A 28 yr old woman who has lived with her father since she was told that her mother died in a car accident when she was four suddenly finds her world shaken to the core. Her father is arrested for kidnapping her from her mother when she is four. Quite an emotional story. Kirkus: ell-oiled Picoult sets her latest expertly devised search-and-rescue tale in rural New Hampshire, where a kidnapping case is uncovered 28 years too late.As usual, Picoult (My Sister?s Keeper, 2004, etc.) spins a terrifically suspenseful tale by developing just the right human-interest elements to make a workable story. Single mom Delia Hopkins works with the local Wexton police and a bloodhound named Greta to find lost children. Delia?s close relationship with her divorced, 60-ish father, Andrew, who runs a senior-citizens? home, grows strained when he?s suddenly arrested on kidnapping charges. The victim is Delia herself, named Bethany Matthews before her father fled with her from a drunken Mexican mother in Arizona. For 28 of her 32 years, Delia has believed her mother was dead. With Andrew extradited to Phoenix, the strange history of the case unravels, complicated by the choice of Delia?s fianc?, Eric (father of daughter Sophie), as Andrew?s lawyer and the assignment of her childhood buddy Fitz to cover the case for his newspaper. Picoult is a thorough, perceptive writer who deliberately presents alternating viewpoints, so that the truth seems constantly to be shifting. When Delia finally meets the attractive, remarried Elise Vasquez, she can?t quite vilify a woman who has been sober for many years and works as a curandera (healer). Her father?s story is both suspect and understandable, especially in light of his horrific treatment in prison, caught up in the violence of rival gangs. The magnetic Eric is a recovering alcoholic who falls off the wagon when stressed, while dependable, silent lover Fitz waits in the wings for his chance. Meanwhile, Delia and Sophie make a fascinating digression into the mythical world of the local Hopi tribe. At times, Picoult goes over the top, allowing Sophie to get lost so that Greta can find her and, at the eleventh hour, inserting into the trial the possibility of Delia?s sexual abuse .An experienced novelist takes her sweet time to rich rewards: overall, an affecting saga, nicely handled.

The ending helped give this book 3 stars. Otherwise, it would have been less. I got so tired of the prison parts. I know prison is awful, but that is not what I wanted to read in this book. Ruth Ann's story didn't seem to go with the rest of the novel, although I would have liked a book all about her rather than about Delia and her friendship/love with 2 guys and her life with her father, all caught up in lies. ( )

I liked the "theme" of the book...but I found it mostly annoying (jail, Hopi Indian s,Judge....). ( )

I really enjoyed the romance, what I felt were realistic scenes from the jail, but I did not like the Indian legends. Picoult's books always draw you in.
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When I began this book I couldn't put it down. I loved learning about Delia and her search and rescue company with her bloodhound Greta. Delia has a finance named Eric and a wonderful friend named Fritz. They have all grown up together and have been friends forever. You learn early that Delia was told her Mom was killed in a car crash and it has just been her and her dad since the accident. They have always had a very close relationship. All of a sudden the police show up and her dad; Andrew is arrested for kidnapping. The kidnapped victim is Delia herself!
It was decided that Eric; Delia's fiancé who is a lawyer will represent Andrew. Soon the case is moved to Arizona and Delia, Eric, and Fritz go out there to be near Andrew as the case develops. Here is where I loved the book and hated it at the same time! The prison scenes were too graphic and ridiculous at times. Also there was so much Hopi Indian history, that sometimes I just lost what the story was about.
As the case developed and Delia was able to meet her Mom, the book definitely kept my interest. I am glad I read the book, but at times I wanted to throw it across the room..... .I guess that's what makes a good book! ( )