In David Bell’s new novel, The Forgotten Girl, Jason Danvers has moved from New York City to Ednaville, Ohio, the small town where he grew up with his younger sister Hayden, and the last place he thought he would live as an adult. Hayden has long since left Ednaville, and she has broken all ties with Jason in exchange for a life of addiction. Jason and his wife, Nora, have settled into their jobs and the slower pace of Ednaville, and they’ve reconnected in a way that their lives in New York didn’t allow.
One night, Hayden arrives on Jason and Nora’s doorstep and asks that they let her teenage daughter, Sierra, stay with them while Hayden completes some unfinished business. Hayden looks healthy and sober, and despite an initial hesitance and a long history of being disappointed in his sister, Jason agrees to her terms.
What follows is a fast paced mystery that examines family dynamics, old friendships, addiction, parenting, marriage, and small town life.
David Bell does a great job capturing the surreal aspects of returning to old stomping grounds after a long absence. His characters are compelling, and readers will be rooting for some and hoping for a comeuppance for others. There were moments when I wondered why the hell a character would make a certain choice, and Bell almost always came through with a plausible explanation. As for those times when he didn’t offer an explanation, I’m reminded that life isn’t always that tidy outside of books either.
If you enjoy mysteries and suspense, I definitely recommend you read The Forgotten Girl. I also suggest you set aside a chunk of time to do so, because once you get started, it’s very hard to put it down. The book would also be a good one for book clubs. I imagine lively debates about parenting, addiction, family relationships, and the beauty and trials of returning home and reconnecting with the past.
My thanks for the publisher for an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.