marcccb's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars
This was a first by Rickstead and I really enjoyed it. I've seen it around a lot and it's been on my shelf for quite some time so I decided to read it.
It was such an interesting read and I loved how strong it started and how it stayed consistent until the end. The most entertaining thing about this novel was its creepy atmosphere. Rickstead does a very wonderful job describing everything and he manages to make even a street feel creepy as if someone is about to pop out of nowhere and attack you. But that's what made it so intriguing.
The plot was another element that I really enjoyed. I always like stories that have a past and present, it's almost like two stories in one. Everytime I read a novel like this one, it's very easy for thriller readers to assume that we don't fully know what happened in the past even though the case was closed. It's never really the "killer" who thbey said it was and the story is never true. This one had many secrets and a really really good twist at the end.
The twist really gave the novel a boost up and it was a twist within a twist. So we had a revalation, but just when we thought that was it, there was another revalation that was even better.
Imagine a creepy novel + a really good twist. To me, that equals a great thrilling read.
This was a first by Rickstead and I really enjoyed it. I've seen it around a lot and it's been on my shelf for quite some time so I decided to read it.
It was such an interesting read and I loved how strong it started and how it stayed consistent until the end. The most entertaining thing about this novel was its creepy atmosphere. Rickstead does a very wonderful job describing everything and he manages to make even a street feel creepy as if someone is about to pop out of nowhere and attack you. But that's what made it so intriguing.
The plot was another element that I really enjoyed. I always like stories that have a past and present, it's almost like two stories in one. Everytime I read a novel like this one, it's very easy for thriller readers to assume that we don't fully know what happened in the past even though the case was closed. It's never really the "killer" who thbey said it was and the story is never true. This one had many secrets and a really really good twist at the end.
The twist really gave the novel a boost up and it was a twist within a twist. So we had a revalation, but just when we thought that was it, there was another revalation that was even better.
Imagine a creepy novel + a really good twist. To me, that equals a great thrilling read.
hollywood's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
What Remains of Her by Eric Rickstad is an electrifying mystery set in rural Vermont.
Jonah Baum returns home from work one evening to discover his wife Rebecca and seven year old daughter Sally have disappeared. He quickly contacts his friend and neighbor Sheriff Maurice Welch who rapidly organizes a search party to look for the missing duo. With no evidence to go on, Maurice calls in the state police to aid in the investigation. Jonah is their number one (and practically) only suspect and despite the Sheriff's best efforts to protect him, the cloud of suspicion lingers over Jonah long after the case goes cold.
Unable to function yet remaining hopeful Rebecca and Sally will one day return home, Jonah retreats from society and lives a solitary life in an abandoned cabin deep in the woods. Twenty-five years later, he sporadically maintains contact with Maurice's daughter and Sally's best friend, Lucinda. Despite the passage of time, she still struggles with the unanswered questions about her missing friend. Working as a part-time deputy, a case in the present brings up those long ago memories and Lucinda makes a stunning discovery that completely upends her world.
Jonah still bears the scars of his horrific childhood but with Maurice's help, he has gained control of his volatile emotions. At the time Rebecca and Sally disappear, they are struggling to make ends meet and there is tension between Jonah and his wife. When questioned by Maurice and the state police, Jonah carefully edits his answers which contributes to the suspicions he might have hurt his wife and child. With absolutely no evidence to support the police's theory and no new leads, Jonah never gives up hope Rebecca and Sally will be found.
Lucinda's life is forever changed by the unsolved disappearance of Sally and Rebecca. Now in her early thirties, the chance to make a childhood dream come true is within her grasp when an urgent new case demands all of her attention. In the course of this investigation, she is distracted by her memories of Sally. Never expecting to find new information about her missing friend in the long cold case, Lucinda is absolutely flabbergasted by her unexpected discoveries.
What Remains of Her is a spellbinding mystery with a compelling storyline and a cast of multi-layered characters. The plot is intricately executed and the setting is quite atmospheric. Eric Rickstad builds the tension and suspense to a fever pitch and brings this incredible mystery to a twist-filled and shocking conclusion that will completely satisfy readers. I highly recommend this enthralling novel to fans of the genre.
What Remains of Her by Eric Rickstad is an electrifying mystery set in rural Vermont.
Jonah Baum returns home from work one evening to discover his wife Rebecca and seven year old daughter Sally have disappeared. He quickly contacts his friend and neighbor Sheriff Maurice Welch who rapidly organizes a search party to look for the missing duo. With no evidence to go on, Maurice calls in the state police to aid in the investigation. Jonah is their number one (and practically) only suspect and despite the Sheriff's best efforts to protect him, the cloud of suspicion lingers over Jonah long after the case goes cold.
Unable to function yet remaining hopeful Rebecca and Sally will one day return home, Jonah retreats from society and lives a solitary life in an abandoned cabin deep in the woods. Twenty-five years later, he sporadically maintains contact with Maurice's daughter and Sally's best friend, Lucinda. Despite the passage of time, she still struggles with the unanswered questions about her missing friend. Working as a part-time deputy, a case in the present brings up those long ago memories and Lucinda makes a stunning discovery that completely upends her world.
Jonah still bears the scars of his horrific childhood but with Maurice's help, he has gained control of his volatile emotions. At the time Rebecca and Sally disappear, they are struggling to make ends meet and there is tension between Jonah and his wife. When questioned by Maurice and the state police, Jonah carefully edits his answers which contributes to the suspicions he might have hurt his wife and child. With absolutely no evidence to support the police's theory and no new leads, Jonah never gives up hope Rebecca and Sally will be found.
Lucinda's life is forever changed by the unsolved disappearance of Sally and Rebecca. Now in her early thirties, the chance to make a childhood dream come true is within her grasp when an urgent new case demands all of her attention. In the course of this investigation, she is distracted by her memories of Sally. Never expecting to find new information about her missing friend in the long cold case, Lucinda is absolutely flabbergasted by her unexpected discoveries.
What Remains of Her is a spellbinding mystery with a compelling storyline and a cast of multi-layered characters. The plot is intricately executed and the setting is quite atmospheric. Eric Rickstad builds the tension and suspense to a fever pitch and brings this incredible mystery to a twist-filled and shocking conclusion that will completely satisfy readers. I highly recommend this enthralling novel to fans of the genre.
jillsbookishbizco's review against another edition
3.0
This wasn’t a book that I absolutely could not put down, but one where I really was excited to find the answers to all the mysteries. The first part of the book was very captivating, and I found it to deescalate throughout, but I still enjoyed reading it.
sooky's review against another edition
5.0
A haunting tale of a disappearance twenty years ago, What Remains Of Her tells the story of those who were left behind.
What Remains Of Her by Eric Rickstad
A haunting tale of a disappearance twenty years ago, What Remains Of Her tells the story of those who were left behind.
What Remains Of Her by Eric Rickstad
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Published: 24th July, 2018
Goodreads
Series: N/A
Rating: 5
Jonah Baum, a professor of poetry at a local college in Vermont, sees his ordinary life come tumbling down when his wife and young daughter vanish from their home. No evidence of a kidnapping. No sign of murder. No proof that Rebecca didn’t simply abandon her marriage. Just Sally’s crude and chilling drawings, Jonah’s little lies, and the sheriff’s nagging fears that nothing is what it seems.
For Sally’s best friend, Lucinda, it’s something else. She trusts in Sally not to just disappear, not after they’ve shared so many secrets—especially about the woods and what they saw there. But she’ll never tell. No one would believe her anyway.
As the search for Rebecca and Sally intensifies, and as suspicion falls on Jonah, the disappearances become more relentlessly haunting than anyone can imagine. Because what’s seen in the light of day is not nearly as terrifying as what remains hidden in the dark…
The last thing I expect a mystery thriller to be, is a beautifully written, poignant account of pain, loss and grief. Yet, this style of writing is not something I’ve never came across in this genre, and I just love it every time it happens.
I’ve never been to Vermont, if it’s anything like in this book, I sure as hell don’t want to visit it during winter. The bitter cold and the small town buried under deep snow is however the perfect setting for this story with its utter bleakness.
Jonah did not only lose his wife and child back in 1987. He lost his home, his few friends he had, and even now, twenty-five years later the townies are looking at him with suspicion, and the way he behaves is clearly not doing him any favours. I’m sure we all know at least one Jonah. Evasive, always on the defensive side and with a barely contained temper. Did he do it? The fact that he’s now living in a cabin in the woods and doesn’t talk to anyone does not inspire confidence in his innocence for sure. People avoid him, and he avoids them. The occasional visitors up in the mountain get a shotgun in the face. Charming.
The mystery itself is quite a straightforward one: Sally and Rebecca disappear and we are clueless why.
So why should you read this, I hear you ask. Let’s see.
*Beautiful and vivid description of the snow covered little town.
*Constant second guessing of everything. What is even real?
*Spooky setting, dark woods, creepy shit lurking around the corner. Or is it?
*Lucinda, who from being a scared little girl not only blossoms into an independent young woman, but becomes deputy sheriff and plays an important role in solving the mystery that impacted her whole life.
*Dialogues that bite.
*An intriguing sub plot, that turns everything upside down.
Lyrical, yet unnerving, this story is the perfect companion for cold winter nights and spooky evenings!
What Remains Of Her by Eric Rickstad
A haunting tale of a disappearance twenty years ago, What Remains Of Her tells the story of those who were left behind.
What Remains Of Her by Eric Rickstad
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Published: 24th July, 2018
Goodreads
Series: N/A
Rating: 5
Jonah Baum, a professor of poetry at a local college in Vermont, sees his ordinary life come tumbling down when his wife and young daughter vanish from their home. No evidence of a kidnapping. No sign of murder. No proof that Rebecca didn’t simply abandon her marriage. Just Sally’s crude and chilling drawings, Jonah’s little lies, and the sheriff’s nagging fears that nothing is what it seems.
For Sally’s best friend, Lucinda, it’s something else. She trusts in Sally not to just disappear, not after they’ve shared so many secrets—especially about the woods and what they saw there. But she’ll never tell. No one would believe her anyway.
As the search for Rebecca and Sally intensifies, and as suspicion falls on Jonah, the disappearances become more relentlessly haunting than anyone can imagine. Because what’s seen in the light of day is not nearly as terrifying as what remains hidden in the dark…
The last thing I expect a mystery thriller to be, is a beautifully written, poignant account of pain, loss and grief. Yet, this style of writing is not something I’ve never came across in this genre, and I just love it every time it happens.
I’ve never been to Vermont, if it’s anything like in this book, I sure as hell don’t want to visit it during winter. The bitter cold and the small town buried under deep snow is however the perfect setting for this story with its utter bleakness.
Jonah did not only lose his wife and child back in 1987. He lost his home, his few friends he had, and even now, twenty-five years later the townies are looking at him with suspicion, and the way he behaves is clearly not doing him any favours. I’m sure we all know at least one Jonah. Evasive, always on the defensive side and with a barely contained temper. Did he do it? The fact that he’s now living in a cabin in the woods and doesn’t talk to anyone does not inspire confidence in his innocence for sure. People avoid him, and he avoids them. The occasional visitors up in the mountain get a shotgun in the face. Charming.
The mystery itself is quite a straightforward one: Sally and Rebecca disappear and we are clueless why.
So why should you read this, I hear you ask. Let’s see.
*Beautiful and vivid description of the snow covered little town.
*Constant second guessing of everything. What is even real?
*Spooky setting, dark woods, creepy shit lurking around the corner. Or is it?
*Lucinda, who from being a scared little girl not only blossoms into an independent young woman, but becomes deputy sheriff and plays an important role in solving the mystery that impacted her whole life.
*Dialogues that bite.
*An intriguing sub plot, that turns everything upside down.
Lyrical, yet unnerving, this story is the perfect companion for cold winter nights and spooky evenings!
sshpurple1's review against another edition
5.0
I truly loved this book. Its one of the best books I have read in a while. It wasn't really all that dark of a read, but there were hints to much darker things. All the characters were written realistically. No one was completely good or bad. Not the victims or the villain. I didn't even know who the murder was until the last few chapters, mainly because the clues where so small. I am not completely sure how Lucy figured it out. Especially since she had so many things going on in her life. Something I would have liked the author to give a little more closure on.
If your looking for a new author I would suggest giving this one a try.
If your looking for a new author I would suggest giving this one a try.
rojo25's review against another edition
5.0
Outstanding read. Eric Rickstad does it again. Jonah Baum’s life reels after his wife and daughter go missing. 25 years later his daughter’s best friend Lucinda investigates the disappearance of another little girl. This story heartbreaking. The truth is eventually revealed and it’s disturbing. A well written psychological thriller.
betholmert's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
tegs_russell's review against another edition
3.0
I won a free copy of this from Goodreads Giveaways.
What I liked about it: Eric Rickstad is talented with words. He creates poetic descriptions and vivid imagery. He did a marvelous job capturing the emotional impact that Sally's disappearance had on both main characters--Sally's father and best friend.
What could have been better: There was a lot missing from the plot. Some things that were mentioned (Lucy's desire to go on an archaeology dig, Gretel's resemblance to Sally, loggers plans to deforest the area where Jonah's cabin was located, the man that Sally and Lucy saw in the woods as children, et al) were either irrelevant, left unexplained, or both. So many parts of this book felt unfinished.
What I liked about it: Eric Rickstad is talented with words. He creates poetic descriptions and vivid imagery. He did a marvelous job capturing the emotional impact that Sally's disappearance had on both main characters--Sally's father and best friend.
What could have been better: There was a lot missing from the plot. Some things that were mentioned (Lucy's desire to go on an archaeology dig, Gretel's resemblance to Sally, loggers plans to deforest the area where Jonah's cabin was located, the man that Sally and Lucy saw in the woods as children, et al) were either irrelevant, left unexplained, or both. So many parts of this book felt unfinished.