While most high school seniors enjoy that last year of mandatory schooling with parties and celebrations, Sierra finds herself trapped with nothing but a note, supplies for an extended stay, and some old records in a place she can’t get out of. Written by Rochelle Ransom, THE KEEPING doesn’t just have readers stay imprisoned with her but employs flashbacks and shifting perspectives of the people most feeling her absence.

The narrative is strongest when focusing on Sierra’s experiences in the place she’s being kept and the more visceral responses of those she’s left behind. Unfortunately, the pace gets a little bogged down by frequent flashbacks. There are some elements of suspense and mystery here, but the reading experience leans more toward a coming-of-age drama (or even romance) than a true mystery-thriller.

Sierra’s point of view is largely delivered in the form of journal entries that feel more often like flashbacks than true writing that someone would put down for themselves. Moreover, these journal entries are already cataloguing days that are much further chronologically than the time that other perspectives are experiencing, which leads to some disjunction. The date and number of days that Sierra is trapped don’t always match either.

THE KEEPING rotates between Sierra, her mother, her father, and her ex-boyfriend Dave's points of view. Juggling so many perspectives can be a logistical nightmare, especially when they almost all use the first-person. Though Ransom does a great job with it most of the time, there are still a few issues. Some of the voices aren't very distinct from each other, and at times there are outright errors. For instance, Dave in first person saying he was going to Dave's house during a flashback.

While not that numerous, typographical errors can distract from the story at times. Strange formatting and missing punctuation occur most often around dialogue, for example: “‘Okay. Well then I have a suggestion,’ he stood. You go get freshened up…” Meanwhile, three different indentation styles are used. There are also layered problems with consent that might discourage some readers.

Unique because of the multiple perspectives, THE KEEPING is still less of a thriller or mystery than the genres listed before. Fans of teen drama or suspense will find this book the most enjoyable.

Though a solid work of suspense, Rochelle Ransom's THE KEEPING has some rough edges that prevent it from fully delivering on its premise.

~ Lisbeth Ivies for IndieReader