Be Good

by Kristin Daryl

How far would you go to protect the life you built?

Joni Butler has successfully left her childhood abuse on the riverbanks behind her, living a quiet life as a teacher with her nerdy historian husband, Mike, in a modest neighborhood in Alabama. She gets through the days peacefully by seeking solitude and never interfering with others, because for Joni, silence equals survival. An emergency missing child alert buzzes on her phone for a teenager she has seen at the neighbor’s house, and Joni remains aloof despite her growing curiosity.

Benjamin Key, a studious teenager, lives next door to Joni with his family. He works hard to make his parents proud, but he lives in the shadow of his accomplished older brother. Benjamin has a secret, and he’s afraid that it will forever ruin his chances of gaining his family’s approval.

Joni and Benjamin’s lives are upturned when the missing teenager’s truck is found at Mike’s restoration exhibit and detectives come knocking on Joni’s door. Every new discovery looks worse for Mike as days go by and police are now looking for a body rather than a missing person. Benjamin might be able to help Mike, but in doing so, he risks losing everything. Joni must fight against her inner trauma and act to solve the mystery and keep her family together before it’s too late.

308 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2021

Reviews

[Carolyn Breckinridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Kristin Daryl has hit the ball out of the park with her debut suspense/mystery novel, Be Good. Set in a modest neighborhood in the quiet city of Northport, Alabama, her already-scarred characters are thrown into chaos following the disappearance of teenager, David Bell. The search and investigation of his disappearance quickly turn into possible homicide when David’s truck is found abandoned at a remote site and his blood is also discovered in nearby woods. The list of potential suspects includes many of the neighborhood’s residents, and at least a couple of them believe they might have inadvertently caused the boy’s death. Fast-paced, suspenseful and packed with delightful curve balls, this story is an intense, well-plotted read. The author is a middle-grade teacher herself, and portrays the awkwardness, insecurities and cockiness of adolescence with empathy and clarity. Is David’s body buried where the reader is led to believe? And, who is guilty of the crimes committed? There are a few editing and formatting issues that could be easily corrected, but these do not detract from the joy of finding a novel one can not wait to open every evening to learn what will come next.

[T.K. Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent read

Ms. Daryl wove an intricate tale with plenty of curves but never left me wondering what just happened. I really hated one of the villains and was thrilled to find what happened to one character! I see a sequel here! Well done, Kristin.

[CHERYL TUCKER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

This was a great story that held my attention from the very beginning.
It is always good when there are twists you didn't see coming. I couldn't put it down!

[Uhhh Idk]

I found your book mrs McGuff.

[Josh McGuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. I really related to Mike! :P

[Tammy Vetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!

[Gregory Whitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning chapter is a great hook and the ending is a powerful, fittingly surprising and encapsulating finale. I noted a few gems in the story-- “ready to punch a ghost; mature in a way that only heartbreak and loss can develop; and toes squelched in the mud.” Great imagery throughout the book. Looking forward to reading her next work, Cross the Line.