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A review by purplesky02
Finding Emma by Steena Holmes
1.0
I found this book frustrating. The novel begins as Megan's three year old daughter Emma goes missing one afternoon when she is playing outside of her house. Flash forward two years later and Megan and her family are still distraught (obviously). Megan and her husband Peter's marriage is in shambles, and Megan has never given up hope that one day Emma will come home.
And then we meet Jack and Dottie and their five year old granddaughter, Emmie.
SPOILERS AHEAD
It was obvious to me from the beginning that Emma and Emmie are the same person. Dottie is suffering from memory loss and dementia, while Jack struggles to care for Emmie and Dottie. He often makes mention of being tired or having body aches and pains. Under Dottie's watchful eye, Emmie is not allowed to interact with any other children (or anyone for that matter). Slowly, Dottie allows her to play with the new neighbors, who have a daughter Emmie's age. Though really it was clear that Dottie didn't want that to happen, and she was suffering from the symptoms of dementia when they are allowed to play.
Jack believes that Emmie is the daughter of their daughter Mary. Dottie brings Emmie to the house one day and Jack has no further questions.
CLEARLY, this is a crock of BS. Jack doesn't ask more questions when his wife who is suffering from dementia and memory loss randomly brings home a child? What?
Throughout the novel, we see Megan suffering. Her husband has given up hope of ever finding Emma and thinks his wife is a loon for still having hope. What a jerk! It's only been two years and he's acting like she's crazy because she still looks for Emma in the crowds. And Peter may or may not be having an affair with his co-worker. And Megan may or may not have had an affair with the detective assigned to work Emma's case. Peter gets annoyed when the detective brings by age updated sketches of what she would look like now. I'm not sure why Peter was so annoyed?
Plus, we are supposed to sympathize with the kidnappers. WHAT? This woman stole a child from her parents and actively worked to keep her away from the world where she may be recognized. In her moments of clarity, it was obvious that Dottie was still trying to hide her deception.
Megan and Emma are finally reunited after Megan snaps a photo at a carnival and recognizes Emma in the background. This was one of the few times Jack and Dottie took Emma out. Dottie won't even allow Emma to be introduced to Jack's friends. Even when Megan recognizes Emma in the photo, her husband still thinks she is imagining things. Even when the police officer working the case calls to ask them to come to Jack and Dottie's farmhouse (although he won't say exactly why? What?), Peter tells Megan it's probably just so Megan can move on and let go and realize they will never find Emma. WHAT A JERK!
Then we get some weird thoughts from the police detective who confirms what Peter said and it isn't normal operating procedure, but he wants Megan to see this isn't her daughter and to move on. Except it is her daughter. Emma is staying with the neighbors because Dottie has a stroke and was taken to the hospital.
So many things about this book annoyed me. The idiot neighbor who sees a flyer with Emma's picture under missing (the picture has been age updated). She thinks it looks a lot like Emma. Except her hair is different, and she's missing a tooth, so it must not be her. What? She finally thinks to say something as the officer who was questioning her about the little girl next door is leaving. At the carnival where Megan snaps the photo, she actually talks to a woman who is supposed to be Dottie? Who knows? The woman identifies herself as Josie, but Dottie and Jack are also there with Emma and this couple also has a little blond girl with them. If it actually is Dottie, it's even worse because she lies about her name. It would be way to coincidental for it be some other random older woman there with her granddaughter and husband.
At the very end the author has a note that begins, "did you fall in love with Jack and Dottie as much as I did?" NO! They were kidnappers! Dottie stole a child and Jack didn't ask any questions at all about a random child coming home one day with his wife who is likely going senile.
I didn't like this book at all. I know there are a few sequels, but I have no intention of reading more about kidnappers who I most definitely didn't fall in love with.
And then we meet Jack and Dottie and their five year old granddaughter, Emmie.
SPOILERS AHEAD
It was obvious to me from the beginning that Emma and Emmie are the same person. Dottie is suffering from memory loss and dementia, while Jack struggles to care for Emmie and Dottie. He often makes mention of being tired or having body aches and pains. Under Dottie's watchful eye, Emmie is not allowed to interact with any other children (or anyone for that matter). Slowly, Dottie allows her to play with the new neighbors, who have a daughter Emmie's age. Though really it was clear that Dottie didn't want that to happen, and she was suffering from the symptoms of dementia when they are allowed to play.
Jack believes that Emmie is the daughter of their daughter Mary. Dottie brings Emmie to the house one day and Jack has no further questions.
CLEARLY, this is a crock of BS. Jack doesn't ask more questions when his wife who is suffering from dementia and memory loss randomly brings home a child? What?
Throughout the novel, we see Megan suffering. Her husband has given up hope of ever finding Emma and thinks his wife is a loon for still having hope. What a jerk! It's only been two years and he's acting like she's crazy because she still looks for Emma in the crowds. And Peter may or may not be having an affair with his co-worker. And Megan may or may not have had an affair with the detective assigned to work Emma's case. Peter gets annoyed when the detective brings by age updated sketches of what she would look like now. I'm not sure why Peter was so annoyed?
Plus, we are supposed to sympathize with the kidnappers. WHAT? This woman stole a child from her parents and actively worked to keep her away from the world where she may be recognized. In her moments of clarity, it was obvious that Dottie was still trying to hide her deception.
Megan and Emma are finally reunited after Megan snaps a photo at a carnival and recognizes Emma in the background. This was one of the few times Jack and Dottie took Emma out. Dottie won't even allow Emma to be introduced to Jack's friends. Even when Megan recognizes Emma in the photo, her husband still thinks she is imagining things. Even when the police officer working the case calls to ask them to come to Jack and Dottie's farmhouse (although he won't say exactly why? What?), Peter tells Megan it's probably just so Megan can move on and let go and realize they will never find Emma. WHAT A JERK!
Then we get some weird thoughts from the police detective who confirms what Peter said and it isn't normal operating procedure, but he wants Megan to see this isn't her daughter and to move on. Except it is her daughter. Emma is staying with the neighbors because Dottie has a stroke and was taken to the hospital.
So many things about this book annoyed me. The idiot neighbor who sees a flyer with Emma's picture under missing (the picture has been age updated). She thinks it looks a lot like Emma. Except her hair is different, and she's missing a tooth, so it must not be her. What? She finally thinks to say something as the officer who was questioning her about the little girl next door is leaving. At the carnival where Megan snaps the photo, she actually talks to a woman who is supposed to be Dottie? Who knows? The woman identifies herself as Josie, but Dottie and Jack are also there with Emma and this couple also has a little blond girl with them. If it actually is Dottie, it's even worse because she lies about her name. It would be way to coincidental for it be some other random older woman there with her granddaughter and husband.
At the very end the author has a note that begins, "did you fall in love with Jack and Dottie as much as I did?" NO! They were kidnappers! Dottie stole a child and Jack didn't ask any questions at all about a random child coming home one day with his wife who is likely going senile.
I didn't like this book at all. I know there are a few sequels, but I have no intention of reading more about kidnappers who I most definitely didn't fall in love with.