Skizzer: A Novel [Paperback]

A. J. Kiesling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

Claire Trowling is on a quest. After receiving news of her sister Becca's abrupt disappearance, Claire must piece together the shadowy remnants of a past she's long forgotten in order to find her. A cryptic note scrawled in Becca's handwriting leaves more questions than it answers: "Something both terrible and wonderful has happened. I can't explain now..." When a stack of mysterious letters bound by a rare necklace is found, Claire heads to England--the source of the heirloom--for answers. With the help of a rectory gardener she remembers from her childhood, Claire races to discover the secrets that hold her family captive. Suspenseful and full of intrigue, Skizzer takes readers on a transcontinental hunt for answers weaving seamlessly between the distant past of childhood and the urgency of the present.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Claire Trowling's sister Becca vanishes from her home and leaves her husband a note telling him not to worry, Claire embarks on a search that takes her to old family sites in North Carolina and England. As she seeks her skizzer (childhood lingo for sister) and uncovers pieces of the Trowlings' family heritage, including a famous pendant with sacred significance, Claire rediscovers her Christian faith and begins to understand long-cherished family secrets. This debut novel from Kiesling is a quick and engaging read, with well-described settings and a sweet romance. However, the writing suffers from abrupt transitions between and within scenes. Becca's reason for her sub-rosa departure is never quite convincing, with too little backstory about Becca's husband. Readers may finish the novel wondering what purpose was served by all of Becca's melodrama. Still, this plot hole is outweighed by the novel's strengths, which include an adventurous story, a compelling protagonist and thoughtful musings on the real meaning of sisterhood. (Jan.)
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Review

"This debut novel from Kiesling is a quick and engaging read with plot revelations meted out skillfully enough to keep the pages turning.... [The book has] an adventurous story, a compelling protagonist and thoughtful musings on the real meaning of sisterhood." --Publishers Weekly -- Publishers Weekly

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Product Details

• Paperback: 249 pages
• Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800731409
• ISBN-13: 978-0800731403
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,553,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good story, but more like 3.5 stars..., May 26, 2008

By 

Michelle Sutton (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Skizzer: A Novel (Paperback)

Skizzer is an interesting book, yet I'm not sure how I feel about it. The fact that I actually finished the story shows it's compelling enough for me to keep on reading, but I didn't perceive much of a spiritual journey for the main character until the very end, and even that was minor. There was not much of an emotional pull for me in this book, either. I guess I kept waiting for that to happen and then the story ended. I did find the sister dynamics interesting as well as the notion that sometimes history repeats itself with sudden disappearances of loved ones. The sense of distress I caught from Rainey was well-done in that I understood his bewilderment, but I was hoping for more of an emotional investment on my end. So while this story didn't choke me up or keep me on the edge of my seat, it was a nice, cozy read sort of like Robin Gunn's Finding Father Christmas. I enjoyed that story, too, but it had a similar pacing, plot and theme that brought me along but never took my breath away. Maybe it's the English mystery thing that doesn't yank my chain. But I did enjoy some of the backstory in the book, especially the part where Aunt Jess tells about the family history. That said, I did enjoy this book, but something was missing...I'm just not sure what that something was.

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting journey, October 22, 2008

By 

Sunny (Montana, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Skizzer: A Novel (Paperback)

This book is full of suspense and mystery, leaving you with a new set of questions after each revelation.

Claire drops everything to search for her missing sister. As she digs up the past, old feelings surface and perspectives begin to change. Becca has always been a mystery to Claire and the quest to find Becca would reveal so much more than Claire could even imagine. Would things ever be the same between them?

Skizzer left me with just enough questions to keep me reading, but not so many that I was confused or frustrated. I did find myself having to flip back and forth to get the dates/timeline right in my head but I enjoyed the brief flashes of memories that both answered my questions and left me with more.

I'd probably give it 4.5 if I could.

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific story about sisters, June 7, 2008

By 

Christina Lockstein "Christy's Book Blog" (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Skizzer: A Novel (Paperback)

Skizzer by A.J. Kiesling is a moving story of two sisters journey toward self-discovery. Claire Trowling has to search for her sister Becca when she disappears, leaving behind only a note for her husband saying not to worry. The quest forces Claire to revisit several places from their childhood and reawakens old memories. Claire's story is compelling, and her characterization is really the reason to read this book. Becca comes off as a bit of a flake, but her flight helps both sisters to understand each other and the other women in their family. A family heirloom's mysterious past throws in intrigue and suspense. Kiesling describes settings well from North Carolina to England, but it's her characterizations that really shine and carry this wonderful debut novel.