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.