Ruthie

by Angie Gibson, Jennifer Horgan (Editor)

We entrust the most vulnerable among us—the youngest, the innocent—to the care of those around teachers, bus drivers, medical personnel. These adults serve as a daily safety net, standing watch over our most precious.

But what happens when that net breaks?

In a quiet Southern town, six-year-old Ruthie vanishes without a trace. As the town's police and citizens scramble to find her, fear begins to settle in. Some know more than they’re letting on, tormented by guilt. The entire town is shaken. Parents clutch their children tighter, united in their vigilance.

The signs were there all along. Yet Ruthie was left in the hands of a monster—betrayed by willful ignorance and shocking incompetence.

The town prays for her safe return. But what if their prayers were answered… in a way they never expected? What if Ruthie came back… for revenge?

Be careful what you wish for, because sometimes, you might just get it.

195 pages, Paperback

Published February 28, 2025

About the author

Angie Gibson lives in Northwest Georgia with her son, a dog named Stella, and two furry familiars named Hemingway and The Tookus. She likes to spend time with family, reading, watching true crime shows, thrift shop hunting, and dabbling in different kinds of art mediums. She works a full-time job during the day and is a writer by night. She believes in UFOs, ghosts, Sasquatch and lots of cryptids. Therefore, her mind is always swirling with ideas for books. She spends much of her time chasing those ideas around and trying to land them on pages

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthie is a hauntingly compelling story that grabs you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. Set in a small Georgia town, the book follows four twelve-year-old boys—Pedro, Jalen, Dakota, and Dylan—who stumble upon something unimaginable: the hand of a missing six-year-old girl, Ruthie, reaching out from a shallow grave. But Ruthie isn’t dead—at least, not entirely. What follows is a chilling, emotional, and beautifully written journey as the boys work together to help Ruthie uncover the truth about her killer.

The story masterfully blends mystery, supernatural elements, and deep themes of friendship, bravery, and justice. The boys’ dynamic feels real and heartfelt, making them easy to root for as they navigate danger and the eerie unknown. The suspense is expertly crafted, with twists and revelations that kept me flipping pages late into the night.

If you love a well-told mystery with unforgettable characters and a touch of the supernatural, Ruthie is an absolute must-read. Highly recommend!

[Rainbeaux Harvest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sad story about a missing little girl, some 12 year old boys, and a mystery. There was sadness throughout the story. Usually, if I read a sad story, it bores me. Ruthie did not have that effect on me. There was mystery and violence. These two things kept me slowly turning pages and wishing for more.

Ruthie was six when she disappeared. Dylan, Dakota, Jalen, and Pedro were 12, almost 13. Their worlds collided, and now the boys are dealing with Ruthie. Will they succeed in doing what's right for Ruthie?

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great revenge horror tale about a girl gone missing in a small town. A group of kids finds her, but finds out she's not dead. At least, not entirely.

This is a great mixture of supernatural elements, the power of friendship, and my favorite part, revenge. Don't sleep on this book, as it becomes a page turner after the halfway point. The ending is very satisfying and even made me tear up a little.

This won't be the last book I read from Angie. Well done! It's a book that deserves more attention, for sure.

[Marie M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthie is a quick, chilling read that grabs you right away. Gibson captures that eerie small-town tension where everyone knows something, but no one says it out loud until it’s too late. The story starts like a normal missing-child case, then takes a sharp, unexpected turn that I actually enjoyed. It’s unsettling in all the right ways and leaves you thinking about responsibility, guilt, and the things we choose not to see. Dark, fast, and memorable.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A severed hand discovered that starts things off to this amazing story. Dude why are these books so underrated! wtf!

[Olivia Meek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was given an ARC by the author and couldn't get enough of it!!