by David Bell
Genres: Thriller
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Just a year and a half after the tragic death of his wife, Bill Price's fifteen-year-old daughter, Summer, and her best friend, Haley, disappear. Days later, the girls are found in a city park. Haley is dead at the scene, while Summer is left beaten beyond recognition and clinging to life.
As Bill holds vigil over Summer's bandaged body, the only sound the unconscious girl can make is one cryptic and chilling word: No. And the more time Bill spends with Summer, the more he wonders what happened to her. Or if the injured girl in the hospital bed is really his daughter at all.
When troubling new questions about Summer's life surface, Bill is not prepared for the aftershocks. He'll soon discover that both the living and the dead have secrets. And that searching for the truth will tear open old wounds that pierce straight to the heart of his family...
I have enjoyed Bell’s mystery thrillers and looked forward to BRING HER HOME. Bell delivered a suspenseful thriller with twists and plenty of red herrings as one Dad frantically tries to discover what happened to his fifteen-year-old daughter.
Bill Price, a widowed father, becomes distressed when his fifteen-year-old daughter Summer and her best friend Haley disappear only to turn up in a local park. Haley is dead, and Summer is unconscious and clinging to life after being severely beaten.
Bill is muddling through life with a dead end job just trying to raise a daughter after his wife died tragically. The two have been depressed as they quietly mark the passage of time. There have been a few instances of curfew breaking, but Summer is a good girl and Bill is doing the best he can. As the police question Bill, he begins to question himself and her friends. He seeks answers and grows frustrated at the police. While he keeps vigil over Summer’s bedside, it is his sister Paige who points out something that leads to a shocking discovery. What happens next takes Bill on an emotional rollercoaster that certainly would have left me reeling. As questions surface and folks come forward a dirty secret from the girl’s school is revealed, but other darker secrets are yet to be discovered.
Bell did an excellent job with red herrings, flashbacks, and suspects as we held out hope. While I won’t reveal details to deter your enjoyment, I was a bit disappointed in how quickly I pieced things together. I did so long before Bill and the police. Maybe it is because I’ve read a few of Bell’s book and have come to expect a particular formula from him. However, this had a made for television feel. The thread involving Summer was the strongest, but the additionals threads seemed at times a little over the top. On a positive note, I did picture Bill Price with the voice of Will Patton, and while not loveable I couldn’t blame him for his actions.
BRING HER HOME was a well paced and enjoyable read. Bell tied all of the threads together for a page-turning mystery thriller.
Bring Her Home was a suspenseful thriller that revealed its secrets too quickly. Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Tyler H. Jolley
Kimba, this is so intriguing. And gut wrenching. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into this.
Darlene
I have this one on audio, and it sounds like a good one.
Cyn
Getting too good at solving mystery! Haha. Glad it was still a good read even if it was a bit predictable. Lovely review, Kim!
Anne Clarence
How did you get the publisher to give you an arc? Or did you email them? (really need help I’m trying to get better arcs)
Geybie's Book Blog
I get it, Kim. Predictable books do bore me at times even though the writing style is my cup of tea. I love your review, as usual, Kim. Thanks for sharing.
ShootingStarsMag
I do want to try something by David Bell. I see his books all the time! I’m sorry this one was an easy guess for you though.
-Lauren
AngelErin
I’ve never read anything by this author, but this one sounds SO GOOD!!
Angela Adams
Wow! Sounds like a great suspense. Thanks for the post.
Katherine
I don’t figuring out things ahead of time as long as the rest of the characters aren’t too dumb and the author manages to keep me entertained. I’ve been wanting to read Bell for awhile and this does look creepy. While it’s on my list I’m wondering if I should go with one of his other books which might not be so predictable?
Yvonne
I reviewed this one yesterday. It was the first I ever read by this author and loved it. I kind of figured out some things before the police did, but the reasoning of parts of it really surprised me.
Mary Kirkland
Oh that sounds quite good. I like thrillers too.
RO
I really enjoy a good thriller, but I do like some suspense to keep me on the edge of my seat. Definitely want to check this one out though. Hugs…
Rowena
Great review as always. I don’t mind figuring things out first but it’s got to be done right. This one sounds like it would be one of those not done right things for me. Oh well..still, thanks for the heads up!
Stormi Johnson
I have heard good things about this book and it’s on my reading list so it’s also nice to see a few reviews that liked it but was also a bit disappointed. Gives me a broader view of things. 🙂 I haven’t read this author yet so I am hoping I like it. 🙂
kindlemom1
I felt very similar about this one Kim, I was a bit disappointed that I knew a lot of it early on but there were some twists that I didn’t see coming which was nice.
Laurel-Rain Snow
I just downloaded this one, so I’m eager to read it. However, so sorry too much was revealed too soon. I haven’t read the author before…so maybe I won’t see the revelations coming…or maybe the revelations won’t bother me. Thanks for sharing.
sherry fundin
Loving that cover. Any thriller is a good thriller to me. Most books have a formula, but it’s what the author does with it that makes for great reading. I try to mix and mingle genres because they all start to run together sometimes and I think a great book may pay the price..
Carole
I had a lot of the same thoughts with this one. I liked the book but I figured out everything way too easily. Glad you enjoyed it.
Debbie Haupt
Based on your fantastic review I’m putting this on my list. I’m not opposed to putting things together before the end and am looking forward to see if I “got it” as soon as you did.
Sarah
Poor Bill has been through so much! Sorry to hear Bring Her Home was pretty predictable, but it’s good to hear you enjoyed it, regardless 🙂
Nadene
It is no fun when the reader solves the mystery before the police.
blodeuedd
I do wonder what is going on…
Nick
It really is quite disappointing when you easily figure out the mystery. It takes away from my enjoyment too. At least the book was still solid though.
Great review, Kim!
Ailyn Koay
poor Bill! I hope he won’t go for a shooting rampage when this end.s
Melliane
it’s nice to find a good thriller like that even if sometimes it was a bit tricky