By Juliana Riverin
Staff Writer
The worst way to find out your boyfriend is cheating might just be to meet the other woman at his memorial service.
Anne Hetzel describes this experience in her novel “Charlie Presumed Dead,” which intrigues with a mysterious, convoluted plot and original characters.
The novel centers around Aubrey, an all-American small town girl who meets rich, glamorous Lena at her boyfriend’s memorial service one year after he supposedly died in a plane crash. It would seem that they have nothing in common. Except, that is, for Charlie, the boy they were both dating. After a short conversation they realize that Charlie lied about more than just cheating, and they decide to find out the truth, by tracking down Charlie’s friends and family across the globe.
The quick and drastic changes in setting, from Paris, to London, India, Thailand, and so on, emphasize the feeling of mystery and tension, partly because the girls are constantly thrown into exotic and unfamiliar situations.
“Charlie, Presumed Dead” is primarily driven by it’s characters, since the storyline would go nowhere unless characters learned to mature and trust each other. For example, at first Aubrey and Lena easily fit into the clashing stereotypical roles of “party girl” and “stick in the mud,” as the novel progresses, however, their characters grow into relatable teenage girls with recognizable problems, such as struggles with morality or the future, which propels the storyline onwards.
The serious topics touched upon in the book, such as the sex trade in Thailand or drug trafficking in India, create a mature, original storyline that stands out. “Charlie, Presumed Dead” discusses these serious humanitarian issues without trivializing them by comparing them to the love triangle. Not only does this increase the maturity level of the novel, it also increases the edginess, since the danger of these situations is being emphasized.
Another refreshing facet of “Charlie, Presumed Dead” is the much needed dose of lightness created through the friendship that develops between Lena and Aubrey. Instead of fighting over Charlie, the girls bond over their experiences and the ways he wronged them, which alleviates the substantial darkness of the novel and keeps it from becoming overly depressing.
Charlie himself plays a large part in the darkness of the novel. Although he is presumed dead, there are short chapters interspersed throughout the novel that seem to be from his perspective. These excerpts become increasingly sinister throughout the novel, as do the various pieces of information Lena and Aubrey uncover about him, giving the novel a surprising edge.
By far the best part of “Charlie, Presumed Dead” is the crime aspect of the novel. The storyline continually becomes more complex as the plot progresses, and although there are a few obvious crime genre staples, such as unhealthy childhoods, as a whole the novel is entertaining and unpredictable.
“Charlie, Presumed Dead” is a wonderfully edgy read with relatable characters, an original and refreshingly mysterious plot, and an uncommon amount of maturity.
“Charlie, Presumed Dead” can be purchased at Barnes and Noble for $17.99 or at amazon.com for $12.78
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