By Sarah Sawyer
In the summer of 1987, 13-year-old Deecie Jeffries, a spirited girl with dreams as bright as the Texas sun, sneaks out of her home in Austin, hoping to capture the attention of the boy she has a crush on. Tragically, she vanishes without a trace, leaving her family and friends in a whirlwind of confusion and heartache. For over two decades, her case remains unresolved, buried under the weight of silence.
Years later, Bee Rowan, a neighbor who was just 15 at the time of Deecie’s disappearance, returns to Austin. Haunted by the shadows of the past, Bee seeks to confront not only the mystery surrounding Deecie’s fate but also the buried secrets of her own family. As Sarah Sawyer artfully conveys in THE UNDERCURRENT (Zibby Books, 276 pp., $27.99), “It has never occurred to Bee to count Deecie’s disappearance as the third tragedy that summer, the final stick to be pulled out of the dam that was holding the Rowan family together.” Perhaps, in some inexplicable way, it was all interconnected.
The narrative unfolds along a familiar path of troubled young adults returning to their roots to unravel the enigmas of their childhood. However, this story transcends mere criminal investigation; it is a profound exploration of familial bonds, entrenched misunderstandings, and the extraordinary lengths to which mothers will go to shield their children from harm.
- What really transpired on that fateful night?
- What role, if any, did Bee’s twin brother, Gus, and his friend Leo play in the incident?
- Who is concealing the truth, and from whom?
- Why is open and honest communication so elusive among these individuals?
The novel delves deep into complex emotions and the flawed perceptions held by nearly all its characters. It begins and concludes with the vibrant spirit of Deecie, filled with innocent wonder and hopeful aspirations on what would tragically be her last night alive. As the story unfolds, a shocking twist awaits the reader at the very end, leaving them questioning everything they thought they knew.
Credit…TK
