Crickets by Lee Chappel

4 out of 5 stars

An ipad displaying the cover of the book Crickets. The ipad is laying on a black and white plaid blanket.

After reporting a rape, Kara Peterson leaves her hometown of Paige, Ohio, and never looks back. However, when her father dies unexpectedly 10 years later, she returns home and is confronted with fresh taunts and memories she wanted to leave behind.

This is a suspenseful page-turner – I read it all in a day because I couldn’t wait to find out who or what was haunting Kara. From panic attacks to seeking comfort from her childhood best friend, Brent, the author does a good job capturing the dizzying mix of emotions Kara feels being back home for a funeral.

As someone who grew up in a small town, the sense of place the book establishes is on point. I could really relate to the scenes where Kara had to make small talk with former acquaintances.

I wasn’t completely shocked by the ending, but there was enough mystery to hold my attention and make me see if my late building suspicions were correct.

In my opinion, this book is a hidden gem that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a good mystery/suspense story.

Thank you to the publisher, Bleau Press, for providing a free e-review copy. All opinions are my own.

The e-book, paperback, and hardcover editions of Crickets are available on Amazon.

What hidden gems have you read this year?

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