Cover Image: Gone Missing

Gone Missing

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Member Reviews

Excellent, fast read..T J Brearton is an author I will add to my must read list.

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Thank you to T J Brearton, Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

It was a normal day. Then they took her.

Katie Calumet is on an early-morning run when she hears a baby crying. The park is deserted, and there’s no one in the street. She follows the cries, but then everything goes black. When Katie wakes up, she’s blindfolded and her hands and feet are bound.

Detective Justin Cross takes on the case, but with the trail leading into endless dense forest, and a failing marriage weighing on his mind, finding Katie is his most challenging case yet – not least because the Calumet family are keeping secrets of their own.

Justin and Katie face a race against time that will push them both to their very limits. As Justin works day and night to discover who took her and why, Katie fights desperately to escape from her kidnappers and the forest that surrounds her…

Can Justin find her before it’s too late?

Judging by the other reviews on Goodreads, I had great expectations for this story, but I think I was sent a different book as it certainly didn't live up to the tagline "A gripping and breath-taking thriller you won’t be able to put down."

The story is told from two separate POVs - Katie, the abductee and Detective Justin Cross, the investigator on the case. Neither character were engaging and I didn't feel a connection with either of them. I found the whole concept and the ongoing events within the book completely unbelievable. The ending, which I was glad to see, felt rushed and on the whole disappointing.

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When Katie Calumet hears a baby crying whilst out jogging she goes to investigate, thinking she can help.  When she is thrust, blindfolded, into the back of the van by two masked men she fears the worst.

Justin Cross is the detective charged with finding her.   He is struggling to balance his personal life with the demands of his job but rises to the challenge of finding Katie.

The investigation is fast moving and intense as the police pick up clues to work out who the kidnappers are and where they have taken Katie.  What we also see are Katie's experiences as she tries to make her way back to her husband.  The two combined make for a real page turner of a novel which grips you until the end.

The police also focus on Katie's family as part of their investigation.  Justin doesn't have to spend too much time with them to realise that the relationships between them are strained.  As  a family known to be very rich there is no surprise when her father agrees instantly to pay the huge ransom that the kidnappers demand.  There are however several surprises when the police look into the family as part of their investigation into the kidnapping.

This was a trip away from the norm for me as I usually prefer to stick to UK based police/crime novels so at first I had trouble following who the different types of officer were but this resolved itself by having Justin as the main focus of the investigation.  I enjoyed it though and found it a fascinating read especially as Katie finds her way out of the forest.

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I give this book 5 out of 5 suspenseful stars! The story was split between the victim and the investigator's POV and I loved that! This book had me up late turning pages and on the edge of my seat. I felt like I could feel the victim and the ivestigator's emotions in this enthralling thriller. I loved the characterization and this book was very well written. I highly recommend checking out this suspenseful title. Bookouture never lets me down with their suspenseful titles! 
I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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jfbiebkejngkeng!!!!! Where the hell do I begin? Not only did the storyline pull me in straight away, I had no time to regulate my heart-rate due to the fast paced, jam-packed storyline! I have no idea how I am going to do this book justice with my review, but I shall give it my best go.

Once again, 'Gone Missing' is yet another book which makes me want to grab everybody and go 'did you read the part where....? or 'OMG what about when Katie....'. But I can't! If any book clubs are needing a new book to discuss, I really do recommend this one. I'm half tempted to make my own book club just so that I can talk about this 'Gone Missing' until I'm blue in the face. Seriously!!

Katie heard a baby crying on her early morning run and she did what anyone with a heart would have done - went to check it out. Unfortunately, Katie's decision wasn't the best one, but she couldn't have foreseen what was going to happen. Would I have done the same as Katie? Possibly. 

Naturally, Katie's husband is beside himself that his wife has gone missing, yet he didn't seem to want to tell Detective Cross everything. I couldn't put my finger on the vibe I was getting from the husband, but I know for sure that it wasn't a good one. Well, the same goes for Katie's family actually. There really was a lot more to them that meets the eye. But what WERE they hiding? Or was I just pointing my finger in their direction just because? Something wasn't right, well, aside from the fact that Katie was missing obviously.

The storyline switches between the investigate led by Justin Cross and Katie's time away from her loved ones. Reading Katie's story was very gritty, intense, and very descriptive when it came to her injuries and other circumstances. Put it this way, I really was glad that I chose not to eat whilst reading 'Gone Missing'. I'm really not convinced that I would have kept my food down. Of course I'm not complaining as the storyline required that level of description to make Katie's story come to light in the way that it did. Without it, I don't think that it would have packed as much punch as it did.

Comparing the two viewpoints, weirdly enough I actually preferred reading about Katie's situation than reading the investigation side of things. I think that was because I felt that the situation with Katie's family was just going round and round in circles. That said, I was completely engrossed when Detective Cross and his team involved maps and other forms of transport. Ahem - vague much? I really don't want to give anything away but, that change in direction with the investigation had me on the edge of my seat as all I could hear subconsciously was the tick tocking of a clock. Would they get to Katie in time? Would Katie survive everything she endured?

I did feel that the story concluded rather abruptly though. One minute everything was fast paced and my heart was in my mouth, and the next minute everything just stopped and that was that. I'm not saying that the book should have dragged on - of course not, I just felt that the conclusion didn't really match with the rest of the storyline.

However, I really did enjoy 'Gone Missing'. It kept me on the edge of my seat most of the time, and I loved reading a storyline which had a completely different setting from the usual thrillers. It made a change to exercise my brain in different circumstances and I cannot wait to read another of T.J. Brearton's books.

Thanks Bookouture.

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Are you a jogger? I have heard running help you calm your mind, escape your thoughts, and for Katie Calumet, escape your life, whether you want it or not! Whenever I see a woman jogging, I feel a pinge of guilt. This time, I was glad I am too lazy to get out and move my buttocks.

Katie Calumet and her husband live a normal life, in a nice suburb, nothing to report! Well, until Katie wakes up early for her dose of adrenaline and hears a baby crying in a van near a park… This is why we should not be too curious! Minutes later, Katie is away from her dream life and the world as she knows it will be changed forever!

Gone missing follows the couple and the main detective in charge of the case… as well as an interesting take at how things can take a totally different direction from what you expected!

Katie’s abduction triggered anxiety on my side, I knew something was going to happen, of course, and I was eagerly expecting it, but the writing made sure the tension was here and the surprise, while expected, big!

From there, the beginning of the case raised a couple of red flags. I was surprised the police would get on the case so fast! A couple of hours are enough for a husband to worry, but officers getting interested so fast? Maybe it was due to the fact they lived in a small place and nothing much happened, but still, I would have felt it more realistic had it waited a little longer to get moving, especially with the press!
Then comes the husband. You know how much I love to suspect them, but here, we have a case of a caring man hoping and wishing, doing his best to get his wife back. Keeping him so close to the case, bringing him along, that irked me a little. I’m a sucker for rules and for keeping families away. Weirdly, cops taking liberties with procedures when needed is okay, but civilians… Too risky!

I really enjoyed the different narratives that allows the reader to grab snippets of the lives of everyone involved. Justin is a police officer I really found interesting, his personal story was a nice breather between difficult times brought by the main plot! I really felt for him and the consequences life choices can have on a family. His relationship with his wife was subtle and spot-on, and I was rooting for some happiness, or at least relief, in this horrendous “adventure.”

What I thought would be a simple case of kidnapping turned into a survival race and the perfect setting to test someone’s limits. Add a gigantic dose of secrets, things untold, and dangerous people and you have a steady story with the exploration of different sides of everything. A kidnapping turning wrong, tension and money rising, the fight for survival, everything was settled to make me believe the story would follow a set of rules… Then I was surprised! There are layers to Gone Missing and the descriptive writing takes you to the limits of the mind and body, life and reality. Action, blood, twists, you get it all!

There is a lot of potential in the book and the pleasure to be taken on a trip you’re not expecting is a great point! My hope for more realism was not fulfilled but it might just be me unable to let go of this fatal element!

Gone Missing is a different and addictive kind of abduction story, muddy and slow, dangerous and scary, a real good-time book! Well, at least for the reader!!!

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This is a well written book about a kidnap, and more. I usually don't like this topic, but I'm a curious person, so here I am.
The writing style is captivating and I like the chose to write each of the points of view, Katie's and Cross'. The characters are well done, and I hoped and struggled with the woman in the woods. The setting is very interesting. The cabins are little words in a desert made of plants and animals.
The first half of this book was boring, BUT it became so good after the first chapters. I didn't understand the choices of Katie at some point, and I was waiting for Cross to find her. I liked the introduction to agent's life, and I was captured by the hidden world of Katie's family. I liked the writing style, it was fast and depth at the same time. I recommend this book to everyone who want a quick and gripping story.

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As soon as I saw this cover I knew that this would be a book I wanted to read - I am a massive fan of crime fiction so this one practically screamed to me - read me!!

The plot was great and I was gripped from the first few chapters.  I loved the pace and the characters were really good.  There were quite a few twists and turns and I loved the overall suspense from the writing style which was up there with the same high standard I have now come to expect from this author.  It was a well written story and I have given the book a four star rating and look forward to reading the next release!

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Katie Calumet was finishing up her morning run when she heard a baby crying coming from inside of a parked van. Katie isn’t sure what is going on but knows she can’t just walk away from a baby if it’s been left all alone so she sends a quick test to her husband to let him know what is going on then proceeds to check inside the van. But as Katie climbs inside the van she finds things are not quite right but before she knows it she is attacked and kidnapped.

Detective Justin Cross gets the call that a woman is possibly the victim of a kidnapping and heads out to the scene. Katie’s husband explains the message he received from his wife and a toy is found on the side of the road but no sign of Katie. Justin immediately begins the search to find out just who took Katie and why as Katie herself is fighting for her life to survive.

Gone Missing by T.J. Brearton is a completely gripping thriller that has the unique twist of not only following the police as they investigate the case but also the victim as she goes through the ordeal. With alternating points of view readers are kept up to date on both sides of the story as it unfolds keeping the pages turning to see just what would happen.

Katie was a great main character for this story, she was just the perfect mix of strong willed and a fighter but also realistic in the fact that not every choice she makes while on her frantic grasp at survival was always the best move. Meanwhile the police found themselves digging in deep and finding quite the elaborate scheme behind the missing woman as they rush to save her life. Definitely a great, engaging read that I’d recommend checking out.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Katie is out one morning for a run and hears a baby crying. She goes to investigate and then they’ve got her....
She sent her husband a text just before so the Police know she is missing but why her?
Justin Cross starts the investigation and it’s a race against time to find Katie.
Her Dad, stepmum and sister arrive to offer her husband support but day by day his hope dwindles.
I really enjoyed this book and liked the alternating chapters between Katie and Justin Cross.
I had to read the last few chapters in one sitting as I was desperate to know what happened.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me a copy to read and review.

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Thank you for the opportunity to preview Gone Missing by TJ Brearton.
A young woman, Kate, is jogging one morning. She hears a baby crying from a van, and although this looks odd to her, she decides to look into the van to see if the baby is ok. Before she does this, she sends her husband a text - just in case.
Kate is abducted by two men and taken away in the van. She knows she made a big mistake, but when they call her by name, she knows this is a planned abduction.
Her husband wakes up, reads the text and goes to check out the route his wife usually takes. He knows she has been taken and calls the police.
The story goes back and forth - from Kate to the police who get involved right away. A ransome is demanded shortly, and the police get clues that help track Kate's movement. They know she is in the mountains somewhere, but the Adorondack Mountains are difficult terrain. Time is running out and everyone in Kate's family seems to have secrets.
This is a fast paced book. Kate does some things that make some of the plot a bit far fetched, but all in all a good read.

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Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publishers for this review copy, given in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Kim for organising the Blog Blast!

My first TJ Brearton book. For information, this book is based in the USA. It begins with Katie Calumet. She leaves her husband in bed whilst she goes for an early morning run. This is a normal thing for her, the only thing difference being the route she takes. This morning she takes a run through a deserted park. She comes across a camper van parked up and she hears a baby crying from inside it. A gut feeling tells her to turn around and go back the other way, but she pushes that aside and goes to investigate. She can’t see anyone inside but can still hear the baby. As Katie steps inside, something comes up to her and then everything goes dark. She wakes up bound and blindfolded in the back of the van which is now on the move. Her husband raises the alarm when she fails to come home and Detective Justin Cross is given the case. It’s a difficult one with very few clues to go on. One thing that bothers Detective Cross is Katie’s family are very wealthy – is this all to do with her family’s money? Detective Cross is going through marriage problems and this, together with Katie’s disappearance, is weighing heavily on his mind. The trail for her takes him to a huge dense forest. Can they find Katie before it’s too late?

I enjoyed this one. It started off well, capturing the story well from the first page. The story alternates between Katie’s story and her struggle to find a way to escape from the clutches of her captors to Detective Cross’s attempts to find her coupled with his marriage problems. I have to admit I did find Katie’s perspective more gripping, although once Detective Cross had begun to get on her trail his story picked up. From where I live in the UK, you can never imagine forest or woodland that big that you could get lost in there for that length of time, so the setting was particularly interesting and worked well for my imagination! The characters were all quite likeable, even down to Carson and Leno! There were lots of twists and turns trying to work out who was behind everything, and even though I had my own ideas, I was proved wrong by the end.

A great fast paced thriller. Would definitely recommend this!

Four Stars!

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I really enjoyed this book. It was a nice change to have a victim as the main body of the book, rather than the people looking for her! We have a strong female lead with Katie, and an interesting look into the family’s skeletons while the search for her goes on! I loved the fact that she didn’t give up, and that despite multiple injuries, she keeps trying to get back to her husband! For me, I would have liked to have more time spent on the hunter/hunted story line, the author could have easily devoted a few more chapters to the kidnapper chasing her through the woods! All in all I thought it was great, and would definitely read more. Thanks NetGalley.

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One morning, out on a jog, Katie Calumet thinks she can hear a baby crying. She sets out to investigate but things go horribly wrong when she finds herself trapped in a van with two men who obviously don't have the best intentions.

When Katie's husband reports her missing, Detective Cross takes up the case. Initially, there are few clues to help the investigation along but they do all point to premeditation. Was Katie taken because she comes from a wealthy family? Will there be a ransom demand? Will Katie be found alive?

The chapters in this story alternate between Detective Cross and Katie. Personally, I found Katie's chapters the more gripping as she struggled to survive her ordeal. Surrounded by dense forests with a limited supply of food and water and the threat of coyotes at every turn, I found that whole experience quite frightening and thought-provoking. I kept asking myself what I would do. Try to make a run for it or stay put?

That doesn't mean the investigation into her disappearance left me cold. There's plenty here to keep you reading as Detective Cross hits multiple dead ends and is pushed to his limits, all the while trying to deal with his failed marriage. But for me, it was Katie's experience that made me flip the pages just that little bit faster.

T.J. Brearton delivers another well-paced story with an interesting plot and a few twists and turns and even managed to make me like one of the bad guys. With a healthy dose of tension and suspense, this crime thriller will most surely keep you hooked.

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A good intense read. I enjoyed reading it. My only gripe is that the ending seemed kind of rushed and unsatisfying. Overall a pretty good book.

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Twisted and complicated thriller. Feisty heroine who never gave up, and determined detective.

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Katie Calumet was on her early morning run when she hears a baby crying. The park is deserted and there is no one in the street. She follows the cries, then everything goes black. When she wakes up, she's blindfolded and her hands and feet have been bound. Detective Justin Cross take on the case. The trial leads them to an endless dense forest. Will Cross and his ream be able to find Katie before it's too late? Is Katie's family keeping secrets of their own?

This book pulled me in from the begining. The storyline is gripping, racy, tense, action packed with plenty of twists. I liked everything about this book, the cover, the characters, (even the baddies) and the authors style of writing. I will be adding this author to my favourites list.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author T.J. Brearton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Do not rate this book very highly. Not interested in wilderness trekking and endurance tests. How Katie’s life was not lost and even the baby survived how is that possible. No water, no,food, cold, wet and a broken leg plus other injuries. She must be a complete wonder women.

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Katie is kidnapped whilst out on her morning run. Her family are distraught and will do anything to get her back. Her kidnappers have underestimated Katie. This book hooks you in from the start and doesn't let go. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book to read and review

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The premise had me extremely interested, but I found the book too slow.

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