The Fourth Girl by Wendy Corsi Staub

"The shared burden created an irrevocable bond among the three of them that first year. Then came the first anniversary of Caroline's disappearance---the night they kept their promise and revisited Haven Cliff. The night it all fell apart."

         -from the novel

Mulberry Bay, NY---four high school "besties" on prom night in 1999. One goes missing. The other three think they know what happened to her but have been sworn to secrecy. But do they really know? Obviously, it's a mystery for the reader to solve, but not an easy one with twists and turns and some confusion, at least for this reader.

Talia, Kelly, Midge and Caroline were supposed to be best friends forever when Caroline vanishes. The 3 friends reunite on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the disappearance at Haven Cliff, the former estate of Caroline's family. Nearby a man is found dead who happens to have been the high school boyfriend of Caroline, Gordon Klatte. At first Midge, now a detective sergeant, sees the death as an accident but then she notices something that indicates foul play. And what a coincidence that this has occurred at this particular time! Is there a connection?

I am rating this novel a 3. I didn't really like it that much, but it was intriguing enough that I HAD to keep reading to find out what happened to "the fourth girl." It seems that this novel is the 1st in a series. I doubt I will look for #2.