I’m always excited to read a new novel from Catherine Ryan Hyde because I know I’m in for a treat and her new book A Different Kind Of Gone lived up to my expectations.
A young girl has disappeared from a campsite and Norma a rescue volunteer is searching for her in the surrounding area.
A story with some unforgettable characters about domestic violence and the women who live with this with courage and compassion.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Different Kind of Gone by C. R. Hyde, a new to me author, published by Lake Union Publishing, is an angsty, intriguing read that had me right from the start.
Jill, a 19 year old teenager disappears and only Norma, a S&R volunteer knows the truth. The thruth that she found Jill and helped her escape to her parents.
Fast forward, 5 years later - her ex Jack stands trial for the murder of Jill and Norma is the only one knowing he's innocent. But what will the not a people person an island in herself Norma do?
Tell the truth and risk everything or stay in the shadow and let Jack go to prison?
I started reading and was in right from the start, I loved story, writing and main and secondary characters. I recommend the book.

Another wonderful story by Catherine Ryan Hyde. As usual her character are all interesting and just enhance the wonderful story of a woman that lives alone with her two dogs and horse. Norma works at a local pub with a woman named Betty. They are good coworkers, She likes .Betty, but doesn’t consider her a friend, if asked, she would say she has her dogs and horse, she doesn’t need friends.
She is part of a search and rescue group, that begins the story, and involves a young woman, Jill, that is missing in the wilderness and her boyfriend is suspected of possibly harming or killing her. Norma gets personally involved in this case, and takes risk in her efforts to find and help this girl.
We find that Norma has a softer side, which she didn’t know was there, and travels a road that leads to some interesting friendships.
This is a must read, and worthy of five stars. My thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Catherine Ryan Hyde for the ARC. All comments are my own.

Ms. Hyde always writes about moral decisions and people who struggle with them. No two of her stories are alike because there must be a million different situations that call for moral decisions, for doing the right thing, no matter the ramifications.

Her books usually feature an everyday, unassuming person thrust into extraordinary situations. But aren't these kinds of people the very best kinds of people to place in the path of a ethical issues? After all, we're all pretty much ordinary people until we have to make a decision that will affect another person or a town or our friends and family.

Norma Gallagher is a good person, unassuming, and as a rescue worker, has seen her share of triumph and tragedy. Sometimes, she thinks she's seen enough good and bad.

Jill Moss goes missing and is assumed dead, after hiking with her boyfriend, Jake at the Arizona/Utah border. Jake has been abusive to Jill in the past, and Norma, upon finding Jill huddling in a cave and hearing her story, knows that something extraordinary has to be done.

Norma knows she has to make a decision to forsake all she knows is legally right to save the life of Jill Moss.

There is so, so much more I could say about the rest of this book, but the only thing I will say is that you need to clear the decks so you can read this book all the way through in one sitting, if possible.

I never need to read a sample of any of Ms. Hyde's books to know if I want to read the entire book. I know I want to read the entire book because she wrote it.

Catherine Ryan Hyde always manages to write real, believable, great characters that you really care about and empathize with. She did it again, with these women. A wonderful story of females empowering themselves and each other, sharing their strengths and weaknesses alike. Younger generations learning from an older generation, and thenelders learning a few things along the way, as well. A great read!

I loved reading thiis book..pretty much knew sitting kinda book.
The main characters draw you into the storyline. About abuse but was written in a well written way not graphic.
What would you do in their shoes? Hmmm

Thanks to the author,the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

Catherine Ryan Hyde has penned so many wonderful books. Her newest, A Different Kind of Gone, which is due out in early December 2023, is different. It is darker because it deals with more serious subject matters, which are briefly described in the book’s blurb.

While camping with her boyfriend near the Arizona-Utah border, nineteen-year-old Jill Moss flees her abusive boyfriend and goes missing after escaping his grasp. Other campers witnessed the event, and when volunteer searchers apparently do not find any sign of her, the rumor mill starts buzzing. Jake Willis, the boyfriend, must have killed her. Search and rescue volunteer Norma Gallagher is only one of four people who knows the truth.

Norma is a loner. She lives with her dogs and her old horse, Fred – Saint Fred - to many. She likes her animals better than most people. She works nights at a bar, and the bar owner, Betty, is her best friend, although Norma would be hard pressed to admit that. Norma has other secrets besides the one about Jill. It’s best if you discover those on your own. I’ll just say this – beneath that tough exterior, she’s not all that tough. And, as the younger ones tell her, she does know a lot.

The story isn’t only about Norma, of course. Jill has decisions to make that will affect the rest of her life. Her parents do too. Then there’s Jake and the others whose lives he impacts. The author makes some astute observations and revelations about domestic violence and the characteristics and personalities of abusers and victims; she understands that many abusers were abused as children but that if the person gets help, the cycle need not continue. It’s a heavier story, at times, than many of her previous novels. Several of the characters come face-to-face with crucial moral, ethical, and legal decisions that impact not just themselves but those whom they care about. It’s moving and thought-provoking with characters who seem lifelike with real families and real problems. I came to care about them, and I wasn’t sure what to expect at the end. I cared about women in this book, and I came to appreciate the growth each of them experienced through their relationships with one another.

Thank you, Catherine Ryan Hyde, for A Different Kind of Gone .

I received a digital copy of A Different Kind of Gone from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. My thanks also to the publisher, Lake Union Publishing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars


Note to publisher: Because I live with someone who has also reviewed this book and will be posting the review on Amazon, I will not be allowed to post this on Amazon. I will, however, post on other social media. Thank you!

So I love Catherines books and "A Different Kind of Gone" is no exception.

this is an emotiona, grippig and thought provoking story. It is a tale of truth, sacrifice, and the complexities of human relationships and would you seek justice or revenge?


Want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for this early ebook. all thoughts and opinions are my own

Norma is a member of the search and rescue team in Arizona. She is a very private person who after a traumatic marriage lives alone with her hound dogs and horse. Jill who is staying at a nearby campsite disappears and Norma along with the team is searching the wild countryside for her.
When Norma's dogs locate Jill in a cave she pleads with Norma not to say she found her as the boyfriend she has ran away from will surely kill her.
This book posed such a good question, what would you do ? Norma hates telling lies but is really scared for Jill.
Everything is fine until 5yrs later when her lie comes back to haunt her and she is left with an even bigger decision to make.
I really enjoyed this book and felt it was a little bit different from others I have read lately.
I liked the characters and I felt Norma's character was very well written as she wasn't just a straightforward person.
Books by this author are always good and I look forward to reading more from her.

I am a big fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde and will read anything she writes. She writes with a big heart, develops her characters beautifully, and usually has an underlying message. This book has all of that but is a bit different than anything else I’ve read by this author. It is an engaging story but is almost a treatise on domestic abuse. Either Catherine has done extensive research on the subject or she has personal experience with it or both. The main character, Norma, a search and rescue volunteer, becomes very much involved with two young women who have had the same abuser. She has lived by herself in a cabin along the Arizona-Utah border and, other than working night shift in a bar, she spends her time with her two dogs and a horse, except with helping with the search and rescue of lost hikers. As the story develops all three women have some very tough decisions to make, and, for Norma, the biggest one is if in some circumstances it is okay to lie and to mislead others. Catherine has woven some very serious subject matter into a very engaging story. Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of this wonderful book.

A Different Kind of Gone is written by one of my favorite authors. She has delivered another great book this one about search and rescue. Norma has been working with a search and rescue team along with her horse and dogs. The book grabbed me and held me all the way to the end. An excellent story about choices and how we make them, issues of revenge and violence.
Thank you to Lake Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read and offer my honest review. Publication date is December 5, 2023

#Lake Publishing, #NetGalley, #CatherineRyanHyde

Catherine Ryan Hyde always tackles difficult issues with such incredible flair and literary mastery. Norma lives in Sloot, right on the Arizona/Utah border, and she’s called to help on a search for a missing person.

Jill is a young woman who has been staying at the local campsite with her boyfriend, Jake, and has been reported as missing. However, there are multiple witness reports that seem to imply that Jake was hurting her, and potentially Jill is a victim of domestic violence.

Norma joins the search for Jill, and soon discovers the young woman. She’s been hiding, terrified that Jake will find her and kill her. Norma’s life changes forever, as whatever decisions she makes will have long term consequences.

This was an excellent read, and I devoured this book. The topic of DV was dealt with excellently in a very sensitive way, and it really delves into how dangerous getting out of a violent relationship can be.

CRH has such a way with writing about such serious topics that truly make you think and question what you think you know. If someone is arrested for murder, and you know they didn’t commit it, but you also know that they WOULD have if you hadn’t intervened - is it your responsibility to prevent the arrest? Does someone deserve a sentence for something they would have done but didn’t actually do? At what point is justice served?

This is truly a book that will make you think, and you won’t be able to get it out of your head! I loved the character of Norma, and Saint Fred was probably my second favourite 🐴

A strong 4 stars, and a definite recommendation.

This is a very thought provoking book. The main character, Norma, challenges others’ views on capital punishment, lying, and just how much a person is responsible for the unintended consequences of his or her actions. At first I didn’t like Norma because she’s a bit blunt, but she’s a very wise woman. If I had to choose a character that I identify the most with, it would be Jill’s mother because she will do whatever it takes to protect her daughter.

I’m glad I read A Different Kind of Gone and I plan to recommend this book at my next book club meeting.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another gripping tale from Catherine Ryan Hyde that makes the reader question, "What would I do in this situation?" A story of humanity and loving-kindness that begs the reader to test their compassion and morality -- would you stand up for what's just, or would you uphold what's legal? Is there a way to do both? By sharing Norma and Jill's story, Hyde brings to light such soul-searching questions in a way that has, as always, caused me to look inside myself and wonder if I could be a better human... As usual, a five-star read!

A Different Kind of Gone is a new book by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I have read several of her books and really enjoyed them.
This one has a right and wrong choice Norma Gallagher is a search and rescue volunteer who goes out to find nineteen-year-old Jill Moss. Once she hears the story Norma helps her quietly get away.
But five years later her boyfriend is arrested for her death. Now Norma has a big dilemma about what is the right thing to do.
The writing was sensitive and well done. The book kept me reading and I understood Norma’s dilemma.
Another good book worth a read. Highly recommend.

Round up to 4.5 stars - it is a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, after all. I love the characters in a CRH novel, and this book is no exception - I particularly love Norma, the independent, slightly crusty center of the story. My first reaction to the story is that it’s so honest - and yet the story revolves around a lie. Perhaps a better description is timely and true.

Saint Fred, the horse is another wonderful part of the book. Horses, dogs, and an independent older woman - what more could you want?

When Jill goes missing, Norma, a search and rescue worker, finds her. But Jill begs her not to tell because she’s scared of her boyfriend. Norma agrees and helps Jill escape without telling anyone she found her. Will Norma be able to keep her secret and will Jill be safe from her boyfriend? Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A really good book, with a few surprising twists and the book keeps you gripped from the first chapter.

I have read several books by Catherine Ryan Hyde and was so excited to get this. The story definitely kept me going, but overall I thought it was a little heavy handed and preachy. Just a little too in your face without a lot of nuance.

Another fabulous book by Catherine Ryan Hyde!

Nineteen-year-old Jill goes missing after eye witnesses have seen her in an altercation with her boyfriend at a camping place near the Utah-Arizona border. Norma is one of the search and rescue volunteers taking part in the search for Jill and she fairly quickly finds Jill, but due to the circumstances of Jill's disappearance, Norma decides to get Jill out of the situation without revealing to the rest of the search and rescue team that she has found Jill.

I love how Catherine Ryan Hyde has created a totally believable and gripping story where right might not actually be right and wrong may be the right!