The Life Group

by Maura Jortner

ONE MISSING GIRL. ONE RADICAL CHURCH. ONE DAY.

"With THE LIFE GROUP, Maura Jortner saves us from the same old YA whodunit formula with a truly original storyline and taut pacing that pulls the reader relentlessly toward the devastating conclusion. THE LIFE GROUP’s topical details and themes are sure to resonate with thriller lovers of all ages, and the characters will stay with you long after the last page is turned." -USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Stormes Hawker

Every day since her sister vanished, Rachel has visited the radical church where Leah was last seen. There are still no suspects or leads, but Rachel’s positive clues lie in that church somewhere.

Thirteen days on from Leah’s disappearance, the pastor introduces Rachel to Tim, a devout worshiper of his Lord. To avoid dealing with his own demons, he agrees to spend the day helping Rachel search for her sister.

It’s Saturday, March 14. Maybe today will be the day. Maybe today Rachel will be reunited with Leah. Or maybe today will change Rachel’s life forever.

For fans of GONE GIRL, this gripping Young Adult thriller will keep you guessing until its explosive climax.

Genres: Young Adult

221 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 2017

About the author

Maura Jortner grew up in NH but now lives in TX with her family and Shiloh, her cat, who can do tricks.

Reviews

[Lynda Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since Leah went missing, her sister Rachel has been looking for answers. Leah was last seen at the Salvation Day church, but what was she doing there? During one of her visits to the church, Rachel meets Tim, who lost his brother Andrew in a car crash exactly one year ago. Tim has an appointment at 4.36pm, but he offers to help Rachel look for Leah until then. Throughout the course of the day, Rachel meets plenty of people who might have something to do with Leah's disappearance: the creepy Sisters of the Cross, Pastor James, Leah's ex-boyfriend Mason, Leah's roommate Kaylee ... and what about Tim? Is he too good to be true? Can he be trusted? The story of Rachel's search is interspersed with snippets of a YouTube video with rapidly increasing views. But just how is this video related to Leah's disappearance?

As the clock slowing ticks forward to 4.36pm, the suspense builds to a fever pitch. This is an intriguing mystery that will keep readers of all ages hooked to the very end. While I did guess some aspects of plot, this book nevertheless kept me up way past my bedtime!

Warnings: coarse language, infidelity, suicide.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post (12 January): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...

[Nancy Cronin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow! What an exciting novel! It's hard to believe that this nail-biter is from a first-time-published author! Maura Jortner's The Life Group captivated my attention right away--both from the church's "message" ("They hunt our steps... our end is near." What does this mean?) to the initial YouTube video scene—Why were these items in the vehicle? Had the duct tape, surgical scissors, and rope been used to abduct Rachel's sister? Was the seemingly drunken girl who stumbled out of the bar actually Leah? Who was recording the video? Why? Where might they have taken Leah? And, after nearly two weeks, had too much time passed for Rachel to find any trace of her sister?

The entire 203-page novel takes place within one day, moving at breakneck pace to various locations, and involving several individuals--many of whom could easily be the perpetrators of Leah's disappearance. With each new "suspect," Jortner keeps us reading, wondering, sleuthing with Rachel and her new friend, Tim, as they pursue leads to locate Leah... before it's too late.
Jortner's visual imagery and clues--the ominous church with its too-sweet pastor, a lock of blond hair the exact color of Leah's, a "loser" ex-boyfriend--keep the reader guessing, and hold the suspense-filled momentum... to the unexpected and well-executed ending. As time keeps ticking by--and the interspersed YouTube videos' viewers' numbers keep growing (from 26, to 413, to nearly 2 million)--we cannot put down this gripping story!

Jortner's well-paced thriller leaves no "loose ends"--a notable achievement for a new author... and a quality I particularly appreciate in a novel. Her characters are believable, and therefore the story line is even more enthralling as the mystery unfolds.

Billed as a Young Adult book, this novel is captivating for all generations.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this until about halfway through. It had lots of suspense; but then the main character figures that the kind-hearted guy who has been helping her to find her sister knows more than she thinks, and instead of running home (where cops are already waiting and her father is already worried sick about her), she takes off after him to be a hero or something. For me, after that, the book went downhill. My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for a copy of this book.

[Thomas Laycock · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heart racing journey to be taken on by this great new YA author! The combination of the depth of the characters and the heart racing trip they take you on make this novel a great adventure! Such a great read!

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Life Group by Maura Jortner, due out January next year, is a riveting novel with likable (and some not so likable) characters and a killer story line.

I’m not a fan of books in which the “F” word is constantly used – especially ones for teenagers, but the story was so enthralling, it seemed to slip into the background.

The YouTube video snippets appearing every so often in the narrative were a nice touch and kept you looking for clues and wracking your brain as to what the heck was going on. The mention of a spool of cordage, a roll of duct tape, and a pair of surgical scissors was more than enough to keep you worried for what might happen to Rachel or what might have happened to Leah.

First person can be difficult to write, but the author manages to pull it off and once Rachel teams up with Tim, the story races along like an out of control locomotive.

I'm usually pretty good at sussing out the ending, but this book kept me guessing, double guessing, and even triple guessing until the end. I kept waiting for Tim to pull out a knife/gun or drug Rachel. I kept waiting for the "driver" to become another David Koresh (we are in Waco after all) and for a mass murder to take place – especially with what seems to be a somewhat unorthodox church being involved.

The ending is... well, you'll just have to read it for yourself.

[Ray Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maura Jortner's "The Life Group" quickly comes to life as the protagonist, Rachel, frantically searches for Leah, her missing sister. However, this novel will never be mistaken for a typical "does she or does she not succeed in her desperate quest" thriller.

Carefully and effectively integrated into this basic narrative are such vital topics as family dynamics, ups and downs of friendships, and attitudes of exclusion that sometimes plague fundamentalism.

The surprises big and small in the last several pages are, for the most part, shocking and believable, though one of them stretches credibility a tad. It takes a writer of Jortner's skill and sensitivity to blend so many elements into such a fast-moving, gripping account.

Ray Landry

[Dorothy Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are attracted to a mystery that weaves broken teenage characters' lives into mesmerizing and confusing cultish religious fundamentalism, you will be gripped by The Life Group. Maura Jortner skillfully creates a protagonist that takes the reader on a self-motivated and determined detective hunt for her missing sister. In this courageous process, she uncovers some of her own and others' deepest longings, fears, and unanswered needs. The human spirit is resilient and often a mystery that is not easily understood.

[Madeleine Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! What a brilliant first! The Life Group is such a skillfully written novel that I was quickly taken in and found it difficult to take a break - I had to read one more sentence and one more paragraph.
Although it is. A fast moving narrative there is much depth in the plot and the characters. The family dynamics, the role of friendships in life and one girl's determination will give you much to think about.
I am sure that many readers will look forward to Maria's next work.

[Grass monster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasnt really sure what to expect from this book, I knew it involved a Church and after reading the blurb knew it also involved a missing girl and a massive search by her sister.
From the opening page I was hooked. Although listed as a YA read, I recommend anyone of any age to give it a go, you wont be disappointed.
Leah Dorsett, has gone missing. Leaving no trail but a last sighting at the local church and it seems the police have also given up, her sister Rachel takes it upon herself to try and find Leah and bring her home safe and sound. With the help of church goer Tim, they set off in his car to explore where Leah could of gone or been and hope to get some answers. Rachel feels comfortable with Tim, but should she let him in as it seems he is fighting some demons of his own. As we go on a journey with Rachel, in the search for Leah we find ourselves caught up in a whirlwind of tention, suspence, fear and many twists and turns to piece together what has happened. Rachel is fearless and will stop at nothing to find her sister. This will have you on the end of your seat and I really dont think anyone can call what has happened. I didnt!. At times I was willing Rachel not to do certain and say certain things for fear of the unknown. But she is one fiesty charactor. The great thing that Maura Jortner has done with this story is, it doesnt just end. There were a few times near the end that I thought it was the end, but it wasnt, very cleverly Ms Jortner continues on with the story so we can get all our questions answered. And the pieces just click together. I was sad when this book ended as I felt it was one of those that I wasnt quiet ready to let go of.

[Kara Poe Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Maura Jortner was fantastic! I found it to be fast-paced, suspenseful, and smart. I didn't know anything about the plot before I read it, so I was guessing what was going on the whole time. It had me on the edge of my seat, as I was trying to figure how the characters, places, and mysteries fit together. The characters were well-developed and interesting. I also loved that the book was set in Waco, Texas. Overall, the book engrossed me from the beginning and captivated my interest throughout. Excellent, fun read!

[Snoakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Life Group is a YA thriller. Like all good thrillers it's a proper page-turner and the pace keeps up right to the end.
Rachel, our narrator, has an authentic voice - she definitely feels like a real person, frantic and breathless one minute, angry and sarcastic the next. After a bit it's pretty obvious roughly where the story is going to end up, but by then you are invested in Rachel's quest for her missing sister and the story flies along to the end.
I was expecting something much more formulaic and I was very pleasantly surprised.

[Rebecca Waddell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Michelle Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced thriller that keeps you guessing until the end! Personally, my favorite element is the real and flawed relationship between the two sisters, and how that is delved into bit by bit throughout the novel. Rachel's struggle to find her sister, while still dealing with the realities of their relationship, and her guilt for acknowledging her sister's flaws, gives the book a real dose of gritty reality. Very well done!

[Ariel C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fast paced suspense filled title!
The Life Group continuously keeps the reader guessing right up until the explosive climax in which all is revealed.

Rachel is a very feisty and realistic character, with a strong sense of duty and an iron willed determination to succeed where the police have failed in solving her sister's disappearance.
But not many of the characters in this book are that likable, it's hard to care what happens to them.
By the end of the book, it's difficult to muster up any degree of sympathy for the "missing" Leah- who seems far too selfish, petulant, immature and deranged for much empathy to be possible.

I have mixed feelings about this book.
It is very well written but the pace is far too fast and the more disturbing elements revealed towards the end of the story detract from author's skill.
The idea of a cult masquerading within church premises, in plain sight of all but noticed by none is a great novel premise.
But I found the idea of a suicide cult a step too far.

I am very uncomfortable with the author's constant attempts to create sympathy for a male who wears a timer bomb under his vest, makes video suicide "notes" and plans to kill people by detonating a car filled with explosives stolen from the military.

Everyone knows that cult leaders can fake friendship, play religious and use charisma as part of their schemes to dupe and lure followers.
But the idea of combining religion + suicide bombing with a portrayal of the ringleader behind it all as merely a misunderstood person deserving of empathy beggars belief.
This sort of attitude fuels a dangerous ideology that ultimately seeks to make excuses for terrorist murder.

Attempts to rationalize the mindset of the violent extremists who seek to perpetrate mass murder is one short step away from trying to excuse the violent destruction and loss of life caused by suicide bombing attacks. This is the aim of terrorist propaganda.
Anything that goes down the road of humanizing or attempting to justifying the perpetrators of terrorist atrocities makes my blood boil. This novel's final chapter just sails too close to the wind for my taste.

[John Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maura Jortner, the author of The Life Group, does the one thing that writers of mystery/suspense thrillers must do, without which they fail: after hooking the reader, Jortner sets in motion a slow build-up of tension which never relents, never sags, and which ratchets up to an apex moment right at the point where most of the issues, or the key ones, are resolved. That’s a hard thing to do. And that’s the one thing that makes a book like this succeed. After all, readers don’t want a thriller to be a textbook or an essay. Jortner, a professor-by-day-job, understands that a thriller is not an academic exercise. The reader wants to have his attention captured and held prisoner by the author from the beginning to the end.
Rachel’s sister Leah is missing and, while the police flounder, Rachel is determined to find her. Sinister elements are suspected. It’s a simple plot, but it’s plenty enough to keep us on tenterhooks. After all, if something happened to Leah, and if Rachel has to enter into this sinister world in order to find Leah, could Rachel be in just as much danger?
Jortner uses a plot device which one doesn’t often think of as such: she makes the church into a character in its own right. We think of churches as places of theological mystery, of course, as well as places of learning and long historical tradition. But the imagination can just as easily see churches as places where the occult turns sinister, and where evil gains the upper hand, at least for a while. And this Jortner does exceptionally well: we really don’t know whether we can trust these churchly people that Rachel is talking to. Are they really trustworthy, or are they wolves in sheeps’ clothing? It’s the ambiguity which fuels the tension. This works really well.
In conclusion, no spoilers here. I’m not giving anything away. Except, of course, the five stars.

[H.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I finished reading this in just two days after starting, Maura Jortner’s debut Young Adult Thriller novel, The Life Group. While it was written for high school students, this book is great for any age over 14. The Life group kept me glued to every page until I finished the book, with only two questions running through my head, what will happen to Leah and if she will ever find her sister Rachel. Rachel, is this young woman who is actively searching for her sister, Leah, who went missing. She leads you through an a series of twists and turns with an incredibly shocking ending that you will not see coming!

The Life Group takes you on a journey that is full of thrilling dynamics that bring a certain realness to make it a thrilling ordinary yet unique real. By adding themes of current issues going on in society today it brings a relief to see someone fighting to keep the out of control in her life in control. Readers will experience of Rachel’s fierce loyalty, her longing to find and save her sister, and her desperation as she lives out one life-altering day. This was one of the most emotionally charged books I have read in a long time and I recommended this book for anyone who wants a new thrill yet real book to read.

[Ashley Havird · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The pastor grips and massages my shoulder. ‘Tim is one of our leaders at Salvation Day; he’s even in charge of a life group, so I hate to go, but I’m leaving you in good hands, and he knows everything that goes on here. I’m telling you, he’s the guy you need.’ The guy I need. This sentence, like the word guilty before it, spins in my brain.” --from THE LIFE GROUP

THE LIFE GROUP is the account of one frantic day in the life of teenaged Rachel, who, frustrated by the efforts of the police that have gone nowhere, takes the search for her older sister, Leah, missing for thirteen days, into her own hands. I was hooked from the first by this edge-of-the-seat thriller whose climax is both shocking and stunningly rendered. Maura Jortner does a masterful job with her cast of characters, several of whom just might be Leah’s kidnapper or even murderer. Danger is always around the corner in this book that is also a cautionary tale about the power of cults that seduce young people, especially those who are suffering and vulnerable.

Gripping dialog, excellent pacing, memorable characters, and an unforgettable climax. Congratulations to Jortner on this page-turner of a debut novel!

[Marja Coons-Torn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been thinking hard about what to say about this book. It's unlike any other I've read, which overall is a good thing. First of all, it's set entirely on one day. The main character, Rachel, is an incredible young woman. I don't think I would have the courage to charge off and try to find my missing sister, especially after the police have given up. In some ways, Rachel seems a little cynical and hard-bitten for a high school student. But I think that's probably because she has this single-minded focus: find her sister at all costs. There are many, many twists and turns in the plot, also. Now, SPOILER ALERT, this book does not have a traditional happy ending. In some ways, it's not even a satisfying ending. And yet, I'm really glad I read it. I think I would like to sit down and chat with the author about what led her to write it. I can say without hesitation that I think it is definitely worth buying and reading.

[Linda Buzard-Moffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good read. It definitely kept me turning pages to find out what happened to Leah. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I would have liked to hear more about Leah and what happened with/to her in the end. No Spoilers though, but I did really enjoy reading this psychological thriller. At no point during the book did I feel uninterested in what was going on and what Rachel and Tim were experiencing. Maura Jortner did a great job at keeping us guessing who did what and why?
I received a copy of this book from the author and/or publisher Lakewater Press to give a review of My Own Honest Opinions of this book and was not compensated in anyway to give a positive review.

[Julia Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah, what a delightfully tense page-turner! It's the kind of book you end up reading all in one sitting just to find out what happens next. I loved following Rachel as she pieces together the clues about her sister's possible abduction. And as a Waco native, I also relished all of the local details that made the setting pop, especially the climax over the River Brazos (I won't spoil it for you!). I highly recommend this one.

[Donna Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic, keeps-you-guessing edge-of-your-seat kind of thriller! I'm a huge fan of mystery books, so going into a new one I automatically start suspecting people and try to think how the story is going to unfold, and what possible twists could appear. So I love anytime a book is able to throw me off with a unique twist. But this book??? I never in a million years would have ever seen that coming! I loved it!

[Alicia Huxtable · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it hard to enjoy this book, and to be honest I'm not sure if it was one thing or a combination of things that didn't quite make it an enjoyable read for me. The storyline seemed like it would of been a good book. The characters, I found lacking though. As though the author had written them just going through the motions.

[Gina Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for Christmas and started reading right away. The story sounded intriguing and as I read, I was not disappointed. I love a story that throws so many angles keeping you guessing until the end. This one nailed it.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review also posted at: http://underthebookcover.blogspot.com...

4/5


Thank you to Lakewater Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for review!

I went into this book fairly blind, knowing only that it involved a missing girl and a church. While I didn't know exactly what to expect from The Life Group, I certainly wasn't expecting a book that provided some serious thrills and chills from start to finish.

Rachel has been visiting the church where her missing sister, Leah, was last seen every day since she vanished. The radical church is a sure place to find some clues, Rachel just doesn't know where to look. When the pastor introduces Rachel to a devout member of the church named Tim, he agrees to spend the day helping her search for her missing sister. Rachel is holding out hope that today will be the day she finds answers, or is reunited with Leah, but can't even begin to think that this is the day that will change everything.

I spent a large portion of this book on the edge of my seat, suspecting everyone that Rachel came into contact with. This is very much a who-dun-it book that keeps you guessing from the very first page. The incredibly creepy opening sets the tone for the whole book and takes the idea of a thriller to an entirely new level. You're kept guessing and suspecting and wondering just what happened to this girl, and discovering that the truth is so much more awful than you could have guessed is a tough pill to swallow, metaphorically. Your mind can make a thousand guesses and the reveal is like getting the air knocked out of you. It was definitely something I was not expecting, and I found myself shocked and my jaw on the floor while reading the end. The Life Group pulls no punches and is incredibly raw and real in the most beautiful way. It's heartbreaking, shocking, and unlike anything in the YA genre.

Rachel was such a brave and bold character. She took numerous chances throughout the book in her search to find her sister, and I was amazed at how different she was. She's not your typical female main character, not by a long shot. She's loud and opinionated, strong in both her mind and body, as well as incredibly brave. Rachel never apologizes for being the way that she is, and I loved that about her. It's apparent that while the two sisters don't always get along, Leah means everything to Rachel, and you can see that in the actions and decisions that Rachel makes while she's out with Tim. She does things that she never thought she would do and even realizes that herself at one point. Being out with Tim, a complete stranger, and having the ability to confront people regarding Leah's disappearance really seems to bring out the best in Rachel. By the end, with everything that happens in her journey, you can't help but feel for her. I found myself wanting to give her a hug and, when the book was over, find out more about what happens afterwards. She's just a fantastically written, incredibly relatable and lovable character that you'll find yourself drawn into her story from start to finish.

The writing of this story was so easy to fall into and get lost in. There is an incredibly suspenseful atmosphere that is present on every page and you're never quite sure what's around the next corner. You end up suspecting everyone from the helpful church boy to the sketchy ex-boyfriend but you're never really sure why you're suspecting anyone. I loved feeling creeped out and almost like I was a detective trying to put together the clues that Rachel and Tim found. The dialogue between all of the characters was fantastically written and they all fit together very well. Also, the feeling that the church gave off was so eerie and foreboding and it really felt like it could be a character all on its own. There were so many things that were done right with this book and they all came together to create this thrilling, suspenseful, and quite possibly heartbreaking novel.

The Life Group is a fantastic debut that shouldn't be missed. If you're a fan of thrillers with fantastic characters and a plot that will have you flipping pages as fast as possible, then definitely pick this one up- you won't be disappointed!

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel is at the door of the Salvation Day church. Rachel had met Ashley Newman a few days ago and Genna and some of the other girls. As the girls were to leave the church Rachel pulls open the door and you can tell Ashley and the others had hope to avoid Rachel. Ashley told Rachel she had told her the group was closed to visitors. Ashley also states that as soon as she accepts God’s plan for her sister Leah , the sooner she will find peace. Then Rachel saw some hair in one of the girl’s bible and she claimed it was some of her three year old brother’s first haircut all her family had went. But the girl kept her eyes closed as if hiding something. Leah’s hair had been the same color as the hair in the girl's’ bible. Ashleys’ group was called “ The Sisters Of The Cross”. Rachel’s parents had emptied their savings account and took out a personal loan to offer twenty five thousand dollars as a reward to find Leah. Rachel’s father hadn’t left the house in a couple of weeks and her mother only did a horrific cry all the time. Rachel had to get out of the house and try to find Leah herself. The church was the last place Leah had been seen. Leah was eighteen, a college student who was failing. With Leah there was always something but she was the life of the party. Rachel sees Pastor James praying with a man. After awhile Pastor James comes to Rachel and offers to introduce her to Tim who knows everything that goes on in the church. Tim is having a bad day but was still willing to talk to Rachel. Today was the anniversary of Tim's’ brothers death and Tim blamed himself for Andrew’s death. Leah had been gone thirteen days now. Leah had been going to class and the next day she was gone. Salvation Day church was known to attract the most radical Christians and didn’t seem to have anyone over the age of thirty in the church which included Pastor James. Tim offers to take Rachel around looking for Leah.
This was a pretty good book. It was a little longer then I felt it had to be but it had everything it needed to make the story a good one. I can understand why Tim and the others in Tim’s small group felt the only way they could be free from the darkness and pain they felt. I loved how Rachel would not give up on her sister Leah no matter what and how she actively pursued looking for her sister. Even though mason was a butt in the end he was there for Leah and did help Rachel when she really needed him to. This story had a good plot and I liked the characters for the most part.I loved the ins and outs of the story and i recommend.

[Lou Grimm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I was captured by this book from the very start! You know that feeling when you finish a book so good, that when you pick up the next one you just take a while to adjust? Well that did *not* happen when I picked up The Life Group. From page 1, it was so intriguing and so well-written I had to force myself to put it down to go to work.

Beautifully structured dialogue forms a large part of the narrative, making it flow naturally and feel real. I *lived* this story, completely forgetting I was reading at all while falling in love with the characters, identifying and empathising with them all, and hoping things would work out for them in the end.

This was five stars from the start, and nothing dented, scratched or even tarnished a single point. I don't want to spoil it by saying anything about the plot - just get your hands on it and read it!

Now, time to try and let this one go and get into the next book if I'm able...

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review - I have no affiliation with anyone involved in this book and these are my genuine heartfelt thoughts.

[Sheila Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A teenage girl, Leah Dorsett, goes missing, and her sister Rachel sets off to find her. The police investigation has grown cold, and Rachel believes it is up to her to return Leah home safely to their family. The reader is propelled on a journey of searching for answers to unanswerable questions.
Ms. Jortner's first novel takes us along on an emotional ride providing many twists and turns on the road to discover the truth about this strange disappearance.
Themes of guilt,regret,and remorse are companions on the journey. We examine issues of life and death, loss and freedom. Lives intersect and explanations are held accountable or discarded.
This book will hold your interest from beginning to end. You will be engaged in following the progression of events that finally resolve Leah's disappearance.

[Stephanie (the nerdy princess) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review


We meet Rachel, who, frustrated by the efforts of the police that have gone nowhere, takes the search for her older sister, Leah, missing for thirteen days, into her own hands.

An odd pastor of the odd church connects Leah with an older man, who seems pious and anxious to help Rachel. They drive around the city, and try to question friends who may know something. One clique of young women only say “It’s God’s plan.”

Interspersed among the pages of Rachel’s adventures, is a YouTube video counting views which increase by the hundreds. By the end of the novel, these pieces of the puzzle amount to nearly 2 million views.

a fast pace, page turning, cant go to bed until you finish the book.

so good, a must read

[Laurie Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, the pace of this story - the time frame of it occurring over the space of a day and the tension contained within the pages as Rachel discovers more and more about her sister and her new friend Tim is truly amazing.

I read it so fast because I didn't want to put it down (Nearly missed my train stop!) I have read many a good story but this is truly original.

Maura Jortner has done an excellent job in this debut book. Her characters are deep and layered. The responses genuine and heartbreaking. A well written piece that gripped me from the start and didn't let go.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and twisting, Jortner’s masterpiece will have you muttering “what the hell!?” (In a good way!) with every turn of the page!