A gripping story of justice, lies, and impossible choices. Powerful, moving, and thought provoking. As always, Ms. Hyde’s novels linger with me long after I have finished.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

“People talk a lot about justice. They seem quite invested in it. But we don’t have a justice system in this country. We have a legal system. The two are not quite the same.”

Norma, a search and rescue volunteer, is called up to duty when a 19 year old girl, Jill, goes missing. Norma is the only person to know the full story when she finds Jill, learns her story, and agrees to protect and hide her from her abusive boyfriend, Jake. As you can imagine, this story is quite a public sensation, reminiscent of the Gabby Petito story. Except this one has a different ending, thanks to Norma. But how long can the secret remain hidden? And what will happen to Jake, since the boyfriend is always the first suspect? Once his trial begins, Norma begins to wonder how long she should stay silent.

Raising lots of questions of morality, I found this book to be super thought provoking. While I thoroughly enjoyed all the moral questions raised by Hyde, I did not like her handling of them too much. I found Norma to be a grating character, and I think that Hyde was too heavy handed in inserting her own opinions/views. This book reminded me of a Jodi Picoult type story, although Picoult lets her readers draw their own conclusions a little better.

Special thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It has been a while since I read a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I have been a fan of her books for a long time and was interested by the premise of this book. A Different Kind of Gone is a welcome change to the author usual style of writing. The story follows Norma and Jill, women of different ages with different perspectives who form a strong bond due to unexpected circumstances.

Norma helps Jill escape and disappear from her abusive boyfriend. Noone knows that she is still alive except her parents. Five years later, events bring them back together with decisions to be taken. In this book, we see Norma grappling with her conscience, what is right and her need to help. There are many shades to her character and as her story is revealed through the book, it becomes easier to understand her. Despite her specific morals, she decides to deviate from the usual and help Jill out.

On the other hand, Jill is young and determined, initially a victim who slowly starts to realize that her situation is not okay and she has the power to change it. She can either speak up or move away and make a new life for herself. Having tried both, she finally chooses the latter and though this seems like running, it shows strength of character.

As always, Catherine Ryan Hyde's books are interspersed with messages and learnings, told in a way that the reader doesn't even feel like they are being preached to. The beauty of the story lies in the plot and the characters who drive it. I absolutely loved reading this book which focuses on the women in the story, the abuse they face and how they deal with it, coming out stronger for it and with bonds that last a lifetime.

Though the book is a little slow at the start, it moves to a steadier pace towards the middle and end. This book is worth reading, just like all the other books by the author, and I truly enjoyed it.

2.5~3★
“ ‘There’s not a person on the planet as far as I’m concerned who knows what they’re getting themselves into when they start a new relationship. You just throw your lot in with somebody and maybe you get lucky and maybe you get hurt. And that, in a nutshell, is why I prefer horses and dogs.’ ”

So speaks Norma Gallagher, old enough to be a grandmother but living alone on a rural property with only Saint Fred, her faithful big buckskin horse, and two hound dogs. She works at a local pub with Betty, who has become a friend, Norma’s only human friend, it seems. She often compares animal relationships and those with humans.

“ ‘A good rider takes the horse’s limitations into account. Good horsemanship doesn’t look for trouble. You avoid what trouble you can and deal with what can’t be avoided. It’s kind of like everything else in life that way.’ ”

She is admired and relied upon as a search and rescue volunteer, and when she, Fred, and the dogs joined the hunt for a missing – possibly dead – young wife, we can see why. Apparently, husband Jake has reported Jill missing from their campsite, and searchers fear the worst. However, witnesses have described how he held her harm behind her back one day and pusher her around, so Norma and the others suspect he might have snapped.

The dogs find Jill, sheltering in a hidden spot between large boulders, terrified of being returned to her husband. Norma agrees not to report the find but help her instead.

This is about 300 pages of Norma teaching and preaching through awkward dialogue as a kind of public service announcement. First she says, as the in the opening quotation, that nobody can predict how a future relationship will go.

Jill fills her in a bit on her marriage. Norma replies in typical Norma guru fashion.

“ ‘I told them I tripped and fell down the stairs. And another time that I walked into a door as it was being opened. I guess they didn’t believe me.’

‘Girl. You got any idea how old that is? That “I walked into a door” thing? Why, I used that one in MY day, and it wasn’t even new back then.

Anytime the same young woman keeps getting bruises and black eyes, people are gonna wonder. Kids, too. You take your kid to the ER too many times and someone from the state or the county’s sure to come poking around to investigate. Because kids get hurt all the time, sure. Falling off their bikes and such. But they also get abused by their parents. All the time. And there’s one thing the girl with her boyfriend and the kid with his parent have in common. They’ll both lie to protect their abuser.”

The premise was interesting. We know Norma surreptitiously reunites Jill with her parents who arrange to take her elsewhere to hide.

Then comes Norma’s dilemma. Jake will track Jill down and harm or kill her if he knows she’s alive. So does Norma tell the authorities or let the search go on?

Somewhere in here we get Norma’s back story of abuse which gives her even more teaching moments. There are references to Native Americans and others being ill-treated and overlooked, plus additional comments about human nature.

The back and forth with the Big Secret and the Moral Dilemma gets more complicated when Jake remarries. Now what? As I said, it’s an interesting premise, but it’s buried in well-known aphorisms and adages.

“Hurt people hurt people.
. . .
We don’t have a justice system in this country. We have a legal system. The two are not quite the same.
. . .
People who treat themselves well expect others to treat them well, too. Self-abuse is just an open field for an abuser to walk right into.”

I lost count of the scrambled eggs and pancakes that seemed to feature in everyone’s kitchen. Mind you, I enjoy both and the bacon, too. I just don’t need them in every interaction to illustrate hospitality.

I can see this as a good story for book clubs (there are suggested questions at the end, too), and it might be a good one to give to young people to show the dangers of putting up with abuse. This one isn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the copy for review. The author has a huge following, and I’m sure her fans will love it.

I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a book in less than a day before, but I was so entranced by this that I couldn’t stop listening.
When 19 year old Jill Moss goes missing from a campsite on the Utah-Arizona border everyone speculates her boyfriend, Jake killed her. The only people who know the truth are Jill & her parents and Norma Gallagher, the 50 something bartender who volunteers with the Search and Rescue team. Jill begs Norma not to tell anyone because she’s certain Jake will kill her if he ever finds her. Against everything Norma stands for she agrees to drive Jill back to her parents and figures that is the end of that. Five years later, the DA is ready to prosecute Jake for the murder of Jill and Norma now has to decide if she can really live with herself knowing an innocent man is going to stand trial or if she can live with herself knowing she betrayed the one person her secret has kept alive.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is a must read author for me and this one did not disappoint. As with all of her other books, this one features characters who make one want to be a better person. With every book of hers I read I wish I could jump into the story just so I could actually interact with these well developed, fantastic people. Ms. Hyde’s books are definitely feel good reads and the perfect thing to turn to when you need a pick-me-up. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of this. I’m sorry it took so long for me to get to it. A Different Kind of Gone hit the shelves on December 5.

Another amazing book by Catherine Ryan Hyde!! Always different, always a great story to take with us.
If I was ever told that I could only have one writer for the rest of my days, it would be, Catherine Ryan Hyde, hands down. Many of her books, I'd love to read again and again!
This book is a must read! Thank you so much, Catherine Ryan Hyde, NetGalley, and the Publisher, for the chance to read and review this amazing book!

The premise of this book puts both the characters and the reader in a conundrum. What if you knew the truth about an alleged crime that never happened but knew an accused person had been capable of doing the crime.
I was conflicted about some of the choices Norma. Jill, and Wanda made because I could see it both ways.
Usually victims of abuse are only reassured safety if the abuser is gone gone.
It’s a tough call but certainly a brain bender to stew over.

Emotional and honest the main character Norma is a breath of fresh air how she sees the world so simply. I loved the respect she has for her animals and she puts them first as it should be. This is the most beautiful, raw and honest story that I have read for a long time. The author gets to the heart of the matter.

I’ve read quite a few books by Catherine Ryan Hyde and have enjoyed them all, but I have to say, I really think this one is my favorite! A Different Kind of Gone is a mesmerizing and intriguing story with absolutely wonderful characters. It’s a story that centers around abuse and the aftermath of what happens to the parties involved. Norma, the main character, is one of the strongest and wisest women I think I’ve ever read about. Her honesty and integrity was to be admired. I actually wondered if the author had written this character based on a reflection of herself and her personality. I’d like to believe so. She was such a straight shooter, she told it like it was and her firm belief in telling the truth was admirable. She comes off as being tough but she had the ability to really love. What I like about reading this authors books is that there is always a lesson to be learned from her stories. When you’re finished, there is always something to think about and I feel like I always come away with a better understanding of a particular situation. In this book it’s about abuse and this story explained how abusive behavior is something you learn and not something you are born with. I thought this was a great read, it was both enjoyable and educational and it’s a book I’ll be recommending to other readers. I’d like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the arc that I obtained off the Read Now section. I’m giving this a 5 star rating and look forward to reading more by Catherine Ryan Hyde very soon!.

I highly enjoy all of Catherine Ryan Hyde's novels, and this one, "A Different Kind of Gone" is consistently wonderful! Tackling the topics of domestic abuse, missing persons, creating new lives, news media, loyalty, secrecy, and making hard choice, this book was captivating and full of incredible characters. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

A Different Kind of Gone by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Thought provoking look at the way life can change by making one choice versus another.

What I liked:
* Norma: bar tender, divorced, mother of two sons, volunteers for search and rescue, has a horse and two hounds, gruff, quiet, a bit of a loner, wise, cares more than she seems to, has secrets, in her fifties when the story begins
* Betty: tends bar with Norma, outgoing, warm hearted, open, the opposite of Norma, good friend, similar in age to Norma
* Jill and Wanda: both suffered abuse at the hands of the same man, managed to escape, benefited from knowing Norma, and matured quite a bit in the book
* Norma’s backstory that comes out and helps explain why she makes the choices she does related to Jill and Wanda
* The search and rescue component of the story, Norma’s horse Fred and her hounds Lonny and Gracie, and the close bond between animals and human that are seen throughout the book
* The way abuse was handled, how it impacted more than one character in the story, its ripple effect, and the mention of why some who go missing get more airtime than others
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* That it made me think, feel, and care about the outcome
* Reading a new to me author I will read again
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about abuse and the impact it has

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake union Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

I normally enjoy Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books but A Different Kind of Gone did not resonate with me. It is well written as all her books are; however I did not connect with any characters.

I will eagerly await Ms. Hyde’s next novel.

Nineteen-year-old Jill Moss hides in a cave terrified that her boyfriend is going to kill her, she already experienced several of Jake's abusive episodes. She is ready to escape and disappear forever from him and everyone she ever knew.

Norma Gallagher is part of the search and rescue team volunteer group, she is an old and kind, retired, mother of two boys, who loves horses, dogs, and all animals. Norma finds Jill huddled in a cave and starting to understand the context of the situation, Norma helps Jill to survive this episode when a similar situation comes back to her memory with the father of her two boys.

Everything seemed like it was part of the past until Five years later: When Jake shows up back again arrested for the murder of Jill Moss but Norma is not about to let anyone get in jail for a murder that never happened.

A Different Kind of Gone is the story of many women who fall in love with the wrong man, forgiving them of every transgression that starts with a small "innocent" smack escalating into something major. The heartbreaking thought of a system that has failed many women.

Another great story by Catherine Ryan Hyde, as a huge fan of Catherine I've read most of her books and she still amazes me, I really enjoy reading her stories as they transport you to a very different kind of place with love and kindness I wait for her books with so much joy and eagerness.

Thank you, Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the advanced copy of A Different Kind Of Gone in exchange for my honest review.

I've now read 17 books by Catherine Ryan Hyde. And I can happily report that the streak remains unbroken - I have yet to be disappointed by one of her books. She has such a talent for putting interesting characters, ones that you can't help but care about, into situations that involve some type of moral dilemma. Norma is a woman with strong convictions that include placing a high value on truthfulness. She's thrown into a situation where she's forced to choose between honesty and potentially saving a life. This is also a book about unforeseen consequences of doing the right thing, and how no matter how much one plans, life is always ready to throw a wrench into those plans. There's some social commentary thrown in - do we have a "legal system" or a "justice system"? What effect do 24-hour-news and the internet have on our individual lives and on society as a whole? I very much enjoyed this book - it's thoughtful and insightful, all while telling a compelling story that held my interest throughout.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

A moving story filled with heart and compassion!

Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favorite authors. She’s written more than forty five books! Her stories are always entertaining and heartwarming. Her human AND animal characters are extremely well developed and relatable.

Norma Gallagher is woman in her late 50’s who always speaks her mind. Overall, Norma prefers dealing with animals rather than people. That being said she’s the first to volunteer when someone goes missing.

Norma is working at the local pub when she gets the text. The text comes from the search and rescue team leader. The text means someone is in trouble, someone is missing.

Norma and her horse Fred (aka Saint Fred) and her two hound dogs, Lonnie and Gracie are ready to go early the next morning. They will be searching for a young woman. 19 year old, Jill Moss was reported missing by her boyfriend, Jake. Jill has gone missing from the local campground where her and Jake were camping.

Right from the start Norma has a feeling this case will be different. She will find out soon just how different it will be. Norma will have to make some tough decisions. These decisions and choices may have far reaching consequences.

“A Different Kind of Gone” was another great read from Catherine Ryan Hyde. It was a quick read that held my interest throughout the story. It has a wonderful cast of characters. Many that you can’t help but root for.

This thought provoking story deals with some very important issues. At times it was a difficult read but the author dealt with these important issues in a sensitive way without going over the top.

I am super excited to read more from this very talented author!


I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

The ending seemed a bit unfinished but it was a really good book. If I had been in norma’s position, I would’ve definitely struggled with what choice to make. Lot of questions of would’ve should’ve could’ve but no one will ever know for sure. A book about justice and choices.

Catherine Ryan Hyde's books always make a point of having her reader's question themselves and compel them to see within. "A Different Kind of Gone" is yet another thought provoking book from her, making the reader contemplate the questions "What constitutes guilt? Why do people do things that they know is harmful for them? How does one action/ inaction affect the person involved and others related to them?"

Search and rescue volunteer Norma Gallagher finds Jill Moss when Jill hides herself in the forest where she has come camping with her boyfriend. Jill doesn't want to be found owing to her abusive boyfriend, Jake, and begs Norma to let her disappear. Norma helps Jill against her better judgement but that one decision of hers changes her and her life in many ways. Things come to a head when Jake is about to be tried for the murder of Jill and Norma is left with the difficult decision of letting Jake be tried for a living person's murder or stay silent and let him get his comeuppance.

Through Norma, Jill and primary character Wanda, whom she calls "The Hurt Women" at one point in the book, Hyde paints a clear picture of the emotional state of an abusive victim. The reader is given a deeper insight of the guilt, shame, fear and misplaced love these women carry around. The unusual circumstance Jill and Norma navigate has them question what is justice and what is guilt. Hyde also explores the many ways in which a single act can influence many other people, their actions and their lives.

I particularly loved the fact that the book made me think hard about many of my convictions and also placed me in these survivor's shoes. There is no better way to understand why they went through what they had and what it means to live with it. The book deserves 5 stars just for it. Do read this book if you are looking to dive into a book which engages your heart and mind.

Thank you to NetGalley, Catherine Ryan Hyde and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a solid 4 star read for me. I felt it was well developed with characters who felt real. My only struggle was watching the characters make poor decisions over and over again, Yet, that’s real life so it’s a frustration I will accept.
Though I found the MC standoffish, she soon became someone I would like to meet and become friends with. A good story with triggers about relationship abuse that I felt were handled by the author with sensitivity.

This is a well-written book that really gets you thinking. Life's answers may seem cut and dry sometimes but they rarely are.

The storyline in this book involves abusive relationships and their impact on not only those directly involved in the relationship, but their surrounding friends and family as well. When a young girl named Jill goes missing from a campground shortly after witnesses saw an altercation between Jill and her boyfriend, Jake, suspicions run high that he killed her. Only Nora, a local volunteer for the search and rescue team knows the truth - - that Jill wasn't killed but truly escaped Jake.

Now years later, Jake has abused another woman and faces trial for that. In addition, they rule Jill dead since it's been five years since her disappearance. Following up on this, the local district attorney decides to pursue murder charges against Jake for Jill's presumed murder.

The book drug a bit for me in the middle but shortly after that, it really took off and kept me enthralled. There are no clear answers to some of the questions in this book primarily because each person reacts to things differently.

The characters were well-developed and the plot is thought provoking. I recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it.

Our actions have ramifications. One choice can change the lives of so many. But, can one act change the world, or even a part of it? Can one act make right that which is wrong?

This is an interesting novel of choices, relationships, and secrets. There is quite an exploration of character, whether one is totally a monster or if there are good parts and bad parts in each of us. The plot might have been predictable but still an entertaining novel as there are thought provoking aspects to it, such as not believing it when domestic abuse is indicated.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.