Red Leaves by Thomas H. Cook is a beautifully written, haunting story about a devastating event that changes the life of more than one family. A little girl goes missing while under the care of a sixteen year old boy, and many believe that this boy is the one to be held accountable. Unfortunately even his parents have their suspicions.

The on-going police investigation and the anguish of both families is explored but there was something very familiar about this story that actually had me checking to see whether I had already read the book. I hadn’t but I think the plot line was similar to some other books that I had previously read.

Red Leaves examines a horrendous crime and as the pages turn we can see the pressures that both families feel. All is finally revealed in the final chapter but the destruction of these families brought about by accusations, suspicions and lack of communication is firmly in place by then. An interesting, somewhat bleak story. ( )

This was the first of Thomas H. Cook's I have had the pleasure to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. You are the father of a 15-year old boy. You begin to believe he is responsible for the disappearance of an 8-year old girl. You see the family life you have so carefully constructed begin to fall apart. Those are the lines along which Cook has written an admirable novel. ( )

The narrator lives in a small town with his wife and teenage son, Keith who is a troubled teenager, age 15. Keith babysits for a pretty 8 year old girl, Amy who then disappears. The police suspect Keith. The narrator, Eric, also suspects him but he tries not too. He also faces pressure from Amy's father who just wants her back. Eric has a brother, Warren, who was the _target of a very cold father who gave Eric what he needed, but withheld from Warren. The police continue to put the pressure on and want Keith to confess. Eric has difficulty controlling his dislike of his son. He also suspects his wife of having an affair. Eventually Eric suspects his brother who then kills himself. He then finds the pizza delivery man smokes the same cigarettes as Keith. For some reason, Eric doesn't want to contact the police about this as he believes the police probably already cleared the delivery man. Keith makes the call and starts communicating with his father. Sadly, Amy's father can't stand it anymore and kills Keith and then himself. Amy is then found and rescued from the real kidnapper. Throughout the story, Eric also looks back on his own childhood. Interesting book.

A young girl disappears and the sullen, loner 17-year old boy who had been babysitting her prior in the evening becomes the main suspect. The story is told from the point of view of the teenager’s father, who suddenly suspects he knows little about the members of his own family. This story was great but I had to reduce a star because of the intense foreshadowing that was as subtle as a sledgehammer. I must give extra praise for the cover of the hardcover edition, which is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. ( )

In haste . . .

I don't have time to review stuff at the moment (though I'm on the final straight of the huge film noir encyclopedia, hurrah!), but fury has driven me to make a note here. This would probably have had five stars from me had it not been for its repeated illiteracy of using the word "peddle" in place of "pedal" (the adolescent at the tale's heart rides a bicycle). Mr Cook's copyeditor has served him ill.
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