Social Worker Ellen Moore is awaken from her warm deep sleep to take a call that brought her full attention to the true cold dark world that surrounded her. A woman’s body was found in the park next to the statue of Leto, the Goddess of Motherhood. More disturbing, the woman’s 4-year-old son was next to his dead mother, cold and alone. Much like a case that took place thirteen years earlier with another mother, and another child in the same spot. Ellen leaves the warmth of her husband’s side and quietly walks by each of her three children’s rooms to go to the scene of the crime.
Ellen’s job is to take care of the child, but she can not help but wonder what the connections are to the past. You never know when you are playing it safe, or when you may find yourself confronted by a killer who knows you are getting a little too close to the truth for comfort.
I recently read and reviewed Heather Gudenkauf’s book Little Mercies which also is about protagonist Ellen Moore and a case involving child endangerment. I enjoyed that book very much and was interested in this novella prequel with the main characters that I had enjoyed so much previously.
While I enjoyed the case and the story line, I was reminded once again why I do not usually engage in these prequels. They place too much in the pages too fast, which I understand is the way it needs to be in a 400 page novella. I think this would have made a wonderful full size book, there was plenty of good content to make it so.
If you enjoy Heather Gudenkauf’s writing and do not mind the occasional short story with great characters, this would be a book I would recommend. Powerful storyline, just a little quick on the wrap up for me.
- Publisher: Harlequin
- Publication date: 5/1/2014
- Format: eBook
- Edition description: Original
- Pages: 400
Book Journey 
I feel this is one that should be on my TBR list.
Its a quick read, but good.
I read this one just before reading Little Mercies, so it whetted my appetite for the main event.
I kind of wish I had read them in that order too Laurel. I really like the character of Ellen More. 🙂
You call 400 pages a novella? I usually avoid the prequels too.
LOL – 400 on my Kindle – I dont think it felt that long at all – it felt like 100. Maybe not even that many. I think I read it in about an hour.
Thanks for the review. I have not read this one. Was looking at on Goodreads – trying to decide.
If you like Heather’s writing it is a good one. I think I am not cut out for the super short stories. 😀
I do really like Heather’s writing, but like you – i enjoy a long, full story more than the short stories.
I enjoyed this story and agree with you. I thought is was kind of short. (About 1.5 hrs on my iPad).
Thinks just wrap up so quickly… you had all your possible suspects about 20 pages in… I had my theory on who did it … I was wrong, and glad I was as that would have really been disappointing figuring it out too soon. 😀
Heather Gudenkauf is an author I need to discover!
🙂
Thank you for the review. An author I need to get to.