Thank you NetGalley - I received an advance reader's copy of this book. I liked the book so much I checked out her other novels and have been a big fan ever since. So yes, I was excited to read What Remains and it did not disappoint.

Detective Elise Sutton is married with two kids. Her job is solving cold cases. While at the grocery store a harrowing situation unfolds and things start spiraling out of control from there. (The publisher synopsis goes into more detail but I think it's way more fun to go into a story without knowing too much about the plot.)

What Remains, by Wendy Walker, is a fast-paced, complex, rather confusing, thriller. The story begins with an explosive scene. Detective Elise Sutton is at a shopping mall buying pink towels for her daughters when she hears shots ring out. Her training instincts kick in and she races to investigate and finds herself face-to-face with the shooter. When she takes the fatal shot, she deescalates the situation and no one else is killed. She is proclaimed a hero, but in the ensuing days she struggles with that title and the life she took. Elise feels compelled to track down the man who saw it all, desperate to find some answers. When she does, things do not at all go as planned.

In this story we also get chapters from the future, detailing graphic scenes from a “Kill Room” in the woods where DNA is found from the aforementioned detective. Why is evidence found that implicates Elise, and who’s life was taken?

In What Remains, the author addresses some pertinent, current issues, such as gun control and mental health. This story is wrought with trigger warnings and heavy content, such as assault, stalking, public shooting and PTSD. Though the author showcases intriguing angles on these issues, I found that I was unable to connect with the main character who felt flat, remote and rather emotionless. She was an outlier who chose to go it alone, and would occasionally break into inner monologues philosophizing and waxing poetic. The conclusion was also a bit lackluster. So though this novel was well-written and I’m definitely a Wendy Walker fan, this story didn’t grab me quite like her others have.

If she writes it, I’m going to read it. Because holy smokes I loved this one. And WHAT! That ending! I absolutely loved this one and read it in a day. The perfect binge book.

3.25 stars
Usually, I really click with Wendy Walker but this one just didn't seem to come together for me. I enjoyed the first half of the book and wondered how things would come together. There were many tense moments as Elise is gaining a dangerous stalker and he begins to threaten her and her family. There are also side moments (with a different audiobook narrator) that shows another plot point and readers wait to see how these two stories will come together.

The conclusion felt a little garbled to me, and also a bit out of character. Be warned that this does involve "rogue cop" things where Elise goes off on her own and takes matters into her own hands, partially to protect people and partially to get around the law. Mostly for protection, as she sees it. I don't always mind the "rogue cop" thing but it also has to fit with the character. Elise felt very by the book and I just didn't see her actions in the end being something that fit, or I guess the author/book didn't convince me that it made sense.

I enjoyed most of the story, but the ending didn't do it for me. The two story lines did come together but it felt a little loose, confusing, and I wasn't invested enough in the second story line for it to feel satisfying. I felt like it was a little forced, especially putting Elise in the middle of all of this? I don't know, I just didn't click with it.

The premise was really interesting but unfortunately I was bored for most of the book and didn't connect with the main character. However it did have a great ending and everything that was a little confusing was revealed and explained.

Sometimes heroes don't feel like heroes. When Detective Elise Sutton is forced from her comfort zone of cold cases into saving a life while running an errand one day, she struggles with the aftermath of thoughts. Before long, the stranger whose life she saved becomes completely mesmerized with her and when she chooses not to play his game, he forces her hand by threatening her and those she cares most about. Was this encounter at a store random or was there something bigger at play?

TITLE: WHAT REMAINS
AUTHOR: WENDY WALKER
PUB DATE: 06.13.2023 Now Available

I love Wendy Walker’s books and she is an auto-buy author for me! The writing is always suspenseful, has a psychological twist, hard to put down, and perfectly paced.

In WHAT REMAINS, Walker writes a twisty and witty thriller, and a great main character, Detective Elise Sutton. I enjoyed being in her brilliant mind, solving cold cases and averting a sinister stalker. This is such a fantastic read and May I also say, one of my favorites of all her books.

Don’t wait and add this book to your TBR ASAP!

Elise Walker is a detective who happens to be shopping for towels for her daughters when a shooting takes place in the store. She kills the shooter and cannot get past the guilt of taking a life. She also can’t stop thinking about the “tall man” who was in the line of fire of the gunman, making her question everything including whether or not it was necessary to kill the shooter, despite the accolades and recognition she is given for saving the other lives in the store.
Through her investigation, she finally finds the “tall man” again and discovers that he is Wade Austin, an insurance broker. Why would he be involved in this case? The more she digs, she finds he isn’t who he says he is and she finds out he’s been stalking Elise and her family, and is clearly obsessed with her. Elise is going to have to beat him at his own game if she’s going to get through this all alive.
Consistently paced, complex characters with loads of unpredictable twists and turns made this a fantastic read. This grabbed me and didn’t let go until the very end. I’ve enjoyed Wendy Walker’s other books and this was no exception.
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

I enjoyed the latest from Wendy Walker! Her books have always been entertaining reads for me and this one was no different. I was intrigued while reading and anxious to see where the story would go. Special thanks to the publisher for my review copy

There really isn't anything specific I can say that went wrong with this book, it just didn't grasp my attention like the rest of her other books. I can see this being a hit for a lot of ppl.

It took me a bit to connect with this book but it ultimately really worked well for me. It starts with a bang but I think that took me out of the character piece a bit which made it a slower start for me. But, once I connected with Elise (the main character), it came together well. It's a really compelling story with a lot of interesting exploration of crime, trauma, and the emotional impact of both. This one really did a great job with character development while also including a propulsive plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. All in all, I really enjoyed this one ... it's one that you may enjoy if you like a strong mix of character and plot!

What Remains is a cat and mouse thriller about what happens to Elise after she’s deemed a hero for stopping a public shooting. Elise struggles with her role in the event and when she meets the man she saves she doesn’t fully understand the chain reaction she’s set off after realizing he’s not who he says he is.

This is a character driven plot. Elise went through a lot in this book. She struggled with the shooting and the events after while continuing to struggle with personal issues leaving her feeling isolated. I really struggled with Elise; I don’t know how she stayed and worked through everything. I don’t know how she didn’t lose faith in those around and just pushed through it but she did. I guess you don’t truly know what you have inside until you’re tested.


This is my second book by Wendy Walker and her writing style sucks you in and immerses you completely into the story. You feel like you are there next to the main character feeling all the emotions and pressure to solve the case.


Thank you @blackstonepublishing @wendywalkerauthor and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Some of my favorite novels are by Wendy Walker! This novel didn’t disappoint! This was a thrilling crime novel with plenty of twists! I need find the characters secrets to be infuriating at times but necessary to keep the suspense going! Another unputdownable read!

Thank you NetGalley for this read!

The main character of this novel, Elise, is a police detective in Connecticut. At the outset of the book, while off duty, she kills a shooter in a store, the first time she has ever killed someone as she usually works on cold cases. Mired in guilt, she at first feels better when she tracks down a survivor of the shooting - until she discovers he’s not who he says he is and starts stalking her. Interspersed with this are chapters about a police investigation in a nearby town whose connection to the main story takes some time to unfold.

I’ve read and really enjoyed three of Wendy Walker’s previous four novels (she also has a fifth one that was an audible exclusive but is going to be published in written form later this year). Somehow she can get away with crazy thriller antics that annoy me in other writers. And I did enjoy this one too, but have to say it was not my favorite of her books. Elise just makes WAY too many stupid decisions for a police officer, it really strained credibility for me. It sure kept me turning pages though, and there was a good twist at the end I didn’t see coming.

3.5 stars

Pink towels.

The decision to buy pink towels for her two daughters will change Detective Elise Sutton’s life forever.

While in the department store, shooting erupts and Elise sees a man aiming a gun at a tall man and she shoots the gunman.

Elise has tremendous guilt afterwards and seeks the man she saved to justify her actions.

Bad move.

Soon, the man she saved begins to obsess over her and stalk her.

I really enjoyed this book. The author really showed how the stalker got into Elise’s head. Mind games.

Four stars for the psychological suspense novel.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and op are my own.

Police procedural + thriller + stalker + murder = entertaining, yet likely forgettable?

Female cop shoots perpetrator of a mall store shooting, regrets it, meets with victim she has supposedly saved, and goes down a loooooooong rabbit hole of crazy, with the net result of some pretty scary stalking and life-threatening moments.

I was a bit confused by the back and forth to a ‘killing room’ being investigated as well as this story line; it all made sense in the end, but puzzled me most of the time.

At the end of the day…it was fine, but not memorable.

I am a huge fan of Wendy Walker, and was eagerly awaiting this new book. However, it wasn't my favorite. The characters, especially the main one, made terrible decisions. The plot didn't make 100% sense to me, and I found myself skimming towards the second half. I'm happy to say I'm an outlier here, and many others are loving this one. I am still excited to read whatever Walker comes out with next even if this wasn't a favorite of mine.

The author’s writing is so realistic. The vivid description gripped me. I felt that I am not reading the book but it’s all happening around me. I love how wonderfully author has taken us in the personal life of protagonist. Then there is a crime scene. The beginning is so profound and excellent. The author has done such a great job by taking us in the life of each character. It not often happens that we get to read the perspective of each character.

The protagonist’s suffering, her personal and professional life with what remains and what‘s been at stake has been well written and put together throughout the book with deepening feelings and prevailing mystery. The investigation is certain to keep the readers at edge with a slow-burn mystery but a lot of things happens in the book. The vibe is atmospheric with grotesque, blood, strange murder, and the missing person. There were too many suspects with hidden history, facades, mystery and secrets. Trying to get to the bottom of grotesque murder, people’s disappearance, find the shooter and narrowing down the suspects; all of these has been turned into a pieces of puzzle connected with mysterious past. The ending was twisted, shocking and horrifying.


•First Person
•Atmospheric
•Dual Perspective
•Dual Timelines
•A game of cat and mouse
•Grotesque Murder
•Police/ Detective Investigation
•Strong and emotional FMC
•Action- Packed
•Fast Paced

Thank you Netgalley, Author and Publisher

Wendy Walker's latest release. WHAT REMAINS, is an action-packed thrill ride perfect for readers who enjoy:
-Police procedurals
-Independent female main character (who sometimes makes very questionable decisions)
-Cat-and-mouse chase
-Dual settings/timelines

"She saved his life. Now he'll never let her go."

This book hooked me from the first page because of how intense it was! When Detective Elise Sutton goes into a department store to buy pink towels for her daughters and hears gunshots ring out, she ends up having to take one life in order to save another. When she later finds that the man whose life she saved is stalking her, a game of cat and mouse is set in motion.

There was a subplot about a kill room, which was a little confusing at times, but I liked how it connected to the main plot in the end.

This was an enjoyable book. The only thing that keeps me from rating it higher is that I couldn't really get on board with some of the decisions that Elise made.

Thank you, @netgalley and @blackstonepublishing for the gifted e-arc of this book!

3.5 stars