Girl in Snow: A Novel

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! Girl in Snow really packs a punch! The story revolves around Cameron, the loner in love; Jade, whose insecurities are twisting her into a stranger; and Russ, an emotionally stunted cop. They are drawn together by Lucinda, the girl in the snow - the girl who has been murdered.
Girl in Snow is so much more than a murder mystery. It is a sometimes painful character study of life in a small town in Colorado. There is so much pain that the story is sometimes hard to read. The pain is relieved by beautiful language and a strong plot.
I read the book in one day because I needed to know what happened next.
Girl in Snow is definitely worth reading.

Kukafka deserves the kudos she has received for this debut novel. It's a mystery and not all at the same time. Lucinda's murder is the centerpiece of this character study of teens and others in a small town- the pressures, troubles, triumphs. worries, concerns, and so on. This isn't an easy or light book (which makes it perhaps not the most obvious summer choice) but it's one which will keep you thinking. It's also a hard one to review without spoilers. I liked the alternating chapters which allowed you to see the situation from multiple viewpoints. Cameron and Jade and Russ all link together- you might like one more than the others, or find one more sympathetic, but all of them are incredibly real and readable. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Two thumbs up!

I won this ARC in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book. I love mystery books though I found the author to be focusing less on the search for the murderer of high-school student Lucinda Hayes and more on the three individuals who are suspects in her death. At times, I felt my mind wondering as the book just didn''t hold my interest like I thought it would. I think if the author had cranked up the plot a bit more, it would have been a better book.

Having read this author for the first time, I did not know what to expect. But just a few pages in, I was enthralled by the introspective richness of each character. Before long, I couldn't put it down.

The novel follows three characters--Jade, Cameron, and Russ--all of whom are affected by the murder of Lucinda, a beloved teenager in a sleepy Colorado town. While the investigation into her death centers around one of the narrators, the accompanying backstory that is revealed piece by piece illuminates so much more about the dynamics in this town and in the relationships of these characters.

Structured into short vignettes and with a thrilling plot that makes it difficult not to say, "just one more chapter," Girl in Snow was an unexpected delight. Already planning to gift this to the thriller lovers in my life.

Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka tells the circumstances surrounding a suspicious death told through the eyes of 3 characters. High School student Lucinda Hayes is found dead covered in snow on a playground. The circumstances of the day she died and the investigation that follows is told alternately through the eyes of a boy who nearly stalked her, a girl who envied her, and the detective investigating the murder. Not everything is what it seems and some memories have been buried. The story unravels the memories and people in this mystery. I enjoyed this book but have read better thrillers in this genre. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Based in a small town in Colorado, this novel deals with the murder of a high-school student, Lucinda, and the investigation into her death seen through the eyes of three narrators: Cameron, a student with developmental problems, Jade, a high school loner, and Russ, a policeman assisting with the investigation. ~With an interesting surprise at the end, it's reasonably interesting but I found the language a bit too affected in places. Characters are well-developed and murder, adultery, abuse all come into the plot.

Quite good therefore but certainly not a favourite of mine.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Girl in Snow is an interesting story that follows the investigation of Lucinda's murder from three distinctly unique points of views. Kukafka does an excellent job in portraying the personality differences between Cameron, Russ, and Jade with her writing. I truly wasn't able to guess who was actually responsible for Lucinda's death until it was revealed. I did wish this story had more of a thriller aspect to it to add a little extra excitement and anticipation to it, but I still thoroughly enjoyed Kukafka's realistic small town mystery. 
I voluntarily received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kukafka captures the spirit of a mystery and her character studies deliver in spades. Many of my creative writing students do not enjoy literary books citing them as too dark; they wouldn't have read past the first few character sections in this book. I do like literary fiction, e.g. Richard Russo's character studies and setting explorations, but the dearth of redeeming qualities in any of these characters made for a vapid read. I do not need a fairy tale ending, but a breath of clean air would have been nice.

This was a pretty good mystery. I wouldn't really call it a thriller since there was no intensity. However, there was a good cast of characters and I found myself very engaged.

The author did a good job of making just about everyone a suspect. I had my favorite suspect and I was dead wrong - about just about everything.

I did find that there was a little too much backstory for each character. Sometimes I felt like I knew a little too much - so much minutia about who these people were.

But overall, I enjoyed the tone of the story and did enjoy the mystery itself.

Received this book as an arc for my honest review.

Did not like this book. It was boring, repetitive and jumped around a lot. This a more like a YA but with some adult issues tangled in between. I think this author may have a great talent it just wasn't with this book. The book follows Jade, Russ and Cameron and they all tell a story and the only one I really cared about at all was Russ and he wasn't in it a lot. There is a murder of a beautiful girl and no one knows who did it.

A young high school girl (Lucinda) is murdered and her body is found in the snow. The story is told by a boy who stalks her (Cameron) a moody "alternative" girl (Jade) who is her best friend and (Russ), a policeman who is on the case. There are many, many twists and turns and virtually every character has a reason to be a suspect. Cameron and Jade are two of the most interesting characters that I have ever experienced in fiction. Cameron is on the autism spectrum and has many quirks and Jade is off the wall in her behaviors and reactions. Great book - maybe the next HBO mini series?

Love this cover and this book!
A murder mystery where a Who Did It is almost secondary to the three main characters and the delving into their lives and stories.
Lucinda Hayes, a popular high school student, is murdered and her body found on the carousel of a local park.
Told through the point of view of three complex characters it is compelling to see how their lives intersect following this tragedy.
A very well-written debut novel!
I look forward to what's next from author Danya Kukafka.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an arc of this novel.

When I started this book, I was expecting a mystery or suspenseful story based on what I thought the book was about, I was very disappointed. This story is about three characters; Cameron, Jade and Russ and what they learn about themselves in the aftermath of the death of a ninth grader, Lucinda. The mystery element is there, with the investigation here and there throughout the book, but it was almost an afterthought. I plugged away at the story, but found it very slow moving and there was not much happening until almost 75% of the way through. As we learn more about the three characters, we see their dark sides and their secrets. There is a lot of foreshadowing throughout the book, but it is still hard to catch the clues and information as you go through. Much of what we learn about the characters had nothing to do with the murder.

Having said all that, Danya Kukafka's writing is beautiful. It’s lyrical and very descriptive. It often felt like you were in a dream or hazy foggy place wondering what would come next. I did not become attached to any of the characters while reading this book. It was not until the last quarter or so of the book where the real killer is revealed that had me interested. It moved quickly and the suspense built up.

I did not enjoy this book, but it does not mean others would feel the same way. If you are a fan of introspective writing styles and like books that explore inner turmoil or struggles of the characters, then you will probably enjoy this book much more than I did. As I said above, the writing is wonderful, I did not enjoy the story.

First, thank you to NetGalley (Simon and Schuster) for a copy of this e-book for my enjoyment and review. The characters were, in my opinion amazing, as was Kukafka's writing. Her prose flowed along very well, easy to follow, back and forth from each character being investigated in the murder of a young high school student. Three of her classmates, a police officer and the school janitor were all described in their relationship with Lucinda and the murder investigation. It is a somewhat dark story, no humor or upbeat kind of story – but well written and easy to read.

Girl in Snow is as captivating as it is mysterious. Who am I rooting for? Am I as in love with Lucinda Hayes as Cameron is? Do I want to be Lucinda or do I hate her? Should I hate a dead girl?

Each page has its own plot twist, keeping you on the edge of your seat the whole way through. There are ah-ha moments, heartbreak moments, and moments of pure "what the hell did I just read?" and that's what makes this book as beautifully drawn as Cameron's portraits of Lucinda.

You'll wonder in the beginning how these three narratives fit together, and by the end you won't know how it would have made sense otherwise. There's an easy flow between perspectives, speckled with moments of anticipation as each perspective ends. Each reader gets to find their own identity in Cameron, or in Jade or even in Russ.

It's of particular importance to me that I find myself somewhere in a book, even if its in a place I've never looked before. Kukafka lets me do that, and so much more.

By the description, Girl in Snow seems like a book that I have already read. I am so glad I read the first page in the bookstore. I knew right away, based on the quality of the writing, that this book is worth reading. The writing is poetic, the characters are unusual and compelling, and the pacing is perfect. I am afraid to start a new book because I don't want to move on from Girl in Snow quite yet. Really strong debut from a writer I want to keep my eyes on.

I love the character study aspect of this story. Kukafka does an amazing job of putting you inside her characters. On the other side of this, I felt the reveal of the plot twist was a throwaway. There wasn't enough context & I felt that just as the plot was set to climax, the author pulled the punch & missed an opportunity. I don't know what ending I would I have preferred; I just know that this felt weak. If you like character over story, this is a great read but if the plot is king for you, this may be a miss.

This story captivated me right from the start. It had a strange voyeuristic quality as the story is told from several perspectives as we try to figure out who killed high school student Lucinda Hayes. I felt like I was peeking inside the inner thoughts and following along with the actions of the possible suspects. In some ways this reminded me of the The Lovely Bones. Thank you to Net Galley, author and publisher for ARC in exchange for my honest review.

You can add Danya Kufaka to the ever-growing list of Nordic crime/thriller authors. There's only one difference --- she's from the U.S. and the novel is set in Colorado!

GIRL IN SNOW has it all --- stark, cold landscapes; a mysterious, elusive killer; and, a plot that features several twists and turns. It begs the question throughout of its' principal character: "Who are you when no one's looking"?

3 1/2 Stars
While this novel showed promise, it just took too long getting to where it was taking us. The story is told in alternating chapters by three very different characters. Kukafka does a wonderful job fleshing out these characters, but I found their storylines to be just overall depressing. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story was painfully slow. Too many characters with connections that half the time I wasn’t sure who the person was talking about. No real mystery about “who done it.” I just wanted it to be over, and I finished it because I have OCD, and I couldn’t leave it unfinished. Would not recommend.

Although this is a murder mystery of sorts, it isn't full of action. Instead, this story, told in three perspectives, is character driven, not plot driven. Some readers may not appreciate the slow pace, but I enjoyed the three voices in this book as well as the small-town Colorado setting. Each of the narrators is unique and flawed, which made this book so hard to put down.

The author of this book, Danya Kukafka, is only 24, but she has mastered her craft. Rich, inventive language fills each page. I repeatedly found myself thinking, “I’ve never thought of this aspect of life in such a way, but it makes perfect sense now.” The truth behind the murder of Lucinda Hayes unravels from the perspectives of Russ, Cameron and Jade—and each is wonderfully complex. Through these dynamic characters, Kukafka reveals much more than the events of February 15th. Each page offers an uncomfortable insight into how human minds process love, insecurity, tragedy, anxiety, guilt, violence or betrayal. It is a thriller, yes, but not one that chills—it hums. Fans of Girl on the Train will love this read.

—Francesca Cocchi (ARC received from Simon & Schuster at the NYU Summer Publishing Institute)

This book was a decent debut and had great writing.I'm a fan of a great thriller and this was not that book. It was more about the characters then the mystery.This I would classify as more of a general fiction book then a mystery /thriller. Not my favorite only because I'm looking for more suspense but if you like to read a good character driven book this book is for you!

Who killed her?

The people in the story form several small constellations: Russ, Inez, Ivan; Lee, Cynthia, and Cameron; Jade, Amy, Ma; Zap; They are all guilty, of something. Kukafka has a nice ability to get deep under the skin of her characters, and reveal not only who they are but who they could be.

I really look forward to more by this author.

A promising debut that kept me engaged for a bit. The plot was somehow monotone.It was hard to make sense of all the characters. Overall I wanted to put this book down several times.. the pace was definitely not as fast as I hoped for..

2,5 Starts

Thank you for the ARC Simon & Schuster!!

This book might appeal to young teens. As an adult reader, I wouldn't recommend it. The plot is slowly paced. The characters weren't developed enough to hold my interest. I live in Colorado, and the setting didn't ring true. At one point in the story, the description of mountain trucks in town reminded me of mountain towns like Lake Tahoe, not suburban Denver, where every other car is a Subaru or CRV.

The basic story was good, but the author seemed fixated on characters that had acne or bad personal hygiene. The gross details did not add anything to the story and actually detracted from it. I wanted to like the book but couldn't because of the "yuck" factor.

One snowy morning in a suburb in Colorado the body of a young high school student is found shaking up the small community. After the news is given to the other students Cameron finds himself sick to his stomach and mourning the loss of Lucinda Hayes, the girl he’d been watching and dreaming of forever. Jade finds herself wondering if the wish she made for the perfect Lucida to disappear had been granted.

Russ finds himself working the case looking for whoever is responsible for the girl’s death. It becomes known that Cameron was watching Lucinda and he’s called in for questioning with the police wondering if he had taken things too far. However Cameron’s memories of that night are a bit fuzzy and even he would like to know what happened to the girl of his dreams.

As much as I wanted to like Girl in Snow I came away with the thought that I just really didn’t get this one at all. Being that it’s supposed to be a mystery/thriller read it really didn’t hold any of the aspects that attract me to that type of story. Basically a dead girl is found and at the end you find out the who/why but between those events the police are a joke and there really isn’t much investigating but more digging into the characters lives.

Now as far as the characters in this story Cameron and Jade are both teens so it gives the book a bit of young adult feel with a big portion being told from their POV. But I can’t see this one marketed towards that age with the sexual content involved either so that was also where I was left scratching my head. But on top of that I didn’t really care for any of the characters or their actions. I supposed they are meant to be flawed in their own ways but to me their issues were just plain unlikable.

I’m leaving this read with the thought that I suppose there is an audience out there for any book or writing style but in regards to this one I just wasn’t the audience it’s meant for. But I’m not really sure what audience to recommend picking this one up as I felt the thriller side felt flat and the drama and character development fell flat to me also.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is a great psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. The characters development really grows with each turning page and is truly a “who done it” with an unexpected ending. There are a few cringeworthy parts but it develops into a well rounded thriller. Highly recommend

Complex and beautifully written, Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafa is an intriguing read. Part mystery, part character study, this debut novel should not be missed.

(Advance Reading Copy obtained by request from NetGalley.)

I love the thriller genre so I assumed this would be a great thriller. I struggled getting through and finally when I was around 50%, I jumped to the end to see whodunnit! It was so slow and plodding and the characters were a little too weird for me, especially Cameron and Jade! With each page, I just wanted to stop and delete this book from my Kindle selection.

Absolutely LOVED this book. I found myself unable to put it down -- it is the perfect combination of literary prose and edge-of-your-seat pacing that will have you up way past your bedtime and missing your stop on your morning commute. Almost like Girl on the Train meets The Secret History (in high school) -- but completely unique in its voice.

Lucinda Hayes is found dead in the snow. The story unfolds through alternating story lines beginning with Cameron, who is the "weird" kid in Lucinda's school. He has been stalking Lucinda for years. He peeps in her window (and everyone else's for that matter) and keeps journals of drawings, information and general thoughts about her, along with a list of people who have done terrible things and suspiciously Lucinda's diary (whoa, how did that get there?). Then there is Jade, the bitter overweight high school girl who lives with her abusive alcoholic mother. Jade resents Lucinda because she is everything Jade is not. She despises her so much she tries to hex her with voodoo. Then there is the investigating officer, Russ. He is obsessed with Cameron because Cameron's dad used to be his partner and something went awry. The author really drags out that story line which turns out to be irrelevant to the story and not even in a good "red-herring" way. I took this on a plane to read, so I was kind of held hostage by it or I might have just put it down somewhere in the middle. Over all the book was O.K. it moved kind of slow and the charters going over and over the same plot lines got boring.

Danya Kukafka's debut novel revolves around the mysterious death of Lucinda Hayes, a popular Jefferson High teenager. The story is relayed through the perceptions of various classmates and inhabitants of a town called Broomsville.

Girl in Snow is written in the alternating POVs of three complex and introspective characters. As the tale unravels, their hidden thoughts and memories are divulged, along with their connections to each other. It is compelling to see how their lives intersect in the wake of the tragedy.

Jade was a classmate and childhood acquaintance of the murder victim. She has a disgust for people in general and seems to hold a particular disdain for Lucinda. Cameron also went to school with her. He is a voyeur and had been documenting her every move in the form of drawings. He was seen watching her the night she died. Russ is a cop with strong ties to two of the suspects, one of which is Cameron. Although she is not alive, Lucinda's presence is always there - ethereal and intangible.

Kukafka's writing is beautifully descriptive and a touch surreal. The book is not just about a murder. There is a delicateness to this study of a small town, the secrets it holds and its residents, set against the backdrop of a chilly Colorado winter. Girl in Snow is addictive, haunting and sublime in it's entirety. It kept me hooked until the last page.

It was the cover that first caught my eye. stunning and simple, and makes you take a second look.
Unfortunately, this really is where it ended. The sound of the premise was interesting and started well. but it didn't take long for it to go downhill.
There is no doubt in the authors ability to write. It was beautifully written, unfortunately, there didn't seem to be much of a plot line to hold it all together. It moved slowly, and seemed to focus more on the character development than anything else. The police investigating the murder of Lucinda, a school girl found dead on a carousel, seemed completely inept. There was none of the usual grit & detail i usually expect from a crime novel, as a result it made them laughable. The story of Lucinda was secondary to the development of the 3 main characters. I just couldn't relate to any of them and i'm afraid i only finished it because i can't leave a book once started. (Thats just me though) I am sure there are people out there who will be blown away by it, and i hope it does well for the author in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author & publisher for allowing me to read it.

“He wondered how a love like that drowned. Or worse, how it died.”

Danya Kukafka

Last night I had the pleasure of sitting down and finishing this book. Girl in Snow is Danya Kukafka’s debut novel, though reading it you would hardly guess. The elegant prose falls from the book, igniting an intrigue that has you entranced from the first page.

Girl In Snow follows the aftermath of the death of a beloved high school girl named Lucinda Hayes. The small suburb hasn’t been shocked by a crime of this nature in a long time and as is the case when tragedy strikes, the dark secrets that lie under the surface of the sleepy suburb are unwound in this tale.

I have mentioned before that my love of a book is highly reliant on the characters themselves and this book is an excellent example of truly endearing characters. The story is told from the perspectives of our three main characters, Cameron, Jade, and Russ, who together are a collection of misfit characters perfectly woven together by Kukafka.

Cameron

“He’d like to imagine he was one of Michelangelo’s figures, frozen on paper, etched in one position for all eternity”

Cameron was definitely the character I found most endearing and really looked forward to reading about his outlook on the world around him and the people within that world. A classic wallflower, Cameron has been labeled a freak most of his life and as is the case with many teenagers, he struggles not to believe it. The character certainly has a few interesting hobbies (“The game of statue nights” being one) that have you questioning what kind of person he really is, and whether the reader should be sympathetic towards him.

I think many people can empathise with his thought that “He found people fascinating when they thought no one was watching”, however, in his case the question becomes is how much can you innocently watch someone before it becomes something more sinister.

Jade

“Faking shock is easier than faking sadness”

Another character that’s very easy to like is Jade. Exceedingly observant, Jade and Cameron share the familiar trait of people thinking they veer off the scope of normal and because of this there is a clear kinship between the characters. Jade is both incredibly witty and intelligent, piecing together links between characters that often left me chanting ‘omg omg’ in my head as the connections unraveled. Her wit also allows for lovely breaks in the prose in which she tells the reader all the things she wishes she could say “What you want to say but can’t without being a dick – A screenplay by Jade Dixon-Burns”.

Russ

“It was paralyzing and perfect, crippling in its singularity. Here is what I have been alive for all this time, Russ thought. This touch”

Personally, I found Russ the hardest to empathise with throughout the book, though this is likely Kukafka’s intent, A cop not quite sure of his place in the world from his marriage to his job. He is seemly lost in the grand scheme of things. About halfway through the book when Russ delved more into his friendship with Lee was where I saw more life in the character and grew more interested in his telling of the story.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I think anyone would with its intricate twists and wholely endearing characters. The stand out being Danya’s delicate and detailed prose. I truly hope this debut novel is followed by another as I would love to read more by this brilliant author.

I recommend it for any fans of Crime, mystery or thriller novels, and for people that want a book they cant put down!

“He wondered how a love like that drowned. Or worse, how it died.”

Danya Kukafka

Last night I had the pleasure of sitting down and finishing this book. Girl in Snow is Danya Kukafka’s debut novel, though reading it you would hardly guess. The elegant prose falls from the book, igniting an intrigue that has you entranced from the first page.

Girl In Snow follows the aftermath of the death of a beloved high school girl named Lucinda Hayes. The small suburb hasn’t been shocked by a crime of this nature in a long time and as is the case when tragedy strikes, the dark secrets that lie under the surface of the sleepy suburb are unwound in this tale.

I have mentioned before that my love of a book is highly reliant on the characters themselves and this book is an excellent example of truly endearing characters. The story is told from the perspectives of our three main characters, Cameron, Jade, and Russ, who together are a collection of misfit characters perfectly woven together by Kukafka.

Cameron

“He’d like to imagine he was one of Michelangelo’s figures, frozen on paper, etched in one position for all eternity”

Cameron was definitely the character I found most endearing and really looked forward to reading about his outlook on the world around him and the people within that world. A classic wallflower, Cameron has been labeled a freak most of his life and as is the case with many teenagers, he struggles not to believe it. The character certainly has a few interesting hobbies (“The game of statue nights” being one) that have you questioning what kind of person he really is, and whether the reader should be sympathetic towards him.

I think many people can empathise with his thought that “He found people fascinating when they thought no one was watching”, however, in his case the question becomes is how much can you innocently watch someone before it becomes something more sinister.

Jade

“Faking shock is easier than faking sadness”

Another character that’s very easy to like is Jade. Exceedingly observant, Jade and Cameron share the familiar trait of people thinking they veer off the scope of normal and because of this there is a clear kinship between the characters. Jade is both incredibly witty and intelligent, piecing together links between characters that often left me chanting ‘omg omg’ in my head as the connections unraveled. Her wit also allows for lovely breaks in the prose in which she tells the reader all the things she wishes she could say “What you want to say but can’t without being a dick – A screenplay by Jade Dixon-Burns”.

Russ

“It was paralyzing and perfect, crippling in its singularity. Here is what I have been alive for all this time, Russ thought. This touch”

Personally, I found Russ the hardest to empathise with throughout the book, though this is likely Kukafka’s intent, A cop not quite sure of his place in the world from his marriage to his job. He is seemly lost in the grand scheme of things. About halfway through the book when Russ delved more into his friendship with Lee was where I saw more life in the character and grew more interested in his telling of the story.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I think anyone would with its intricate twists and wholely endearing characters. The stand out being Danya’s delicate and detailed prose. I truly hope this debut novel is followed by another as I would love to read more by this brilliant author.

I recommend it for any fans of Crime, mystery or thriller novels, and for people that want a book they cant put down!

From the moment this book opens, the smudge of darkness and pain cover the characters like a storm cloud. Cameron, Jade and Zap all go to the same school, and one day their classmate Lucinda is murdered, jolting the small town in Colorado. Cameron, lost and lonely, seems to have been stalking Lucinda, but Jade wished Lucida ill. Zap, the ex-boyfriend, is a natural suspect. What follows isn't a traditional thriller - instead, the murder is a backdrop for the angst that swallows the characters, as the reader watches through the eyes of each one. Instability, anger, friendships and uncertainty plague each one, forcing you to question who each person is when no one is watching.

While Kukafka managed to capture the malaise of youth - some of the conversations about sex, anger and death sounded uncomfortably familiar - the story is a slow build that never ultimately arrives. Instead of being unable to "put this one down," I found myself not wanting to pick it up. There was just too much darkness without any payoff, either from the storyline or the prose. It felt a bit like being trapped indoors during a rainstorm that just never lets up. If even one of the characters had a bit of shine to them, it would have taken this from dull to noteworthy, but unfortunately, it felt flat.

Girl in Snow is a dark read that wanders ultimately into nothing - leaving the reader in a funk just as deep as her characters. I wanted to love it, some of Kukafka's prose shows real promise, but I just couldn't.

Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Simon & Schuster for the ebook ARC of Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka.

When a beloved high schooler named Lucinda Hayes is found murdered, no one in her sleepy Colorado suburb is untouched - not the boy who loved her too much, not the girl who wanted her perfect life; not the officer assigned to investigate her murder.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, these three indelible characters - Cameron, Jade and Russ - must confront their darkest secrets in effort to find solace, the truth or both.

I give this book a rating of 3 stars. The story is told in three different perspectives; Cameron Whitley, Jade Dixon- Burns and Detective Russ Fletcher.
The story drew me in from the beginning and it kept me wanting to read. But as the story went on, I kind of felt like it dragged on. The book was well written.