Saving Sara

Lone Palm #2

by H.A. Olsen

The sea islands of South Carolina have always been known for their tranquil beauty and laid-back lifestyle. Now imagine one of these idyllic islands invaded by quirky celebrities, the paparazzi, and a serial killer. That’s what you’ll find between the pages of Saving Sara, the sequel to H.A. Olsen’s wildly popular A Lone Palm Stands.

It’s the middle of summer and singer-songwriter Angela Jenkins has just completed a whirlwind concert tour that leaves her exhausted physically and emotionally. So she packs her bags and heads for Folly Beach, hoping a stay at her seaside cottage will provide a welcome escape from the pressures of her career and the prying cameras of the paparazzi. But most importantly, it is where she hopes to reconnect with her sixteen year-old daughter, Sara, and bridge the gap that has developed between them.

Angela’s dream of a relaxing one-on-one vacation with her daughter soon turns into a nightmare when Sara goes missing during a fireworks show. When the bodies of other girls who bare an uncanny resemblance to Sara begin to show up, it leaves little doubt that she is in the hands of a sociopathic killer.

As a frantic search for Sara begins, Angela discovers that the people she thought she could trust the most have secrets—dark secrets she must expose if Sara is to be saved before it’s too late.

Combining mystery, romance, and Lowcountry wit, Saving Sara is a real page-turner that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Genres: Southern

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 25, 2010

About the author

H.A. Olsen is a native of the Lowcountry of South Carolina and a graduate of the College of Charleston. He currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina, where he is the editor of a local magazine. When he's not writing fiction, he enjoys flying small planes, playing the drums, visiting the beach, and spending time with his wife and three daughters.

Reviews

[Lindy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an avid mystery reader, preferring cozy mysteries to hard-core mysteries. Although there was a foreshadowing of trouble to come in this book, I was truly impressed that the first half of it was spent developing the characters and their relationships with each other. Then BANG! the protagonist's daughter goes missing and you find yourself plunged into a full-fledged suspense novel. There are plenty of twists and turns, and I was completely caught off guard when I found out 'whodunnit.' A rare blend of mystery and a compelling story of a mother who wants to reconnect with her teenage daughter. Lots of humor, too!

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't like sequels, so I was hesitant about this one. But once I started reading, I was amazed! It was actually better than the first book in the series...and that was pretty great in the first place. I'm anxious to see how the 3rd one is.

[Billie Walden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this one for bookclub, and I liked the twists in the plot. I did think the foreshadowing was pretty heavy, but not so much to totally give it away. It was also fun to read because it is set here in the Lowcountry where I live.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in a series. Again, a good "beach" book. Good story. I recommend reading the books in order.