Ugh. Needed editing for time lines. Obscure car central to the story. (I know Subaru and this wasn't a mainstream US model) Esplanade SUV? Shoulder patches on a tweed jacket? Story was ok. ( )

It took some time for me to get into this book, however it was a good suspenseful read! Although I am disappointed that Brenna's missing sister is still left hanging. I am also quite intrigued that there is a small portion of the population that has what Brenna has with forever storing memories with all five senses, it made for a very interesting character. ( )

I bought this ebook because it sounded interesting and because it was discounted. It ended up exceeding my expectations. I love it when that happens.

Brenna Spector is a single mother working as a P.I. after her divorce. (By the way, I thought it was refreshing that the author didn't demonize the ex, which happens so much in books nowadays.) Brenna suffers from a rare disorder that gives her the ability (and curse) to recall every detail of her life. As a child, Brenna watched her older sister get into a strange blue car, never to be seen again. Not only did this event kick-start her disorder, but it continues to color many other aspects of her life.

Brenna is hired by the husband of a woman named Carol Wentz, who has disappeared. Brenna eventually uncovers the fact that Carol was doing some investigating of her own -- into the disappearance of a neighboring child years before.

The story has twists you don't see coming, and interesting backstory interspersed with the plot. What I really loved was Brenna's burgeoning friendship with police Detective Nick Morasco. Whether exploring Brenna's lingering feelings and regrets about her ex, or the guilt and fear of a possible new relationship, the author did a terrific job of making you feel what the characters did, while avoiding cliches.

I will definitely be reading Alison Gaylin's next book. ( )

From Amazon:

Gaylin’s And She Was introduces a remarkable new protagonist: Brenna Spector, a missing persons investigator afflicted with Hyperthymestic Syndrome, a rare disorder that enables her to remember every moment of every day of her life. A twisting mystery, both chilling and surprising, And She Was sets the haunted investigator on the trail of a missing child who vanished more than a decade earlier—a case with disturbing echoes in Brenna’s own scrupulously remembered past.

My Thoughts:

Gaylin introduces an interesting character in Brenna Spector, who, because of childhood trauma, cannot forget anything once it enters her head. Everything she has seen, heard, read, or experienced since she was eleven years old is embossed on her long-term memory. While this has its advantages, she can't prioritize, can't shirk pain, and can't stop crippling waves of full-sensory memory intruding on the present. It doesn't sound like much of a blessing to me. Harlan Coben...one of my fvorite authors... endorses this book on the cover. The plot very much resembles one of his because the twists keep coming and building upon each other. I was impressed how Gaylin is able to reveal each piece of information in such a logical manner. The plot just flows naturally. If you have an affinity for well written suspense novels that keep you guessing right up until the last chapter, this should be added to your TBR list.
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AUTHOR Gaylin, Alison
TITLE: And She Was
DATE READ: 02/08/2016
RATING 5/A
GENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS Suspense/ 2012 / Harper / 355 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE: #1 Brenna Spector
CHARACTERS Brenna Spector /Private Investigator for Missing Persons
TIME/PLACE: 2009 / NY
FIRST LINES Are you ready, Brenna? Dr. Lieberman says.
COMMENTS: Loved it! Brenna Spector is a missing persons investigator, she has a rare neurological disorder -- hyperthymestic syndrome. This autobiographical memory allows her to recall everything perfectly w/ all 5 senses. Sometimes a great help … and sometimes a hindrance in allowing her to move forward w/ her life. She came to her profession due to a personal struggle -- her sister went missing when Clea was a teenager and has never been found. She is divorced w/ a teenage daughter that lives w/ her father and his new wife. Brenna's assistant, Trent, is basically the male version of a bimbo in looks but don't let that fool you … he's an ace researcher and has created a software that ages the missing person to get a fairly accurate representation of what they would look like now. Brenna is hired by a wimpy man, Nelson Wentz, when his wife suddenly disappears. To Nelson their life was fine and he is unaware of not only many of Carol's actions but also her feelings. Nelson and Carol a childless couple in their 50's live in suburban NY. Eleven years earlier, Iris, a young child of one of their neighbors vanishes. Brenna discovers Carol had an obsessive interest in Iris… ( )