It is summer in Mankato, Minnesota and Sadie is stuck spending it with her Uncle Scout's family. Her only consolation is the mountain bike she brought with her and her goal to enter a race. Then she meets an unlikely friend named Allie and they begin a unique friendship racing through the woods on their bikes. Soon Joe enters Sadie and Allie's life. Joe just moved to Mankato for the summer and now lives in Uncle Scout's very crowded house. The three are fast friends and all begin training for a mountain bike race on the 4th of July. That is, until they find the bloodied and beaten body of a priest in the woods and Allie disappears.
When Allie disappears, Sadie and Joe realize they don't really know her at all, even though they rode together every day. Sadie has no idea where Allie lives and she wouldn't give out her phone number. Allie admitted her father is in prison but she never mentioned her mother. Allie is one powerful, mysterious young woman and Sadie can't help but admire her strength and fortitude but she is really worried. Thus begins the heart pounding race to find Allie and discover the true meaning of friendship.
Chasing Alliecat is a wild ride through the woods where the main characters are chasing a killer, chasing Allie and chasing their dreams. The story is compelling and takes the reader for a daring ride through the pages. The characters are bound to each other through circumstance, become life-long friends and protect each other through life's dangers. In short, they ride through the chicken. They do what they are afraid of, support each other and grow stronger.
Every once in awhile a book comes along where the reader has a lot in common with one of the main characters. Allie is the character that I related to the most and we had so much in common that by the end of the book I was crying. I can't give you all the details because it would spoil the book for you but know that Chasing Alliecat does not shy away from difficult issues.
Chasing Alliecat is a suspenseful mystery and a page turner. My advice is to chase down this book. It would make a great read for the gym while your riding the stationary bike.
