What do you think?
Rate this book
The Summer We Lost Alice
The defining moments of young Ethan Opochensky's life occurred during the summer he spent with his cousin Alice in the small, rural town of Meddersville. Three children disappeared that summer, his cousin among them.
Twenty-five years later, Ethan returns to Meddersville to find a family still devastated by Alice's loss and a killer once again on the prowl. Their only hope for restoration lies in Ethan's ability to bring Alice's killer to justice.
Full length novel. Contains paranormal elements, a trace of mild language, no explicit sex.
Twenty-five years later, Ethan returns to Meddersville to find a family still devastated by Alice's loss and a killer once again on the prowl. Their only hope for restoration lies in Ethan's ability to bring Alice's killer to justice.
Full length novel. Contains paranormal elements, a trace of mild language, no explicit sex.
302 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2012
22 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
October 31, 2012
I usually don't read paranormal books because they tend to be a lot of paranormal with a so-so story wrapped about it. The Summer We Lost Alice was a great story with a paranormal bent. The characters were well-drawn and my heart ached for Flo, Ethan's aunt. I enjoyed this well-written book and look forward to reading Jan Strnad's other books.
September 19, 2012
Hands down, one of my most favorite reads this year. The Summer We Lost Alice is everything I love in a book- mystery, depth of characters and plot, a hint of the paranormal, and a solid ending. (Note, not necessarily a happy ending, but an ending that leads the reader to imagine the potential.) I love, absolutely love, getting to the end of a book and feeling hope in my own self that has translated so clearly from the hope felt by the author's pen for these characters.
The Summer We Lost Alice is a case study of sorts of what happens to everyone else after someone we love goes missing, wrapped together in a wonderful novel of personal exploration, wrapped in turn in a creepy mystery. Ethan, our protagonist, is only nine years old when he is sent to live with relatives while his parents 'work things out.' It is during his visit that he is enraptured by his cousin, Alice. Free-spirited and without a care in the world, she is a mystery to Ethan. Then, suddenly, she is gone and he goes back to the city with his parents. Fast-forward twenty five years- Ethan is now a TV talk show icon. His success rides on the promise of closure as he brings words to loved ones from 'behind the veil' of death. Jaded and unhappy Ethan is a admitted charlatan, simply doing what he does to make people happy. Things go sideways for Ethan when a mysterious woman shows up in the audience on the same day he receives a mysterious on-air call from his aunt- it's happening again; a child has gone missing. Ethan embarks on a journey back to the small town he has avoided and the root of his disbelief in all things intangible.
Strnad's writing is enthralling. I was pulled in and it was tough to let go - even at the end of the book. I wanted more. I love when that happens! The emotional depth of the characters he has created in this novel is exceptional. You know these small town people; they are out there and this is what makes the paranormal and 'spooky' side of this book so believable.
This unbiased review was done in exchange for a free copy of this book. TracyRiva.com
The Summer We Lost Alice is a case study of sorts of what happens to everyone else after someone we love goes missing, wrapped together in a wonderful novel of personal exploration, wrapped in turn in a creepy mystery. Ethan, our protagonist, is only nine years old when he is sent to live with relatives while his parents 'work things out.' It is during his visit that he is enraptured by his cousin, Alice. Free-spirited and without a care in the world, she is a mystery to Ethan. Then, suddenly, she is gone and he goes back to the city with his parents. Fast-forward twenty five years- Ethan is now a TV talk show icon. His success rides on the promise of closure as he brings words to loved ones from 'behind the veil' of death. Jaded and unhappy Ethan is a admitted charlatan, simply doing what he does to make people happy. Things go sideways for Ethan when a mysterious woman shows up in the audience on the same day he receives a mysterious on-air call from his aunt- it's happening again; a child has gone missing. Ethan embarks on a journey back to the small town he has avoided and the root of his disbelief in all things intangible.
Strnad's writing is enthralling. I was pulled in and it was tough to let go - even at the end of the book. I wanted more. I love when that happens! The emotional depth of the characters he has created in this novel is exceptional. You know these small town people; they are out there and this is what makes the paranormal and 'spooky' side of this book so believable.
This unbiased review was done in exchange for a free copy of this book. TracyRiva.com
March 6, 2015
While MUCH different than his first novel (Risen: A Supernatural Thriller), in "The Summer We Lost Alice", Strnad has put together a bittersweet, often nostalgic tale with a paranormal undercurrent that takes a captivating look at the darkness (and the light) that resides within us all. His richly drawn characters, all haunted by the past in different ways, are compelling and believable, and Strnad demonstrates a knowledge of life in a small town that is certain to strike a chord in readers who have spent any time in "flyover country".
I hate to ruin this story for readers by providing any more details, but I must say that this is another winner from Jan Strnad, and I truly look forward to more from this talented writer.
I hate to ruin this story for readers by providing any more details, but I must say that this is another winner from Jan Strnad, and I truly look forward to more from this talented writer.
June 6, 2015
This book was bizarre, and not in an enjoyable way. For the first half of the book, the plot waffles on whether or not it wants to offer a supernatural element as a solution, and the ending is so far out of left field as to be borderline ridiculous. Additionally, I would be fine with a change in narration, but when it switches to third-person, it seems like Strnad couldn't decide if she wanted to make her narrator omniscient or subjective to Ethan's experience. There were some brief enjoyable moments but overall I did not care for this book. I would not recommend this book to my friends.
March 6, 2013
This is not my usual style of read, but it was very well written and I enjoyed it very much. It was unexpected at most points and twisted and turned in a way that captivated. It was supernatural thriller meets small town novel. Well done.
July 14, 2014
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, as it is a well-written story and thoroughly engrossing. That said, I wish there had been some kind of indication in the description about the supernatural elements that would become a prominent part of the second half of the book. What began quite well quickly took a turn for the worse when the quirky old woman the child protagonist BELIEVED to be a witch turned out to ACTUALLY be a witch, attempting to protect the town from a demon cloud that is out to kill its children. I finished the book out of curiosity to see just where the author was going, but would have given it a significantly higher rating had the author stuck to a drama with a more believable explanation. Of course, this type of story just may not be my thing. This is what I get for not reading the reviews on GoodReads FIRST.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2014
LOVED part 1. Part 2, however, felt like it was written by someone else entirely.
Part 1 was gripping, with just enough clues here and there for the reader to piece together, effectively creating that page-turning suspense.
But Part 2 was almost goofy. Instead of letting the reader piece together clues, information was just dropped like a bomb that was supposed to make our jaws drop (the characters' jaws all did. Every time.) but just didn't work because there was no buildup or effective foreshadowing.
It's sad because Part 1 was so amazing. I'd be interested to check out other books by Jan Strnad though, because she is capable of great writing and imagery, as evidenced in part 1, even if part 2 fell flat for me.
Part 1 was gripping, with just enough clues here and there for the reader to piece together, effectively creating that page-turning suspense.
But Part 2 was almost goofy. Instead of letting the reader piece together clues, information was just dropped like a bomb that was supposed to make our jaws drop (the characters' jaws all did. Every time.) but just didn't work because there was no buildup or effective foreshadowing.
It's sad because Part 1 was so amazing. I'd be interested to check out other books by Jan Strnad though, because she is capable of great writing and imagery, as evidenced in part 1, even if part 2 fell flat for me.
June 30, 2014
A little bit mystery, a little bit paranormal, and a little bit thriller made this book one that was hard to put down. The author did a great job building the background in the first part of the book and the characters were easy to like and imagine. One of the things I liked about the book was the use of humor and the way the author created relationships that didn't feel forced. A fun read that kept me up late a couple of nights.
September 10, 2019
I started reading this book to quench my thirst of reading a suspense thriller. But it didn't turn out to be what I thought it was. I am not overly fond of the supernatural theme, however I did the idea of supernatural in this book to some extent. But after a while it became too much to handle. In the first part no one was ready to accept any alternative theory but in second part everyone was way to keen to roll with the ideas. *The next part will be a spoiler*
The book should have ended when those two kids were found and Ethan proposed to Heather, whatever happened after that was simply unnecessary.
This book was a good time pass for a couple of days.
The book should have ended when those two kids were found and Ethan proposed to Heather, whatever happened after that was simply unnecessary.
This book was a good time pass for a couple of days.
December 16, 2017
Good read
It is fun book with skepticism and love. I enjoyed the characters and the twists. I look forward to enjoying the authors other books.
It is fun book with skepticism and love. I enjoyed the characters and the twists. I look forward to enjoying the authors other books.
November 11, 2022
Interesting Book
Enjoyed the book was nothing like I expected, several twists in the story. Enjoyed how descriptive the author was, could relate to what was written
Enjoyed the book was nothing like I expected, several twists in the story. Enjoyed how descriptive the author was, could relate to what was written
April 4, 2013
This book starts off very well but just can't keep it together to the end. Ethan Opochensky goes to spend the summer with his Aunt and Uncle and cousins in a rural Kansas town called Meddersville because his parents are having trouble and may get divorced. The initial distrust and then the growing relationship between him and his younger cousin, Alice, seems to foreshadow something big about their futures. Kids go missing that summer in Meddersville and his life is changed forever. The description of the family in Meddersville and the cousins and the townspeople is wonderful; the book had so much promise during the first part. It ultimately turns into two different stories though and the second one does not live up to the promise of the first. The second part of the book takes place when Ethan is an adult and working as a tv psychic. He returns to the little town and unfortunately, it falls completely apart here. Everything sane and stable and ordinary changes into crazy and supernatural and just plain odd and creepy. I very much do not recommend.
January 4, 2016
I loved the first part of this book. A ten year old Ethan leaves the city to spend the summer with his cousin, Alice, who lives in the country. Their friendship blossoms, even in the midst of two kidnappings that occur that summer. Then Alice becomes the third. Written beautifully, I was most eager to continue on to part two.
Flash forward twenty five years -- the killings have begun again, and a now grown Ethan returns to Meddersville to visit his aunt and to see if he can help solve the kidnappings. This section of the book serves as a bridge to the third: not too much happens, only enough to set up section three.
Then it gets really weird -- almost ridiculous with the introduction of the paranormal and supernatural. The writing becomes simplistic, the story just way beyond unbelievable.
I thought there might be something wrong with my perception of this novel, but after reading other Goodreaders' reviews, I found I was not alone.
A really great beginning gone bad -- I am so disappointed.
Flash forward twenty five years -- the killings have begun again, and a now grown Ethan returns to Meddersville to visit his aunt and to see if he can help solve the kidnappings. This section of the book serves as a bridge to the third: not too much happens, only enough to set up section three.
Then it gets really weird -- almost ridiculous with the introduction of the paranormal and supernatural. The writing becomes simplistic, the story just way beyond unbelievable.
I thought there might be something wrong with my perception of this novel, but after reading other Goodreaders' reviews, I found I was not alone.
A really great beginning gone bad -- I am so disappointed.
February 25, 2014
The Three Hours I Lost Reading This book
The Three Hours I Lost Reading This book
Let me just say that if I was fifteen again, or maybe even thirteen, I would have LOVED this story. But I am no longer a teenager who will believe in the supernatural unless there is some plausibility to get me where the author wants me to go. Still I guess we all still have a soft spot for those teenaged stories that sometimes had a little bit more truth to them then we would have liked. Hell, I named my kid after a character in a V.C. Andrews book, so take my review for what it's worth.
The Three Hours I Lost Reading This book
Let me just say that if I was fifteen again, or maybe even thirteen, I would have LOVED this story. But I am no longer a teenager who will believe in the supernatural unless there is some plausibility to get me where the author wants me to go. Still I guess we all still have a soft spot for those teenaged stories that sometimes had a little bit more truth to them then we would have liked. Hell, I named my kid after a character in a V.C. Andrews book, so take my review for what it's worth.
July 6, 2014
I thought this was going to be a typical mystery. I enjoyed the book until it crossed over into paranormal activities. Just not my thing.
A boy gets sent to a small town to spend the summer with relatives. He and his cousin are typical kids enjoying the summer. One night they sneak out and she disappears. He (and the rest of her family) spend the rest of their lives trying to understand what happened to her. When he's grown, he goes back to the town and helps solve the mystery of her disappearance. Someone into the paranormal would probably enjoy reading this book.
A boy gets sent to a small town to spend the summer with relatives. He and his cousin are typical kids enjoying the summer. One night they sneak out and she disappears. He (and the rest of her family) spend the rest of their lives trying to understand what happened to her. When he's grown, he goes back to the town and helps solve the mystery of her disappearance. Someone into the paranormal would probably enjoy reading this book.
July 20, 2014
I quite enjoyed this book, especially the beginning, with the two children, Ethan and Alice and their family matters. Fair enough that young kids could believe in witches....(what, nowadays???). Ethan's profession in later life had nothing to do with contacting the dead, really. So the attempt to introduce the supernatural was really out of place for me. You can still enjoy the read, but I wish the author would re-write it without people "coming back".
July 10, 2016
The beginning of this book is so gripping, the characters so real, that I forgive it for waning a bit toward the end. The story starts with the main character / narrator as a child meeting his cousin Alice for the first time. The impact she has on him is permanent, though he is only with her a short time before she disappears forever. I couldn't stop reading after those intense scenes in the beginning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2013
I liked the first half of this book. I enjoyed reading about the relationship between Alice and Ethan. It was interesting when the children were disappearing and you thought it was some sort of serial killer or kidnapper. Once I found out what was really going on, I sort of lost interest. Witches and black clouds of evil and possessed tiki statues seemed really hokey and didn't cut it for me.
March 19, 2013
An entertaining if far-fetched story with supernatural elements. I did enjoy the read, though not as much as I did the series of books by Arnaldur Indridason, which I think of in the same category of crime sleuthing. I can see this story as a great movie if done well. I would give it 3.5 stars, and would read his other works.
March 26, 2013
I personally liked the first half of this book better than the second half. the first half when the characters are still kids, there's just a creepy edge to the chapters that gives the reader a sense of mystery and keeps a reader hooked. once the characters are grown the writing changes, and it feels rushed. It loses that unsettling feeling the story had in the beginning.
July 5, 2014
I was all involved with the first part-setting up the mystery of the children's disappearances. Then it turned all supernatural and paranormal on me! I thought it still might work out, but it just got out of hand with spirits, witches, reincarnation, psychics, etc. I won't be reading another by this author!
July 15, 2014
This was a little different from what kind of horror stories I have.
The story of Alice is a different one. You won't know until the author tells you what or who is responsible for the taking of the children in the town. Really a different kind of story one that if you like horror stories read this one. You will not be disappointed.
The story of Alice is a different one. You won't know until the author tells you what or who is responsible for the taking of the children in the town. Really a different kind of story one that if you like horror stories read this one. You will not be disappointed.
April 6, 2013
I really enjoyed "The Summer We Lost Alice" by Jan Strnad. The characters were well written and the storyline kept me interested from the beginning to the end. There were many unexpected twists and turns that held my attention. If you like this genre (and I do) it is a "must read."
March 10, 2013
This book has a storyline that s easy to follow but difficult to swallow. I found myself enjoying the book until the last 3-4 chapters when it took on ridiculous! I felt cheated? I was a little miffed that I had invested my time in this book.
April 15, 2014
It was okay, but it went a little kooky towards the end. I do enjoy a good paranormal story, but the description said "contains paranormal elements," which sounds like it is a small bit. Instead the whole outcome is a huge paranormal reveal and a bit over the top.
July 8, 2014
I really like the beginning of this book. In the middle I started getting confused and had a hard time figuring out what was happening. Once I regrouped I started enjoying it. I'm not much into paranormal books but I did enjoy this story.
August 25, 2014
An engaging read
An engaging read
The story flowed well. You could feel the emotion the young Ethan experienced before, and after, his cousin's disappearance. The supernatural effects were only one part of the story and were used fairly. I enjoyed this book.
An engaging read
The story flowed well. You could feel the emotion the young Ethan experienced before, and after, his cousin's disappearance. The supernatural effects were only one part of the story and were used fairly. I enjoyed this book.
August 20, 2016
Excellent!
This was a great book! I started and finished it in one day - I literally could not put it down. Great story, great writing, quite a few times I laughed out loud and shared the excerpts with friends! Highly recommend!!!
This was a great book! I started and finished it in one day - I literally could not put it down. Great story, great writing, quite a few times I laughed out loud and shared the excerpts with friends! Highly recommend!!!
November 24, 2012
I won a copy of The Summer We Lost Alice by Jan Strnad in a giveaway for free on Goodreads First Reads. I'm so excited and can not wait to read it
December 16, 2012
scary..i expected something a little more real. but stilla good read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews