Cover Image: Gone Missing

Gone Missing

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Member Reviews

A thoroughly good read which easily kept the tension whilst letting me really get to know all the characters. They seemed to develop along with the plot and I loved it.
Obviously well researched and only enough lucky co-incidences to keep the pace without ever making the story seem unrealistic. Happy to give this one five stars.

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I was intrigued to read this book just by the description as it sounded really good. It draws the reader in from the first page and it has many twists and turns to keep you hooked. Some of the police officer characters were a tad confusing at first but as the book went on it they became easier to understand. I really enjoyed the book and didn’t want it to end. I have another book by this author downloaded, can’t wait to read it, I just hope it’s as good as this one.

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Gone Missing T.J. Brearton

A good stand-alone novel, from a well-established author. What could go wrong? Absolutely nothing. This book has a hook that got me straight from the start.

Katie is the daughter of a wealthy family that owns a chain of restaurants and hotels. Her and David, her husband live a happy life on the outskirts of New York.

When Katie goes out for a jog she chooses 1 of 3 routes, all of which start and end the same way, on a pathway into a park.

Finishing her run one morning Katie hears a baby crying in a van. Texting her husband what she has found, and jokingly saying if she goes missing call the police, she opens the van and leans in to comfort the baby. Then it all goes horribly wrong for her as she realises, too late, that the baby is a doll, and that its bait to trap her.

The book then takes two main strands. The story of Katie and her kidnappers, and her attempts to regain her freedom; and the story of the investigation into her disappearance.

Investigator Justin Cross is a complex character, and when he is tasked with finding Katie, or identifying the people responsible for her kidnap, he throws himself at the investigation with no regard to his own wellbeing.

The story alternates chapters between Katie’s existence and the investigation into her disappearance. I must say, as much as I enjoyed the whole book, I really enjoyed the chapters covering Katie’s story

Her Husband helps with the investigation but all the time he is growing frustrated with the lack of progress, and at the same time becoming more and more worried that he will never see his wife again.


Fans of C.J. Box will love this book. Katie fights for survival in the woods of New York County. She has to make decisions that nobody should ever have to make. All the time her own ethics make her second guess each decision. Decisions she knows she will have to live with for the rest of her life.

The story never lets up in its breath-taking pace, from start to finish something happen on every page.

Pages:395
Publisher UK: Bookouture
Publishing date: 16th November 2017.

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I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Gone Missing, a stand alone novel set in upstate New York.

Katie Calumet is out jogging when she hears a baby crying and before she can blink she is kidnapped. Investigator Justin Cross of the State Troopers takes the case and immediately has a bad feeling about Katie's disappearance but no proof.

What a read. The novel grabbed me from the start and didn't let go until the final page with plenty of tension, action and twists. It has two third person alternating narratives, Katie's and Justin's which work very well as the reader gets to contrast Justin's theories, gut instinct and investigation with Katie's reality. It also gives the reader more perspective than Katie has on what she's dealing with. It is an extremely well thought out novel.

Initially I found the host of police characters, except Justin, quite confusing but as I read on their roles become quite well defined, if not their characters but as peripheral players in the drama they don't need to be. I like the discipline in the investigation and hunt which seems very realistic to me although I was a bit puzzled by the responsibility given to Justin, like he was the only one doing any thinking. I think the build up of small clues leading to the suspects is also realistic and I chortled at the portrayal of the FBI who swagger in to "assist".

The characterisation is not particularly nuanced and doesn't have to be in a thriller. Katie is smart, resourceful and tenacious with a grit which is quite unexpected in a woman from a privileged background. Justin is also smart, resourceful and tenacious. Both are likeable characters and good protagonists. I found the Calumet family background very interesting and would have liked to see the dynamic explained in more detail but in reality I think the author struck the right balance as more detail would have been a distraction from the main narrative.

Gone Missing is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

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This was a slow burn for me, possibly because I’d just finished another book but once it got going I really enjoyed it. Great plot which is not just what you’d think it would be. I really liked the Detective Cross and would love to see a series of books featuring him

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I loved this book. It was a fast paced thriller with plenty of twists in the plot. A real page turner that kept me hooked to the end. I read it in one sitting. Highly recommended. 5 stars

Many thanks to Netgalley and TJ Brearton for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

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I absolutely LOVED this spectacular, heart-racing, explosive roller-coaster of a book, packed with secrets and twists galore. Love this author's action packed, pacy writing that hooks you from the first thrilling page and does not let go, the characters and story staying with you long after the book is finished. I am still thinking of the characters now, and I will be for a while yet, musing on what I would have done differently in the circumstances - the mark of an amazing, thought-provoking book. This book and author go right to the top of my list of best crime fiction and I absolutely cannot wait for this author's next masterpiece.

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Really enjoyed this book it was full of tension and twists that I didn't see coming. I thought the story line and characters were interesting and the book came across as emotional and heart wrenching. A good solid 5 stars.

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First of all, a huge thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for introducing me to this awesome book!

The thing that made me request this book was it's absolutely awesome cover, fused with an interesting and catchy title. I read half of the blurb before clicking on the request button.

I had high hopes for this book and it did not let me down.

My favorite thing about this book was that half of the book focused on Katie's struggles. Usually, similar books focus on the investigator and the victim's family and even the kidnapper but rarely on the victim.

Gone Missing shows Katie not as the victim but the hero. The way she survived more than 2 weeks in the woods, and also managed to keep her baby safe, was awe-inspiring!

Gone Missing showcased some awesome characters, like Justin Cross who wouldn't give up and David Brennan who had enough faith on Katie to know she'd survive.

And as David said, I too was there just to give them company through this journey of their and every step was full of suspense and intrigue.

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This would make a great film. It was very visceral and graphic. The main character in the book is a beast. When she is at the scene of one of her kidnappers when he has an accident in the woods and begs for her help was so gut wrenching to read. I wanted to look away but it is a book! I also loved the setting in the woods and the view point of the police as they tried to solve t he kidnapping. Great book.

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A woman (Katie) is on her morning run when she hears a baby crying. However, when she investigates, she is abducted and taken to a cabin in the woods. The book tells of Katie's time in captivity and after she escapes, what she goes through to find civilization again. The police (Cross) do an excellent job to identify the kidnappers. A good book. Thank you NetGalley, Bookoutre and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

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Katie Calumet is on her morning run when she hears a baby crying.Fearing that the child is in danger she goes to investigate - but the cries are a trap,she is knocked unconscious and wakes up blindfolded,with her hands and feet bound and with no idea of where she is.

Investigator Justin Cross takes on the case,but with the trail leading into six million acres of dense forest,finding Katie is going to be his most challenging case yet - not least because the Calumet family are keeping secrets of their own

Will Cross be able to find Katie before it's too late?

The chapters alternate between Investigator Justin Cross`s increasingly futile attempts to locate Katie as well as his investigation into who was behind Katie`s kidnapping and Katie`s desperate battle for survival.Katie`s chapters where my favourite parts of the story but I can't go into too much detail without giving away spoilers.I really liked Justin,Katie and Katie`s husband David Brennan,I liked the support that Jason got from his superior officers,the characters where a mixed bag of well developed,believable personalities.The descriptions of the scenery,the mountains and the forests where stunning and breath taking.

I was drawn to this book by the eye catching,spooky cover and the blurb,the story was definitely gripping and intense at times but to be honest it felt to me like there was something missing.I never felt a connection to any of the characters and the ending could have been a bit less predictable.I did enjoy the story enough to finish the book and would happily read more books by this author especially if they featured Justin Cross.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had previously read Buried Secrets from this author and I really enjoyed it. I was very excited to read this one. The cover and the blurb are fabulous.

The book starts off really fantastically and immediately drew me in. The book is fast paced and alternates between Katie and the investigation to find her. It is really a thrilling investigation with many twists and turns and you are never actually sure who is guilty as they all seem like they have secrets. It is a really great book, my only gripe is that too many names of places are mentioned and it makes it a bit difficult for someone like me who is not at all familiar with the terrain. It took me a bit of a while to get through those parts, but other than that, it is a fast-paced thriller and the reader will not be disappointed.

I am looking forward to more books from this author.

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The title and the cover grabbed my attention as soon as I saw them and I expected a fast paced adventure once had read the blurb about the book.......,and this is what the author delivered,from the very exciting first few pages right through to the ending the action and suspense was pretty full on.
The characters although at times complex are fascinating and grow with the story.
The writing is easy to follow and the descriptive element builds a good constant picture of the story in your mind which is always important,this book was playing along in my imagination as I was reading it.
I guess my only small criticism would be the many places,lake and mountain names which at times were a touch confusing.
I would definetly read more from this author and would recommend this book.

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I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, T J Brearton, and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me.

This was an excellent mystery. Katie is kidnapped in upper New York State while on her morning run, and Cross has to find out who did it and where Katie is. We get a tour through the fall Adirondack wilderness areas, and there are lots of chase scenes both on foot and while driving. You know the culprits fairly early one, but the mind behind the snatch is a surprise. I really liked Katie's husband David Brennan, and Investigator Justin Cross has a very well rounded personality. Hoot was special, hated to see him go, and the cop shop lively. Altogether a good, fast read. Thank you. T J Brearton is an author I will add to my must read list.

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Investigator Justin Cross is looking for a missing woman, and he’s got a few million acres of forest to search. The missing woman, Katie Calumet, thought she was helping a child in distress, but instead fell into a trap that left her tied and blindfolded in the middle of nowhere. With time running out, Justine looks to Katie’s family for help, but the Calumets are strangely reticent to help. If Katie is to survive her ordeal, she will have to rely on her own strength of will and Justin’s unwavering pursuit of her kidnappers.

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