The Missing Hours

July 19, 2021
NYU freshman Claudia Castro, the protagonist of this provocative standalone from Edgar finalist Dahl (the Rebekah Roberts series), has pretty much sailed through her first 20 years—until the day she wakes up in her nearly deserted dorm during spring break with a black eye, busted lip, bruising hangover, and no idea what happened to her. Too shaken to contemplate facing her family, Claudia uncharacteristically accepts the kindness of fellow student Trevor Barber, a relative stranger from a working-class background. Claudia’s starting to get back on her feet when she receives a shattering video showing all too graphically some of what occurred during the time she can’t remember, and struggles with whether to go to the police and risk being forever defined as a victim, or seek her own vigilante-style justice with Taylor’s help. For better and worse, the glamour of Claudia’s lifestyle, including a palatial Martha’s Vineyard seaside estate as potential hideaway, make this psychological thriller pleasurable to read, but it also somewhat blunts the trauma of what is an all-too-real scenario. Though Dahl doesn’t hit a home run, credit her with ambitiously tackling a broad canvas. Agent: Stephanie Kip Rostan, Levine Greenberg Rostan.

September 1, 2021

Dahl's (Conviction; Run You Down) thriller is a fast-paced, multiple-perspective story of sexual abuse being dismissed, or even weaponized against its victim. At first glance, Claudia Castro has it all: famous parents, money, thousands of social media followers, sex appeal, and popularity. Unfortunately, things aren't as they seem. It turns out that Claudia is a hot mess. One night, she misses the birth of her niece and while she has bruises the next day, she has no memory of what she assumes was a drunken night out. Dumbfounded and ashamed, Claudia cuts off communication with her family and attempts to piece together the events of that night, with the help of a new friend. As Claudia's memory begins to clear, her feelings of dread transform into a deranged and dangerous desire for vengeance. What happens next is the outcry of an aggrieved woman whose only alibi is herself; wealthy and powerful people, like always, will attempt to prevail. VERDICT The plot is intriguing but doesn't quite hit the gritty climax readers might expect. Still, Dahl provides a timely story about an always relevant topic.--Carmen Clark, Elkhart P.L., IN

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2021
Claudia Castro is young, privileged, and reckless. Recently featured in a documentary about badly behaved rich kids, she is embarrassed by it and (sort of) determined to "get real" about life. She decides on a staycation for her spring break from NYU because her sister is about to make her an aunt. One night she does get totally drunk, and when she wakes up the next morning, she realizes she has been sexually assaulted. A video of the rape shows up subsequently on everyone's phone. What follows is a harrowing tale. Claudia decides to get even, and being able to withdraw vast amounts of money from her trust fund enables her to do all sorts of vengeful, nasty things. Damn the consequences! Dahl makes a dramatic break her from her acclaimed Rebekah Roberts series and takes on the conflicted lives of the arrogantly wealthy and the perils of social media. She is known for her fast-paced writing, but this one moves at breakneck speed and stays with you long after the last page.

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