What do you think?
Rate this book
What Remains
She saved his life. Now he‘ll never let her go.
Detective Elise Sutton is drawn to cold cases. Each crime is a puzzle to solve, pulled from the past. Elise looks for cracks in the surface and has become an expert on how murderers slip up and give themselves away. She has dedicated her life to creating a sense of order, at work with her ex-marine partner; at home with her husband and two young daughters; and within, battling her own demons. Elise has everything under control, until one afternoon, when she walks into a department store and is forced to make a terrible choice: to save one life, she will have to take another.
Elise is hailed as a hero, but she doesn’t feel like one. Steeped in guilt, and on a leave of absence from work, she’s numb, even to her husband and daughters, until she connects with Wade Austin, the tall man whose life she saved. But Elise soon realizes that he isn’t who he says he is. In fact, Wade Austin isn’t even his real name. The tall man is a ghost, one who will set off a terrifying game of cat and mouse, threatening Elise and the people she loves most.
Detective Elise Sutton is drawn to cold cases. Each crime is a puzzle to solve, pulled from the past. Elise looks for cracks in the surface and has become an expert on how murderers slip up and give themselves away. She has dedicated her life to creating a sense of order, at work with her ex-marine partner; at home with her husband and two young daughters; and within, battling her own demons. Elise has everything under control, until one afternoon, when she walks into a department store and is forced to make a terrible choice: to save one life, she will have to take another.
Elise is hailed as a hero, but she doesn’t feel like one. Steeped in guilt, and on a leave of absence from work, she’s numb, even to her husband and daughters, until she connects with Wade Austin, the tall man whose life she saved. But Elise soon realizes that he isn’t who he says he is. In fact, Wade Austin isn’t even his real name. The tall man is a ghost, one who will set off a terrifying game of cat and mouse, threatening Elise and the people she loves most.
Paperback
First published June 13, 2023
About the author
Wendy Walker
12 books3,499 followersWendy Walker is the author of psychological suspense. Her novels have been translated into 23 foreign languages, have topped bestseller lists both nationally and abroad, and have been optioned for television and film.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 815 reviews
June 14, 2023
A young man with a gun walks into a department store and begins shooting. Detective Elise Sutton, a cold case detective, buying towels for her daughters, hears the shots and witnesses the shooter aiming his weapon at a tall man and is compelled to take him down. With several eyewitness accounts corroborating Elise’s role in saving the lives of those present in the store on that day, the police have no doubts that Elise’s actions were justified. Her heroic act earns her accolades and recognition, but Elise is consumed by guilt for taking the life of a young man. Traumatized, she hopes that the testimony of the man whose life she saved will help her justify her actions to herself. But he seems to have disappeared without giving his statement to the police. Elise finally meets Wade Austin, but the meeting does not end as Elise would have expected. He begins to display obsessive behavior, following her every movement, threatening her safety as well as that of her family, leaving Elise with no option but to take matters into her own hands, knowing that Wade is not going to back down unless she can beat him at his own game.
The narrative is well-structured and consistently paced. The story is shared from dual perspectives in alternating chapters, which works well in building up the tension. Complex characters, an intriguing premise and unpredictable twists and turns, make for a riveting read. The character development was superb – both for Elise and Wade as well as the other supporting characters. I did feel, however, that the drama in Elise’s personal life was an unnecessary plot point, but luckily, that did not detract from the overall reading experience. Overall, I found What Remains by Wendy Walker to be an intense read that grabbed me from the very first page. This is my first Wendy Walker novel and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the digital review copy of this gripping novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me!
My Blog
The StoryGraph
February 5, 2023
Detective Elise Sutton went to buy pink towels for her two daughters. That’s when the shooting began that changed her life and took someone else’s. The trauma of that alone has shaken her to her core, but little could she have anticipated how the act of saving a life could begin a nightmare that threatens her own and others she loves.
This was intense! I’m not sure what’s happened to me, but apparently I’m onboard with a little action in my thrillers now. Who knew? Wendy Walker delivers with a psychological/crime thriller that is really a cover-to-cover cat-and-mouse game between Elise and a new “admirer” from the store shooting. How that psychological chess match gets started was gripping reading, even if I had to suspend a bit of disbelief!
The strongest and most compelling part of the story is seeing how Elise’s stalker gets inside her head. Is it always realistic? No… but is it visceral and nerve-wracking? Definitely. This book made me feel all kinds of vulnerable! I did want to scream at her a lot for her unwise choices, but Walker did a great job of getting the reader into her headspace so I could understand her reasoning, even if I didn’t agree with it.
I liked Elise’s partner, Rowan, and even her husband, Mitch, despite his past affair. That story thread felt a little unnecessary, but I guess it made it easier to believe some aspects of her actions. The only thing I didn’t love was a separate story thread involving an investigation at a hunting cabin. It ties in ultimately, but was the least interesting part of the story. In the author’s note, Walker mentions her passion for discussing the impact of trauma, and that’s very evident and well explored in the pages as well.
After loving Don’t Look for Me, this is another excellent thriller from Wendy Walker and I highly recommend it!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Edelweiss, Blackstone Publishing, and author Wendy Walker for this ARC to review honestly. It’s due to be published June 13, 2023.
This was intense! I’m not sure what’s happened to me, but apparently I’m onboard with a little action in my thrillers now. Who knew? Wendy Walker delivers with a psychological/crime thriller that is really a cover-to-cover cat-and-mouse game between Elise and a new “admirer” from the store shooting. How that psychological chess match gets started was gripping reading, even if I had to suspend a bit of disbelief!
The strongest and most compelling part of the story is seeing how Elise’s stalker gets inside her head. Is it always realistic? No… but is it visceral and nerve-wracking? Definitely. This book made me feel all kinds of vulnerable! I did want to scream at her a lot for her unwise choices, but Walker did a great job of getting the reader into her headspace so I could understand her reasoning, even if I didn’t agree with it.
I liked Elise’s partner, Rowan, and even her husband, Mitch, despite his past affair. That story thread felt a little unnecessary, but I guess it made it easier to believe some aspects of her actions. The only thing I didn’t love was a separate story thread involving an investigation at a hunting cabin. It ties in ultimately, but was the least interesting part of the story. In the author’s note, Walker mentions her passion for discussing the impact of trauma, and that’s very evident and well explored in the pages as well.
After loving Don’t Look for Me, this is another excellent thriller from Wendy Walker and I highly recommend it!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Edelweiss, Blackstone Publishing, and author Wendy Walker for this ARC to review honestly. It’s due to be published June 13, 2023.
May 17, 2023
This is one of the most intelligent readings I’ve lately had! It’s capturing, mind bending, riveting, keeping you on your toes by escalating the pressure at each chapter, playing mind games with you!
At each second you get more frustrated, asking yourself who is the prey and who is the real hunter!
Detective Elise Sutton: such a complex character you can get easily attached to. Her fears, weaknesses, strengths are reflected honestly. As a police officer, dealing with cold cases, teaching forensic science to her students, she never has to pull the trigger. She is more a puzzlist than a police. She is good to see the details that no one can notice and she is also great to put the pieces together. That’s how she solves the cold cases nobody predicted to find the truth beneath.
But her own marriage is like a broken cup after her husband’s betrayal. She has to let bygones be bygones, raising her kids, rekindling her old flame with her husband and her ex- marine partner Rowan gives him enough support to deal with her own demons till a shooting day at the mall where Elise stops by to take towels for her daughters.
She hears gunshots and kills a young boy who is about to kill a man. She becomes heroine she never wanted to be! She questions herself if she’s done the right thing.
Only person can help her for the closure the man she’s saved from dying. The same tall man who vanished into thin air without giving testimony. Who was this guy?
Then she meets him waiting for her in front of the precinct. She follows him and their meeting turns something unexpected. She realizes she saved the wrong man! The man calls himself Wade turns into her obsessed stalker who is about to ruin everything she’s worked for years.
He knows everything about her forensics lessons. He knows how to cover his tracks but one thing he doesn’t know is Elise’s determination to beat him in his own game. This is heart pounding, psychological cat-mouse game! Who will catch the other first? Who will win the game?
Overall: Wendy Walker definitely teaches us how to get away with murder with scientific details! This book is smart and unputdownable just like her other brilliant works! Highly recommended to the crime lovers, psychological thriller devourers !
Special thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
At each second you get more frustrated, asking yourself who is the prey and who is the real hunter!
Detective Elise Sutton: such a complex character you can get easily attached to. Her fears, weaknesses, strengths are reflected honestly. As a police officer, dealing with cold cases, teaching forensic science to her students, she never has to pull the trigger. She is more a puzzlist than a police. She is good to see the details that no one can notice and she is also great to put the pieces together. That’s how she solves the cold cases nobody predicted to find the truth beneath.
But her own marriage is like a broken cup after her husband’s betrayal. She has to let bygones be bygones, raising her kids, rekindling her old flame with her husband and her ex- marine partner Rowan gives him enough support to deal with her own demons till a shooting day at the mall where Elise stops by to take towels for her daughters.
She hears gunshots and kills a young boy who is about to kill a man. She becomes heroine she never wanted to be! She questions herself if she’s done the right thing.
Only person can help her for the closure the man she’s saved from dying. The same tall man who vanished into thin air without giving testimony. Who was this guy?
Then she meets him waiting for her in front of the precinct. She follows him and their meeting turns something unexpected. She realizes she saved the wrong man! The man calls himself Wade turns into her obsessed stalker who is about to ruin everything she’s worked for years.
He knows everything about her forensics lessons. He knows how to cover his tracks but one thing he doesn’t know is Elise’s determination to beat him in his own game. This is heart pounding, psychological cat-mouse game! Who will catch the other first? Who will win the game?
Overall: Wendy Walker definitely teaches us how to get away with murder with scientific details! This book is smart and unputdownable just like her other brilliant works! Highly recommended to the crime lovers, psychological thriller devourers !
Special thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
blog
June 17, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
Cold Case detective Elise Sutton was just running into the department store for towels-soft pink towels for her girls-while her partner, Rowan, circled the parking lot.
SHE NEVER EXPECTED TO FIND HERSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTING
When Clay Lucas, the young man holding the gun turns it toward a tall man making his way toward the dressing room, she will have to take one life to save another. Witnesses corroborate that she had no choice, but although hailed a hero-she doesn’t feel like one.
SHE WISHES SHE COULD SPEAK WITH THE TALL MAN, BUT HE NEVER GAVE A STATEMENT
Thirty Six miles from the shooting, a human body is found in “The Kill Room”, a shelter where deer hunters go to clean their prey and cremate the carcasses. How will this murder connect with the shooting ?
CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
Turns out, “The Tall Man” Wade Austin, wants to talk with Elise too.
In fact, since the shooting where she saved his life-he has become obsessed with her, even more so, after he begins to access the notes from a popular Forensics class she once taught called, “ Leave No Trace-how to commit the perfect murder.”
PUPIL vs. TEACHER
Now all the things she knows to do as a COP, she will have to live as a VICTIM, and the tension is palpable!
A shaky marriage, the shooting and now the STALKING and threats against her family, will contribute to some poor decision making, but Elise like most mothers, would do ANYTHING when it comes to protecting her children.
This book starts as a FAST PACED THRILLER, and then settles in as a complex psychological thriller-a character study of both the CRIMINAL mind, and the psyche of the VICTIM.
HOW IT ALL TIES TOGETHER WAS NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING -and that’s ALWAYS a good thing!
Once again, Wendy Walker has delivered a story I was always eager to get back to!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan!
Cold Case detective Elise Sutton was just running into the department store for towels-soft pink towels for her girls-while her partner, Rowan, circled the parking lot.
SHE NEVER EXPECTED TO FIND HERSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTING
When Clay Lucas, the young man holding the gun turns it toward a tall man making his way toward the dressing room, she will have to take one life to save another. Witnesses corroborate that she had no choice, but although hailed a hero-she doesn’t feel like one.
SHE WISHES SHE COULD SPEAK WITH THE TALL MAN, BUT HE NEVER GAVE A STATEMENT
Thirty Six miles from the shooting, a human body is found in “The Kill Room”, a shelter where deer hunters go to clean their prey and cremate the carcasses. How will this murder connect with the shooting ?
CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
Turns out, “The Tall Man” Wade Austin, wants to talk with Elise too.
In fact, since the shooting where she saved his life-he has become obsessed with her, even more so, after he begins to access the notes from a popular Forensics class she once taught called, “ Leave No Trace-how to commit the perfect murder.”
PUPIL vs. TEACHER
Now all the things she knows to do as a COP, she will have to live as a VICTIM, and the tension is palpable!
A shaky marriage, the shooting and now the STALKING and threats against her family, will contribute to some poor decision making, but Elise like most mothers, would do ANYTHING when it comes to protecting her children.
This book starts as a FAST PACED THRILLER, and then settles in as a complex psychological thriller-a character study of both the CRIMINAL mind, and the psyche of the VICTIM.
HOW IT ALL TIES TOGETHER WAS NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING -and that’s ALWAYS a good thing!
Once again, Wendy Walker has delivered a story I was always eager to get back to!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan!
June 7, 2023
Elise Sutton, a detective who works cold cases and also teaches a class on forensics, is shopping one day and finds herself in an active shooter situation. She is forced to kill the shooter, and Elise is hailed a hero for saving lives.
But Elise is traumatized and plagued by guilt and self-doubt at the taking of a life. Complicating matters are struggles in her personal life that magnifies her distress.
Enter Wade, the tall man who Elise saved when she killed the shooter. They seem to connect at first, but things take a dark turn and a cat-and-mouse game begin. Elise is now plagued by a stalker who threatens everything and everyone she holds dear.
I may not have always agreed with Elise’s decisions as she deals with the situation she finds herself in, but the author allowed her readers to get inside Elise’s head to understand her emotions and thought processes.
The narrative is interspersed with chapters of class notes called the Kill Room. I wasn’t sure at first how these chapters fit into the plot, but the two stories eventually collide in an explosive way.
This was truly a unique book in a sea of thrillers. The story was intricate, action-packed, and tense, with enough twists and turns to keep me furiously flipping the pages.
The author excelled at developing her characters, and delved deep into the psychological effects of trauma as well as mental illness.
The psychological component in stories gets me every time. The author’s work in trauma and psychology is evident in these pages. Relevant social issues are also addressed, but the author is subtle, never heavy handed, which I appreciated.
There’s a lot to unpack here and it would make a terrific book club choice. My book buddy, Marialyce and I had terrific discussions.
Some books benefit from being read in as few sittings as possible, and this is one of those books.
5 enthusiastic stars! Maybe my favorite thriller of the year, so far.
* I received a digital copy of this book via NetGall;ey. All opinions are my own
But Elise is traumatized and plagued by guilt and self-doubt at the taking of a life. Complicating matters are struggles in her personal life that magnifies her distress.
Enter Wade, the tall man who Elise saved when she killed the shooter. They seem to connect at first, but things take a dark turn and a cat-and-mouse game begin. Elise is now plagued by a stalker who threatens everything and everyone she holds dear.
I may not have always agreed with Elise’s decisions as she deals with the situation she finds herself in, but the author allowed her readers to get inside Elise’s head to understand her emotions and thought processes.
The narrative is interspersed with chapters of class notes called the Kill Room. I wasn’t sure at first how these chapters fit into the plot, but the two stories eventually collide in an explosive way.
This was truly a unique book in a sea of thrillers. The story was intricate, action-packed, and tense, with enough twists and turns to keep me furiously flipping the pages.
The author excelled at developing her characters, and delved deep into the psychological effects of trauma as well as mental illness.
The psychological component in stories gets me every time. The author’s work in trauma and psychology is evident in these pages. Relevant social issues are also addressed, but the author is subtle, never heavy handed, which I appreciated.
There’s a lot to unpack here and it would make a terrific book club choice. My book buddy, Marialyce and I had terrific discussions.
Some books benefit from being read in as few sittings as possible, and this is one of those books.
5 enthusiastic stars! Maybe my favorite thriller of the year, so far.
* I received a digital copy of this book via NetGall;ey. All opinions are my own
September 26, 2024
After a violent incident in a department store, Detective Elise Sutton is hailed a hero in her community. The truth is though, Elise doesn't feel like one.
She's battling complicated and conflicting emotions about that day and the only person who seems to understand is the man she saved. A man she comes to know as Wade Austin. The two of them are now connected by the event.
Unfortunately for Elise, he'll never let her go.
Elise quickly realizes she's called a wolf to her door. This man is not who he says he is and soon he becomes an eminent threat to her and everyone she cares for.
Racing against the clock, Elise works to outsmart him and severe their tie before it's too late. This guy has done his homework though and always seems two steps ahead.
Y,all! Wendy Walker has done it again. This was so gripping. The opening scene, oh my word, I was at the edge of my seat. 100% in it.
There were a lot of elements to this, like Wade's interactions with Elise, that really got under my skin. The circumstances were playing off some of my own real-life fears. I always love when a narrative is actually able to raise my heart rate and that was certainly the case here.
I liked Elise as a main character. She was smart, resourceful and fiercely independent. I did get angry at her now and again for her secretiveness, but I understand her motivations for being that way.
I loved her partner, Rowan. I sort of wish we would get more Thrillers with them as a detective duo. I feel like there is more we could explore with them personally and since they specialize in cold cases, I am sure there is plenty of interesting mysteries for them to dig into.
Wishful thinking, I know. I'm sure this is a standalone, but this just gives you an idea of how much Walker sold me on this detective partnership.
In addition to the steady pace and tension throughout, the ending of this got nail-biting intense. I was at the edge of my seat, flying through the pages so fast, I think I saw sparks come from the end of my fingers.
I would absolutely recommend this to people who enjoy a taut, intense, well-plotted Thriller. I always enjoy Walker's stories, but I think this is my favorite one yet!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I'm sure you can tell by this review, but I'll say it one more time, I loved it!!
She's battling complicated and conflicting emotions about that day and the only person who seems to understand is the man she saved. A man she comes to know as Wade Austin. The two of them are now connected by the event.
Unfortunately for Elise, he'll never let her go.
Elise quickly realizes she's called a wolf to her door. This man is not who he says he is and soon he becomes an eminent threat to her and everyone she cares for.
Racing against the clock, Elise works to outsmart him and severe their tie before it's too late. This guy has done his homework though and always seems two steps ahead.
Y,all! Wendy Walker has done it again. This was so gripping. The opening scene, oh my word, I was at the edge of my seat. 100% in it.
There were a lot of elements to this, like Wade's interactions with Elise, that really got under my skin. The circumstances were playing off some of my own real-life fears. I always love when a narrative is actually able to raise my heart rate and that was certainly the case here.
I liked Elise as a main character. She was smart, resourceful and fiercely independent. I did get angry at her now and again for her secretiveness, but I understand her motivations for being that way.
I loved her partner, Rowan. I sort of wish we would get more Thrillers with them as a detective duo. I feel like there is more we could explore with them personally and since they specialize in cold cases, I am sure there is plenty of interesting mysteries for them to dig into.
Wishful thinking, I know. I'm sure this is a standalone, but this just gives you an idea of how much Walker sold me on this detective partnership.
In addition to the steady pace and tension throughout, the ending of this got nail-biting intense. I was at the edge of my seat, flying through the pages so fast, I think I saw sparks come from the end of my fingers.
I would absolutely recommend this to people who enjoy a taut, intense, well-plotted Thriller. I always enjoy Walker's stories, but I think this is my favorite one yet!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I'm sure you can tell by this review, but I'll say it one more time, I loved it!!
June 12, 2023
Intense and compelling cat and mouse chase.
Don't worry about a slow beginning, it takes off full force from page one. Parts took my breath away and my hands were always solidly glued to my kindle.
It is on the darker side of my usual reads with some blood chilling scenes. I had the urge to scream "run!" several times, feeling anxiety. I was somehow in the game too, second guessing and trying to connect dots! Brain cells fully engaged.
I liked the way the author weaved the two settings together, not giving too much away, laying the puzzle pieces and letting the reader work them out. I was wondering where the dominoes would fall, who would make the first misstep.
Someone's unhinged, going down rabbit holes, taking risks they shouldn't. The cat and mouse both making choices, mistakes and creating panic around them.
Recommend if you enjoy crime / police procedural thrillers with some stalker vibes!
Thanks EW for my ARC/ OUT June 13, 2023
Don't worry about a slow beginning, it takes off full force from page one. Parts took my breath away and my hands were always solidly glued to my kindle.
It is on the darker side of my usual reads with some blood chilling scenes. I had the urge to scream "run!" several times, feeling anxiety. I was somehow in the game too, second guessing and trying to connect dots! Brain cells fully engaged.
I liked the way the author weaved the two settings together, not giving too much away, laying the puzzle pieces and letting the reader work them out. I was wondering where the dominoes would fall, who would make the first misstep.
Someone's unhinged, going down rabbit holes, taking risks they shouldn't. The cat and mouse both making choices, mistakes and creating panic around them.
Recommend if you enjoy crime / police procedural thrillers with some stalker vibes!
Thanks EW for my ARC/ OUT June 13, 2023
June 11, 2023
⚠️Outlier alert (once again)🤦♀️
Hmmm…Did I read a different book than everyone else?
An absolute struggle to get through. Was it because I listened to the audio instead of reading it? Perhaps... though the storyline itself failed to grab me.
The female narrator delivered her lines in an odd staccato, followed with accentuated upward inflections at the end of each sentence no matter the mood or tone. It was so distracting that it was impossible to concentrate on the storyline.
I considered getting a digital copy, but by then I had simply lost interest and called it a day.
Truly, I just think this was a one-off for me with this author.
Most everyone else absolutely loved this book so take a look at all the fabulous positive reviews before making your decision!💜
Thank you to Libro.fm
Hmmm…Did I read a different book than everyone else?
An absolute struggle to get through. Was it because I listened to the audio instead of reading it? Perhaps... though the storyline itself failed to grab me.
The female narrator delivered her lines in an odd staccato, followed with accentuated upward inflections at the end of each sentence no matter the mood or tone. It was so distracting that it was impossible to concentrate on the storyline.
I considered getting a digital copy, but by then I had simply lost interest and called it a day.
Truly, I just think this was a one-off for me with this author.
Most everyone else absolutely loved this book so take a look at all the fabulous positive reviews before making your decision!💜
Thank you to Libro.fm
June 15, 2023
Outlier Alert!
I have really liked Walker's books in the past, but there was something about this one that just didn't work for me.
This book starts off with an absolutely intense scenario that captivated me immediately. Elise is a police officer working in the cold case unit with her partner Rowan. She is shopping for towels during a work break and a shooting occurs in the store, and she shoots and kills the perpetrator. She is feeling an immense amount of guilt and wants to track down a man who was right there when it happened in order to clarify whether or not she was justified. But when she find him, things go sideways.
My main issue is that I cannot stand it when someone goes off on their own with an investigation, and it doesn't make it any better that she is a cop. Elise took unnecessary risk after unnecessary risk, even after the danger ramps up. I couldn't get behind her reasoning for this and it just caused me to get more and more annoyed as it progressed.
There is a parallel storyline that is scattered throughout, about an unidentified body found in a "kill room" (used for cremation of animal carcasses after hunting.) I liked how this was integrated with the other situation in the end, but I thought it was kind of clunky getting there at times.
I'll chalk this up to not being one of my favorites from this author because the rogue cop theme rubs me the wrong way. It isn't awful, and many other reviewers have really loved it, so take my review with a grain of salt and form your own opinion.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I have really liked Walker's books in the past, but there was something about this one that just didn't work for me.
This book starts off with an absolutely intense scenario that captivated me immediately. Elise is a police officer working in the cold case unit with her partner Rowan. She is shopping for towels during a work break and a shooting occurs in the store, and she shoots and kills the perpetrator. She is feeling an immense amount of guilt and wants to track down a man who was right there when it happened in order to clarify whether or not she was justified. But when she find him, things go sideways.
My main issue is that I cannot stand it when someone goes off on their own with an investigation, and it doesn't make it any better that she is a cop. Elise took unnecessary risk after unnecessary risk, even after the danger ramps up. I couldn't get behind her reasoning for this and it just caused me to get more and more annoyed as it progressed.
There is a parallel storyline that is scattered throughout, about an unidentified body found in a "kill room" (used for cremation of animal carcasses after hunting.) I liked how this was integrated with the other situation in the end, but I thought it was kind of clunky getting there at times.
I'll chalk this up to not being one of my favorites from this author because the rogue cop theme rubs me the wrong way. It isn't awful, and many other reviewers have really loved it, so take my review with a grain of salt and form your own opinion.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
June 13, 2023
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
“What remains inside of us is uncertain. Unknown. Unfamiliar. Unruly.”
Detective Elise Sutton is in a department store buying pink towels for her young daughters when she finds herself face to face with an active shooter. Her instincts and training kick in, and she takes a shot at the man with the gun, instantly killing him. Miraculously, no one else is injured and she saves everyone in the department store. But is Elise really a hero?
In the aftermath of the shooting, Elise is traumatized by her actions. Did she have to take that shot? Could the shooter’s death have been prevented? Did she really save the tall man who appeared to be in danger? Elise must find the answers to these questions in order to cope with the trauma of the shooting,
When a crime scene is found in a place called The Kill Room, evidence points to Detective Elise Sutton. Who was murdered in The Kill Room and what does Elise know about it?
In this fast-paced thriller, Wendy Walker tackles gun control, a current widespread issue that is affecting Americans. However, she does this without any political partisanship. Rather, she focuses on the origin of the gun, how it got into the wrong hands, and the mental health of its holder. She exposes the effect that a shooting has on the most unlikely victim, the trained professional who took him down. Mental health is considered in detail, while Elise goes rogue in order to solve her own case and clear her conscience. Two timelines are explored, eventually merging to complete the intentional plot holes.
Walker is a skilled writer, whose thrillers always keep me on the edge of my seat. I applaud her for tackling a difficult subject matter that needs more attention. I was there for the ride, but felt somewhat let down by the predictable ending. Do not expect a twisty read, as this book follows a different trajectory. Walker is on auto-request for me, so I didn’t read the synopsis prior to downloading. Maybe I should have been more careful. It is filled with triggers, so please check out the warnings before reading.
Trigger warnings: public shooting, assault, PTSD
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 6/13/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for theARC of What Remains in exchange for an honest review.
“What remains inside of us is uncertain. Unknown. Unfamiliar. Unruly.”
Detective Elise Sutton is in a department store buying pink towels for her young daughters when she finds herself face to face with an active shooter. Her instincts and training kick in, and she takes a shot at the man with the gun, instantly killing him. Miraculously, no one else is injured and she saves everyone in the department store. But is Elise really a hero?
In the aftermath of the shooting, Elise is traumatized by her actions. Did she have to take that shot? Could the shooter’s death have been prevented? Did she really save the tall man who appeared to be in danger? Elise must find the answers to these questions in order to cope with the trauma of the shooting,
When a crime scene is found in a place called The Kill Room, evidence points to Detective Elise Sutton. Who was murdered in The Kill Room and what does Elise know about it?
In this fast-paced thriller, Wendy Walker tackles gun control, a current widespread issue that is affecting Americans. However, she does this without any political partisanship. Rather, she focuses on the origin of the gun, how it got into the wrong hands, and the mental health of its holder. She exposes the effect that a shooting has on the most unlikely victim, the trained professional who took him down. Mental health is considered in detail, while Elise goes rogue in order to solve her own case and clear her conscience. Two timelines are explored, eventually merging to complete the intentional plot holes.
Walker is a skilled writer, whose thrillers always keep me on the edge of my seat. I applaud her for tackling a difficult subject matter that needs more attention. I was there for the ride, but felt somewhat let down by the predictable ending. Do not expect a twisty read, as this book follows a different trajectory. Walker is on auto-request for me, so I didn’t read the synopsis prior to downloading. Maybe I should have been more careful. It is filled with triggers, so please check out the warnings before reading.
Trigger warnings: public shooting, assault, PTSD
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 6/13/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for theARC of What Remains in exchange for an honest review.
Shelved as 'read-audiobooks'
July 21, 2023Thank you Libro.fm for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
** I do not give star ratings to audiobooks because I cannot analyze the prose **
Audiobook Rating: mid | Performance: mid
Ok I swear to your sky daddy of choice that everyone and their mama was giving this book 4/5 stars, so when I checked the rating about 58% through I was SHOOK to see it was a 3.72???? Anyways, I thought the concept was interesting enough, but the execution was veryyyy MEH.
If you're familiar with my reviews, you'll know I'm not a big fan of 'citizens gone rogue' stories (esp. when it comes to solving murder), but what's worse than this? COPS GONE ROGUE. And by this I don't mean running off to intercept a baddie when every second counts, I mean actively withholding pertinent evidence throughout the case for whatever reason. You know better than this, Elise!!!
Also, her husband is a certified bum. So he cheated on you with another married woman, and then 4 years later, gets mad that you let the side boo know the jig is up??? "You ruined her life" ???? Bro YOU ruined MY life. Immediate divorce. But instead Elise tortures herself wondering if the side boo licks her husband's inner ear as well (apparently his fave).
Anyways, this was disappointing to say the least. The nail in the coffin was turning on her own shower and 'hoping' the water turned from cold to hot. To my knowledge, she didn't have any plumbing issues... Wendy Walker just likes to add words when you don't need any.
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
** I do not give star ratings to audiobooks because I cannot analyze the prose **
Audiobook Rating: mid | Performance: mid
Ok I swear to your sky daddy of choice that everyone and their mama was giving this book 4/5 stars, so when I checked the rating about 58% through I was SHOOK to see it was a 3.72???? Anyways, I thought the concept was interesting enough, but the execution was veryyyy MEH.
If you're familiar with my reviews, you'll know I'm not a big fan of 'citizens gone rogue' stories (esp. when it comes to solving murder), but what's worse than this? COPS GONE ROGUE. And by this I don't mean running off to intercept a baddie when every second counts, I mean actively withholding pertinent evidence throughout the case for whatever reason. You know better than this, Elise!!!
Also, her husband is a certified bum. So he cheated on you with another married woman, and then 4 years later, gets mad that you let the side boo know the jig is up??? "You ruined her life" ???? Bro YOU ruined MY life. Immediate divorce. But instead Elise tortures herself wondering if the side boo licks her husband's inner ear as well (apparently his fave).
Anyways, this was disappointing to say the least. The nail in the coffin was turning on her own shower and 'hoping' the water turned from cold to hot. To my knowledge, she didn't have any plumbing issues... Wendy Walker just likes to add words when you don't need any.
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
June 26, 2023
Detective Elise Sutton enjoys solving cold cases. They are puzzles to her and is an expert on how killers leave clues and are caught. She also teaches forensic science. One day she walks into a department store to buy towels for her daughters. She never expected to be stepping into chaos. She sees a shooter pointing a gun at a "tall man" and takes action. The witnesses at the scene corroborate Elise's accounts of what happened that day. She is hailed as a hero, but she is conflicted. She had to take a life to save a life. Whew! What a decision to make. Elise is also struggling with issues in her marriage on top of all her guilt over the shooting.
When she has contact with Wade Austin, the "tall man" she saved, it becomes clear that he is not who he says he is. Things become muddled and a threatening game of cat-and-mouse begins.
I enjoyed how Elise was presented as strong yet vulnerable woman. I also enjoyed the POV's and the sections on the "Kill Room". I kept trying to figure out how this was going to connect to the shooting.
This was a well thought out and executed (no pun intended) book. The characters are complex, and I enjoyed getting into their thoughts. This was a gripping and tension filled cat-and-mouse that kept me wondering what was going to happen next.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
When she has contact with Wade Austin, the "tall man" she saved, it becomes clear that he is not who he says he is. Things become muddled and a threatening game of cat-and-mouse begins.
I enjoyed how Elise was presented as strong yet vulnerable woman. I also enjoyed the POV's and the sections on the "Kill Room". I kept trying to figure out how this was going to connect to the shooting.
This was a well thought out and executed (no pun intended) book. The characters are complex, and I enjoyed getting into their thoughts. This was a gripping and tension filled cat-and-mouse that kept me wondering what was going to happen next.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
October 11, 2023
I sure felt thrilled by this one. A bit extreme at times, but I still liked it!
November 26, 2023
While shopping in the local megastore, Detective Elise Sutton is alarmed to hear what sounds like gunshots taking place a few sections over. Ignoring her ever present anxiety, she grabs her gun and goes in the direction of the sounds that she’s just heard. When she reaches the men’s clothing department, she sees someone no older than a kid holding a tall man at gunpoint. More alarming, however, are the bullet holes behind her shooter’s target, so she takes aim and fires.
After the fact, Elise is hailed as a hero—the lone individual who was able to stop the crazed gunman in an instant. Internally, however, she’s riddled with fear that the shot she took wasn’t justified. Had she really needed to kill the young man? Or had her inexperience at pointing a gun on a live target swayed her judgement? Worse, though, is the fact that she was unable to get answers from the only other person at the scene who could have given them. After all, not long after the shooter was dead, the tall man disappeared from the store—before anyone could take his statement or collect his name.
So when Elise, now on temporary leave, thinks she sees the man she saved, she’s driven to learn what he saw that afternoon and follows his truck out of town. Finally face-to-face with him, he introduces himself as Wade Austin and they instantly connect over what they’ve both been through together. Not long after leaving him, however, new facts come to light. Elise is horrified to realize that not only is he not who he purports to be, but that Wade Austin isn’t even his real name. Worse still, just as quickly as he made an appearance in her life, he has now vanished, setting off a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse for not only her, but everyone she loves dearly as well. Who is he? And what does he want with Elise?
WOW. In one word, that describes What Remains to a tee. Between the complex, realistically flawed characters and the well-plotted storyline, my mind was well and truly blown. I mean, thanks to the synopsis, I was expecting a game of cat-and-mouse, but what I didn’t see coming was how calculating that chess match would turn out to be. And thanks in large part to that, what played out on the pages was, plain and simple, nothing less than top-notch.
Another winning attribute for this thriller loving gal was the fast-paced action and ratcheting intensity. Told via dual POVs and timelines, it took some getting used to to piece this flawlessly timed puzzle together, but when the final reveal was laid out, I was utterly shocked. While not exactly overflowing with twists and turns, each turned out to be just what the plot was calling out for—not too much and not too little. Both facts that may have looked simple, but must’ve been insanely hard to pull off.
Then there were the characters. As I’ve mentioned, they were simply sublime. Easily my favorite aspect to the book to start off with, Elise was one heck of a protagonist. While part of her was a by-the-book list-making cop, she also was prone to listening to her anxiety and ignoring her gut. What resulted were some rather poor decision making skills that were sure to lead to disaster—or so I thought. Ultimately, though, her character displayed a mix of traits that, despite the need to suspend disbelief here and there, was wholly relatable in both her vulnerability and strength.
The only thing that dragged this book down just a bit was one of the two POVs. Written in a rather dry style, it covered what seemed to a completely unrelated crime in the so-called Kill Room. After finishing the novel, I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out why it needed to so sterile. After all, what resulted was a perspective that felt tedious much of the time. In hindsight, was it pivotal to the plot? Well, yes, but it didn’t need to be so boring, in my opinion.
All in all, however, that was the only piece to this brilliantly laid out plot that let me down even the slightest. A combo of crime fiction and thriller, don’t let the former fool you. There was no lack of chills and thrills in this spine-tingling tale, but on top of that there were also some truly thought-provoking themes running throughout. The first book by Walker that I’ve read, I can guarantee you it won’t be my last. Now onto her backlist with the hope that some—if not all—can live up to What Remains. Rating of 4.5 stars.
👉 Be sure to head to my Amazon Storefront to order. I get a small commission and would love your support!
Trigger warning: public shooting, assault, stalking, infidelity, kidnapping, mention of: mental illnesses
*Note on the TW: If you have experience with a mass shooting, you might want to give this book a wide berth.
After the fact, Elise is hailed as a hero—the lone individual who was able to stop the crazed gunman in an instant. Internally, however, she’s riddled with fear that the shot she took wasn’t justified. Had she really needed to kill the young man? Or had her inexperience at pointing a gun on a live target swayed her judgement? Worse, though, is the fact that she was unable to get answers from the only other person at the scene who could have given them. After all, not long after the shooter was dead, the tall man disappeared from the store—before anyone could take his statement or collect his name.
So when Elise, now on temporary leave, thinks she sees the man she saved, she’s driven to learn what he saw that afternoon and follows his truck out of town. Finally face-to-face with him, he introduces himself as Wade Austin and they instantly connect over what they’ve both been through together. Not long after leaving him, however, new facts come to light. Elise is horrified to realize that not only is he not who he purports to be, but that Wade Austin isn’t even his real name. Worse still, just as quickly as he made an appearance in her life, he has now vanished, setting off a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse for not only her, but everyone she loves dearly as well. Who is he? And what does he want with Elise?
WOW. In one word, that describes What Remains to a tee. Between the complex, realistically flawed characters and the well-plotted storyline, my mind was well and truly blown. I mean, thanks to the synopsis, I was expecting a game of cat-and-mouse, but what I didn’t see coming was how calculating that chess match would turn out to be. And thanks in large part to that, what played out on the pages was, plain and simple, nothing less than top-notch.
Another winning attribute for this thriller loving gal was the fast-paced action and ratcheting intensity. Told via dual POVs and timelines, it took some getting used to to piece this flawlessly timed puzzle together, but when the final reveal was laid out, I was utterly shocked. While not exactly overflowing with twists and turns, each turned out to be just what the plot was calling out for—not too much and not too little. Both facts that may have looked simple, but must’ve been insanely hard to pull off.
Then there were the characters. As I’ve mentioned, they were simply sublime. Easily my favorite aspect to the book to start off with, Elise was one heck of a protagonist. While part of her was a by-the-book list-making cop, she also was prone to listening to her anxiety and ignoring her gut. What resulted were some rather poor decision making skills that were sure to lead to disaster—or so I thought. Ultimately, though, her character displayed a mix of traits that, despite the need to suspend disbelief here and there, was wholly relatable in both her vulnerability and strength.
The only thing that dragged this book down just a bit was one of the two POVs. Written in a rather dry style, it covered what seemed to a completely unrelated crime in the so-called Kill Room. After finishing the novel, I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out why it needed to so sterile. After all, what resulted was a perspective that felt tedious much of the time. In hindsight, was it pivotal to the plot? Well, yes, but it didn’t need to be so boring, in my opinion.
All in all, however, that was the only piece to this brilliantly laid out plot that let me down even the slightest. A combo of crime fiction and thriller, don’t let the former fool you. There was no lack of chills and thrills in this spine-tingling tale, but on top of that there were also some truly thought-provoking themes running throughout. The first book by Walker that I’ve read, I can guarantee you it won’t be my last. Now onto her backlist with the hope that some—if not all—can live up to What Remains. Rating of 4.5 stars.
👉 Be sure to head to my Amazon Storefront to order. I get a small commission and would love your support!
Trigger warning: public shooting, assault, stalking, infidelity, kidnapping, mention of: mental illnesses
*Note on the TW: If you have experience with a mass shooting, you might want to give this book a wide berth.
December 23, 2022
Even though What Remains isn't released until June 2023, I loved this one so much that I have to put it on everyone's radar! I'm going to be very brief with the synopsis because trust me, the less you know going into this one the better!
What Remains centers around Detective Elise Sutton. Elise walks into a store and stumbles upon a robbery in progress. Elise is then faced with the impossible decision of taking down the armed shooter in order to save all of the innocent shoppers' lives. What happens next, turns Elise’s world upside down and ends up in an intense game of cat and mouse leaving the reader wondering who is the predator and who is the prey.
I knew that I would like this one because I enjoy Wendy’s writing however I had no idea the thrill ride that I was in for when I started What Remains. I initially found myself immediately captivated by Elise’s story. What Remains is different from her prior novels that I've read. Emma in the Night, American Girl, The Night Before, and Don't Look For Me would all be classified more along the lines of domestic suspense whereas What Remains is more of a crime thriller. Also unlike her prior works What Remains has some intense action scenes and a more fast-paced. Not to mention What Remains has an epic twist that will leave you gasping for breath.
Wendy Walker killed it with her characterization of the main character Detective Elise Sutton. Elise was so well written and I understood her thought process so well that she felt as it felt as if I knew her in real life.
What Remains is my fifth read by author Wendy Walker and it lived up to and exceeded all of my expectations! I loved Wendy’s prior works but I have to say that What Remains is my absolute favorite by her! I highly recommend this brilliantly written and highly entertaining read.
What Remains by Wendy Walker will be available on June 13, 2023. Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
What Remains centers around Detective Elise Sutton. Elise walks into a store and stumbles upon a robbery in progress. Elise is then faced with the impossible decision of taking down the armed shooter in order to save all of the innocent shoppers' lives. What happens next, turns Elise’s world upside down and ends up in an intense game of cat and mouse leaving the reader wondering who is the predator and who is the prey.
I knew that I would like this one because I enjoy Wendy’s writing however I had no idea the thrill ride that I was in for when I started What Remains. I initially found myself immediately captivated by Elise’s story. What Remains is different from her prior novels that I've read. Emma in the Night, American Girl, The Night Before, and Don't Look For Me would all be classified more along the lines of domestic suspense whereas What Remains is more of a crime thriller. Also unlike her prior works What Remains has some intense action scenes and a more fast-paced. Not to mention What Remains has an epic twist that will leave you gasping for breath.
Wendy Walker killed it with her characterization of the main character Detective Elise Sutton. Elise was so well written and I understood her thought process so well that she felt as it felt as if I knew her in real life.
What Remains is my fifth read by author Wendy Walker and it lived up to and exceeded all of my expectations! I loved Wendy’s prior works but I have to say that What Remains is my absolute favorite by her! I highly recommend this brilliantly written and highly entertaining read.
What Remains by Wendy Walker will be available on June 13, 2023. Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
April 26, 2023
Wendy Walker is a must read author for me, and What Remains was a book that I was very excited to read. Once I picked it up and started reading I just could not stop, and read it in a few short hours on a rainy Sunday afternoon. What a clever book, with plenty of twists and through provoking themes. More than just your run of the mill police procedural, What Remain was a tense, cat and mouse tale that you just have to read.
Elise Sutton is a cold case detective these days. Her decision to stop to buy towels at a department store will change her life forever. When she hears shots fired she knows that she needs to get involved, and she takes the shooters life. She is hailed a hero for saving so many people, but she feels anything but. The guilt she feels for killing a man takes over everything in her life. And then she meets the man who the gun was pointed at and realises that he is not the man he says he is, His obsession with Elise is dangerous, and will make her question everything. She makes many questionable decisions and is a frustrating character. And yet, I could not put this book down.
Do yourself a favour and add this book, and all of Wendy Walkers books, to your TBR. What Remains publishes on June 13th. Thanks so much Blackstone Publishing for my advanced copy to read.
Elise Sutton is a cold case detective these days. Her decision to stop to buy towels at a department store will change her life forever. When she hears shots fired she knows that she needs to get involved, and she takes the shooters life. She is hailed a hero for saving so many people, but she feels anything but. The guilt she feels for killing a man takes over everything in her life. And then she meets the man who the gun was pointed at and realises that he is not the man he says he is, His obsession with Elise is dangerous, and will make her question everything. She makes many questionable decisions and is a frustrating character. And yet, I could not put this book down.
Do yourself a favour and add this book, and all of Wendy Walkers books, to your TBR. What Remains publishes on June 13th. Thanks so much Blackstone Publishing for my advanced copy to read.
October 1, 2023
3.5 The choices we make in these days of mass shootings comes home in a big way for Detective Elise Sutton, when she encounters an active.shooting at a local mall. When she sees a man, in the direct site of the shooter, she reacts and kills the shooter. Although she is hailed as a hero, killing someone is not without emotional upheaval, and she feels the need to search out the man she hoped she saved. Was he in danger? Did she take a life to save a life? Sometimes we don't like the answers we find.
Interesting book, realistic, unfortunately, premise. Good suspense, liked Elise's character and being privy to her thoughts on the shooting, how she reacts. The ending a little over the top but I do like this author.
Interesting book, realistic, unfortunately, premise. Good suspense, liked Elise's character and being privy to her thoughts on the shooting, how she reacts. The ending a little over the top but I do like this author.
June 23, 2023
Narrators can make or break an audiobook.
And, yes, not all books are for all people.
This being said, after finishing this audiobook's first chapter, I knew this book was not for me.
WHY?
Gabra Zuckman's narration of the female protagonist was not easy on the ears.
Therefore, it was exceedingly difficult to fully embrace the storyline and commiserate and empathize with the female protagonist.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK:
I applaud the author for showcasing the trauma a law enforcement officer experiences when confronting and killing an armed gunman.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK:
Although the book started off with a bang (literally), it suffered from uneven pacing (waaaay too slow) and, therefore, was a struggle to finish.
The book's dual plotlines did not work for me, nor did the protagonist's obsession with the affair that her husband had four years ago.
Wendy Walker is one of my go-to authors and this is my first Wendy Walker 2.5-star review.
My faith in future Wendy Walker books still remains, even though "What Remains" was simply not the book for me.
And, yes, not all books are for all people.
This being said, after finishing this audiobook's first chapter, I knew this book was not for me.
WHY?
Gabra Zuckman's narration of the female protagonist was not easy on the ears.
Therefore, it was exceedingly difficult to fully embrace the storyline and commiserate and empathize with the female protagonist.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK:
I applaud the author for showcasing the trauma a law enforcement officer experiences when confronting and killing an armed gunman.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK:
Although the book started off with a bang (literally), it suffered from uneven pacing (waaaay too slow) and, therefore, was a struggle to finish.
The book's dual plotlines did not work for me, nor did the protagonist's obsession with the affair that her husband had four years ago.
Wendy Walker is one of my go-to authors and this is my first Wendy Walker 2.5-star review.
My faith in future Wendy Walker books still remains, even though "What Remains" was simply not the book for me.
January 13, 2024
This was a great thriller!
Detective Elise Sutton is stopping to buy pink towels for her girls while her partner, Rowan, circles the car around the block. The last thing Elise expected was to find herself in front of an active shooting scene.
Elise is usually surrounded by cold cases. She is able to solve them due to her great attention to detail. She also still contributes to a class she used to teach and the way she taught it was from the killers' point of view and how to get away with murder.
On the day of the shooting, she has to make a hard choice. She uses her weapon to save the life of a tall man, Wade Austin, who is about to get killed.
The aftermath has her completely numb. She feels nothing until she is about to return to work from her leave. She unexpectedly meets with Wade. During those few hours, she opens up about her feelings and releases all her fears, but soon their reunion takes a dark turn.
Elise discovers that Wade Austin doesn't exist. No one knows who he is or how to find him. Wade is obsessed with Elise and becomes her stalker. He is one step ahead of her and her partner.
How is Elise going to keep her family safe?
Wendy Walker knows how to write them. I was submerged in this fast-paced thriller. I was rooting for Elise to teach Wade who was the Prey and who was the Hunter.
I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Detective Elise Sutton is stopping to buy pink towels for her girls while her partner, Rowan, circles the car around the block. The last thing Elise expected was to find herself in front of an active shooting scene.
Elise is usually surrounded by cold cases. She is able to solve them due to her great attention to detail. She also still contributes to a class she used to teach and the way she taught it was from the killers' point of view and how to get away with murder.
On the day of the shooting, she has to make a hard choice. She uses her weapon to save the life of a tall man, Wade Austin, who is about to get killed.
The aftermath has her completely numb. She feels nothing until she is about to return to work from her leave. She unexpectedly meets with Wade. During those few hours, she opens up about her feelings and releases all her fears, but soon their reunion takes a dark turn.
Elise discovers that Wade Austin doesn't exist. No one knows who he is or how to find him. Wade is obsessed with Elise and becomes her stalker. He is one step ahead of her and her partner.
How is Elise going to keep her family safe?
Wendy Walker knows how to write them. I was submerged in this fast-paced thriller. I was rooting for Elise to teach Wade who was the Prey and who was the Hunter.
I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
June 14, 2023
Not quite sure of what to make of this story. I will admit as to some confusion of what exactly Wendy Walker was trying to convey. (Thanks goodness I had Jan to guide me through.) I do understand that Elise was a woman who thought she was in control of everything, perfect home, wife, mother, police person, but perhaps so much control was bound to crack.
When she kills a young man in the line of duty, it seems that this event was the one to push her over the edge. She becomes a person obsessed with finding the man she believed she saved in the department store, but when she does, she finds that he has an obsession as well, and it is her.
It is a devious game of cat and mouse, one that Elise places herself front and center. There is chapters devoted to the stalker that were was presented in the book as well as Elsie and her family.
This was a good read, but not one that I felt at all comfortable with at all times. Too many things just didn't make sense until after many wonderful discussions with Jan.
Sometimes you just need a book buddy to help put another perspective on a very intricate book. This book will challenge the reader and make you constantly think of the characters, their motivations, and the experiences that shape a life.
Thank you to Wendy Walker, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of this story due out June 13, 2023.
When she kills a young man in the line of duty, it seems that this event was the one to push her over the edge. She becomes a person obsessed with finding the man she believed she saved in the department store, but when she does, she finds that he has an obsession as well, and it is her.
It is a devious game of cat and mouse, one that Elise places herself front and center. There is chapters devoted to the stalker that were was presented in the book as well as Elsie and her family.
This was a good read, but not one that I felt at all comfortable with at all times. Too many things just didn't make sense until after many wonderful discussions with Jan.
Sometimes you just need a book buddy to help put another perspective on a very intricate book. This book will challenge the reader and make you constantly think of the characters, their motivations, and the experiences that shape a life.
Thank you to Wendy Walker, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of this story due out June 13, 2023.
June 12, 2023
Almost 5 years ago I received an advance reader's copy of Wendy Walker's The Night Before. I liked the book so much I checked out her other novels and have been a big fan ever since. So yes, I was excited to read What Remains and it did not disappoint.
Detective Elise Sutton is married with two kids. Her job is solving cold cases. While at the grocery store a harrowing situation unfolds and things start spiraling out of control from there. (The publisher synopsis goes into more detail but I think it's way more fun to go into a story without knowing too much about the plot.)
As readers, we sometimes do ourselves a disservice by getting caught up with the book's genre rather than just letting a story play out. There are thriller, mystery, and suspense elements throughout but in my opinion the driving force is the character and pondering what you would do if you living this nightmare. It made for an intense read. Very effective storytelling as I couldn't put the book down.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for providing a digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Detective Elise Sutton is married with two kids. Her job is solving cold cases. While at the grocery store a harrowing situation unfolds and things start spiraling out of control from there. (The publisher synopsis goes into more detail but I think it's way more fun to go into a story without knowing too much about the plot.)
As readers, we sometimes do ourselves a disservice by getting caught up with the book's genre rather than just letting a story play out. There are thriller, mystery, and suspense elements throughout but in my opinion the driving force is the character and pondering what you would do if you living this nightmare. It made for an intense read. Very effective storytelling as I couldn't put the book down.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for providing a digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
June 25, 2023
3.5⭐️ After recently reading my first Wendy Walker book, Don’t Look For Me, and really enjoying it, I was pumped to get my hands on this one. After listening to the audiobook, my recommendation is to read this one over listening to it. The plot is very complex and at times confusing as all get out, and the audio makes it that much harder to follow along.
I also struggled with the character development especially towards the end. I could not understand why certain characters took certain action, and as a result, this one left me a little underwhelmed. It is still quite bingy and makes a fun summer read so if you have been eyeing it, I would say to give it a try.
Thank you Librofm for my gifted copy.
I also struggled with the character development especially towards the end. I could not understand why certain characters took certain action, and as a result, this one left me a little underwhelmed. It is still quite bingy and makes a fun summer read so if you have been eyeing it, I would say to give it a try.
Thank you Librofm for my gifted copy.
June 14, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded down. TW - infidelity, stalking, PTSD & gun violence. I really like Wendy Walker and have read much of her work. “What Remains”, however, left a whole lot remaining. A police procedural of a sort, where a public shooting incident is not quite what it seems, I guessed the “twists” way before the half-way mark, which was a serious let-down & made the rest of it kinda anti-climatic. I did like the MC, detective Elise Sutton, but there were times that she really frustrated me with her “lone wolf” schtick. I’ll still read the author, but this is not her best effort.
August 16, 2023
This was definitely a different type of book from Walker, as it veered much more towards police procedural than any of her previous efforts I've read had. As many know I'm not a fan of police procedurals. I find them mostly boring and lacking in other areas I get in my juicy psychological thrillers. So needless to say this book was just okay for me. I didn't think it sucked by any means but I also didn't think it blew me away, so I'm going right in the middle here with 3 Stars!!
Basically this is about a female cop who is off duty and at a HomeGoods store when a man begins shooting. He is about to shoot a man when our main protagonist intercedes and shoots him dead. From that point on the book is a lot about her psychological struggle to recover from killing someone, and then also the nut job survivor of the HomeGoods shooting that has developed an unhealthy obsession with her, which quickly escalates and becomes dangerous. He not only watches her every move, but also every member of her family's as well. Instead of going through proper channels and addressing this stalker scumbag she goes out on her own and the rest is somewhat predictable, unfortunately! Basically she does pretty much the opposite of what every cop should do to track this guy down and put him in his place. Believable? Not hardly!
The overwhelming theme was her deteriorating psychological health throughout and her less than smart actions definitely reflected in how far she was slipping, which I suppose that part was intentional. The parts for me that really seemed to drag in this 244 page book were basically everything in between the shooting and the final showdown. Regardless, this wasn't anything that I believe will stand out by the end of the year and as far as Walker goes, it's definitely one of my least favorite of her works. I know she can do much better and I will continue reading her!!
Basically this is about a female cop who is off duty and at a HomeGoods store when a man begins shooting. He is about to shoot a man when our main protagonist intercedes and shoots him dead. From that point on the book is a lot about her psychological struggle to recover from killing someone, and then also the nut job survivor of the HomeGoods shooting that has developed an unhealthy obsession with her, which quickly escalates and becomes dangerous. He not only watches her every move, but also every member of her family's as well. Instead of going through proper channels and addressing this stalker scumbag she goes out on her own and the rest is somewhat predictable, unfortunately! Basically she does pretty much the opposite of what every cop should do to track this guy down and put him in his place. Believable? Not hardly!
The overwhelming theme was her deteriorating psychological health throughout and her less than smart actions definitely reflected in how far she was slipping, which I suppose that part was intentional. The parts for me that really seemed to drag in this 244 page book were basically everything in between the shooting and the final showdown. Regardless, this wasn't anything that I believe will stand out by the end of the year and as far as Walker goes, it's definitely one of my least favorite of her works. I know she can do much better and I will continue reading her!!
June 23, 2023
Elise Sutton is a cold case detective. One day while out, she's is forced to make the decision to end one man's life to save another man. Everyone sees her as a hero, but she doesn't feel like that! She feels guilty and traumatized by what she did. She is put on leave of absence from her job. She then meets up with Wade Austin, the man whose life she saved. She realizes that he is not who he says he is, in fact, Wade Austin isn't even his name. And now, he is threatening Elise and the people she loves. We now have a game of cat and mouse.
I have always enjoyed Wendy Walker's books, and this was another one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Wade was such a creepy character and you never know what he's going to do next, and I loved that I didn't predict how it was going to end. Definitely an entertaining thriller.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. Out June 13.
I have always enjoyed Wendy Walker's books, and this was another one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Wade was such a creepy character and you never know what he's going to do next, and I loved that I didn't predict how it was going to end. Definitely an entertaining thriller.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. Out June 13.
June 12, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own
Let me say that Wendy Walker is a favorite author and I will still seek out her books in the future. Previously I have read three of her titles( All is Not Forgotten, The Night Before, Don't Look for Me) and they have all been four-star hits. But What Remains wasn't my favorite. It wasn't a psychological suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. I had many moments where I started and put aside the novel. I had a difficult time connecting with a character that decided to never confide in any other character. Also, I was consistently distracted from the case of her taunting stalker by her personal obsession with checking up on her husband. However, the last few chapters were very intense and that saved it a little bit.
There are plenty of fabulous reviews and high ratings so I am an outlier in regards to my feelings.
#WhatRemains #NetGalley.
Expected Publication Date 13/06/23
Goodreads Review 12/06/23
Let me say that Wendy Walker is a favorite author and I will still seek out her books in the future. Previously I have read three of her titles( All is Not Forgotten, The Night Before, Don't Look for Me) and they have all been four-star hits. But What Remains wasn't my favorite. It wasn't a psychological suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. I had many moments where I started and put aside the novel. I had a difficult time connecting with a character that decided to never confide in any other character. Also, I was consistently distracted from the case of her taunting stalker by her personal obsession with checking up on her husband. However, the last few chapters were very intense and that saved it a little bit.
There are plenty of fabulous reviews and high ratings so I am an outlier in regards to my feelings.
#WhatRemains #NetGalley.
Expected Publication Date 13/06/23
Goodreads Review 12/06/23
June 14, 2023
Not quite sure of what to make of this story. I will admit as to some confusion of what exactly Wendy Walker was trying to convey. (Thanks goodness I had Jan to guide me through.) I do understand that Elise was a woman who thought she was in control of everything, perfect home, wife, mother, police person, but perhaps so much control was bound to crack.
When she kills a young man in the line of duty, it seems that this event was the one to push her over the edge. She becomes a person obsessed with finding the man she believed she saved in the department store, but when she does, she finds that he has an obsession as well, and it is her.
It is a devious game of cat and mouse, one that Elise places herself front and center. There is chapters devoted to the stalker that were was presented in the book as well as Elsie and her family.
This was a good read, but not one that I felt at all comfortable with at all times. Too many things just didn't make sense until after many wonderful discussions with Jan.
Sometimes you just need a book buddy to help put another perspective on a very intricate book. This book will challenge the reader and make you constantly think of the characters, their motivations, and the experiences that shape a life.
Thank you to Wendy Walker, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of this story due out June 13, 2023.
When she kills a young man in the line of duty, it seems that this event was the one to push her over the edge. She becomes a person obsessed with finding the man she believed she saved in the department store, but when she does, she finds that he has an obsession as well, and it is her.
It is a devious game of cat and mouse, one that Elise places herself front and center. There is chapters devoted to the stalker that were was presented in the book as well as Elsie and her family.
This was a good read, but not one that I felt at all comfortable with at all times. Too many things just didn't make sense until after many wonderful discussions with Jan.
Sometimes you just need a book buddy to help put another perspective on a very intricate book. This book will challenge the reader and make you constantly think of the characters, their motivations, and the experiences that shape a life.
Thank you to Wendy Walker, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of this story due out June 13, 2023.
January 1, 2024
Ughhh. I was so bored. 😑
This book is 85% inner monologue and 15% action.
Also... did anything really make sense?! Truly. Did anything make sense? What was the plot outside of an overly obsessive cold case agent who was pining for a problem? Until she found one and then made it a bigger problem. Convince me otherwise...
This book is 85% inner monologue and 15% action.
Also... did anything really make sense?! Truly. Did anything make sense? What was the plot outside of an overly obsessive cold case agent who was pining for a problem? Until she found one and then made it a bigger problem. Convince me otherwise...
January 7, 2023
Elise Sutton is a detective that specialized in cold cases. She enjoys her work and has achieved a good work/life balance until one fateful day. While entering a department store, Elise faces an impossible situation. She must take a life to save another one. To make it even worse, she learns that the man she saved is holding secrets and is not who he claims to be. Will this predicament destroy Elise’s life?
I'm a big fan of Wendy Walker and I was so excited to be able to read her new book. She has never let me down yet, and WHAT REMAINS is no exception. It is a very well written, fast paced thriller that I had a hard time putting down. This is an excellent thriller that I highly recommend! 4.5 stars
Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing, @suzyapprovedbooktours, Wendy Walker, and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog @coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
I'm a big fan of Wendy Walker and I was so excited to be able to read her new book. She has never let me down yet, and WHAT REMAINS is no exception. It is a very well written, fast paced thriller that I had a hard time putting down. This is an excellent thriller that I highly recommend! 4.5 stars
Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing, @suzyapprovedbooktours, Wendy Walker, and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog @coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
June 10, 2023
Review coming soon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 815 reviews