Book Review: Before She was Found

[Vanessa Tilley]

Book: Before She was Found
Author: Heather Gudenkauf
Series: No
Genres: Adult/Thriller/Mystery

Brief Summary:
Before She was Found is an amazing YA thriller/mystery that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat until you finish the ride. Before She was Found focuses on the terrible night where Cora Landry was found on the train tracks broken and bleeding, along with her friend Violet, and the events that led up to that moment. Everyone in the town is left trying to find the answers to the questions what happened and who could possibly do this.

Thoughts:
This is my first Heather Gundenkauf novel and I am obsessed. I will be looking for her other novels now. Heather does an incredible job creating the scene and bringing you right into the action from the first chapter. I enjoyed the novel is told through various formats like doctor notes, journal entries, and text messages. Each section was short so it was a very fast read.

I love the well developed characters! As a fellow nerd and outcast, I really relate to Cora who is herself bullied and even given the horrible nickname Odd Oliver. Cora is just a normal teenager trying to fit in. My heart breaks for Cora as she discovers betrayals by those who she calls friends and even family. All the characters have interesting stories of their own and I enjoyed gaining further insight into each one.

The action in this novel is superb! It normally takes me a day or so to finish a book but with Before She was Found I was NOT able to put it down. It was so addictive for the very first page. I enjoyed all the twists that had me constantly changing my mind about what was happening.

I highly recommend this book to any thriller/mystery fan!!