Kelley Armstrong is definitely one of my favourite authors and I have been looking forward to this psychological thriller since it was announced!

“Few crimes are reported as quickly as a snatched kid”
When the police refuse to believe Aubrey that she saw a boy getting snatched, she comes to realize that rescuing him is up to her

Aubrey was an interesting character, I definitely related to her maternal anxieties and the moments between her and Paul felt real and hard for me to read.
I loved watching this other side of Aubrey come out, a side that she had repressed and using all her skills and having to trust her ex husband.

I enjoyed this one and i couldn’t put it down until I knew what was going to happen.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2019/06/12/wherever-she-goes-by-kelley-armstrong/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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I think of Kelley Armstrong as a writer of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. However, most of what I have read from her is mystery suspense.  I love her Rockton series, so I decided to give Wherever She Goes, also a mystery suspense story a try. 

Aubrey is an interesting character. She is in the middle of a divorce but very accommodating to her spouse even when it hurts her. She shoulders the blame for things, which not all of them are her fault.  She is hanging on to issues from her past and it makes her rather odd at times. I do think there were a few people whose behavior towards her were more negative than her behavior warranted. 

Aubrey gets caught up in the fates of a child and his mother. She does a great job of tracking down information, better than the police, and in a mostly legal way.  It's hard to know who are the good guys and who are the bad guys, both in her pending divorce,  for this child and his mother.  I was frightened for them, for Aubrey, her spouse and child, and it was tense.

I really enjoyed this, even though Aubrey was a bit strange at the start, which made it harder to root for her.  As she became more herself and doing what she knew was right, it was easy.  I love Aubrey's personal growth and how she finds a new foundation for her life.

This is the first novel I have read by Kelley Armstrong. As soon as I finished it, I went looking to see if she had other books in a similar genre. It appears that she generally writes paranormal books, which is why I had never heard of her before. My hope is that she will write more urban-style thrillers as this one was so compelling and well-written, I can hardly wait to read more of books that are similar in style. As I don’t read paranormal books, I will have to wait.

In this book, which is a thriller mystery, Aubrey Finch (aka Bree) is working part-time at a library. She is newly separated from her husband, Paul, who is a well-to-do lawyer. She has left her daughter with her husband until she is able to provide a better living space for her.

She misses her daughter and often takes her run through a park which includes a children’s play area. One day, she happens across a young mother and her son and chats with them a bit.


Days later, she is running and she sees the young son by himself. As she is looking for his mother, he wanders into the parking lot and is taken against his will.

Thus begins a book with twists and turns. There are individuals with secret pasts that catch up with them.

Bree is trying to find the missing child and no one seems to believe that she saw what she saw. Her sanity is questioned, she becomes a suspect, her past is slowly revealed and we discover there is a lot more to Bree than a stay-at-home mom.

I would love to see Bree in future books. Her skills are amazing as is her tenacity and caring for a child she has just met.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

If u want something easy and quick then this book is definitely for you this summer. What a great book this was. This is the first book I read by this author and it did not disappoint.

This book was about a women with a secret past who saw something she shouldn’t have. The police don’t believe her so she makes it her mission to find out the truth no matter what the costs.

Wow, what a book!!!!! I really enjoyed the book from start to finish. Where to begin? I just loved the way the characters meshed so well with each other. I especially loved the dynamic between the Aubrey and the women detective. At first they didn’t trust each other but by the end they had a mutual respect and fondness for each other. I also loved the way Aubrey and her husband connected especially at the end. Now the plot. Who doesn’t like a story about a murdered mom and her child going missing. That alone had me hooked along with all the twists and turns this book had to offer. I never knew what was coming next.

Between the plot, characters and all the twists in this book it made it an easy and fast read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Not as good as I thought it was going to be, which was a huge let down since I truly enjoy Kelley Armstrong as an author. I don't know if maybe it was the fact that I was engrossed in a couple other books that kept me from getting fully immersed but I couldn't connect for some reason.

Armstrong always delivers with an action packed, suspense filled mystery that kept me turning the pages and eager for more.

Wherever She Goes was all these things and best of all, kept me guessing numerous times and had me swaying back and forth with exactly what was going on and what in Aubrey's past was catching up to her.

A story where everyone is suspect and you never know who to believe or what is going to happen next this was fun filled with a very believable story line, both with the mystery and with Aubrey's personal life, this had me interested right up until the end.

Aubrey Finch meets a young boy and his mother in the park while she is there with her own daughter. Several days later while she is doing her daily run she sees the boy again but this time his mother is no where around. Aubrey follows the boy and he leads her to the parking lot where a car stops and snatches the boy inside. She can't believe what she has just seen, she immediately tries to take a picture of the plates but they are covered with mud. Aubrey calls the police and when they arrive they take her statement and tell that they have everything under control, they will contact her if they need anything else. She soon learns that not only has no child has been reported missing and the police think that she was seeing things. She knows she is not crazy but know that the people around her are looking at her as if she is. When she learns that the police aren't going to do anything else about the missing boy she knows that she must figure things out on her own. Her life is already complicated enough, she just got divorced, her ex has custody of their daughter, and now he is dating someone new. She wants to be in her daughters life as much as possible but things just seem to keep getting in the way. With all this going on can she really find a missing boy that no one else thinks is really gone? Follow along as Aubrey takes all the things she has learned throughout her life and hidden from others and searches for the boy that she knows is missing. This was an exciting read that had you hurting for Aubrey and hoping that her life would turn around. That she would be able to find the missing child and show all those who doubted her the truth that none of them could see.

It’s a heartbreaking set-up for Aubrey Finch. She is separated from her husband, Jack, and their daughter Charlotte who is living with him. Aubrey is the one who left her beautiful child and home behind for a dumpy apartment but generous visitation rights with Charlotte. With only a high school diploma, Aubrey considers herself fortunate to have landed a job in a library. Aubrey blames herself for the disintegration of her marriage and refuses all monetary offers from Jack.
Psychological mysteries such as Wherever She Goes are about my least favorite mystery/thriller, just above cooking and old lady sleuths. However Wherever She Goes is written by Kelley Armstrong. C’mon, it’s Kelly Armstrong! I’m as likely to pass on reading one of her books as I am to give up chocolate for Lent. After all, she is the author of two series that are in my permanent top seven.
Aubrey’s story gets even worse when she witnesses a small child being kidnapped. A child she and Charlotte had met only the day before playing in the park where they like to play. So Aubrey knows nothing about the boy or his mother. No one believes Aubrey; not the yummy mummies, not the police, nor her husband who just seems to be humoring her.
For a stay-at-home mom, Aubrey seems to have some mad investigative and physical skills. These seem to be related to her past she has hidden from her husband; much to the detriment and likely end to her marriage. Jack is already dating the perfect woman.
Aubrey puts her skills to use, she’s not about to abandon the small boy, but even Aubrey isn’t prepared for the tangled and dangerous web she discovers.
Aubrey is a tenacious, fierce woman, but she is the only well-developed character. The others serve only to move the story along and to reflect the lioness that is Aubrey. Eventually Jack shows some quiet strength in his dealings with Aubrey and the villains.
Wherever She Goes is fast-paced with some surprising character twists and certainly kept my attention. The story was told from Aubrey’s POV, and she told a straight-up story. When she finally needed to face her past, she owned it, used it, and tried to forgive herself. Armstrong has always excelled in flawed female characters, Aubrey Finch is no exception.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange of a fair and honest review.

It’s Kelley Armstrong so, of course, I loved this story. Bree Has a secret past that has come between she and her husband, She was a criminal hacker and only changed her career after a job went wrong and she was shot. She got out and went legit and got married. She has gone from being a stay at home mom married to a successful lawyer to working as a librarian and living in a dumpy apartment. One day, she’s playing in a park with her daughter when she briefly meets another mom with a little boy. Later that week she thinks she sees the boy being abducted. When she goes to the police, they don’t believe her and with no child reported missing they do not investigate. Bree decides it’s up to her to find out what has happened to the boy. When her own daughter is threatened, Bree’s estranged husband agrees to help her. This is a well thought out, well written story but I would expect no less from Ms. Armstrong. I hope this is the first book of a series because I enjoyed the characters and think there is a lot of potential here. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Estranged wife and mother Aubrey Finch witnesses the kidnapping of a young boy but when she tells the police, they inform her that no child has been reported missing and do not take her seriously. Aubrey takes matters into her own hands and becomes an amateur detective, investigating the crime and the people who she learns are involved. She runs into more than she bargained for when her sleuthing puts her own life and that of her loved ones in peril.

I found this plot to be reminiscent of Heidi Perk’s Her One Mistake, but there was definitely a difference in how the protagonist was presented. What I loved most about Aubrey was her strength and perseverance. Though clearly not living up to her potential, she is resourceful, highly intelligent, and not afraid to confront the most dangerous of enemies. I love a good strong female character who rescues rather than needs to be rescued.

One minor pet peeve I had was that Aubrey refers to herself as a “librarian,” even though she does not have an MLS or hold a true librarian position. Just because someone works in a library does not mean she’s a librarian. As a librarian myself, I found this detail a slightly irritating.

Regardless of this oversight, I enjoyed this and recommend it to those looking for a fast-paced suspense with a strong female character.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Minotaur Books and Kelley Armstrong for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a good story with some very suspenseful parts. The author made sure to write a character that really had me wanting to read more about her and see exactly how she would handle these situations. A bit chilling, a bit heartbreaking, and more than plenty chills, I also enjoyed the twists and turns! Will use in a challenge, as well as recommend to the members of Chapter Chatter Pub.

Kelley Armstrong is a favorite of mine. Her Watcher Series and her urban fantasy books are really well done!

I wasn't fully on board right away with this one. At first, we didn't have enough information about her and her husband and daughter for me to decide if she was a wimp or nuts. Turns out she is neither. 

When Aubrey is having playtime at the park with Charlotte, she meets a young woman and her son. Aubrey is very observant. The woman is young, with what looks like old track marks on her arms. While Aubrey is chatting with her son, the young lady moves away and begins speaking angrily in Russian to someone on a cell.  How odd, she thinks. 

The next time she goes to the park, she looks for the young lady and doesn't find her. But she is sure that the little boy running towards the parking lot is her son. And from his screams for help, she is positive he is being kidnapped. 

The police don't believe her. No one believes her. Which had me thinking. Why? Why are all the moms at the park treating her like a pariah? What don't we know? And there is. 

Some of it was heartbreaking, some of it was secrets and lies, but in the end, she has to answer the question. How far do you go to protect someone else's child?

There were numerous subplots going on her as well. Which muddied the waters a bit.

All in all, it was a good read.

Well Done!

NetGalley/ June 25th, 2019 by Minotaur Books

3.5 stars

Wherever She Goes is an engaging thriller from one of my favorite urban fantasy writers. Bree is a soon-to-be divorced young mother who witnesses a kidnapping in a local park. Only no one believes her as there has been no report of a missing child. When circumstances prove to Bree that not only was she right but that the child likely is in danger, she falls back on her skills from her former life which she has kept secret from her husband to find the boy herself.

As with her other stories, Armstrong has created a likeable heroine in Bree, and the narrative flows quickly and smoothly to a satisfying conclusion. I sympathized with Bree from the start and wanted very much to see her succeed. If some of her skills, especially her physical ones, seemed unbelievably strong considering her 5+ year hiatus, I could let that slide because I connected with Bree and was eager to read on to see what happened.

All in all, this was a very readable thriller with relatable characters. Though this reads as a standalone, I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel.

For over a decade now, I have even a big fan of Armstrong's books - across multiple genres. She creates not only realistic, dynamic characters (all the more so impressive since in some genres these people have some rather extraordinary abilities!), but also exciting plots and stories that always move at a fast pace. This standalone thriller, set in a fictional Chicago suburb, is no exception - and is utterly absorbing from its very first pages.

Aubrey Finch clearly has a lot of problems in her past - and in her present with a recent separation with her husband. And when she witnesses a kidnapping, and no one seems to take her seriously, this provides a catalyst for Aubrey to take matters into her own hands and start to stop ignoring her own past. It is an addictive read - I genuinely couldn't put it down when I began it. It's just an exciting story - with a plot that holds plenty of twists and a satisfying conclusion. Armstrong is definitely one of my very favorite writers, and this is just a great standalone book! Although, I would certainly be eager to pick up a sequel if it ends up being the starting point for a new series!!

Wherever She Goes is the latest book by Kelley Armstrong. Typical Armstrong story, a strong female main character and edge of your seat moments. I enjoyed Aubrey (the main character) so much I'm going to miss seeing the rest of her life unfold. Would love for Ms Armstrong to consider making this a series. I was given an early copy to review.

Wherever She Goes is a psychological thriller with a plethora of twists and turns that change the good guys into bad guys and the bad guys into good guys. It kept me guessing throughout which characters Aubrey can trust and which she can’t. Just when it seems like she has it figured out, everything changes. This is an exciting thriller with a surprising but satisfying ending.

The narrator, Aubrey, is a strong and well-developed narrator. However, she seems to have skills (and courage) that are somewhat unbelievable at times. We learn early on what motivates Aubrey in her determination to find the missing child, a child that no one, especially the police, believes exists. The other characters are not as well-defined. Paul’s character is rather flat. I would have liked to learn more about Laila.

I’m a big fan of Kelley Armstrong. I always look forward to her newest releases.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Wow, Wherever She Goes is a great book! What would you do if you witnessed what you thought to be a kidnapping? Would you pursue it and look into it further, even if it seems the police department is not convinced that it was a kidnapping and may not be on your side or even believing everything you say? For Aubrey, she was determined to find the little boy, no matter the perceptions and criticisms she received from everyone around her. Struggling with her own personal and family issues, Aubrey throws herself into finding out just what happened that day, unraveling truths and facts in all facets of her life. Engaging and intriguing, great read!

Wherever She Goes is a fast paced and tense novel with complex characters and an intriguing, if not that fleshed out, plot. There is quite a bit of mystery and suspense surrounding the main character, Aubrey, which leads to a bit of confusion regarding the narrative as the story progresses. The writing is still really engaging and Aubrey’s POV is well done, so this is a quick and entertaining read.

Kelley Armstrong knows how to set up a thrilling mystery. The beginning of the novel is quick to capture your attention. There’s a desperate atmosphere that surrounds Aubrey, which turns into determination as the plot is developed. There aren’t many surprises or twists, but there’s still a lingering tension in each chapter that builds up as Aubrey gets closer and closer to finding out the truth of what happened to the little boy she saw being kidnapped.

This was a good read! Nothing too mind-blowing, but it’s fast paced and engaging enough. The writing is great, as usual with Armstrong, but there’s a bit of a spark missing for me to fully connect to the story. The characters are really well developed and Aubrey’s POV keeps you interested and flipping pages, but the plot is a bit underdeveloped to me, especially as part of it focuses heavily on Aubrey’s past and that’s never really explained in a coherent manner.

The mystery is a bit underwhelming. There aren’t any surprises or plot twists, just the narrative going from point A to B without too much at stake. There is a bit of action, though, but the overall feeling throughout the novel is one of tension. Even the starting conflict of a little boy being kidnapped doesn’t hold much weight as the narrative develops.

I guess the novel has an interesting premise and, while the story is engrossing, the execution feels a bit… off? I feel like this book had a lot of potential, but things sort of fall flat in the end. There isn’t a sense of danger at all, so I personally didn’t feel like there was too much at stake. Just not the book for me, I guess.

Overall, Wherever She Goes is a nice read with good writing and great characters. The premise is intriguing and the fast pace keeps you reading, but the plot could have been a little more fleshed out. The ending is also a bit underwhelming, but it does lend a hopeful tone to Aubrey’s story that makes it a nice conclusion to the book.

I enjoy Kelly Armstrong's books, and this stand alone novel was an interesting read. I enjoyed the heroine and her determination to find justice and the kidnapped child, despite no one believing her. It was a good mystery, and a satisfying ending.

How can you go wrong with a thriller like this one! Mama power! I love how this book made me feel and thinking about how I would react in this situation. This was a great thriller and I absolutely recommend.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.