Thomas Huston is a well-loved teacher and bestselling author; someone that many look up to. This perception is shattered when Huston’s wife and children are found murdered in their home and Huston is nowhere to be found. Sergeant DeMarco begins working the case, once a friend of Huston’s; he cannot imagine how he could have committed this crime. As he begins to dig deeper into the case, and into Huston’s life, he begins uncovering a dangerous web that will change everything.

Two Days Gone, a new mystery by Randall Silvis, begins in the middle of the action; Thomas Huston is on the run after his wife and children have been murdered. Ryan DeMarco is on the case, trying to piece together what happened and what could have pushed a man to murder his family. I found this one caught my interest immediately, and although it slows down in the middle, the prose of this one (and the killer plot) kept me turning the pages.

My favorite part of this novel was the narrative style. The novel opens with this back and forth narrative perspective told between Sergeant DeMarco and Huston. We see DeMarco on the case and Huston on the run; as the story develops, the novel solely becomes narrated by DeMarco. I loved this technique; I found it captured my interest and then kept me wanting more since Huston’s perspective is significantly reduced as more action is introduced.

The writing, although a bleak subject matter, has moments of witty banter and some smart humour-especially regarding scenes with DeMarco. Silvis develops this character brilliantly.

I did find that the novel dragged significantly for me near the ending; I feel like if this novel had been fifty pages less, I would have enjoyed it much more. I loved the prose at the beginnings, but I found it to be too “fluff-filled” nearing the end; I wanted more action.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it if you are a fan of a police procedural mystery with a twist; this one will take you on quite the journey. If you want something extremely fast paced, I would skip it.

A surprisingly fresh thriller with all the hallmarks of a good mystery. Although the book hits most of the important notes, there seems to be a pacing problem. The speed at which things progress is even and almost predictable, which brings down a thriller that is otherwise well written with a great premise.

Not my usual reading material type - but this was good! a page turner, that kept me reading. The twists surprised, and the way it was written alternating between the 2 main character's individual points of view made for a very interesting read.

Great book of literary suspense wrapped up in a mysterious crime. Two main characters. Two alternating point of views. Two flawed friends with a similar troubled past. Pretty intriguing read, especially as the plot unravels.

I didn't like the extent of vulgarity and sexual overtone chosen throughout the book. It was the dark spot in an otherwise bright book.

I really wanted to like this book, it had a great plot but I was turned off by all the details about the writing process. I understand this is a book about an author but I didn't enjoy having the entire writing process mapped out like that. I would have preferred more focus on the characters. I also didn't like the insubordination of DeMarco to his superior, that would not be tolerated in any department, especially from a demoted police officer.

I have to start off by telling you that I am not a big fan of police procedural stories. I picked up this TWO DAYS GONE knowing it was such, but gave the first few pages a read anyways. This story was so much more than just an investigation. The investigation was impressively described and the horror of a philosophical writer in a desperate situation kept my rapt attention.

TWO DAYS GONE is about Thomas Huston, a famous writer, whose family is slaughtered. The chief investigator, Ryan DeMarco, knows and respects the writer. DeMarco can’t believe Huston killed his family, the family he so cherished. Recently, in researching his new novel, Huston interviewed DeMarco for information on criminal behavior and legal information. During the interviews, DeMarco got to know Huston and the two became friends. So he sets out to investigate all the possible other suspects. Huston himself, is nowhere to be found.

During his investigation, DeMarco finds the beginnings of Huston’s newest novel. Huston’s notes provide some clues to recent dealings and a glimpse into his state of mind prior to the tragedy. Huston is a college professor so the suspects are unlimited. A rival of Huston? Was he having an affair? The number one question on DeMarco’s mind, beside where is Huston, is who is Anabel? There are a lot of literary references in this story. The author is obviously a fan of the writing process and goes into detail about how a writer like Huston might have developed fictional characters.

The novel takes place in a small college town in Northern Pennsylvania. The story alternates between DeMarco’s POV and Huston’s. We get to know both characters very well. I could feel the struggle for DeMarco to get to the truth no matter what. I could also understand Huston’s fragmented state of mind. Both men have complicated lives. Honestly, Huston looked a lot less messed up. His students worship him, but not all of his colleagues do. The author brilliantly uses prose to clue us in to Huston’s state of mind and his view of the world. DeMarco has his own demons with his wife estranged after the death of his child.

I loved the descriptive writing in this story. I could feel, smell, and see everything the characters did. The author revealed just enough to keep me hooked. I was very surprised at the reveal. Anabel becomes a key figure in this story, but she means different things to different people. That’s about all I am going to tell you.

I loved the mystery of this story. The thing that really kept my captive attention was the who-done-it in this story. The pacing in the writing was a bit slow. I found that even the reveal was drawn out, but so worth it. There are layers in this story that must be slowly removed. This mystery is beautifully written with believable characters. I can’t wait to read more of Ryan DeMarco’s story!

It's about an author who happens to be a Professor and an ideal family man . He is working on his latest novel , and one fine day - his entire family is found butchered and he goes missing. DeMarco is the officer in charge, and is a fan and a friend of Thomas Huston who is now missing and the lead suspect of the multiple homicides. Thomas has a bitter past , but is that why he massacred his family? On reading the draft of his latest book, a side of the author is revealed that leaves everyone puzzled. The book is a gripping thriller about discovering a hidden side of a person- a person well loved and respected.. could he be the monster who killed his family ? DeMarco is a cliché hero with his own disturbed past. The plot is a breathe of fresh air where I was quite intrigued to see how a novel is shaped and how the mind of a person writing gory details really works . The writing is simple and engaging, and the story unfolds in a way that is both disturbing and enticing just the same. It shows how we can be misguided into believing a person to be who they are not...
The climax did have me a little unsettled , but I think it is this unexpected turn that made the book all the more enjoyable for me. Yet another protagonist, yet another series! DeMarco is a cliché lead - good cop with a past, but I'd like to read more books in the series.
Overall : loved the concept of the book, and how the crime is associated with the functioning of the suspects mind. .

I've spent the last week savouring this slowly. Those who know me know I can gulp down books. Somehow my work week and this book combined in a pleasurable slow read which I appreciated and did not grow impatient with.

Silvis writes like his words are a shower of glittering diamonds. He gives us DeMarco and Huston, two complex characters, on somewhat similar paths, which show us how one ended up in a situation where the other could easily follow. His meshing of crime thriller with the indepth character exposition were great brain food for me. My only niggle being Silvis choice of the American way to solving a crime.

I'd definitely like to read more of him and if this was the first one in a series, yes I'll go for the second.

An ARC gently provided by author/publisher in return for a review.

This book had me hooked from the first few pages. Around the halfway point it started to drag. Long, drawn out unnecessary details. This book could have been cut, by at least 100 pages and lost nothing. What started out as a five star read quickly dropped to a two star read. I found myself just wanting it to be over as soon as possible. I can't recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark publishing, and author RandySilas for the ARC.
I enjoyed this book, I love the story and it kept me guessing through most of it,Was he main suspect acting out his storyline? Was he a multiple personality? My until further in did I think maybe he wasn't the killer. A good twist in the story and then again in the end.
My only reservation with this book was that, for me, it was to crass..
I think a lot if the "man talk" was just uncalled for and we could have seen the commarodery between male characters in a different way.
Also, I've never known a female parent of a decreased child that would go off and become so loose. Just saying...
But all in all I might pick up the rest of Demarco' s cases, if I can get past all he crassness.

This book kept me guessing from beginning to start and the plot reveal was done really well. I really enjoyed this book and will recommend it gladly!

Thank you NETGALLEY for allowing me to read and give an honest review.
This is my first novel by Randall Silvis, but it will not be my last. This is a well written mystery,
a gripping story, with lots of ups and down.
This is the story of a family, a happy family, then something horrible happens, the author draws you right into this drama, each main character has a story. Thomas Huston is a professor/author,
Sergeant Ryan Demarco is the investigator that is trying to find Huston, why did he run, is he guilty, is he in shock, did he go after the killer. How could something like this happen in this small town.
Huston is in the middle of doing research for his new novel, he is meeting people that live a completely different lifestyle, did he get himself mixed in something that caused someone to want to get even with him? Or did he lose his mind and snap? These are questions that Sergeant Demarco has to find out, Demarco has ghost of his own, and Huston is a friend, but what happened?
This is a great read, and I enjoyed it very much, I liked the characters, this novel has it all, lost loves, pain, tragedy, sadness, mystery, and a great ending.

Thank you NETGALLEY.

I was not familiar with Mr Silvis, and I admit he made a hell of a good impression on me. I picked up "Two Days Gone" after reading the blurb and having no clue whatsoever if I would like it or not. And I love these cases where they turn out to be better than I could ever imagine.

The case: Thomas Huston is a best-selling author and a professor. His wife and 3 children are found murdered in a brutal way, and he is missing. So the manhunt begins. Ryan DeMarco is the investigator of the crime. He wants to know the truth as Thomas Huston was his friend. DeMarco will come to know aspects of his friend's life and people involved in it that he never thought he would meet. And as the plot thickens, he finds himself in a mess that only he can distinguish what is true and what is not.

The plot is captivating. As a reader, you don't know what to believe and what not. And what fascinated me was the fact that the author combines literature and aspects of history of literature with the plot. These facts were marvellously woven within the plot giving a classic crime tale a literary aftertaste. The key figure to this was, of course, Thomas Huston. A character you won't forget. His academic background, his writing process of his new novel play such a significant role as clue evidence on a murder case. DeMarco, on the other hand, is a typical detective figure that for no apparent reason, becomes instantly likeable to the reader. I blame his use of language and radical behaviour.

Randall Silvis has a distinguished writing style. His passion for classic literature enhances his own novels giving a whole new aspect to crime novels. With a steady flow of words and facts, he captures the reader's attention and brings him to another level of reading pleasure. Crime fiction meets literary academic knowledge. For literature lovers, this is as good as sipping little by little an expensive, old bottle of wine. For crime, lovers can be a bit too slow, but the funny thing is how it stays with you after you're done with it. You will miss Huston. I found myself wishing for an alternative ending so I could enjoy reading perhaps a sequel about him but I am sure that DeMarco will fill some pages with his friend's presence. DeMarco is a curious case. He is an unconventional detective with his secrets and his problems, but he wins you page after page. He is probably the most likeable of the last few detectives in crime novels I read the past year, and I am really looking forward to his next adventure.

"Two Days Gone" manages to combine "Lolita", Edgar Allan Poe and modern crime literature and definitely worths the praise. I stand by, waiting for Ryan DeMarco's next case patiently and wishing it'll come sooner than expected!

Two days gone is one of a kind book. Dark, deep, engaging. One of the best Suspense Thrillers I have ever read.

Told from two different points of view. Sergeant Ryan DeMarco who has to investigate a horrible crime. He has to find out if acclaimed Author and Professor Thomas Huston is guilty of killing his entire family.

I like how the story goes back and forth between these two unique characters, how we get to know them, well-developed characters indeed. I like how thanks to a fantastic writing we get into their minds, they manage to keep us in suspense, and wanting to know more. I was fascinated with the story from page one until the end.

A really dark world and characters which made this book a great reading experience for me. One that I totally recommend and will definitely read more of the Author's work.

Thomas Hutson is a college professor who is also a respected novelist. In researching his latest book he befriends Ryan DeMarco a Detective with a sad past that he can't seem to get over.

When something horrible happens to Hutson's family DeMarco must try and reconcile his friend with what happened.

I really liked DeMarco's character. I found him likeable, engaging and real. I wanted to know what his thoughts were and I enjoyed his relationship with his boss.

However the book didn't blow me away, it started with such high energy which was hard to maintain. I didn't dislike the book and found it an enjoyable read I just need more from crime novels at the moment. I enjoyed that it was told in a linear fashion rather than jumping all over the place which seems to be the trend at the moment!

I would recommend this if you are looking for an enjoyable read that isn't too taxing!

I don't read a lot of mysteries, but this was an entertaining read. There were many clues that made the reveal seem a bit predictable but it was still fun to follow the clues. This is the first book I've read by this author and the writing was really well done. I encountered more than a dozen words I was unfamiliar with so I expanded my vocabulary as well. I didn't really connect with the detective so I doubt I will read future books in the series.

A copy of this novel was provided through NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

There was something sincerely compelling about the way Silvis carries his story once he really gets going. One thing that makes Two Days Gone so fascinating and thrilling is the idea of what makes the main mystery a real, well, mystery. I liked seeing the way we're shown the main characters thoughts and how it all plays out. You think you have a person figured out and you don't. I think there was this interesting tone of friendship in it, too.

I think it begs one horrifying question: what happens when your family is murdered and you've become a suspect in the lead of it? What happens if your friend is the accused? I don't think this is an easy topic to approach and at times, it's dull and shaky in the exploration of it. However, at the end of the day, Silvis explores this mystery quite well that leaves us on the edges of our seats until its final page.

I can't really explain it without spoilers and I know, I know, my review is a bit all over the place and will be edited once I'm not in a rush.


Debbie Krenzer, another reviewer on Goodreads, sums up the novel quite well: "Believe me, getting through the beginning is worth the ending." I honestly couldn't put it any better than she did--the end is slow, which is what knocks the rating down a bit for me, personally, but once Two Days Gone gets into its groove and explores everything about one fateful night, it really grasps at you and holds you in place.

What makes a good thriller or mystery is when the story keeps you on your toes and tugs you in a different direction with every revelation. For the most part, this is one of those novels. I don't think it's going to get the attention it deserves because of its rocky start but the thing is, it only gets better as the pages fly by--and believe me, they do fly by once you get into it.

A very solid thriller that is perfect for a gloomy day. I look forward to more installments in the Ryan DeMarco series!

Well we are just entering 2017 after everyone has chosen their best reads for last year and to be honest I can say now that this novel is going to be in mine come December. What an absolutely stunning journey that I feel I have been on, as the only thing that I did not like about this book was that it came to an end.

An horrific opening that you hope is going to be someone's nightmare because the alternative is so unthinkable, and your heart breaks for this family you don't even know, because it isn't a nightmare and no-one is going to waken up. When state trooper Ryan DeMarco is called in to investigate this horrendous scene and try to make sense of it, he finds it difficult to believe that Thomas Hudson, husband and father of the victims, could have possibly done this. DeMarco had assisted Hudson with some factual details of his work to help him write his books in the past. DeMarco, to be honest, did have quite a bit of author hero worship going on, not that he would let it interfere with his investigation. A hunt was on to urgently find Hudson  especially since reports were coming in to say he had been seen with what some thought was rather a large knife.

 Hudson takes to the woods and Randall Silvis is so wonderfully descriptive with his writing that not only can you imagine the scene you can also feel it. When he describes the coldness of living rough in the woods, you reach for a cardigan or snuggle further down in bed, but you can not get warm because the words won't let you. It was very fascinating to witness how Hudson dealt with all of this mentally, it was so cleverly written that  I hadn't read anything like this before.  

I really took to DeMarco, a man that goes on instinct some of the time and sheer determination to get the job done at others. I just loved the care he had for his wife, that he hadn't given up on her. I thought that some of these scenes were very touching, his dedication but also the hurt he must of felt. This is a cracking novel in so many ways, one of the rare books that I shall read again in the future. I hope that it may be a series, time will tell.

There are scenes of violence in this novel, some that involve children. A highly recommended book from me. I wish to thank Netgalley, Randall Silvis and Lathea Williams of Source Books for an arc of this novel that I have chosen to review.

Giving this book 3.5 stars. Strong writing~ this drew me in, and hooked me with its easy cadence. I could not put the book down. We follow the horrific story of a family being murdered, and the most likely suspect being the now missing husband, Thomas Huston. Then we meet Detective DeMarco, troubled himself, but determined to solve this case. He was easy to like~ and easy to feel sorry for, as we learn of his past. The story took some interesting twists and turns. Not always logical, and there were points where I felt the story was going in too many directions. Unfortunately, this brought my initial 4-star rating down a half notch. All in all though, a good book. I look forward to reading the next Detective Ryan DeMarco instalment.