The Next Time You See Me

By: Holly Goddard Jones

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

A debut novel by award-winning author Holly Goddard Jones, about the people surprisingly connected to the discovery of a dead woman’s body in a small town.

Thirteen-year-old Emily Houchens doesn't have many friends. She finds more comfort playing make-believe in the woods near her house in Roma, Kentucky, than with her classmates, who find her strange and awkward. When she happens upon a dead body hidden in the woods one day, she decides not to tell anyone about her discovery—a choice that begins to haunt her.

Susanna Mitchell has always been a good girl, the dutiful daughter and wife. While her older sister Ronnie trolled bars for men and often drove home at sunrise, Susanna kept a neat house, a respectable job, and a young daughter. But when Ronnie goes missing and Susanna realizes that she’s the only person in Roma who truly cares about her sister’s fate, she starts to question her quiet life and its value.

The Next Time You See Me is the story of how one woman’s disappearance exposes the ambitions, prejudices, and anxieties of a small southern town and its residents, who are all connected, sometimes in unexpected ways: Emily; Susanna; Tony, a failed baseball star turned detective, aspiring to be the county’s first black sheriff; and Wyatt, a 55-year-old factory worker tormented by a past he can’t change and by a love he doesn’t think he deserves. Their stories converge in a violent climax that reveals not just the mystery of what happened to Ronnie but all of their secret selves.

©2013 Holly Goddard Jones (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc

Critic reviews

"The residents of a small Kentucky town react to the disappearance of a local woman in this first novel by short-story writer Jones…. [The author] builds intense tension surrounding the choices her flawed but compellingly sympathetic characters make as they fight against lonely isolation within the tight confines of small-town America." (Kirkus Reviews)

Slow and full of people wallowing in misery

I would say that listening to this book was time not worth my time. Thought about returning, but I finished it because I got so far that I wanted to find out how it ended. I expected a surprise twist, but that didn't happen. Finally got to the end and was very disappointed. You are left in limbo about what happens to the main character. The part about the victim's sister's marriage was distracting and annoying. I wanted to shout at her and tell her to deal with it and do something about it. I kept wondering what was going through Emily's mind.

Cassandra did a very good performance. Probably would have given her 5 stars if the book was enjoyable.

Long Story, Disappointing Ending

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Overall, this was a good book, so the time was mostly well-spent. There are a lot of characters to keep up with and it is sometimes difficult to remember how this person knows or is related to the other person that is speaking. In addition to keeping up with a boat-load of characters, the listener is subjected to flash-backs, flash-forwards, and even sideways time jumps. The story would be better told in chronological order - starting with the Thanksgiving scene instead of ending with it.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I did NOT like the ending at all. After listening for all of those hours and anticipating how the characters would resolve some of the issues, there was really only a conclusion for one character out of a cast of 15 or so. Very, very disappointed with the ending.

Have you listened to any of Cassandra Campbell’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I have listened to Cassandra Campbell in other audio books. She does a great job. This book had so many characters that they started to "sound" alike at some point - which isn't her fault. Cassandra is clear, concise and easy to understand.

Could you see The Next Time You See Me being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No, this book would NOT make a good movie because people want an ending that makes sense. People want finality, or at least the knowledge that certain issues are resolved. Moviegoers would be upset if they paid $10 to see a story where 90+% of the characters are left with no end.

Any additional comments?

Please do not write books that flash forward and backward in time. It is confusing when the story is so complex and there are so many characters that interplay in the events.

Odd characters but a great story line

Would you listen to The Next Time You See Me again? Why?

Yes, the characters were less than stellar people but the author did an amazing job of making you want to learn more about the cast.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ironically the killer is the one character I liked. He had more depth than the others.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene at the end with the brother finding the dog. It was the silver lining in a grey book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

yes- I laughed and cried.

You k ow who did it the entire time!

Don't waste your time with this one! I read on hoping there would be a good twist but it never happened. I sat with my mouth agape and in shock that the book ended when it did- still waiting for that twist! It never came, you'll k ow all along and have absolutely NO closure! Sorry! I really tried to love this one and did enjoy some of the characters...but that's it! They never tied together! It's like the author got sick of her own story and just quit!

Slow and boring

This book never got exciting. I kept listening, thinking at some point it would pick up... but no. Would not recommend.

Just wasn't there...

This book had a lot of potential. First the Narrator ruined it since her southern accent was long and drawn out and over acted. I got past that and started to like the story, but some of the storylines just leave you empty. Didn't finish out on some of them. I could have given this one more stars. Butt,, the ending really was horrible. The who dunnit, left you "shaking your head" and it just didn't fit at all.
Not worth the credit or on sale.

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Any additional comments?

I still have no idea what this book was about, it seemed like every time I listened to it, that I was listening to a different book.

This is a slog

The author has a good premise here, but I am struggling to finish it. At 50% through, I figured out why I'm struggling. There are to many characters with to many issues, and only one of them, Wyatt, is remotely likable. Emily is portrayed so oddly that her decision not to tel anyone about the body and her constant visits to it make no sense. If she had some understandable or endearing traits, she might be seen with more sympathy. I bought this book so I'm going to finish it but it is a slog and I would not recommend it at all.

What a waste of my time

This book is very dark and depressing. I kept waiting for something good-happy to happen. It did not. The reader did well for what she had to work with but I would not recommend this book.

confusion

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I don't know but I selected it based on a review I read.

Has The Next Time You See Me turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, not necessarily.

Did Cassandra Campbell do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

She was easy to listen to

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment as I was expecting better based on the review I read

Any additional comments?

jumped back and forth too much for my taste. Hard to follow and try to determine the main idea or plot.