Urban Lit 4 | Page 10

strange and harrowing journey of worst fear seeps closer and closer her own—to a totally unexpected to her like a heavy blanket that place that requires her to live by won't lift. her wits, while trying desperately to keep in her head, at all times, a The Girl in the Red Coat is a thrilling, vision of her mother … haunting, yet realistically done read that readers will love. Alternating between Beth’s story Kate Hamer zooms in on the psyand Carmel’s, and written in grip- chological and emotional journey ping prose that won’t let go, The of both mother and daughter. Girl in the Red Coat—like Emma Readers will see that this child abDonoghue’s Room and M. L. Sted- duction is original and refreshing man’s The Light Between compared to other similar Oceans—is an utterly immersive reads. The ending of this psychoSynopsis: story that’s impossible to put logical thriller is a twist that readdown . . . and impossible to forget. ers won't see coming. It is abso- Newly, single mom, Beth has one constant, gnawing worry: that her lutely remarkable on how Kate Rating: 5 stars Hamer delivers readers a heart- dreamy eight-year-old daughter, Carmel, who has a tendency to pounding novel that will keep Review: readers on the edge of their seats. wander off, will one day go missing. The title of this masterpiece ties in The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate perfectly with the ending. The Girl Hamer is phenomenal. Brilliantly in the Red Coat is Kate Hamer's And then one day, it happens: On well-written...and highly sus- debut novel, and I loved it. After a Saturday morning thick with fog, penseful, readers won't want to reading this book, I look forward Beth takes Carmel to a local out- stop reading this story. From the to reading more by this talented door festival, they get separated in very first page, Kate Hamer has writer. This read will open readers the crowd, and Carmel is gone. already taken readers hearts and eyes to the deeper part of experimind into the most luring read of encing one's child abduction. Shattered, Beth sets herself on the all time. Readers will connect fast Something that no child or parent grim and lonely mission to find and easy with the mother should ever have to encounter. her daughter, keeping on relent- who...has lost her daughter. A Most children never make it back lessly even as the authorities tell daughter who was only eight years home alive. Overall, I highly recher that Carmel may be gone for old. The mother's worry and fear ommend this to readers worldgood. become the reader's the instant wide. they open this book. Carmel, meanwhile, is on So many a years go on by and the mother's