In late 1960's Virginia, the mother of 11-year-old twins Shenandoah ("Shenny") and Jane Woodrow ("Woody") disappears. Immediately after her disappearance, Woody stops speaking. Nearly a year later, when the girls' father, a local judge, continually becomes more distant and unloving toward the girls, and eventually threatens to send Woody away, Shenny decides it's time to take things into her own hands and launches an investigation of her own into her mother's disappearance.

I loved Lesley Kagen's debut novel, Whistling in the Dark, and am still surprised it has not garnered more attention than it has. This novel, published ~3 years after that one, has a lot of the same elements in its main character: basically, a feisty, precocious pre-teen who is often wise beyond her years but yet still exhibits some of that childhood innocence and ignorance. (Somewhat similar to Alan Bradley's Flavia deLuce character.) I enjoyed this novel, and Kagen's books are especially enjoyable on audio, as the author herself does the reading, although I didn't feel this one had quite the magic that her debut novel did. The story itself plays out a lot like a mystery, although it started to feel a bit unrealistic at times, and I think that's what turned me off a little bit. But overall, still quite a good read, and Kagen has become one of my favorite lesser known authors. ( )

Another amazing book by Lesley. If you have read one of her books you need to read them all. Cannot wait for some new releases by her. I highly recommend. ( )

In the summer of 1968 Evelyn Carmody disappeared leaving her twin girls, Shenny and Woody, broken-hearted and her husband, the rich and respected Judge Walter Carmody falling deeper into alcohol and despair. Now, nearly a year later, 12 year old Woody has not spoken a word since the night her mother vanished and Shenny is determined to find Evelyn and bring her home, hopefully restoring her family and preventing the Judge from sending Woody away to an institution. As Shenny learns more about Evelyn's life she comes to realize that her parents did not have the perfect marriage that Shenny and Woody always thought they had. Carmody's family never accepted the 'northerner' into their midst and their constant complaints had led the Judge to think less and less of his wife as the years passed. Shenny realizes that all of the bruises she noticed on her mother were probably not from accidents and that the Judge might know more about Evelyn's disappearance than he admits. The Carmodys, however, rule the town and the police seem to be firmly in their pockets. Shenny dearly loves her father and misses the closeness they once shared. Can she reconcile her affection with her doubts about his innocence?

I thought this book started out very well. The story is narrated by 12 year old Shenny and she is a feisty, likeable kid who is not afraid of anything except losing her family. There was very little action for nearly 250 pages and then the book just fell apart for me. I thought the resolution of the mystery was just awful and unbelievable. I'm not sure I would attempt another book by this author.
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Everyone in Rockbridge County knows the Carmody family – they’re the richest and most powerful clan in this part of Virginia. Shenandoah and Jane Woodrow Carmody are 11-year-old twins living at Lilyfield – a large home in rural Virginia – with their father, a judge, and their housekeeper Louise Jackson. As the novel opens, their mother has been missing for nearly a year, and their father has clearly descended into an alcoholic depression. He is keeping the twins virtual prisoners at home, though they manage to get to town when he’s not around. Shenny is most worried about her sister, because Woody hasn’t spoken a word since the night their mother disappeared, and Shenny believes their father is getting ready to send Woody to some sort of asylum. So Shenny decides the time has come to take matters into her own hands and find their mother and bring her home.

This is an interesting premise and Kagen can write a suspenseful thriller (I really enjoyed her debut work Whistling in the Dark), but she didn’t quite pull it off in my opinion. For one thing I quickly got tired of the “Southernisms” with which Shenny expressed herself. I also grew frustrated with how unreliable she was as a narrator. Yes, I know, she’s only 11 and can’t be expected to understand all that is happening around her, especially with most of the adults specifically trying to keep things from her. Still, as a reader this drove me crazy. I enjoy a suspense/thriller that gives me that sense of dread and “evil lurking in the hearts of men.” But I also want some relief occasionally – the idea that the protagonist has some control and is making headway in finding the culprit or uncovering the truth. I didn’t get that here. So while I was as surprised as Shenny to discover the truth about her mother’s disappearance (not necessarily a bad thing, being surprised), I just didn’t feel that the whole novel quite worked. Sorry I can’t be more specific than that …. If my review frustrates you, that may approximate how I felt about this book.
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The first book on my Kindle! I read it on the recommendation of Kim and was not disappointed. I greatly enjoyed the first person narrative as it reminded me of one of my all-time favorite novels, To Kill a Mockingbird. Set in a small town in the South, the story is told by 12 year-old Shenandoah as she struggles to take care of her twin sister, Woody, who has become mute after the mysterious disappearance of their mother. At the same time, she is trying to find their mother and protect both herself and her sister from an increasingly abusive father. IF I knew how to go back and find what I “highlighted” in the Kindle text, I could quote some of the memorable observations made by Shenandoah as she tried to understand the people around her and the family that she both loved and hated. (Maybe next time!) ( )