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Not That I Could Tell

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'Not That I Could Tell' by Jessica Strawser revolves around a group of neighborhood women who gather for a night of drinks and secrets, only to discover that one of them, Kristin, along with her twins, has disappeared. As the story unfolds, the remaining friends, especially Clara and Izzy, navigate through their own secrets and suspicions, leading to the truth about Kristin's disappearance. The narrative delves into themes of female friendships, domestic violence, and the complexities of human relationships, with a compelling plot that keeps readers engaged till the end.

The writing style of the book is described as engaging and well-developed, with strong character development that allows readers to connect with the neighborhood women and their intertwined lives. While the plot may seem predictable at times, the unexpected twists and revelations towards the end add depth to the story, making it a page-turner that explores themes of trust, secrets, and the bonds that tie women together.

Characters:

Characters are complex and varied, embodying the struggles of friendship, motherhood, and personal crises in a tightly knit community.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is immersive and character-driven, allowing for a deep exploration of relationships and tensions within a suburban community.

Plot/Storyline:

The storyline centers on the mystery of a missing woman and her twins, exploring whether her disappearance is voluntary or linked to domestic issues, while uncovering character secrets.

Setting:

The setting is a quaint suburban neighborhood that serves as a microcosm for exploring interpersonal relationships and societal expectations.

Pacing:

The pacing effectively maintains suspense while allowing for in-depth character exploration, though it may lag at certain points.
I take a lot of care in my appearance, for instance. I’m a small-town doctor’s wife, so I need to look the part—even if I don’t feel the part. And I have twins enrolled in pre-K at a charter school so...

Notes:

The story is set in Yellow Springs, Ohio, a quiet community that becomes the center of media attention after a woman and her twins go missing.
Kristin Kirkland disappears after a gathering with her neighbors, leaving behind her estranged husband and several unanswered questions.
The novel explores themes of friendship, domesticity, and the complexity of human relationships.
Clara, Kristin's neighbor and friend, grapples with her own past experiences of trauma and her suspicions about Kristin's husband, Paul.
Izzy, a single woman new to the neighborhood, offers a different perspective as she has her own personal issues to deal with.
The book alternates chapters between Clara and Izzy, giving readers different viewpoints on the unfolding mystery.
Detective Bryant becomes involved in the investigation, revealing damning information about Paul, Kristin's estranged husband.
The story delves into domestic issues, including suspicions of spousal abuse, and the characters struggle with their own secrets and misjudgments about each other.
The narrative is described as a blend of women's fiction and domestic thriller, attracting readers who enjoy character-driven stories with suspenseful plots.
The book received mixed reviews, with some readers finding it predictable while others enjoyed its character exploration and emotional depth.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of Domestic Violence, emotional trauma, and the psychological impacts of a disappearance.

From The Publisher:

"Full of slow-burning intrigue, Strawser's second novel will appeal to fans of Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies and Jennifer Kitses' Small Hours." -Booklist

*Book of the Month Club Selection

An innocent night of fun takes a shocking turn in Not That I Could Tell, the next page-turner from Jessica Strawser, author of Almost Missed You.

When a group of neighborhood women gathers, wine in hand, around a fire pit where their backyards meet one Saturday night, most of them are just ecstatic to have discovered that their baby monitors reach that far. It's a rare kid-free night, and they're giddy with it. They drink too much, and the conversation turns personal.

By Monday morning, one of them is gone.

Everyone knows something about everyone else in the quirky small Ohio town of Yellow Springs, but no one can make sense of the disappearance. Kristin was a sociable twin mom, college administrator, and doctor's wife who didn't seem all that bothered by her impending divorce-and the investigation turns up more questions than answers, with her husband, Paul, at the center. For her closest neighbor, Clara, the incident triggers memories she thought she'd put behind her-and when she's unable to extract herself from the widening circle of scrutiny, her own suspicions quickly grow. But the neighborhood's newest addition, Izzy, is determined not to jump to any conclusions-especially since she's dealing with a crisis of her own.

As the police investigation goes from a media circus to a cold case, the neighbors are forced to reexamine what's going on behind their own closed doors-and to ask how well anyone really knows anyone else.

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About the Author:

JESSICA STRAWSER is the editorial director of Writer's Digest magazine and the author of Almost Missed You, named to Barnes & Noble's Best New Fiction list for March 2017 and PopSugar's Best Spring Reads. She has written for The New York Times Modern Love, Publishers Weekly and other fine venues, and lives with her husband and two children in Cincinnati.

 
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