First off, Happy Birthday to my sister, Kari!!!
Without Trace by Simon Booker
Review by Lauren
source: copy for review; all opinions are my own
Official Summary: For four long years, journalist Morgan Vine has campaigned for the release of her childhood sweetheart Danny Kilcannon – convicted, on dubious evidence, of murdering his 14 year-old stepdaughter.
When a key witness recants, Danny is released from prison. With nowhere else to go, he relies on single mum Morgan and her teenage daughter, Lissa.
But then Lissa goes missing.
With her own child now at risk, Morgan must re-think all she knows about her old flame – ‘the one that got away’. As the media storm around the mysterious disappearance intensifies and shocking revelations emerge, she is forced to confront the ultimate question: who can we trust…?
Review: This is one fantastic mystery and only the first in a new series that will focus on Morgan Vine. I’m so excited that we’ll get more books featuring Morgan, though Without Trace is a full fledged novel that doesn’t leave anything left open at the end.
Morgan was in love with Danny as a child and when he is put in prison years later for murdering his stepdaughter, Morgan doesn’t believe it. She makes a website and fights tirelessly to help Danny be released from prison. That day has finally happened and Morgan is quick to tell all the naysayers in her life that yes, she does trust Danny. He’s not a killer. This is all before Morgan’s own daughter, Lissa, goes missing, and as more and more information and clues come out, Morgan isn’t sure if she actually can trust Danny after all.
One of the things that I loved about this book is that it keeps you reading. You finish a chapter and you go “one more…just one more…” until you’ve finished the book. It’s a tightly wound mystery that will leave you wondering and guessing new culprits left and right. Danny is an interesting character, but details are slowly revealed about him and his past that make you wonder. The same is true for a lot of other characters in the book. Who can Morgan trust? That’s the big question!
There is more going on in the book than just Lissa being missing and as all the pieces come together in the end, I was truly shocked by the picture is revealed! A must read!
I love a good mystery that keeps you guessing and leaves you shaken at the ending. This sounds fabulous. Wonderful review Lauren and Happy Birthday to your sister!
Happy birthday Kari!
Oh gosh Lauren, this sounds like exactly the kind of book I've been searching for! I love sinister undertones and a storyline that keeps you guessing. The betrayal of investing in a character and that did he, didn't he scenario. I need this book in my life! Brilliant review sweetheart and thrilled you loves it! <3
Okay, I have to have this!
I've been in a mystery mood lately, and this sounds really interesting!
Oh my gosh I kind of want to know like right now what happens! That is a good marker for a great book for me. Thanks for sharing this one!
It's nice to see you had so much more with this book
AHHHH I love this series! Just interviewed the author over on my blog too. It's been iptioned for TV as it turns out!
I love it when a book makes you go one more chapter and you just want to keep reading. And it sounds like the mystery is done well too with interesting characters.
I'm not even typically a fan of this type of book, but your review makes me want to read it RIGHT NOW. Guess it's time to broaden my horizons!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Oh the ones that keep you guessing are really fun. I'd not heard of these yet so thanks for the heads up!
Hi all – 'author' here. Lauren: thanks for the excellent review. So glad you liked Without Trace. I hope the rest of you enjoy it too! Simon
Ohh man, this sounds like a really engaging mystery! I'm definitely going to need to look into reading it hopefully soon! <3
I added this book to my goodreads 'to read' list because of your review! I can't wait to dig in (although I definitely have a long list of books I'd love to read). 🙂 What's your favorite genre?
This sounds interesting. I don't read enough mysteries! Off to goodreads now. I usually like them more than I think I will. I want to try to read more diversely this year. 🙂 XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things