I'm not sure where to start with this review. Those of you familiar with the story of Sally Horner aren't should be in familiar territory with her story. Others who have mentioned Lolita written by Vladimir Nabokov, are aware that that story was loosely based on this young girl.
T. Greenwood's Rust & Stardust is the harrowing, devastating story of Sally Horner who's only crime was having the naivety of a young child. The "mean girls", or fellow classmates, promise Sally a place in their group if she performs an initiating act of stealing a composition notebook from the local Woolworth. Just as sure as she's got the notebook hidden under her arm, a man stops her claiming to be an FBI agent.
He's no FBI agent.
He's not even a man. Things like him are monsters.
I'll spare the reader of this review with too much detail but ultimately, Sally is caught in a horrendous web with one of the most revolting monsters to ever walk the earth and I commend Greenwood for sparing us the details in this book. I was afraid of that when I was reading the book.
SO... why the three stars?
Much of this book is creative licensing and is done quite well. Due to the subject matter, I can't say I enjoyed the book, but the writing is good enough. And when I think it over... it was a little too meh. There is a character depth of the peripheral characters that could have been expounded on that would have made this an easy 4-star rating for me.
I understand that this novel was based on a true story and that you can't go too far out their with the creativity but golly... the close calls were infuriating. By close calls I mean in the novel, there were instances when the cops are soooooo close to catching this monster and bringing Sally home, yet, they fall short.
Maybe that's what's got me in a funk reading this. The fact that in '49 and '50 people were so damn trusting while this girl was being eaten alive on the inside. Her innocence chipped systematically chipping away. Because I don't want to spoil anything more than I already have, the whole thing just sucks. Not Rust & Stardust, but the real story behind and the aftermath just fucking sucks.
In conclusion, Greenwood does a good job at telling Sally Horner's story. I simply wish there was more. More character development would have made this a heck of a lot better read for me. All in all, Rust & Stardust is still a compelling read for those unfamiliar with Sally's story. I knew nothing of her story nor of Lolita before picking this up and was sucked in by the story. That may have been my one advantage. Either way, my heart breaks for all the Sally Horner's of the world and can't wait until this sickening depravity is a thing of the past. ***
Copy provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley
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