What would you do if you discovered your entire life was a lie?
That's the question Kim Leamy has to face when she's approached by a man suggesting she might actually be Sammy Went, a little girl who went missing twenty-eight years ago in Manson, Kentucky.
Journeying from her home in Australia to the US in a pilgrimage to discover the truth, Kim discovers sometimes, some secrets are better not uncovered.
Chapters in the story alternate between past and present, or Now and Then as they are referred to. While Kim is always the narrator in the present, the past narrator changes between characters, from Sammy's father Jack to the sheriff investigating the case, Jack's lover and occasional others with significant parts in the story to tell.
I really enjoyed this investigative thriller. There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing right until the end, and all the present day narrative being from Kim's point of view kept it from getting to confusing as the other players slowly revealed their parts in Sammy's story. I'd never heard of fundamentalist Pentecostal churches worshipping with venomous snakes before and was absolutely fascinated.
This is the author's first novel, but he is an experienced screenplay writer and I'd love to see this adapted for film or television, as I'm sure it would make riveting viewing. It's certainly a solid five star read.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.