJo's best friend, Harper? All of the mystery surrounding the could be crooked/bad cops that Laurie and her husband Omid worked with kept me intrigued and turning the page. And not to mention JoJo's secret life and the activist group, CapB, she's been involved with. I haven't read a book this fast in ages. Everytime I thought I had the perpetrator figured out, another clue would be thrown in and I'll have to go right back to the drawing board to figure things out. Towards the end I did have a very good inkling as to who was behind all of the crimes and drama. It turns out that I had pegged one of the perpetrators right all along. This book discusses race, homosexuality, current political views involving racial police brutality, teenage love, rape, murder and so much more. There are some pretty graphic scenes involved. This has been the absolutely best thriller I've read all year and I'll definitely be recommending this book to others. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this amazing and literary satisfying story. Kudos to the author for creating this masterpiece.
April 13, 2019
While well written for the most part, it will really take many out of their comfort zones. The authors bio at the end literally ruined a book I was kindly given a net galley arc to read. As it appears, this pseudonym person is totally against police even having worked for them. Quite a shame because except for certain things I chose to overlook in the book, it was worthy of higher praise but I don't believe political views need to be used
September 11, 2019
This was truly awful with extreme profanity (which wasn’t necessary) and a storyline that I found offensive. A whole police department full of pedophiles? Give me a break. Do not waste your time or money. If you’re into a mom and 16 year daughter cussing at each other, F this and F that, you might enjoy it. Yeah, and dad joins in from time to time as well. I’m dropping my copy in the trash.
January 23, 2021
DNFed a little over halfway. It started out as a good mystery/thriller, but I just didn't feel comfortable with the sexual content or the frequency of the cursing.
March 7, 2022
So much potential, great story BUT too much filler and a weak ending.
January 31, 2020
This was a fast paced, exciting book! Who did it? Where is Harper? Are "they" really that corrupt? Wooooo chile!!! Rape, murder, kidnapping, heart attacks... so much going on, but I loved it!
August 15, 2019
Stolen Things is one of several ARCs I’ve read coming out on August 20, and it is ah-may-zing. Thanks so much to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
Stolen Things starts off full steam ahead. Laurie works as a 911 dispatcher in a small Northern California town. The entire law enforcement department is an extension of her own family: her husband is the police chief, and their teenage daughter, Jojo, has grown up around the force. So when Laurie is working the night shift and receives a 911 call from her own daughter, the entire department springs into action to help. Jojo wakes up from a drugged state with no memory of how she wound up in the home of her friend, Kevin, a pro football player who is active in an anti-police brutality group. She has no idea where her best friend Harper is, who went missing sometime during the same night. Terrified and traumatized, Jojo feels like she has to do something to help, so she begins searching Harper’s social media to look for clues about her whereabouts…and instead uncovers a horrible secret. Jojo thought she knew everything about Harper, but as she and Laurie discover more and more about her secrets, they realize they can’t trust anyone else to help them – not even those they hold closest and most dear. (dun dun dun)
This debut from Herron is seriously breath-taking. I was messaging my friends after the very first chapter, telling them how freaking good this book is. You know any book that has me telling people about it within the first few pages is a kick-ass book. I am so, so happy I was able to read this one early, and I’m telling you all – you need to check it out.
Okay, anyway – time for my rating deets!
Plot – 2/2: You should be able to tell from the synopsis that the plot of Stolen Things is WILD. A mom on the receiving end of a 911 call from her daughter? Yep, holy crap. The way the author set up so much within the story – so many issues like interracial marriage, racism, sexual orientation, physical and sexual assault survivorship, police brutality, etc – without making the plot feel convoluted or over the top was so impressive. A thriller that gets you thinking about multiple issues like this while maintaining an unputdownable story arc is one excellent thriller.
Writing – 2/2: As I said, Herron puts a TON in this book. And she writes about all the incredibly sensitive, difficult topics with such grace and understanding and real emotion that you really feel a connection with the story. Her writing makes you think, while also making you continue to want to read “just one more chapter.”
Thrills/Suspense – 2/2: Yup. Those are here. I mean, obviously. Stolen Things is action packed while also keeping you guessing what the heck is going on. What happened to Jojo? Where is Harper? Who can really be trusted? The twists toward the end, mixed with a TON of “holy crap shit is going down” moments seriously makes it impossible to stop reading once you reach the last half of the book.
Characters – 2/2: Okay, I LOVE Jojo. She is so honest and brave and loyal – she is seriously everything I would want any teenage daughter of mine to be. She stands up for what she believes in and is not afraid to call shit out when she sees it. She also just desperately wants to be loved, while going through all the typical teenage issues with her family. Seeing her growth throughout the book was so great. Also, Laurie – what a mom. Like, the ultimate protective mama bear. I LOVED that Herron wrote her as a mom that actually listens and believes her daughter, even when what Jojo was saying was hard to hear. The strength in Laurie was amazing.
Feel – 2/2: Can you tell I liked this one yet? 😉 This book had it all – thrills, action, emotional issues, strong female characters – the works. It definitely isn’t an easy read; some major plot points would likely be hard for some readers, but Herron handles everything with such great emotional intelligence, it is worth the read.
A solid 10/10 makes this another 5 star read! Happy reading, friends! Go snag this one on August 20th!
Stolen Things starts off full steam ahead. Laurie works as a 911 dispatcher in a small Northern California town. The entire law enforcement department is an extension of her own family: her husband is the police chief, and their teenage daughter, Jojo, has grown up around the force. So when Laurie is working the night shift and receives a 911 call from her own daughter, the entire department springs into action to help. Jojo wakes up from a drugged state with no memory of how she wound up in the home of her friend, Kevin, a pro football player who is active in an anti-police brutality group. She has no idea where her best friend Harper is, who went missing sometime during the same night. Terrified and traumatized, Jojo feels like she has to do something to help, so she begins searching Harper’s social media to look for clues about her whereabouts…and instead uncovers a horrible secret. Jojo thought she knew everything about Harper, but as she and Laurie discover more and more about her secrets, they realize they can’t trust anyone else to help them – not even those they hold closest and most dear. (dun dun dun)
This debut from Herron is seriously breath-taking. I was messaging my friends after the very first chapter, telling them how freaking good this book is. You know any book that has me telling people about it within the first few pages is a kick-ass book. I am so, so happy I was able to read this one early, and I’m telling you all – you need to check it out.
Okay, anyway – time for my rating deets!
Plot – 2/2: You should be able to tell from the synopsis that the plot of Stolen Things is WILD. A mom on the receiving end of a 911 call from her daughter? Yep, holy crap. The way the author set up so much within the story – so many issues like interracial marriage, racism, sexual orientation, physical and sexual assault survivorship, police brutality, etc – without making the plot feel convoluted or over the top was so impressive. A thriller that gets you thinking about multiple issues like this while maintaining an unputdownable story arc is one excellent thriller.
Writing – 2/2: As I said, Herron puts a TON in this book. And she writes about all the incredibly sensitive, difficult topics with such grace and understanding and real emotion that you really feel a connection with the story. Her writing makes you think, while also making you continue to want to read “just one more chapter.”
Thrills/Suspense – 2/2: Yup. Those are here. I mean, obviously. Stolen Things is action packed while also keeping you guessing what the heck is going on. What happened to Jojo? Where is Harper? Who can really be trusted? The twists toward the end, mixed with a TON of “holy crap shit is going down” moments seriously makes it impossible to stop reading once you reach the last half of the book.
Characters – 2/2: Okay, I LOVE Jojo. She is so honest and brave and loyal – she is seriously everything I would want any teenage daughter of mine to be. She stands up for what she believes in and is not afraid to call shit out when she sees it. She also just desperately wants to be loved, while going through all the typical teenage issues with her family. Seeing her growth throughout the book was so great. Also, Laurie – what a mom. Like, the ultimate protective mama bear. I LOVED that Herron wrote her as a mom that actually listens and believes her daughter, even when what Jojo was saying was hard to hear. The strength in Laurie was amazing.
Feel – 2/2: Can you tell I liked this one yet? 😉 This book had it all – thrills, action, emotional issues, strong female characters – the works. It definitely isn’t an easy read; some major plot points would likely be hard for some readers, but Herron handles everything with such great emotional intelligence, it is worth the read.
A solid 10/10 makes this another 5 star read! Happy reading, friends! Go snag this one on August 20th!
August 21, 2019
Stolen Things by R.H. Herron is a suspense thriller that was so very well written. This is the debut novel for this author, and after reading this story, I will most definitely read her again. Stolen Things started with a bang, as we met our heroine, Laurie Ahmadi, immediately. Laurie has worked as a 911 police dispatcher for 20 years (she is a former cop), and picks up a phone call that is every parent’s nightmare. The person on the other end is her 16 year old daughter, Jojo, who is crying for help, not knowing where she is and just woke up from being drugged. Laurie’s husband Omid (police chief) is the first to arrive on the scene with other members of his force, with Laurie not far behind.
A dead body is discovered in a closet, and in another room of the house, an NFL player is woken from sleep, and immediately arrested. Kevin (NFL player) remembers nothing, as he too may have been drugged, but the police do not believe him, and Laurie wants desperately to hurt him for what he did to her daughter. Jojo will explain that Kevin is her friend, and he would never hurt her; but no one believes it.
With Jojo in hospital, being examined, Laurie confirms that Jojo was raped, and pushes herself into the investigation, despite Omid and other police officers try to stop her. Jojo remembers that she went out with her friend Harper that night, and Harper is missing. Once Jojo is released from the hospital, she is determined to help her mother investigate the case, as well as try to find Harper.
What follows is an exciting, nonstop action packed story that kept me glued to my seat. Jojo reveals some of her secret life;, helping Harper & Kevin working for the CapB activist movement (Citizens Against Police Brutality. She begins to find out more information on the internet, as well as from phone messages on Harper’s phone, which may involve the police department. This will force Laurie to secretly try to look into the police department records, causing havoc in the police station, and with Omid, who is in hospital after a heart attack. With Harper missing, and Jojo insistence the Kevin is a good guy, Laurie begins to believe her, and focuses on the department.
To tell too much more would be spoilers, and throughout the who book, things change often. There are a number of twists along the way, especially the last third of the book. Stolen Things was so very well written by Heron, and does cover a number of topics: murder, rape, police brutality, politics, race, homosexuality, etc.
Stolen Things is a wonderful thriller, and great mystery that has you unable to put the book down. I strongly suggest you read this debut novel by R.H. Herron.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
A dead body is discovered in a closet, and in another room of the house, an NFL player is woken from sleep, and immediately arrested. Kevin (NFL player) remembers nothing, as he too may have been drugged, but the police do not believe him, and Laurie wants desperately to hurt him for what he did to her daughter. Jojo will explain that Kevin is her friend, and he would never hurt her; but no one believes it.
With Jojo in hospital, being examined, Laurie confirms that Jojo was raped, and pushes herself into the investigation, despite Omid and other police officers try to stop her. Jojo remembers that she went out with her friend Harper that night, and Harper is missing. Once Jojo is released from the hospital, she is determined to help her mother investigate the case, as well as try to find Harper.
What follows is an exciting, nonstop action packed story that kept me glued to my seat. Jojo reveals some of her secret life;, helping Harper & Kevin working for the CapB activist movement (Citizens Against Police Brutality. She begins to find out more information on the internet, as well as from phone messages on Harper’s phone, which may involve the police department. This will force Laurie to secretly try to look into the police department records, causing havoc in the police station, and with Omid, who is in hospital after a heart attack. With Harper missing, and Jojo insistence the Kevin is a good guy, Laurie begins to believe her, and focuses on the department.
To tell too much more would be spoilers, and throughout the who book, things change often. There are a number of twists along the way, especially the last third of the book. Stolen Things was so very well written by Heron, and does cover a number of topics: murder, rape, police brutality, politics, race, homosexuality, etc.
Stolen Things is a wonderful thriller, and great mystery that has you unable to put the book down. I strongly suggest you read this debut novel by R.H. Herron.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
September 6, 2019
⭐️Book Review ⭐️
Stolen Things by R.H.Herron
4.5/5 Stars
This book was very emotional as a thriller and the physical toll it puts on the victims of sexual abuse. The central mystery kept me guessing the entire book and I was entrenched in reading every spare minute I had.
I felt like I was reading an episode of SVU - it was so intense with rape, murder, police drama, corruption and LGBTQ discussion. Herron deals with each of them throughout the book and keeps the story very dramatic.
Laurie is a 911 dispatcher and answers a call from her daughter JoJo. She has been kidnapped. Dad, Omid, is the police chief in this California town and rushes to the rescue.
They find a dead body along with JoJo and her best friend, Harper, also missing. The hunt is on for the killer and to find Harper. Laurie, Omid and JoJo may be surprised to find what really happened the night JoJo was kidnapped.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for the opportunity to read this book. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review *****
**************************
Stolen Things by R.H.Herron
4.5/5 Stars
This book was very emotional as a thriller and the physical toll it puts on the victims of sexual abuse. The central mystery kept me guessing the entire book and I was entrenched in reading every spare minute I had.
I felt like I was reading an episode of SVU - it was so intense with rape, murder, police drama, corruption and LGBTQ discussion. Herron deals with each of them throughout the book and keeps the story very dramatic.
Laurie is a 911 dispatcher and answers a call from her daughter JoJo. She has been kidnapped. Dad, Omid, is the police chief in this California town and rushes to the rescue.
They find a dead body along with JoJo and her best friend, Harper, also missing. The hunt is on for the killer and to find Harper. Laurie, Omid and JoJo may be surprised to find what really happened the night JoJo was kidnapped.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for the opportunity to read this book. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review *****
**************************
April 13, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel that was part mystery, part thriller, and all parts relevant! As a 911 dispatcher, Laurie get a call that all parents fear: her sixteen-year-old daughter, Jojo awakens in a strange bed and suspects she's been roofied and raped. Police chief father, Omid responds and Jojo is found but there's a dead man in the room next to her and it's later discovered that her best friend Harper (who was with her that night) is missing. So many unanswered questions, made even more complicated by the fact that Jojo, of course, lied about where she was going that night and now remembers very little of what happened. Adding to the suspense are the secret meetings she and Harper were attending in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The plot is based on the author's real life experience as a dispatcher, and so while the events seem wild, they also appear realistic as they expose corruption and prejudice in society.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for granting my wish!
Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for granting my wish!
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