Reading for Me

I am intrigued by debut novels. It’s always fun to see if I can detect that “spark” that developed in an established author. Chevy Stevens certainly grabbed by attention with her first novel, Still Missing. Published in 2010, Still Missing tells the story of Annie, a beautiful real estate agent. While ending an open house late one afternoon, a potential buyer stops in and asks to see the house. Situations quickly spin out of control and Annie finds herself abducted by the man she will come to call “The Freak.” Still Missing is the suspenseful tale of Annie’s year-long ordeal with The Freak and the stress of her return to society and family after her escape. Rather than simply providing a chronological account, Stevens expertly weaves her story together in a series of psychological therapy sessions that contain Annie’s first person narrative.

I love the way Stevens guides the reader through the story and provides plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing. The prose is fast-paced. Annie, The Freak, and Annie’s family and friends are wonderfully developed which allows us to feel as though we are part of the community of Clayton Falls. Reader, be warned — this novel contains disturbing scenes of violence and adult language. (To be clear, the novel does contain a significant number of the “most offensive” expletives in the English language.)

Other novels by Chevy Stevens include Never Knowing(2011) and Always Watching (2013).

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