REVIEW: SHE’S GONE, BY DAVID BELL

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?

She’s Gone is the story of Hunter and Chloe, and what happened to them at Homecoming and before…before she disappeared. Whatever went on between them was forgotten by Hunter, blocked out, and despite what others believe, he is determined that there are answers and that he isn’t guilty.

We watch as he and some of his friends search for answers, but along the way to finding out the truth, more obstacles appear.

Hunter’s voice is compelling, and no matter what comes up, I am rooting for him. Feeling that there is more to the story.

I liked how we keep following clues, not knowing where they’ll lead, and then, surprisingly, we seem to stumble on the truth. Stunned, but not really that surprised. A 4.5 star read.

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