48 Clues into the Disappearance of My Sister

by Joyce Carol Oates

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Gigi is the younger sister – and she has always lived in her sister's shadow. Now that Marguerite (M.) has gone missing, Gigi doesn't know how to feel. Yet part of her is determined to look into all the clues left behind, intentionally or not.

All told, there are forty-eight clues for Gigi to look into. Starting with a flimsy Dior dress. Something that should never have been tossed on the floor like it meant nothing. Does this mean something?

My Review:

First, I have a challenge for you. Say the name of this book (48 Clues into the Disappearance of My Sister) ten times fast. Go on; I'll wait. Yeah, it's a bit of a mouthful. I had to look up the title multiple times because I never quite remembered it all. Still, credit for originality.

Truthfully, I struggled to get into this book. I usually love unreliable narratives, but Gigi's perspective felt so...uninvested in the world? It's odd, given how she's meant to explore this disappearance, which implies a heavy emotional connection.

Interestingly, 48 Clues into the Disappearance of My Sister is a heavily character-driven story. I say interestingly because this means it relies entirely on the reader's connection to the main character. As such, it will succeed or fail based on how you feel about Gigi.

The overall writing style was pretty unique. It felt almost like a stream of consciousness, but not quite. Laced within this storytelling style are hints at the truth. Though even then, I felt like they couldn't be trusted due to Gigi's unreliable nature.

Highlights:
Unreliable Narrator
Thriller/Suspense
Unique Storytelling Format

Trigger Warnings:
Death/Missing family member
Sexual Assault (discussed)

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