Ink and Bone

April 4, 2016
Psychic college student Finley Montgomery, the engaging heroine of bestseller Unger’s uneven fourth Hollows thriller (after 2015’s Crazy Love You), has fled her domineering mother and troubled life in Seattle to live with her famed psychic grandmother, Eloise Montgomery, in the Hollows, a small town in upstate New York. PI Jones Cooper, who sometimes does jobs for Eloise, has agreed to look into the disappearance of missing child Abbey Gleason, and when Finley begins receiving communications from a kidnapped girl, her grandmother tells her to take the case. Haunted by her visions and pursued by her ex-boyfriend and tattoo artist Rainer, Finley struggles to find Abbey before the Hollows—a powerful place in its own right—claims another victim. Philosophical musings slow the pace, and tattooed, tortured Finley ultimately fails to transcend cliché. Still, Unger fans should enjoy this tale of troubled families finding redemption in the midst of tragedy. Agent: Elaine Markson, Markson Thoma Literary Agency.

June 15, 2016

Finley Montgomery, 20 years old, has inherited her grandmother Eloise's psychic abilities. As spirits inhabit her dreams and leak into her waking hours, she often feels more uneasy than blessed by her "gift." Their shared abilities draw them together, though, as Finley agrees to work with Eloise and PI Jones Cooper to help a desperate mother find her kidnapped child. Even as she puts her talents to a good use, Finley struggles to keep from feeling that her psychic abilities control her life. This is difficult when the dead appear according to their own will rather than Finley's. Even her grandmother's gentle reminders that no one chooses what happens to them, only how to respond, offer cold comfort, as Finley tries to maintain a normal life and vision of her future. Award-winning Unger (Crazy Love You; In the Blood) allows Finley's character to shine through, though, as she agrees to help find the missing child despite her trepidation. VERDICT Fans of the supernatural and psychological suspense will find this story entertaining, despite the disappointing ending.--Linda Oliver, MLIS, Colorado Springs

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 1, 2016
Unger returns to the Hollows, New York, a small town that positively vibrates with supernatural activity. Finley Montgomery is its newest inhabitant, moving in with her grandmother Eloise, a well-known psychic who works with Jones Cooper, the local private investigator. Several children who have gone missing in town, with Abbey the most recent of them. Her parents are distraught and their marriage is on the brink when, in a final attempt at any sort of closure, Abbey's mother hires Cooper to find her missing daughter. In this case, Eloise can't help, but Finley can. Finley has been having visions since she was a small child, driving a massive wedge between her and her mother. But Eloise can help Finley nurture her gift, and that process may lead to finding the missing children. This engrossing story weaves between these unusual characters and the man who abducted Abbey, building suspense on every page. The tension is palpable, and Unger straddles the fine line between thriller and horror, making this a very exciting and riveting read, sure to appeal to a wide range of readers, including Kay Hooper or Stephen King fans. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Unger's consistent appearances on best-seller lists speaks to her ability to draw in devoted readers across genres, and her latest will do the same.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)