Mystery/Thriller -- 3 1/2 stars
A small town abutting the Olympic National Forest finds itself under national scrutiny when a feral 6 year-old girl is found hiding in a tree in a town park. Nicknamed "Alice," two estranged sisters--Ellie, the local police chief, and Julia, a famous but now disgraced child psychiatrist--are determined to find out who she is and to return her to her family. ----- I have enjoyed several of Ms. Hannah's mysteries. This one stretches the meaning of "mystery" a bit. Yes, there are are questions that need answering, but the story's main focus is squarely on Alice' developing personality. Both main and secondary characters are pleasant if predictable. You know where this story is going (and who is going to end up sleeping with whom) from the get go. With the question of Alice's identity being treated as a tertiary character, the tension that pushes a mystery forward is missing. The ending is odd and doesn't quite ring true, but despite all that this turned out to be an enjoyable and satisfying read. Sometimes, a quiet and predictable semi-mystery is just what you need to tickle your warm and fuzzy bone.
Thanks to fellow booklover, TK, for suggesting it.
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