I Know. . .

This book (as is usually the case) is so much better than the movie. I do enjoy watching the film, but it took a lot of liberties. Duncan herself didn't recognize her own story once she viewed the film. Not only did the studio keep her in the dark, refusing any of her input, the movie so disturbed her that she was unable to consume her popcorn. Imagine seeing a man with a hook, a character that does not exist in her book. And then seeing bloodletting, another element that doesn't exist in her book.

The movie became more horror-filled than Duncan cared for, seeing as her novels are thriller-focused. But on a more personal note, her daughter was killed in an unexplained shooting and the killer was never found. Watching violence that echoed this event was too much for her to take.

The characters in the book are, on the other hand, quite similar to what you see in the film, but Duncan's are far more complex whereas the film espouses more superficial characters. Her book is one of the smarter young adult stories, full of complex intrigue and mystery. You get to explore the angst of each character's psyche as they wrestle with the guilt of having killed a little boy (another difference from the film).

Though there are a few key moments it shares with the silver screen version, the book gives us so much more, rendering it a far more interesting take of this tale of overcoming a dark secret.