Packed with suspense, tension and really twisted creepy characters!

Molly Clarke's family fell apart when their young daughter dies. Time passes and none of the get over the tragic loss. Her husband doesn't seem to love her anymore and quits coming home as much. One night while on the way back home from watching her son's football game a huge storm hits. She runs out of gas on the side of the road and tries to flag down help from a passing truck. A man stops that has a young little girl in the truck. She gets in ... and disappears.

When she goes missing the police believe Molly abandoned her family, but her daughter Nicole won't believe that her mother simply up and walked away, so she starts to investigate her mother's disappearance in the small strange town of Hastings. Everyone she speaks with leads her in confusing directions. Is everyone lying? Who can she believe? Who can she trust?

The chapters are split between Molly and Nicole and works flawlessly. The book caught my attention right at the start and didn't let go! Twists and turns kept me flipping pages. I could feel the terror that Molly was feeling while imprisoned by a mad man and a small creepy child.

Wendy Walker hits hard with a tense, heart-pounding book!
Do not miss this one ... Read it!

I thoroughly enjoy all of Wendy Walker’s books, but Don’t Look For Me might be a new favorite. There are multiple layers of suspense, and Walker does a great job of keeping you guessing who the “bad guys” are throughout most of the book. I especially appreciate this aspect of her writing because, while I love a thriller, a lot of them are predictable or give away the culprit far too early. In this book lover’s opinion, the fun is in the thinking you’ve figured it all out only to find out that the person you thought was the “bad guy” is really a helper, and then you get to start the whole process over again until the big “GOTCHA!” moment.

Don’t Look For Me has it all: family issues, a missing person, mother/daughter relationships, a small town where everybody knows everyone’s business, suspense, and more. If you’re locked up at home right now, avoiding the COVID-19 pandemic, I would highly recommend adding Don’t Look For Me to your reading list. And even if you aren’t locked up at home... go ahead and add this one to your list. It’s a quick, thrilling read, and you won’t be disappointed.

*Disclaimer* I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Let’s clap till our hands get numb and make some noise till our throats hurt!

Ladies and gentleman I announce a big winner and I know I enjoyed so many thrillers this year and gave them five stars but this books deserves 5,5 stars because it is really unique, original and better than most of the books. It’s emotional, heart wrecking, thought provoking grief story but it is also action packed, mind bending, exciting, nail-biter, body trembler , heart pounder, soul shaker and crusher kidnapping story. It is genuinely disturbing family drama but it is also WTH I just read kind of obsession, abuse, child neglect story. And the author is a magician to combine different genres, mixing them and serving an outstanding, unputdownable, terrifying novel with her talented story-telling skills.

This is my new fast reading record! Even though I’m not thankful to turn into stay-at-home writer and reader at these social distancing, #homequarantinechallenge days, only silver lining I get, I may fully concentrate on a well-written books and I’m able to forget what kind of madness is going on at the outer world. (I can see myself at a movie scene during the apocalypse, I’m hiding under a table and screaming “Please, leave me alone, I have only 10 pages left to finish!”)

I have to stop blubbering right now. Let’s move on and talk about the plot: The story narrated by two women: Grieving mother and daughter: Molly and Nicole.
Molly lost her daughter. Nicole lost her sister. Molly suffers from guilt feelings, self-punishing herself for 5 years because her 9 years old daughter Annie dashed down from the house and ran to the main road, escaping from her baby sitter sister Nicole who is talking on the phone and the very same time Molly’s car approached the house and she hit… Yes, you may fill the blanks as well. This part of the story torn my heart apart.

That haunted day Molly hasn’t only lost her daughter, she has also lost her whole family. Now her husband is estranged, he may have an affair. Her daughter tells that she hates her and when she goes to her son’s school to watch his match and support him, he acts like he doesn’t see her but he also shows his irritation. Last nail in the coffin! Everybody hates her. She blames herself. Maybe her family will be better without her. So she drives her car in the middle of nowhere, runs out of gas, leaves her car, begins to walk. And a truck stops to help her. AND THEN?

Her car is found by the local authorities. A search team is assigned but she is nowhere to be found. She seems like vaporized into thin air. They keep searching till they found a letter is written by Molly and left at the hotel tells: “Don’t look for me!” The hotel room is charged by her credit card and the signature under the letter belongs to her. So the case is closed and Molly’s husband seems relieved as her children deals with their guilt feelings because of their unfair treatment to their mom.
Nicole is already numb in pain, turned into an alcoholic, dropped out of high school since she lost her sister and now her mother is gone. She blames herself, gets suspicious about her father’s motives because he stops searching and forces her to move her life till she gets a phone call giving her crucial tips about her mother’s disappearance.

She goes back to Hastings Pass, renting a hotel room and digging more because she promised her brother to find her whatever it takes. But did she put herself danger by resuming her search? Because when we read Molly’s part of the story: we find out she is kidnapped by the truck driver and his 9 years old, creepy daughter Alice (the same age her daughter Annie died), home prisoned and losing her hope at each day because her escaping attempts to the woods didn’t take her to anywhere and Alice tells her that her mother died in those woods.

So time is ticking! The daughter searches her mother, the kidnapper hunts for daughter and the mother tries to find a way to save them all. How will their story end?

I already spilled more beans so I have to shut my mouth right now. Go blind and read this book! And enjoy the mind numbing, WTH I just read ending!

So much special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this incredible ARC with me. And dear Wendy Walker, please keep on writing your smart, thrilling and thought-provoking stories. T

Wendy Walker delivers a fantastic book once again. This is full of suspense, twists and turns and will keep you turning the pages long into the night. Highly recommend!
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Mark my words this book is going to be a huge hit for Wendy Walker. This is an exceptional thriller. A true stand out among so many.

I really don't want to discuss the plot because I want everyone to discover this story on their own terms. It's intricate. It's breathtaking. It's heart-pumping. It's shiver inducing. It's everything I could ever ask for in this genre. I started this book yesterday morning and tore through 75% without even realizing it. I was completely riveted to the pages.

Pre-order this book, buy this book, read this book, borrow this book, fight tooth and nail for a copy (okay, maybe that's going a little too far 😉) because I assure you that you will not be disappointed! ALL THE STARS!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Empty car with no gas is found on side of road

Is it a walkaway?
Did she want to leave her life behind?
Will she come home when she is done?

21 year old daughter who needs to apologize and make amends vows to find her.

As clues become discovered, I got deeper and deeper in story
trying to solve the mystery.

Don't Look For Me is a twisted thriller that will give you whiplash from the plot turns. Molly Clarke goes through life in a fog of grieve for she accidentally caused the death of her youngest child. Her husband and her children seem angry and embarrassed by her. Out of gas and sitting on the side of the road, Molly considers walking away from it all but knows she cannot. A stranger in a pickup stops and offers a ride. Molly is gone and her daughter Nicole seems to be the only one looking for her. In a town where everyone is a suspect, Nic follows every lead even straight into danger. Just when you think you have things figured out, the ending smacks you upside the head in a shocking twist. Pulse pounding and hard to put down, the story is a page turner of a good read. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Molly Clarke runs out of gas in a major storm on her way back home from watching her son’s game in a town several hours from home. Her car is abandoned. There is a note telling her family not to look for her. Considering that the family is still reeling from the death of the youngest daughter, they initially think maybe she did leave, but the eldest daughter, Nic decides to search anyway. Her death takes her to the nothing town of Hastings, where her mother disappeared.

This book alternated between Molly’s point of view, starting just before her car broke down and Nicole’s point of view starting a few days after the disappearance of her mother. This was an effective structure because even though we knew things Nicole didn’t know, we still really had no idea what was actually going on and why. This was another solid novel from Wendy Walker. I gave it a 4 rather than a 5 because my interest waned just a bit after the really gripping start of the book but then by 50%, I was totally reengaged. There was a fair amount of tension and suspense and overall, I enjoyed it.

What would you endure to save your family from your demons?
How much pain is too much?
How far would you go to save your mother, when you blame her?

Don’t Look for Me by Wendy Walker is a page-turner, gripping, a thriller for sure BUT it is also a tale about grief, heartbreak, and the damage we inflict on the people we are supposed to love the most. After reading several of Wendy’s books, this is part of the beauty of her writing.

The story itself is told from two different perspectives, the mother Molly and her daughter Nicole. The time line shifts with each perspective, from past to present. I found this style interesting, it kept me focused as I puzzled together details from each point of view.

“Don’t Look for Me” is set in a small, decaying town that holds many secrets. As the story unfolds it is difficult to tell who you can trust. Tragedy, a missing person, small town secrets, lies, money, family-drama...this book has everything you’d expect and more from a domestic thriller!
As I read the book I questioned so many things; how often do I jump to conclusions, judge others, say things I don’t mean before I think of the implications of my words? How deep does my love for my spouse go versus my love for my children? Anytime a book makes me question my perspectives, I am impressed. In the suspense and thriller genre sometimes stories can be quick and very predictable. Wendy always seems to have that one small plot twist you don’t see coming right along with the big one! I LOVE THAT!

For me this was a 5/5 stars!
I enjoyed this book, I read it in just a few days! Thanks to @NetGalley and @StMartinspublishing for providing an advanced copy for me to review!

The book will be out on Sep. 15, 2020.

I love Wendy Walker's Books and this one was no exception. Walker provides the backdrop and characters for perfect suspense. When Molly Clarke disappears, the authorities call it a walk away. Everyone except her daughter believes that she had given up on her loveless marriage and children and left. But, in reality, Molly finds herself trapped in a house and at the mercy of a man and a nine-year-old girl. She tries to figure out how she can escape and know, she might never see her family again. With her brilliant storytelling along with twists and turns, Walker has another book that kept me on my toes from the first page to the last.

Was just an ok read for me. Didn't love any of the characters and it seemed to drag. A few twists but had it figured out
Made myself finish this one. Hope others find it as a better read than I did.


Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for an early release of this book.

I blew this book in one night! Couldn’t stop reading! I loved the character development and the suspense! Will definitely be recommending to friends!

Really enjoyed this one. I was super annoyed with Molly at the beginning - how stupid could she be? But I got over that and got tugged along through each twist and turn! Highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher for a free physical galley for review!

An excellent example of Wendy Walker at her best. The twists and turns of Nicole's quest to find her mother, Molly, is fantastically told between two perspectives. The frustrating thrill of experiencing the perspectives nearly collide was a delightful convention Walker played expertly throughout. In addition to being an exciting thriller, the main characters share a complex and moving backstory. My only criticism is that as more was revealed I found the premise became progressively more unbelievable--this doesn't typically bother me but the reason I'm critical here is because I think, in this case, it was a fixable. Overall a worthwhile, fast-paced read!

I read this in a day and a half. I just couldn’t put it down. I really wanted to know what happened to Molly Clarke. I really enjoyed the pacing and the twists. This book kept me entertained throughout.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review -
Wow!!! What a book!!!
A concerned mother rushes home as her children aren't where they are suppose to be and don't answer the phone. An accident happens. The family begins falling apart, husband doesn't come home and when he does he is aloof, daughter begins drinking etc.
Molly, filled with grief attends her son's game at college and when the son won't even look at her she leaves with a heavy heart. Her car runs out of gas and a black truck with a man and a child stop for her.
And then - no one knows where she is - Did she leave, not wanting to be found? Was she abducted?
Nic, the daughter trys to follow the leads to find her mother each one leading to more questions.
Will she ever find her mother? Does her mother want to be found?
A heartbreaking story of a family coping with grief...…. A great psychological thriller!

I am a big fan of Wendy Walker and this book did not disappoint. The main character, Molly Clarke, is still reeling from the horrible accident that killed her youngest daughter. The remaining children are mean to her, blaming her for their sister's death. Her husband is also distant with her. After attending her son's game, Molly disappears. It is understandable that she might run away from her life so only a cursory investigation is performed.

Did Molly really run away from her family or is something more sinister at work? This book is unusual and unpredictable with plenty of twists and surprises thrown in. Highly recommended!

Wow, just Wow!
A psychological thriller that had me on on the edge of my seat thru each chapter!
Wendy Walker makes it impossible to relax while thinking of these amazing characters even after this book has been finished!
Molly and her family have lived thu, yet not moved on from a horrendous family tragedy.
Her daughter Nicole wants to blame her mom, yet blames herself for the tragic death of her sister.
When Molly suddenly disappears one evening, one must wonder, is it by choice? How could she leave her broken family and why? Her daughter must and will find out the truth!
I loved how the suspense built up chapter by chapter! I would not believe the ending had I not read it for myself!
Truly and intense and well written intricate drama!

Nic (Nicole) arrives in the small town of Hastings to investigate her mother Molly’s disappearance after her car was found abandoned by the side of the road. The authorities are calling it a walk-away, a mom who left her family as the result of grief and guilt after a family tragedy. Nic doesn’t believe it and perseveres in her search for her mom.

The reader knows what has happened to Molly and we follow her ordeal and Nic’s investigation and search in alternating chapters. I was captivated from the first page with heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat tension. I simply couldn’t put it down and read it in two sittings.

One of the things I enjoy most about a Wendy Walker novel is the way she delves into the psychology of her characters. People are complex and life is full of shades of gray. The way Molly and Nic suffer and cope after their tragedy is done with skill and empathy.

The small town has a dark underbelly with secrets and untrustworthy characters. I did guess one twist but the tension as to how it would be resolved remained, so it didn’t ruin the story for me. I found the ending somewhat convoluted, or this would have been an easy 5 stars.

Still, this is a terrific psychological thriller that I highly recommend!

I'm not...sure about this one. I don't want to give plot points away so I'll just say: the plausibility of this is iffy at best. I found myself rolling my eyes a little too often. I really enjoyed The Night Before so I was disappointed in this follow up, but it won't deter me from reading the next Wendy Walker book. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy.