Publication
Waterville, Maine : Thorndike Press, 2016.
Collection
Call number
Large Print Fiction F
Physical description
551 p.; 23 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
"A lifetime ago, every year Carole Shipley looked forward to her wedding anniversary. But then a celebratory trip to Mexico for the occasion with her husband and friends ended in the unsolved kidnapping of her infant daughter, Samantha. Now, fifteen years after that horrific time, divorced and isolated, Carole is forced to relive the kidnapping by reporters who call every year on the anniversary of Samantha's disappearance. However, this year when the phone rings, Carole hears the sweet voice of a girl claiming to be her long-lost daughter. Plunged back into the world of heartbreak, suspicion and questions that led the case to run cold so many years ago, Carole doesn't know what or who to believe. But when she starts to figure it out, she finds the answers dangerously close to home"--… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
This book kept me hooked throughout but I imagine if I was a parent I might have had to put it down from time to time. The novel alternates between chapters from 15 years ago and chapters set in the present. That is part of why it works to hook the reader because you want to learn what is occurring
Fifteen years ago Carole and Hunter Shipley, residents of San Diego, decided to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary with a week at a luxurious resort just across the border in Mexico. Their two daughters, five year old Michelle and two year old Samantha, accompanied them but the resort offered babysitters so Carole and Hunter to get some alone time. Or that's what Carole thought but when they arrived at the resort she found that three couples (her brother and his wife, her best friend and her husband and a business associate of her husband's and his wife) were going to be spending the week at the resort. On the last night of their stay they found out that the babysitter had somehow been cancelled. Against Carole's better judgement she accompanied Hunter to dinner in the hotel's restaurant with their six friends on the condition that one of them would check on the girls every half hour. At every check the girls were sleeping soundly and everything seemed fine. Then when dinner was over Carole went into the bedroom and found Samantha was missing from her crib. In the months and years that followed the child was never found but Carole kept hoping. Her marriage broke up and her relationship with Michelle was problematic and each year the journalists hounded her but she managed to keep her cool. Then the phone rang in her house and a young girl named Lili from Calgary said she thought she might be Samantha. Should Carole get her hopes up? Everyone else urges caution but Carole can't dismiss the possibility that this might be real.
When I started reading this book I was reminded of a kidnapping case in Europe that got a lot of media attention a few years ago. Through the miracle of Google I was able to remind myself of the Madeline McCann case which occurred in Portugal in 2007. I'm pretty sure that Joy Fielding used that case as her starting idea and I was disappointed that Fielding didn't acknowledge that either in her author's acknowledgments or on her website. I really hope that neither the McCanns nor their relatives never read this book because I am sure it would be devastating. It is rather ironic that Fielding paints journalists so negatively in the book for hounding the parents and yet she doesn't seem to realize that her own writing could have the same effect.
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for the characters now while filling in the back story.Fifteen years ago Carole and Hunter Shipley, residents of San Diego, decided to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary with a week at a luxurious resort just across the border in Mexico. Their two daughters, five year old Michelle and two year old Samantha, accompanied them but the resort offered babysitters so Carole and Hunter to get some alone time. Or that's what Carole thought but when they arrived at the resort she found that three couples (her brother and his wife, her best friend and her husband and a business associate of her husband's and his wife) were going to be spending the week at the resort. On the last night of their stay they found out that the babysitter had somehow been cancelled. Against Carole's better judgement she accompanied Hunter to dinner in the hotel's restaurant with their six friends on the condition that one of them would check on the girls every half hour. At every check the girls were sleeping soundly and everything seemed fine. Then when dinner was over Carole went into the bedroom and found Samantha was missing from her crib. In the months and years that followed the child was never found but Carole kept hoping. Her marriage broke up and her relationship with Michelle was problematic and each year the journalists hounded her but she managed to keep her cool. Then the phone rang in her house and a young girl named Lili from Calgary said she thought she might be Samantha. Should Carole get her hopes up? Everyone else urges caution but Carole can't dismiss the possibility that this might be real.
When I started reading this book I was reminded of a kidnapping case in Europe that got a lot of media attention a few years ago. Through the miracle of Google I was able to remind myself of the Madeline McCann case which occurred in Portugal in 2007. I'm pretty sure that Joy Fielding used that case as her starting idea and I was disappointed that Fielding didn't acknowledge that either in her author's acknowledgments or on her website. I really hope that neither the McCanns nor their relatives never read this book because I am sure it would be devastating. It is rather ironic that Fielding paints journalists so negatively in the book for hounding the parents and yet she doesn't seem to realize that her own writing could have the same effect.
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LibraryThing member CelticLibrarian
3.5 out of 5 stars -- "And guilt and blame are two very powerful weapons. Weapons of intimate destruction."
Imagine every parent's worst nightmare -- your 2-year old daughter is kidnapped from a hotel room while you're out enjoying dinner with friends at a luxury resort in Mexico celebrating your
Flash forward to the ringing of a telephone and a voice on the other end -- it's a girl claiming to be that missing daughter. Carole so wants this to be true, an answer to her hopes and prayers. Carole and her daughter, Michelle, travel to Calgary but the girl doesn't show. But then arrives on their doorstep in San Diego. Is this really Samantha?
This was a very fast read but populated with several characters that I found so annoying that it was distracting. The mother was a mess, not that it would be unusual since she lost her daughter, but the rest of the family -- Michelle, mother Mary, brother Steve, and Hunter -- were also not exactly the kind of people I'd be able to tolerate as friends even if given lots of latitude for their personal anguish. The only thing that saved this book was that I wanted to get to the end to see if the girl was indeed Samantha and to find out what happened in the hotel. I hoped there would be a satisfactory conclusion. Most of it I had guess and anyone who reads this type of book would as well.
Overall, I enjoyed the quick read in a single sitting. I wish I had developed more empathy for Carole, but I never connected with her. I like strong female protagonists vs those who do a lot of angsting and sobbing. The relationship between Carole and everyone else in her family was completely dysfunctional and they all need more than a few sessions with a therapist to fix all that is wrong. I don't even want to think about the pain a parent would experience in this sort of situation, so I gave her some leeway with her reactions and behavior, but some of her choices defied credibility and a reader will need to suspend a bit of disbelief about some of what happened.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the e-book ARC to review. Thank you to LibraryThing for the paperback ARC.
Imagine every parent's worst nightmare -- your 2-year old daughter is kidnapped from a hotel room while you're out enjoying dinner with friends at a luxury resort in Mexico celebrating your
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wedding anniversary! That's the tragedy that Carol Shipley and her husband, Hunter, faced 15 years ago. No trace of Samantha was ever found. Everyone constantly reminds Carole that she should never have left her children alone in a hotel room. She knows that, but blames Hunter for talking her into it.Flash forward to the ringing of a telephone and a voice on the other end -- it's a girl claiming to be that missing daughter. Carole so wants this to be true, an answer to her hopes and prayers. Carole and her daughter, Michelle, travel to Calgary but the girl doesn't show. But then arrives on their doorstep in San Diego. Is this really Samantha?
This was a very fast read but populated with several characters that I found so annoying that it was distracting. The mother was a mess, not that it would be unusual since she lost her daughter, but the rest of the family -- Michelle, mother Mary, brother Steve, and Hunter -- were also not exactly the kind of people I'd be able to tolerate as friends even if given lots of latitude for their personal anguish. The only thing that saved this book was that I wanted to get to the end to see if the girl was indeed Samantha and to find out what happened in the hotel. I hoped there would be a satisfactory conclusion. Most of it I had guess and anyone who reads this type of book would as well.
Overall, I enjoyed the quick read in a single sitting. I wish I had developed more empathy for Carole, but I never connected with her. I like strong female protagonists vs those who do a lot of angsting and sobbing. The relationship between Carole and everyone else in her family was completely dysfunctional and they all need more than a few sessions with a therapist to fix all that is wrong. I don't even want to think about the pain a parent would experience in this sort of situation, so I gave her some leeway with her reactions and behavior, but some of her choices defied credibility and a reader will need to suspend a bit of disbelief about some of what happened.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the e-book ARC to review. Thank you to LibraryThing for the paperback ARC.
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LibraryThing member flourgirl49
This is not one of Joy Fielding's best books, but it was moderately entertaining. The character Michelle was one nasty kid, and I liked that. The ending just didn't hit me with the impact that it should have.
LibraryThing member maggie1961
I received this book free from net galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I fell in love with Joy Fielding's books more than 30 years ago and was very excited to have been approved to read her newest novel "She's not there". Her books are riveting, can't put down
Caroline seems to have a charmed life. (Other than her horrendous mother) She has a handsome attorney husband, they have two beautiful daughters, they live comfortably and are on their way, with their girls, to a resort in Mexico to celebrate their 10th anniversary and as a surprise, her husband, Hunter, arranges to have some friends and family join them. The four couples have a week of fun in the sun, often with their daughters Michelle and Samantha in children's programs or with a sitter.
On the last night, a special dinner is planned but the sitter doesn't show. Hunter persuades Caroline, against her better judgement, to leave the kids alone in the room while they have dinner. After all, they aren't far away. They can see the room from where they are eating, they are checking on the girls every half hour. What could possibly happen in a locked hotel room while the girls are sleeping?This decision will haunt them for the rest of their lives, for during that dinner, someone gains access to their room and kidnaps their baby, Samantha.
This book hops back and forth from the present to the past, 15 years ago, when it all began. It gives a very real portrayal of a family hit by the tragedy of a kidnapped child and all that goes with it; the fear, the shame and despair and the guilt they live with daily. That split second delicious they made has altered their life drastically.
But then suddenly, fifteen years later, a young girl contacts them, saying she's Samantha and like many other times before, their life is a roller coaster of emotions and what ifs.
I found this to be a very real interpretation of what life for the family of a kidnapped child is like. They were crucified by the press for being such irresponsible and neglectful parents, it was even suggested that they murdered Samantha. And really, admit it, which of us as parents haven't done something that could have resulted the same way? You pop over to the neighbours while the baby naps, or leave the baby in the car seat while you take groceries into the house or many other similar scenarios; we were just luckier. I found Caroline to be genuine and likeable and I emphasized with how one decision affected the rest of her life. My heart broke for her and as a mother myself, I can't even imagine how that missing piece will always affect a mother, not knowing and missing your child. I must say though, there are a lot of unlikable characters in this book. From Hunter, who is such a jackass, to Michelle who felt second best her whole life and never let her mother forget it, she was downright obnoxious; to Caroline's spoiled brother Steve to their mother, who never misses a chance to insult or belittle Caroline. There was an interesting dynamic of two generations of being the "second choice" child. While intentional or not, this impacted who they became
As chapters flew by, going past to present, we got closer and closer to the mystery of what happened to Samantha that night in Mexico. Each chapter ended with a need to know more and I didn't want to put this book down. I had an idea of who may be involved but there were definitely some surprises in store.
This book is a fast paced thriller with lots of drama too that will appeal to many readers. It's the kind of book you want to curl up on the couch with and devour in one sitting as it grips you and doesn't let go, you become lost in the story. I highly recommend it.
Thanks to net galley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.
I fell in love with Joy Fielding's books more than 30 years ago and was very excited to have been approved to read her newest novel "She's not there". Her books are riveting, can't put down
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mystery/thrillers. Caroline seems to have a charmed life. (Other than her horrendous mother) She has a handsome attorney husband, they have two beautiful daughters, they live comfortably and are on their way, with their girls, to a resort in Mexico to celebrate their 10th anniversary and as a surprise, her husband, Hunter, arranges to have some friends and family join them. The four couples have a week of fun in the sun, often with their daughters Michelle and Samantha in children's programs or with a sitter.
On the last night, a special dinner is planned but the sitter doesn't show. Hunter persuades Caroline, against her better judgement, to leave the kids alone in the room while they have dinner. After all, they aren't far away. They can see the room from where they are eating, they are checking on the girls every half hour. What could possibly happen in a locked hotel room while the girls are sleeping?This decision will haunt them for the rest of their lives, for during that dinner, someone gains access to their room and kidnaps their baby, Samantha.
This book hops back and forth from the present to the past, 15 years ago, when it all began. It gives a very real portrayal of a family hit by the tragedy of a kidnapped child and all that goes with it; the fear, the shame and despair and the guilt they live with daily. That split second delicious they made has altered their life drastically.
But then suddenly, fifteen years later, a young girl contacts them, saying she's Samantha and like many other times before, their life is a roller coaster of emotions and what ifs.
I found this to be a very real interpretation of what life for the family of a kidnapped child is like. They were crucified by the press for being such irresponsible and neglectful parents, it was even suggested that they murdered Samantha. And really, admit it, which of us as parents haven't done something that could have resulted the same way? You pop over to the neighbours while the baby naps, or leave the baby in the car seat while you take groceries into the house or many other similar scenarios; we were just luckier. I found Caroline to be genuine and likeable and I emphasized with how one decision affected the rest of her life. My heart broke for her and as a mother myself, I can't even imagine how that missing piece will always affect a mother, not knowing and missing your child. I must say though, there are a lot of unlikable characters in this book. From Hunter, who is such a jackass, to Michelle who felt second best her whole life and never let her mother forget it, she was downright obnoxious; to Caroline's spoiled brother Steve to their mother, who never misses a chance to insult or belittle Caroline. There was an interesting dynamic of two generations of being the "second choice" child. While intentional or not, this impacted who they became
As chapters flew by, going past to present, we got closer and closer to the mystery of what happened to Samantha that night in Mexico. Each chapter ended with a need to know more and I didn't want to put this book down. I had an idea of who may be involved but there were definitely some surprises in store.
This book is a fast paced thriller with lots of drama too that will appeal to many readers. It's the kind of book you want to curl up on the couch with and devour in one sitting as it grips you and doesn't let go, you become lost in the story. I highly recommend it.
Thanks to net galley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.
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LibraryThing member Beecharmer
She's Not There storyline seems to have been taken from a real life child abduction. Madeleine McCann disappeared in the same circumstances and the parents were even dining in the approximate same location. Both parents checked on their children every half hour. Unfortunately in real life there has
I enjoyed the suspense of this story and felt bad for the parents who were made out to be monsters. I liked that the family wasn't made out to be perfect. The older daughter was a "difficult" child, the husband was a cheater and the grandmother babied & favored the son. The only one that seemed fairly perfect was the mother of the missing child. The ending of the book had a good twist but I did feel the story was unrealistic.
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not been a happy ending yet.I enjoyed the suspense of this story and felt bad for the parents who were made out to be monsters. I liked that the family wasn't made out to be perfect. The older daughter was a "difficult" child, the husband was a cheater and the grandmother babied & favored the son. The only one that seemed fairly perfect was the mother of the missing child. The ending of the book had a good twist but I did feel the story was unrealistic.
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LibraryThing member frogprof
Like a "Law & Order" episode, this is based on a true story: the Madeleine McCann disappearance in Portugal. Like Madeleine's parents, the mother and father of 2-year-old Samantha Shipley leave her and her older sister in their hotel room in a Mexican resort, where the parents are celebrating their
The story moves back and forth between the "vacation" in Mexico [15 years earlier] and the present day, when Caroline and Hunter are divorced and their older daughter, Michelle (who is a real pain), is splitting her time between them. Caroline still believes that Samantha will be found, although Hunter and Michelle seem to prefer to "move on" [Hunter has remarried]. Then one day a telephone call comes from a girl in Canada who is convinced she looks like the age-progression pictures of Samantha ... and mayhem ensues.
Fielding did a wonderful job of making me care about these people, even if I didn't like most of them. Caroline is presented as a grieving mother who doesn't want to grieve or believe that her baby is gone forever, even though the rest of her family wants nothing to do with the Canadian interloper. The mystery is resolved at the end [with a twist I didn't see coming] but the plotting to get there is tight and suspenseful.
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wedding anniversary with friends and family members [much to the chagrin of Caroline, the mother, who would have rather been there alone with her immediate family only]. Caroline and Hunter, her husband, alternate checking on the girls every half hour [the scheduled babysitter is mysteriously cancelled], until Caroline goes to the hotel room to discover that Samantha is missing from her crib. The story moves back and forth between the "vacation" in Mexico [15 years earlier] and the present day, when Caroline and Hunter are divorced and their older daughter, Michelle (who is a real pain), is splitting her time between them. Caroline still believes that Samantha will be found, although Hunter and Michelle seem to prefer to "move on" [Hunter has remarried]. Then one day a telephone call comes from a girl in Canada who is convinced she looks like the age-progression pictures of Samantha ... and mayhem ensues.
Fielding did a wonderful job of making me care about these people, even if I didn't like most of them. Caroline is presented as a grieving mother who doesn't want to grieve or believe that her baby is gone forever, even though the rest of her family wants nothing to do with the Canadian interloper. The mystery is resolved at the end [with a twist I didn't see coming] but the plotting to get there is tight and suspenseful.
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LibraryThing member susan0316
This is the first book that I have read by Joy Fielding and after enjoying this book so much, I think its time to read some of her older books. This is a story very similar to the Madeline McCann abduction in England several years ago. Caroline and her husband go to a Mexican resort for their
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anniversary with their two children - a five year old daughter and a two year old daughter. Some of their friends and family are also there to celebrate with them. When the babysitter doesn't show up for their anniversary dinner and all of their friends are waiting, they decide to go to dinner and check on the kids every 30 minutes - after all the restaurant is so close to their room! At the end of the evening, they find that their youngest daughter, Samantha has been abducted. The novel is told by Caroline and each chapter alternates between present day and 15 years previous when the abduction occurred. Fifteen years after the abduction, Carolina gets a phone call from a girl who says that she may be Samantha - is she really or is it someone playing a cruel trick? This novel was a fast read because I wanted to find out the what really happened in Mexico and I was totally unprepared for the ending of the story. It was a great book and I really enjoyed it. (I received this book from LibraryThing for an impartial review) Show Less
LibraryThing member mpmills
I enjoyed this new novel by Joy Fielding. Fifteen years ago Caroline's two-year-old daughter was taken from her hotel room in Mexico while she was at dinner celebrating her anniversary with her husband. The story is told in alternating chapters between the present and what had happened in the past.
The characters were predictable. Caroline was blamed by the public and labeled as a bad mother, while her husband was able to go on with his life. Her older daughter felt she wasn't loved as much as the missing daughter, and Caroline's mother favored her son over her.
This was a quick paced, very readable novel.
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This seems to be very similar to an abduction that actually happened a few years ago. The characters were predictable. Caroline was blamed by the public and labeled as a bad mother, while her husband was able to go on with his life. Her older daughter felt she wasn't loved as much as the missing daughter, and Caroline's mother favored her son over her.
This was a quick paced, very readable novel.
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LibraryThing member peggy.s
Fifteen years ago, while celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary in Mexico, Caroline and Hunter Shipley’s youngest daughter was taken from their hotel room. The authorities could find no trace of her or her abductors. The lives of the Shipleys were forever changed – to include the loss of
The novel is a light psychological thriller. It is nice to read a book that is suspenseful without any blood or gore. The author does a great job letting us know and feel what Caroline is going through. The suspense builds, and keeps you reading to the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who is ready for a change from some of the more gory or “heavy” thrillers that seem to be coming out now. This is a very nice change of pace from them.
I was given this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
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jobs and the break-up of their marriage. Now, Caroline receives a phone call from a teenaged girl, claiming to be Samantha, the missing daughter. After all these years with no word about her, could Carolyn really believe it was her? The novel is a light psychological thriller. It is nice to read a book that is suspenseful without any blood or gore. The author does a great job letting us know and feel what Caroline is going through. The suspense builds, and keeps you reading to the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who is ready for a change from some of the more gory or “heavy” thrillers that seem to be coming out now. This is a very nice change of pace from them.
I was given this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
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LibraryThing member Randall.Hansen
An interesting novel... a story of loss, guilt, hope, and family. The basic plot goes back and forth from present day to the past, recounting the story of a toddler stolen from a hotel room in Mexico while the parents were celebrating their anniversary. The main problem I had with this novel is
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that there is not ONE likeable character. The mother is still a wreck and a dishrag; the remaining sister is a nasty brat, even as a grown young woman; the husband is now remarried, but also a cheater. The grandmother (mother of the wife) is a manipulator. Leaves no one for the reader to like and support. But the story does show the destruction of a family when something horrible like this happens... and the mystery is finally solved/resolved, though even that could have been done a little better. Enjoyable, but be prepared to struggle through parts. Show Less
LibraryThing member caroline123
Loved this book! Review to follow
LibraryThing member JudithDCollins
A special thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Flashing back and forth from the present to fifteen years earlier, Joy Fielding takes you on a terrifying journey SHE’S NOT THERE, the nightmare of Caroline Shipley, an unsolved kidnapping of her infant
Fifteen years earlier the family is on vacation to Mexico—The Grand Laguna Resort Hotel. Caroline and Hunter (an attorney) with daughters, five-year-old Michelle (very difficult), and Samantha two-years-old, sleeping silently in the toddler seat. They had selected this beautiful luxury hotel and spa as the perfect place to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary.
The hotel would provide an evening of baby sitting and children’s programs which meant they would have some much needed time for themselves. When they arrived it was a big surprise—their family and friends are in attendance. In a way she was disappointed, thinking she would have alone time with her husband.
Things were not turning out so well with the trip, proving less than stellar. A mix-up with the babysitter, feeling guilty leaving the kids alone, and her brother and sister in law’s bickering. She checks on the girls and they were fine, sleeping; however, when they returned for the evening, Samantha was gone—in Mexico, a strange place and her baby was nowhere to be found!
Michelle had always been jealous of her baby sister. Did she harm her-- first reaction?. She had left the kids in the room alone, due to the babysitter not showing up. Hunter told the hotel they checked on them every half hour. Now, Caroline is beside herself with guilt for leaving the girls alone in a strange hotel. Someone had taken her. She realizes she lost her key card earlier in the day. Hunter had insisted they leave the girls alone, and now she blames him. Except she was just as guilty for going along with it.
There of course was no mention of the fact Hunter left Mexico to return to his law practice in San Diego barely a week after Samantha’s disappearance. Their marriage was over. Her husband has moved on to a new life and family
Now, fifteen years later, their daughter was never found. A miserable life. Now divorced, the reporters call every year on her daughter’s anniversary of the kidnapping. She has to relive the nightmare. The years had not been good to her, haunted by the media, her grief, guilt, and everyone treated her like an outcast and a bad mother.
This year, it is not a reporter on the line. It is a young girl, who says she thinks she is her daughter. Could it be for real? Is it too much to get excited about? Is this her real daughter, and if so where has she been? She says her name is Lili, but she thinks her real name is Samantha.
As the truth slowly unfolds, things are closer to home than she could ever imagine. Everyone thinks she is crazy. However, as most kidnapping goes, it is always someone closer to home than you may think. The lengths people will go when they are desperate--the schemes, the unspeakable acts. A truly dysfunctional family.
A light suspense (not a thriller), more of a drama--- A mother's need for justice, a realistic account of how media can be ruthless, and people can misjudge. Not a lot of likable characters here, the intensity was missing, and not really pulled in-- with this crazy family. My first book by the author; however, look forward to reading more.
Flashing back and forth from the present to fifteen years earlier, Joy Fielding takes you on a terrifying journey SHE’S NOT THERE, the nightmare of Caroline Shipley, an unsolved kidnapping of her infant
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daughter, Samantha—this year, could it possibly be her daughter calling.Fifteen years earlier the family is on vacation to Mexico—The Grand Laguna Resort Hotel. Caroline and Hunter (an attorney) with daughters, five-year-old Michelle (very difficult), and Samantha two-years-old, sleeping silently in the toddler seat. They had selected this beautiful luxury hotel and spa as the perfect place to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary.
The hotel would provide an evening of baby sitting and children’s programs which meant they would have some much needed time for themselves. When they arrived it was a big surprise—their family and friends are in attendance. In a way she was disappointed, thinking she would have alone time with her husband.
Things were not turning out so well with the trip, proving less than stellar. A mix-up with the babysitter, feeling guilty leaving the kids alone, and her brother and sister in law’s bickering. She checks on the girls and they were fine, sleeping; however, when they returned for the evening, Samantha was gone—in Mexico, a strange place and her baby was nowhere to be found!
Michelle had always been jealous of her baby sister. Did she harm her-- first reaction?. She had left the kids in the room alone, due to the babysitter not showing up. Hunter told the hotel they checked on them every half hour. Now, Caroline is beside herself with guilt for leaving the girls alone in a strange hotel. Someone had taken her. She realizes she lost her key card earlier in the day. Hunter had insisted they leave the girls alone, and now she blames him. Except she was just as guilty for going along with it.
There of course was no mention of the fact Hunter left Mexico to return to his law practice in San Diego barely a week after Samantha’s disappearance. Their marriage was over. Her husband has moved on to a new life and family
Now, fifteen years later, their daughter was never found. A miserable life. Now divorced, the reporters call every year on her daughter’s anniversary of the kidnapping. She has to relive the nightmare. The years had not been good to her, haunted by the media, her grief, guilt, and everyone treated her like an outcast and a bad mother.
This year, it is not a reporter on the line. It is a young girl, who says she thinks she is her daughter. Could it be for real? Is it too much to get excited about? Is this her real daughter, and if so where has she been? She says her name is Lili, but she thinks her real name is Samantha.
As the truth slowly unfolds, things are closer to home than she could ever imagine. Everyone thinks she is crazy. However, as most kidnapping goes, it is always someone closer to home than you may think. The lengths people will go when they are desperate--the schemes, the unspeakable acts. A truly dysfunctional family.
A light suspense (not a thriller), more of a drama--- A mother's need for justice, a realistic account of how media can be ruthless, and people can misjudge. Not a lot of likable characters here, the intensity was missing, and not really pulled in-- with this crazy family. My first book by the author; however, look forward to reading more.
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LibraryThing member Pet12
I have read an awful lot of books about missing children lately. She's Not There was one of the most emotional and also most gripping ones out of those.
You can't help but think of the case of Madeline McCann when you read this. A little girl disappears from her parents' hotel room while the parents
The characters were exceptionally well drawn: the second daughter who ends up being a total mess and is in desperate need of attention. The sleazebag husband. The grandmother, what a nasty piece of work! And then the mother who has been under continuous attack from the media, which has affected her personal and professional life.
I kept guessing right till the end and never worked out who was behind the kidnapping though there were small clues along the way. There were plenty of twists making this hard to put down. It came close to a 5-star read, but the ending reminded me of The Waltons and was just a little to sickly sweet for me.
4.5 stars.
Many thanks to Ballantine Books for my copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can't help but think of the case of Madeline McCann when you read this. A little girl disappears from her parents' hotel room while the parents
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are having dinner with friends in a restaurant close by. 15 years later, the mother receives a call from a girl who thinks she may be the missing daughter. Told from the mother's point of view, the story goes flawlessly back and forth between the present and the time of the disappearance.The characters were exceptionally well drawn: the second daughter who ends up being a total mess and is in desperate need of attention. The sleazebag husband. The grandmother, what a nasty piece of work! And then the mother who has been under continuous attack from the media, which has affected her personal and professional life.
I kept guessing right till the end and never worked out who was behind the kidnapping though there were small clues along the way. There were plenty of twists making this hard to put down. It came close to a 5-star read, but the ending reminded me of The Waltons and was just a little to sickly sweet for me.
4.5 stars.
Many thanks to Ballantine Books for my copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member mnm123
I received this book in exchange for a review. I loved this book. The solution at the end was a complete surprise. The author Joy Fielding really pulls you into the story. I couldn't put this book down. The characters become almost real and the story is possible making everything feel real.
LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian
I have read all of Joy Fielding's book and this one rates up with one of the best. This book hooked me right away and I could not stop reading until I finished. This story was definitely a suspensful book with some crime and mystery thrown in.
Fifteen years ago, Carole Shipley was happily married
For 15 years Carole suffers not knowing where her daughter might be or what happened to her. Her relationship with her older daughter Michelle has suffered as a consequence of the kidnapping. Her marriage falls apart and her husband remarries and begins a new family. She tries to return to teaching but is let go from job after job. She finally has a position she likes when she gets a phone call. “I think my real name is Samantha. I think I’m your daughter.”
The story is told from Carole's point of view and goes back and forth from the past to the present. This style does not always work and can be confusing, but it flowed nicely in this book. We see what Carol went through over the years and how the media treated the incident and her personally. She is continually scrutinized and villainized by the me. Her husband seems to be let off relatively easy by the media but she is constantly under attack.
This book makes you think about the many cases in the media about family abductions etc. and how easily we can be manipulated by reporters. I found this book extremely emotional and thought provoking. I had to flip back a few times to see if I could figure things out. I wasn't even close in my guess to what happened. The solution did not become apparent until right before it was revealed, which to me makes for a great book. I highly recommend this great read by Joy Fielding to anyone who enjoys suspenseful reads.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Fifteen years ago, Carole Shipley was happily married
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with two young daughters. On her 10th anniversary, her husband wanted to take her to Mexico to celebrate. She did not want to leave her daughters with her mother, so the whole family set off. If she had known what was waiting for her, she would have made a very different decision. While celebrating with her husband and friends, her daughters were left alone in their room sleeping. Even though they checked up on them every half hour, the unthinkable happened, Samantha disappears. Of course the family becomes suspected, and Carole more so than her husband for her calm, cool demeanour.For 15 years Carole suffers not knowing where her daughter might be or what happened to her. Her relationship with her older daughter Michelle has suffered as a consequence of the kidnapping. Her marriage falls apart and her husband remarries and begins a new family. She tries to return to teaching but is let go from job after job. She finally has a position she likes when she gets a phone call. “I think my real name is Samantha. I think I’m your daughter.”
The story is told from Carole's point of view and goes back and forth from the past to the present. This style does not always work and can be confusing, but it flowed nicely in this book. We see what Carol went through over the years and how the media treated the incident and her personally. She is continually scrutinized and villainized by the me. Her husband seems to be let off relatively easy by the media but she is constantly under attack.
This book makes you think about the many cases in the media about family abductions etc. and how easily we can be manipulated by reporters. I found this book extremely emotional and thought provoking. I had to flip back a few times to see if I could figure things out. I wasn't even close in my guess to what happened. The solution did not become apparent until right before it was revealed, which to me makes for a great book. I highly recommend this great read by Joy Fielding to anyone who enjoys suspenseful reads.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member julyso
Hunter and Caroline Shipley's youngest daughter was kidnapped while they were vacationing in Mexico. Their marriage fell apart and their oldest daughter is quite difficult. Caroline is blamed for leaving their girls alone while they celebrated their 10 year anniversary, when it was actually her
Fifteen years later, Caroline receives a phone call from a girl who thinks she might be her daughter. Can Carolyn believe this girl?
I throughly enjoyed this book. It is suspenseful and it felt very real.
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husbands idea to leave them in their room. Fifteen years later, Caroline receives a phone call from a girl who thinks she might be her daughter. Can Carolyn believe this girl?
I throughly enjoyed this book. It is suspenseful and it felt very real.
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LibraryThing member 2LZ
Many thanks to Librarything.com for an advanced copy of Joy Fielding's She's Not There in return for my honest review.
She's Not There reminds me of the novels of the past that were read for sheer pleasure. I enjoyed this fast paced mystery even though it was very reminiscent of the true story of
I generally am not a lover of these kinds of stories, but this one, if taken strictly as the fictional story that it claims to be, was quite good. The writing was absorbing. I read the book easily and quickly. I was totally engrossed in the story. I loved the alternating chapters between the past and the present. The characters were relatable, the aftermath of such a tragedy believable and understandable. To me this book would have been the perfect pleasure read if not for the fact that it took a family's real-life heartbreak and turned it into a form of entertainment.
She's Not There reminds me of the novels of the past that were read for sheer pleasure. I enjoyed this fast paced mystery even though it was very reminiscent of the true story of
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the Madeline McCann abduction. For those who are unfamiliar with the case, Kate and Gerry McCann while vacationing in Portugal left their very young children to sleep alone in their hotel suite while they met friends at a close-by restaurant, checking on the children throughout the evening. Three year old Madeline was discovered missing some time during that night. Despite the author's claims that this was a work a fiction, and I am sure, many parts were, there is no denying that the facts of the novel are almost identical to those of the actual case. I generally am not a lover of these kinds of stories, but this one, if taken strictly as the fictional story that it claims to be, was quite good. The writing was absorbing. I read the book easily and quickly. I was totally engrossed in the story. I loved the alternating chapters between the past and the present. The characters were relatable, the aftermath of such a tragedy believable and understandable. To me this book would have been the perfect pleasure read if not for the fact that it took a family's real-life heartbreak and turned it into a form of entertainment.
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LibraryThing member Kris_Anderson
I was really looking forward to Joy Fielding's She's Not There. I love suspense novels, but this novel had no suspense nor a real mystery. Caroline Shipley and her husband, Hunter went on a vacation to Rosarito, Mexico fifteen years previously for their anniversary. Caroline would not leave the
Fifteen years later Caroline gets a call from a young girl stating she might be Samantha. Could this be her long lost daughter? We get to see how this kidnapping affected the family and if this young woman is really Samantha. Will Caroline finally get the truth?
I found She's Not There to be a slow novel with no suspense. It was so easy to figure out who took Samantha and why. We are subjected to a lot of Caroline thinking (and over thinking) and disagreements between Michelle and Caroline. Michelle was a difficult child before the kidnapping and she has not improved over the last fifteen years (I got very tired of their arguments). I did not like any of the characters in the book. Caroline plays the blame game and has issues controlling her temper. The writing is okay (satisfactory). I kept hoping that there would be a twist at the end. I give She's Not There 3 out of 5 stars (which mean it was okay).
I received a complimentary copy of She's Not There from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the novel.
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kids with her mother or brother, so they brought five-year-old, Michelle, and two-year-old, Samantha with them. On the last night the babysitter failed to show up. The hotel said that someone had canceled the sitter. Since they were going to be eating just outside (they could see the window from the table), they went to dinner (Hunter insisted because he had a surprise for Caroline). They took turns checking on the sleeping girls. When they go back after dinner, Samantha is gone. Who took her and why?Fifteen years later Caroline gets a call from a young girl stating she might be Samantha. Could this be her long lost daughter? We get to see how this kidnapping affected the family and if this young woman is really Samantha. Will Caroline finally get the truth?
I found She's Not There to be a slow novel with no suspense. It was so easy to figure out who took Samantha and why. We are subjected to a lot of Caroline thinking (and over thinking) and disagreements between Michelle and Caroline. Michelle was a difficult child before the kidnapping and she has not improved over the last fifteen years (I got very tired of their arguments). I did not like any of the characters in the book. Caroline plays the blame game and has issues controlling her temper. The writing is okay (satisfactory). I kept hoping that there would be a twist at the end. I give She's Not There 3 out of 5 stars (which mean it was okay).
I received a complimentary copy of She's Not There from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the novel.
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LibraryThing member jjnaaucoin
I enjoyed this book. I didn't like the characters to well, I found them all shallow but the story was great. You go through the book and nothing is a big surprise but it does leave you with all the answers and a tightly woven story. The author is one that I don't usually pass by so I knew this one
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wouldn't be different, I devoured it. Show Less
LibraryThing member joyfiction
The very idea of this book is a bit ripped from the headlines the way Law and Order episodes once were- child goes missing while on vacation with the parents, straight out of the hotel, and the parents are, of course, the prime suspects. In that regard the story is a tiny bit predictable. And some
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of the characters are hard to either like and/or relate to on some level. But with that being said the book itself is still an enjoyable read, a look into a cold case and how everyone in the family is changed when a child vanishes without a trace. Show Less
LibraryThing member JanaRose1
Carole’s daughter went missing fifteen years ago when the family was on a vacation in Mexico. Hounded by the press, Carole is branded a bad mother and struggles to find a teaching job. Her marriage falls apart and she is left with a daughter she barely gets along with. Anticipating the fifteen
This was an intriguing and engaging book. It blended the past and present perfectly, allowing the story to unravel and a perfect pace. The characters were very realistic, flaws and all. Overall, well worth reading, highly recommended.
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year anniversary of the kidnapping, Carole is startled when she receives a phone call from a young girl, claiming to be her kidnapped daughter.This was an intriguing and engaging book. It blended the past and present perfectly, allowing the story to unravel and a perfect pace. The characters were very realistic, flaws and all. Overall, well worth reading, highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Dianekeenoy
Another fast read. While I did need to finish so I can return to the library tomorrow, this book certainly did hold my interest. Caroline and Hunter are in Mexico to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Their family and friends are also there to surprise them. They've also brought their 5 year old and
Now, fifteen years later, Caroline receives a phone call from a young girl saying, "I think my real name is Samantha. I think I'm your daughter." The story goes between past and present and does a good job of holding your interest. The older daughter, Michelle, is an annoying character, but, it must be hard to be the sibling left behnd and your mother spends all her time looking for the missing sister. Other than that, though, this is a good book that holds your interest.
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2 year old daughters. Definitely, not the ingredients to have a great anniversary. Their sitter is cancelled, not by them, and Hunter talks Caroline into going to their anniversary dinner anyway and checking on the girls every half hour. We all know that's asking for trouble and sure enough, when they get back to the room for the last time, the baby, Samantha, is missing. Now, fifteen years later, Caroline receives a phone call from a young girl saying, "I think my real name is Samantha. I think I'm your daughter." The story goes between past and present and does a good job of holding your interest. The older daughter, Michelle, is an annoying character, but, it must be hard to be the sibling left behnd and your mother spends all her time looking for the missing sister. Other than that, though, this is a good book that holds your interest.
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LibraryThing member wcath
She's Not There tells the story of Caroline Shipley beginning with the present-day 15th anniversary of the disappearance of her younger daughter Samantha from an upscale Mexican resort. Fifteen years is a long time to grieve and wonder and hope. It is also a long time to be conned and scammed and
(Review based on complimentary Advance Reader copy.)
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eviscerated by the press. Her marriage fell apart years ago and her older daughter barely speaks to her. The early morning overseas call could be another scam or it just might lead her to her daughter. This is definitely a page-turner with some great plot twists.(Review based on complimentary Advance Reader copy.)
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LibraryThing member maryintexas39
I haven't read joy fielding in years! this one was most excellent. could not stop reading it. a family's 2 year old is kidnapped from a resort in Mexico while the parents are dining. the children were left in the room alone. the book uses the future and past in alternating chapters. after 15 years
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a young woman appears claiming she thinks she is the missing girl. the book unravels like the peeling of an onion with an ending i didn't expect. if you like page turners, this one is for you! Show Less
LibraryThing member Rhea1023
This is the firs Joy Fielding book I have read and was moderately satisfied with it. It started off slowly, but I did enjoy the twist at the end. What I did not like was the daughter character Michelle. There is no way I would have a daughter that rotten so it is hard to read about one. But each
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its own. All in all a good book, I will definitely try another in the future. Show Less
Language
ISBN
9781410486257