I really enjoyed this one! It was fast paced and I did not want to put it down. I really liked how the author had two stories going at one time, but ended up tying then together. I did not see the ending coming!

What Remains is a typical run of the mill thriller for me. It was enjoyable and I liked it, but just not enough and it won't be very memorable. I've already forgotten a bit of it. While listening, it did keep me engaged and interested, but I just feel very meh about it. Maybe I wasn't in the mood, I'm not sure, but it won't be topping any favourites lists.

What Remains is a typical run of the mill thriller for me. It was enjoyable and I liked it, but just not enough and it won't be very memorable. I've already forgotten a bit of it. While listening, it did keep me engaged and interested, but I just feel very meh about it. Maybe I wasn't in the mood, I'm not sure, but it won't be topping any favourites lists.

I really enjoy this author’s storytelling style. In What Remains, the story starts with a total, life-changing bang and doesn’t stop. Great characters, fresh dialogue. I’m a big fan!
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Detective Elise Sutton is a multi-layered character. The story begins with her making a split second live or death decision during a live shooter stand-off. A decision that - haunts her throughout the story. She is plagued with such guilt and uncertainty that she takes a leave from work. The story gets complicated and a little creepy when she actually meets the man whose life she saved. It is obvious that Wade Austin has something to hide, including who he really is. The story becomes quite intense as Elise races to uncover Wade's motive and keep her and her family safe. An unexpected twist was
the kill room where Elise reveals step by step how to commit a perfect murder. I really love Walker's writing. It keeps the reader guessing and is easy to get totally engrossed in the story.

I have loved every Wendy Walker book I’ve ever read, but this one didn’t do it for me. It was more police procedural than I’m used to and I was pretty bored for about half of the book. It was fine, but nothing I will remember a few months from now. Thank you netgalley for my free review copy.

Wendy Walker delivers a gripping story about the aftermath of a mall shooting. Detective Elise Sutton is in the store shopping for towels when she realizes there is an active shooter. All her training takes over and she ultimately ends up taking the shooter down. But her recollection of the actual moment when she fired is murky, and she is disturbed by thoughts that something seems off about the shooter. She made eye contact with a man who ran to hide in a dressing room, but he was not among those questioned after the police arrive.

Later Elise connects with Wade Austin, the man whose life she saved. At first she thinks his recollections of the scene will give her the peace of mind she craves, but then everything blows up. Elise and everyone she cfoufares about could be in danger, thanks to this witness who has become obsessed with Elise.

This was a fast paced, dramatic story with a lot of action and phycological drama. I found it hard to put down, and enjoyed it very much. I had no expectations when I picked it up to read, so it was a very pleasant surprise!

Thanks to NetGalley, Wendy Walker, and Blackstone Publishing for allowng me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about surviving.

It’s taken me literal months to review this because I still can’t decide how I feel about it. I think it’s worth noting that I don’t enjoy police procedurals & that my preference doesn’t mean this was a bad book- it just veered further in that direction than I hoped going in. It was well written & the twists and turns were enjoyable. I’ll definitely happily read more books by the author, even if this one didn’t totally land for me!

Thank you so much @netgalley & @blackstonepublishing for the eArc!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick. Our library purchased and our patrons have been checking out and and enjoying the book. I see it is a popular book club choice as well we hope to have more oppurtinies to support authors like them

QUICK TAKE: engaging crime thriller that read like Karin Slaughter lite. I enjoyed the cat-and-mouse relationship at the center, and thought the book was propulsive and well-paced, though I struggle to remember a lot of the details soon after finishing. Won't stick with me.

I think I’ve devoured every book written by this author.

This isn’t your typical thriller. There are no romantic interludes or drawn-out thrills to keep your attention. Instead, it’s a brutally honest exploration of guilt, obsession, and a deep dive into the realm of sociopathy. The book also addresses various forms of assault on women, presenting a narrative that’s discomforting and tense but effectively conveys its message.

The impeccable writing in this book has the potential to resonate deeply with many readers. Beyond its weighty themes, the story is predominantly character-driven and riddled with twists. Elise, a formidable yet broken character, immediately captures your empathy. Her presence in the narrative introduces a multitude of dark and unexpected turns that will keep you thoroughly engrossed.

I read this book in one sitting. It’s a smart, unpredictable, brutally honest, and profoundly dark thriller that leaves a lasting impression.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wendy Walker and Blackstone Publishing for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

This one wasn’t quite as I expected, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I expected more action, but there is plenty of action and twists when you get into the book. Definitely a solid thriller that I would recommend!

This is the first book that I read by Wendy Walker and I enjoyed it. The storyline had a psychological pull which kept me interested. I recommend this book!

While Wendy Walker's latest, What Remains, was impressively well written, and full of great plot, the topic itself--a shooting--put me off a bit. I suppose I'd go into it being aware that's what this book deals with, as that might not be what you'd expect given Walker's previous books. What Remains is about Detective Elise Sutton, a cold case detective. Following a shooting in a department store, where she saves everyone by killing the shooter, she starts to question herself to an extent that I kind of struggled to understand. When one witness reaches out to her, she's drawn to him and his story, but there's something not right. A cat and mouse game ensues.

Wendy Walker is an auto buy for me. I will read anything she writes. I have absolutely loved everything I've read. This book was definitely Walker at her best. This one will keep you hooked. The Cat and Mouse situation, the guessing game, the secrets, the obsession. It will keep you at the edge of your seat, as she is always able to do with her story telling. I cannot imagine what else can she bring to the table after this, but I know I'll be reading it.

High 4 ⭐️
What Remains was suspenseful in the sense that nothing brought this story peace. Every time there was closure, a way to come to terms with what happened “WHAM,” I was thrown again. The twists sent me into a tailspin.
Wendy Walker wrote a compelling and often terrifying narrative that I could not put down. I held unsettling feeling that stay with me the entire book.
I definitely recommend this one.
Thanks Blackstone Publishing via NetGalley.

This is my second read by Wendy Walker. My first read was Don't Look For Me. What Remains is better as far as the emotional pull. It's short, so it's hard not to give anything away, but I really loved this thriller. and would definitely recommend it.

I was so impressed by this book. The subject matter is very heavy but I felt that it was handled very well. While this book could be an easy binge read, I found myself really taking my time with this book because I wanted to savor it. The psychological aspect of this book was easily the best part. I found that to be the most compelling part of the book. I can't wait to read more from Wendy Walker!

Thank you to Wendy, Blackstone Publishing, Netgalley, and Snug Books for advance copies of What Remains.

Elise Sutton is a detective who focuses on cold cases. She loves to solve puzzles, make sense and create order out of chaos, and that’s how she lives her life. Until she is in a grocery store when a shooter unleashes fire. Left with the awful choice of taking a life to save others, she begins to unravel. While grappling with the guilt, a man whose life she saved gets in touch with her and Elise feels as though he is the only one she can connect and work out her issues with. This man Wade, is not what he seems. The more she looks into Wade, the more she realizes she knows nothing about him, not even his name, and soon Elise is in danger and so is everyone she loves.

I need to preface this review with two things - I absolutely love Wendy Walker. She is one of the first thriller authors that really captured my attention and got me interested in the genre; and I am not a fan of detective series / police procedurals.

The premise was very interesting, but I was forcing myself to continue to read. I was so dang bored through it, which is usually the case for me with detective main characters. I just find them so dull, the plot moved so slowly.

I didn’t care much for Elise’s character, she felt detached…which I believe was the intention, however I don’t like to feel detached from the MC, I like to be with them while exploring their detachments in the story. I did really like Elise’s partner and if I do continue with this series (I assume it will become a series) I will be most interested in her relationship with him and his involvement in her life and cases.

Overall, What Remains was a miss for me. I can’t say that continuing with a potential Elise Sutton series is a definite for me, but I can say that I will continue to give Wendy’s standalones a chance, because overall I find her to be a wonderful author who, until now, has kept me thoroughly engaged in her stories.

Elise is a cop who gets caught up in a department store robbery and ends up killing the shooter and as the story unfolds shows the aftermath and the effects on the people involved. The second storyline: the discovery of human remains in an abandoned shelter that hunters use because it has a “Kill Room” where they can process their kills. There is also an incinerator in this shelter, which is where the remains were found. The story flips back and forth between the two storylines. How these two narratives converge is really impressive.