Book Review: The Day She Died by Bill Garrison
Book Description:
A mystery. In this clean time-travel whodunit, a middle-aged coffee-shop owner always wondered what his life would have been like if he’d stayed in town the day his college fiancee disappeared, the victim of an unsolved crime.
One morning he wakes up 20 years earlier and finds himself a student at the University of Oklahoma again on the day she died. In a journey that takes months, he stumbles over people connected to Kim’s disappearance and puzzles over connecting the dots.
Oddly enough, things are different when he relives sections of his life. For example, as a teen he plays baseball and as an adult he discovers what it’s like to be a Christian pastor, things he never did before.
Can he find some answers about Kim and about his own life? Or prevent Kim’s death? And if he succeeds in changing history, what happens to his wife and kids?
I’ll admit, when I learn a book contains time travel, I’m skeptical. Flashback scenes are difficult to write and very few authors do it well. Then when I read that the book is the first from the author, I’m not sure at all.
The Day She Died and Bill Garrison proved me wrong. This time travel mystery and romance is told well, flashbacks and all. I was able to keep track of the characters and the time frame. I loved that I truly didn’t know “the bad person” until the reveal, because I usually guess and am right. The Day She Died was full of surprises but they all made sense for the plot. The author didn’t have to make it work. He told the story well enough he didn’t have to force it.
I also enjoyed the references to the teen and college/young adult years. I was that age then and those were the movies I was going to. The author made these things authentic. I especially appreciate that it’s “clean,” no profanity. Mysteries don’t have to be profane, and I liked that The Day She Died isn’t.
If you’re a mystery and/or romance fan, you’re going to enjoy this story.
To purchase The Day She Died, click here.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
