The Hidding Place by David Bell

Twenty-five-years ago, the disappearance of four-year-old Justin Manning rocked the small town of Dove Point, Ohio. After his body was found in a shallow grave in the woods two months later, the repercussions were felt for years.

Janet Manning has been haunted by the murder since the day she lost sight of her brother in the park. Now, with the twenty-fifth anniversary of Justin’s death looming, a detective and a newspaper reporter have started to ask questions, opening old wounds and raising new suspicions. Could the man convicted of the murder — who spent more than two decades in prison — really be innocent? Janet’s childhood friend and high school crush, who was in the park with her that day, has returned to Dove Point, where he is wrestling with his own conflicted memories of the events. And a strange man appears at Janet’s door in the middle of the night, claiming to know the truth.

Soon, years of deceit will be swept away, and the truth about what happened to Janet’s brother will be revealed. And the answers that Janet has sought may be found much closer to home than she ever could have imagined. @goodreads

MY REVIEW:

3 STARS


This story takes place 25 years after the murder of a 4 year-old little boy named Justin. Janet, his older sister by just a few years was supposed to be watching him. They were in the park playing and there were people and children all around. Janet's best friend Michael showed up and they were talking and playing. Somehow, little Justin disappears and no one knows exactly what happened. Kids and adults saw different things and someone was accused of the murder. It's just not safe anywhere.


How can a little boy just disappear and be found in the woods at the park in a little grave two months later. Did they get the right man?



Twenty-five years later on the anniversary of Justin's death things are being brought up again. The killer has been released. A police detective isn't sure they got the right man. Janet and her daughter Ashleigh are living with Janet's dad as he is down and out in bad times. Janet's best friend Michael returns to town after no word for several years. And there is a mysterious stranger creeping around and leaving cryptic remarks to Janet.



The book has a lot of twists and turns. Right when you think it's going one way, it takes off in another direction. I did not see that ending coming. Nothing is what it seems at all and the saddest thing is, that sweet little boy was killed for something so stupid.. just adults creating problems they should never have caused in the first place.

All-in-all I thought it was a good mystery. 

GOODREAD REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1420967621

AMAZON LINK TO THE BOOK:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/045123796X?keywords=the%20hiding%20place&qid=1448380205&ref_=nav_ya_signin&sr=8-8