Full disclosure: I did not read the first one in this series. Looking at the summary of the first book, this looks like a standalone novel and my understanding of the character and the events did not suffer. In this novel, a former child services advocate becomes involved in a custody dispute helping one side when people start dying, which makes her wonder if she is on the wrong side. This was a solid whodunit with twist and turns and it did keep me guessing. The protagonist was likeable and her background as a childrens' services advocate was an interesting angle (I selected the book because my husband works for childrens' services and because I read something else by this author that I enjoyed). I will, at some point, go back and read the first one and I will be looking forward to the next one).
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

2.5 stars rounded up.

Nora McTravis works as a family advocate, but when Tess, an old but long-lost friend from Nora‘s childhood, calls and asks for help, Nora drops everything to be by Tess‘ side. Tess‘ husband, Neil, was accused of murdering a local college student, and now that the charges have been dropped, he has filed for shared custody of their daughter Kendra/Kenny. Initially there to provide expertise during the (actually very short) custody battle, Nora soon becomes suspicious and starts investigating the murder on her own.

I honestly struggled with how to rate this book because it just felt so „meh“ to me. I found it to be a completely unoriginal, average murder mystery/thriller full of unlikeable characters that used cheap and obvious plot twists to move the story along.

Full disclosure: I hadn’t read the previous book in the series, so maybe that‘s why, but Nora, the main character, felt very distant and not properly fleshed out. On top of that, I struggled to like her and follow her reasoning - she is supposedly a passionate children‘s advocate yet just closes up her practice (which doesn‘t even have a secretary) for days and days on end because some long-lost friend who Nora doesn’t even like anymore needs a buddy to drink with? Why couldn‘t she at least bring her dog? And though the local police was predictably useless, why on earth did she at least disclose her suspicions to her state police buddy? All of this it made it hard to root for her. Even worse than Nora is Tess, who just gets plastered all day long (seriously, what is it with grown women in this book acting like they cannot even open a letter without needing to be buzzed?) and completely fails her daughter, who is the only bright spot in this cast of characters (besides the Pearson family).

The murder mystery itself is neither surprising nor thrilling, using been-there-done-that red herrings. Thankfully, this was a quick read, mainly because the chapters were oddly short, seemingly to use even more cheap cliffhangers (the worst: „The judge turned her attention to our table. ‚Regarding the custody of Ivy Josephine Pearson, I hereby rule in favor of—‚“ [end of chapter]). I will not be returning to this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a quick read for me, full of action and suspense. I love the two different storylines involved that create more depth to the main character Nora. I like how she was so quick to jump in and help her old friend but I liked even more how she was determined to uncover the truth for the sake of the child caught in the middle. There were several times that I thought I had it all figured out and then there was another plot twist. I didn't realize that this is the second book in the series when I picked it up, but it didn't seem to matter as I was drawn quickly into the story. I plan to grab the first book and continue the series.
Thanks to Thomas and Mercer through Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own and given voluntarily.

Book two in the Nora McTavish Series Never Come Back by Joe Hart was another intriguing story!
It was fast-paced, and well plotted, with some shocking twists. It was hard to put down and easy to devour.
The characters are well drawn, and the story is well structured.
The plot has such amazing details that come through at just the right moment.
I love Harts work and hope he continues this series!

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

There are 2 storylines going simultaneously in this book but it was easy keeping them separate. Mr. Hart is a great storyteller. I’ve been a fan since a friend told me to read Midnight Paths, a collection of horror stories.
I like Nora’s character. She was so conflicted in this story between helping her friend and doing what she felt was right. There were enough twists that I didn’t guess the protagonist until it’s revealed in the story. The other storyline was one I don’t believe I’ve seen in a book before, intellectually disabled parents fighting for custody of their daughter.
As usual, I love Mr Hart’s descriptions of backgrounds and people. I have no trouble picturing the scenes formed by his words.
This is book 2 in this series, and somehow I have book 1 but haven’t read it yet. That did not affect my reading this book. It does well as a standalone. But I’m hoping the ending means a book 3 is on the way. I’m also moving book 1 up my tbr list.
I did receive this as a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am a Joe Hart fan, so of course I picked this book up as soon as I saw it. This is the second in the Nora McTavish series and both books have been good ones.

Description:
Needing to help the most vulnerable is in Nora McTavish’s DNA. Living within the echoes of her own traumatic past, she spends her days as a family advocate providing comfort and justice for those without anyone else to turn to. So when a long lost childhood friend calls asking for help and promising clues to the location of Nora’s missing mother, she has no choice but to say yes.

Nora hasn’t seen Tess Grayson in over twenty years. Living the perfect suburban life in a college mountain town, Tess’s world is shattered when her husband Neil—a professor at the local university—is accused of killing a student he was allegedly having an affair with. When the charges against Neil are dropped and he petitions for custody of their daughter, Kendra, Nora steps in to help Tess any way she can.

But as details emerge surrounding the murder and unsettling occurrences plague the quiet neighborhood, Nora begins to suspect Tess isn’t being fully honest with her. With Kendra’s safety and well-being hanging in the balance, Nora works to unearth the family’s secrets, and in doing so puts herself in the crosshairs of someone willing to kill to keep them buried.

My Thoughts:
Nora goes above and beyond as a family advocate, but when helping her friend Tess she gets some mixed feelings. Their past history together overshadows the present. It also makes the story more interesting. I couldn't help but love Kendra who was caught in the middle of her parents domestic situation. There were definitely red herrings in the book which kept me wondering what was actually going on here. This book is a slow burn moving from the domestic situation to a boiling point climax. I would recommend this to anyone who likes domestic thrillers.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Okay let me just get one thing out of the way upfront. Never Come Back is not as good as the first book in the series: Where They Lie. But truth be told that book impressed me so much I’d have been shocked if it had been. That is not to say that Never Come Back is a disappointment. Far from it. (Just look at my rating, lol) It’s an excellent entry into what is shaping up to be one heck of a series. This time around Tess, an old childhood friend, is asking for Nora’s help her in ugly custody battle. Naturally Nora wants to help, but she’s also not entirely sure she believes everything Tess tells her. What’s the truth and what secrets is Tess hiding? Joe Hart has delivered another excellent fast paced thriller with plenty of twists that will keeping flipping pages. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. I’d like to thank Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eArc of Never Come Back.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R5X10O3RKSNK6/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Thank you Netgalley, Joe Hart, and Thomas&Mercer for the ebook! I loved this mystery thriller until the very end! I love a good who done it trying to guess who has done it and thinking every character may have!

Never Come Back was the second book in a series focusing on the main character, Nora McTavish. I didn't realize that this was the second book in a series, but I really didn't need to have read the first one. Although, I'm going to now because I am intrigued by the case book 2 alludes to.

Our main character, Nora McTavish, used to work for Child Protective Services but left CPS and started her own business as a Family Advocate. She receives an unexpected call from an old friend who needs her help and support as she works through a custody battle with her ex-husband. She doesn't want him to have custody of their daughter because she believes he had an affair and then murdered a young woman, a student at the college he teaches at. Nora decides to reconnect with and support her friend, but almost right away, she realizes that things are not what they seem.

Nora finds herself caught up in the mystery, determined to figure out for young Kendra's sake what happened to the young woman and figure out who is telling the truth. Even though it puts her in danger.

I was pretty sure I had things figured out with this story. All the pieces of the puzzle seemed to point in one direction, but there were some twists thrown in, and I quickly realized I had it all wrong. The story moved along fairly quickly, and I found that I really couldn't put it down. I really liked Nora's character. She'd had a very tough young life, but she worked hard not to let it limit her. She was kind but courageous. A fierce advocate for those without a voice. She was tenacious, working hard to figure out this mystery and ensure Kendra was OK. I'd love to see more personal growth with her, maybe opening herself up more to relationships in future books.

Lately, I've had a difficult time finding a thriller that was unique and unpredictable, something fast-paced with some good plot twists. Never Come Back was exactly what I was looking for.

So... hmm... how do I describe my feelings after finishing this one? I'm confused about my feelings, not about the book, but my feelings about the book. The story is good, maybe great for readers who love light thrillers. The characters were a bit annoying for me hahaha I'll never get why there's such a need to ignore cops and characters to "solve" everything by themselves hahaha but well, I guess some readers love that so that's why there's so many stories with those plots. Now, after saying that, this was unrealistic. There's that. And it was also predictable, I rather twists and there was none, for me. And as a mom of a 9 year old girl, some stuff involving a girl that age in the book were weird, like conversations, the thinking, the actions...
There's some things that were obviously added to make the book longer. Weren't necessary. A shorter book could have been better.
Overall, the book was entertaining. Finished it in around 15 hours so I can say I was never bored. The story kept me engaged and was a good story in general. Maybe I'd rather a bit more action and twists but I'd read the next book by this author, no doubt.

Definitely can be read as a stand alone.

Nora is a family advocate which isn’t explained very well and I’m not really familiar but didn’t sound like a great way to earn much. Tess her childhood best friend that she hadn’t seen in years calls and asks Nora to come as she is facing a custody battle of her daughter. Neil the husband has been suspected but cleared of murdering a local college student and seemed fishy from the start. Don’t hear enough from him and then there are a lawyer and a police officer thrown in the mix. I struggled with the story, like the main event, when/what that was to be. Didn’t really love it. And it seemed forced often, like it wanted to pick up speed and take off but instead would slam on the brakes and drag.

Thanks to Netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Never Come Back, Nora McTavish #2 by Joe Hart
Published by Thomas & Mercer, April 2, 2024

★★★★☆ (4.25 Stars!)

For this review, I picked up and read the first two volumes of Joe Hart's Nora McTavish series, "Where They Lie", the 2023 First Reads and audiobook production by Amazon /Brilliance Audio; and this advance review copy of "Never Come Back" by Thomas & Mercer out in April, 2024.

Both books can be read as standalones.

// "Where They Lie" (2023) //

Author Joe Hart introduces his new strong female protagonist, Nora McTavish, a government bureau's Child Protective Services agent, involved with investigation of the abuse or neglect of children.

"Please don't take away my child!" When deemed necessary, McTavish is saddled with the unenviable and oftentimes gut-wrenching responsibility to wrest away children from dysfunctional families and take temporary custody. Most of these children she can identify with, reminders of her own traumatic childhood with a mother who'd left home and an abusive father.

Foster children in the limelight. McTavish gets entangled with the family of a popular social media influencer who vlogs, utterly devoid of privacy, the daily minutiae of husband, wife and teenage foster children.

The humdrum routine is shattered by a fatal plane crash, mysterious reappearances of the deceased, skeletons in the closet, backstabbing, bad intentions.

And the violation of the most deadly cardinal sins...

// "Never Come Back" (2024) //

"They want to away my child! Please help." Nora McTavish does a career U-turn as she returns in quite a role reversal.

From the aegis of the government in Book 1 to exposure in the private sector. From a protective services agent to a family advocacy practitioner, even as she maintains close contacts with law enforcement and keeps an active role in advocacy for the welfare of children.

In this episode, she gets involved with the custody battle of a long lost friend, a childhood "bff" she'd considered as a sister. Again, issues arise rather inherent with broken families. Infidelity, and those organically relatable, far from contrived, feelings and events.

Even as Nora begins to find out exactly why she'd been abandoned by her Mom as a little girl...

Both books, quite compelling depictions of dysfunctional family dramas!

Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley.

Traveling on Easter today and I was able to finish this. Just in time for it’s release on Tuesday April 2, 2024

Nora McTavish used to work for CPS. Now she works as a family advocate. One day she gets a call from an old friend, Tess. They haven’t seen each other in over twenty years. Tess desperately needs her help and Nora is just the person perfect for the job!

Tess’s ex-husband, Neil, was accused of killing a student he allegedly had an affair with. A student that attends the college he teaches at. Charges against Neil get dropped. When they do, he files for custody of their daughter, Kendra. This is where Tess is seeking Nora’s help, with custody proceedings.

When Nora arrives, her relationship is rekindled with Tess. But as Nora stays longer, all is not what it seems. Who killed the college student? Neil or Tess?

I really enjoyed Nora’s character. She has a strong sense of responsibility to Kendra and children as a whole. She tries to see the good in others. This definitely sparked my interest in reading the first book and look forward to more of Joe Hart’s work.

I’d like to thank Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and Joe Hart for the opportunity. All opinions are my own.
Release date in two days April 2, 2024
4 solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The second Nora McTavish book is just as good as the first. Nora continues to work for the children who could get lost in a broken system. The side story of two special needs adults trying to get their child back from an angry grandparent was my favorite part. The main story was engrossing but a bit condescending. Nora is suddenly contacted by someone she hasn’t seen since her mother disappeared, leaving her to her homicidal father. She has to wonder about the timing of the message when her old friend is in a custody battle with her husband. It seems cut and dry considering her ex was accused of murder. He wasn’t, however, convicted, so there is a little gray area there. As usual, the climax is a little over the top and everything comes together very neatly.

Never Come Back by Joe Hart is the second in the Nora McTavish series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Nora McTavish has started Sanctuary Family Advocacy, recently severing her ties with the state child protective services.  Now she doesn't have to remove children from homes, but can help those already trying to re-build their lives.  Her own history of an abusive childhood makes her an ideal agent.  Nora's father was a mass murderer, and left Nora and her two brothers in a closet for a month.  The eldest did not survive.  Her mother had abandoned them.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions):
Tess Grayson, a childhood friend, calls Nora for support.  She's in the midst of a nasty custody battle.  Her ex-husband Neil is a professor at the local university, and has been charged with the death of one of his students, with whom it was alleged he was having an affair.  Although the charges were dropped, Tess doesn't want him anywhere near Kendra, their nine year old daughter.

Nora rushes to her old friend's side.  What she finds is confusing.  She knows Tess is not being honest with her, and Nora doesn't actually see Neil as a threat.   Tess is being irresponsible, drinking too much, trying to sway Kendra's love for her father, and definitely hiding things.

Meanwhile, Tess is reminding Nora of a past that she really wants to forget.

 As well, Nora is also trying to help another family re-claim their little girl.


My Opinions:
Again, this was another fast and entertaining read.

I love Nora, and her brother Stephen.  However,   I didn't like Tess from the start, and my feelings didn't really change.    She was an abusive mother in her own way, was using Nora from the start,  and just riled me all the time.

The story was told mainly from Nora's viewpoint, but with Chapters about "Poe" thrown in.  I understand why they were there, but they were unnecessary, and were just a distraction.

Although the book was good, it was just missing something.  I could probably have enjoyed the book  more if it had just been about the other case Nora was handling.  Thankfully both court cases were short.

So, although a good book, it just didn't have the WOW factor that the first book had.

New to me author.
I loved reading this and the author kept me guessing. Totally did not see that finale ending the way it did. I'll have to hunt down that first book before this one to get the back story on Nora.

So we meet Nora who has been called to help a childhood friend; Tess get sole custody of a child from her husband. Who has recently been accused of murdering his possible mistress. The catch is he's now out, released due to some evidence that has come to light...
Nora is now caught in the middle of who to believe and if she's been used to get to someone's favorable outcome.

Lots of turns... Enjoyed reading this.
THANK YOU netgalley and publishers; Thomas & Mercer for this wonderful ARC!!!!!

Nora McTavish used to work for CPS but now is on the other side of the aisle, working to get children back with their parents when the system has taken them away. Nora hears from a childhood friend (more a sister than a friend) asking for her help with the custody of her daughter.

Norah comes to her aid and is swept up into something much darker and more dangerous. Never Come Back is populated with flesh-and-blood characters who act credibly and reasonably. There is a mystery at its core and I was surprised at the conclusion. What more can you ask from a mystery novel. It has been awhile since I read a novel by Joe Hart. I will be seeking out more by him. Thank you Net Galley for the review copy. I really enjoyed it.

"Never Come Back" by Joe Hart is a riveting thriller that offers readers an immersive journey into the world of family advocacy, lies, and betrayal. As someone new to Hart's work, I found myself thoroughly engaged from start to finish.

What sets "Never Come Back" apart from other crime thrillers is its unique perspective, narrated from the viewpoint of Nora McTavish, a former Child Protective Services worker turned independent family advocate. Hart deftly weaves a tale of intrigue as Nora is drawn into a complex custody case by her estranged childhood friend Tess, who suspects her husband of murder. Despite initial doubts, Nora becomes deeply involved, especially with Tess's young daughter, Kendra, and soon finds herself in perilous situations as she fights for justice.

While "Never Come Back" is the second book in a series, it stands strong on its own, offering an engaging narrative that captivates readers from start to finish. Nora's determination and empathy shine through as she navigates the twists and turns of the case, including a poignant subplot involving a couple with developmental disabilities fighting for custody of their daughter. Although there are moments of melodrama and certain characters may lack depth, the overall experience is highly enjoyable and immersive.

The character of Nora McTavish emerges as the book's standout feature, with her resilience, intelligence, and unwavering commitment to justice making her a compelling protagonist. Additionally, supporting characters like Tess's daughter Kendra add depth to the story, enhancing its emotional impact.

In summary, "Never Come Back" is a gripping thriller that delivers on all fronts—action, suspense, and memorable characters. Joe Hart's skillful storytelling and nuanced exploration of complex themes make this book a must-read for fans of the genre. I eagerly anticipate future additions to Nora's journey and highly recommend this series to all lovers of mystery and suspense.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Such a solid thriller read mixed with domestic tropes and romance undertones. The center theme of this book is love, how far will love drive an individual and to what lengths? In this book we meet Nora, a family advocate whom is summoned back to her childhood hometown by a childhood friend in need. Tess is facing a custody battle over her daughter with her husband who has also been accused of murder. What ensues is a cat and mouse type thriller with twists galore while we try to figure out whom the murder is and to what lengths they will go to cover their tracks.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. The pace was great and the story kept me intrigued throughout. The chapters were quick reads and didn't drone on like some other books do. The characterization was done well and every character, even down to the minute ones were well thought out and came across in the book well.

The only negative thing that comes to mind is chapter 40. The entire book is written in first person from Nora's point of view, except for excerpts from a lecture, however chapter 40 was written in 3rd person and didn't fit with the narrative of the book at all. This was not only confusing but didn't fit in the overall sense of the book. The chapter could easily have been written in first person from Nora's point and got the point across just as well minus the confusion. There was just no point to switch the viewpoint and for only one chapter and I feel like overall it distracted from the appeal of the chapter as well as the preception.

Overall a solid book. I loved the premise and the story. Great read!

This is the second in this series starring Nora McTavish, who we first met in Where They Lie, when she was a child protective services agent. But after the fallout from that book, which I obviously do recommend you read before this one, she has quit that job and now works as a family advocate. If you have read book one, you will already know that Nora has a traumatic past and, when an old friend, Tess, calls her asking for help, she has no choice but to agree given that Tess also teases (blackmails) Nora with news of her mother's whereabouts.
Nora's reluctance to help Tess stems from the fact that they haven't seen each other for over 20 years. Once very close, they now lead very separate, different lives. But Tess needs help as her husband Neil has been accused of killing a student that rumour has it, he was having an affair with. Not that she wants to help Neil, no, instead, after the charges were dropped, he still wants custody of their daughter Kendra, and she is adamant that he is not fit to do so, and needs help...
And so begins a rather interesting and intriguing tale of he said/she said, secrets, lies, and a rather healthy dollop of dysfunctional behaviour as Nora tries to cut through all the noise surrounding the relationship, the breakdown, the incident, the affair, and get to the crux of the matter, all the time, always trying to put Kendra first in it all...
Ooo this book was a but juicy. Chock full of all the things previously listed I was sucked in right from the off and held captive throughout. Only being spat out at the end, shocked but wholly satisfied. I already took to Nora in book one and our reader/character relationship has blossomed further through this book. Especially her vulnerable side which is quite exposed herein, and how she is sadly manipulated. But it all shows that she is human and driven. The rest of the characters were just as well crafted and all played their parts well. Pacing was high throughout, with only a few quieter moments allowing me a wee, necessary, breather before it all started again!
And the ending, when it came, was perfect!
All in all, a cracking follow up to what was already an impressive series opener. Can't wait to see what happens in book three. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.