Echoes from the past disturb Nora McTavish, a family advocate, when she answers a call from Tess Grayson. Tess and her mother supported Nora during a dark time in her life. Now Tess needs help. She’s in the middle of a custody battle and wants a friend. Her ex-husband Neil, a college professor, was accused of killing his lover, a student. Although charges were dropped. Tess feels that he is a danger to their young daughter Kendra, a daughter who loves her father very much. Nora worries that Tess’ vindictive behavior is upsetting to Kendra, a precocious child she begins to care for. Worrisome behavior, a possible stalker and another murder make Nora realize that she herself may be in serious danger.

Never Come Back is the second in the Nora McTavish series, a series that highlights flaws in the justice system that deals with children and families. As Nora thinks “the word broken didn’t describe our systems because that would imply their being whole at some point.” Joe Hart illustrates thais not only with the damage done to Kendra by her mother’s vicious behavior but also with challenges a young couple face in regaining custody of their three year old daughter. Their plight will stay with you long after you finish the final page. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Joe Hart for this ARC.

An incredible, thrilling thriller that keeps you on your toes.
Emotional dialogues that help to understand the atmosphere of the situation. Easy to read. If evaluated on a ten-point scale:
main characters are 9/10
plot of the book is 10/10,
transfer of atmosphere and genre is 9/10,
dialogues are 8/10

I loved this book! I was confused a bit @ the beginning, with the protagonist’s backstory…. I thought “I’ve got to have read this before” but found out that Nora was also the lead character in his previous novel. Never mentioned a series, maybe more of a continuation of the character🤷🏼‍♀️Regardless, I think I enjoyed Never Come Back more than the previous book even if it’s just familiarity of the character. Kidnapping, a runaway, divorce, custody disputes, adultery & childhood friends….this book has it all! Wonderful pacing, plot & plenty red herrings. Truly UN-PUT-DOWN-ABLE

Having survived horrific childhood trauma that included the loss of her eldest brother, Nora McTavish has devoted her career to protecting vulnerable children. From Child Protection Services, a job change has seen her shift to becoming a children's advocate, a move that is working well for her.

In Nora, Hart has created an empathetic and likable character. She lives with her rescue dog Merrill, spends time with her brother Stephen, and chooses not to dwell on what might be missing in her life - not least where the mother who abandoned her brothers and her to the torment of their monstrous father is now living. If she is even still alive.

So, when a childhood friend she has not seen for over two decades contacts Nora to ask for her help, she finds it difficult to refuse - even without the carrot that her friend Tess dangles in front of her about having information on her mother's whereabouts.

Tess wants to prevent her ex-husband Neil from suing for joint custody of their daughter Kendra. College Professor Neil was accused of murdering one of his students, and even though those charges have been dropped, Tess is desperate to keep Kendra safe from him.

Only, in her attempts to help Tess, Kendra finds herself questioning whether she's been told the full story. Neil does not seem like a monster - and Nora has seen enough monsters in her time to trust her instincts.

So is Tess lying? And will Nora's efforts to help end up putting her own life in danger?

This was an easy read and an enjoyable story. A few things seemed overly-dramatic to me at times, but it is hard not to feel for Nora, and her bond with Kendra was definitely one of the high points of the story for me.

Good book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, Action, intrigue, mystery, murder, revenge, a great who done it, great plot twist, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I loved the characters, the child advocate story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

"Never Come Back" by Joe Hart is an absolute treasure from the beginning. It keeps you guessing until the end, and the suspense takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout. The characters make it a must-read for anyone who enjoys a heart-pounding story. Hart's writing style keeps you engaged the whole time. He has a way of weaving words that draw you into the world that he created. The complex and totally relatable characters make the book stand out amongst others. Nora is a character that is easy to root for because she represents strength, determination, and resilience. Hart dove into the psyche of his characters, exploring all facets of their personalities, which adds to the authenticity of the story. From the beginning of the story, the mystery of the story keeps you on the edge of your seat, and you will find yourself not able to put it down until you find out the truth.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and adrenaline-inducing read.