Hindsight: A Novel of the Class of 1972

by Barbara Rogan

Twenty years after their high school graduation, Willa Scott and her friends become caught up in a nightmare when one of the group vanishes and Willa's investigation untangles a web of deception that someone will do anything to keep buried.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published October 17, 2002

About the author

Barbara Rogan is the author of eight novels, including SUSPICION and HINDSIGHT (Simon & Schuster). Her next novel, A DANGEROUS FICTION, is the first in a new mystery series set in the high-stakes world of big publishing. It will be published in July 2013 by Viking/Penguin.

Her books have been translated into a dozen languages, featured by the major book clubs, optioned for movie and television and issued as audio books and ebooks.

Barbara has also worked extensively in publishing. She started as an editor for a large New York publisher. After moving to Israel, she was the founder and, for 12 years, director of the Barbara Rogan Literary Agency. During that period, she served on the Board of Directors of the Jerusalem Book Fair.

After returning to the U.S., Barbara taught fiction writing at Hofstra University and SUNY. She currently teaches for Writers Digest University and in her own online school, Next Level Workshops. She's a frequent lecturer on both the business and craft of writing and teaches seminars and master classes at writers' conferences.

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for any mystery lovers. A group of high school friends agree to meet again in twenty years. Now it is twenty years later and when they meet up, it is dicovered that one is missing. The story follows what became of all the friends and uncovers long buried secrets that began in high school. Non complicated, a quick, easy and most enjoyable read. Hard to put down.

[Kaite Stover · Rating 3 out of 5]

At a book signing, recently widowed Willa runs into Patrick, an old high school friend. Over a dinner of reminiscences, the two recall a pact they and the rest of the "Beacon Hill Gang" made to meet again 20 years later. Patrick and Willa decide to hold their friends to the group promise and start tracking them down. All but one are located--wild girl Angel, Patrick's old girlfriend. No one has see or heard from Angel since she ran away after crashing her abusive father's care. Willa is desperate to locate her old friend in time for the reunion, but the more she looks and interviews other old friends, the more reluctant everyone is to talk about the past. During the reunion at Willa's upscale home, one of the old friends is found dead in the swimming pool. A precisely plotted suspense novel with intriguing characters. Ending may be viewed as a bit outlandish by some readers and some subplots and secondary characters are left underdeveloped.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this mystery and thought it was well-written. I had several suspects pegged and was pleasantly surprised by the reveal at the end of book. The author kept you guessing the whole time and the doer isn't revealed until you are 20 pages from the end!

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the summer of 1972, on the night of their high-school graduation, nine friends make a solemn vow to meet in 20 years time. Right after graduation, one friend disappears, never to be seen again. 20 years later, Willa is determined to bring the whole gang back again--even if it exposes murder.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. You could relate to Willa, remembering high school friendships and trials. This book is amust read.

[Maureen Hetzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent writing and suspenseful tale.

[Pete Partin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another twist on The Big Chill. Easy to read mystery.

[MBenzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, though I really did enjoy this book, something about it is holding me back from saying it's a four-star read, however three stars doesn't seem deserving enough. I picked this book up because the premise sounded really different and interesting, which it was...and curiosity kept me reading, but I think it was how quickly the ending was wrapped up that turned me off a bit.

Nine friends stand on Beacon Hill in June of 1972, graduation day, and make a drunken promise to meet back there in 20 years for a reunion, no matter what. Well, skip now to 1992, Willa Durrell, while promoting her new book, runs into Patrick, one of the guys from the old gang, and the pair team up to get ahold of everyone to remind them about the upcoming reunion. As the two of them slowly start finding the rest of the group (who are all as different as night and day) one person cannot be found, Angel Busky. What happened in the days after graduation that no one seems to want to talk about? Did Angel really run away like everyone's though for the last 20 years, or did something awful happen to her?

As the night of the reunion draws nearer, tensions run high. They've all grown up and most have made something of themselves. Willa refuses to stop until she finds out what happened to her friend. Then one of them dies under suspicious circumstances at the reunion party. Willa finds she's now in a dangerous position as one of their own is trying to keep the past quiet. Though this book was suspenseful enough, the ending disappointed me only in how quickly everything was wrapped up. Other than that...a really good book. I was completely surprised by who the culprit turned out to be, I thought I had it figured out halfway through the book, but not at all! If you enjoy mysteries, then overall I recommend this read. Not at all a bad way to past the time.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by SJC alumna, Barbara Rogan, who was a senior when I was a freshman. Nice references to Santa Fe and GEorgia Okeeffe, even a page of dialog with philosophical references. It was easy to figure out where the plot would go, but goo to see the woman got the guy, and her man, in the end.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I really think this author has a knack for creating interesting characters, providing good insight into what they are thinking at different times, and an ear for realistic dialogue. I can't wait to read another book by her.

4.5 stars.

[Lisa Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one by Rogan, though 'Suspicion' is my favorite. This one is about how the past catches up...

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listed to this on CD. Thought it was great. Good plot, etc...