Gretchen: A Thriller Paperback – Import, 23 July 2019

This is my first book by this author, I have mixed feelings about this one. I’m not sure that I can say I enjoyed it, but I was certainly glued to my kindle to find out what the hell was going on, and then how it would all turn out. Lucy is a fifteen-year-old girl who has been on the run with her mom for thirteen years. They run from a threat that her mother refuses to define, knowing only that her father will try to kidnap her if they ever let down their guard. While she does not know exactly why they are constantly running, she knows that she must never engage with strangers, always wear her coloured contacts, and be prepared in an instant to move to the next place.In their 12th State Lucy and her mother have landed in a town that Lucy feels is perfect. She can see a future here. A chance to go to school and hold a job like a normal teenager. Their new home in New Hampshire is in the isolated woods on the outskirts of town. The landlord and his daughter live on the property in a house up the hill. The father is a pianist obsessed with wearing gloves to protect his hands. The daughter, Gretchen, is Lucy’s age and is obsessed with Puzzle. Lucy’s Mom senses red flags and wants to keep moving but Lucy rebels.Lucy notices several weird things with Gretchen and her house and refuses to go to her house and meet in middle grounds to continue their friendship. what do you do when a girl like Gretchen wants to be your friend? What do you do when you've been on the run your entire life? What do you do when you don't know who to trust? What do you do, when you don’t have any one to share anything and the only person you rely on is also lying to you and can’t trust them? Lucy is willing to look away from the flaws and fight for a place to call home, but is she denying too much of what is really happening around her?Gretchen. What a strange little girl! She is beyond creepy/weird/intrusive. She always wears a same apple print dress and explains Lucy about that as below.“Einstein and Steve jobs, and Obama too said that wearing the same outfit cuts down on decision fatigue. More brainpower for my puzzles and games and painting”Gretchen’s all-out craziness did make for compelling reading, although I would’ve liked a bit more rationale for it. I loved Lucy’s character and the way she solved various problems. At some point I felt the detailed description of the Sabin’s Property was too much and plot was moving at slower pace. At around 70% of the book, it took a huge twist and felt like author rushed to complete a story and it was more of her warrior mom’s heroics. The whole thing became a little muddled at the end yet its unique story.Gretchen is a crazy and intense thrill-ride. A kidnapping, a mother on the run, a psych child, a cult and a bad ass warrior mum, you have it all. Enjoy the ride.

This book starts off with a mother-daughter relationship that is continually more and more strained. Lucy (the daughter) knows something is off with her mother. Their constant moving leaves Lucy feeling lonely. They are constantly on the move to avoid Lucy's dad from finding them - afraid he might take Lucy away again. Lucy must keep her violet eyes a secret to avoid recognition by the general public. During an outing, Lucy eyes aren't hidden, and someone makes eye contact, which results in Lucy and her mom needing to leave immediately and relocate.During their relocation to a new place, Lucy meets Gretchen. Gretchen is obsessed with puzzles, and she's an odd person. Lucy needs the friendship, so she tolerates Gretchen. Unfortunately, Gretchen isn't just odd. She has serious problems, which Lucy and her mom encounter during their time on the Sabin farm.This book is captivating. I spent several nights reading until I couldn't keep my eyes open. It has so many twists and turns. I enjoyed the ups and downs.I gave it four stars because I felt like the chapters labeled "Mother" didn't get the proper attention they deserved in the first half of the book as a reader because I was reading them from the viewpoint of Lucy's mom not the proper character which made me feel like I missed out on a lot of context. To keep from spoiling the read, I'm not going to elaborate further.That being said, it was thrilling to read, and I would recommend it for those needing a little adventure.

This is a fabulous thriller. One of the best stories and author I've read. Keeps me on the edge of my seat. I hated to have to put the book down. Great story and writing technique. Very scary.

So this is my first book by this author, I started it the day I purchased it and couldn’t believe I had read over half the book in one sitting.It was a weird relationship between Lucy and her mom, constantly on the run since a kidnap attempt at the age of 2 so they’ve been on the road for 13 years. But there something I could never put my finger on about there relationship.While out for a picnic a man and his son recognise Lucy, right away they upsticks and move this time to a rental that right next to a house, where a girl and her father live, here you meet Gretchen and yes the bad gets Bad.Lucy keeps secrets from her mom, a lot of secrets but then her mom has bigger secrets. And then there’s Gretchen.There are puzzles in it but that’s Gretchen obsession, so don’t be put off about the puzzles if your not a puzzler.But if you like a dark story and many many shocks this is the book for you

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm a fussy reader and rarely leave reviews but this book deserves credit. The characters are intruiging especially Gretchen. The storyline is unique and well paced with just the right amount of creepiness. I would live to see this book made into a movie. Will definitely read more from this author!

Couldn't figure out why this was categorized as a thriller at first and nearly gave up because it wasn't thrilling at all. Until it was. And then it was again. And then some more.Great read, filled with surprises.Still a little confused about the violet eyes and about another character's skin being described as "pulsing."