UNPREDICTABLE! Psychologically Rich, Timely, Character-driven, Twisty, and Loaded with Riveting Suspense.Feed your true-crime obsession.An avid fan (have read all her books), Heather Gudenkauf returns following Not a Sound my Top Books of 2017 with a brilliantly crafted thriller BEFORE SHE WAS FOUND. Based on the Slender Man, (online meme), a fictional tall, spidery figure with a blank face and the subject of short stories, videos, artwork, and video games. Stories of the Slender Man commonly feature him stalking, abducting or traumatizing people, particularly children.In a true account in 2014, two 12-year-old girls in Wisconsin held down and stabbed a classmate 19 times. When questioned later by authorities, they reportedly claimed that they wished to commit a murder as a first step to becoming proxies for the Slender Man, having read about it online. They also stated that they were afraid that Slender Man would kill their families if they did not commit the murder.However, in Heather’s skillful hands, in BEFORE SHE WAS FOUND, she reimagines a totally different creative story with her own signature style.She cleverly balances a sophisticated unputdownable psychological thriller of obsession, frenemies, betrayal, the dangers of social media, age-old legends, dark secrets of a rural railroad town and a strong multi-generational character study —the lengths family members go to protect their loved ones.Expect the unexpected. No way to guess how this one will turn out.Set in the rural railroad town of (fictional) Pitch, Iowa—we meet three different twelve- year- old girls. In Cora, Violet, and Jordyn. They become friends (or frenemies).They come from three different families (multi-generational). Jordyn (raised by grandparents), Cora (two-parent home), and Violet (raised by a struggling single mom). These family dynamics are fierce and each parent or guardian has their own parenting style.The girls decide to do a school report on an urban legend, Joseph Wither. However, the lines become blurred between "fact and fiction" and one of the girls begins communicating with someone online in a chat room. He claims to be Joseph Wither.Who is this person and is he the real Joseph Wither?Events quickly spiral out of control. A tragic event at the railroad tracks turns everyone’s lives upside down and those related to these three girls. Who stabbed Cora? What happened to Cora and the events leading up to BEFORE SHE WAS FOUND? (perfect title).From the intense pressures of social media, betrayal, and the mastermind behind the online mask, luring these girls to the tracks. From extensive text messages between the girls, the parents, a psychiatrist, police, a teacher, grandfather, to Cora journals—the suspense is riveting keeping you glued to the pages!The setting is chilling. Abandoned railroads, tracks, and trains are mysterious and dangerous as it is. They serve as vivid metaphors. Lives become derailed. Lives get off track, as noted in the novel. In the case of this small rural town, the setting is very atmospheric. Some of the residents are looking for a way out of their life.BEFORE SHE WAS FOUND is a cautionary and timely tale. A multi-layered, morally complex, seething with fear, the unknown, danger, mystery, and suspense.From the gritty atmosphere, the electrifying plot and twists and turns —the author skillfully balances the many different character voices, text messages, journal entries, therapist’s notes, and police interrogations. Impressive.Fans of true-crime fiction will undoubtedly find lots to love here. Highly recommend! Top Books of 2019A special thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.#JDCMustReadBooks