Someone Saw Something by Rick Mofina is a highly recommended family drama centered around the search for a child who has gone missing and presumed to be abducted.

News anchor and journalist Corina Corado asks her sixteen-year-old stepdaughter, Charlotte, to pick up her six-year-old little brother, Gabriel, from school because their father, Robert had to delay his flight and is unable to do so. Charlotte and Gabriel walk through Central Park on their way home so he can have a text flight of a plane he made. As the plane flies over a hill, Gabriel runs off to get it and Charlotte, who is texting, says she'll be right there waiting for him... but he doesn't come right back. Charlotte runs to find him and can't. The unthinkable has happened. Gabriel is missing.

A missing child and subsequent search and investigation is enough excitement to hold up a plot. Adding one complication, the hate mail Corina receives as a well known journalist is an understandable concern. But Mofina ups the ante to almost unbelievable levels. The number of secrets, twists, and extraneous directions the investigation takes is throwing everything into the plot, including the kitchen sink. The whole twenty-one year old "boyfriend" of your sixteen-year-old daughter thread could have been left out, as could Robert's big secrets.

The characters are portrayed as realistic individuals, except for maybe the whole withholding of major pieces of information that might be connected to the search for their SON. However, while reading your emotions will be running high as you wait for the characters to just tell the whole truth.

Admittedly, it held my attention because of all the secrets and intrigue, but in the end I felt as if the main concern, Gabriel, was being buried under all the other plot threads and characters included in the narrative. This overload of extras that maybe were possibly connected with the investigation actually slowed down the novel and the main concern - searching for Gabriel. 3.5 rounded up. Thanks to MIRA for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, X, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Although I enjoy Rick Mofina books, this one fell short for me. It seemed to be missing the usual fast paced tension that the author is known for. I found it repetitive and slow paced, and too many characters interspersed. However I do appreciate how Mofina eventually connects them. I also enjoy multiple POVs with a twist or reveal at every chapter ending. Overall, I do recommend this book especially for fans of Mofina, just go in with lower expectations of his previous books.

Read this if you like:
-short chapters
-twists and red herrings
-multiple POVs
-characters with multiple layers
-family dysfunction
-stories with radical organizations
-secrets and lies

My rating 3 out of 5
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing MIRA for this eARC that will be published April 30 2024.

Not my favorite Mofina to date and definitely a slower paced read.
I'm usually a fan of his use of multiple povs but I feel like I didn't like any of the voices we got in this one.
Also Corinas job just sounded so boring to me so everytime it was mentioned or some scenes were taking place at the newscenter building I was just fading out slowly.

The ending was just ok. I figured out the why but not the who initially.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.

Corina is married to Robert and they have two children ... Charlotte is sixteen and Gabriel is six. Robert was supposed to pick up Gabriel after school but he's tied up in a meeting at the last minute so Corina asks Charlotte. Charlotte and Gabriel cut through the park so Gabriel can fly the airplane he had just built. She's texting her older boyfriend she isn't supposed to have and isn't paying attention and Gabriel disappears. The police are called and the hunt is on.

I've read a few books by this author and thought this one was okay. There were so many side stories (aka red herrings) and I felt the book could have been edited down so it wasn't so long and drawn out. Corina is a journalist and had been getting death threats from a conspiracy theory group followers, Corina feels Robert is hiding something (an affair perhaps?), Charlotte is still in contact with the boyfriend though her parents had told her to stop, Corina has a sleazy boss who had put the moves on her and then threatened her, a rival network keeps broadcasting that Corina had been so desperate for a baby that she stole one from a dying mother in Nicaragua and illegally adopted him (ie Gabriel), how are the Russians involved, and more. She does have the support of her news team, friends and a support group that is helping to find Gabriel.

It is written in third person perspective with the focus on wherever the action is. The ending came together quickly and was a bit a letdown for me. I thought Corina acted rashly at times, thus putting Gabriel in danger, and not letting the police do their job.

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this opportunity.

The book started out somewhat fast paced but I found this novel to be a slow burn the further in that I got.
Charlotte picked up Gabriel from school and he wanders off while in Central Park. She’s in a scramble to find him before her parents find out he’s missing. But he never shows which leaves Charlotte no choice but to involve the police.
Corina is a reporter for a news channel and has many threats towards her over the years.
I felt nothing for the characters in this book. It was also very repetitive with the “queen of lies”, the gifts they received, the well wishes, the same questions being asked over and over. I did not find it suspenseful at all. It was a slow burn at best and really wanted to just find out who did it.

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Collins and Rick Mofina for the ARC of this novel.

A missing child is every parent’s worst nightmare.

For journalist Corina Corado, it’s a terrifying reality.

When six-year-old Gabriel vanishes from Central Park, his mother, news anchor Corina Corado, is desperate for answers. Who would take her son—and why?

Detectives suspect there’s a connection to the barrage of hate mail Corina’s received over the years. In her line of work, it’s not unusual for agitated conspiracy theorists to send messages that threaten violence…or worse. But as the investigation deepens, the secrets that Corina, her husband, Robert, and her stepdaughter, Charlotte, have kept start to unravel.

As the truth behind Gabriel’s disappearance emerges, Corina must race the clock to track down her missing child…before paying the ultimate price.

Thd book started off very slow for me. It improved as I continued reading. Honestly not my favorite Rick Mofina book. 3 out of 5 ⭐️

Enjoyed it, but wasn't my favorite. Rick Mofina is one of my favorite authors and I always get excited when he has a new book out. I know there's going to be some sort of twist that I will never see coming. This book felt like it was missing something and is extremely repetitive. The characters weren't my favorite. Why not be truthful from the start? Robert held so much back. Everything that happened in Philadelphia seemed so shady and planned. Concealing it made him extremely suspicious. I can't forget the title because Corina must have said that phrase a thousand times. She says it every time she's in front of a camera, which is extremely often. The creepiest part of the book wasn't the abduction of Gabriel but had to be Vince's obsession with Charlotte. He's twenty-one and she's only fifteen. They couldn't stay away from each other, even after the police got involved. Charlotte blamed herself for Gabriel's abduction, since she was on the phone with her much too old boyfriend. It wouldn't have mattered either way. The person wanted Gabriel and put his/her plans in place. He/she went to a great deal of trouble to snatch the boy. This book is full of so many crazy people who will believe anything they hear, even if there aren't any facts backing it up. There were so many twists and turns. I had no idea who could have kidnapped Gabriel, since the list of possible suspects was endless. There were so many people who hated Corina, it could be any one of them. With all the cameras around, shouldn't they have caught something?

Definitely recommend the book. It was a good mystery/thriller and kept me entertained. I enjoyed the story and writing style. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Trade Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow. Someone Saw Something was truly a masterpiece of interweaving and well developed storylines that was nothing short of amazing. I cannot remember ever reading a novel that was so well written that I could picture scenes better than if it played out in a movie. This felt real.

The layers and layers of Someone Saw Something peeled back like an onion and left the reader not wanting to make claims on what they think happened. This book allowed me to slow down and truly enjoy the chapters rather than rushing to finish. Mofina expertly introduced new characters as if they’d been there all along, creating a stream-less storyline without the ups and downs and curveballs other books consistently produce. Every single character belonged and without excess/useless information, could’ve branched off as the star in their depiction of this story.

Absolutely the best and most well written book I’ve ever read- and at approximately 5-8 books a week, I’ve seen a lot. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this advanced readers copy!

International bestselling author Rick Mofina returns following Every Thing She Feared (2023) with his 32nd novel, a standalone riveting thriller, SOMEONE SAW SOMETHING.

In this complex, multi-layered, gripping crime thriller/domestic suspense, the son of a journalist/news anchor is kidnapped in Central Park as dark, hidden secrets emerge.

Corina Corado is a busy mom, a news anchor, and an international journalist. Her husband, Robert, an engineer, is delayed on a flight/meeting, so she called her 16-year-old stepdaughter, Charlotte (Robert's daughter with his wife, who died years earlier), to pick up their adopted six-year-old son, Gabriel, from school.

Gabriel was excited about a plane he had built with his father and talked his older sister into walking through Central Park on the way home so he could fly his plane. Charlotte agreed and loved her little brother. However, she was distracted momentarily by texting her older secret boyfriend, Vince (which her parents disapproved of). When she looked up, Gabriel was gone. How could he have disappeared?

Frantic, she locates the cop in the park, and the authorities are alerted immediately. The mother and father are also contacted. Charlotte blames herself, and their life soon falls apart. Everyone casts blame. Central Park was a vast labyrinth of roads, paths, lakes, lawns, and darkened woods with hidden realms. There were all kinds of dangerous people out there. They must find him! Why hasn't someone seen something that would help them locate their boy?

An intense investigation begins. Detectives suspect there may be a connection between all the hate mail Corina has received over the years and agitated conspiracy theorists. There was media abuse when Corina interviewed a husband and wife team who led a controversial group known for extreme views connecting to disturbing conspiracy theories.

They accused Corina of stealing Gabriel (back story here), stating she was the Queen of Lies, from relentless social media to altered photos and manipulated videos accusing her of every imaginable evil linking her to child stealing and more. However, she thought all this had died down.

There is also another storyline involving Robert. He is keeping dangerous secrets. Corina and Charlotte also have secrets, and her boyfriend, an Uber driver, is involved.

Corina is accustomed to reporting the news, and now she is in the news with many negative opinions and feedback. As a well-known international journalist, she has threats, and they most recently paused their extra security. Is the kidnapper someone with a grudge against her, a random kidnapper, or something else?

Where is Gabriel, and who took him? Motive? In a race against time, they must piece together the mystery puzzle pieces with many suspects before it is too late.

Engrossing and captivating, this is every parent's worst nightmare: a missing child with two high-profile parents and a small, young, innocent boy. Absorbing, chilling, intense, suspenseful, and impossible to put down. You need to figure out who to trust or believe. An intricately plotted ticking time bomb in a race to find an innocent boy.

Mofina is a professional, former international journalist, crime writer, and bestselling author who has an insider's view of journalism's dangers and challenges globally.

SOMEONE SAW SOMETHING expertly explores family trauma, dangerous secrets, strong familial bonds, and a determined mother's love while overcoming all the negative media and conspiracy theories.

Character-driven, the tension and suspense mount as the author shines and weaves a twisty, sinister tale that is unputdownable! The title is fitting for this brilliant crime thriller from a seasoned author, which will keep you turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning. I highly recommend it! I loved the Epilogue.

This book is for fans of Michael Robotham, Linwood Barclay, Lisa Unger, Michael Connelly, Fiona Barton, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and James Patterson. Library Journal calls Mofina "one of the best thriller writers in the business."

INTERVIEW: Stay tuned for my #AuthorElevatorSeries chat with Rick, where we will go behind the scenes of the book and this talented author.

Thanks to MIRA Book and NetGalley for an advanced digital review copy.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: April 30, 2024
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A gripping and emotional ride following the abduction of a child. The reader is instantly drawn into the family's anquish fueled by fear, anger and guilt. The many twists and red herrings had me devouring the book in almost one sitting.

I was not really a fan of the book. I found it very slow and drawn out.
A child go missing in a second in Central Park while his sister is texting her boyfriend.
A story about family drama is brought out during the investigation to trying to find Gabriel.
I just found it very slow and drawn out. It could have been condensed by not adding in so many characters. Definitely not a book I will be excited to talk about

I enjoyed a lot of the mystery here and the tension between the characters, but the pacing was painfully slow. I wish it was a bit more fast paced, but overall I liked it!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have read most of Rick Mofina's books and all are easily 4-5 star reads. Someone Saw Something is a great 4-star story. Six-year-old Gabriel disappears from Central Park while on his way home from school with his sister Charlotte. His mother, Corina is a news anchor and desperate to find him. Along the way of the investigation, we learn that everyone has secrets. There are a lot of characters in this one and I felt there were a few draggy parts, but overall, another winner from Mr. Mofina! Great twists and turns as usual! You really can't go wrong with this author, and I look forward to more!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Rick Mofina and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication.

Someone Saw Something slowly draws you in, grabs your attention and doesn't let go until the final page.

Life changes is a second and this is what happens to Corina a leading news journalist, when her son Gabriel goes missing.

Gabriel was on his way home from school with his elder sister Charlotte when he disappears from sight.

The police, the FBI and the family are racing against the clock as its well known the first 24 hours are crucial.

Days pass and secrets are discovered, rumours are started and Corina doesn't know who to trust and that includes her husband.

Rick Mofina is a master of twists and turs, red herrings and keeping you on the edge of your seat and Someone Saw Something is no exception.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harelquin Trade Publishing , MIRA for an entertaining read.

Unofficial Synopsis:

Six-year-old Gabrial vanishes from Central Park one day after school. His mom, a news anchor, is desperate for answers.



Detectives think that there is a tie to the hate mail his mom has been receiving. But as the investigation deepens, and secrets the family holds begin to come out, could it have been something different?



Review:

This book started right away with the action with Gabriel being kidnapped. However, then the plot seemed to almost come to a screeching halt and things really slowed down. I felt the middle of this book dragged a lot and really could have been edited down a lot. It was suspenseful, but I found myself getting lost in minute details that I felt didn’t really add to the story. There were also a lot of characters, and it was hard to keep track of who was who. However, as things went on, and I started understanding who everyone was, I started to really enjoy the reveals that came out about all the characters along the way. It seemed that with each chapter there was a twist and revelation about one of the characters. The family dynamics that were present in this book were relatable even though the characters weren’t. I think that in the end things came together nicely and all the questions were answered satisfactorily.

It is a fantastic story, exhilarating plot, well developed characters, and a well executed shocking ending. I read in one day, unputdownable and very addictive. Recommend to every thriller reader.

Someone Saw Something

Book Review 📚

🩷🩷🩷💞(3.5)

This is the first book I read from Rick Mofina. I have seen a couple of his other books, but thank you @netgalley for allowing me to read this book with the early access ARC. Many thanks.!.!.

I found this book quite interesting. It had some
twists; I felt like it was a very long book.
It felt like some kind of psychological, thriller, suspense. Overall, this book was an OK read.

My recommendation? Give this author a try.

This won’t be the last time I read a novel from this author. I’m looking forward to reading more books from @rickmofina

🚩No Spoiler🚩

“Someone Saw Something”

It’s about a journalist. She travels all over, doing interviews on natural disasters,
abductions, and other support groups.

While the mother was working, she wasn’t able to pick up her son from school. She called her teen daughter to pick up her younger brother from school instead.

While picking her brother up, they decided to take a shortcut home. They end up taking a walk through the park. Her younger brother brought his toy airplane that he made at school. He wanted to watch his plane fly in the park.

At the park, she watched her younger brother chasing his airplane up and over the hill. He ran too far and left her sight. She ran after him. Once she went over the hill, her brother was gone.

she stood there on the top of the hill and thought to herself. How did her younger brother disappear out of thin air?

What happened to her younger brother and where did he go?

Must read to find out!

I really liked Everything She Feared and so was looking forward to another creepy eerie off-kilter tail, but I never connected to this one. From the opening Pages it felt forced and I just never felt the compulsion to keep reading that I did with the earlier title. Having your child kidnapped is in fact every parent's worst nightmare, but for some reason I just never felt drawn into this experience in the way that I expected to. The characters did not feel relatable and the story just didn't hook me. This one wasn't for me.

This was not one of my favorites. I feel this book was slow-paced and repetitive. I feel like nothing ever happened. The detectives in the book were not very good. I also feel like there were a lot of characters and unnecessary details which made the book seem slow. I found the book hard to connect with.

I unfortunately decided to DNF this book at the 55% mark. It felt extremely repetitive and even after reading through over 200 pages, the detectives were still claiming to have zero evidence! I just find it so hard to believe that absolutely no evidence or even a solid clue has been found in this time.

You’re telling me that there’s a crowded park that was full of tourists, buses, shops, clubs, couples and everything in between and not one single person or security camera picked up on anything strange when this young boy just suddenly vanished? Not a single trace?

It just wasn’t believable for me I’m afraid. I also did not enjoy the characters and the way their speech was written. I feel the story had potential but it didn’t deliver for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early ARC copy. All opinions are my own.

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