The Mourning Hours - Paula Treick DeBoard

Release Date - June 25, 2013

Paula Treick DeBoard
Harlequin

Book Review by Tracy Farnsworth

Nine-year-old Kirsten Hammerstrom watches as her older brother, Johnny, enters into his first serious high school relationship. At first, Kirsten has a level of adoration for the girl, Stacy Lemke, but soon things change. Stacy becomes almost obsessive with Johnny. Kirsten spies the pair fighting shortly before Stacy disappears during a snowstorm. As Johnny was the last person with Stacy, he immediately becomes a suspect. The resulting investigation and public scrutiny threatens to tear Kirsten's world apart.

The Mourning Hours doesn't really have much in the way of romance, but it is packed with emotion and a suspenseful storyline. The family dynamics play an important role in this story with Kirsten, her sister, her brother, and parents all trying to decide who they can trust. As the town begins turning on the family, things become unbearable for most and no one is certain what really happened that night. Even the reader is left in the dark until the ending.

I found The Mourning Hours to be completely addicting. The plot is tight and moves along swiftly. I loved the honest portraits of each character. They could all be your friend, your sibling, or a neighbor. Even the suspicious neighbors came off as genuine.

If you want a book that's part-mystery and part-general fiction, this is a great choice.