Don't Try to Find Me

By: Holly Brown

Narrated by: Hillary Huber, Angela Goethals, James Fouhey

Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

When a 14-year-old runs away, her parents turn to social media to find her - launching a public campaign that will expose their darkest secrets and change their family forever in this suspenseful and gripping debut for fans of Reconstructing Amelia and Gone Girl.

Don’t try to find me. Though the message on the kitchen white board is written in Marley’s hand, her mother Rachel knows there has to be some other explanation. Marley would never run away.

As the days pass and it sinks in that the impossible has occurred, Rachel and her husband Paul are informed that the police have "limited resources." If they want their 14-year-old daughter back, they will have to find her themselves. Desperation becomes determination when Paul turns to Facebook and Twitter, and launches FindMarley.com.

But Marley isn’t the only one with secrets.

With public exposure comes scrutiny, and when Rachel blows a television interview, the dirty speculation begins. Now, the blogosphere is convinced Rachel is hiding something. It's not what they think; Rachel would never hurt Marley. Not intentionally, anyway. But when it’s discovered that she’s lied, even to the police, the devoted mother becomes a suspect in Marley's disappearance.

Is Marley out there somewhere, watching it all happen, or is the truth something far worse?

©2014 Holly Brown (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

Totally Predictable

I wanted to like this book. The premise was intriguing and the characters appeared sympathetic. The problem was that I hated this mother. Simply hated her. And most of the book was HER. Way too much mother story, not enough daughter. I could sympthize with the daughter and understand her decisions and motivations - I was a teenager once, but I found NOTHING sympathetic about this mother or bellievable. The only sane character in the whole book was the father, and everybody pretty much ignored him. Overall I would say skip this book. Not worth the credit.

Great listen!

I loved this book! I listened to the whole thing in less than a week. This story helped me enjoy my drive to and from work daily. I even listened when I'd go run errands at lunch. The characters were interested and I loved the plot!

good trad

explores family relationships. human faults and strength as the search for a missing teenager unfolds. Narrator's and story proceeds from perspectives of both mom and daughter. well done.

Hard yet Beautiful

This is a gripping story told in a non-traditional manner. I enjoyed the different narrators and how the characters' personalities shone through! I am also impressed at how Ms. Brown could tell just enough to appease you, but not too much to spoil the mystery. I'm going to miss Marley and her family... they became real to me.

Great read!

New author for me!! Glad I got the suggestion. Love when an author switches narratives.

great

great book
loved the storyline
twists and turns.
liked the change POV
yes I recommend reading

Not really a thriller, but a great read.

If you could sum up Don't Try to Find Me in three words, what would they be?

Captivating, unexpected, worthy

What was one of the most memorable moments of Don't Try to Find Me?

How each parent reacts to their missing daughter and how that changes, but expands their relationship.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I did synced and did both. I prefer the paper version, but the narrators worked well together, which isn't always true with multiple narrators.

If you could take any character from Don't Try to Find Me out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I would like to be a reporter and take Michael out... He did so much damage he did and how selfish he was. A nice expose

Any additional comments?

The characters are well developed. I think it was classified as thriller, because you never know what will happen. But what does finally happen isn't sensational, it is human.

Solid listen - Will appeal to fans of Gone Girl

Any additional comments?

It was a good listen. It was a bit predictable at times, but I still wasn't positive on how it was going to end until it ended. I agree with a previous reviewer that at times the mother was a bit annoying, however the story was about her too, not just the daughter. The father didn't develop into a strong character but that may have been intentional and meant to be part of the overall problem. It kept me engaged to and from my long commute.

It alternated chapters between the mother's view of what was going on and what was happening to the daughter. "B" was appropriately creepy from the start. While not as strong as Flynn's Gone Girl, I think if you liked that book, you would like this one.

Good listen.

This book was good but not great. I would have liked a little more depth but don't get me wrong it was still a good book.

Scary for moms

Would you listen to Don't Try to Find Me again? Why?

Yes. There are a lot of things that kept me interested in this story and I feel like there were a lot of things I may have missed because I wasn't looking for them until it was too late. The narrative was AMAZING.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

I don't know that I have a favorite. I liked how all three were portrayed. I liked and hated Rachel at the same time. I pitied but wanted to hug (then shake) Marley.

Any additional comments?

As a mom, this book scares me. It's worth reading if you are a mom though - especially a mother to a daughter - because it shows just how perception is everything and how even the most innocent of things can be taken dramatically by a 14 year old. And of how scary the internet can be because you never know who is on the other end of the monitor.