What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross

Mia Wakefield was stolen as a baby, and raised by her kidnapper. You might think that her kidnapper was cold and ruthless, but that wasn’t the case at all. Mia had a good life with Lucy, and she was raised in a loving home. Lucy stole Mia in a moment of desperation, after trying to have children of her own, and then being rejected by adoption agencies. The story is told from multiple points of view; by Lucy, Mia, the babysistter, Mia’s birthparents, and others involved. Lucy’s motives don’t make the kidnapping right, but the reader starts to understand why she did what she did.

What Was Mine is an excellent book that helps people understand the motives behind someone's actions. I enjoyed this book, and I liked hearing the story from multiple points of view. Helen Klein Ross does a good job of making the reader understand the feelings of each character. I listened to the audiobook, which was done by a full cast. The cast made each character come alive, and made me want to keep listening.

If you like this book, you might like books by Jodi Picoult or Mary Kubica.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Alice Love falls off her bike during a spin class and ends up forgetting the last 10 years of her life. When she comes to, she thinks it’s still 1998, she’s pregnant, and she’s happily married. The reality is that it’s 2008, she has three children, and she and her husband are in the middle of a custody battle. The person she’s become is someone her 29-year-old self can’t stand, and she can’t understand how it happened.

I really enjoyed this book. Alice is a very sympathetic character. The writing is believable, without being over the top. The book is funny and thought-provoking at the same time. If you’re looking for something light-hearted and entertaining, you might like What Alice Forgot.

Carrie

Sixkill by Robert B. Parker

I was heartbroken when Parker died last year and therefore eagerly anticipated the last Spenser novel. I can only assume it was not truly ready for publishing when he died. It felt glib, formulaic, and shallow – something none of the previous ones evinced. I realize any series has certain traits that are definitive to it, but the better writers (of which I counted Parker) could maintain these without them becoming trite. Spenser always had smart comments, both mentally and verbally, but this time he came off as smug and superior. Long time characters Susan Silverman and Rita Fiore fared no better and Spenser’s sidekick, Hawk, was m.i.a. If you loved Parker’s writing and the Spenser books especially, you might want to let this one go by.

CAS

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

Imagine waking up one day not knowing where you are, who you are, or who is in bed next to you. Now imagine going through this every single day. In Before I Go to Sleep, that's the life that Christine is living. Her husband fills in all the details of Christine's life every day, because when she goes to sleep her memories are erased. But can she trust her husband? She has no idea. She must figure out whom she can trust, and she does it by keeping a journal.

There were so many twists and turns in this novel, it keeps you guessing until the very end. How did Christine end up this way? Who can she trust? What will happen to her? This book will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it, but it might not be a book to read before you go  to bed.

Carrie