Review: Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
by Jenners • 02/02/2011 • 4 Stars, Fiction, Mystery/Thriller, S Authors, S Titles • 66 Comments
Still Missing by Chevy StevensPublisher: St. Martin’s Press, 2010
Pages: 340
Genre: Fiction, Mystery/Thriller
Where I Got It: Won it in a giveaway
My Rating: 4 stars (Add to your TBR list)
In Brief
Still Missing grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go until the end—at which point you will be left tired and grumpy because you probably stayed up way too late reading because you just had to find out what happened. (Well, at least that was the case for me.)
The Basic Plot
This book does not have chapter titles. Instead, each “chapter” is a session with a psychiatrist. In Session One, we meet “our patient” for the first time, Annie O’Sullivan. Within the first few paragraphs, we learn why Annie is meeting with a shrink … she is “that lady Realtor who was abducted.” And Annie wasn’t just abducted and missing for a few days; she was held captive for a year by a man she only calls The Freak. (And what an apt name that is!) After her escape, everyone thinks Annie should be able to adjust to normal life now that she is home. But Annie’s experience has profoundly changed her. She can’t just go back to normal; the things that happened to her during that year are irreversible and scarring. In addition, Annie cannot accept the fact that she is safe now … that The Freak can’t hurt her anymore. As Annie’s story slowly unfolds during 26 sessions with the psychiatrist, we learn exactly what happened before, during and after the abduction and why Annie may be right that the full story of her abduction has yet to be revealed.
5 Things I Thought While Reading and Reviewing Still Missing
- Open houses staffed by solo female realtors seem like a really bad idea. Annie is abducted during an open house, and the details of how it played out really freaked me out. If I was a realtor and read this book, I think it would give me serious pause about ever meeting a client alone at a house.
- This book reminded me of ROOM by Emma Donoghue. Although I don’t want to spoil anything, there are important plot points between the two books that are pretty similar. If you ever wondered what ROOM would have been like if Ma had been the narrator instead of Jack, this book might give you a taste of that.
- I love when an author keeps something up her sleeve to surprise you. Although I’m not the brightest bulb when it comes to mysteries (in fact, I’d estimate I’m a 40 watt bulb as far as the ability to figure out things ahead of time), I thought Stevens did a great job of keeping her readers surprised and engaged. Just when you think the story has been told, you find out there is more!
- For a first-time author, Chevy Stevens is pretty darn self-assured and talented. She nails Annie’s voice—full of anger, doubt, attitude and vulnerability. As Annie works through her troubles during her psychiatric sessions, we come to know her and root for her. In a way, it felt like I was illicitly reading transcripts of actual therapy sessions.
- Even though I read this book almost three months ago, I can still recall the names and details clearly. In other words, this is a book that sticks with you. So many mysteries/thrillers are so forgettable and interchangeable. If you asked me the details of the Lee Child book I read over the summer, I’d be hard-pressed to tell you anything about it. But Still Missing stuck with me, which makes it a cut above your average mystery/thriller.
Recommendation: If you’re a fan of mysteries/thrillers and haven’t checked this one out yet, read it without delay! This is a well-written, fast-paced, freaky thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing about all the little details. However, if you are faint-hearted or don’t like strong language, this might not be the best fit for you. This is definitely not a cozy!
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great recommendation – i just finished it last night at 1 am. you are right about how you can’t put it down. love your reviews! Thanks!!!
Glad it hooked you like it hooked me! It does reel you in doesn’t it?
I wonder if this book would work for my book club. Most members have really liked the Steig Larrson books.
I imagine it might get a good discussion going. It wasn’t quite as “intelligent” or involved as the Steig Larsson books but it was a decent thriller.
sounds like a good book but I wonder if it has alot of gory details?
It isn’t so much gory as creepy and disturbing. Not sure if that helps any.
I thought this book was just okay when I started it because I didn’t like Annie, even though I understood why she was so abrasive. But then that twist at the end, after I thought I had it all figured out, really surprised me and made the whole book for me.
That twist was great … totally made the book for me. And I believe I owe you a big thank you for hosting the giveaway that got me the book so THANK YOU!
You’re very welcome!
I so want to read this and am so happy that I have a copy on my shelves!!!
Oh it is a good one! I think you’ll like it … and it will freak you out too (in the best way).
Wow — if you can still remember it clearly months later, that’s a strong recommendation.
It does stand out in my mind … it isn’t like a whole lot of other books I’ve read.
This has been languishing on my list for months, but your “without delay” makes me feel like I’ve been missing something. or maybe I’m still missing…oh, never mind. The realtor thing freaks me out since I know a few women who conduct open houses alone. I met a good friend that way!
Well, I wouldn’t share this book with your realtor friends … it might freak them out a little too much.
I want to run out and buy this book now….so I can stay up reading all night long and be grumpy tomorrow! (Ha!) (That last part was just teasing!) I really enjoy good mystery thrillers like this one and the fact that it reminded you of Room in a way is fantastic! Besides any book you’ve recommended that I’ve read has been spot-on & great.
Btw, I think solo female realtors staffing open houses is a terribly idea…you’ve read it in this book & I saw it on Criminal Minds (tv) so it must be! (Ha!) But, honestly, it is a bad idea…take a friend, a husband, another realtor since it’s better to be safe than sorry.
I writing this book on my TBR list!
~ Amy
Quite honestly, I’m amazed there isn’t more crime stories about realtors … it seems like it would be just ripe for something bad to happen during that.
Oh dang, I totally was going to read it until your last heads up, I really don’t like strong language in books. Shoot, it sounds good though
The language fits the circumstances though. I mean, you aren’t going to go through something like that, have a lot of anger and talk about it like “Heavens to Betsy, that jerky jerk hurt me!” ; )
This seems really, REALLY disturbing, but I’ve been seeing this book everywhere around the blogosphere and will definitely be adding it to my TBR list!
I saw it around everywhere last year too so I was glad to win it. It is disturbing but oh so good.
I will definitely check this one out. I like the idea that the story is told thru her therapy sessions. I just finished a young adult book (Living Dead Girl) that dealt with abduction and it scared the you-know-what out of me. I’m in agreement with you – I wouldn’t like to have a job that required me to meet people alone (but I’m pretty wimpy about things in general).
This book will freak you out too. And the therapy session set-up is very very effective for getting into her minds, thoughts and feelings.
Sounds like a great read, another for my wish list I think.
The library might have it … and it might be out in paperback soon too.
I read this book a few months ago, and was blown away with how riveting it was. I had no idea who the bad guy was until the end, and even then, I couldn’t believe it. It was such a strange story and one that kept me up half the night thinking about it. Great review on this one. I am glad to hear that it was a great read for you too!
Wasn’t that ending just nuts??? It just sticks with you .. I didn’t see that coming at all. And it does stick in your head. Glad I wasn’t alone in liking it so much.
I think it’s clever to have each chapter broke down into the psychiatric visits. What an interesting way to get into the character’s head and take us along for the ride through her flashbacks and struggle to heal. Sounds like a good book!
I thought it was a really effective way to tell the story. When she talks to her therapist, you get a real feel for her personality and struggles and problems. It was quite interesting.
You have me intrigued over this book! Noooo!!! I can’t keep up with all the books that are piling up on my to-read list!
I actually have a female friend who is a realtor who also gives solo open house tours. Maybe I should recommend this book to her. I’m sure she’s going to thank me for making her all paranoid about her job
Oh that would be cruel … I’m sure it would FREAK HER OUT big time. Yet, it seems like something where security should be reviewed as the potential for harm seems very possible.
I hope this is out for the Kindle. Sounds like a good read. Room is one of the best reads this year for me so far…
Just checked … it is out on the Kindle. And it isn’t quite in the same class as Room but there are definite “echoes” of it … and I imagine Ma’s voice might sound a bit like Annie’s!
Oh, looks like I MUST have this one…
It is a good read!
I have to agree with you on this one…I loved this book.
I think I remember your review … it put it on the radar for me if I remember correctly. (Of course, you might not have reviewed it and I’m mixing you up with someone else.)
I just finished this book today and loved it!! I caught the similarities between this and Room. It didn’t bother me as much as it might have. Definitely a book worth sharing with others.
I didn’t think it was “just like” Room but having read them fairly close together, I was struck by the one plot point that they share. And I could imagine Ma sounding a lot like Annie!
Oh, this sounds so good! I love mysteries and thrillers.
Then be sure to read this one! It was darn good!
I often wondered about that, what happens to those who are “found”. I can’t imagine life after being abducted. Thanks for your review. I’ve just stayed up to finish Backseat Saints, so I’m going to delay reading this one until next month. I need the sleep.
I just finished Backseat Saints the other day. I’ve been listening to it on audio for 2 months now!!! It was pretty good, I thought. The author narrated it and she has the best voice!
And the character is this book has quite an adjustment after her abduction.
Three months later and it’s still fresh in your mind. That’s either a really good read or a really bad read.
It is a really good bad read … in that is about Very Bad Things that disturb you and stick with you!
I’ve got this book, sitting patiently on my shelves. Some reviewers didn’t like the protagonist, and questioned her actions. Obviously you were not bothered by that, which is a good sign. I will read this one eventually. It is calling my name. I can hear it from my bedroom.
I’m really curious about what people would have questioned about her action! I’d love to read those reviews. It really hooked me. I’d be very curious to see what you think of it.
Your #2 point (Room) makes me want to read this.
I know you wanted ROOM from Ma’s point of view. I could see her voice sounding a bit like Annie’s!
This sounds like an interesting read. I don’t usually like mysteries/thrillers but I could make an exception for this one. Too many books in my TBR list/pile.
Too big a TBR list is a problem for all readers I think (especially those who read blogs).
I’m impressed that you can recall the details so clearly after 3 months. That is a book that made an impression. I have this one somewhere here or maybe it’s packed up. I’ll get to it eventually. I do love me a good mystery – and it definitely doesn’t have to be a cozy. Though cozies are nice at times.
This is about as far from a cozy as I could imagine. It really is more of a psychological thriller/mystery. Really engrossing!
Okay. You’ve convinced me (as you have with MANY books). The Room is waiting in my Kindle. This one will probably have to join it.
I’m looking forward to your review of The Help. (I see it over in your “finished reading” pile)
I’ll give you a preview of my review of “The Help”: Excellent read, I abandoned my other book to read it exclusively. Can’t wait to see the movie!
this looks a good one-I added it to my ever-growing TBR list!
Amazing how those TBR lists only grow and never shrink, huh?
This sounds like a book I could really get into. And even before I read the part about you thinking about Room, that’s what I was thinking.
I once had a temp job where I sat, ALONE, at model homes. So glad that this book wasn’t around then. It was already freaky enough when people showed up…but the ample downtime gave me lots of time to read.
This would NOT be a book you’d want to read while having that temp job!!! I’d love to know what you think when you read it.
This sounds like a book I would love! When I read a book like that, I can block out the world.
I can’t believe you didn’t read it yet! Whenever I get to a book “late,” I always think you’ve read it already!
I listened to the audioversion of this book and have similar thoughts to yours here. I really enjoyed it and plan on reading Room soon!
I bet this made a really good audio … it is just set up for that I think!
Ooooooooo….looks good. I may have to check this one out!!!
It is good and freaky and disturbing!