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The New York Times bestselling author of Labor Day and The Good Daughters returns with a warm and haunting novel of sisterhood, adolescence, sacrifice, and suspense
"Maynard illuminates the human experience."-People magazine
It's the summer of 1979, and a dry, hot, northern California school vacation stretches ahead for Rachel and her younger sister Patty-the daughters of a larger-than-life, irresistibly handsome and chronically unfaithful detective father who loves to make women happy, and the mother whose heart he broke.
Left to their own devices, the inseparable sisters spend their days studying record jackets, concocting elaborate fantasies about the life of the mysterious neighbor who moves in down the street, and playing dangerous games on the mountain that rises up behind their house.
When young women start showing up dead on the mountain, the girls' father is charged with finding the man responsible, known as The Sunset Strangler. Seeing her father's life slowly unravel when he fails to stop the murders, Rachel embarks on her most dangerous game yet: setting herself up as bait to catch the killer, with consequences that will destroy her father's career and alter the lives of everyone she loves.
It is not until thirty years later that Rachel, who has never given up hope of vindicating her father, finally smokes out the killer, bringing her back to the territory of her childhood, and uncovering a long-buried family secret.
As with her novel Labor Day, Maynard's newest work is part thriller, part love story. Loosely inspired by the Trailside Killer case that terrorized Marin County in the late seventies, her tale delves deep into the alternately thrilling and terrifying landscape of a young girl's first explorations of adult sexuality and the loss of innocence, the bond between sisters - and into a daughter's tender but damaged relationship with her father, and what it is to finally trust a man.
"Maynard illuminates the human experience."-People magazine
It's the summer of 1979, and a dry, hot, northern California school vacation stretches ahead for Rachel and her younger sister Patty-the daughters of a larger-than-life, irresistibly handsome and chronically unfaithful detective father who loves to make women happy, and the mother whose heart he broke.
Left to their own devices, the inseparable sisters spend their days studying record jackets, concocting elaborate fantasies about the life of the mysterious neighbor who moves in down the street, and playing dangerous games on the mountain that rises up behind their house.
When young women start showing up dead on the mountain, the girls' father is charged with finding the man responsible, known as The Sunset Strangler. Seeing her father's life slowly unravel when he fails to stop the murders, Rachel embarks on her most dangerous game yet: setting herself up as bait to catch the killer, with consequences that will destroy her father's career and alter the lives of everyone she loves.
It is not until thirty years later that Rachel, who has never given up hope of vindicating her father, finally smokes out the killer, bringing her back to the territory of her childhood, and uncovering a long-buried family secret.
As with her novel Labor Day, Maynard's newest work is part thriller, part love story. Loosely inspired by the Trailside Killer case that terrorized Marin County in the late seventies, her tale delves deep into the alternately thrilling and terrifying landscape of a young girl's first explorations of adult sexuality and the loss of innocence, the bond between sisters - and into a daughter's tender but damaged relationship with her father, and what it is to finally trust a man.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2013
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About the author
Joyce Maynard
60 books2,874 followersJoyce Maynard first came to national attention with the publication of her New York Times cover story “An Eighteen-Year-Old Looks Back on Life” in 1973, when she was a freshman at Yale. Since then, she has been a reporter and columnist for The New York Times, a syndicated newspaper columnist whose “Domestic Affairs” column appeared in more than fifty papers nationwide, a regular contributor to NPR. Her writing has also been published in national magazines, including O, The Oprah Magazine; Newsweek; The New York Times Magazine; Forbes; Salon; San Francisco Magazine, USA Weekly; and many more. She has appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Charlie Rose, and on Fresh Air. Essays of hers appear in numerous collections. She has been a fellow at Yaddo, UCross, and The MacDowell Colony, where she wrote her most recently published novel, Labor Day.
The author of many books of fiction and nonfiction, including the novel To Die For (in which she also plays the role of Nicole Kidman’s attorney) and the bestselling memoir, At Home in the World, Maynard makes her home in Mill Valley, California. Her novel, The Usual Rules—a story about surviving loss—has been a favorite of book club audiences of all ages, and was chosen by the American Library Association as one of the ten best books for young readers for 2003.
Joyce Maynard also runs the Lake Atitlan Writing Workshop in Guatemala, founded in 2002.
The author of many books of fiction and nonfiction, including the novel To Die For (in which she also plays the role of Nicole Kidman’s attorney) and the bestselling memoir, At Home in the World, Maynard makes her home in Mill Valley, California. Her novel, The Usual Rules—a story about surviving loss—has been a favorite of book club audiences of all ages, and was chosen by the American Library Association as one of the ten best books for young readers for 2003.
Joyce Maynard also runs the Lake Atitlan Writing Workshop in Guatemala, founded in 2002.
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March 10, 2020
After Her by Joyce Maynard is a 2013 William Morrow publication.
1979-
Rachel and Patty are on summer break and are pretty much left to fend for themselves, while their mother spends most of her time in her room with her library books. Because their mother can’t afford cable, they watch TV through the window of their neighbor’s house and make up the dialogue themselves, and spy on another one their neighbors, creating elaborate stories about him.
However, they also spend time playing on the mountain behind their house which also happened to be the possible hunting ground of The Sunset Strangler.
The girls, Rachel especially, has a bird’s eye view of the case that is dominating headlines, because their charismatic father is the lead detective on the case. With her father's face on televison, the popular kids invite Rachel into their circle, eager for exclusive information about the case.
However, as the case drags on, with no arrest, Rachel watches her father, a man with a weakness for women, but a larger than life hero to her, begin to slowly come apart, putting his health at risk, as his career and reputation go down the drain.
As the years pass, Rachel never gives up on vindicating her father, determined to discover the identity of The Sunset Strangler....
If someone were to ask me if I had read any books by Joyce Maynard I would have quickly answered in the affirmative. How is it possible I never one of her books, right? Yet, I have only listed two of her books here on Goodreads. If I have read her work previously, it was long before I was keeping track of such things. So- I’m going to count this book as part of my 2020 challenge to read authors I’ve never tried.
Why I chose this book over her other novels, I’m not sure. I think it popped up on Goodreads or at the library and was the first one I came to on my list. Whether or not this is her best work or a book she is well known for, I couldn’t say. But, either way, I am glad I picked this book and will certainly go back and read more books by this author.
Rachel’s first- person narrative is what brings this story to life. The author based the book on a true crime case, one similar to the events that transpire in the story, as the detective working the case had two daughters who firmly believe their father’s death was directly linked to his job.
The time frame is also of great importance and as I was reading about the games Rachel and Patty played together in 1979, I was reminded of television shows and trends of the time. I was also struck by how free the girls were to roam and explore. Naturally, they put themselves in unnecessary danger and their whereabouts should have been monitored more closely.
On the other hand, living without cable, and without having every single hour of their day planned and structured, exercised their minds and bodies, and encouraged their imaginations, which no doubt, played a role in Rachel's eventual career path. Not only that, this book should come with a soundtrack! But this is just my rambling musings.
The book is a thriller, a mystery, a coming of age tale, and story about father and daughter relationships. It’s a poignant and bittersweet story that might make you grab for a tissue before all is said and done, but it’s also one of many surprises, ending on an upbeat note that hints at long overdue peace and new beginnings.
Overall, this book is much more than a mystery-thriller- it's a well-rounded story with a little something for everyone. I’m very much looking forward to discovering more of Maynard’s work.
4 stars
1979-
Rachel and Patty are on summer break and are pretty much left to fend for themselves, while their mother spends most of her time in her room with her library books. Because their mother can’t afford cable, they watch TV through the window of their neighbor’s house and make up the dialogue themselves, and spy on another one their neighbors, creating elaborate stories about him.
However, they also spend time playing on the mountain behind their house which also happened to be the possible hunting ground of The Sunset Strangler.
The girls, Rachel especially, has a bird’s eye view of the case that is dominating headlines, because their charismatic father is the lead detective on the case. With her father's face on televison, the popular kids invite Rachel into their circle, eager for exclusive information about the case.
However, as the case drags on, with no arrest, Rachel watches her father, a man with a weakness for women, but a larger than life hero to her, begin to slowly come apart, putting his health at risk, as his career and reputation go down the drain.
As the years pass, Rachel never gives up on vindicating her father, determined to discover the identity of The Sunset Strangler....
If someone were to ask me if I had read any books by Joyce Maynard I would have quickly answered in the affirmative. How is it possible I never one of her books, right? Yet, I have only listed two of her books here on Goodreads. If I have read her work previously, it was long before I was keeping track of such things. So- I’m going to count this book as part of my 2020 challenge to read authors I’ve never tried.
Why I chose this book over her other novels, I’m not sure. I think it popped up on Goodreads or at the library and was the first one I came to on my list. Whether or not this is her best work or a book she is well known for, I couldn’t say. But, either way, I am glad I picked this book and will certainly go back and read more books by this author.
Rachel’s first- person narrative is what brings this story to life. The author based the book on a true crime case, one similar to the events that transpire in the story, as the detective working the case had two daughters who firmly believe their father’s death was directly linked to his job.
The time frame is also of great importance and as I was reading about the games Rachel and Patty played together in 1979, I was reminded of television shows and trends of the time. I was also struck by how free the girls were to roam and explore. Naturally, they put themselves in unnecessary danger and their whereabouts should have been monitored more closely.
On the other hand, living without cable, and without having every single hour of their day planned and structured, exercised their minds and bodies, and encouraged their imaginations, which no doubt, played a role in Rachel's eventual career path. Not only that, this book should come with a soundtrack! But this is just my rambling musings.
The book is a thriller, a mystery, a coming of age tale, and story about father and daughter relationships. It’s a poignant and bittersweet story that might make you grab for a tissue before all is said and done, but it’s also one of many surprises, ending on an upbeat note that hints at long overdue peace and new beginnings.
Overall, this book is much more than a mystery-thriller- it's a well-rounded story with a little something for everyone. I’m very much looking forward to discovering more of Maynard’s work.
4 stars
November 5, 2017
Rating 4.5
Joyce Maynard books have languished on my TBR piles for years. I always keep saying 'Oh I need to read her books' but they just never make it to the top. I recently read a great review of this book by Bianca and immediately ordered this one.
After Her tells the coming of age story of Rachel and her younger sister Patty, in the late 70's early 80's in California. How these two adjust to growing up, growing up in a broken home, poor, and with a father who they absolutely idolized. Watching tv from sitting outside their neighbors house, in the yard, watching the Brady Bunch, through the window, adding their own dialogue. But, they also lived in the shadow of a serial killer of women, The Sunset Strangler. This story is loosely based on the story of the "Trailside Killer". The girls played in the mountains where the Strangler hunted his prey. Their father, a homicide detective, heading up the investigation to finding this psychopath. The two girls were as close as can be, but the lure of being popular was too much for Rachel, who took advantage of capitalizing on being the daughter of the detective in charge of the case. She told stories of the killer and investigation. Her father's case was going no where and when her fathers job is in limbo, she's determined to find the killer. Even putting herself in the direct path of the killer.
I really enjoyed this story and loved hearing of the girls growing up. Giving insight into these two girls, how divorce hit them, how they idolized their father, and the vivid imaginations they had. Even when Rachel grew up and was still telling her story, even when it became just a bit predictable, I wanted to hear more. I listened to the audio version and it is one of the rare times when an author reads their own book and it's wonderful. A truly wonderful read that has pushed me to add Maynard other books to the top of my reading list. I look forward to the next one.
Joyce Maynard books have languished on my TBR piles for years. I always keep saying 'Oh I need to read her books' but they just never make it to the top. I recently read a great review of this book by Bianca and immediately ordered this one.
After Her tells the coming of age story of Rachel and her younger sister Patty, in the late 70's early 80's in California. How these two adjust to growing up, growing up in a broken home, poor, and with a father who they absolutely idolized. Watching tv from sitting outside their neighbors house, in the yard, watching the Brady Bunch, through the window, adding their own dialogue. But, they also lived in the shadow of a serial killer of women, The Sunset Strangler. This story is loosely based on the story of the "Trailside Killer". The girls played in the mountains where the Strangler hunted his prey. Their father, a homicide detective, heading up the investigation to finding this psychopath. The two girls were as close as can be, but the lure of being popular was too much for Rachel, who took advantage of capitalizing on being the daughter of the detective in charge of the case. She told stories of the killer and investigation. Her father's case was going no where and when her fathers job is in limbo, she's determined to find the killer. Even putting herself in the direct path of the killer.
I really enjoyed this story and loved hearing of the girls growing up. Giving insight into these two girls, how divorce hit them, how they idolized their father, and the vivid imaginations they had. Even when Rachel grew up and was still telling her story, even when it became just a bit predictable, I wanted to hear more. I listened to the audio version and it is one of the rare times when an author reads their own book and it's wonderful. A truly wonderful read that has pushed me to add Maynard other books to the top of my reading list. I look forward to the next one.
January 28, 2023
Set in 1979, this is a coming of age story coupled with a mystery involving a serial killer in California. Inspired by the Trailside Killer's reign of terror in the 1970s, we experience the point of view of 13 year old Rachel and her sister in Marin, California.
Maynard's writing is exquisite, she knows just how to capture the angst and longing of a thirteen year old girl. Someone who wants life to be bigger than it is, to be more meaningful, to put their mark on the world. Their feelings are so big and so confusing and they don't know what to do with all of them.
The mystery might be the inciting incident in the story, but the coming of age of Rachel is front and center. As I am right around the same age, so much of this novel felt surreal and familiar to me. As I too have a younger sister, I could relate to the emotions involving that relationship as well. I listened to the audiobook which was wonderfully narrated by the author.
I am not sure why I let this linger on my TBR for so long, but now I'm ready to get my hands on more books by this talented author.
Maynard's writing is exquisite, she knows just how to capture the angst and longing of a thirteen year old girl. Someone who wants life to be bigger than it is, to be more meaningful, to put their mark on the world. Their feelings are so big and so confusing and they don't know what to do with all of them.
The mystery might be the inciting incident in the story, but the coming of age of Rachel is front and center. As I am right around the same age, so much of this novel felt surreal and familiar to me. As I too have a younger sister, I could relate to the emotions involving that relationship as well. I listened to the audiobook which was wonderfully narrated by the author.
I am not sure why I let this linger on my TBR for so long, but now I'm ready to get my hands on more books by this talented author.
December 12, 2015
Update news: This book will go on sale for $1.99 on Kindle from Dec. 14th to Jan. 4th.
The idea for this story comes from a past true event in Northern California.
Also.. in this Kindle special will include a chapter of Joyce's new book -"Under The Influence", which will be released early in 2016.
This page turning new novel is deliciously written. The story fully engaging. Characters 'vivid'. It would be fun to try to 'cast' for a movie.
Two sisters live near the mountain where a serial killer is murdering young woman. Their father is the homicide detective.
Since the divorce, the sisters mother spends much of her time either in her room -at work- or the library.
The mom loves her daughters -but is not an active participating type.
The father has moved out --living and working in S.F.
Since 'no' parents are 'hands-on' planning the girls schedules, activities, watching over their homework or free time -- The sisters are wonderfully 'close' and creative with their free time. They are each others best friends. (2 years apart in ages).
A wonderful line in the book communicates the flavor of 'life-on-that-mountain' for Rachel and Patty ---(the two sisters), growing up --running free --creating their days together:
"It was the place we found out about everything, that mountain. Animal bones and deer scat. Birds, flowers, condoms. The bodies of dead animals, the bodies of men. Rocks and lizards. Sex and death."
Everything about the storytelling feels genuine. I was emotionally engaged from beginning to end.
"After Her" is 'FRESH'.
The entire story is told from the eyes of TWO YOUNG GIRLS. Each extraordinary in their own way!
The idea for this story comes from a past true event in Northern California.
Also.. in this Kindle special will include a chapter of Joyce's new book -"Under The Influence", which will be released early in 2016.
This page turning new novel is deliciously written. The story fully engaging. Characters 'vivid'. It would be fun to try to 'cast' for a movie.
Two sisters live near the mountain where a serial killer is murdering young woman. Their father is the homicide detective.
Since the divorce, the sisters mother spends much of her time either in her room -at work- or the library.
The mom loves her daughters -but is not an active participating type.
The father has moved out --living and working in S.F.
Since 'no' parents are 'hands-on' planning the girls schedules, activities, watching over their homework or free time -- The sisters are wonderfully 'close' and creative with their free time. They are each others best friends. (2 years apart in ages).
A wonderful line in the book communicates the flavor of 'life-on-that-mountain' for Rachel and Patty ---(the two sisters), growing up --running free --creating their days together:
"It was the place we found out about everything, that mountain. Animal bones and deer scat. Birds, flowers, condoms. The bodies of dead animals, the bodies of men. Rocks and lizards. Sex and death."
Everything about the storytelling feels genuine. I was emotionally engaged from beginning to end.
"After Her" is 'FRESH'.
The entire story is told from the eyes of TWO YOUNG GIRLS. Each extraordinary in their own way!
October 28, 2017
It's official: I love Joyce Maynard's books!
This was the third Maynard novel I listened to in less than three months.
I only skimmed the blurb, and to be honest, I wasn't that keen that it had at its centre a serial killer. Luckily, this was about much more than that. First and foremost, this was about sisterly love between Rachel, the narrator, and Patty, her younger sister. Their devotion for each other was very touching. When their adored policeman father leaves their mother, the girls become even closer. They're poor, their mother is mostly absent, but they're resourceful and imaginative.
When the "sunset strangler" commits crimes in the mountains behind their house, the girls' lives are affected, especially as their father is the detective in charge with the case. Years pass, more young women are killed, still, the killer evades capture. This takes a toll on the girls and especially on their father.
I loved the first three-quarters of the novel, which focused on the girls in their pre-teen, teen and their twenties. Both girls, but especially Rachel, are completely besotted with their charming, but imperfect father.
The last part was a bit rushed and uneven, and the ending could be seen as far-fetched, but the rest of the novel was marvellous.
This audiobook was narrated by Maynard herself, which was great as she's got a soothing voice.
So, if you like coming-of-age novels and a bit of mystery/suspense, then this novel is likely to satisfy you.
This was the third Maynard novel I listened to in less than three months.
I only skimmed the blurb, and to be honest, I wasn't that keen that it had at its centre a serial killer. Luckily, this was about much more than that. First and foremost, this was about sisterly love between Rachel, the narrator, and Patty, her younger sister. Their devotion for each other was very touching. When their adored policeman father leaves their mother, the girls become even closer. They're poor, their mother is mostly absent, but they're resourceful and imaginative.
When the "sunset strangler" commits crimes in the mountains behind their house, the girls' lives are affected, especially as their father is the detective in charge with the case. Years pass, more young women are killed, still, the killer evades capture. This takes a toll on the girls and especially on their father.
I loved the first three-quarters of the novel, which focused on the girls in their pre-teen, teen and their twenties. Both girls, but especially Rachel, are completely besotted with their charming, but imperfect father.
The last part was a bit rushed and uneven, and the ending could be seen as far-fetched, but the rest of the novel was marvellous.
This audiobook was narrated by Maynard herself, which was great as she's got a soothing voice.
So, if you like coming-of-age novels and a bit of mystery/suspense, then this novel is likely to satisfy you.
August 20, 2013
Yeah, this is terrible. May-not-finish-reading terrible. All the reasons why are summed up pretty well here. I grew up in the eighties, I lived in California, I love true crime stories, and the idea of focusing on the detective's family rather than the killer is great -- but the book is so badly written, it's nearly unreadable. This is when preordering an ebook feels like being a sucker. I should have waited and read the first chapter, and then I wouldn't have wasted my money.
-- And then the ending was absolutely terrible. Jesus.
Article by Maynard on Mt Tamalpais
DNA ties Trailside Killer to '79 S.F. slaying (2010)
-- And then the ending was absolutely terrible. Jesus.
Article by Maynard on Mt Tamalpais
DNA ties Trailside Killer to '79 S.F. slaying (2010)
Read
January 14, 2016Good
William Morrow Publishing, c.2014 – e-book, 338 p.
The Hook 2106 Reading Plan – An in-between book, one I purchased on sale in e-book format based on the publisher’s review.
The Line ”It was the place we found out about everything, that mountain.”
The Sinker – Maynard takes a great deal of time setting up the mystery presented here. Her protagonist begins the story in a look back of events thirty years past. The narrator, the forty plus Rachel initially alludes to an encounter with a serial murderer killing young women “on the mountain”, the mountain in Marin County that is the playground of she and her sister Patty.
The sisters are the children of a broken marriage. The mother who has custody is rarely available mentally or physically for the girls, too many problems of her own. Their larger then life father, Detective Anthony Torricelli, has little time for his daughters as the demands of his job keep him busy, even more so when he becomes in charge of the serial killer case. Lacking a TV but sporting one heck of an imagination, Rachel and Patty spend their days outdoors in their neighborhood, making up stories and dreaming up crazy schemes. After all
All we had was time.”
Rachel dreams of being a writer and it is this that fuels her theories and “visions” of the strangled women and their killer. If she kept her speculations private all might be well but when they involve not only her sister but interfere with her father’s investigation, repercussions ensue.
There were times when Rachel’s antics seemed unrealistic but they brought back memories of my own childhood, those growing up years, so different than today. Without computers and limited TV, we spent a great deal of our time outdoors roaming the neighborhood, playing games and seeking adventures that used our vivid imaginations. The time I spent with one good friend in particular brings back memories of some weird things we did. We even had our own murder of a young girl that touched off fear in our lives. Some of the stuff we did was unbelievable now and it’s a miracle we didn’t get in more trouble than we did. This, the closeness of the sisters and their curiosity and creativity for play were what made After Her for me.
More than a murder mystery After Her is a story of the close bonds of sisters, wanting to fit in, first love, blossoming womanhood, all that is the angst of growing up. It is also a look at our perceptions of parents, how we see them as heroes or villains, often without really knowing them. Don’t expect a fast pace. It may build too slowly for some readers. I liked it for the reasons I mention.
In her acknowledgments the author gives a nod to the two women who gave her the idea that inspired this story. Janet Cubley and Laura Xerogneanes shared their remembrances of growing up with divorced parents near Mount Ramalpais in Marin County. Their father Detective Robert Gaddini was head of Marin County homicide during a time when a serial killer known as The Trailside Killer was at large. The sister’s gave their blessings to Maynard to write the story and change what she wished. She did.
Maynard also mentions the playlist in her mind as she writes. In this case she knew that the one song that captured the mood for this book was My Sharona”a deceptively simple and utterly seductive anthem, and one that crystallizes, as well as any rock-and-roll song ever has, maybe, the pounding, driving insistence of a sexual obsession.” You can find it on youtube including lyrics. Interesting.
William Morrow Publishing, c.2014 – e-book, 338 p.
The Hook 2106 Reading Plan – An in-between book, one I purchased on sale in e-book format based on the publisher’s review.
The Line ”It was the place we found out about everything, that mountain.”
The Sinker – Maynard takes a great deal of time setting up the mystery presented here. Her protagonist begins the story in a look back of events thirty years past. The narrator, the forty plus Rachel initially alludes to an encounter with a serial murderer killing young women “on the mountain”, the mountain in Marin County that is the playground of she and her sister Patty.
The sisters are the children of a broken marriage. The mother who has custody is rarely available mentally or physically for the girls, too many problems of her own. Their larger then life father, Detective Anthony Torricelli, has little time for his daughters as the demands of his job keep him busy, even more so when he becomes in charge of the serial killer case. Lacking a TV but sporting one heck of an imagination, Rachel and Patty spend their days outdoors in their neighborhood, making up stories and dreaming up crazy schemes. After all
All we had was time.”
Rachel dreams of being a writer and it is this that fuels her theories and “visions” of the strangled women and their killer. If she kept her speculations private all might be well but when they involve not only her sister but interfere with her father’s investigation, repercussions ensue.
There were times when Rachel’s antics seemed unrealistic but they brought back memories of my own childhood, those growing up years, so different than today. Without computers and limited TV, we spent a great deal of our time outdoors roaming the neighborhood, playing games and seeking adventures that used our vivid imaginations. The time I spent with one good friend in particular brings back memories of some weird things we did. We even had our own murder of a young girl that touched off fear in our lives. Some of the stuff we did was unbelievable now and it’s a miracle we didn’t get in more trouble than we did. This, the closeness of the sisters and their curiosity and creativity for play were what made After Her for me.
More than a murder mystery After Her is a story of the close bonds of sisters, wanting to fit in, first love, blossoming womanhood, all that is the angst of growing up. It is also a look at our perceptions of parents, how we see them as heroes or villains, often without really knowing them. Don’t expect a fast pace. It may build too slowly for some readers. I liked it for the reasons I mention.
In her acknowledgments the author gives a nod to the two women who gave her the idea that inspired this story. Janet Cubley and Laura Xerogneanes shared their remembrances of growing up with divorced parents near Mount Ramalpais in Marin County. Their father Detective Robert Gaddini was head of Marin County homicide during a time when a serial killer known as The Trailside Killer was at large. The sister’s gave their blessings to Maynard to write the story and change what she wished. She did.
Maynard also mentions the playlist in her mind as she writes. In this case she knew that the one song that captured the mood for this book was My Sharona”a deceptively simple and utterly seductive anthem, and one that crystallizes, as well as any rock-and-roll song ever has, maybe, the pounding, driving insistence of a sexual obsession.” You can find it on youtube including lyrics. Interesting.
March 30, 2015
The most overwhelming thought I had after finishing this book was that it surprised me. It surprised me because based on the blurb ("part thriller, part love story"), I expected an accessible, fairly straightforward thriller, and what I ended up getting was a poignant coming-of-age story with vague murder mystery elements. It surprised me because, through the same logic, I also expected a love story - and yes, this is a love story, but not a conventional one. It's a love story between sisters, between fathers and daughters. And finally, it surprised me because I read Labor Day and didn't find it all that charming - but I found this book endlessly charming.
This isn't the kind of book that inspires a lot of debate or strong opinions. It's somewhat of a quiet book, with beautifully drawn out, flawed characters (especially Tony, the father - who starts out larger than life and slowly deflates, and who also manages to be the most wonderful and most awful father all at once) and one of the most exceptional sister bonds I've ever come across in fiction.
This isn't the kind of book that inspires a lot of debate or strong opinions. It's somewhat of a quiet book, with beautifully drawn out, flawed characters (especially Tony, the father - who starts out larger than life and slowly deflates, and who also manages to be the most wonderful and most awful father all at once) and one of the most exceptional sister bonds I've ever come across in fiction.
August 19, 2013
The father figure in After Her is a cross between Don Draper and Atticus Finch, and if that won't persuade you to read it, then perhaps the fact that the book is the second-best book I've read all year might.*
Few books make me yearn for my childhood, but After Her did just that. I'm purchasing it for the cousins I grew up with, the ones who shared my overactive imagination and who roamed the neighborhoods, woods, and swamps with me. I hope they'll read it with as much nostalgia as I did.
Fans of Jo Ann Beard's In Zanesville will really enjoy this novel.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.
*The best book I've read this year being We Need New Names, which is, at the time of this review, on the long list for the Man Booker Prize.
Few books make me yearn for my childhood, but After Her did just that. I'm purchasing it for the cousins I grew up with, the ones who shared my overactive imagination and who roamed the neighborhoods, woods, and swamps with me. I hope they'll read it with as much nostalgia as I did.
Fans of Jo Ann Beard's In Zanesville will really enjoy this novel.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.
*The best book I've read this year being We Need New Names, which is, at the time of this review, on the long list for the Man Booker Prize.
September 15, 2013
I hate false advertizing! I've read several reviews of "After Her" which portrayed it as a mystery. It isn't.
On the surface it seems to be about a couple of adolescent girls who decide to help their Police detective father with a series of murders which happen in the girl's backyard. That constitutes about 15% of the book. The rest is a thirteen year old writer obsessing over why she hasn't gotten her period, worming her way into the popular crowd, and not recognizing her parents as total losers.
Rachel worships her father, not seeing him for the self-obsessed narcissist he is. She even gives mommy a break although mom hasn't put a meal on the table in years, leaving her two daughters to scrounge around and feed themselves every night while mom hangs out in her bedroom, smoking and reading library books.
This book was just depressing and there was nothing mysterious about the mystery unless you include a first time murderer killing fifteen women in a public park while never leaving trace evidence behind or being seen by a witness.
I'm completely pissed I wasted money on this. Not recommended.
On the surface it seems to be about a couple of adolescent girls who decide to help their Police detective father with a series of murders which happen in the girl's backyard. That constitutes about 15% of the book. The rest is a thirteen year old writer obsessing over why she hasn't gotten her period, worming her way into the popular crowd, and not recognizing her parents as total losers.
Rachel worships her father, not seeing him for the self-obsessed narcissist he is. She even gives mommy a break although mom hasn't put a meal on the table in years, leaving her two daughters to scrounge around and feed themselves every night while mom hangs out in her bedroom, smoking and reading library books.
This book was just depressing and there was nothing mysterious about the mystery unless you include a first time murderer killing fifteen women in a public park while never leaving trace evidence behind or being seen by a witness.
I'm completely pissed I wasted money on this. Not recommended.
November 20, 2013
I really enjoyed this book and read it in a day. It is the story of a detective's family in Marin County during the hunt for a serial killer who is killing women right on the mountain near the family's home. Rachel the oldest daughter tells the story once she is in her 40s so it is looking back to 1979 when Rachel and her sister, Patty were growing up, playing, enjoying the outdoors and dealing with their mom's depression after their parents' divorce. We meet Rachel as a lively, imaginative 13 yr old who is bound for trouble. It is a book of suspense, coming of age, love, murder and loss. I was sad to leave the characters behind when the book was finished.
August 21, 2013
Thank you William Morrow via Edelweiss for providing me an ARC of this book!
I had a little over 100 pages left when 2 things happened. 1. The book expired (one day past publication...ouch) and 2. I gave up on it.
The synopsis of this book sounds great. It is, of course, what led me to request the ARC in the first place. However the book doesn't quite deliver what the synopsis seems to invoke/promise.
With about half of the book read, I'd stumbled across the same information and themes over and over again. I'm pretty sure if I had to read one more sentence about what a lady's man Rachel's dad was, I would have thrown my device across the room (Rachel is our protagonist). I'd read the same 5 or so themes over and over (father's characteristics, mother's characteristics, Rachel's coming of age, the killer's MO, the decline of Rachel's father and how the girls miss him so much while equally getting in jabs at mom who is very absent). Now, revisiting details can be good, don't get me wrong, but not when they are restated almost verbatim every other page instead of new insights on these themes and/or characters.
Here's my thoughts - I think maybe Maynard was somewhat caught or maybe confused on what she wanted/needed/was writing here. I mean is it coming of age, is it thriller, what?! It is okay to straddle those lines, but only if you have a plan on how to do it effectively and this one misses the mark for me because it bounces back and forth and never really lands on anything (again, I only made it to about page 150ish - my copy had expired when I went to open it and find out what page I'd stopped on). Due to this indecision or lack of clear "path" for the story and the characters, the author keeps covering the same ground and getting really nowhere.
So, I didn't finish it. I can't recommend it, and I'm really disappointed because the story line/plot has some great potential.
I was provided an ARC copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I am not compensated for any of my reviews.
Find this and much more at Read, Run, Ramble
I had a little over 100 pages left when 2 things happened. 1. The book expired (one day past publication...ouch) and 2. I gave up on it.
The synopsis of this book sounds great. It is, of course, what led me to request the ARC in the first place. However the book doesn't quite deliver what the synopsis seems to invoke/promise.
With about half of the book read, I'd stumbled across the same information and themes over and over again. I'm pretty sure if I had to read one more sentence about what a lady's man Rachel's dad was, I would have thrown my device across the room (Rachel is our protagonist). I'd read the same 5 or so themes over and over (father's characteristics, mother's characteristics, Rachel's coming of age, the killer's MO, the decline of Rachel's father and how the girls miss him so much while equally getting in jabs at mom who is very absent). Now, revisiting details can be good, don't get me wrong, but not when they are restated almost verbatim every other page instead of new insights on these themes and/or characters.
Here's my thoughts - I think maybe Maynard was somewhat caught or maybe confused on what she wanted/needed/was writing here. I mean is it coming of age, is it thriller, what?! It is okay to straddle those lines, but only if you have a plan on how to do it effectively and this one misses the mark for me because it bounces back and forth and never really lands on anything (again, I only made it to about page 150ish - my copy had expired when I went to open it and find out what page I'd stopped on). Due to this indecision or lack of clear "path" for the story and the characters, the author keeps covering the same ground and getting really nowhere.
So, I didn't finish it. I can't recommend it, and I'm really disappointed because the story line/plot has some great potential.
I was provided an ARC copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I am not compensated for any of my reviews.
Find this and much more at Read, Run, Ramble
March 17, 2017
Please, no more murdered women, serial killers, bizarre crime scenes, meaningless and wanton sex or amateur detectives. Please, no more trite, ill-conceived plot lines or writers just chasing the dollar without having to deliver anything for it. Please, no more characters who have so little connection to reality that they move like puppets across the page, jerking and flapping and saying and doing ridiculous things, or last minute escapes when it only makes sense that you couldn’t escape. Like a B-movie in which you could write it yourself as you go because the turns and twists are so achingly obvious.
Then there is the condescension. Maynard distrusts her reader so much that she feels she must explain the nuances, our poor ignorant minds might not get it.
i.e. "his own apparent impotence at apprehending the murderer (impotence, and interesting word there, it occurred to me, but that thought came years later)..." Yes, thank you, we probably would all have picked up on that deliberate choice of words, Joyce.
When will I learn? If it starts out like a bad episode (and for me those are the only kinds of episodes) of Criminal Minds, it is not for me. I should quit while I am ahead. Not my genre.
No one made me finish this book--and so I have only myself to blame. I was actually looking forward to this book as a kind of light break from heavy reading; a novel that would not demand much concentration or thought--just a good story. I got less than I expected, even when I wasn’t expecting all that much. I will put Joyce Maynard with Picoult and Hannah on my list of authors I need to avoid.
I need a palate cleanser...a little Dickens or Hardy or Eliot would be nice.
Then there is the condescension. Maynard distrusts her reader so much that she feels she must explain the nuances, our poor ignorant minds might not get it.
i.e. "his own apparent impotence at apprehending the murderer (impotence, and interesting word there, it occurred to me, but that thought came years later)..." Yes, thank you, we probably would all have picked up on that deliberate choice of words, Joyce.
When will I learn? If it starts out like a bad episode (and for me those are the only kinds of episodes) of Criminal Minds, it is not for me. I should quit while I am ahead. Not my genre.
No one made me finish this book--and so I have only myself to blame. I was actually looking forward to this book as a kind of light break from heavy reading; a novel that would not demand much concentration or thought--just a good story. I got less than I expected, even when I wasn’t expecting all that much. I will put Joyce Maynard with Picoult and Hannah on my list of authors I need to avoid.
I need a palate cleanser...a little Dickens or Hardy or Eliot would be nice.
June 19, 2016
Swedish Review
Året är 1979 och systrarna Rachel och Patty bor i Marin County i Kalifornien. När flera unga flickor blir mördade i bergen bakom huset där de bor blir deras pappa som är kriminalinspektör den som får leda utredningen. Deras pappa bor inte längre hemma och deras mamma har sedan hon kastade ut honom pga av att han var ständigt otrogen drabbats av en depression och bryr sig inte så mycket om vad flickorna gör när de är hemma och trots deras pappas varningar så kan de inte låta bli att vistas i bergen...
Bergen bakom huset är den första boken jag har läst av Joyce Maynard och det snygga omslaget samt handlingen gjorde mig nyfiken på boken. Vad jag gillade med boken var mixen av familjedrama och mysterium. En berättelse om att växa upp, men förutom de vanliga tonårsproblemen som mens och killar så måste Rachel och Patty också leva med att det är en seriemördare lös. Och, det är något som kommer att påverka dem mycket både under deras uppväxt och senare i livet. Rachel som är äldst har börjat se att hennes far inte är den hjälte som hon dyrkat sedan hon var liten och även Patty har börjat upptäcka hans mindre smickrande sidor. Och i och med att fler flickor blir mördade påverkas även deras far av det och de ser hur misslyckandet med att fånga mördaren tär på honom.
Boken utspelas både när Rachel och Patty var barn i slutet av 70-talet sedan mot slutet av boken så får man läsa om Rachel, 30 år senare, när hon beslutar sig för att skriva en fiktionell bok om sin uppväxt och morden. Jag trodde att innan jag läste boken att mer av handlingen skulle utspelas 30-år senare, och jag var till en viss del besviken att så lite av boken handlingen tog vid 30-år senare, men Maynard får till slutet så bra att missnöjet försvann.
Berget bakom huset är en mycket bra bok, jag ser fram emot att läsa andra böcker av Joyce Maynard!
Jag vill tacka HarperCollins Nordic för att ha försett mig med ett recensionsex för en ärlig recension.
English Review
The year is 1979, and sisters Rachel and Patty live in Marin County, California. When several young girls are murdered in the hills behind the house where they live is it their father who is a police detective that is put in charge of leading the investigation. Their father doesn't live at home anymore since their mother throw him out because his was notoriously unfaithful to her. She has since then been depressed and doesn't care that much about what the girls do when they are at home, and they continue to spend time in the hills, despite their father's warning.
After Her is the first book I have read by Joyce Maynard and the gorgeous cover of the Swedish book together with the blurb made me quite curious and I just had to read the book. I really like the mix of family drama and mystery. It's a tale about growing up, but besides the usual problem girls face growing up must Rachel and Patty also live with a serial killer loose. And, that is something that is going to affect them quite a lot during their time growing up and later on. Rachel, the oldest has started to see that her father is not the hero that she has worshiped since she was little and even Patty has started to notice his less than flattering sides. And, their father is affected as times goes and more girls are being killed without the killer is being apprehended.
The book's story both takes place during Rachel and Patty are young at the end of the 70s and towards the end of the book, the story takes us 30 years forward in time to a grown-up Rachel who is planning on writing a fictional book, about growing up and about the killer. I did think before I started to read the book that more of the story would take place when Rachel was older and I was in a way disappointed that so little of the book was dedicated to older Rachel. But, my disappointed went away when Maynard managed to write a truly excellent ending.
After Her was a very good book and I'm looking forward to reading more books by Joyce Maynard!
I want to thank HarperCollins Nordic for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede
Året är 1979 och systrarna Rachel och Patty bor i Marin County i Kalifornien. När flera unga flickor blir mördade i bergen bakom huset där de bor blir deras pappa som är kriminalinspektör den som får leda utredningen. Deras pappa bor inte längre hemma och deras mamma har sedan hon kastade ut honom pga av att han var ständigt otrogen drabbats av en depression och bryr sig inte så mycket om vad flickorna gör när de är hemma och trots deras pappas varningar så kan de inte låta bli att vistas i bergen...
Bergen bakom huset är den första boken jag har läst av Joyce Maynard och det snygga omslaget samt handlingen gjorde mig nyfiken på boken. Vad jag gillade med boken var mixen av familjedrama och mysterium. En berättelse om att växa upp, men förutom de vanliga tonårsproblemen som mens och killar så måste Rachel och Patty också leva med att det är en seriemördare lös. Och, det är något som kommer att påverka dem mycket både under deras uppväxt och senare i livet. Rachel som är äldst har börjat se att hennes far inte är den hjälte som hon dyrkat sedan hon var liten och även Patty har börjat upptäcka hans mindre smickrande sidor. Och i och med att fler flickor blir mördade påverkas även deras far av det och de ser hur misslyckandet med att fånga mördaren tär på honom.
Boken utspelas både när Rachel och Patty var barn i slutet av 70-talet sedan mot slutet av boken så får man läsa om Rachel, 30 år senare, när hon beslutar sig för att skriva en fiktionell bok om sin uppväxt och morden. Jag trodde att innan jag läste boken att mer av handlingen skulle utspelas 30-år senare, och jag var till en viss del besviken att så lite av boken handlingen tog vid 30-år senare, men Maynard får till slutet så bra att missnöjet försvann.
Berget bakom huset är en mycket bra bok, jag ser fram emot att läsa andra böcker av Joyce Maynard!
Jag vill tacka HarperCollins Nordic för att ha försett mig med ett recensionsex för en ärlig recension.
English Review
The year is 1979, and sisters Rachel and Patty live in Marin County, California. When several young girls are murdered in the hills behind the house where they live is it their father who is a police detective that is put in charge of leading the investigation. Their father doesn't live at home anymore since their mother throw him out because his was notoriously unfaithful to her. She has since then been depressed and doesn't care that much about what the girls do when they are at home, and they continue to spend time in the hills, despite their father's warning.
After Her is the first book I have read by Joyce Maynard and the gorgeous cover of the Swedish book together with the blurb made me quite curious and I just had to read the book. I really like the mix of family drama and mystery. It's a tale about growing up, but besides the usual problem girls face growing up must Rachel and Patty also live with a serial killer loose. And, that is something that is going to affect them quite a lot during their time growing up and later on. Rachel, the oldest has started to see that her father is not the hero that she has worshiped since she was little and even Patty has started to notice his less than flattering sides. And, their father is affected as times goes and more girls are being killed without the killer is being apprehended.
The book's story both takes place during Rachel and Patty are young at the end of the 70s and towards the end of the book, the story takes us 30 years forward in time to a grown-up Rachel who is planning on writing a fictional book, about growing up and about the killer. I did think before I started to read the book that more of the story would take place when Rachel was older and I was in a way disappointed that so little of the book was dedicated to older Rachel. But, my disappointed went away when Maynard managed to write a truly excellent ending.
After Her was a very good book and I'm looking forward to reading more books by Joyce Maynard!
I want to thank HarperCollins Nordic for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede
February 8, 2017
Based loosely on Marin County's "Trailside Killer" back in the 70s this book is part thriller, part family drama/coming of age story. The effects of a serial killer on the loose on the lead detective's family is explored. Rachel is the older daughter, now in her 40s, and tells the story as she looks back to her childhood.
I was hooked from page one and listened compulsively until the last page. The characters were well developed and the tension palpable. I loved the 1970's references.
The bond between the sisters, the love between a father and his daughters, the wild imagination of young girls, the emotional toll on their father as the murdered girls accumulated, the depressed mother who read all day....all this and more combined to make for a satisfying read. The author flawlessly narrated the audiobook.
This was the first book I've read by Joyce Maynard but won't be my last. I've already started the next one.
I was hooked from page one and listened compulsively until the last page. The characters were well developed and the tension palpable. I loved the 1970's references.
The bond between the sisters, the love between a father and his daughters, the wild imagination of young girls, the emotional toll on their father as the murdered girls accumulated, the depressed mother who read all day....all this and more combined to make for a satisfying read. The author flawlessly narrated the audiobook.
This was the first book I've read by Joyce Maynard but won't be my last. I've already started the next one.
July 11, 2013
1979 was a pivotal year for two young sisters, and would come to spotlight how loneliness, love, and the obsession with a murder investigation could turn lives on end.
Detective Anthony Torricelli was in charge of the case involving a serial killer attacking women in Marin County. At the same time, his imaginative daughters, Rachel and Patty, while away their hours on the mountain and the surrounding areas targeted by the killer.
Narrated in Rachel's first person voice, "After Her: A Novel" reveals the unique fantasy life of young girls, even as we come to relate to the very special bond that can develop between sisters when left to their own devices.
What woman can't relate to how a young girl feels when her body is changing and her thoughts and feelings take on a life of their own? Who doesn't relate to how an empty day in the life of imaginative girls can offer the opportunity for unique entertainment? I especially loved how the two girls created "movie nights" for themselves, when, in the absence of their own TV, they peeked through the windows of neighbors' homes to view their favorite shows.
But what happens to the lives of these two girls when they try to help their father solve the case, after the media is turning against him and blaming him for his "inability" to do so? Will their efforts pay off, or will all their lives be altered in inexplicable ways?
In this poignant story with themes of obsession, dedication, loss, and the unique bond between fathers and daughters, especially when their families have been fractured by divorce, I felt a wide range of emotions. And unlike many fictional tales of this kind, there were no predictable wrap-ups of the case. Instead we had to wait more than thirty years for the denouement that would bring justice and satisfaction to the narrator of this tale. I could not put this book down, and invariably, Maynard brings us a five star read that I will think about and remember always.
Detective Anthony Torricelli was in charge of the case involving a serial killer attacking women in Marin County. At the same time, his imaginative daughters, Rachel and Patty, while away their hours on the mountain and the surrounding areas targeted by the killer.
Narrated in Rachel's first person voice, "After Her: A Novel" reveals the unique fantasy life of young girls, even as we come to relate to the very special bond that can develop between sisters when left to their own devices.
What woman can't relate to how a young girl feels when her body is changing and her thoughts and feelings take on a life of their own? Who doesn't relate to how an empty day in the life of imaginative girls can offer the opportunity for unique entertainment? I especially loved how the two girls created "movie nights" for themselves, when, in the absence of their own TV, they peeked through the windows of neighbors' homes to view their favorite shows.
But what happens to the lives of these two girls when they try to help their father solve the case, after the media is turning against him and blaming him for his "inability" to do so? Will their efforts pay off, or will all their lives be altered in inexplicable ways?
In this poignant story with themes of obsession, dedication, loss, and the unique bond between fathers and daughters, especially when their families have been fractured by divorce, I felt a wide range of emotions. And unlike many fictional tales of this kind, there were no predictable wrap-ups of the case. Instead we had to wait more than thirty years for the denouement that would bring justice and satisfaction to the narrator of this tale. I could not put this book down, and invariably, Maynard brings us a five star read that I will think about and remember always.
September 3, 2013
It's a thriller; it's a coming-of-age story; it's a thriller -- no it's BOTH! For me, the thriller portion of this story takes a big backseat to the engaging, compelling, and carefully drawn story of young sisters Rachel and Patty. Told in Rachel's honest, appealing voice, this book often reads like a memoir rather than a "detective story". The sisters are creative, spirited, honorable, and wonderfully young and naive. Their love for their dad is the universal" every girl's" love of father; though his role is secondary to the sisters' role, the relationship between the determined policeman and his daughters will both melt and break your heart. Sure, there are plot holes related to the thriller portion of the story, but who cares when the primary characters are so completely engaging. I read this gem in two evenings.
September 4, 2013
In the summer of 79, two young sisters on the verge of adolescence attempt to deal with their parent's divorce, first love....and a serial killer in their backyard.
This is my first introduction to Maynard, and I will be reading more. She beautifully captured the close relationship of the two sisters and a period where summers were actually a time when children could relax and use their imaginations, rather than the heavily structured days many of them experience now. Yes, it made me very nostalgic for my childhood.
This is my first introduction to Maynard, and I will be reading more. She beautifully captured the close relationship of the two sisters and a period where summers were actually a time when children could relax and use their imaginations, rather than the heavily structured days many of them experience now. Yes, it made me very nostalgic for my childhood.
July 12, 2016
Did you ever finish a book that was so good, it was impossible to write a review? The plot was interesting, the characters all seemed like real people, the story was poignant and compelling, something I will think about for a long time. Anything I could say is not enough. I am so glad I have an actual hardback copy because this is a book I will press upon a few select people and insist they read it.
August 11, 2013
I get a lot of books to review so I get into this bad habit of starting them without any expectations. I quit a lot of them within a few pages. But if the voice grabs me, I stay. Initially AFTER HER seemed like a thriller with a good voice so I stuck around. It was actually something very different, but I was already seduced into it and couldn't stop.
This is really a coming-of-age novel of sorts, about 13-year-old Rachel whose only real friend is her little sister Patty. Her parents are divorced, her mother is always working, she idolizes her father but he's rarely around.
At the center of Rachel's story is the Sunset Strangler, a serial killer prowling the mountains of Marin County, the mountains that just happen to be right in Rachel's backyard. And her father is lead detective on the case, suddenly thrusting her into the popular crowd at school.
The strangler is what sets the plot in motion, but Rachel and her relationships with her father and sister are what the novel is actually about. And much of it centers on the difficult days of being 13. (There's a particularly beautiful section at the beginning of Part 2 where grown-up Rachel reflects on those days.)
This is really a coming-of-age novel of sorts, about 13-year-old Rachel whose only real friend is her little sister Patty. Her parents are divorced, her mother is always working, she idolizes her father but he's rarely around.
At the center of Rachel's story is the Sunset Strangler, a serial killer prowling the mountains of Marin County, the mountains that just happen to be right in Rachel's backyard. And her father is lead detective on the case, suddenly thrusting her into the popular crowd at school.
The strangler is what sets the plot in motion, but Rachel and her relationships with her father and sister are what the novel is actually about. And much of it centers on the difficult days of being 13. (There's a particularly beautiful section at the beginning of Part 2 where grown-up Rachel reflects on those days.)
September 10, 2013
Read my full review: http://bit.ly/15h1zNP
My opinion: I have to say that I was incredibly conflicted in my review of this book. I LOVE Joyce Maynard's writing and have read a good chunk of her books. The writing in this story was somewhat "cheesy" and that drove me absolutely nuts. On that note, it is set in the 1970's, which was a really "cheesy" time.
I also didn't feel that the characters nor the storyline were as developed in the other books that I have written by this author. In my humble opinion, this book definitely started off stronger than how it wrapped up.
My opinion: I have to say that I was incredibly conflicted in my review of this book. I LOVE Joyce Maynard's writing and have read a good chunk of her books. The writing in this story was somewhat "cheesy" and that drove me absolutely nuts. On that note, it is set in the 1970's, which was a really "cheesy" time.
I also didn't feel that the characters nor the storyline were as developed in the other books that I have written by this author. In my humble opinion, this book definitely started off stronger than how it wrapped up.
November 2, 2016
Review to follow.
March 28, 2015
It is hard to review this book without giving away spoilers, but I was confused about a few things:
These grumblings aside, Maynard kept me guessing and engrossed through most of the book. I liked the two sisters and their relationship, and all the edgy challenges of Rachel's coming-of-age largely unsupervised. I could especially relate to the dad's character, even though I didn't care for him as a person. He was one of those men who supposedly "loves women;" so much so, he's got to screw (or at least think about screwing) each and every one. I was raised by a dude like that, and his sexual objectification of half the human race made for a terrible male role model. Otherwise, the relationship between the girls and their dad, and the cool things they did together ("Don't tell your mother!") were sweet.
These grumblings aside, Maynard kept me guessing and engrossed through most of the book. I liked the two sisters and their relationship, and all the edgy challenges of Rachel's coming-of-age largely unsupervised. I could especially relate to the dad's character, even though I didn't care for him as a person. He was one of those men who supposedly "loves women;" so much so, he's got to screw (or at least think about screwing) each and every one. I was raised by a dude like that, and his sexual objectification of half the human race made for a terrible male role model. Otherwise, the relationship between the girls and their dad, and the cool things they did together ("Don't tell your mother!") were sweet.
May 12, 2016
This book will be published in September and I highly recommend it. It is a coming-of-age story blended with a mystery surrounding a serial killer. The relationship between the two sisters and with their father is memorable. I didn't mind the slow pace of the book for the first 200 pages; indeed the fact that nothing happens is the point. Murders aren't solved; womanhood is not achieved. The pace picks up --almost dizzingly so -- in the last 100 pages.
February 9, 2014
For more reviews check out my blog: http://ageekybookworm.tumblr.com/
This was more than anything to me, a story of sisters. There is the mystery of the Sunset Strangler, but that almost feels like a back story. The adventures Patty and Rachel share are wonderful and the kind one remembers for a lifetime. Playing ding dong ditch, exploring the mountain in their backyard, and learning about friendships and sisterhood. She rather accurately portrayed the 13 year old girl and confusing time it is. Also her enduring close relationship with her father, how she considered him to be a hero in her child's mind, to realize later he's only human, and the fact that she gave her depressed mother a pass so often when she clearly was neglecting them. I found this story to be very likeable, and will be looking for more by this author.
This was more than anything to me, a story of sisters. There is the mystery of the Sunset Strangler, but that almost feels like a back story. The adventures Patty and Rachel share are wonderful and the kind one remembers for a lifetime. Playing ding dong ditch, exploring the mountain in their backyard, and learning about friendships and sisterhood. She rather accurately portrayed the 13 year old girl and confusing time it is. Also her enduring close relationship with her father, how she considered him to be a hero in her child's mind, to realize later he's only human, and the fact that she gave her depressed mother a pass so often when she clearly was neglecting them. I found this story to be very likeable, and will be looking for more by this author.
March 22, 2016
This book was outstanding! The story takes place in San Francisco during 1979. We are told upfront that Rachel's sister saved her but she wasn't able to save her sister. So during the whole story we wonder who will do? And how will it happen? It's something you would never expect. Excellent writing! I'm so glad to have the Toledo Lucas County Public Library send these books straight to my iPhone.
April 24, 2013
Maynard brings her talents to this thriller weaving a truely enjoyable read. For the Maynard fan, you have everything you have come to expect from a Joyce Maynard book here: great characters, a well crafted story spanning 30 years, and the believability that Maynard brings every time she creates. Rachel is one of her best characters to date.
June 3, 2016
I am a fan of Joyce Maynard so I had high hopes for this book. I enjoyed it but it was a bit of a 'slow burner'. Probably wasn't a true thriller but it did give an insight into family dynamics and how our perceptions of others are not always correct . She definitely creates a vivid picture of characters and the settings they are in . 3 1/2 stars if I could .
August 10, 2013
A compelling summer read. Two young sisters, daughters of a homicide detective in Marin County, trying to help their father solve the "Trailside Killer" during the 1970's. Take this one to the beach.
June 8, 2018
Loved this book.
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