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Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin
Kathy Reichs meets Sherlock Holmes in this gothic Midwest thriller set in southern Indiana in 1978 that seeks to unravel a deadly tangled web of lies surrounding three former high school friends, one of whom has been missing for over a decade ... but which one? And why?
346 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2022
5 people are currently reading
7220 people want to read
About the author
Mim Eichmann
5 books169 followersA graduate from the Jordan College of Music at Butler University, in Indianapolis, IN, Chicago-based author Mim Eichmann has found that her creative journey has taken her down many exciting, interwoven pathways as an award-winning published lyricist, short story author and songwriter, professional folk musician, choreographer, by-lined journalist, and now, bestselling historical fiction author. Her debut historical fiction novel, “A Sparrow Alone”, published by Living Springs Publishers in April 2020, has met with extremely enthusiastic reviews and was a semi-finalist in the 2020 Illinois Library Association's Soon-to-be-Famous Project. Its much-anticipated sequel, “Muskrat Ramble” was published by LSP in March 2021 and has garnered equally enthusiastic high ratings. Both novels are bestsellers. www.mimeichmann.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 1, 2022
Haunting and unpredictable!
Thank you, Living Springs Publishers, for the advance reading copy.
The best things about this murder mystery thriller would be the grand opening (complicated characters!), the easy to get into writing, the tasty bits of hints and scenarios that lead to the mystery and yes the unpredictable ending.
I would say this is a well planned and well written fast-paced thriller. One of the most interesting thrillers I read this year and for the first time I didn't feel like giving up a book halfway for such murder mysteries.
The book lives up to the blurb. So you can expect to get what you see!
Thank you, Living Springs Publishers, for the advance reading copy.
The best things about this murder mystery thriller would be the grand opening (complicated characters!), the easy to get into writing, the tasty bits of hints and scenarios that lead to the mystery and yes the unpredictable ending.
I would say this is a well planned and well written fast-paced thriller. One of the most interesting thrillers I read this year and for the first time I didn't feel like giving up a book halfway for such murder mysteries.
The book lives up to the blurb. So you can expect to get what you see!
August 11, 2022
It's 1978 & Denise works as a copy editor at a newspaper & is unhappily married to Hank. Hank is a blatant philanderer with one of his work colleagues, & although they are going to couples' counselling, their marriage is is trouble. They are invited to the wedding celebration of Hank's boss & there Denise is surprised to see that the bride is Janet Lynn Webster, the girl who broke up her friendship with childhood BFF, Cathy Martin all those years ago. When she enquires about Cathy, Janet tells her that Cathy ran off with Janet's first college boyfriend & they haven't spoken since. Throughout their chat, Denise gets the feeling that Janet is angling for some information but can't work out what. After the wedding, Denise decides to track Cathy down but is not in the least prepared for what she will find.
Taking in a wide-ranging plot incorporating a trail of bodies & a missing Nazi, this is an intriguing read. It's not exactly gripping as, at times, it seems to move quite slowly, but I was interested enough to find out what had happened. Denise is an OK main character but she makes some typically stupid decisions, whilst everyone else is more or less peripheral. Hank is particularly loathsome & I cannot for the life of me work out why Denise would want to stay married to him. Bonus points for name-checking one of my favourite films of all time: Charade starring Cary Grant & Audrey Hepburn. In fact, the main male character in this book was very much like Grant's character in Charade, morally grey & it's difficult to work out which side he is actually on. The plot meandered on nicely but it become rather unbelievable towards the end. 3.5 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Living Springs Publishers (IBPA), for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Taking in a wide-ranging plot incorporating a trail of bodies & a missing Nazi, this is an intriguing read. It's not exactly gripping as, at times, it seems to move quite slowly, but I was interested enough to find out what had happened. Denise is an OK main character but she makes some typically stupid decisions, whilst everyone else is more or less peripheral. Hank is particularly loathsome & I cannot for the life of me work out why Denise would want to stay married to him. Bonus points for name-checking one of my favourite films of all time: Charade starring Cary Grant & Audrey Hepburn. In fact, the main male character in this book was very much like Grant's character in Charade, morally grey & it's difficult to work out which side he is actually on. The plot meandered on nicely but it become rather unbelievable towards the end. 3.5 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Living Springs Publishers (IBPA), for the opportunity to read an ARC.
March 28, 2022
Really enjoyed reading this book. Even though I did guess some twists early on the book always kept the suspense and thrilling feeling so I always wanted to read more and more.
Thanks netgalley for the ARC copy
Thanks netgalley for the ARC copy
June 29, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyable! I could relate to the characters and the plot twists were believable. A good book to read on a stormy weekend.
January 19, 2023
I tried to get into this several times. The plot seemed right up my alley. Unfortunately for me it seemed slow and I didn't think about it when I wasn't reading. I really wanted to like this one!
September 25, 2023
This started out very slow, got better about 40% in, then WHAM, throw a lot of stuff against the wall and see what sticks. I’m surprised nuclear bombs weren’t mentioned or the assignation of JFK.
June 5, 2022
Well I've read all of Mim's books now and I must say she sure surprised me with all she said. I mean I read her first two books and was quite impressed with the history and research that she put in. But this book was a current crime novel that was not a historical novel, but was a work of fiction. Let's just say that 3 sisters and one Nazi were quite a lot of characters of ill repute. It took Denise Prescott quite awhile to figure out everything that happened and bring it to a conclusion. While recuperating in a hospital while her lover man was recuperating in another Hospital. Mim did a good job at making you feel everyones problems and each and every turn of events. I highly recommend this book as a first class read.
March 31, 2022
Four years ago, I attended my high school class reunion back in Washington, D.C. after having lived in the Midwest for my entire adult life. Many of my classmates had drifted apart and we’d eventually lost track of one another. Having an opportunity to reconnect with those classmates in attendance as well as learn the fates of others unable to do so, brought into focus the joyous, humbling, pitiful, and sometimes shocking lives of those promising kids with whom I’d once roamed those noisy halls so many decades ago.
Our generation, ultimately named the Boomers, fell victim to its own diaspora, scattering throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe without the benefit back then of internet intervention. While at the reunion, a bizarre question came to mind: could any of them have simply disappeared without a trace immediately after graduation? And could another classmate have carefully crafted that disappearance? Who would even know?
When I’d attended the reunion, newly retired from my full-time job, I’d just completed writing my first two historical fiction novels, “A Sparrow Alone” and “Muskrat Ramble” and was feverishly querying literary agencies searching for representation. Although still in that maddening querying stage, I began writing “Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin – originally titled “The Argonaut ~ 1968” -- as something of a refreshing experiment in penning an upmarket fiction thriller, set in a time frame about which I was quite familiar.
I’m not sure I really expected to get caught up within my own net so to speak and actually complete the manuscript for “Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin”. Rather surprisingly, however, it has now emerged, the product of many hours of watching old Rockford Files and Columbo episodes, along with countless Hitchcock, Sherlock Holmes, and other noir films from the 1930s and 40s. I enjoyed writing the book; I certainly hope you enjoy reading it! ~ Mim
Our generation, ultimately named the Boomers, fell victim to its own diaspora, scattering throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe without the benefit back then of internet intervention. While at the reunion, a bizarre question came to mind: could any of them have simply disappeared without a trace immediately after graduation? And could another classmate have carefully crafted that disappearance? Who would even know?
When I’d attended the reunion, newly retired from my full-time job, I’d just completed writing my first two historical fiction novels, “A Sparrow Alone” and “Muskrat Ramble” and was feverishly querying literary agencies searching for representation. Although still in that maddening querying stage, I began writing “Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin – originally titled “The Argonaut ~ 1968” -- as something of a refreshing experiment in penning an upmarket fiction thriller, set in a time frame about which I was quite familiar.
I’m not sure I really expected to get caught up within my own net so to speak and actually complete the manuscript for “Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin”. Rather surprisingly, however, it has now emerged, the product of many hours of watching old Rockford Files and Columbo episodes, along with countless Hitchcock, Sherlock Holmes, and other noir films from the 1930s and 40s. I enjoyed writing the book; I certainly hope you enjoy reading it! ~ Mim
July 7, 2022
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. Great characters and descriptions. The storyline is interesting and quite different to other books I’ve read recently.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book.
March 29, 2022
From the opening pages, whatever Happened to Cathy Martin by Mim Eichmann fascinated me. It continued to grip me so that I read way too late into the night.
I have to confess the story takes place in my coming-of-age era and practically in my backyard. I am pretty familiar with the sites in this tale, from Wisconsin to Southern Indiana. This familiarity added a unique dimension to my perception of the book.
The author is an exceptional storyteller. She wove a tale of childhood friends, an incredibly flawed marriage, and enough twists and turns to satisfy the staunchest murder-mystery fan.
Each character is well-developed, intriguing, and utterly indefinable. When I was sure I had a character figured out, another tidbit came to light, and I again changed my mind.
Even though the basic premise seems easy to figure out, the author takes you on a wild ride to reach the final chapters, where you may discover you were wrong all along.
To some younger readers, this may feel like historical fiction. 1978 was a unique era when life was still simple enough on the surface to feel uncomplicated, but the threads of this thriller run deep and only surface occasionally to show you a peek of the hidden horrors.
I find it difficult to say too much about the plot as I feel everything could be a spoiler. It would be best to read this book without preconceived notions of what will happen. Every person, scene, and conversation is full of potential clues.
Eichmann put her best storytelling skills to good use in creating a fascinating mystery for her readers. I can't recommend Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin enough. It satisfies on many levels, whether you are looking for a mystery, thriller, historical, or simply lose yourself in an excellent book for a few hours.
5 of 5 Stars and my highest recommendation for Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin!
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Reader Copy to review and give you my honest, unbiased opinion.
I have to confess the story takes place in my coming-of-age era and practically in my backyard. I am pretty familiar with the sites in this tale, from Wisconsin to Southern Indiana. This familiarity added a unique dimension to my perception of the book.
The author is an exceptional storyteller. She wove a tale of childhood friends, an incredibly flawed marriage, and enough twists and turns to satisfy the staunchest murder-mystery fan.
Each character is well-developed, intriguing, and utterly indefinable. When I was sure I had a character figured out, another tidbit came to light, and I again changed my mind.
Even though the basic premise seems easy to figure out, the author takes you on a wild ride to reach the final chapters, where you may discover you were wrong all along.
To some younger readers, this may feel like historical fiction. 1978 was a unique era when life was still simple enough on the surface to feel uncomplicated, but the threads of this thriller run deep and only surface occasionally to show you a peek of the hidden horrors.
I find it difficult to say too much about the plot as I feel everything could be a spoiler. It would be best to read this book without preconceived notions of what will happen. Every person, scene, and conversation is full of potential clues.
Eichmann put her best storytelling skills to good use in creating a fascinating mystery for her readers. I can't recommend Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin enough. It satisfies on many levels, whether you are looking for a mystery, thriller, historical, or simply lose yourself in an excellent book for a few hours.
5 of 5 Stars and my highest recommendation for Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin!
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Reader Copy to review and give you my honest, unbiased opinion.
April 26, 2022
Reviewer’s Note: Thank you to Mim Eichmann for providing me with a copy of Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin and the opportunity to review it.
There always seems to be that one person you went to high school with that years later you wonder, what happened to them. Denise Prescott had a childhood friend, Cathy Martin, with whom she was quite close. During high school, Cathy abruptly ended their friendship, latching on to a pretty girl from a well-to-do family, Janet Lynn. The girls share an uncanny resemblance but little else. Years later, Denise encounters, Janet Lynn which sparks a desire to find her old friend, Cathy.
Written in first person, this fast-paced mystery will grab you from the opening pages and take you for the ride of your life. I thought I was clever when I solved part of the mystery, but I think I could hear the author laughing as she revealed the evil genius behind the disappearance of Cathy Martin. No one is who they say they are, nor can they be trusted. Denise is in the fight of her life with the police and a deranged killer hot on her trail and an attractive but highly questionable ally.
If you are lover of mystery thrillers, this is the book for you!
There always seems to be that one person you went to high school with that years later you wonder, what happened to them. Denise Prescott had a childhood friend, Cathy Martin, with whom she was quite close. During high school, Cathy abruptly ended their friendship, latching on to a pretty girl from a well-to-do family, Janet Lynn. The girls share an uncanny resemblance but little else. Years later, Denise encounters, Janet Lynn which sparks a desire to find her old friend, Cathy.
Written in first person, this fast-paced mystery will grab you from the opening pages and take you for the ride of your life. I thought I was clever when I solved part of the mystery, but I think I could hear the author laughing as she revealed the evil genius behind the disappearance of Cathy Martin. No one is who they say they are, nor can they be trusted. Denise is in the fight of her life with the police and a deranged killer hot on her trail and an attractive but highly questionable ally.
If you are lover of mystery thrillers, this is the book for you!
March 18, 2022
A new direction for Mim Eichmann after her debut novel A Sparrow Alone and the sequel Muskrat Ramble. Edge-of-your-seat thriller with a wise-cracking (though naive) heroine that will win your heart! Denise Prescott bumbles her way through her search for Cathy Martin and encounters one hair-raising situation after another. Great thriller/mystery elements tied together by a likeable amateur sleuth with plenty of heart and a sarcastic sense of humor.
August 4, 2022
When Denise meets Lynn, a vaguely familiar schoolmate, at a party, their only real link is Cathy Martin a mutual friend, unheard from for ten years. It is Lynn’s engagement party so she quickly moves on to other guests, but Denise starts to wonder about Cathy. They were almost inseparable as children while living in rural Nashville, Indiana (population about 800) but Cathy had basically dumped her for Lynn when they started at the nearest High School in Columbus about 20 miles away. They had totally lost touch when Cathy and Lynn had gone to University in Whitewater Wisconsin, while Denise had gone to the local Franklin College to study journalism. Now working as a copy editor in Indianapolis, Denis has access to information sources so starts to investigate, discovering that Cathy had never enrolled at Whitewater, and was rumoured to have become pregnant, got married and disappeared. With the help of a colleague and a mysterious detective she starts to unravel the mystery, exposing herself to life-threatening risks as her childhood knowledge of Cathy becomes a target for someone who cannot afford to have secrets exposed.
That preamble sets up the story but the plot is so interwoven, contains so many threads, that it is difficult to single out any enticing hint without the whole tapestry becoming unravelled. The underlying premise is quite well concealed so the twists are hard to anticipate and the resolution is surprising, but deducible and logical. Where the book is less strong is in the characterisation; it is hard to believe that Denise is so credulous most of the time, so capricious, even flighty, on other occasions, so determined yet so uncertain. The other characters are fairly stock, but verge on caricature. As a mystery story, it works well although some of the actions are a bit contrived; as a murder story it is uncertain for a long time that anyone has been murdered; as a thriller it has its moments although it keeps dropping the tension. The plot, shorn of personalities, is original enough for me to be looking at 4.5 but some of the anomalies pull me towards 3. Rounding gives 4.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
That preamble sets up the story but the plot is so interwoven, contains so many threads, that it is difficult to single out any enticing hint without the whole tapestry becoming unravelled. The underlying premise is quite well concealed so the twists are hard to anticipate and the resolution is surprising, but deducible and logical. Where the book is less strong is in the characterisation; it is hard to believe that Denise is so credulous most of the time, so capricious, even flighty, on other occasions, so determined yet so uncertain. The other characters are fairly stock, but verge on caricature. As a mystery story, it works well although some of the actions are a bit contrived; as a murder story it is uncertain for a long time that anyone has been murdered; as a thriller it has its moments although it keeps dropping the tension. The plot, shorn of personalities, is original enough for me to be looking at 4.5 but some of the anomalies pull me towards 3. Rounding gives 4.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
August 7, 2022
Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin is a twisted story that begins with a man in prison stealing and then crushing apple seeds to make poison after which he escapes prison. Then we pickup with Denise Prescott. Married to Hank a serial lying adulterer among many of his faults to numerous to list. They are in couples therapy, but I have no idea why, Denise seems to go to satisfy Hank but he has no intention of changing his ways. Denise and Hank are invited to an engagement party for Hank's boss. Oddly enough Denise thinks she recognizes the bride-to-be as Janet Lynn, from her old high school. As she talks to Janet Lynn, another name comes up, Cathy Martin. Denise thinks about her time in school and her once friendship with Cathy Martin. Unfortunately, Cathy dropped Denise like many kids do at that age for Janet Lynn in high school. Denise lost track of Cathy and Janet Lynn says what she remembers as to Cathy. The whole conversation is odd and Denise will be curious about Cathy.
The next day, Denise still can't stop thinking of Cathy and starts to research Cathy. She pulls threads and many people are in danger as a result. Denise will have a hard time giving up the search for the truth but will have a hard time deciding who she can trust. Eventually the truth is tied back to the beginning of the book for surprising conclusion.
The story has an interesting premise, who hasn't asked about someone they have seen in a long time. That's what sparks this story to an exciting conclusion. It does drag a bit in some places and some of the dialog is odd, but I guess that goes to the specific character development.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
The next day, Denise still can't stop thinking of Cathy and starts to research Cathy. She pulls threads and many people are in danger as a result. Denise will have a hard time giving up the search for the truth but will have a hard time deciding who she can trust. Eventually the truth is tied back to the beginning of the book for surprising conclusion.
The story has an interesting premise, who hasn't asked about someone they have seen in a long time. That's what sparks this story to an exciting conclusion. It does drag a bit in some places and some of the dialog is odd, but I guess that goes to the specific character development.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
March 31, 2022
When Denise attends an engagement party for her husband's boss, she recognizes the bridge-to-be as Janet Lynn, a beautiful, popular girl from her old high school. As she talks to Janet Lynn, a familiar name comes up, Cathy Martin. Denise begins to think back about her life in school and her friendship with Cathy Martin. Unfortunately, Cathy dropped Denise like a stick in the mud for Janet Lynn in high school, but neither Denise or Janet Lynn knows what happened to Cathy after they graduated and went to college.
Armed with questions, Denise heads to her high school reunion hoping to catch a glimpse of her old friend. When she arrives and finds out that nobody has heard from Cathy since school. the investigation begins to answer the question: Whatever happened to Cathy Martin?
This beginning was good and quick, but then the middle just dragged. I was annoyed at the main character, Denise, and felt that she was portrayed as an idiot at times. I don't want to give anything away but I found myself in disbelief several times over the conversations she had with her parents and then the actions she took in the middle section. The ending was a good way to wrap it up but I just wasn't impressed in the end.
Thank you NetGalley and Living Springs Publishers for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
Armed with questions, Denise heads to her high school reunion hoping to catch a glimpse of her old friend. When she arrives and finds out that nobody has heard from Cathy since school. the investigation begins to answer the question: Whatever happened to Cathy Martin?
This beginning was good and quick, but then the middle just dragged. I was annoyed at the main character, Denise, and felt that she was portrayed as an idiot at times. I don't want to give anything away but I found myself in disbelief several times over the conversations she had with her parents and then the actions she took in the middle section. The ending was a good way to wrap it up but I just wasn't impressed in the end.
Thank you NetGalley and Living Springs Publishers for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
August 3, 2022
This story about three women who grew up in the same town is full of twists and turns, but I didn’t really like it. It took me two weeks to get through it because I got a book on Libby and had to come back to it, but it was easy for me to put it down and I wasn’t really excited about finishing it. Many years after high school, Denise Prescott crosses paths with fellow high school classmate Janet Lynn Webster at Janet Lynn’s engagement party. Denise had been close friends with Cathy Martin before high school but Cathy basically dumped her to be friends with Janet Lynn. As Denise starts trying to track down Cathy Martin, she comes up with a theory about where she might be today. If you’re a fan of Hitchcock movies and Sherlock Holmes, this book is filled with quotes and anecdotes. It just wasn’t for me and I can’t recommend it. Thanks to #netgalley and #livingspringspublishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2022
I will start with the thank you note to the lovely author as well as Netgalley for the ARC. I just finished reading this book between the multiple chores that we all seem to have always.
On e thing I have decided is if I have the time to read books I should also have the time to review them. So here goes.
The storyline is superb with thick as thieves friends going to 'Who art thou?', 'Think we met before.'
It has a very toxic marriage with somehow the heroine suffering like she has to suffer and this is her 'Karma' or something. Very old fashioned. Why did she put up with that sort of a marriage?
Then we have a heroine who is very sharp and brilliant but is naive enough to trust complete strangers.
Very decent read though with the situations and the surroundings described wonderfully. Story has a lot of interesting arcs and definitely a one time read.
On e thing I have decided is if I have the time to read books I should also have the time to review them. So here goes.
The storyline is superb with thick as thieves friends going to 'Who art thou?', 'Think we met before.'
It has a very toxic marriage with somehow the heroine suffering like she has to suffer and this is her 'Karma' or something. Very old fashioned. Why did she put up with that sort of a marriage?
Then we have a heroine who is very sharp and brilliant but is naive enough to trust complete strangers.
Very decent read though with the situations and the surroundings described wonderfully. Story has a lot of interesting arcs and definitely a one time read.
September 27, 2023
This book kept me up at night, because I read before I go to sleep and didn't want to stop once I started. as far as the characters go, I liked some, disliked some, and kept changing my mind about others, so it had a little bit of everything as the players kept me guessing. This well-told and easy to read story got me involved in the plot and had me trying to figure out what would happen next, and what usually did happen took me by surprise.
I'm a line-hunter. When I read a book, I love it when I find particularly well-crafted visuals conveyed through words. For me, they are like Easter eggs. This book didn't disappoint me there, either. I'm glad I read this story. I hope this author keeps it up with more stories like it.
I'm a line-hunter. When I read a book, I love it when I find particularly well-crafted visuals conveyed through words. For me, they are like Easter eggs. This book didn't disappoint me there, either. I'm glad I read this story. I hope this author keeps it up with more stories like it.
August 4, 2022
The heroine, Denise, is trying to figure out whether or not her marriage is worth saving, when she attends a high school reunion during which she finds out that a childhood girlfriend seems to have disappeared. Before she can trace her friend, her husband is murdered, and the investigation leads to ties to her past and not just one, but a series of murders spanning years. What was Kathy Martin’s role? The investigation leads to many twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing until the unexpected and satisfying end. Filled with tension and written with a healthy dose of light humor, this book is sure to keep you turning pages from the very beginning.
August 5, 2022
Thank you to the author, Living Springs Publishers and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This thriller set in a bleak part of the Midwest starts off strong, but quickly devolves into one hot mess - anything you can think of, the author threw it into the mix. The pacing is slow, the extraneous details and verbiage are grating, the tone very uneven and the effort to tie in all the disparate threads exhausting. I realize I am an outlier, and there are certainly enough people who enjoyed this book very much - that was the exact opposite of my experience.
This thriller set in a bleak part of the Midwest starts off strong, but quickly devolves into one hot mess - anything you can think of, the author threw it into the mix. The pacing is slow, the extraneous details and verbiage are grating, the tone very uneven and the effort to tie in all the disparate threads exhausting. I realize I am an outlier, and there are certainly enough people who enjoyed this book very much - that was the exact opposite of my experience.
August 20, 2022
Whatever happened to suspense, mystery, an intriguing plot, and a mix of sympathetic and psychopathic characters? The answer is, “something fortuitous for readers of 'Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin,' by bestselling author Mim Eichmann," is what. Those storytelling elements ended up being masterfully incorporated into this, her page-turning third novel, which also features skillful writing, plotting, and character development, along with bits of serious violence, making this book both powerful and irresistible.
November 28, 2023
A fantastic novel full of very interesting side characters and a plot full of twists and turns throughout the story. There were explosive murders and characters assumed to be evil but turned out not to be which was a nice change. The main villains were who I expected later on which I was happy to learn, tired of the villain being introduced in the last 20 pages of the book. I finished the book in one day and would highly recommend it to others looking for an exciting mystery thriller set in the 1970s.
January 3, 2024
“Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin” is my very favorite of Mim Eichmann’s books so far! Mim uses such descriptive language that I am able to “see” the characters, the locales, and the action in my mind’s eye! And speaking of action, there is plenty of it in this new book! Every chapter kept my interest as the plot twisted and turned, in ways I definitely wouldn’t have guessed. Overall, a really great read that I didn’t want to put down!! I'm looking forward to more books by this bestselling author!!
April 3, 2022
Meh. I think this storyline had good potential. I liked where it was going until about 3/4 of the way through. At that point I felt the storyline became too convoluted and written as if the author was in a hurry to wrap things up. I also felt the relationship that developed between two of the main characters was unbelievable.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 7, 2022
It was rather exhausting trying to keep everything sorted. The plot was all over the map and convoluted.
I never got a good grasp on who Denise was as a character. I wasn’t impressed with her.
What I did like were all the Midwest locations and mentions. I liked all the tv and movie references.
Tom mentions DNA evidence, which is a faux pas since this takes place in 1978 and DNA evidence wasn’t tested then.
Thanks to Living Springs Publishing and NetGalley for the early read.
I never got a good grasp on who Denise was as a character. I wasn’t impressed with her.
What I did like were all the Midwest locations and mentions. I liked all the tv and movie references.
Tom mentions DNA evidence, which is a faux pas since this takes place in 1978 and DNA evidence wasn’t tested then.
Thanks to Living Springs Publishing and NetGalley for the early read.
March 26, 2022
Wow! Curiouser and curiouser! This was a crazy twisty thriller of a read! So many red herrings and switchbacks! Rich, flawed characters drive a well crafted tale of a missing girl, a cheating husband and a newspaper gal with a drive to find out the truth. Great writing made this a joy to read and you won’t see that ending coming!
May 23, 2022
"A simple question we've all asked -- "whatever happened to" -- turns deadly for 28-year-old Denise Prescott. Someone can't take a chance that the innocent inquiries into a high school friend's life will uncover a desperate secret. Who is out to stop Denise at all costs and by any means? Who is trustworthy and who is a killer?" Luisa Buehler, author of The Grace Marsden Mysteries
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July 28, 20223.5⭐️⭐️⭐️🌛
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Thankyou #netgalley #mimeichmann #livingspringpublishers for the arc copy of this book for a honest review.
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Interesting choice of characters, slow paced of story. Some other plot doesn’t add up but it makes a twisty story. Nearly DNf but ending is strong .
❤️Shaye.reads
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Thankyou #netgalley #mimeichmann #livingspringpublishers for the arc copy of this book for a honest review.
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Interesting choice of characters, slow paced of story. Some other plot doesn’t add up but it makes a twisty story. Nearly DNf but ending is strong .
❤️Shaye.reads
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2022
A great summer thriller! Ms. Eichmann recreates the 70's era with unfailing details, and keeps the reader guessing til literally the last few pages. In addition, there are multiple fun descriptions of people & places (". . . their horribly cluttered little frame house was the stuff of a Stephen King nightmare"). Highly recommended!
October 30, 2024
While trying to answer the question: What happened to Ms. Martin? readers will get twisted 'n' turned by an intriguing plot - one that's hard to anticipate. And one with a climax I didn't see coming.
If you like strong, memorable characters inhabiting an authentic "Historical" background, I think you'll enjoy, as I did, discovering: Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin.
If you like strong, memorable characters inhabiting an authentic "Historical" background, I think you'll enjoy, as I did, discovering: Whatever Happened to Cathy Martin.
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