Book Review no 8: Where Have You Been? by Wendy James

Having recently read Wendy's most recent novel The Mistake, I couldn't wait to read another one of her books and Where Have You Been was also a gripping read.

Susan Middleton is living a comfortable suburban life in Sydney. Married to the unexciting but stable Ed and with two young children, she has managed to overcome the trauma of seeing her older sister disappear more than twenty years before and watching her mother suffer mental illness until her recent death. Her mother's will, however, has a major twist. Before the estate can be settled, efforts must be made to locate Susan's missing sister Karen, so she can claim her inheritance. Similar to The Mistake, Wendy James has taken a compelling topic and spun it into a mystery that captured my attention from the first page. 

Susan doesn't know how to feel when Karen reappears. But they soon forge a close bond, making up for lost time as they reconnect as sisters. And it's not just Susan who loves her - Ed is taken with his new sister-in-law as are the children.

Then fractures start to appear in the new relationship. Karen - who now calls herself Carly - doesn't want to talk about the past and won't answer questions about why she disappeared, much to Susan's frustration. The children reveal some unpleasant news about their Aunt and Ed is grappling with feelings that go beyond brother-in-law affection.

The suspense is pretty constant throughout, as you wonder exactly why Karen did disappear and what she is hiding now. The author has created some interesting characters, especially Ed - who I found to be very much all front and little substance. You are kept guessing right until the end and my only complaint would be that there were a few loose ends that I would have liked tied up a little more.

Overall, though, this is a fantastic read, with many twists and turns that kept me enthralled from start to finish.