Every Moment Since (by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen)
Last year, I attended my first author event at The Back Room: Cocktails and Conversations with Your Favorite Authors, hosted by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Karen Dionne. Marybeth Mayhew Whalen, a participating author, discussed her book titled “Every Moment Since.” I was captivated by her fascination with the missing child case of Adam Walsh, which occurred in 1981. As she spoke about these types of mysterious cases and their profound impact on those left behind, I developed a strong desire to read her book.
In “Every Moment Since,” it has been 21 years since the disappearance of 11-year-old Davy Malcor on a seemingly ordinary summer night in Wynotte, North Carolina. The discovery of his jacket has reignited deep-seated grief and suspicion within his fractured family and those who were close to Davy at the time of his vanishing. The book is narrated from the perspectives of four key characters: Thaddeus, Davy’s older brother, who authored a bestselling memoir about their family’s ordeal; Tabitha, his mother, who is now divorced from Davy’s father and resides alone, spending her time journaling her weekly regrets; Anissa, who was assigned to be the family’s Public Information Officer following the discovery of the jacket; and Gordon Swift, the man who is suspected of being responsible for Davy’s disappearance.
Marybeth Mayhew Whalen, a new author to me, captivated me during the author event. However, it was her book, “Every Moment Since,” that truly stole my heart. Despite the challenging subject matter of a child missing for 21 years, I found myself deeply engrossed in the story.
Initially, I was drawn to the curiosity surrounding each character connected to Davey. As I delved deeper, I became intrigued by the unfolding mystery of Davey’s disappearance. Finally, the story gripped me emotionally, leaving me unable to put it down until I reached the end. Marybeth’s portrayal of the pain, grief, guilt, regrets, and secrets of each character was impeccable. It was both humbling and heartbreaking to witness these characters grapple with the final fate of Davey.
I borrowed the audiobook of “Every Moment Since” from my local library using Libby. The cast of narrators, including Cassandra Campbell, George Newbern, Jane Oppenheimer, Kirby Heyborne, MacLeod Andrews, and Renata Friedman, delivered an exceptionally well-produced and audibly captivating performance. Their voices added an emotional intensity to the story that truly enhanced the reading experience.
For those interested in learning more about Marybeth Mayhew Whalen and her participation in the author event, I’ve linked my Author Event blog post below.
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