Book Review: Everything She Feared by Rick Mofina
Everything She Feared by Rick Mofina is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a well-written, multi-layered suspense thriller. The story starts off with a bang.
During a day camp outing, 9-year-old Katie Harmon and 17-year-old babysitter Anna Shaw were bringing up the rear when Anna decided to capture the moment with a selfie. Tragically, that was the last decision Anna ever made. Suddenly, Katie was sprinting towards the group, screaming for help. They soon discovered that Anna had fallen off the cliff and died at the bottom.. The only witness to the tragedy is Katie herself, and her mother Sara starts to worry that there is something sinister in their past that might be connected to Anna’s death.
The author expertly weaves together multiple plotlines, characters, and motivations, keeping the reader guessing until the very end. I found myself fully engrossed in the story, flipping through the pages as quickly as I could to find out what happens next. For example, I never knew whether the child involved was actually evil or not. And all the hints given were neatly tied in a comfortable bow at the end of the story.
One thing that stands out about Everything She Feared is Rick Mofina’s superb writing. I found the book to be emotionally complex. Dark secrets of the past are seamlessly flowing into the present. The characters are well-developed and realistic, with their flaws and strengths making them feel like real people. The pacing is perfect, with just the right amount of tension and suspense to keep the reader on edge.
One minor issue I had with the book was Katie herself. At times, she seemed much younger than her nine years, while at other times she seemed considerably older. The way she spoke sounded sometimes awkward and some of the interactions between her and Sara felt rather repetitive. However, this was a minor issue overall and didn’t detract too much from my enjoyment of the book.
Everything She Feared is a gripping and suspenseful domestic thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. But then again, all Mofina’s novels tend do have this thrilling fact that has me chasing after his books as soon as they’re released. His writing is top-notch, and the complex plotline will keep you guessing until the very end. Some chapters are told from Detective Kim Pierce’s POV (the lead detective in Anna’s case), so besides being a thriller, the book is also a crime mystery / police procedural. Btw, will we see Kim maybe in a new book? Hopefully in a series of her own?
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers, domestic suspense, or just a good old-fashioned mystery, not to mention anyone who loves reading Rick Mofina’s books.