CONCEALED

On the run to elude dastardly forces, a young amnesiac girl must unlock the mysteries of her past to save herself and her family.

Three years in the witness protection program—involving relocations, name changes, and secrets—have taken a toll on 12-year-old Katrina Davis. Unable to recall memories from before the age of 10, Katrina knows little about her life on the run other than the fact that a notorious drug cartel wants to destroy them thanks to her father’s involvement in their downfall. But mental snapshots from Katrina’s blurred past and moments of eavesdropping on her parents’ whispered discussions keep raising questions about her parents’ research scientist pasts and the real reasons behind their covert lifestyle. When her father disappears and armed men kidnap her mother, Katrina flees to a safe house with her new friend Parker Jimenez, a young computer hacker with his share of secrets. There, the duo meets Agent X, an alleged ally of Katrina’s parents. As Katrina races to reunite with her family, she discovers the truth behind her broken memories. Brimming with the knotty twists and eccentric turns found in any good page-turner, Gonzalez’s latest largely fulfills its promise of nefarious, science-based intrigue; bombastic characters; and melodrama. Only a bit of uneven pacing and a rather disappointing conclusion keep this tale of thrills from truly achieving greatness. Katrina and Parker have Cuban and Dominican heritage, respectively.

Gripping.