The 2016 Dallas County Reads One Book event began Tuesday , Sept. 20 with a lecture and book signing at the Perry Performing Arts Center by New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf.
Gudenkauf’s chilling page-turner, “Missing Pieces,” in which a woman uncovers earth-shattering secrets about her husband’s family, was the chosen title in the annual countywide reading project with all 12 Dallas County libraries participating. It is the Iowa author’s second novel.
The free book talk with Gudenkauf began at 7 p.m. and was attended by about 100 local readers. The talk was preceded by an hors d’ouvres reception at the Hotel Pattee in Perry.
One local reader positively gushed about the lurid and involved plot line of “Missing Pieces.”
“It turns out,” the reader said, “the murderer was having an affair with the dad and, therefore, killed his wife so they could be together. Now if she made this up in her head, then okay, but if the 15-year-old girl and the dad (the father of the girl’s boyfriend) really were having an affair, then I’m not thrilled with the dad’s name being cleared — he was suspected for years as the murderer — and the whole town showing up for his funeral since I’m not sure not being a murderer is that great if you’re still the rapist of a 15-year-old who is supposed to be your son’s girlfriend. So I hope the affair was in the girl’s mind and not a reality but couldn’t tell for sure.”
Copies of this year’s choice for the Dallas County Reads One Book event are available at all public libraries in Dallas County.
