Big Woods by May Cobb
May Cobb's debut suspense novel, Big Woods , isn't the type of book I would normally read. I'm not a fan of women or children in jeopardy novels. But, I was asked to review this one for a journal, and I'm glad I did. It was one of the best novels I read that month. It's a strong debut. In 1989, ten-year-old Lucy Spencer disappears when she’s walking to school. She’s not the first child to disappear in the area, but most disappeared from Starrville and not Longview, Texas. None of the other children were found alive. Their bodies were found in Big Woods. But, fourteen-year-old Leah, Lucy’s older sister, is convinced Lucy is alive. The two share a birthday and a special bond. Her dreams, and a message on the computer saying “Underground. By the Woods”, convince Leah to continue to search. Her father turns to drink. Her mother gives up, but, as the months pass, Leah continues to sneak around and hunt for evidence. While the community is convinced a satanic cult is behi...