Thought I Knew You [Kindle Edition]

Kate Moretti (Author)

Book Description

Claire Barnes is shattered when her husband, Greg, goes on a business trip and never returns.

Unwilling to just wait for the police to find him, Claire conducts her own investigation. Her best friend Drew helps her look for answers, but all she finds are troubling questions.

With every clue, she discovers that Greg may not be the man she thought she married.

While battling her growing feelings for Drew and raising her two young children, Claire must learn to live with the knowledge that the truth behind Greg’s disappearance may never be revealed.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fans of Jodi Picoult will like this novel, as well as people who tend to read Oprah book club selections or Anita Shreve."- Quirky Gurl Media

"...not just the story of a marriage, it is also the narration of an incredibly complicated mystery." -Mallory Heart Reviews

"...an incredibly strong and poignant debut novel."- Chick Lit Central

From the Author

Kate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. She's worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life. She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn't get to do those things as much as she'd like. Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 527 KB
• Print Length: 278 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1479270172
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Red Adept Publishing (September 14, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B009BBD08I
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,463 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Compelling, Engrossing Read September 24, 2012

By Melanie Frazier

Format:Kindle Edition

"Thought I Knew You" is one of the most engrossing books I've read in a long time. Claire's story of a vanishing husband and the aftermath of this life-shattering event is both extraordinary yet believable. I found myself empathetically wondering what I'd do and how I'd react if faced with this devastating situation. Claire navigates this journey in compellingly human fashion.

This is a story of relationships - between Claire and her husband Greg, her childhood friend and lifeline Drew, her children, her college roommate Sarah - and the characters are richly drawn. On that level alone, the book is an excellent read - but the underlying mystery of what happened to Greg, and whether we will ever learn the truth, elevates this book to must-read status.

I also loved Ms. Moretti's writing style and can't wait for her next book. Her stellar debut novel sure made a fan out of me.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific debut novel September 18, 2012

By AMB

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Thought I Knew You is a skillful examination of a marriage from the wife's point of view after her husband goes missing. The writing is wonderful, the story fresh and entertaining, and the ending is a surprise which left me thinking Wow, I didn't see that coming! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys character driven stories with solid plots.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fans of Picoult, Shreve etc will enjoy! October 2, 2012

By Karen Fowler

Format:Kindle Edition

I've had this thought a few times in life, usually after someone disappoints me by not being the type of person I'd made them to out to be: How well can one person truly know another? Unless you can read minds, you really have not one iota of an idea of what someone else is thinking or keeping from you at any given moment. So instead, we trust.

And sometimes that comes back to bite us in the arse.

For Claire, the main character in Thought I Knew You, that moment comes when her husband mysteriously disappears and she begins to find out things that she wishes she hadn't about him and their marriage. While the plotting was good and fresh, it was only the frame work for Moretti's masterful use of words to convey the flesh of the story. More than once I found myself nodding as I read a sentence, agreeing with myself that "that was a beautiful way to put that feeling into words."

Fans of Jodi Picoult will like this novel, as well as people who tend to read Oprah book club selections. This novel has that feel of being "more than a book" as it painstakingly slices open one woman's life and examines what it's like for everything to be derailed without a moment's notice.

I also want to add that the title is perfect. I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't address Claire's thoughts about herself post-derailment, just as much as it seems to be aimed at the betrayal by her husband. All in all though, this is a book I highly recommend!

***A digital copy of this novel was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.**

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Four and a half stars: A riveting read that brings up a fascinating question: Can you ever truly know someone? December 14, 2012

By Heidi

Format:Paperback

Claire Barnes thought she had a good marriage. She and Greg were together for ten years and they have two adorable little girls. But something hasn't been quite right over the last year. Greg is distant and quiet and they don't talk as much. Still every marriage has its ups and downs, it is just a rough patch. When Greg doesn't come home from a business trip, Claire's world comes crashing down. Claire is forced to examine her marriage. As she searches for her missing husband, she uncovers some puzzling facts, leading her to question whether she truly ever knew her husband. Will Claire find Greg and save her marriage?

What I Liked:
*I love it when I pick up a book and get an unexpected riveting and fascinating read. Thought I Knew You by Kate Moretti was one of those books that caught me by surprise. I was absolutely glued to the pages and couldn't put it down. I ended up reading the entire book in one day! This book is thought provoking and compelling and it raises some questions that I will be pondering for days to come. If you enjoy a book with lots of mystery, suspense and ideas that will make you think, don't miss this one.
*I thoroughly enjoyed following Claire as she falls down the dark rabbit hole of despair and depression once she discovers her husband is missing without a trace. Over two years time, she slowly claws her way out and puts the pieces of her life back together. Without Greg, she is forced to maintain a stable household for her two daughters. It is a horrifying situation to deal with the sudden absence of a loved one. In some ways it is worse than a death because there is no closure. Claire struggles with the startling questions left behind. Did Greg really just walk out on Claire and his daughters with no explanation?... Was there something so wrong with their marriage that he felt he had to leave? Why would he abandon them? Was there someone else? Where did he go? Day in day out, her mind tumbles over these questions and the possibilities. This book with its captivating story line will keep you glued to the pages as you race to find out what happened to Greg and how Claire manages to get back on her feet.
*I loved that this book had some surprising twists and you are left guessing up until the final chapters as to what really happened to Greg. There is plenty of suspense and a good solid mystery throughout.
*I admired Claire and her strength and courage as she pulls herself together, deals with the stages of grief and finds a way to be a stable parent for her two girls. It is a tough battle, but she is determined and she has support from her parents and friends. I liked that she chose to keep it together and do as much as she could on her own, from mowing and taking care of her yard, to cleaning out the gutters and everything else.
*I liked that Ms. Moretti also included how the sudden disappearance of Greg affects his four and two year old daughters. The girls are devastated and suffer long term affects. They are always wondering if their mother will abandon them, and why their daddy didn't love them enough to stay. It is a heartbreaking and frightening situation for the girls and their mother. Ms. Moretti shows us how crippling a loss like this can be for a family.
*I liked that this book kept me engaged and entertained throughout. It is frightening and sad at times, but there are many scenes of hope and courage as Claire puts both feet back on the ground and finds her way again. Perhaps she even has a chance at a new love. This is a book that you don't want to miss.

And The Not So Much:
*This book does have a love triangle, but it didn't bother me as much as the triangles in the YA genre. First, because at the beginning of the story Claire is in what she perceives to be a stable marriage, and through the years she has maintained a strong friendship with her best friend, Drew. She and Drew were never a romantic item, but he has been in love with her for years. Even Greg is aware that Drew loves his wife, but again no one ever acted upon their feelings. Once Greg disappears, Drew steps in and becomes Claire's support system. So in the end, this book presents a believable love triangle that I actually enjoyed.
*One aspect that I felt was too glossed over was how Claire tackled the financial situation. There are brief mentions in the beginning of how she is writing checks on a wing and a prayer and how she is concerned over money, but then the topic is dropped and not an issue. I am guessing it is because she dipped into the inheritance fund, but it is never conveyed how she manages to survive financially. I know that this would be a huge issue if the main bread winner suddenly vanished.
*I wished that there was just a bit more information on Greg's secret life. I was so intrigued by the idea that you can't ever truly know someone and I wanted to know all of his secrets. Unfortunately, most of them remain hidden.

Thought I Knew You was a surprise read that thoroughly entertained me from beginning to end. It covers a woman's hard struggle to put her life back together when her husband vanishes without a trace. Her journey is tough, full of tears and hardship, but Claire is resilient and able to pick up the pieces only to have another huge wrench thrown in her path. If you enjoy a suspenseful mystery with engaging characters and a fascinating story line definitely don't hesitate to pick this one up. I know it is a book that will stick with me for days and days to come.

Favorite Quotations:
"How were we going to work as a family until he came home? We were fractured, a puzzle missing a piece until he came home. He needed to be home. He needed to come home and fix it. Fix Us."
"He turned the bracelet so I could see the engraving. All the strength you need is inside of you."
"Our relationship has always been an iceberg. The part the world sees is small and insignificant, where the largest, most complicated parts lie beneath the surface."
"Memories were tricky that way. Time tinted perception, which altered the memory, bending it like a light through a prism, until what a person remembered might only contain slivers of fact. The rest was just a colorful reflection of emotion---hope, denial, anger and fear."
"I didn't say the whole truth-- like making a life with the wrong person was like pushing a boulder up a hill. While making a life with the right person was like having a wheelbarrow instead of a boulder, taking turns pushing each other on the inclines."

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This could be the next Best Seller! An Outstanding read! March 5, 2013

By LaurieHere - Contemporary Fiction and MORE - Book Reviews

Format:Kindle Edition

This is an OUTSTANDING read! Mystery/Suspense/Psychological Thriller all the way! Yes! I am singing HIGH praises about this book because it deserves it!
I am really missing this book now that it is over, too! I feel like a lost puppy who can't find it's own tail, which only goes to show you how MUCH I LOVED this book! I really enjoyed it! Koodles to this author, Kate Moretti!
Claire's husband disappears in this book. This really makes me wonder about my own spouse! This book gives quite the shock value.
Do "I" really KNOW my own husband? Probably not. No. Not 'every' secret, but do I really want to know 'every' secret? No, I do not. Some secrets are better left alone. With that said though, this book really makes you ponder this question. You live with your spouse every day, 24/7, minus work schedules, friends, etc., but do you really think you know all there is to know? Do each of you know everything you need to about the other? Do you know enough about the secrets both of you carry in order to not worry that the other may just some day disappear? Is there anything you don't know that could just make your spouse disappear given the right buttons are pushed too far, and one or the other psychologically breaks?
Who's to say OUR own spouse would ever just disappear into thin air, that it couldn't happen to 'any' one of us? Yet it does happen.
This is the premise of this story. Here is what happens, minus any spoilers, of course!
Claires is a married, stay at home Mom to two beautiful young girls, ages 2 and 4. Once a month, her and her husband, Greg, make sure to at least take one evening a month for their 'date night'. This is their time to spend together, just the two of them. As dedicated as their date night is, their sex life is not.... Lately their sex life has been lacking quite severely. This has been concerning Claire for quite some time, and it felt like they were on a sex strike (right from the book) However, three nights prior to this one, they had had a wonderful day together, along with the girls, too. That evening Greg couldn't have been more loving to her than ever before. The time they spent together making love was beautiful, tender, and well worth remembering.
Tonight is date night, the babysitter is there, but Greg is not. Claire embarrassingly sends the babysitter home. Greg had gone out of town on business, and at first Claire thinks he is just delayed. Did he miss his flight home? Where is he? Why didn't he call like he always has in the past? With his cell phone evidently dead, and no way to contact him, she doesn't know where to turn next. Greg never does come home.
Claire starts her own investigation by calling the airlines, the hotel, and anywhere else she knows he may have been. Nothing. Although the hotel says he checked in, they don't think he ever even stayed there.
Claires turns her attention to her children. Her husband loves their daughters immensely, plays with them every night, and is the best dad there is with them. He is the epitome of the perfect father. She daydreams how they played, laughed, how much the girls love him.
Not only has Greg disappeared, but so has the family dog? What is going on? At first, Claire searches and searches for the dog, to no avail. The children keep asking, "Where is Daddy? When is Daddy coming home?". Ugh! Can you imagine? "I" would be in panic mode now! Where is the dog?
With not knowing a thing, she doesn't know where to turn next. She is a little frantic. After the first 24 hours are over, Day Two comes slowly, now it's at the 'official' 48 hour mark, and still NO GREG. Now she needs to officially file a missing person's report. She does so, not believing this is happening 'to her'. Her world has fallen apart.
The next day a Detective comes over and interviews her some more, gets some photos of Greg, then proceeds to tell her 'when a spouse goes missing most all of the time, it's because they want to be'. This shakes Claire up to the bone, goosebumps cover her body and a shrill runs down her spine. It dd myself, too.
Claire's best friend since childhood comes over the next day. Drew. Relief! He grew up next door to her, and ever since they had been the best of friends. Her girls love him, calling him Uncle Drew since they could talk. He was fun, loud, and obnoxious with them. They love him because he is so much fun! Now all the girls want is for Uncle Drew to stay overnight!
Together Claire and Drew work on trying to find out what happened to Greg.
Time goes by, and still no Greg. Now what does she do? Go on with life? How? Is she still married? Are these new feelings popping up she feels for Drew a good thing, or is it betraying her husband? How IS she supposed to feel? Will a dead body eventually show up, or will her husband show up one day on her doorstep? If he did, he had better have a good reason as to 'why' he disappeared in the first place, or is this expecting too much from him in case something bad did happen to him? Again, what about these feelings she has towards Drew? No pun intended, but she does feel drawn to him now. He's been helping her try to find Greg, and some answers are not to her liking. So 'what' now? Along the way, twists and turns come up.
As we go along reading this book, don't worry. No, everything is not saved until the end, but the ending, well, WOW!
I have to say this book read like a charm to me. I love the way this author writes. The writing is enjoyable, easy to follow because she writes SO well, it flowed very smoothly, and was impeccable. No errors! The writing and story had substance to it, which is a sign of excellent editing, too. I enjoyed this book immensely, and I have zero qualms with it. Of course this book is fiction, and I had a few questions, but nothing that impaired the story. This book was very professional and seemed as if this author had been writing for years, and most likely has been, and this is her first published work. If you were to tell me this book was put out there by a small press and was this author's first book, I would have laughed at you had I not known otherwise! I see this author excelling with her writing career. This is one author to watch! Can't wait for more from her, and it can't come soon enough! I HIGHLY recommend this book! I received this book for FREE from Red Adept Publishing (which has really impressed me with the titles of books they publish!), and this book is part of a Blog Tour, in exchange to read and write a review about it. It is NOT required for this review to be either positive or negative, but of my own honest opinion. "Free" means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to read this book nor to write this review, but to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, [...]
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More About the Author

Kate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. She's worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life.

She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn't get to do those things as much as she'd like.

Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.