In Rachel Howzell Hall's And Now She's Gone, Isabel Lincoln is missing - but does she want to be found? After working as a contractor for Rader Consulting for two years, Grayson Sykes is keen to be a PI, but stumbles at every turn. Her boss, Nick Rader, has just assigned her first real case, to locate a man's missing girlfriend - Isabel.

Nothing is as it seems in a case that gets more confusing at every turn, but seems to center on insurance fraud. As Gray pursues her investigation, her ex moves closer to her, bent on revenge. Though the plot is interesting, I have to say that I found it hard to follow and the story's characterization off key.

Where is Isabel? More important, where is Kenny G? Those are the questions Grayson is trying to answer on her first case as an investigator for Rader investigations. Her boyfriend Ian wants to know what's happened to her but he really wants Kenny G- his dog- back. What Grayson finds is a twisty, confusing mess which makes her question both her own assumptions and Isabel's motives. Grayson herself has a problem- her violently abusive ex has found her despite her efforts, as well as those of Nick Rader. Isabel's on the run, Grayson's on the run, and nothing is clear. Hall has created an interesting character in Grayson, a woman who was adopted by loving parents after a long childhood of foster care but who lost her way during her marriage until she just couldn't take anymore. Isabel- well, she's a cipher. Grayson meets some interesting people along the way, encounters some red herrings, and has a little romance. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. No spoilers from me but know that this one will keep you guessing.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. I’m a fan of Rachel’s work and was so excited to be approved for this one. This book is very well done and Rachel is a master of descriptive writing. Some of the domestic violence sequences are tough, but definitely make sense to the story. Overall a great read.

From the outset, this case of a missing woman, seemed like an easy one.
However, as the investigator, Grayson "Gray" Sykes begins looking into Isabel Lincoln's past, it is clear nothing is that simple.

At the beginning, I had my doubts about Gray's skills as an investigator. She makes a lot of careless mistakes, and lets her nerves get the better of her. This being her first read case for Rader Consulting, I understood her lack of experience, but I was concerned about her ability to solve the case. That did luckily change over time. Gray ended up being very thorough and using resources available to her to challenge evidence. And slowly, the story seems to emulate something very familiar to Gray, her past.

Flipping from the present to the past, we learn of Gray's more traumatic life that led her where she is today. I won't get into the details of that past, but I think it gave her some unusual insight into her case, specifically on how to hide identities.

Some parts of this story were easy to predict, and others less so. But I thought the author did a good job with the pacing and the revelations to keep me engaged throughout. I also liked that Gray seemed to get stronger and smarter as the case progressed, even as her past was beginning to haunt her.

Overall, this was an entertaining read and a good one if you enjoy the mystery/thriller genre.

Well, this was certainly unexpected. There were so many surprises along the way. You could not have possibly predicted the ending. Trigger warning: Domestic Violence is a big theme in here. There were two competing storylines of Gray, the PI, and Isabel, the missing woman. I have to say both characters were really hard to like. Gray was a total mess, just not a strong female character at all. You’re immediately suspicious of Isabel and that continues throughout. My biggest issue was the writing though. It was a little slow moving. There were also too many metaphors and little transitions that left the story jerky. But at the same time, the plot was clever and different and the end was unpredictable, so this is a solid three star for me.

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was given a free copy of this book by Netgalley. I am leaving my honest review.

After reading the description of the plot, I was sure that I would really like this thriller. Unfortunately, I did not.

My problem was with the writing style. It was disjointed and difficult to wade through. I reread the first chapters several times to be sure that I wasn't being too critical. I wasn't. There were inexplicably abrupt changes between characters which made it difficult to keep track of the various individuals. The writing just never gelled into a cohesive whole.

TW: domestic violence
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this book and that's probably for the best. There are a couple of parallel stories happening here - the first being Gray's search to find the missing (or is she?) Isabel Lincoln and the second flashbacks telling the story of Gray's past. I placed a trigger warning for domestic violence at the top of the review - there's extensive discussion of it throughout the book and numerous scenes ranging from verbal abuse to severe physical abuse depicted on the page. If that's something you're sensitive to then this book is not for you. I really enjoyed how the mystery unfolded, how I learned more about Gray (who has some massively unhealthy coping mechanisms), and the relationships between Gray and her coworkers. There were enough twists and turns to keep me super engaged, but none of them felt forced or out of character for the story. This is a super solid thriller that's a quick weekend read.

And Now She's Gone is the latest thriller to hit the shelves, one that's willing to delve into lives full of secrets, fears, and the determination to keep on going.

Grayson Sykes just got her first solo case as a private investigator, and it's to find a woman who has gone missing. A woman, who by all appearances doesn't want to be found. Yet there's more to this story, and this case, than meets the eye.

Isabel Lincoln has been missing for months, with and yet it's only now that her boyfriend has reached out for professional help finding her. Her disappearance is full of twists and turns, which Gray will have to dig through in order to find the truth of what actually happened – as opposed to the story that those involves would rather it become.

“Everyone lies. Everyone leaves something out of the narrative...There were big secrets everywhere.”

Warnings: And Now She's Gone covers some heavy subjects, mainly those of abuse and stalking. There is also mention of an animal dying, but it is in the past (though it does come up a couple of times).

And Now She's Gone is arguably the most intriguing and unique mystery/thriller I've read in quite some time. I honestly had no idea which way the story was going to twist at any given point, as there were just so many threads up in the air.

That being said, I did have a little bit of trouble getting into this story, despite being truly excited for it. I think the biggest problem is that we essentially started in the middle of a story. Gray has a huge history to contend with (which is slowly revealed over the course of the novel), and now she's dealing with her first case – and it's a big one.

That's a lot to take in, right from the start. Throw in all of the hints and allusions to something even bigger going on, and it can get kind of intimidating. Gray's massive personality did help to bring the whole thing home though, so there is that.

I was well and truly hooked by the end though, I just had to see how this missing person's case actually unfolded. Everything about Isabel was so complex and shrouded in mystery, so naturally, the solution was going to be anything but easy.

I do love that Isabel's story had some interesting mirroring elements going on, bringing parts of Gray's story to life. Which admittedly probably didn't need much help, since her past was clearly not content to stay where it belonged.

All things considered, I enjoyed And Now She's Gone. I almost wish that it was part of a series, because I really would love to see how this character progressed with even more time available to her. Either way, I love how human this story ended up feeling.

Every single time I thought I knew what was happening in AND NOW SHE’S GONE the plot would twist and turn like a slippery fish and I would be back at square one with our heroine Grayson Sykes.

Grayson is a private investigator on her first solo case. She’s been tasked with tracking down Isabel Lincoln who has disappeared with her boyfriend’s beloved dog.

But is Isabel Lincoln actually missing? Is she dead? Or is she just running from a man she no longer wants to be with?

I loved this game of cat and mouse as Grayson searches for the truth. Howzell Hall created deeply layered characters who aren’t all what they initially seem. This book is so much richer than many crime fiction novels that are out right now.

It’s not a fast read and is on the longer side at 384 pages. But it is so worth it.

If you love character driven crime fiction, I highly recommend this one!

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Pub day post will be posted on Instagram account on 9/22

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC of And Now She’s Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall. I recently read They All Fall Down and loved it, so I was excited to read her latest thriller.

Isabel Lincoln and Kenny G. (a Labradoodle) are missing and Grayson Sykes is up for the challenge of finding them. This is her first case a s a private investigator and she doesn’t want to let Dr. Ian O’Donnell, Isabel’s boyfriend down. After escaping a physically and mentally abusive marriage and a bursting appendix, Grayson must overcome her past in order to solve this seemingly similar mystery. Where are Isabel and Ian’s dog? Why did she disappear?

This book took me super long to read, as I had a difficult time getting through the writing. However, I forced myself to finish it in order to give an honest review. The story was intriguing, but the way the characters spoke to each other wasn’t natural and was hard to follow. Also, the use of last names (ie. Mrs.Dixon) for the flashbacks was confusing. It seems like the book could have used another edit before publishing. I also didn’t care for the useless repetition of insignificant things, such as Grey’s never ending supply of colorful linen pant suits that wrinkle constantly. The fact that she is always popping painkillers and driving bothered me as well. There are so many characters introduced in this book and many are not necessary to further the plot. It also seems like the author is trying to make a statement about racism, but then uses so many racist stereotypes that it made me uncomfortable. I enjoyed the mystery aspect, but sigh, the ending felt rushed and was not very believable. Finally, I am most dissatisfied that a few lingering questions were not answered.

2.5/5 stars

2.5 Stars

This story is told by two points of view via Gray and Isabel. Gray's story has a before and after, non-linear timeline. This format is usually my favourite but was a big miss for this time around.

There were some twists in this story but the majority was completely inadequate. I found Gray's story-line so frustrating as she was pretty naive and for someone who is supposed to be an investigator it had me shaking my head in disbelief.

This wasn't a bad book, by any means, but I found one of the main characters under developed and it just felt a little flat. I would give this author another try though as I did like the writing style.

What a page turner that was! Love a good missing person case and this one is a wild ride to say the least. My first book by Rachel Howzell Hall and it was so good. Another author to add to my list. There is so much going on in this story but it doesn’t get confusing or overwhelming at all. For such a long book I was surprised by at how quickly I read it.

Grayson Sykes is a private investigator in LA and has just been given her first case. All she has to do is track down the missing girlfriend of LA doctor Ian O’Donnell and get proof life, and get his dog back. Seems like a simple case right? If only! Isabel Lincoln doesn’t not want to be found, sending Grayson on a wild goose chase. The more Shen looks, the more Grayson discovers that this I not just a missing persons case. There is so much more to it than a woman hiding out. At the same time we learn more about Grayson and her past. I feel that we have not heard the last of her.

Thanks to Forge Books and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.

Grayson Sykes, 39-year-old Los Angeles Private Investigator, is finally given her first official job from her boss, and friend since she was a kid, Nick Rader (She also has a crush on Nick!) Her assignment is to find the girlfriend of a local doctor, Ian O’Donnell. Her name is Isabel Lincoln, she supposedly took the good doctor’s dog and she may not want to be found especially by Ian. All Gray needs to do is get a photo of Lincoln with a current newspaper and the dog and her work is done. If only it was that easy! As she searches, Gray realizes that Isabel has a similar history to Grays. Abusive men, foster homes, and shifting identities. This book was full of dark humor, and I loved the characters, especially Grayson. I'm hoping there will be another story in this series.!

This was my first by Rachel Howzell Hall and I really enjoyed it. Grayson is an amazing protagonist, she is real, she is raw and she is a badass! All what you need in a leading character. I found the pacing of the book to keep me at the edge of my seat. The story weaves together and at the end when I let out my sigh of finish it was a beautiful tapestry of a story!

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and chose to write and honest review!

Although I am an admitted Howzell-Hall STAN, I try to go into each book with a clean slate and not rate it against previous books... but sometimes a great writer cannot help but outdo themselves. I've read everything Rachel has written and...... this might be the best book by her that I have ever read. So far.
I read a lot of thrillers and crime novels. I Love a PI or detective novel, so a good one by an author that I know is going to give me a good story makes my day.
So I have to say that aside from the unrealistically (to me? What do I know?) long workdays and instant-like travel, this was a BANGER. Also? I love a good twist and.... she got me. SHE GOT ME! With every chapter, this book just gets so... twisty and turny and interesting. Not a boring sentence in the book. Not a wasted chapter. Not a single wasted plot point.

SUPER enjoyed this read!

This book is two stories in one, Our main character's story of how she got to be who and where she is and the mystery of Isabel Lincoln she as been tasked to solve as a private dectective. As Gray starts to investigate what was supposed to be an easy first assignment turns into a complicated mess that also exposes Gray to the dangers of her own past. What I thought was great about this book is how complicated the mystery turned out to be, I couldn't begin to unravel it and I enjoyed just being along for the ride. I also loved Gray as a character, I thought she had many layers and she was strong, funny, and smart while also being a hot mess half the time which is easily relatable. The book can get a little confusing with all the different names so I do recommend being in a more serious reading mode for this one, because one needs to be able to focus on all the details. I loved how strong of a character she wrote and the title was perfect! I would definitely recommend this one and Rachel Howzell Hall has turned into a must read author for me and I look forward to whatever she comes up with next!

Free copy received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Grayson Sykes is a PI in search of Isabel Lincoln. It's her first big case and she's determined to track down Isabel, but there's a lot standing in her way. A LOT. At times, the plot was very hard for me to follow because there is so much going on and so many different characters. There's also a lot of secrets and multiple sides to every story, so the build up takes quite a while in my opinion.

The author does make great use of blending the past with the present, filling in the reader on a need to know basis. The cast is full of diverse characters and it's hard not to cheer for Gray on her first PI "big break". I love strong female characters who are determined and tough and Gray has no shortage of these traits.

Dear fellow readers,

This book right here! It got me. The twist was great! I had to stop reading momentarily because I haven't been misdirected for a while now!

I've mentioned before how much I love detective stories. This book had all the components and reasons I love a good mystery. What really sealed the deal for me was the protagonist. Gray is great. The representation is amazing. For my female detective novel class, I felt like I found my calling in books genre wise. So Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton, Patricia Cornwell, Agatha Christie, and P.D James all appeal to me because of the representation.

But Hall takes it one step further and gives it more depth. In this book a black woman is leading the investigation and she's got layers and a past. But so does her subject of investigation.

It's a long book but I devoured it. I'm so happy I read this! If any of the authors I mentioned are your jam check this out asap! If you love books with a good twist check this out. If you love a good villain check this out. Books centered around black women and their lives check this out!!!

Keywords: Shocking, layered, and identity driven.

TW: Domestic violence, abuse, and psychological abuse.

Swipe for photos taken this Sunday during my break at a family affair. We social distanced and wore masks of course. Thankfully, not many came! My grandmother did me the favor of posing for a few photos.

My family thought that teasing me about my reading at an event would stop me. Ha!
Check out Trish trying to stop me from reading.

Many thanks @forge @Netgalley @rhowzellhall
for the opportunity to read and review this gem!

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Thank you to NetGalley Canada and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It was my first Hall novel and I have heard great things about her other books. I found it difficult to follow the back and forth at the beginning but at around the halfway mark, there was a noticeable shift and I felt myself more engaged in the story. I also felt the book was very detail heavy (mainly the main characters inner dialogue) and there was also too many supporting characters and storylines which actually worked to detract from the mystery. That being said, I did not see the ending coming and I thought it was really well done. There are some sensitive topics layered throughout this novel.

And Now She’s Gone is available September 22, 2020.

While this book kept me guessing until the very end, I really struggled to follow the story. There were so many characters, timelines, and storylines that it was at times difficult to keep up.