WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO EDDY CRANE

KATE CRANE


In this open and raw memoir a young child looses her father, her rock, her base. Even at her early age she realizes the questions she asks are not being answered. As she matures she struggles with all the doubts and apathy placed before her. Unable to let these unknowns continue, she dives into the upsetting past to solve this heartbreaking mystery!

4Stars


Spencer Birt

This was everything that was promised from the description, it uses the memoir and true crime element perfectly to tell the story that it needed to. I was invested in what Kate Crane wrote and thought it told the story respectfully and glad I got to read this.

Whatever Happened to Eddy Crane? by Kate Crane is the kind of book that pulls you in immediately and refuses to let go. Part memoir, part true crime, and part psychological suspense, it checked so many of my favorite boxes as a reader.

This is not just a recounting of a crime—it’s the deeply personal story of a daughter navigating grief, memory, and unanswered questions. In September of 1987, Eddy Crane, co-founder of a trucking company, never returned home from work. Written decades later by his daughter, this memoir blends her nostalgia with the suspense of a cold case, making for a layered and emotional read.

What I loved most was how seamlessly Kate wove together family history with investigative journalism. Her voice is both vulnerable and determined, offering readers a front-row seat to her search for answers while also painting a vivid portrait of her father.

While not every lead or thread ties up neatly—real life rarely does—the book is powerful in its honesty. It’s a reminder of the resilience required to face loss and the bravery needed to confront the past. True crime readers who enjoy personal stories with emotional depth will find this one unforgettable.

This book was hard to read at times, but I highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

read if you like:
📖 non-fiction
🥶 cold cases
👯 father-daughter relationships

summary:
This book is a non-fiction story of Eddy Crane, father and co-founder of a trucking company, who never returns home from work in September of 1987. It hooked me right from the start, as Eddy’s daughter, who writes the book, remembers the impact his disappearance had on her family and especially her mother. She describes how the investigation played out, and all of the unanswered questions the family had as everyone moved on from their loss. Cut to present day, his daughter Kate decides to revisit those involved in her fathers disappearance and ultimate investigation, and uncovers secrets many would have rather stayed hidden.

What I loved most is how the story blends Kate’s nostalgia with the suspense of the cold case. On the surface, it’s a puzzle about what happened to Eddy, but underneath, it’s also about memory, reputation, and the way people cope after loss. The dual timelines keep the pace moving, and I found myself equally invested in the “then” and the “now.”

The characters are very well outlined — flawed, messy, and real. I especially appreciated how Kate didn’t just focus on Eddy himself, but on the people in his orbit, whose lives were shaped by his disappearance. She puts in a few red herrings but the book ends on a satisfying note of peace, acceptance and grace. If you enjoy true crime mysteries with a nostalgic feel, family drama, and a touch of organized crime, this is a great pick.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy. If you’re from Baltimore or love a good cold case mystery, check out this book when it releases on April 7.

When Kate Crane was 12 years old her dad called home to let her mom know he was on his way home from work, as he did every work night. But the next morning Kate finds her mom sitting at the end of her bed and the words that come out of her mouth will change her life, "Your dad didn't come home last night."

Whatever Happened to Eddy Crane? is in parts a memoir and a true crime novel. It interlaces Kate's life, choices, and mental health with the cold case of her fathers disappearance.

This was such a well written and composed book. I love the structure and as the author says in the afterward, her play with memory and the impact it has on a persons life. I was hooked from the jump and was on the edge of my seat until the end.

I had never heard of Eddy Crane before reading this book but now I will be thinking about him for weeks, if not longer. I cannot imagine what the Crane family went through. Kate's determination to find answers is both heartbreaking (she has dedicated most of her life to this,) and inspiring.

I hope Kate Crane writes more books.

I've always been fascinated by cold cases, so when I came across this book and looked up his name, I knew I had to read it. The way the author structured the book was captivating—sharing her memories in the first part and then diving into the case in the latter half. I can't imagine what she and her family endured, and her persistence was truly remarkable. It seems like she devoted her entire life to uncovering the truth about her dad's disappearance, and when she mentioned how her life seemed to pass her by, it really struck a chord with me. I hope she finds peace, as it's clear this book brought her a sense of healing that words might never fully convey.

I’ll definitely be recommending this book to others. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This will be a worthwhile and thought-provoking read for any fan of either memoir or true crime. It is a side of true crime that we rarely see, and it is wonderfully done.

This was one of the most well written memoirs (and true crime) books I have read in a long time. I had not heard of Eddy Crane before and by the time I finished reading, I knew everything there is to know. Kate did an amazing job putting us in her shoes and walking us through every step she took to get to find out what happened to her father. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book after I finished. It is a beautifully haunting memoir and a reminder that we can’t always get the answers or closure we and sometimes that just has to be enough.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Review will be posted on Instagram and Amazon on pub day and links added to NetGalley.

Kate Crane’s memoir initially seems like a real-life murder mystery, with the intrepid daughter of a murdered father seeking answers and peace. Crane’s father disappeared when she was 12, and his presumed death changed her life and led to dysfunction and sometimes rupture in her remaining family. Her investigation of what happened, on which she embarked as an adult, also changed her life, spanning years and resulting first in an article and now in this book. She is a compelling writer, weaving her family history and details of the investigation deftly with stories of her own life. Some of the progress she makes is surprising, and some of the roadblocks are as well. What ultimately takes shape is certainly not a neat and satisfying story tied up with a bow, and this book ends up defying some of the expectations of its presumed genre, but it is always interesting, and I would have kept going in any case just to continue listening to Crane’s authorial voice. I knew before getting to the last page that this was a book that would stay on my mind well after I finished it.