A suburban housewife who suffers from Acute Panic Disorder, Claire sits alone in her newly renovated house one stormy evening while her husband is away and her three girls sleep comfortably in their rooms. Hearing a strange sound on the roof outside, panicky Claire rushes to the comfort only Xanax can bring while trying to convince herself it is only a squirrel. But when the unmistakable sound of shattering glass follows, there is no avoiding the truth. Has her past finally caught up with her?
In her eldest daughter’s bedroom, Claire’s worst fear comes to life. A man scoops the child out of bed and in a desperate plea, Claire utters the words that change her life: “Take me.” In a flimsy nightgown, she is dragged to a waiting car, beginning a seven-day ordeal that opens doors better left shut.
Is this the work of long-feared David, or does her husband, Sam, have a seedy past of his own? While Claire forms a bizarre bond with her abductor, more ugly truths come to light. Can this emotionally fragile woman face the consequences of her life, or is this the incident that will push her over the edge?
Kelly Simmons debut novel, Standing Still, is an emotional page-turner that reveals raw emotion at the turn of every page. Reminiscent of bestselling authors such as Lisa Gardner or Kay Hooper, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of this talented novelist.