Lee Martin’s second novel, “The Bright Forever,” is a captivating story about the disappearance of nine-year-old Katie Mackey from a small town in Indiana thirty years ago. Like the comparable “Mystic River,” “Forever” is told from the points of view of the different townspeople and neighbors of the missing girl, each chapter being a first-person account from each person as to his or her version of the events that fateful night.

Martin has created an exquisite page-turner, filled with small-town sensibilities, with the requisite small-town atrocities. One does not expect a heartbreaking crime to happen to them, especially in such a trusting town. In a time when people slept with their front doors unlocked and kept a lazy eye on their children, Katie’s disappearance affects all who knew and knew of the young girl.

Each individual narrator of each first-person chapter has a distinct voice that comes alive on the page. The desperate loneliness of math teacher Mr. Dees, the young arrogance of Katie’s brother Gilley, and the unfamiliar fear the people in the town feel for newcomer Raymond R. Wright, are just a few examples of the vivid feelings Martin is able to capture without exception.

As the reader absorbs the eyewitness accounts, by default they are seeing into the hearts and minds of each witness. Each quirk, every feeling of uncertainty and all displays of moral outrage are placed in full view of the reader, as the character waits for judgment or redemption.

While the “Mystic River” comparisons may be unavoidable, “The Bright Forever” is, in it’s own right, a masterpiece that draws emotion from the reader like its literary counterpart, yet deserves its own category of individual praise. The reader will be entranced by the story from the get-go and held on until the end by a string of unnerving suspense and quiet disbelief.

This book was extremely touching for me. It really made me reflect on the "if only I had done or said this" moments we all have in our lives. The story is based on the disappearance of a 9 year old girl and it follows the actions and emotions of each of the characters involved in her disappearance. I loved the way it painted the pictures of these people. Even those responsible were not made out to be truly "evil" only misguided to a point that brough about a tragedy. This book is definately one of the best books I have read so far this year.

A little girl disappears and the story is told from several points of view. Is it always the one you suspect? Maybe not...A quick read, great for vacation.

I thought this was a very heartfelt and touching book. I felt so bad for Katie's family losing her the way they did. I could have thought of a few ways to get revenge upon her killer(s). I gave this book 4 stars.

Definitely a page-turner, but I was a bit disappointed by the ending. I was expecting some big surprise because of the reviews I've read, but the ending was predictable. Still a good read, though.

I read this book very quickly! It was a dark story, and hooked me in the beginning, the middle lagged some, but then it was worth sticking to the end. Interesting perspective on one event from many different viewpoints. Easy to read.

Engrossing tale of small town people not accustomed to exraordinary happenings, and how they cope when tragedy hits. Anyone from a small town will understand completely as will urban dwellers. Great book!!!!

I really enjoyed this book, its is about how one small choice or moment in time can change a life forever.

quick read, narrator changes throughout book, suspenseful

Read All Book Reviews of "The Bright Forever"

Story of 9 year old Katie Mackey who disappears in a small Indiana town. Very touching book told by the points of views of different people; Her Math Tutor, his neighbors, her older brother Gilley...etc. Very touching book. Quick read, kept me interested entirely to the end.

This book has some lagging moments but overall was a good read. Dark moments in the book but liked the style of telling the story from several different town peoples perspective. Great book that gets you to think.

read it in an afternoon, good book

This is a great read!

I couldn't put this book down. Definitely easy to read and a page turner. Very well written!

good book

Well-done mystery. Multiple narrators slowly reveal what happened to a missing girl. You see the ending coming, but the book doesn't suffer because of this. This book avoids the worst trends of fiction about small towns where every character is either perfect or a freak.

this was a very good book. surprising and amazing. i loved it.

I found this book totally captivating, probably because it was written in the first person (at least I think this is the correct label-- as in the author was writing to the reader (and stating this directly). It follows the fine tradition of telling the story from several different viewpoints, and the story unfolds both quickly but also with exquisite anticipation, a hard line to follow.

This was a very good read. It kept me interested all the way to the end. It gets to the heart of why people are the way they are and do the things that they do.

Read All Book Reviews of "The Bright Forever"