Those Girls
Chevy Stevens, 2015
St. Martin's Press
384 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781250034588
Summary
Life has never been easy for the three Campbell sisters. Jess, Courtney, and Dani live on a remote ranch in Western Canada where they work hard and try to stay out of the way of their father's temper.
One night, a fight gets out of hand and the sisters are forced to go on the run, only to get caught in an even worse nightmare when their truck breaks down in a small town. As events spiral out of control they find themselves in a horrifying situation and are left with no choice but to change their names and create new lives.
Eighteen years later, they are still trying to forget what happened that summer. But when one of the sisters goes missing, followed closely by her niece, they are pulled back into the past. And this time there's nowhere left to run.
With Those Girls Chevy Stevens presents her most visceral thriller yet: an unforgettable portrait of desperation, loyalty, and evil. A story of survival...and revenge. (From the publisher.)
Author Bio
• Birth—1973
• Where—Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
• Education—N/A
• Awards—International Thriller Writers Award
• Currently—lives on Vancouver Island, B.E.
Chevy Stevens grew up on a ranch on Vancouver Island and still calls the island home. For most of her adult life she worked in sales, first as a rep for a giftware company and then as a Realtor. At open houses, waiting between potential buyers, she spent hours scaring herself with thoughts of horrible things that could happen to her. Her most terrifying scenario, which began with being abducted, was the inspiration for Still Missing. After six months Chevy sold her house and left real estate so she could finish the book.
Chevy enjoys writing thrillers that allow her to blend her interest in family dynamics with her love of the west coast lifestyle. When she’s not working on her next book, she’s hiking with her husband and dog in the local mountains. (From the author's website.)
Book Reviews
[A] gripping thriller.... Stevens skillfully builds suspense, but often draws characters with broad strokes, sacrificing depth for pacing, and a few niggling details (such as the timing of Brian’s marriage) remain unexplained. Despite its flaws, this fast-paced nail-biter will keep readers up late—and may evoke a few tears.
Publishers Weekly
(Starred review.) [Three] sisters...anxiously await the return of their abusive and alcoholic father, who has been away for a month working on an oil rig. The homecoming is worse than they anticipated.... [Such ] an engrossing, suspenseful tale that readers will wish they could warn the protagonists of the dangers that lie ahead...nail-biting suspense. —Susan Moritz, Silver Spring, MD
Library Journal
Tense, believable, and action-packed, made more vibrant by Stevens' sense of place.
Kirkus Reviews
Discussion Questions
1. Throughout the novel we observe the dynamics between the three sisters. How would you describe each sister’s role? Do their roles change as the novel progresses?
2. In what ways do we see how the experiences Dani, Courtney, and Jess had as children and teenagers affect the relationships they have and how they relate to people as adults? How are they each affected differently?
3. Why do Dani, Courtney, and Jess decide to flee after killing their father? Do you think fleeing was their only choice, or do you think they should have taken a different path?
4. Do you think the sisters were too trusting of Brian and Gavin when they met them? Would you have accepted their help if you had been in a similar position, or would you have reacted differently? At what point did you begin to think the boys were truly a dangerous threat?
5. In this novel we see horrible acts of cruelty, but also acts of great kindness and compassion. Which characters display compassion and generosity? What motivates them to do so?
6. Do you think Jess did the right thing by hiding the truth from Skylar for all those years?
7. What was your reaction to Skylar’s decision to run away to find Courtney? Would you have done the same thing in her position?
8. Were you surprised by the way things turned out in the end? What did you expect to happen? Did your expectations change as the novel progressed?
9. How did you react to Courtney’s decision to sacrifice herself to save Skylar?
10. Reflect on the structure of the book, which is written in two parts. How did it affect your experience as a reader? Were you surprised by the way the first part ended? What were your expectations for the second part?
11. What do you imagine the future to hold for Dani, Jess, and Skylar?
(Questions issued by the publisher.)