4 out of 4 stars
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The Knowing by Sarah Elmore is a riveting mystery novel that takes readers on a thrilling and intense journey into the world of the supernatural. This gripping tale also explores themes of romance, corruption, betrayal, and murder.
To get away from her abusive stepfather’s drunken rage, six-year-old Sheridan would grab her doll, Becca, (which she considers her only true friend) and run into the forests of Lyle Mountain for safety. However, one fateful night, her place of refuge becomes a hellish nightmare when she comes face-to-face with death at the hands of an evil shadow. The vengeful murderous shadow’s aim is to shift the natural order of things by eliminating the young Sheridan because it has been foretold that she will be the one to unmask his true identity and evil deeds while saving the lives of millions. After being plagued by visions of the shadow’s intentions, Meredith races to stop the evil shadow so as to retain the natural alignment of prewritten paths. Even so, her actions result in consequences that cause dark days and deep-rooted affliction for others. Who is behind the evil shadow, and what fostered the wickedness within the monster? After being battered and broken, will Sheridan realise her strength and responsibility in fighting the evil shadow?
Sarah Elmore impressed me with her well-written debut novel. The intriguing storyline captured my interest and held my attention from start to finish. The book is divided into two parts: the first part is set in 1997, and the second part begins in 2013. The first part takes us through the dramatic set of events that forever change the families and children touched by them. In the second part, we meet the two leading characters we got to know during their childhood in the first part of the book (and whose lives are intertwined) as adults. The two characters embark on their own journeys to better understand and make peace with their tormented past. These journeys ultimately lead them to encounter ghosts from the past and an unsolved murder case.
The use of details and description are just enough to give readers a visual of the characters, their world’s events, and their emotions while still keeping the story moving forward. The set of well-rounded characters are both believable and fascinating; both the good and bad characters in this story have their flaws. At times, certain aspects of the characters personalities surprised me, but that is what gave them the unpredictability that is human nature. An example of this unpredictability is Derek, Meredith’s son, who seems like an all-around good guy but has angry outbursts when someone disagrees with him, despite that person having supported him for many years. He also seems to disregard others’ feelings, is quick to place blame, and sometimes reacts violently.
What I liked most was how the narrative was like a puzzle that got more complex as I tried to solve it; with each passing chapter, a layer of depth was added to the story. These unexpected plot twists and revelations blew my mind with their sheer brilliance and how well they all fit into the narrative. Additionally, I loved how at some point, I thought I knew who the murderer was, only to be left second-guessing myself towards the end. When the murderer was finally revealed, I was left thinking that there was no way I could have guessed it, yet it made so much sense.
It is my pleasure to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars for all the points mentioned above and for its clever and page-turning plot. The novel appears to be professionally edited, and in all its pages I only found a handful of errors. I feel I should mention the story does contain swearing and graphic details of violence. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a beautifully written and well-crafted narrative. Also, fans of mystery and suspense novels that feature the paranormal will love this one.
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The Knowing
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