The Good Girl

by Mary Kubica

[Artemis]

The Artemis Reader

First, let me say that The Good Girl is not another Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train. If anything, Kubica’s debut novel is an excellent read and one I found more compelling than either of the books mentioned above. While I understand the marketing technique invoked in the comparison don’t be fooled if you weren’t a fan of either like me.

The story follows the events leading up to, during and after the kidnapping of Mia Dennett. The Good Girl is told from the perspective of three major players – Mia’s mother Eve, the investigating officer Gabe, and the kidnapper Colin, and in two distinct timelines: the “Before” and “After”. Each story unfolds to reveal a complex and emotional journey.

I read a lot of complaints about the three point-of-view strategy, but I think it worked well to enhance the mystery about what happened to Mia during and after the kidnapping. Not only do we witness Mia’s emotional journey through the eyes of those closest to the case but we are able to witness each characters journey, both before and after the kidnapping. My favorite chapters often involved Colin, who comes off brutish (after all he does kidnap Mia) but transforms into a far more caring character towards the end, even though he maintains his gruff and calculating persona throughout most of the novel.

Probably the only aspect I didn’t like was the twist. Going in I knew (thanks to the numerous comparisons to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train) the direction the story was going in. If you read either then you can probably guess where the story is going, but if anything the twist makes you relive the book and its events with a strange clarity. No spoilers but perhaps the most rewarding aspect was going over the events with the twist and mind and realizing the true nature of certain characters.

Recommended to those who like a good slow-burn thriller/mystery.