Today's Read: After Her by Joyce Maynard
Do you remember what it was like to be fourteen, feeling as though you were on the brink of womanhood and wondering why everyone still treated you like a kid? During the summer of 1979, Rachel Torricelli got more than she bargained for when she figured she was old enough to secretly help her detective father catch a serial killer.
A little over thirty years ago, on a June day just before sunset—alone on a mountain in Marin County, California—a man came toward me with a length of piano wire stretched between his hands, and the intention of ending my days. I was fourteen years old, and many others had already died at his hands. Ever since then I have known what it is to look into a man's eyes and believe his face is the last thing you will ever see.—After Her by Joyce Maynard (HarperCollins / William Morrow, 2013, p. 1)
I have my sister to thank that I am here to tell what happened that day. Two times, it was my sister who saved me, though I was not able to do the same for my sister.
This is our story.
Quick Facts
- Setting: rural Marin Country, California, 1979
- Circumstances: a serial killer finds his victims in the woods; a detective's reputation and psyche are breaking as the murders continue and the victim count threatens to reach two dozen; two sisters, daughters of the cop, decide to trap the murderer
- Characters: Rachel and her younger sister, Patty; Detective Tony Torricelli; the Sunset Strangler; the Torricelli's neighbors and friends; the victims
- Genre: mystery, thriller, family drama, coming of age
- Themes & plot lines: sisters, family, first love, loss of innocence, parenthood, stress, 15 minutes of fame
- Miscellaneous: inspired by the true-life case of the Trailside Killer from the 1970s; the author met the real-life detective's daughters and became interested in the might have beens; an Indie Next pick for this month
In the following short video, Joyce Maynard talks about the story behind her novel and introduces us to the sisters who inspired the characters in After Her.
ISBN-13: 9780062257390
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).
27 comments:
What a fascinating story! That video has made me want o read this book.
I liked this book a lot!
OOH! Sounds spooky good!
I LOVED this book...and everything this author writes. I have been a fan since her very first novel.
Thanks for sharing the video...it was great.
And thanks for visiting my blog.
I'm kind of serial-killer-ed-out. Also, I think this one would scare me too much!
I never get tired of this kind of book.
Oh, that's such an interesting teaser. Makes me really want to read this book.
Gripping intro--I would definitely keep reading and possibly looking over my shoulder from time to time.
Here's my Tuesday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2013/09/first-chapter-first-paragraph-31.html
2 times? Now I'm curious! Thanks for sharing honey, that was a great teaser. :-) I shall have to read more...
always enjoyed Joyce's writing when she did her weekly column in the NYT .. i think this will be downloaded asap .. thanks!
Wow ... I really enjoyed watching the video.
I've been meaning to read this author. This sounds like a great place to start!
OK I think you got me on the hook with this one...
sounds scary! kelley—the road goes ever ever on
I like the sound of this one! My teaser: The Lost Hero
I have GOT to read this book! It sounds amazing.
My Tuesday Teaser is from SMOKE, WINGS & STONE.
I can't read books like this, but it definitely sounds like a great read! Here is my teaser.
I have to add this one to my TBR - it sounds just like my type of book. Thank you for sharing!
I recently finished reading this book. It's fantastic. This was my first Joyce Maynard book and I'm really looking forward to reading Labor Day and some of her other books.
I really liked the video you posted although I'm glad I didn't hear it before I read After Her!
Oh my goodness, I want to read this! I read a review or two before that praised it, put it on my wishlist, and forgot to buy it so far. Sounds so intense and exciting; I hope you enjoy it thoroughly.
Now I'm worried about the sister - I think I'm going to have to read this one!
My Teaser: http://reviewbooksandmore.com/2013/09/17/tuesday-teasers-meme-91713/ or http://andreareadsandreviews.blogspot.com/2013/09/tuesday-teasers-meme-91713.html
i haven't read this one yet but, it sure grabbed me.
Loved the intro and liked the book ---enjoy
Definitely intriguing...and sounds scary.
Looking forward to this book. I've seen a couple today set in the 70s.
I loved this book. Review coming shortly!!!
Post a Comment