"there's a very fine line to cross into insanity"
Reviewed by Sandra Wurman
Posted October 5, 2012
Thriller Psychological | Mystery
Caution do not expect to get anything done until you get to
about page 460 of this highly charged suspense novel by
truly expert Lisa Jackson. She is the master of keeping
a secret and in this story about probably the most
dysfunctional family you will ever meet she will keep you
guessing right through all 480 pages. This is the ultimate
page turner and will surely have you jumping out of your
seat - I know I had quite a few startling moments. Here's the scoop on the Church family. They basically own
an island, have riches beyond belief, distrust and despise
each other and hold a grudge like no one else. Not exactly
warm and fuzzy they each have so much baggage it's a wonder
they manage day to day events not to mention any
unfortunate personal tragedies. Somewhere along the line
they have lost all means to cope with life. Their personal
lives have become a series of disasters and none of them
have emerged whole emotionally or physically. If you looked
up the word dysfunctional and disabled their family
portrait would surely accompany the definition. Ava Garrison is living an ongoing nightmare, one she can't
escape in daylight or at night. She is haunted. Haunted by
guilt and memories of events that she dreads and wishes
there were ways to go back in the past and redo - hopefully
with happier endings. But realistically Ava knows that's
not possible and yet she can't get past those events and
move forward. She is stuck and afraid of her own slim
handle on sanity. She survived one attempt at suicide and
confinement to a mental health institution. But now that
she is back at home there doesn't seem to be any safe place
for her in her very fragile state. There is no gray area,
either people are whispering behind her back or they are
disturbingly hostile and confrontational. Ava isn't sure
which is more disturbing contributing to her sense of
paranoia. Realizing the probability that the drugs she takes are
leaving her vulnerable and unsteady Ava decides that for
her own peace of mind she has to stop all medications. Of
course that initially leaves her weak and feeling ill but
her sense of malaise overrides any pressure by her
psychologist or family to continue them.
Her ongoing sketchy memories and nightmares that have her
reliving the loss of her two year son are quite literally
making her family and household staff crazy. They are at a
loss what they can do to convince Ava that Noah is dead.
There has never been a ransom demand so the belief is that
he innocently wandered off and most probably drowned.
Simply put there is no way Ava will stop looking for and
believing that Noah is alive and that is giving someone the
best weapon to use against her. Ava is quickly realizing there is no one she can trust
including her husband. She is on mission to solve the
mystery of the disappearance of her son. But the path is
getting progressively murkier and deadlier for those with
any
relationship with her. Thank goodness for the newly hired ranch hand who seems to
appear just in the nick of time. But remember what they say
about coincidences. If you've never had the opportunity to read a book by Lisa
Jackson I can't think of a better introduction than YOU
DON'T WANT TO KNOW to an
amazing author with an eye for details. But don't take my
word for it.
SUMMARY
In Ava's dreams, her son, Noah, looks just the way she
remembers him: a sweet two-year-old in rolled-up jeans and a
red sweatshirt. When Ava wakes, the agonizing truth hits her
all over again. Noah went missing two years ago, and his
body has never been found. Almost everyone, including Ava's
semi-estranged husband, Wyatt, assumes the boy drowned after
falling off the dock near their Church Island home. Ava has spent most of the past two years in and out of
Seattle mental institutions, shattered by grief and unable
to recall the details of Noah's disappearance. Now she's
back at Neptune's Gate, the family estate she once intended
to restore to its former grandeur. Slowly, her strength is
returning. But as Ava's mind comes back into focus, her
suspicions grow. Despite their apparent concern, Ava can't
shake the feeling that her family, and her psychologist,
know more than they're saying. But are they really worried
for her well-being—or anxious about what she might
discover? Unwilling to trust those around her, Ava secretly visits a
hypnotist to try and restore her memories. But the strange
visions and night terrors keep getting worse. Ava is sure
she's heard Noah crying in the nursery, and glimpsed him
walking near the dock. Is she losing her mind, or is Noah
still alive? Ava won't stop until she gets answers, but the
truth is more dangerous than she can imagine. And the price
may be more than she ever thought to pay...
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