Based on the real-life story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, Grace is Gone tells of a Mother and daughter duo, Meg and Grace, that are bound at the hip. Grace suffers from debilitating diseases that leave her wheelchair ridden and utterly dependent on her mother. At first their relationship feels pure and inspirational. The pair are the darlings of their town, until one night, Grace’s chair is found toppled over while Meg lies bludgeoned to death nearby. Jon, a disgraced local journalist joins forces with Grace’s neighbor, Cara, to find Grace and uncover what really happened the night of Meg’s murder. Along the way, they connect with interesting, questionable characters such as Grace’s father, troubled twins, and a doctor who may or may not have treated Meg.
The story is told from the point of view of three different characters – Cara, Jon, and Grace – whose perspectives weave together to culminate in the final twist. Ultimately, Grace is Gone is an entertaining read, but falls short of its more famous literary counterparts. If you read my review of The Lucky One, you’ll recognize the reference here – This was another book that I grabbed off the library shelf without prior “research.” Honestly, though I finished the book only a few days ago, I had to look up the summary to remember what it was about. I think I would have enjoyed the book more had I known it was based in true crime. If you don’t mind spoilers, maybe you’ll benefit from my mistake. 🙂