Review: The One I Left Behind

The One I Left Behind

Author: Jennifer McMahon
Pages: 432
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Source: Publisher via TLC Book Tours

Description from Goodreads:
Bestselling author Jennifer McMahon is back with a gut-wrenching mystery about an architect whose troubled mother has been found 25 years after being kidnapped-by a killer who is still on the loose.

The summer of 1985 changed Reggie's life. Thirteen, awkward, and without a father, she finds herself mixed up with her school's outcasts-Charlie, the local detective's son, and Tara, a goth kid who has a mental hold over Reggie and harbors a dark secret. That same summer a serial killer called Neptune begins kidnapping women. He leaves their severed hands on the police department steps and, five days later, displays their bodies around town. Just when Reggie needs her mother Vera-an ex-model with many "boyfriends" and a thirst for gin-the most, Vera's hand is found on the steps. But after five days, there's no body and Neptune disappears.

Now a successful architect who left her hometown behind after that horrific summer, Reggie doesn't trust anyone and lives with few attachments. But when she gets a call from a homeless shelter saying that her mother has been found alive, Reggie must confront the ghosts of her past and find Neptune before he kills again.

With her signature style, Jennifer McMahon portrays the dark side of adolescent friendship and introduces characters who haunt the imagination, along with a disturbing web of secrets, betrayals, and murder.

First Sentence: "It began with the hands."

Review:

Mysteries and thrillers really have never been of too much interest for me, but I do tend to make an exception for serial killer stories. I'm going to try not to look to deeply into myself as to why that is. I tell you this, so that you're aware that this is not a normal genre for me to read, just so you know to take my criticism with a grain of salt. While I did enjoy The One I Left Behind, I definitely think it will be a more powerful read for those more into the genre.

McMahon's writing is good, and this definitely falls under more of a literary category than most mysteries I've read. If you go for action-packed thrillers, the slow pace of this one might irk you. If however, you like well-crafted stories that slowly unfold to the reader, McMahon's will be perfect for you.

The story alternates between 2010 and 1985 third person limited perspective on Reggie, with occasional tidbits from a book written about the events of 1985. In 1985, a serial killer struck in their little town Brighton Falls, Connecticut. First, a hand, removed from the woman's body, would appear on the steps of the police station. Then five days later, the body would be located, naked and strangled. Then, Reggie's mother's hand appeared, but her body was never found. In 2010, Vera, her mother, reappears, crazy and alive.

The stakes are upped when Neptune captures another woman, Reggie's childhood best friend, Tara. With that the search is on. In 1985, Tara, Reggie and Charlie are searching for Vera in the four days before Neptune will kill her; in 2010, Reggie's doing the same for Tara. This narrative structure works very well, and definitely amps up the suspense in the second half.

Reggie has been emotionally damaged by her childhood, both pre- and post-Neptune taking her mom. Through her investigation into the serial killer, she comes to terms with everything more, and learns valuable life lessons. Her emotional arc ties up a little too nicely, but she will probably have setbacks past the window the readers get to see.

Though I'm not usually a great guesser of twists, I did figure out who Neptune was really early on. That really does not affect my enjoyment of stories, because, mostly, I just revel in how smart I am the whole time, unless I do not approve of said twist. I think the killer just so obviously had to be the person that it was, but, as usual, any number of other suspects will need to be cycled through first.

Literary suspense fans, this book is for you! Enjoy! I wouldn't be entirely opposed to reading more McMahon, but I just don't read enough of this genre to make that entirely likely, at least with my current reading tastes.

Rating: 3/5

Favorite Quote: "'You're my one true friend, Len. The person I'm closest to in the world. I'm not going to pretend I know how to define our relationship, and I can't promise I'll ever be ready to move in with you. But I love you, Len. In my own fucked-up little way, I love you very much."