A Glimmer In The Hollows DEALS
A small town, missing children, and a people haunted by the past. These are the mysteries at the heart of Lorna Selley’s novel A Glimmer in the Hollows. The town of Driftwood in Appalachia has been plagued by multiple disappearances over the years.
Twenty years ago, six-year-old Olivia Garcia ran off into the state park, never to be seen again. Her disappearance has continued to plague Jessica Paige, who was babysitting Olivia all those years ago. But now some new missing children – and the arrival of a writer searching for the truth – will set Jessica on a path for answers that she never expected.
Big thanks to Roundfire Books for the copy of A Glimmer in the Hollows! Let’s dive into this unexpected mystery.
A Glimmer in the Hollows Summary
Jessica Paige’s life in Driftwood could use some excitement. Her work as a librarian is stale, and her love life is nonexistent. The only enjoyment she’s found is through the work of Elliot Reed, a writer whose work – and looks – have added some exhilaration to her days. She’s been stuck in a spiral for the past 20 years. On one fateful night in 2002, Jessica agreed to babysit six-year-old Olivia Garcia. That night, Olivia would take off into Driftwood State Park, leaving Jessica with missing memories and a feeling of dread.
In 2022, multiple other children have gone missing in the area, without a trace and without explanation. And some of the children have been visiting Jessica at her home, feral and refusing to tell her the truth about where the children go when they vanish.
“I just want you to be happy,” he said, than stood up. I just want my old sister back, he means. But it’s been so long, I’m not even sure who that is.
Bestselling author Elliot Reed is battling writer’s block and searching for inspiration for his next novel. Having heard about the disappearances that have plagued Driftwood, he’s traveled to the town in order to do some research. An accident leads to a chance encounter between him and Jessica and kicks off a series of events that will lead them down a road of discovery about Driftwood that neither could have seen coming.
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A Surprising Mystery in the Heart of the Forest
A Glimmer in the Hollows is a novel that provides readers with multiple genres: mystery, sci-fi, and romance all rolled into one. It’s a slow-burn mystery that turns more to science fiction in its third act quite unexpectedly.
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Subscribe to our weekly newsletterCharacters & Themes
The characters and their interactions are a large part of what makes A Glimmer in the Hollows so compelling. Jessica and Elliot each have their own interesting perspectives on the situations they encounter – told through a dual pov that shifts in most chapters – and their narratives provide a unique insight into the events taking place in Driftwood.
The addition of the feral kids arriving at Jessica’s doorstep also provides an additional element of suspense to the story. Their cryptic speech and disheveled appearances can become a little frustrating, however, this only adds to our sense of camaraderie with the protagonists, searching for answers that feel so far away.
A Glimmer in the Hollows tackles themes of isolation and the search for identity in a small town. While Jessica searches for a way out of her mundane day-to-day trapped in a town connected to her trauma, Elliot is searching for his muse and a story that will continue to solidify his place in the literary hall of fame. In finding one another, they’re both able to make headway toward these goals.
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Story & Pacing
The overall storyline of A Glimmer in the Hollows is intriguing, and the unexpected twist in the third act certainly lends itself to the mysterious elements of this tale set in a small town in Appalachia. It does feel at times as though some of the story’s pacing was slightly muddled, and certain scenes are more confusing than expository, but the narrative drives the story forward at a decent speed and with an ultimately enjoyable result.
The most surprising aspect of the novel comes in the form of the explanation for the missing children in Driftwood. To give away the mystery would be a disservice to the curious reader who has yet to pick it up, so I’ll only say this: you won’t see it coming.
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Final Thoughts
While the ultimate reason for this mystery may not be every reader’s cup of tea, A Glimmer in the Hollows delivers a unique premise and a setting that is perfect for an unexplainable sequence of events. Lorna Selley has crafted a tale that will challenge people’s perception of the classic missing person mystery story. The woods are the perfect place for a hidden secret, and the story takes full advantage of this unsettling atmosphere to deliver a story that will keep you guessing.
A Glimmer in the Hollows is now available at all major retailers! Pick it up and prepare to be immersed.
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The Review
A Glimmer In The Hollows
Brimming with intrigue, A Glimmer in the Hollows will take readers on a harrowing journey through the Appalachian wilderness.
PROS
- Setting
- Characters
- Mystery
CONS
- Pacing
- Exposition
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