Get ready to be blown away! This is a five-star story that provides an emotional rollercoaster ride. Thank you to Matt Witten for recommending that I read this book – you were right – I LOVED IT!

The Necklace tells the story of a woman’s strength and determination for justice after the murder of her seven-year-old daughter. This harsh tale will break your heart, and leave you feeling Susan’s pain, anger, and sadness.

Matt Witten took a heart-breaking story and turned it into a book that left you feeling admiration for his leading lady. From the very first page you form a bond with Susan and Amy and page after page you experience Susan’s emotions with her. His writing wraps you tightly into the story and makes it impossible to put this book down. I got so lost in this book, I forgot to make my family dinner – I completely lost track of time while I was reading this.

When Susan’s daughter disappears, only to be found raped and murdered Susan wants justice. She wants the man responsible caught and punished for what he did. When the guilty man is brought to justice, Susan is left waiting twenty years for his execution. An event she will not miss for anything. As the day draws near, Susan makes a few discoveries that leave her wondering if the right man is about the be put to death. Twenty years down the line, she takes it upon herself to get at the truth and ensure the right man is being punished.

The Necklace is every mother’s worst nightmare. Reading this book left me with tears in my eyes as I run through every emotion with Susan. Her fear, loss, grief and finally anger was brilliantly written by the author. You find yourself right there with the characters, deeply engrossed in the story.

The character’s in this book are realistic and easily likeable. You spend most of your time with Susan, she is an everyday mother, who makes mistakes and has her flaws, but you never doubt her commitment to her daughter. Susan’s mother, Lenora – stole my heart. She reminded me of my mother – always meaning well but somehow managing to mess things up. I just loved her.

This was a terrible story; it explored the reality of my fears about something happening to my daughters. Yet, I could not put this book down – while I had my suspicions of where the story was headed, I had to keep reading, not believing that I was right. I loved every minute of this book – the ending while a little predictable still left me shocked. Could that really be the truth?

Crime fiction enthusiasts will love this book. It is a harsh, gripping story told from the victim’s mother’s perspective leaving you overflowing with emotion and unable to put the book down.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough – please get yourself a copy – you will not be disappointed; Matt Witten created a true masterpiece with this story.