After the fairly interesting first book in the series "Where They Wait," I was intrigued enough in the character of Nora, and Joe Hart's writing style to continue on to his addition to the series. Happy to report it's just as good, if not better, than the first one. Nora McTavish, a child advocate, gives a different spin on a somewhat tired crime novel. We've all seen cops or PIs in novels pursuing the mystery. And we've all seen the "every man" character in the ever-popular domestic thrillers. But never have we seen a child advocate in the role (or at least I haven't). This gives the series a breath of fresh air. While the mystery here isn't super unique, it still has enough twists and turns to entertain. With Joe Hart's solid prose and guiding hand (not to mention the quick pace and short length of the book), this is a fun way to spend a day. I hope Joe Hart continues on with this series. I'm eager to read more.

I made one mistake, I started reading before going to bed...I stayed well past my bedtime because I had to read it. The story kept me guessing, and I turned pages as fast as possible. Just when I thought that I figured it out, I was wrong... It is a well-written story, it is not just a murder story, it has more layers beneath. I just have to read the first installment to have the whole background of the main character.

My first time reading Joe Hart and I couldn’t put either one of his books down. After getting Never Come Back from NetGalley of course I had to check out the first one from my local library!

They both were easy reads that caught your attention from the very beginning. Both were books you couldn’t and didn’t want to put down. Both had chapters that were short and to the point with little boring parts along the way.

👉🏼Darks truths

•Will your past catch up to you?•

This is the first time I've read Joe Hart and I was hooked! I wish I'd read the first of the series, just for additional background, although Never Come Back stands in its own right as a great novel. I did not see the turn of events at the end coming which was refreshing as many thrillers can err on the side of predictable.

Will definitely read the next in the series!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was a good thriller that kept me guessing until the end. The main character was slightly annoying in my opinion. She made hasty decisions and it frustrated me throughout the story. Overall a good read

I couldn't put this book down! Never Come Back by Joe Hart is a rollercoaster of suspense with twists and turns I never saw coming. It's the second book in the Nora McTavish series, but luckily you don't need to have read the first one to enjoy this one (bonus points for Joe Hart making it work as a standalone!).

As a big fan of mysteries, I was hooked from the start. Nora McTavish, a former CPS agent turned family advocate, seemed to be dealing with a standard custody battle. But of course, nothing is ever simple. Hart masterfully crafted a plot with complex characters and a breakneck pace that kept me guessing until the very end.

While this wasn't a perfect read (hence the 4 out of 5 stars), it definitely comes close. If you're looking for a thrilling mystery with a touch of drama, Never Come Back delivers in spades.

This is my first Joe Hart novel, but it certainly won't be my last! Thanks to Thomas & Mercer Publishing, Joe Hart, and NetGalley for the ARC – I can't wait to dive into more of Hart's work!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the eARC.

Joe Hart has really hit a homerun with Nora McTavish. I loved the first novel featuring her and this one was no different. What I really enjoyed about this one was Nora's personal stake in the whole thing as her childhood friend is the one who called. So good and so hard to put down.

3.5 ⭐️’S
After severing her ties with CPS, Nora McTavish has gone out on her own as a Family Advocate. When she hears from a childhood friend, she rushes to her side, albeit with mixed feelings. She hasn’t seen Tess Grayson for years and their friendship brings back some traumatic childhood memories along with the good. Tess is going through a somewhat contentious divorce after her husband was arrested, but released, for murder. He would like joint custody of their nine year old daughter, Kendra, but Tess is totally against him having any contact with her, claiming he’s dangerous. As Nora spends time with Tess and Kendra, she’s not so sure. Was Neil framed? As Tess implodes, Nora starts her own investigation, one that just might be her last. Thank you to Thomas& Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It’s part 2 in a series, but can completely be read as a standalone. (I had not read the first book and had zero issues)
The main character Nora is SUCH a great character and I can’t wait to read more about her.
This one is about Nora being called her best friend from childhood, out of the blue, asking her for help because her husband has been accused of murder. I really don’t want to say more than that. Don’t miss it!

Nora McTavish is a private practice family advocate with a strong sense of service to society's most vulnerable. When Tess, a long lost childhood friend reaches out for help, Nora heads to the mountains to provide support. Tess's ex-husband was accused of killing a young college coed he was reportedly having an affair with, but after the charges against him are dropped he files for joint custody of their daughter, Kendra, and Tess wants Nora to help her fight against it. Nora's primary concern is Kendra's well-being, but keeping her safe may mean uncovering secrets that put Nora herself in danger. This is the second book in this series and I have not read the first one but did not feel like it mattered. I was quickly drawn to the characters, especially Nora. Oregon provides an excellent backdrop of stormy weather and dramatic landscapes that set a moody and sometimes ominous tone. Well paced with enough clues to make you think you might know what's going on but also enough red herrings to keep you from being sure. Book 1 is on my TBR and I look forward to the next Nora McTavish book!

Never Come Back by Joe Hart is Book #2 in Nora McTavish series. I have not read Book #1 or this author before and it did not disappoint. It was a fast pace, who done it and boy did I get it wrong.

Nora is a Child Advocate. She receives a phone call from Tess, her childhood friend she hasn't seen in 20 years. Tess's husband, Neil, has been arrested for murder and she has filed for divorce. She doesn't want their daughter, Kendra, around him so she asks Nora if she can come to help. Through many twist and turns, Nora learns who her old friend truly is and how Tess will manipulate any situation to get her way, even if it hurts the ones she loves.

You can read as a standalone; however, by not reading Book 1 I think I missed out on Nora's back story. It is touched on but doesn't really go into detail. I will be purchasing Book 1 and can't wait for Book 3.

Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley.

This book was ok. I read the first book, and I enjoyed it, so I was excited to get my hands on this one. As I started reading, I remembered that Nora wasn't my favorite character. She's reckless in her actions, and it gets frustrating at times.
This book did have some good thrills. The author kept me guessing all the way to the end. I didn't see that ending coming, but it made perfect sense. I'll definitely keep reading more from this author!
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC.

We are back with Nora who has taken on a new role as a family advocate. Have I mentioned how much I love Nora as a character? This book solidified it for me.

Nora is helping out an old childhood friend. Tess called her out of the blue needing help in relation to her ex-husband who is seeking custody of their daughter.

When Nora arrives, not is all as it seems and has Nora questioning everything she’s been told.

Another excellent instalment with a strong plot, well rounded characters and some twists that totally floored me. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Huge thanks to @netgalley #thomasandmercer @amazonpubl for e-arc 💌 @joe_hart_author

A fast-paced thriller with a strong main character that keeps you engaged on every page. As Nova's investigation leads her into a world where secrets hidden in the past emerge. Her past leads her closer to the killer with every chapter. With a plot full of twists Hart keeps one on their toes and up late getting to the truth. A wonderful mystery that has me waiting for another of his books and series.

3.5 out of 5 Stars.

Never Come Back is more than a murder mystery. It’s a book about second chances, forgiveness, growth and change. More to that, it is about coming to terms with what once was, what could have been and what is the current reality of the here and now. This book gives examples of all of these themes and has many messages and quotes that are raw and pointed.

This was an effortless and likable read and I will definitely recommend it to others. I look forward to reading more books from this author.

One of my favorite quotes in the book:
"...that people are unknowable, even the ones we love. Maybe especially them."

Thank you Thomas & Mercer Publishing, Joe Hart and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

This was the second book in a series about Nora McTavish. It was a great book. Nora's character is great and this book took her back to the past and we learned a little more about her. The story was fast paced and kept me guessing. There was a lot of tension in the book that had me reading, one more chapter, one more chapter... It definitely could be read as a stand alone, but it is so good I recommend reading the first one as well. 5 stars from me!

The twists kept me guessing until the end.
Really enjoyed this book!
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Never Come Back by Joe Hart.

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5

Nora McTavish is back! I couldn't wait to dive into this one. In the second book in this series, we see Nora working for herself as a family advocate. Nora gets a call from an old friend, Tess, that she hasn't seen in over 20 years. Tess needs Nora's expertise as a CPS agent/family advocate when her husband petitions her for full custody of their daughter Kendra.

I loved this one more than the first book in the series. It was fast paced and very entertaining. Hart does a great job at developing characters. I felt like I knew them. The plot was written in a way that kept me guessing right up until the end. I was definitely wrong about the big twist at the end. There was a mix of throwback scenes mixed in with the current scenes, which helped to provide background knowledge.

I really hope there are more books in this series!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second book about Nora and it’s just as good as the first! I love Nora’s strong personality. She is determined to always do right by children no matter the consequences. This series is like a detective series but without the main character actually being a detective, so she doesn’t need to keep things legal. The twists and turns made this a hard book to put down. There even seems to be a slight hint at a possible third Nora book so I’ll be anxiously waiting. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy!

Full disclosure: I did not read the first one in this series. Looking at the summary of the first book, this looks like a standalone novel and my understanding of the character and the events did not suffer. In this novel, a former child services advocate becomes involved in a custody dispute helping one side when people start dying, which makes her wonder if she is on the wrong side. This was a solid whodunit with twist and turns and it did keep me guessing. The protagonist was likeable and her background as a childrens' services advocate was an interesting angle (I selected the book because my husband works for childrens' services and because I read something else by this author that I enjoyed). I will, at some point, go back and read the first one and I will be looking forward to the next one).
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.