WHERE SHE WENT
Some college girls go to the library. Some go to parties. And some go way too far. A torn from the headlines story of a daughter gone missing, and a mother hellbent on finding her, even if it means confronting dark secrets about each other along the way.
PRAISE
“Kelly Simmons tackles every newly empty-nesting mom’s worst nightmare: your college freshman disappears without a trace. A page-turning, topical story you’ll remember long after the end.”
—Kaira Rouda, USA Today bestselling author of Best Day Ever and The Favorite Daughter
“Fans of Lisa Scottoline will race through the pages of this riveting story of dark secrets and duplicity.”
—Hank Phillippi Ryan, bestselling author of The Murder List
“A consistently compelling and blazingly fast read that will wrack the nerves of both parents and their college-bound daughters alike. Don’t miss this one!”
—Carter Wilson, USA Today bestselling author
“A jaw-dropping conspiracy that feels uncomfortably real. Crackling with tension but also brimming with heart, this is a book you’ll race through but not stop thinking about for days after.”
—Emily Carpenter, bestselling author of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls
“Fans of smart, sophisticated, twisty suspense will love Simmons’ bold, relentless, and yet utterly relatable heroines. Highly recommended!”
—Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller The Marsh King’s Daughter
“The eternal bond between mothers and daughters permeates every tense second of this terrific, of-the-moment suspenseful novel.”
—Robb Cadigan, Owner, Reads & Company
“The characters and setting are well-drawn, the plot is tight, and the writing flows in a way that keeps the story running full-out. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys suspense, in-depth character study, and an unpredictable storyline.”
—New York Journal of Books
1. In what ways do Maggie’s pursuit of her daughter and Emma’s pursuit of her story run parallel – and in what ways do they differ? Did you find their motivations and methods relatable?
2. Maggie’s parental intuition is portrayed in stark relief to the more left-brained methods of the police. Have you ever acted on a hunch or intuition? What drove you to this choice . . . and were you right?
3. Colleges are frequently under fire for their tepid responses to crimes committed on campus. What might have happened differently in the novel had different policies or attitudes in place?
4. The themes of women helping women and women hurting women are woven throughout the book. Did the betrayals surprise you? Have you ever been on the receiving end of “mean girl” behavior?
5. Emma is accused of being judgmental towards sex work. Do you believe she was, and why? In your observation, even in this enlightened era, do you think most women are?
6. How did Maggie’s experiences as a policeman’s wife and widow color her responses? Was she fair, or did she overreact?
7. The “good old boys network” among fraternity brothers and alumni form a spine of suspicion in the novel. Do you find evidence of this in your own work, life, community?