Thank you net galley for the advanced digital copy of A DIFFERENT KIND OF GONE by Catherine Ryan Hyde. This was an awesome novel. It is a novel about all of the choices that we make and how our life experiences influence them. This is the type of novel that once you start reading, it's very difficult to put down. I couldn't wait to find out what Norma was going to do and how this was going to turn out. Overall, I agree with Norma's choices, but the 'what-ifs' really got me. I was totally shocked at the DA's response and wondered what would have happened if he'd responded differently. I liked and could identify with most of the characters. This wass an awesome read and would highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by a favorite, Catherine Ryan Hyde - 5 stars!

Nineteen-year-old Jill Moss goes on a camping/hiking trip with her boyfriend, Jake, in a small town on the border of Arizona and Utah. Witnesses see Jake grab Jill and pull her back to their campsite after a fight. Then she disappears and everyone fears the worst. Norma lives by herself, with only her dogs and horse as companions. She is a member of the search and rescue team called in to search for Jill. She finds her alive, scared that if she goes back, Jake will kill her. Against her better judgment, she finds a way to get Jill back to her parents. Then five years later, history repeats itself with another young girl. And Norma is left with an even bigger decision.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is an automatic read for me ever since Pay it Forward. While the dialogue is too good to be true, part of that is why I love her books. You want to be able to think like Norma, to have her wisdom, her compassion, her heart. Having dealt with domestic abuse personally, this book rang true in how it affects the entire family. There's so much truth in this book, along with really tough decisions that will make you think long and hard about how you would make them.

Catherine Ryan Hyde writes books that I love. A Different Kind of Gone is the same. I always seem to finish the book while thinking about it for weeks after. I hope you love this story of Jill. The story deals with domestic violence, missing persons, and legal system

This is a book that explores dilemma's and a person's moral compass. Norma is a volunteer with a search and rescue team. She is sent out to search for a missing girl who is believed to have been abused by the boyfriend she is camping with. Several witnesses observe the mistreatment and this impacts on Norma due her own past. When she discovers the girl hiding, she is asked to help the girl disappear to protect her from her increasingly violent boyfriend. Norma, who prides herself on her honesty is forced to make a choice. One that will have a very far reaching ripple effect. Can she keep up a lie and live with it?
I don't think everyone will enjoy this, there are a lot of heavy conversations throughout the book and it is not a fast moving nor 'thrilling' story - just realistic in the judgements and decisions we make and the fallout of these.
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Catherine Ryan Hyde did it again! She wrote about a tough subject, making us remember there are two sides to every situation.
This book is about abusive relationships and also hits on what the media does and doesn't cover.
I loved the main character, Norma, and I really liked how the story was written.
Thank you, Netgalley, for a free copy of this book for my honest opinion.

My sincere thanks to Lake Union and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read A Different Kind of Gone and give my opinion of it in the following review.

It has been a while since I've read a Catherine Ryan Hyde book, but I have enjoyed many in the past. This one sounded interesting so was excited to give it a try. In this book, Norma is a lady who likes to speak her mind and has been through quite a bit in her lifetime. She helps with search and rescue and is called to help look for a young woman who has disappeared. She finds the girl but is begged to not tell anyone and help her get to her parents. She fears her boyfriend will kill her if he finds her. Norma has a big decision to make, will she go along with this? What happens when the search is continued and no one else knows that the girl is safe? What happens with the boyfriend? These are all questions that find answers as this book twists and turns along. I found myself wondering what I would do in the same situation. The choices made in this book are not easy. The relationships Norma forms and the way she deals with her feelings about how she has handled things are deep and raw. It was kind of an intense book, but I was drawn in by it. The author handles serious ethical issues with care. I highly recommend.

In A Different Kind of Gone, best-selling author Catherin Ryan Hyde’s characters wrestle with the question of whether and when the ends justify the means. And whether the price of protecting an individual is too high when compared with the impact and hardships imposed upon others. She thoughtfully and compassionately tackles the issue within the context of domestic abuse.

Norma Gallagher is a fifty-eight-year-old divorced woman living in the tiny town of Sploot which straddles the Utah-Arizona border. She works as a bartender with her good friend, Betty, and is a member of the volunteer search and rescue team. With her beloved horse, Fred -- Saint Fred to the locals who believe he is perfect – and two hound dogs, Gracie and Lonny, she helps find lost hikers and campers. After several years of uninterrupted good luck, within the past six months she has found two lost souls for whom rescuers arrived too late. And is a bit haunted by those experiences, even though both perished from natural causes – injuries sustained in a fall and dehydration.

As the story opens, she is pressed into service again. Jill Moss, just nineteen years old, has gone missing from the nearby Rocky Ridge Campground. She was reported missing by her boyfriend, Jake, with whom she was spending spring break. Jill is not “an outdoor person,” and lacks hiking experience and skills. More disconcerting is the fact that the prior evening, other campers observed Jill heading for the campground exit when Jake grabbed her and twisted her arm behind her back, physically forcing her to return to their tent. That afternoon, she had texted her parents, “Leaving Jake for good. Wish me luck. If you don’t hear from me in 24 hours, call the cops.” Foul play is suspected immediately.

Norma finds Jill huddling in a cave. She set out from the campground intent on hiking to the highway and hitchhiking from there, but became lost. “I’m running away from my boyfriend,” she tells Norma. Jill is convinced that if Jake finds her, he will kill her. “There is no place where he won’t hurt me. That place doesn’t exist.” She begs Norma not to report that she has found Jill. From Jill’s perspective, she is literally asking Norma to save her life.

But that request leads Norma into an ethical and legal quagmire. She knows that the search for Jill will continue for quite some time, wasting precious and scarce resources, tangible and intangible. She will be required to ride the hills for days alongside her colleagues, pretending to search with them for a young woman only she knows isn’t missing at all. She is also aware that she, Jill, and anyone else they involve in the scheme could find themselves in serious legal jeopardy when the truth is eventually discovered. The sheriff will keep the case open, and there will be multiple lies told to law enforcement, false reports filed. Importantly, that is what troubles Norma most. Acceding to Jill’s wishes will require Norma to lie, something she never does. Doing so will change the way she lives her life, requiring her to “keep her stories straight.” Norma is also wise and experienced enough to comprehend that there will undoubtedly be “more unintended consequences” that she is unable to foresee or predict.

Against her better judgment, Norma agrees to call Jill’s parents, hoping a conversation with them will give her some perspective. Ensuring that Jill is safe, with food and water, she promises to return under cover of darkness after speaking with her parents to let her know whether she can grant Jill’s wish.

Owen and Teresa Moss, Jill’s worried and protective mother and father, are archetypical characters. Norma does not reveal her identity, explaining only that she is a member of the search and rescue team, and she located Jill, who is healthy and well. But Jill begged her not to reveal her whereabouts and condition, which is “really messing with me.” From personal experience, Norma appreciates the traumatic and destructive impact of both physical abuse and dishonesty. And she knows that in many instances, legal maneuvers prove futile. Abusers often disregard restraining orders and relentlessly search for partners who leave them. Predictably, Owen and Teresa are willing to risk anything to keep their daughter, who is not prone to exaggeration, safe. They implore Norma to bring Jill to their home, assuring her that if the truth comes to light, they will swear that Jill simply appeared on their doorstep without implicating Norma. Reluctantly, Norma agrees.

The search for Jill continues and Wanda, a tiny young woman in her twenties, comes into the bar. Norma is flabbergasted to learn she has hitchhiked from Connecticut because of her fascination with the case, which has drawn extensive media attention and speculation. Jill’s old social media posts have surfaced. Norma simply can’t fathom why Wanda wants to meet Jake, who is still staying at the campground. Through Norma, Hyde makes a cautionary point about the influence of news outlets and social media interactions upon gullible and impressionable young people. Six nights late, Jake himself appears in the bar and has an altercation with another male customer. None other than Wanda helps Jake to his feet and leaves the bar with him, assuring Norma that she intends to help him get back to the campground. Nine days later, Wanda stops in to say good-bye, cagily explaining that she is headed to Southern California with a guy she met in Sploot who is not her boyfriend because "he’s still hung up on his old girlfriend.” Sadly, Wanda believes Jake’s lies about what really happened at the campground the night Jill disappeared and will not be dissuaded.

Five years elapse during which Norma, now sixty-three years old, and twenty-two-year-old Fred have continued to ride the hills with the search and rescue team. The fifth anniversary of Jill’s disappearance means that she will be declared legally dead. A month later, Wanda reappears in the bar. And the law is bearing down on Jake Willis, who is facing not just attempted murder charges for strangling his pregnant wife, but also a murder charge for killing Jill, even though her body was never recovered.

Hyde’s characters navigate all the unintended consequences of Jill’s entreaty and Norma’s decision to remain silent. Which are numerous and seemingly unending. In Hyde’s capable hands, the story unfolds in a straight-forward and unembellished manner. It is a riveting tale about the myriad repercussions that flow from decisions. The most pressing issue is the District Attorney’s determination to prosecute Jake for a murder he did not commit. But the evidence supporting the attempted murder charge is unassailable. Had a passerby not intervened, Jake’s wife and unborn child would almost undoubtedly be dead. But for Norma, that’s the problem. There is no way to know for sure that Jake would have brought further harm to Jill, no matter how likely it seems. Norma voices many feelings that Hyde shares, pointing out that Jake is not an ”animal” but is, rather, a man who has done some terrible things. But he was not born an abuser. Rather, children learn to hate and mistreat others. “I think people need to be reminded that there is good in us. Yes, there is bad in us, too. But I continue to feel that we are basically good. Why do I think this? Because babies are not born violent and evil and gradually steered toward good by a series of altruistic experiences. It’s the other way around.”

Norma is a strong, principled woman who has survived her own tumultuous marriage, lies told about her, and years of estrangement from her two grown sons. She doesn’t much like people, preferring to live a solitary life with her animals in a modest home outside of the little town of Sloot. She fundamentally resents that her carefully constructed, peaceful life was disrupted and altered when her fate became inextricably intertwined with Jill’s. And she is deeply troubled and burdened by the weight of her guilt about the secret she agreed to keep and the deception in which she has participated for five years. As she once again considers all available options, there is far more at stake than the fallout that will impact her well-ordered life if she belatedly speaks up. Norma cares deeply about Jill’s well-being, as well as Wanda’s, and is a loyal friend to Betty. She weighs her moral obligation to Jake, who has indeed committed more than one crime but not the one that a corrupt District Attorney intends to level against him.

Hyde never fails to deliver a gripping, thought-provoking story about seemingly unremarkable people who find themselves faced with impossible choices that require them to consider and anticipate how their actions will help or hurt others. Hyde is renowned for expertly creating dramatic tension that inspires readers to ponder what they would do if they were in a similar situation, and A Different Kind of Gone is one her best efforts, in part because the stakes in this tale are incredibly high. Many people, including Jill’s parents, believe that Jake is capable of murder and his wife is a living – fortunately – testament to what might have been the tragic result of his unbridled rage. They would be happy to see Jake imprisoned for the rest of his life, irrespective of the specific legal charges that put him behind bars where he can never hurt Jill, his wife, or his child. For them, the charges are simply the means to a much-desired end.

But the American legal system, despite all its flaws, does not incorporate penalties for potential criminality and Norma, who serves as the story's moral center and conscience, believably wrestles with what might happen if she takes a principled stand. What if there is no one around to intervene next time and Jake does commit murder? What if Norma’s honesty provides Jake the opportunity to inflict harm again? Could she live with the consequences? Or would it be worse to live with the guilt of knowing that a man is imprisoned for a crime he never committed, even though he is guilty of other crimes?

Hyde includes a couple of shocking plot twists and revelations as she keeps the narrative moving forward at a steady, measured pace. And yet again illustrates through her characters that families are often comprised not just of those to whom we are genetically related, but also those we inadvertently happen upon and take into our hearts.

Hyde is a masterful storyteller and A Different Kind of Gone is a riveting, emotional resonant story through which Hyde makes a strong statement about domestic violence, women coming together to help and protect each other, as well as a child who is at risk. And she convincingly illustrates the value of female empowerment through positive role models and reinforcement.

Sadly this new publication of Catherine Ryan Hyde does not come even close to the standards of her previous novels. I’m wondering if this was meant to be a modern day fairy tale because that’s pretty much what it was. There were good guys and bad guys with no hint of reality in their lives nor actions. I could cite many examples, but let me just cite one. An elected official (the DA) is not going to be overtly rude to a constituent (a VOTER) as depicted in this book. Also no lawyer, certainly not an elected prosecutor, will elect to go into court knowing that the truth will blow up in his face (and in the next election).

The ”good guys” were over the top good and the “bad guys” were unbelievably bad. The finale was yet another example of no hint of reality.

So, if you want a well written modern day fairy tale, this is your book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

With A Different Kind of Gone, Catherine Ryan Hyde demonstrates yet again her mastery as a storyteller. I loved this story in every way possible. The characters are so nuanced and multidimensional, it is hard to remember that they were imagined. The plot is straight forward without being predictable and the conclusion is as satisfying as one can be for a book you really don't want to end. Not only do I enthusiastically recommend this to anyone who reads this review, I am gifting it to several people. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the incomparable Catherine Ryan Hyde for allowing me to read a digital ARC.

Catherine Ryan Hyde writes books that makes you think. Think book took an in depth look at abuse. It is not a topic that everyone understands or even talks about, I enjoyed seeing how the victims carry their own guilt.

Norma is an prickly older woman who pushes others away. I believe this is to protect her truly kind heart. Jill is a young woman that is trying to escape a horrible situation. Wanda is a young woman that I believe is trying to find someone to love and love her in return. These three women find an unlikely bond and friendship in this wonderful book.

This book reminded me of a recent domestic abuse situation that was in the news a few years ago. However, the outcome for the abused was so much better than what happened in reality. There was so much about this book that I enjoyed. I loved hearing Norma's point of view and how we never really know all the consequents of our actions. This was pointed to time and time again as the story unfolded. It was also very interesting to see how even if you are away from the abuse, the long term effects are hard to deal with. I don't know if the author has first hand knowledge or abuse but I think she wrote about the effects, guilt, blame, and heartache beautifully.


Thank you to Lake Union and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. This was not one of my favorites by this author. I felt like the pace moved really slow. Norma works at a bar and volunteers for a search and rescue team. A young woman, Jill, is being abused by her boyfriend and takes off into a campground where they are staying. Norma is one of the people that looks for her. Norma finds her but Jill begs her not to tell anyone because she is afraid her abusive boyfriend will come back and kill her. What does Norma decide to do?
It really was getting on my nerves because Norma was a know it all. She knew everything and it was annoying.

Catherine Ryan Hide brings her masterful set of skills to A Different Kind of Gone, a contemporary novel about domestic violence. With her well-recognized ability to create complex and deep characters and bring them to life with dialog that always rings true, the reader is able to put themself into the storyline, and relate to, care about, and become engrossed in the novel.

When nineteen-year-old Jill Moss disappears near the Arizona-Utah border, crusty loner Norma Gallagher is one of the members of the search and rescue squad that looks for her. Turns out that Norma isn't as crusty as she'd like people to think, and Jill's story resonates with Norma in a way that none of the town knows about. When Norma finds Jill and helps her to get away (all in the book blurb, no spoilers given!), their choices have consequences that neither of them could foresee.

Just when you think you know what to expect, you find out you don't. Life's like that a lot of times.

This novel gives a close look at domestic violence, the toll it takes on not only the people in the relationship, but their families, their communities, and the world at large.

Very well done, I highly recommend this read.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing for permitting me to read a DRC via NetGalley. All opinions stated in this review are my own and are freely given.

A Different Kind of Gone started off a bit slow for me and it took me a little while to get interested. But around a third in I was hooked. It tells the story of 19 year old Jill, who is afraid her abusive boyfriend Jake, will kill her. So with help from Norma, a woman in her late 50s from the search and rescue team, she disappears and makes a new life for herself. Skip 5 years into the future and history is repeating with Jake arrested for attempted murder of his wife, Wanda.

The story has a focus on unintended consequences for decisions that are made. I loved Norma and her best friend Betty. Both older woman working at the local bar. I really enjoyed the relationships that Norma forms with Jill and then Wanda, and Betty's relationship with Wanda also. Norma is used to being on her own but due to her own personal situation, can't help wanting to help these young women.
Tough themes are addressed, including domestic abuse and moral/ethical issues, and we get a glimpse into the legal side of things and media's impression of things.

Well worth the read.

In a Nutshell: Outlier opinion. I liked the concept of the book. Offers thought-provoking situations and important themes. Too much of social commentary, though. Great for book clubs.

Story Synopsis:
Sloot, Utah/Arizona border. Fifty-eight-year-old Norma volunteers with the local Search-and-Rescue team, using her horse and her two hounds to locate missing persons. On one such occasion, she finds a nineteen-year-old girl named Jill, reported missing by her boyfriend. However, Jill begs Norma not to reveal to anyone her whereabouts as she is terrified of her boyfriend Jake and was trying to run away from him when she lost her way. Against her gut feel, Norma decides to adhere to Jill’s request and helps her back to her parents’ house in California.
Things are quiet until five years later, when an arrest rakes up the old news again. To Norma’s surprise, Jake has been taken into custody for one crime but he will also be tried for Jill’s murder. Norma is now torn between her promise and her instinct.
The story comes to us in Norma’s limited third-person perspective over two sections – the initial events and the ‘five years later’ section.

Bookish Yays:
😍 There are some interesting characters in this book. Not necessarily likeable or realistic; just… interesting. Almost all of these are women – Betty, Jill, Theresa, and Wanda make their presence felt with their strong personalities, though not necessarily in an inspiring way. Being brave can be done only a step at a time, and the women in the book prove it. I love how Jill’s and Wanda’s characters were developed as young and impulsive while Betty and Theresa acted more their age.
😍 Though the Search-and-Rescue component is only a small part of the overall book, I still liked the coverage of the same, especially the animals involved in the efforts. Norma has an amazing horse named Saint Fred and two hounds called Lonny and Gracie. All animals count as a yay!
😍 There is some truly thought-provoking content in this book, which makes it perfect for book clubs. I especially liked the spotlight on the legal system vs. the judicial system and the debates on intent vs. action. (I strongly disagree with everything Norma said regarding this.) The book covers several important themes, including domestic violence and its effect on mental health, and also shows how short-term thinking affects long-run decision-making.
😍 The pacing is surprisingly smooth for a Catherine Ryan Hyde novel. Though the first half is not much action-oriented, the proceedings still move steadily ahead. It’s never fast, but it also doesn’t drag.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 The blurb again reveals too much. But this is a story where nothing much happens until the second section – five years later – begins. So a part of me understands why the blurb went so far ahead in the book. It does spoil some of the surprises though.
😐 There are very few male characters, and even those few have limited roles in the plot. That said, all of them are key to the story and not treated merely as negative accessories. I’d have loved to see more of Ian though.
😐 I liked the small-town vibes of Sloot. (A fictional location?) The closeness of neighbours and colleagues that borders into nosiness is especially well-depicted. But there was nothing much to make me picture Sloot clearly in my head. The scenic descriptions are next to zero.
😐 Love the title –perfect for the book. Hate the cover – can’t even figure out who the two women are supposed to be!

Bookish Nays:
😒 It’s always nice to have an atypical character in the lead. Norma, 50+ years in age and yet so hands-on on her approach to life, is a compelling protagonist. However, I couldn’t bring myself to accept her thinking unconditionally. She is very opinionated about issues, though some of her declarations and actions don’t suit her backstory at all. If she herself had suffered through a problematic behaviour in her past relationship, how can she talk about justice and forgiveness for proponents of the same crime? I can appreciate adherence to a personal code of conduct, but surely common sense also comes into play for a character shown as being pragmatic and honest. Her decision-making skills were also highly questionable.
😒 There is too much of social commentary in the book, almost all of it courtesy Norma. Characters having opinions is fine. But when the character keeps spouting opinions whether directly connected to the story or not, it gets annoying. All this just results in thematic clutter. The preachy tone of Norma’s dialogues should have been toned down.
😒 The writing, especially but not only for Norma’s character, is exasperating at times. I was fed up by her overuse of “My dear/young friend” while speaking with Jill. I might have put this off as a character trait, but in that case, she should have spoken the same way with Wanda as well. She doesn’t! Similarly, Jill’s gratitude-filled “I love you” was totally misplaced. Maybe she confused a ‘Thank you’ with an ‘I love you.’
😒 The foreshadowing is irritating as it doesn’t work for the plot, at all! If the writing is in Norma’s limited third person perspective, who the heck is the omniscient narrator letting us know of future events?
😒 The ending is too perfect. I can understand some things resolved for closure, but Norma’s personal arc should have stayed the same as before to make the climax feel more realistic. That development was unexpected and unnecessary.
😒 I don't like chapter titles being present in adult fiction. It makes me feel like I'm reading a children's book!
😒 I am not a fan of books that attempt to generate sympathy for a person’s negative tendencies. Things like domestic violence might be influenced by our external influences while growing up, but there can be no justification for the same. I am tired of the “abusers/bullies were abused/bullied” trope, no matter how much it is based in reality.

I enjoy plots that make me put myself in the shoes of the characters and wonder what I would have done in their place. This is no exception. The only problem is that the shoes of the main character are not to my taste.
I have read several CRH novels and am a fan of her unusual storylines and powerful themes. But this is my second average CRH experience in a row, the earlier being ‘So Long, Chester Wheeler’. I will still continue to read her works, because just like Jodi Picoult, CRH focusses on some tough topics and characters making controversial life choices. I can only hope that the future outings will go better than these two books.
Recommended with reservations. It’s not a bad book, but it is not at all up to the high CRH standard. If you can tolerate a dogmatic main character with some unsavoury opinions, this might work better for you. Of course, mine is very much an outlier opinion, so please read the other reviews before you make up your mind.
2.5 stars, rounding up for the theme.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “A Different Kind of Gone”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Norma Gallagher was on the search and rescue team and when she received a call from Ian, the coordinator, telling Norma a teenage girl had gone missing in the bush on the border of Utah and Arizona, Norma had no idea how her life would change. Riding Fred, her faithful, trustworthy horse with her two hounds bounding alongside, they eventually led Norma up a steep incline where rocks had formed a cave. It was there she found a scared Jill Moss, who begged Norma not to take her back to the campsite. She was terrified of her abusive boyfriend Jake, sure he would kill her if he had half a chance. In the dead of night, Norma took Jill to her parent's place in California, while the search for her continued.

Five years on, Norma was still working at the bar with Betty. She still had Fred and her dogs, though she'd semi-retired from the search and rescue. And Jill was officially declared dead, while Jake was about to go on trial for her murder. What to do, what to do? Norma was conflicted. Could she tell the truth? Definitely. Should she tell the truth? She had no idea...

Catherine Ryan Hyde has done it again! A Different Kind of Gone is another outstanding tale by this author who never gets it wrong! "Justice, lies and impossible choices" is so heartbreakingly right and Hyde's touching on the sensitive subjects in this book are spot on! Since I was introduced to Catherine Ryan Hyde a couple of years ago, I've read and thoroughly enjoyed her work - she's a go-to author for me now. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is a prolific and dependable writer. You can usually count on an entertaining reading experience when you tackle one of her titles. A Different Kind of Gone takes an issue of general interest — abuse by husband or boyfriend — and gives a different twist to the problem. We see the situation through the eyes of Norma, a search and rescue volunteer looking for a young woman fleeing an abusive boyfriend. Norma is not your typical main character. She is divorced, living a solitary life, with a very strict moral code. When she is the one who finds the young woman, she is faced with an ethical dilemma — announce her rescue and thereby end the search or keep it a secret so the boyfriend will stop looking for the girl but of necessity the searchers will continue their efforts. The internal conflict that arises from her decision preys on her for the next five years until it comes to a head when the ex-boyfriend is brought up on charges, including the murder of the young woman who, Norma knows, is not dead.
The action in the first half of the story is gripping as we become invested in the emotional life of Norma, both her decency and the guilt she carries. We also learn her back story which helps to explain why she feels this rescue so deeply. Unfortunately the second half of the story reads like a public service announcement with lots of well-intentioned information, but the story is missing one key ingredient. Jake, the no-good boyfriend remains offstage through the story. Every incident in which he is involved comes to us second hand and that means the reader feels emotionally removed from his behavior and decisions. I missed the catharsis that comes with the release of strong emotions. This was a satisfying story, but it could have been even better..

Jill is missing on the Utah-Arizona border. This creates a huge stir. Dogs, horses, law enforcement are all involved in trying to find her. But, there are some extenuating circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Her boyfriend was seen abusing her. So, did he murder her? Only Norma really knows. Norma is part of the rescue team and she found Jill. But it is not all cut and dried as everyone who is searching for Jill thinks.

Now this is not my favorite by this author, but it is still a dad blame good read! This author always creates conflicting emotions. And this book is no different. What would I have done? This is always a question when reading her books. And I am going to try and not give anything away…but yes! I would have done this. Or, I would have like to THINK I would have done. I am a bit of a rule follower. But the quandary is what makes Hyde’s books so good.

You will need to read this to find out the seriousness of Jill’s decision…and yes it is a huge decision with big ramifications to stay lost!

Need a story with special consequences and considerations and big emotions…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I was disappointed with this tale and that’s the first time I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed books by this author. I couldn’t engage with the characters at all and found Norma, the lead character, to be unrealistic.
The location never sold itself to me either and I couldn’t decide if Norma’s cottage was. Lies from anywhere or handy enough for her to get to work in town and for people to drop in on her.
It won’t stop me reading Hyde though and I have got a couple of friends reading he4 now because generally she is excellent and this book didn’t suit me but others will love it.

4.5 Norma has a tough exterior and doesn't mince words. She is a volunteer for search and rescue on the Arizona-Utah border. She also tends bar with her good friend Betty. When she is called for a search one morning, she saddles up her horse and heads to the briefing of the missing person. Little does she know what lies ahead will have her questioning her personal and moral obligations. The characters along the way will grow on you and the softening of Norma's rough exterior is a transition that had me wanting to know more about what else she had hidden. Domestic abuse is a theme explored in its many facets, but his novel has soul and is well worth the time invested.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an early copy.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favorite authors. I've read all of her books I've come across. Like most people, I loved PAY IT FORWARD (book and movie).

She is second to none in capturing her characters and bringing them to life and she's done it so well in this story.

The main character is Norma, an older woman who works as a bartender and also as a search and rescue volunteer. It is while she is out looking for a young woman on a search and rescue event that she finds Jill, who is running away from her abusive boyfriend.

This is the story of what transpires after Norma finds Jill. It's a story of abusive relationships and the people in them. It is a story of children and parents and friendships. Some of the story is not easy to read but then life is not always easy, is it?

I received this book from Lake Union Publishing through Net Galley. The opinions I have offered are my own.