Not her sister, Abby – eighteen, eight months pregnant, and without a game plan. Not her childhood sweetheart, now ex-boyfriend, Greg, an introverted academic who could never bring himself to commit. Not her best friend, Josie, a newlywed, born-again Christian, with whom Natasha recently had a falling out. And not detective Reuben Blake, who thought this case would be open ’n shut – a quick way to prove himself and move up the ranks.
Missing persons statistics suggest Natasha’s ex is the primary suspect but what about the possibility of a stranger abduction? Or the possibility that Natasha left voluntarily or took her own life? What about Natasha’s mother, who took off eighteen years before her daughter’s disappearance?
As days stretch into months and months stretch into years, the evidence that emerges seems only to complicate the picture more. "Left" explores the ways tragedy and secrecy erode and warp people’s psyches and their bonds to one other. What secrets might Natasha have been keeping – and, for that matter, her friends and family?
Natasha is a 29-year-old nurse in Calgary, AB. Since high school she had been dating Greg. She's ready to get married and start a family but he isn't so she has broken up with him. Her 18-year-old half-sister, Abby, is pregnant and will be having her baby anytime. Abby's parents have kicked her out of the house so Natasha takes her in. Natasha's best friend is Josie, who became a born-again Christian when she married Solomon, a born-again Christian preacher, last year and they are trying to get pregnant. Natasha seemed to have a full life ... why did she disappear one night when she was out jogging?
This book is about all those who were "left" behind when Natasha disappeared and how they dealt with it as the years went by with no word from her.
This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it. It is written from many different viewpoints over different time periods. It is first person perspective when it is Abby speaking ... it's like she's talking to Natasha and keeping her up-to-date on what's been going on. It is third person perspective from the point of view of the other characters including Josie, Greg, Jason (Josie's twin brother), Rueben (the police officer investigating Natasha's disappearance) and Cam (the father of Abby's baby).
I like the writing style and it kept me interested to find out what happened to Natasha. I was okay with the continually shifting perspectives and bouncing around in time. As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
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