Amy Stuart | STILL MINE

Plot (via Goodreads):

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU VANISH FROM YOUR LIFE AND LEAVE NO STORY BEHIND?

SOMEONE WILL MAKE ONE UP FOR YOU.

Clare is on the run.

From her past, from her ex, and from her own secrets. When she turns up alone in the remote mining town of Blackmore asking about Shayna Fowles, the local girl who disappeared, everyone wants to know who Clare really is and what she's hiding. As it turns out, she's hiding a lot, including what ties her to Shayna in the first place. But everyone in this place is hiding something from Jared, Shayna's golden-haired ex-husband, to Charlie, the charming small-town drug pusher, to Derek, Shayna's overly involved family doctor, to Louise and Wilfred, her distraught parents.

Did Shayna flee? Was she killed? Is it possible she's still alive?

As Clare uncovers the mysteries around Shayna's disappearance, she must confront her own demons, moving us deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of lies and making us question what it is she's really running from. Twisting and electrifying, this is a get-under-your-skin thriller that will make you question what it means to lose yourself and find yourself in the most unlikely places. 

Review:

STILL MINE by Amy Stuart is a slow-burning mystery that features a missing woman, a woman on the run, and an illuminating story that ties them together. This novel is a lighter read, not too dark or scary, but does touch on some interesting subjects that I found really wrapped the story up in a satisfying bow.

What I really enjoyed about STILL MINE was how Stuart was able to give the reader small details within why Clare is on the run and who she is running from, but also gives us insight into who this missing woman is through the multiple different characters that Clare is able to communicate with. I was constantly questioning what was going to happen next and was wrong each time I tried to guess, which was satisfying as a reader. Stuart not only created a thoroughly detailed small town that I'm sure most will be able to imagine, but characters that not only each served a purpose, but were effectively written and fun to read. The pacing with this one is a bit slower than most thrillers, but Stuart does a great job of keeping the reader intrigued.

I definitely enjoyed this read, I did not guess the ending, and would say this is enjoyable for fans of Lifetime thrillers and anyone who has read and enjoyed STILLHOUSE LAKE by Rachel Caine. A lighter mystery that features a present mystery, a great character-drive backstory, and an ending that was not only harrowing, but beautifully written.

Rating: 3.5/5