There are all these books that say we create our own destiny and what we believe is what we manifest. You’re supposed to walk around with this perpetual bubble over your head thinking happy thoughts and then everything is going to be sunshine and roses. Nope, sorry, don’t think so. You can be as happy as you’ve ever been in your life, and s**t is still going to happen.
But it doesn’t just happen. It knocks you sideways and crushes you into the ground, because you were stupid enough to believe in sunshine and roses.
(from Still Missing, page 99 in the ARC)
Annie O’Sullivan is a 32-year-old Realtor on the brink of securing the biggest deal of her career when she is abducted at an open house. Chevy Stevens’ debut novel, Still Missing, details the year Annie was held hostage in a mountain cabin in the middle of nowhere on Vancouver Island. The book is narrated by Annie in the first person, with the details of her captivity revealed alongside a monologue with her psychiatrist and events transpiring in the present.
Annie’s kidnapper is obviously one screwed up individual, and added to the problems she already had to deal with — an unstable, alcoholic mother and the loss of her father and sister — Annie is having an understandably hard time coping with the twisted things that happened to her on the mountain. Stevens goes into a fair amount of detail, so readers who have a hard time with violence and psychological trauma will find Still Missing hard to stomach at times.
Stevens’ writing style is very much like someone talking, and I felt like a lot of it was telling instead of showing. I can’t imagine going through what Annie goes through at the hands of her kidnapper, yet I didn’t really feel for her during the first half of the book. I’m not saying that the story wasn’t gripping, but I think going back and forth between the past and the present made the story of the kidnapping lose some of its punch. The book opens with Annie in the present, broken and hurting, and she’s so gruff and hostile that it makes it hard to like her, even though I understand that she’s traumatized. However, Still Missing really picks up once the story of her year held captive has been told and the entire book moves to the present. It’s obvious from the very beginning that Annie’s kidnapper didn’t choose her randomly, and when all the missing pieces fall into place, readers realize just how screwed up the story really is.
Overall, I found Still Missing to be a dark, heartbreaking, and — when I really thought about the extent of Annie’s trauma — scary book. This is one of those novels where you don’t want to have something in common with the main character, and a lack of connection to her doesn’t make it difficult to enjoy it (though enjoy might not be the right word in this instance). Still Missing is a quick read, a thriller that, despite its few flaws, is hard to put down.
Courtesy of St. Martin’s Press, I have 5 copies of Still Missing to give away to my readers. Just leave a comment with your e-mail address and tell me the title of the most messed up book you’ve ever read. I’m not sure what it says about me, but I like dark and disturbing books, so give me your recommendations. Because the publisher is shipping the books, this giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada addresses only. The giveaway will close on Sunday, July 18, 2010, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Winners will be chosen randomly.
**Please note that this giveaway is now closed**
Disclosure: I received a copy of Still Missing from St. Martin’s Press for review purposes. I am an Amazon associate.
© 2010 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
Sounds like this book got better as you got further into the book, but I have a real hard time reading books that tell and don’t show.
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did i forget to mention not entering me in the giveaway since I have the book.
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I figured that. 😉 It did get better, and I’m glad I stuck with it.
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I’m not entering the contest, because I’ve already read this, but I wanted to tell you a disturbing read: Under the Skin by Michal Faber. Messed up!! (But really, really good)
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Messed up? Then I’ll definitely keep it in mind. 😉
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See Jane Run by Joy Fielding is a page turner and so
scary. It stays in your mind for a long time.
I would love to win this book, nothing like a great
mystery my favourite to read.
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Thanks for the recommendation, Marjorie!
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I have this book and for the exact reasons you state, I have kept putting it off. I am not a thriller reader. I used to be, but my tastes have changed. Too much real life drama out there every day. Thanks for the terrific review.
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I don’t mind all the drama because it takes my mind off my own troubles. But if you don’t like thrillers, I’d pass on this one.
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I guess the most messed up book I’ve ever read would have to be American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis.
Thanks for the giveaway.
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The title alone is messed up. 😉 Thanks for the recommendation!
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I think a friend of mine would like this book, for me, a bit too dark
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It is dark, but I like dark and disturbing. 😉
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Holy cow! I better not read this one when Carl’s out of town. No need to enter me.
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Probably not, especially if you’re the type that gets those feelings of being watched.
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I almost started reading this last night but thought better of it and glad I did. Sounds like it’s quite scary. I’m going to save it for the day time 🙂
No need to enter me but glad to hear you ended up liking it.
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It’s more freaky than scary, but I wouldn’t want to read it if I was home alone at night. 😉
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Already have a copy, but recently read LIVING DEAD GIRL by elizabeth scott.
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Thanks for the recommendation! I’ve had my eye on that book for a while.
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I just added this to my wish list after reading other rave reviews about this book. I like dark and disturbing too (in small doses) so I definitely want to be entered into your giveaway.
Let’s see … dark and disturbing books…
Well, “Columbine” is a non-fiction book that really is haunting me to this day even though I read it a few weeks ago. I had bad dreams while reading it too.
And Lionel Shriver’s “We Need To Talk About Kevin” was pretty darn dark and disturbing too.
Finally, Gillian Flynn’s “Sharp Objects” will creep you out good.
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We Need to Talk About Kevin was one messed up — but really good — book! I haven’t read the others, but I’ll keep them in mind.
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[…] Anna over at Diary of an Eccentric has 5 copies to give away. Usual rules apply so stop on by and enter by July 18. This looks like a good read. I may have to enter this one myself. […]
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no need to enter me!
I posted this for you at win a book.
http://winabook.westofmars.com/2010/07/07/still-missing-by-chevy-stevens/
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Thanks, Mary! I really appreciate it.
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Please enter me, I am the queen of dark and disturbing. All of the Harris books are pretty scarey (Red Dragon, Hannibal, Silence of the Lambs). Generally most murder mysteries, with their mother-hating, psychotic, religious fanatics, don’t bother me much. I’m more bothered by the WWII stuff.
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WWII books definitely are disturbing in their own way, especially those about the Holocaust. It definitely is easier to read a fictional murder mystery. I think I have that Hannibal book. Jerry might’ve bought that a while back and (of course) never read it. 😉
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What does it say about me that I clicked over to the comments just to see what “messed up” books people have read? 😛 Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs and Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindquist were messed up reads for me.
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I agree that Running With Scissors is messed up. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who likes disturbing books. 🙂
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I would love to win this book. Charm School by Nelson DeMille was the most disturbing book I have read thus far that I can still remember the premise and hope like heck it was all fiction.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
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Thanks for the recommendation! I haven’t read anything by Nelson DeMille, but I see his books being read on the train all the time.
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Ugh. “Wideacre” by Philippa Gregory. I couldn’t get through that book. I was completely depressed by “A Reliable Wife” by Robert Goolrick, but couldn’t put it down. I didn’t know what to do with the book after I finished it. =)
tiredwkids at live dot com
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Ooh…I have A Reliable Wife. I’ll have to make time to read that one.
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The most messed up books for me are anything by Jodi Picoult. I think she writes very well, but all of her books are so depressing and disturbing to me.
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I’ve read several of her books, and you’re right, they are depressing.
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Oh, I have to enter for this one. I’d really like to read it. Hmmmm, most messed up book -not sure I read many of those but let’s see – I think Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton is pretty messed up. Another was Boneman’s Daughters by Ted Dekker. Mostly Happy by Pam Bustin. Ok, enough thinking. lol.
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I have Ethan Frome but haven’t read it, and I’ve read a few disturbing books by Dekker and liked them. Thanks for the recommendations.
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I have been trying to get this for months and my heart skipped a beat when you said you had books for giveaway.
Dont count me in though as I am not able to provide a US address now!!!
The book though dark and disturbing seems to have got rave reviews all over the blogosphere.
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I’m sorry that you’re not eligible! I wish I had enough money to handle the shipping myself and make all the giveaways international. 😦
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Well, the darkest book I’ve read recently is “Sugar” by Bernice McFadden. I have a review and giveaway current on my site, so stop by and see my thoughts on it. Like you, even though it was a dark book, I still found it to be a great read!
knittingandsundries(at)gmail(dot)com
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I just finished Glorious by McFadden, and that was a bit disturbing at times too. Really good though. Thanks for the recommendation!
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Well I can’t say I’ve really read any dark or disturbing books, I have read weird and bizzare ones though so I will just name one of those its called “ruby” by francesca lia block. Dont get me wrong, I actually enjoyed the book after a while and like francesca as an author but her books are very different and take awhile to get use to since there not like most other books.
unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com
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Weird and bizarre are good, too. 😉 Thanks for the recommendation!
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I will never forget some of the most “messed up” books I ever read. The images still haunt me. One was Pet Semetary (isn’t that how it was spelled?) by Stephen King about the cat that comes back to life. Scared me to death. Another one was Firestarter by Stephen King with the most horrific scene involving a garbage disposal. TO THIS DAY, I think of that scene every single, stinkin’ time I put something in my disposal and reach for the switch. I read that book at least 25 years ago, and the impact remains. Maybe I should sue King for post traumatic stress disorder! 🙂
JHS
Colloquium
jhsmail at comcast dot net
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I bet that’s one really disturbing book. I’ll have to give that one a try. That’s not as silly as some of the other lawsuits I’ve read about in recent years. LOL
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I have read several favorable reviews for this book and would love to be entered in the give away. Thanks so much for hosting!
Mstermind1 at gmail dot com
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Honestly I don’t think I could read this one. Books like this tend to stay with me for a while and get under my skin!
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Yeah, you might want to pass on this one. 😉
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The most disturbing book I’ve read is World War Z, because it shows just how devastating the zombie apocalypse will be.
Thanks for the contest!
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Ooh…a zombie book! Definitely disturbing. Thanks for the recommendation.
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I skimmed this Anna because I have yet to read it but I did focus on your last paragraph and it sounds like I’m in for a great read!!
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I’m looking forward to your review!
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I think I’ve watched a “Criminal Mind” episode similar to this …
Darker reads have found their way to being some of my all time fav’s! I’d suggest The Wildfire Season by Andrew Pyper and Away From Everywhere by Chad Pelley if you’re looking for “messed up” page turners.
wanda_waiting[@]hotmail[.]com
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I’ll keep those in mind. Thanks, Wanda!
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I’ve read two books by Jodi Picoult. The last one was Picture Perfect. I also find her books very depressing.
mittens0831 at aol dot com
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I have to agree that Picoult’s books can be depressing. I haven’t read Picture Perfect, though.
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Great review, and I’m definitely interested in reading this one. I like books that are “messed up” so I don’t know which is the MOST messed up book I’ve read but perhaps… Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott or possibly Geek Love by Katherine Dunn.
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I’ve been wanting to read Living Dead Girl. I’ll keep that in mind for when my TBR tower is a bit more under control. LOL
Thanks for the recommendations!
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Please enter me! nicolama at cogeco dot ca
The most disturbing book I’ve ever read is The Treatment by Mo Hayder. It almost goes over the line, but Hayder is an awesome writer and makes you *have* to keep reading.
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I haven’t heard of this one, but you’ve made me curious. Thanks for the recommendation!
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Rose Madder – Stephen King (finished)
She’s Come Undone – Wally Lamb (didn’t finish)
Thanks! :0)
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I liked that Wally Lamb book but I haven’t read the other one. I’ll check it out. Thanks!
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That book, for me, would be Jonathan Kellerman’s “Monster.” Much too gory and real for me.
litandlife@gmail.com
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I haven’t heard of that one, but I’ll check it out. Thanks!
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When you say messed up, I’m not really sure in what way. If you mean just confusing overall then I’d go with Naked Lunch by Burroughs. If messed up in a depressing way then I would go with A Child Called It, that had me sad for days.
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Messed up certainly can mean different things. Thanks for the recommendations!
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I am international but if I can give my best friends address than please enter me.
marceblogspot(at)hotmail(dot)com
I love dark and disturbing also Anna and love the comments, I have Running with Scissors and Let’s Talk about Kevin on my list to read this year.
I searched for Still Missing last week and couldn’t find it, bookstores were sold out, yaaay for the author.
A disturbing mess with your head one I would recommend is The Manufactured Identity.
And funny enough James Patterson’s books can make me paranoid for a day and I laugh at myself and love him more for the affect.
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Thanks for the recommendations! And as long as you can provide a U.S. or Canada address, you’re in. 🙂
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This giveaway is now closed. I’ll choose the winners via Randomizer.org and announce them shortly.
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[…] Visibles by Sara Shepard 55. Glorious by Bernice L. McFadden 56. The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist 57. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens 58. Miracle in Sumatra by Jeanne McNaney, illustrated by David Cochard 59. Fool by […]
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