Tuesday, July 12, 2011

In Search of the Rose Notes-Emily Arsenault

In Search of the Rose Notes
Emily Arsenault
Morrow, Jul 26 2011, $14.99
ISBN: 9780062012326

In 1990 in Waverly, Connecticut, tweeners Nora and Charlotte are concerned that their sixteen year old babysitter Rose vanished without a trace. Using Charlotte’s older brother smelly Paul’s treasure of Time-Life books with the secrets of the universe as their paranormal reference library; the BFFs investigate but find nothing. The inquiry strains their friendship.

In 2006, Rose’s remains are found in the nearby woods; having been recently moved. Charlotte calls Nora who feels like it is old times as her former BFF always seemed to know when she has was doing nothing. The former asks the latter to come home so they can resume their failed investigation; this time looking for Rose’s killer. Nora reluctantly agrees as she is the last known person to have seen Rose alive and is not sure she wants the past opened up.

Rotating viewpoint between the two years, this is a terrific psychological drama that will remind readers of Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones though in this case Rose does not speak from beyond. The story line focuses on the two BFFs who learn more about each other than they do about Rose. Leisurely paced, readers will enjoy this deep character study as the truth does not always free you as it sometimes makes you flee from what you learn about yourself in abject terror.

Harriet Klausner

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