Julie 's Reviews > Here and Gone
Here and Gone
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Here and Gone by Haylen Beck is a 2017 Crown publishing group publication.
High octane-edge of your seat- suspense!!
Audra, with her two children in tow, is fleeing from her abusive husband. She’s riding through Arizona, basically in the middle of nowhere, when she’s pulled over for a minor infraction.
Before she knows it, she’s in handcuffs, and is being taken to jail, while her children are left in the care of a deputy.
Yet, when she arrives at the station, and her official questioning begins, it becomes clear her children are missing and she is being blamed for their disappearance.
Meanwhile, when the news picks up on the story, it sounds all too familiar to Danny Lee, who had an eerily similar experience, prompting him to head to Arizona to help search for Audra’s missing children.
The desert isolation tweaks the suspense level, where the sparse population and lack of accountability can provide opportunities for clandestine, undercover crimes, as well as crimes of opportunity.
This atmosphere sets the stage for an agonizingly taut race against time scenario that kept me nearly paralyzed with dread.
The novel is perfectly paced, with terrific characterizations, from the brave and determined Audra, to her equally heroic son, to the desperate and sociopathic bad guys.
This isn’t really a mystery, since we know right up front who the bad guys are. However, this knowledge did not dilute the intensity one iota. In fact, the bad guys had a chance to really display their diabolical wickedness, which is truly despicable.
There were one or two downers, unfortunately. I would have liked for Danny to have had a more satisfying wrap up, and I thought the ending was a little abrupt.
Other than that, this was a fast-paced, suspenseful, and enjoyable thrill ride.
One other interesting tidbit- is that Haylen Beck is the pen name of Stuart Neville. It's an open secret, but I didn't realize that until I had finished reading the book. No wonder it was so good!
4 stars
High octane-edge of your seat- suspense!!
Audra, with her two children in tow, is fleeing from her abusive husband. She’s riding through Arizona, basically in the middle of nowhere, when she’s pulled over for a minor infraction.
Before she knows it, she’s in handcuffs, and is being taken to jail, while her children are left in the care of a deputy.
Yet, when she arrives at the station, and her official questioning begins, it becomes clear her children are missing and she is being blamed for their disappearance.
Meanwhile, when the news picks up on the story, it sounds all too familiar to Danny Lee, who had an eerily similar experience, prompting him to head to Arizona to help search for Audra’s missing children.
The desert isolation tweaks the suspense level, where the sparse population and lack of accountability can provide opportunities for clandestine, undercover crimes, as well as crimes of opportunity.
This atmosphere sets the stage for an agonizingly taut race against time scenario that kept me nearly paralyzed with dread.
The novel is perfectly paced, with terrific characterizations, from the brave and determined Audra, to her equally heroic son, to the desperate and sociopathic bad guys.
This isn’t really a mystery, since we know right up front who the bad guys are. However, this knowledge did not dilute the intensity one iota. In fact, the bad guys had a chance to really display their diabolical wickedness, which is truly despicable.
There were one or two downers, unfortunately. I would have liked for Danny to have had a more satisfying wrap up, and I thought the ending was a little abrupt.
Other than that, this was a fast-paced, suspenseful, and enjoyable thrill ride.
One other interesting tidbit- is that Haylen Beck is the pen name of Stuart Neville. It's an open secret, but I didn't realize that until I had finished reading the book. No wonder it was so good!
4 stars
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Reading Progress
July 25, 2017
– Shelved as:
to-read
July 25, 2017
– Shelved
July 25, 2017
– Shelved as:
2017
July 25, 2017
– Shelved as:
e-book
July 25, 2017
– Shelved as:
thrillers
July 25, 2017
– Shelved as:
suspense
July 25, 2017
– Shelved as:
overdrive
August 1, 2017
–
Started Reading
August 16, 2017
–
Finished Reading
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Jill
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rated it 4 stars
Aug 16, 2017 01:13PM
Great review, Julie! I'm so glad you enjoyed this one too! :)
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Jaline wrote: "Terrific review, Julie! Sounds really interesting and fast-paced! :)"
Thank you, Jaline!!
Thank you, Jaline!!
Jen wrote: "Sounds like it was an ok one anyways, Julie!"
It was, Jen! Very minor complaints. Overall, I was happy with it!
It was, Jen! Very minor complaints. Overall, I was happy with it!
Frances wrote: "Sounds like a suspenseful book Julie! Great review!"
It was a little intense! Thank you, Frances!!
It was a little intense! Thank you, Frances!!
Great review! Whydunit plots are under a lot of pressure to remain interesting. I'm glad this one came through. I want to read too.
David wrote: "Great review! Whydunit plots are under a lot of pressure to remain interesting. I'm glad this one came through. I want to read too."
Thank you, David!! I hope you enjoy it! Happy reading!!
Thank you, David!! I hope you enjoy it! Happy reading!!
Great review, Julie. Really like this point you make:
"This isn’t really a mystery, since we know right up front who the bad guys are. However, this knowledge did not dilute the intensity one iota. In fact, the bad guys had a chance to really display their diabolical wickedness, which is truly despicable."
"This isn’t really a mystery, since we know right up front who the bad guys are. However, this knowledge did not dilute the intensity one iota. In fact, the bad guys had a chance to really display their diabolical wickedness, which is truly despicable."
Mike wrote: "Great review, Julie. Really like this point you make:
"This isn’t really a mystery, since we know right up front who the bad guys are. However, this knowledge did not dilute the intensity one iota..."
Thank you, Mike!! Many times we are trying so hard to figure out 'whodunit', the bad guys don't get to develop in the same way as the other characters. This one gave me an up close and personal look at a wolf in sheep's clothing and it was just as disturbing as a sick serial killer.
"This isn’t really a mystery, since we know right up front who the bad guys are. However, this knowledge did not dilute the intensity one iota..."
Thank you, Mike!! Many times we are trying so hard to figure out 'whodunit', the bad guys don't get to develop in the same way as the other characters. This one gave me an up close and personal look at a wolf in sheep's clothing and it was just as disturbing as a sick serial killer.
Linda wrote: "Excellent review, Julie! This is on my list, and I was so happy to see you enjoyed it! 😊"
Thank you, Linda!! I hope you like it as much as I did! Enjoy!
Thank you, Linda!! I hope you like it as much as I did! Enjoy!