Literature & Fiction
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She's Gone
A new page-turning thriller from USA Today bestselling author David Bell.
When a girl disappears, who do you suspect?
When 17-year-old Hunter Gifford wakes in the hospital on the night of homecoming, he's shocked to learn he and his girlfriend, Chloe Summers, have been in a terrible car accident. Hunter has no memory of the crash, and his shock turns to horror when he is told Chloe's blood has been found in the car―but she has disappeared.
Back at school, his fellow students taunt him, and his former best friend starts making a true-crime documentary about the case―one that points the finger directly at Hunter. And just when things can't get any worse, Chloe's mother stands in front of the entire town at a candlelight vigil and accuses Hunter of murder.
Under mounting pressure from the police, Hunter takes matters into his own hands by questioning anyone who might know the truth and posting videos to prove his innocence. When Hunter learns he and Chloe were seen arguing loudly outside the dance, he faces a sickening possibility. Was he angry enough to kill the person he loved?
Praise for David Bell:
"David Bell is a top-notch storyteller and Layover is his best book yet. I flew through this twisty, riveting psychological thriller at breakneck speed, hooked from the first page right up through the book's breathless conclusion."―Cristina Alger, New York Times bestselling author of Girls Like Us
"With hints of Patricia Highsmith's THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, this is a riveting thriller." ―Palm Beach Daily News
"Readers will find themselves thoroughly immersed in this riveting thriller…both compelling and surprising."―Booklist
"Bell is a brilliant craftsman as well as storyteller."―The Providence Journal
When a girl disappears, who do you suspect?
When 17-year-old Hunter Gifford wakes in the hospital on the night of homecoming, he's shocked to learn he and his girlfriend, Chloe Summers, have been in a terrible car accident. Hunter has no memory of the crash, and his shock turns to horror when he is told Chloe's blood has been found in the car―but she has disappeared.
Back at school, his fellow students taunt him, and his former best friend starts making a true-crime documentary about the case―one that points the finger directly at Hunter. And just when things can't get any worse, Chloe's mother stands in front of the entire town at a candlelight vigil and accuses Hunter of murder.
Under mounting pressure from the police, Hunter takes matters into his own hands by questioning anyone who might know the truth and posting videos to prove his innocence. When Hunter learns he and Chloe were seen arguing loudly outside the dance, he faces a sickening possibility. Was he angry enough to kill the person he loved?
Praise for David Bell:
"David Bell is a top-notch storyteller and Layover is his best book yet. I flew through this twisty, riveting psychological thriller at breakneck speed, hooked from the first page right up through the book's breathless conclusion."―Cristina Alger, New York Times bestselling author of Girls Like Us
"With hints of Patricia Highsmith's THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, this is a riveting thriller." ―Palm Beach Daily News
"Readers will find themselves thoroughly immersed in this riveting thriller…both compelling and surprising."―Booklist
"Bell is a brilliant craftsman as well as storyteller."―The Providence Journal
Editorial Reviews
"Friends, families, and investigators collide in this pacy, small-town thriller about a missing girl and the boyfriend who may have killed her. As the clues unfold, readers will be dying for answers until the final, shocking twist. A propulsive read!" ― Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, author of Lies Like Wildfire and Friends Like These
"This gripping page-turner will keep readers guessing until the final twist" ― Kirkus Reviews
"Short, propulsive chapters keep the pages of this well-paced mystery turning... [an] absorbing thriller" ― Publisher's Weekly
"This is a worthwhile read for students in need of their next plot-twist fix" ― School Library Journal
"This gripping page-turner will keep readers guessing until the final twist" ― Kirkus Reviews
"Short, propulsive chapters keep the pages of this well-paced mystery turning... [an] absorbing thriller" ― Publisher's Weekly
"This is a worthwhile read for students in need of their next plot-twist fix" ― School Library Journal
Readers Top Reviews
L. A. Barrow
This fast-paced YA thriller by David Bell makes perfect timing on the suspense. Some YA's are cheesy, but this one never felt like that degree. The characters were typical for sweetheart teenagers and kept me going enough to finish. When Hunter felt he had it all with his girlfriend, Chloe, he was not expecting it to end so abruptly and tragically. It was after their homecoming dance that it shifted against them. They left the dance and crashed into a tree leaving Hunter with no memory of the accident and Chloe missing. Her blood was found at the scene, but to no avail was she. Fingers are pointed at Hunter as if he did something to her. Chloe's family and friends hold a candlelight vigil where the taunting begins against him even by her mom. Although Hunter makes some stupid decisions afterward, I felt sorry for his character and hoped for closure. When his best friend makes a true-documentary capturing some sketchy scenes of the night, the case begins to unravel but not without someone being murdered and people close to him have some clues to add to that night.
S. LewisL. A. Bar
17-year-old Hunter Gifford wakes in the hospital on the night of the homecoming dance, suffering from a head injury and no recollection at all about the car accident that sent him to the hospital, or what happened to his girlfriend who was supposedly in the car with him. Chloe Summers has disappeared and everyone is looking at Hunter as the prime suspect in her disappearance. Desperate to find Chloe and clear his name, Hunter starts questioning anyone who might know the truth and posting videos to prove his innocence. Is there a reason Hunter can't remember anything about that night? And why have a multiple people come forward, saying they saw him arguing with Chloe in the parking lot, before they peeled out of the parking lot in her car? I am a huge fan of this author's books, so I was interested to see what sort of YA mystery he would come up with. I was not disappointed. This had me captivated from start to finish, as I tried to guess what really happened to Chloe. I confess, I did sort of guess the correct answer, but it took me awhile, and I was still surprised with part of it. This has a great cast of characters, & a storyline and mystery that will keep you engaged. I definitely recommend this for both teens & adults.
KaceeyS. LewisL.
… My girl, she was the world to me She's gone, and that's a tragedy My girl, is just a memory She's been so long away My girl (Gone, gone, gone, she been gone so long) Songwriters: Brian Macleod / William Henderson performed by Chilliwack. Ok, I finally did it! I read a YA book! And, wait for it…🥁🥁 I liked it!💃🕺🏻 Maybe because it was a David Bell novel? After all, he is the reason I knowingly picked up a targeted YA read. Hunter and Chloe are your typical high school sweethearts! In love and going to their home coming dance. But after leaving the nights festivities they’re involved in a serious crash. One that leaves Hunter with a head injury and no memory of the accident. And Chloe? Well, it seems she has disappeared! Isn’t it always the boyfriend the police look at first? Of course it is! All eyes are cast directly on Hunter! Did he harm Chloe? Even with no memory he claims his innocence! And realizes it’s up to him to prove it. This book is delivered in short chapters with mini cliffhangers that make you addictively keep reading more! I enjoy David Bell’s writing style and even though this was a different genre than his typical (thriller) books it still worked for me. Am I a converted YA reader? I’m not sure I’d go that far. But I will admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this one and may be open for another down the road....maybe!😅 ‼️ David Bell did include a great life lesson at the end that all should be aware of. I wasn’t…but I’m in the know now! Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire and David Bell. 1
