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Remembering Sarah
With a blizzard closing in, Mike Sullivan defies his wife's anxious warnings and takes their six-year-old daughter Sarah sledding. Mike waits at the bottom of a precariously steep hill as stubbornly independent Sarah races up the slope with a friend. But she never comes back down.Mike now lives out every parent's worst nightmare. His daughter has vanished. His marriage is falling apart. And investigators are unable to pin their only suspect, a local defrocked priest, with any crime. But is the key to Sarah's disappearance hidden in the turmoil and despair that is burying Mike alive? Or is it in his family's troubled past? One person holds the terrifying secret....
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
17 people are currently reading
1098 people want to read
About the author
Chris Mooney
48 books524 followersHailed as “one of the best thriller writers working today” by Lee Child and “a wonderful writer” by Michael Connelly, Chris Mooney is the international bestselling author of twelve novels, most recently, The Snow Girls. His fourth book, The Missing, the first in the Darby McCormick series, was a main selection of the International Book of the Month Club and an instant bestseller in over thirteen countries. The Mystery Writer’s Association nominated Chris’s third book, Remembering Sarah, for an Edgar Award for Best Novel. Foreign rights to his novels have been sold to twenty-eight territories. He has sold nearly two million copies of his books.
Chris teaches writing courses at Harvard and the Harvard Extension School, and lives in the Boston area with his wife and son. His new novel, Blood World, will be released in August of 2020.
International Praise for Chris Mooney:
“Scary voice, scary talent. Mooney is one of the best thriller writers working today.”
– Lee Child
“A wonderful writer . . . Compelling, thrilling and touching.”
– Michael Connelly
“Harrowing, gripping, haunting, gut-wrenching and beautifully written.”
– Harlan Coben
“Chris Mooney has written his finest novel, and that’s saying something indeed.”
– Dennis Lehane
“It will keep you up past your bedtime.”
– Karin Slaughter
“A thriller that will chill your blood, break your heart and make your pulse race.”
– Mark Billingham
"Chris Mooney is an exceptional thriller writer, with the rare gift of being able to of balance action with compassion, and grit with humanity. I envy those who have yet to read him."
– John Connolly
“The Missing is the season’s most unrelenting thriller. It will keep readers enthralled from its gripping opening chapters to its shocking last page.”
– George Pelecanos
“Mooney writes like a man on fire.”
– Linda Fairstein
“The smart money has long been on Chris Mooney, one of crime fiction’s rising stars.”
– Laura Lippman
Chris teaches writing courses at Harvard and the Harvard Extension School, and lives in the Boston area with his wife and son. His new novel, Blood World, will be released in August of 2020.
International Praise for Chris Mooney:
“Scary voice, scary talent. Mooney is one of the best thriller writers working today.”
– Lee Child
“A wonderful writer . . . Compelling, thrilling and touching.”
– Michael Connelly
“Harrowing, gripping, haunting, gut-wrenching and beautifully written.”
– Harlan Coben
“Chris Mooney has written his finest novel, and that’s saying something indeed.”
– Dennis Lehane
“It will keep you up past your bedtime.”
– Karin Slaughter
“A thriller that will chill your blood, break your heart and make your pulse race.”
– Mark Billingham
"Chris Mooney is an exceptional thriller writer, with the rare gift of being able to of balance action with compassion, and grit with humanity. I envy those who have yet to read him."
– John Connolly
“The Missing is the season’s most unrelenting thriller. It will keep readers enthralled from its gripping opening chapters to its shocking last page.”
– George Pelecanos
“Mooney writes like a man on fire.”
– Linda Fairstein
“The smart money has long been on Chris Mooney, one of crime fiction’s rising stars.”
– Laura Lippman
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
February 7, 2023
Het was een langdradig verhaal, waardoor de spanning niet echt voelbaar was. Ook liep de vertaling niet helemaal lekker. Soms waren dingen iets té letterlijk vertaald.
November 4, 2025
Chris Mooney, in his latest book, Remembering Sarah, delivers a riveting and emotion-charged thriller based on every parent's worst fear -- the disappearance of a child. In many ways it reminds me of Mystic River by Dennis Lehane, although it is not quite as good. Mooney's main character, Mike Sullivan, the father of the missing child, is very well-developed and one you'll remember for a long time. In addition to being a very good thriller, Mooney's story is also a tale of loss and undying hope. The only factor that keeps me from giving Remembering Sarah a 5-star rating is that the ending is a bit abrupt and leaves some "loose threads dangling." Nonetheless, this is a book that I'd recommend you put high up on your reading list. Enjoy!
March 27, 2016
4.5 stars
Superb read! I really loved Mike. He reminded me a lot of my husband. Not the angry, violent part, but the great dad part. Chris Mooney really portrayed a parent's worst nightmare. How fine is the line between safety from predators and allowing your kid to be independent and stand on their own two feet? This book really makes you think about that.
Superb read! I really loved Mike. He reminded me a lot of my husband. Not the angry, violent part, but the great dad part. Chris Mooney really portrayed a parent's worst nightmare. How fine is the line between safety from predators and allowing your kid to be independent and stand on their own two feet? This book really makes you think about that.
February 21, 2016
I did not figure out the ending. Great thriller! Very believable.
June 15, 2016
Mike Sullivan just wants his 6 year old daughter, Sarah, to grow up strong and independent, which is becoming next to impossible, because his wife, Jess, is increasingly becoming more and more overprotective of Sarah. Then on the night of one of the biggest snowstorms in Boston, Sarah convinces Mike to take her sledding, against Jess's wishes. Mike doesn't see the harm in letting his daughter have a little fun, fun that every child should be able to have as a child. However, Mike pays the ultimate price. Sarah goes up the sledding hill with a friend, but never comes down.
The book picks up five years later and Mike is still looking for Sarah. His relationship with Jess has ended. He is on probation for attacking and almost killing a possible suspect in the abduction of his daughter, and his life is centered on still finding Sarah. The police have investigated a de-frocked priest, Francis Jonah, who was also a suspect in the disappearance of two other girls before Sarah was abducted. Now Jonah is dying of Cancer and Mike wants an answer before Jonah's secrets die with him.
The writing was a little thin and Mooney didn't really go deep into the psychological side of any of the characters, when, not only Mike, but one or two other characters could have been deeply developed much more thoroughly. There were also several "throw in" plot lines (IMO) that just seemed like filler. I think that if Mooney wanted to add those plot points into the story then they either should have had a deeper connection or explored in a deeper fashion rather than leaving them feel like page fillers.
I must say that before I wrote this review, I thought about what I would write and how I would rate it. I didn't see the end coming at all, even though the motive was a little silly. However, I loved the last few chapters of the book. When I finish a novel, I like it when I want to continue on with the story. I like having the feeling of wanting more chapters to keep moving with the characters to see how their stories continue to unfold. I mean this in a good way. Not in a way that the book wasn't complete. I just wanted to continue on the characters' journey with them.
This was the first book that I have read by Chris Mooney and I plan on checking out his other works. I am giving this book only 4 stars because of the thin writing, the "throw away" plot lines, and the lack of psychological explorations of characters that definitely deserved to be fully developed. 4 stars!
The book picks up five years later and Mike is still looking for Sarah. His relationship with Jess has ended. He is on probation for attacking and almost killing a possible suspect in the abduction of his daughter, and his life is centered on still finding Sarah. The police have investigated a de-frocked priest, Francis Jonah, who was also a suspect in the disappearance of two other girls before Sarah was abducted. Now Jonah is dying of Cancer and Mike wants an answer before Jonah's secrets die with him.
The writing was a little thin and Mooney didn't really go deep into the psychological side of any of the characters, when, not only Mike, but one or two other characters could have been deeply developed much more thoroughly. There were also several "throw in" plot lines (IMO) that just seemed like filler. I think that if Mooney wanted to add those plot points into the story then they either should have had a deeper connection or explored in a deeper fashion rather than leaving them feel like page fillers.
I must say that before I wrote this review, I thought about what I would write and how I would rate it. I didn't see the end coming at all, even though the motive was a little silly. However, I loved the last few chapters of the book. When I finish a novel, I like it when I want to continue on with the story. I like having the feeling of wanting more chapters to keep moving with the characters to see how their stories continue to unfold. I mean this in a good way. Not in a way that the book wasn't complete. I just wanted to continue on the characters' journey with them.
This was the first book that I have read by Chris Mooney and I plan on checking out his other works. I am giving this book only 4 stars because of the thin writing, the "throw away" plot lines, and the lack of psychological explorations of characters that definitely deserved to be fully developed. 4 stars!
September 5, 2010
Mike Sullivan just wants his 6 year old daughter to have a normal life which causes arguments between him and his wife who is an overprotective mother. Mike pays the ultimate price for his daughters freedom after she goes missing and noone knows what happens to her.
The story then picks up 5 years later and follows Mikes battle to life with his life without his daughter and the effects that day had/have on his family. You follow a tense account of Mike search for the truth and what happened to his little girl on that day so many years ago and a dads obsession for justice against the person he thinks is responsible for his daughters disappearance.
Remembering Sarah is a thrilling story of loss, hardship and the trials and tribulations of everyday life after loosing someone you love and worse still the wondering of what happened and what if.
For me this book was worth waiting for, fairly good pace and unexpected twists.
*HAVE PUT THIS ON RISI ML*
The story then picks up 5 years later and follows Mikes battle to life with his life without his daughter and the effects that day had/have on his family. You follow a tense account of Mike search for the truth and what happened to his little girl on that day so many years ago and a dads obsession for justice against the person he thinks is responsible for his daughters disappearance.
Remembering Sarah is a thrilling story of loss, hardship and the trials and tribulations of everyday life after loosing someone you love and worse still the wondering of what happened and what if.
For me this book was worth waiting for, fairly good pace and unexpected twists.
*HAVE PUT THIS ON RISI ML*
March 29, 2019
A little girl disappears - and creates discord in the parents. The father cannot give up learning what happened. The mother, moves away. Father Jonah is accused of the disappearance - and the father, Michael - wants to force him to tell what happened
Five years later, Mike Sullivan is still looking for answers. Mike Sullivan is a very well-developed character
Five years later, Mike Sullivan is still looking for answers. Mike Sullivan is a very well-developed character
February 13, 2018
I’m a fast reader, but usually if I finish a book in one day, it’s because I did a lot of skimming. Not so with this book. It was such a pleasure to read that I kept on going. The pacing was excellent. The chapters were relatively short and transitioned well from one to the next. There was just the right amount of description: not so much that it bogged the book down but enough to set the scenes clearly.
This is a story of a child abduction and although the perpetrator is identified early on (we think), the police haven’t been able to make a case against him. The child’s father can’t let it go and move on. He’s determined to uncover the truth. But he finds out much more than he bargained for.
This is a story of a child abduction and although the perpetrator is identified early on (we think), the police haven’t been able to make a case against him. The child’s father can’t let it go and move on. He’s determined to uncover the truth. But he finds out much more than he bargained for.
November 13, 2025
I’ve had this book for a long time. I’m so glad i read it as it was really good. The main characters daughter goes missing and although I felt at times it wasn’t about Sarah going missing, there was other stories to keep me interested. I was shocked at the way it ended and I didn’t see that coming.
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June 28, 2020Francis Jonah pleegt zelfmoord of zo lijkt het toch...
Tot Mike erachter komt dat de 3 kinderen die verdwenen zijn, allen een moeder hebben die een abortus heeft ondergaan.
Jonah vergaf het deze vrouwen maar de verpleegster van Jonah deed dit niet. Zij was hoogst katholiek en kon geen vrede nemen met de abortussen.
De vrouwen moesten volgens haar gestraft worden.
Terry staat namelijk aan het hoofd van een sekte die kinderen ontvoert en deze brainwasht. Daarna brengen ze de kinderen onder bij gezinnen die zelf geen kinderen kunnen krijgen.
Zo wil ze de zondigen straffen.
Mike komt achter deze gruwelijke waarheid wanneer Terry bewijzen wil verduisteren.
Terry geeft toe dat ze Jonah vermoord heeft. Hij heeft zich nooit vergrepen aan de kinderen maar werd gebruikt als afleidingsmanoeuver.
Na 5 jaar krijgt Mike eindelijk zijn dochter terug.
Mike komt erachter dat zijn moeder hem in de steek heeft gelaten voor een geliefde in Frankrijk en dat ze nooit de intentie had van hem terug op te nemen in haar leven.
Ook Jess, de vrouw van Mike heeft een affaire gehad waar Mike op uitkomt.
Uiteidelijk begint Mike zijn leven opnieuw met Sam, een ex-vriendin en zijn advocate.
Tot Mike erachter komt dat de 3 kinderen die verdwenen zijn, allen een moeder hebben die een abortus heeft ondergaan.
Jonah vergaf het deze vrouwen maar de verpleegster van Jonah deed dit niet. Zij was hoogst katholiek en kon geen vrede nemen met de abortussen.
De vrouwen moesten volgens haar gestraft worden.
Terry staat namelijk aan het hoofd van een sekte die kinderen ontvoert en deze brainwasht. Daarna brengen ze de kinderen onder bij gezinnen die zelf geen kinderen kunnen krijgen.
Zo wil ze de zondigen straffen.
Mike komt achter deze gruwelijke waarheid wanneer Terry bewijzen wil verduisteren.
Terry geeft toe dat ze Jonah vermoord heeft. Hij heeft zich nooit vergrepen aan de kinderen maar werd gebruikt als afleidingsmanoeuver.
Na 5 jaar krijgt Mike eindelijk zijn dochter terug.
Mike komt erachter dat zijn moeder hem in de steek heeft gelaten voor een geliefde in Frankrijk en dat ze nooit de intentie had van hem terug op te nemen in haar leven.
Ook Jess, de vrouw van Mike heeft een affaire gehad waar Mike op uitkomt.
Uiteidelijk begint Mike zijn leven opnieuw met Sam, een ex-vriendin en zijn advocate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2015
One of my favorite authors, Chris Mooney published this book in 2004 as a stand-alone. Sarah is a 6-year-old little girl who talks her daddy into taking her sledding... much against her mother's wishes. A parent's worst nightmare begins when Sarah goes up the hill ... but never comes down.
Five years later, Mike Sullivan is still looking for answers. The police have a suspect, but no tangible proof. Mike is on probation for beating the ex-priest accused of kidnapping not only Sarah, but of two other girls. The ex-priest is dying of cancer and Mike is desperately wanting to know what happened to his little girl. And so he begins his own journey into finding some kind of peace. But along the way, he discovers so much more.
As a parent, I can't even imagine how awful this must be. The author did a terrific job of putting all those feelings of love, doubt, guilt, anger and frustration on the written page. It's a touchy subject, but the author handled it well.
Five years later, Mike Sullivan is still looking for answers. The police have a suspect, but no tangible proof. Mike is on probation for beating the ex-priest accused of kidnapping not only Sarah, but of two other girls. The ex-priest is dying of cancer and Mike is desperately wanting to know what happened to his little girl. And so he begins his own journey into finding some kind of peace. But along the way, he discovers so much more.
As a parent, I can't even imagine how awful this must be. The author did a terrific job of putting all those feelings of love, doubt, guilt, anger and frustration on the written page. It's a touchy subject, but the author handled it well.
July 19, 2015
With some books, you reach the end and you set it aside and contemplate how much you liked or not liked it. With others, you finish and keep checking to make sure there are not more pages because you do not want to say goodbye to these characters or need to know what happens because there is so much more to the story you want to know. This was one of the latter for me. This is a mystery that isn't a mystery until very late in the book. Until then, it's a story about one man's grief about many things in his life but mainly the disappearance of his daughter five years before.
August 13, 2018
En bra start på denna bok. Lite rörig i vissa fall med att försöka få ihop tidsbegreppen mellan allt. Samt slutet va verkligen inte något man såg. Så det va ju toppen.
Dock extremt svårt att förstå sig på slutet med karaktärerna det handlade om, twisten va oväntat.
Men allt som allt en riktigt bra bok med ett oväntat slut.
Klart värt att läsa.
Dock extremt svårt att förstå sig på slutet med karaktärerna det handlade om, twisten va oväntat.
Men allt som allt en riktigt bra bok med ett oväntat slut.
Klart värt att läsa.
June 2, 2017
Пять лет неизвестности представить себе невозможно. Тем более когда считаешь себя виновным в потере единственного ребенка. Семья разрушена, последняя ниточка оборвалась со смертью главного подозреваемого. Но все хорошо, что хорошо кончается...
August 21, 2017
Не ме впечатли особено, въпреки че развръзката си струваше четенето. Имаше момент, в който се запитах дали да я дочета до край или да я оставя, но в крайна сметка я довърших. Средна работа като история и герои, някои моменти ме объркаха, но края беше сполучлив.
May 15, 2023
Erg langdradig verhaal met heel veel plottwists. Vond het einde van het verhaal erg afgekapt & de helft van het verhaal ging naar mijn idee niet meer over Sarah. Wel prettig dat ze terug is gevonden en de manier hoe ze verdween nu een logische reden heeft gekregen.
January 12, 2025
I don't normally read fiction but for some reason the title caught my eye. I was not disappointed at all. This book was difficult to put down. He's definitely on my favorite author list. I would recommend this to anyone who has lost a child or know someone who has.
April 27, 2025
Een van mijn favoriete boeken van vroeger. Maar nu ik meer lees merk ik toch dat het niet meer zo pakt als vroeger. Nog steeds een mooie thriller maar niet meer zo pakkend en meeslepend als wat ik tegenwoordig lees. Ook al had ik geen flauw idee meer hoe het afliep.
October 1, 2017
Best book about child abduction, sticks with you, haunting.
January 28, 2018
What an amazing story about the connection between a father and daughter..how he never gave up looking for her after she went missing when she was younger. One certainly to read.
September 5, 2019
Wat een boek! En het einde had ik niet aan zien komen. Zeker een aanrader.
July 13, 2022
Dit boek viel me erg tegen. Het slot was goed, maar daarvoor heb ik enkele malen op het punt gestaan om het boek weg te leggen
May 18, 2023
I like the book a lot. It was dynamic, lot of description, just can't imagine Mike. How he looks.And the finall was no so wow, no such a suspens but like it.
September 27, 2023
Ik het begin vond ik het nog niet heel spannend/denderend. Bij het einde vond ik het erg spannend.
October 8, 2023
Много, много добра!
October 6, 2024
Sadest little book I ever read. It had me guessing till right at the end
July 16, 2025
My first time reading one of Mooney's stand alone novels. I enjoyed this just as much I enjoy his Darby McCormick books. Good storytelling and compelling characters. A very good read!
October 26, 2017
Very realistic, love the twists and turns, keeps you interested in the outcome. Awesome read!
October 11, 2010
Chris Mooney is such an awesome writing talent and totally under appreciated. He writes about uncomfortable subjects and I think that people sometimes shy away from that. This book is no different, it is about a child abduction. It is also about hope, guilt, despair, love and beliefs.
The story centers around Mike. He was with his six year old daughter when she was abducted. We get that background, but the main part of the story is 5 years later. Mike's marriage didn't survive. The only thing in his life right now is his dog, his best friend, his guilt and the desire to kill the man who had kidnapped his daughter.
CM manages to twist your heart as he takes us through Mike's rage at the justice system that now has him in trouble and lets a madman walk totally free. But things in Mike's world is not all as it seems. People close to him know things that have the potential to knock his world off its axis.
Did his dad kill his mother so many years before? Did his wife sleep with a man a week before they were married or was it something worse? Was the man who Mike knew took and murdered his daughter guilty of the crime? or is there bigger evil in the world just waiting to pick his next victim? There were some heart-stopping emotional moments in this book and the ending was a complete surprise. Take time to pick up and read this thriller.
The story centers around Mike. He was with his six year old daughter when she was abducted. We get that background, but the main part of the story is 5 years later. Mike's marriage didn't survive. The only thing in his life right now is his dog, his best friend, his guilt and the desire to kill the man who had kidnapped his daughter.
CM manages to twist your heart as he takes us through Mike's rage at the justice system that now has him in trouble and lets a madman walk totally free. But things in Mike's world is not all as it seems. People close to him know things that have the potential to knock his world off its axis.
Did his dad kill his mother so many years before? Did his wife sleep with a man a week before they were married or was it something worse? Was the man who Mike knew took and murdered his daughter guilty of the crime? or is there bigger evil in the world just waiting to pick his next victim? There were some heart-stopping emotional moments in this book and the ending was a complete surprise. Take time to pick up and read this thriller.
February 6, 2013
I had such high hopes for this book. I discovered it on this site, and after reading the synopsis and the praises from authors I really like, I couldn't wait to buy it. I won't say it disappointed *completely*; but I didn't love it. I guess I wanted to read a book about a kidnapping, especially from the p.o.v of the father, and this book is less about the kidnapping and more about the dad's relationships: relationships with his parents, his ex-wife, his love interest, the police...more characters and more plot-lines than I was interested in. The first two-thirds of this book could be summed up this way: dad interferes in police investigation; police tell dad he's got to stop interfering in their investigation; dad doesn't listen and once again interferes in investigation, and so on. I finally got really interested at the end, and then it was over. Also, when the motive behind the kidnapping was finally revealed, it just seemed kind of silly. One last thing: Mr. Mooney needs to fire his proofreader. There were a lot of very poorly constructed sentences and typos. I try to look past that sort of thing, but it was really distracting. Final verdict: a solid 3 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews