Review: Remembering Sarah

Remembering Sarah is the story of Mike Sullivan and his daughter, Sarah. Mike Sullivan’s mother left him with an abusive father at the age of twelve, who he believes is responsible for her disappearance and never returning for him. Mike grows up and marries, Jess, who is an overprotective mother to their 6 year old daughter Sarah.

Mike wants Sarah to grow up to be strong and independent. Even after his wife forbids him to do so, he takes Sarah sledding. On a previous sledding trip she had fallen and bumped her head and Jess insisted they go to the emergency room where the doctor informed her it was just a bump on the head. Sarah just wants to be a normal little girl and is quite independent. Once they arrive at the sledding location, she insists on going up the hill herself and riding down with Mike’s best friend, Wild Bill’s daughter, Paula.

Only she never returns. The hill is packed with children sledding and their parents along with blizzard conditions picking up that were not to hit until later in the night. A search is mounted but all that is found is Sarah’s sled and her glasses that she panics over when they are missing.

Five years later, Mike still believes his little girl might be alive somewhere. He is battling a failed marriage, alcoholism and the fact that the only suspect in Sarah’s disappearance, Father Jonah, is about to die any day of cancer. He is desperate to find out the truth before Father Jonah takes his secrets to the grave with him. Along with all of this, his father returns at this time in his life and all the unanswered questions about what happened to his mother are back in his mind also.

I was reluctant to read this book as I normally do not like to read books with crimes involving children. However this book had me hooked after the first couple of page. The characters were well drawn to where you could picture them. One wonders how one man could endure so much and still have faith. I would highly recommend this book even to readers who have problems with crimes involving children.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Gina Metz - RAM

Book Review: Remembering Sarah