I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After Anna by Alex Lake Published by Harper on August 2, 2016
Genres: Suspense, Thriller
Pages: 400
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Julia, a divorce attorney about to go through a divorce herself, struggles with many of the same issues many full-time working parents. Caught in a meeting, she's late to pick up her five-year-old daughter, Anna, from school. When she arrives, she is hit with the most terrifying news: Anna is missing. The school assumed she was picked up, for Julia didn't call to warn them she was running late.
In the day that follow, Julia is faced with the worst battle of her life. Anna's return doesn't mark the end of this battle, but the beginning.
I learned about this title during a Fall book preview webinar hosted by the publisher. Initially, I hesitated to pick it up. First, because of the premise. As a mother myself, child abduction is one of my most horrific fears. Secondly, the comparisons to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train had me wary. Still, I trusted those recommending this title so I dove in, headfirst…and didn’t come up for air until I finished.
What a tremendous psychological thriller! It is told from two points of view: Julia, the mother, and the unknown abductor. We don’t know the abductor’s motives, just that they have very strong feelings of hate toward Julia. Two very polar personalities, but both full of passion and determination to get what they want.
I felt such great sympathy for Julia, not only for her daughter’s abduction but for the lies that were spun about her in the media. Her role as a mother was tested and questioned, repeatedly. As a divorce attorney, she knew how this would potentially fuel her own divorce case. I hated, hated, hated Anna’s father, Julia’s soon-t0-be ex-husband. So dead set on a divorce, rather than comfort Julia he prepared to use the lies spun by the media as additional proof that they should divorce. He was spineless, still so reliant on his mother (yes, he’s an adult man) that he couldn’t make a single decision of his own without her influence.
My strong opinions about these characters allowed me to understand the comparisons to Gone Girl; you don’t know who to trust, everyone has their own motive, and you are left with VERY STRONG feelings force you to decide between throwing the book and continuing to read. Finishing the book is well-worth it, however! This is one of those edge-of-your-seat, holding your breath as you read kind of books. Highly recommended!
