Moment in Time - Suzanne Redfearn

Moment in Time is Suzanne Redfearn's latest novel. 

Redfearn again tackles relationships of many types. The plot of Moment in Time was inspired by a personal connection to a real life event. 

Chloe, Mo and Hazel have been friends for a long time. Eight years ago, a tragic accident changed their lives - in many different ways. Now they're in their mid twenties. Chloe is a vet, Mo is on the cusp of making her news start up bigger and better and Hazel is a scientist. Tragedy strikes again when Hazel is sexually assaulted. And then the alleged assaulter is found drugged and beaten - and Hazel goes missing.

The search for Hazel is the focus for Chloe and Mo, but we only really get to 'know' her through Chloe and Mo's viewpoints. Mo is ambitious and somewhat single minded and I had a hard time liking her. She does have the most 'solid' personal life though. The most chaotic life belongs to Chloe, and she's the human I liked the most. Some of that is because she's a vet with a penchant for rescuing animals. Ruby the dog is her latest rescue. However, she does something early on in the date rape investigation that I really disagreed with and that tainted my picture of this character. In the end it was Ruby the dog who won my heart - faithful, loyal, brave and a survivor. The dog's struggle mimics that of the human characters. Where does friendship and loyalty begin and end? When and where does the right thing to do, according to the law and society take precedence over that friendship?

Chloe and Mo begin searching for Hazel, based on some cryptic clues and memories. Chloe is a laid back person, but I found her choices along the way to be more than a little risky. Given what has just happened to her friend, I questioned if someone would fall in love with a man in less than a week? Take refuge with another pair of strangers the same day? That 'good guy' vibe isn't always right. The romantic piece of the plot would have made a great book on it's own, but for me didn't suit what I considered to be the serious main idea. Supporting player Kyle (Mo's significant other) was realistically drawn and likeable. He questions the two women's actions so far, especially Mo's.

The book gets busier as we head to the final end game. Loose ends are neatly tied up - with a grain of salt in some cases. Poor Hazel is never really given a voice of her own, despite being the catalyst for the book. 

I've enjoyed previous books by Redfearn and would happily pick up her next. Moment in Time just wasn't a stand out for me. There was just too much going on. Readers, the crime and police handling of the crime in this novel may be triggering. (And I do question the legal and hospital protocols depicted) Read an excerpt of Moment in Time.