About this item
Highlights
- Alex Selky, going on seven, kissed his mother goodbye and set off for school, a mere two blocks away.
- Author(s): Beth Gutcheon
- 368 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Psychological
Description
Book Synopsis
Alex Selky, going on seven, kissed his mother goodbye and set off for school, a mere two blocks away. He never made it. Desperate to find him, his mother begins a vigil that lasts for days, then weeks, then months. She is treated first as a tragic figure, then as a grief-crazed hysteric, then as anreminder of the bad fortune that can befall us all. Against all hope, despite false leads and thedesertions of her friends and allies she believes with all her heart that somehow, somewhere, Alex will be found alive.
Beth Gutcheon builds a heartrending suspense that culminates in a climax you will never forget.From the Back Cover
Alex Selky, going on seven, kissed his mother goodbye and set off for school, a mere two blocks away. He never made it. Desperate to find him, his mother begins a vigil that lasts for days, then weeks, then months. She is treated first as a tragic figure, then as a grief-crazed hysteric, than as an unpleasant reminder of the bad fortune that can befall us all. Against all hope, despite false leads and the desertions of her friends and allies, she believes with all her heart that somewhere, Alex will be found alive.Review Quotes
"A surprising depth of understanding.... A consistently intelligent piece of work." -- Ms. magazine
"Gutcheon sustains suspense to the final page." -- Times Literary Supplement
"Haunting, harrowing, and highly effective...a stunning shocker of an ending.... It strings out the suspense to the almost unendurable." -- Publishers Weekly
"Mary Higgins Clark fans will enjoy this harrowing tale.... Highly recommended." -- Library Journal
"Mesmerizing...absolutely riveting." -- Newsday
"Powerful...a body-blow of a novel.... Gutcheon [tunes] the tension to a shattering pitch." -- Kirkus Reviews
"This is exactly the way it would be if your child didn't come home on time from school tomorrow." -- Los Angeles Times
"Gutcheon plays on our emotions with fiendish skill... the ending will leave you limp." -- Cosmopolitan