Rene Denfeld | THE CHILD FINDER

Plot (via Goodreads):

Three years ago, Madison Culver disappeared when her family was choosing a Christmas tree in Oregon’s Skookum National Forest. She would be eight years old now—if she has survived. Desperate to find their beloved daughter, certain someone took her, the Culvers turn to Naomi, a private investigator with an uncanny talent for locating the lost and missing. Known to the police and a select group of parents as The Child Finder, Naomi is their last hope.

Naomi’s methodical search takes her deep into the icy, mysterious forest in the Pacific Northwest, and into her own fragmented past. She understands children like Madison because once upon a time, she was a lost girl too. 

As Naomi relentlessly pursues and slowly uncovers the truth behind Madison’s disappearance, shards of a dark dream pierce the defenses that have protected her, reminding her of a terrible loss she feels but cannot remember. If she finds Madison, will Naomi ultimately unlock the secrets of her own life?

Review:

THE CHILD FINDER is one of those reads that will suck you right out of the reading funk you've been in...and yes, I am speaking from personal experience. The holidays have just been so busy that I have lost my mojo with my reading and reviewing and then Saturday came and this was just what I needed. A mystery? Yes, but a mystery with heart, soul, and a fresh breath of air. This is a novel you don't want to miss.

THE CHILD FINDER is a novel that is not only beautifully written, but is poignantly brilliant and in the same heartbeat manages to keep you on the edge of your seat. I not only loved the multiple storylines with this one, but there is a fantasy element that was not only surprising, but devastatingly well-executed. The emotion that poured from the pages with this mystery novel left me not only breathless at times, but also had moments where I reached a new chapter with tears welling in my eyes. I loved the multiple storylines between Naomi, Madison, and some of the backstory to other things that were mentioned that would come later to haunt the reader and the characters.

The story and characters are simply gorgeous. Naomi is not only a force of nature, but adding in her storyline of what her life was like growing up not only made this novel three-dimensional, but made you pray for her happiness and brought heart to the ugly world she has surrounded herself with. Not only did we have the amazing Naomi, but another girl was front and center within these pages. Denfeld did a spectacular job writing the character of Madison, bringing that fantasy aspect and an innocence to this novel within the perspective of Madison. Her story is sad, hopeful, and adds more tension to offset the romantic aspect from some of Naomi's perspective, which I thought was a really nice touch by the author. 

Not only did I love the story and the characters to this one, but I loved the final revelations that built a stunning ending to this emotionally heavy mystery novel. This is the kind of novel that makes you want to enjoy the beautiful in life, protect yourself from the ugly, and hold onto those you love. Check this one out and like your loved ones, don't let it pass you by. 

*Special thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 5/5