“A twisty, hair-raising tale.”– Newsweek “A fast-paced psychological drama.” – GMA.com “Compulsively readable.” – PopSugar “Reinforces Walker’s place at the top of the genre.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Addictive.” – A.J. Finn, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window “Gripping.” – Adrian McGinty, New York Times bestselling author of The Chain They said she walked … bestselling author of The Woman in the Window
“Gripping.” – Adrian McGinty, New York Times bestselling author of The Chain
They said she walked away. But what really happened to Molly Clarke?
From the bestselling author of All Is Not Forgotten comes a compelling and emotionally powerful story of a daughter’s desperate search to find her mother before it’s too late.
They called it a “walk away.” The car abandoned miles from home. The note found at a nearby hotel. The shattered family. It happens all the time. Women disappear, desperate to start over. But what really happened to Molly Clarke?
The night Molly disappeared began with a storm, running out of gas, and a man offering her a ride to safety. But when the doors lock shut, Molly begins to suspect she has made a terrible mistake.
A new lead brings Molly’s daughter, Nicole, back to the small, desolate town where her mother was last seen to renew the desperate search. The locals are sympathetic and eager to help. The innkeeper. The bartender. Even the police. Until secrets begin to reveal themselves and Nicole comes closer to the truth about that night—and the danger surrounding her.
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I was on the edge of my seat. Nothing can be worse than the death of your child, especially if you caused it. It can ruin an entire family. After living with your haunting thoughts Molly could think of nothing else to do but get away. The night she did it was storming, a hurricane. What happens is a horrifying story that you won’t want to put down. The minute you think you have it figured out another twist!
What a wild ride! One night Molly walks away from her life but did she? This book is a thrilling ride from start to finish! Did Molly walk away from her family? The clues say she did but her daughter doesn’t believe it. Nicole is determined to find her mother no matter what! I enjoyed this thriller and it kept me on the edge of my seat while I was reading! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.
Are you a good Mommy?
A family torn apart by tragedy and each withdrawn from the others and out of feelings pushing blame.
Molly Clarke, the wife of John and mother to Nicole, Evan, & Annie. Molly drives hours to the boarding school to attend her son’s football game, despite Nicole telling her mother that he doesn’t want her there.
Molly can feel her daughter’s hatred, her son’s indifference, and her husband’s lack of love, but for every game Molly still makes the long drive to watch her son play.
This is one night, that Molly should’ve stayed home. There is a hurricane on the way, and after the game Molly begins the drive home, only to run out of gas. The gas station, she has walked to, is closed due to the storm.
Molly being despondent thinks about just walking away and starting over. A credit card charge and a note left behind lead to a search, but it’s as if Molly walked off the face of the earth. Police have concluded that Molly walked away.
When Nicole gets a call from a woman telling her a few things as a witness, Nicole must follow up and heads back to Hastings. Holes are poked into the woman’s story, and in a short time, Nicole realizes everyone she has spoken to has holes. She doesn’t know who to trust, not even her own father, and things are not adding up, but she is not going to give up until her mother is found.
This was an amazing thriller! I was pulled into the heartache of the tragedy, and how each family member was trying to cope followed by the twists and turns of Nicole’s need to learn more, and her coming to grips with her own guilt and the parting last words said to Molly, that became the drive to find her mother. Also, trying to decipher who was trustworthy and who was lying.
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me an ARC. I have voluntarily reviewed this book
Wow, a lot of grief, heartache and terror throughout this whole story, and the bad stuff just keeps on keeping on. An enjoyable psychological experience, with many different victims, because all the twisted roads were made by each person personal pain, other than the true evil at the center. Edge of your seat read. Add this to your TBR list.
This is a quick thrill ride of a book that kept me guessing right up to the last page. Molly and her daughter, Nic, are both compelling protagonists. Their traumatic history lends itself to the story and makes their questionable choices believable. I look forward to whatever Wendy Walker writes next.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book.The review and comments are my honest opinion
An engrossing thriller with psychological terror, Molly Clarke’s life hasn’t been the same since she accidentally killed her nine year old daughter, Annie. It has been five long years and Molly is realizing that her other children hate her and her husband doesn’t love her. Did her mental state make Molly “walk away” from her life as the police believe, or has something more sinister happened to her. Molly has fallen down a rabbit hole and has her own Alice to prove it. I needed to sleep…but I needed to finish this book more.
Molly Clarke’s life is far from perfect. Her children hate her and are embarrassed by her. Her husband may be having an affair because all the signs are there, but more importantly they all hold her responsible for the tragic, accidental death of the youngest Clarke child. But no one blames Molly more, than Molly herself.
One night on her way home from her son’s college football game, Molly runs out of gas. With an impending storm, everything boarded and closed up, Molly accepts a ride from a man and his nine year old daughter – and that is the last sighting of Molly Clarke. Two days later, a note shows up at a casino saying not to look for her as she doesn’t want to be found. The search is called off, but something doesn’t feel right to Molly’s daughter, Nicole and she decides to return to Hastings to try to uncover the truth. With lots of twists and turns, the book will keep you guessing until the very end.
This was a thrilling read, moved along at a good pace and the two Clarke women were strong, fierce and resourceful characters. Would definitely recommend.
Molly Clarke is a mother. She lost her daughter five years ago. She get stranded in the middle of a massive storm. All that her family finds is her car on the side of the road, out of gas, with her phone inside. When a note is found at a hotel nearby, police assume shes just walked away. But her daughter doesn’t feel that her mother would do that. So shes back in the small town of Hastings, the place her mothers car was found. Did her mother walk away, or did something worse happen to her?
I loved this story. It starts out, immediately catching you attention. The further you get into the story, the more you want to keep reading, and know what is going on. The characters, all well written, and very interesting. I realy enjoyed how this story was told, in the point of view of two of the characters, and in different points in time in the story, until they meet up with each other. It definitely was a good way to keep you guessing. I am usually pretty good at guessing how a book is going to go, but that was not the case with this one. kept me guessing until the end. I definitely recommend this story, if you love a good mystery.
Unpredictable! Riveting! Shuddersome!
This has definitely become my favorite Wendy Walker novel! You know the saying, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone”? Well in Wendy Walker’s latest novel Don’t Look for Me we see this lesson all too well.
Molly Clarke and her family have suffered a terrible loss. Molly is responsible for her youngest daughter’s death, and everyone is struggling to move forward. While it was a tragic accident, Molly blames herself, her oldest daughter Nicole feels just as much guilt from not preventing the accident. Nicole, being the oldest was responsible for watching her siblings that day, and if only she had stopped Annie from running out into that road. Nicole’s guilt has not only caused her to spiral out of control, but she can’t help but push her mother further and further away.
When Molly is making the trip back home from watching her son’s college football game, she runs out of gas in the middle of a storm. She finds the closest gas station is boarded up for the night. Molly begins to contemplate her options, feeling discouraged and alone in life, she takes off walking. It’s not long before someone offers to help by giving Molly a ride into town. Molly has no idea that this simple act of kindness will turn into the worst kind of nightmare.
When Molly doesn’t come home after Evan’s football game, and days go by, a search is underway in the small town of Hastings where she was last seen by a passing motorist and her car was found. When two weeks pass, and there is still no sign of Molly, Nicole sets out for the town of Hastings to do a little investigating of her own. As Nicole starts to understand the last actions of her mother before she went missing, and more about the town’s locals, she fears the worst, that her mother never left this town. If she’s still there, then where is she?
Gosh… I mean… how do you hold back with a novel like this? There’s just so much I want to tell you all, but I won’t, I’ve said too much… really. Let’s just say that Wendy put the PSYCHO in psychological thriller with this one. Okay, that’s it… I won’t say anymore. Just add it to your TBR already, better yet, add it to your shopping cart! Pre-order today! Available in stores on September 15, 2020!
I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wendy Walker for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my review.
Wendy Walker supplies her readers with another taut thriller: Don’t Look for Me. This standalone novel centers around the sudden disappearance of a woman, Molly Clarke, as she was returning home during a storm. It is assumed that she has purposefully run away from her family, ravaged with guilt over her role in the accidental death of her youngest child. Her oldest daughter, Nicole (Nic), refuses to give up the search for her mother even though everyone else seems to be quickly resuming their lives. Nic returns to Hastings, the small, run down New England town where her mother’s car was found abandoned. She had been contacted by a woman who claims to have seen Molly that night. Although her description and details are convincing, Nic and the authorities in town are suspicious that this new witness is motivated to collect the offered reward. Still, Nic wants to know how this woman came to know things that were not released to the public. The novel pivots back and forth between Molly and Nicole’s points-of-view, back and forth over the course of several days following Molly’s absence. Nic is tormented by her own memories and deeply conflicting feelings about her mother as a result of her sister’s death. Her struggles with alcoholism and compulsive promiscuity interfere with her judgement, but the men of Hastings she encounters all seem to be deceiving her in some way. It is the type of town that traps those who lack the wits to escape, and it becomes apparent that Molly is not the first woman who has inexplicably vanished from its boundaries. Walker skillfully interweaves timelines to a satisfying end, with some unexpected twists and a complex but credible conclusion. Although the inner monologues of the two women are at times repetitive, the characters are well-rendered and their emotional depth is impressively depicted. Don’t Look for Me would be a good pick for those looking for some solid suspense this Fall and fans of Wendy Walker will be sated by her latest effort.
Thanks to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a pre-release copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Don’t Look for Me by Wendy Walker
Quick, grabbing read that I didn’t want to put down till I read it all! Loved the alternating views, characters that I got to know, and twists and turns! This book has it all! Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for letting me read this and leave my opinion.Was not disappointed, another great book from a really great author.
I have loved and flown through all of Wendy Walker’s thrillers, but DON’T LOOK FOR ME, which I read in one day, is her best yet. I truly could not put it down, even as it terrified me. I don’t think any book in recent memory has gotten under my skin the way that this one did. It is a thriller in every sense of the word, but it is also an exquisite and moving exploration of grief and guilt, family and forgiveness. Be warned that this book is DARK (which is never a problem for me), but through the characters themselves, and their struggles to find each other—and themselves—once again, there is light shot through the densest of shadows. The plotting is absolutely brilliant, a masterclass in psychological suspense, and there are so many surprising twists that you can never be sure you have it figured out until the very end. I can’t overstate how much I loved this book, or how riveting it was. Wendy Walker is at her absolute best here—and proving that she’s only getting better with every incredible book that she writes.
A well-written psychological thriller one that will keep you wondering who is telling the truth and who is lying. So many twisted stories from the characters that lead you to believe one is guilty until you find out otherwise. I love the way the author went back and forth telling two different sides of the stories let us know what day we were in so that you kept up and didn’t get lost in the confusion of it all.
diving into the minds of her characters The inner play the mind the body of the spirit all of it included well done. keeping you on your toes wondering who’s the guilty and who’s innocent. And then the eyes of a child, the questions that the ending leaves you with makes it all the better.
What a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns!!!
This is filled with mystery and suspense as the past and present intertwine to bring two women to this crucible that has become their life. Each woman has her own issues and despite some of their choices, I empathized with them both. Both of their resolves to move forward was inspiring and had my heart yearning for an ending that would bring them peace.
I won’t go into the plot as this story could be easily spoiled in doing so. I will say that it has moments of dark intensity so extreme I found myself holding my breath. It also slowly unravels to the point that I could not set this book aside for a moment as each revelation captured even more of my attention.
This is very well written with a great pace and characters that you either love, hate, trust or mistrust along the way. Good luck not being surprised!
Wow this was a cleverly plotted psychological thriller that I raced through. There were quite a few characters but they were easy to keep track of.
The novel is told from two points of view. Molly Harper has been living with guilt for many years. Her youngest daughter is dead, Molly has not been able to live with the guilt that she feels for her part in her daughter’s death. Her remaining family, her husband, son and older daughter haven’t made it any easier on her. Her daughter is distant, has dropped out of school and changed her behavior in dangerous ways. The morning that the novel starts with, she has said some horrible things to her mother. Her husband has been distant, supposedly working long hours and gone for some unexplained times. She wonders if he is being unfaithful??? Her son is away at school and also hasn’t forgiven his mother for his sister’s death. On the morning when everything begins to happen, Molly had driven to his school to watch his football game. He wouldn’t even stop to speak with her. Molly has a long drive home and because she is distracted she runs out of gas. It is stormy and rainy with the gas station is boarded up.
Molly is alone on this road, wet, exhausted and wondering what she will do next. Here is when the story takes off. After this we know that Molly is missing. We don’t know anything more than this, that she is just GONE!!
An investigation of about two weeks duration takes place including an extensive search of the area, particularly the town of Hastings and outlying areas. The police and searchers believe that she has just walked away from her sad life and is living somewhere else and hiding from those that are trying to reach her. A note is found that implies that this was her decision. Remember though that small towns can hold big secrets!
The other point of view is that of Nic, the oldest daughter. After she is back home and thinking more about her mother she really believes that the search wasn’t complete. She is now desperate to find her mother, she is sure that something has happened to her. She knows her well enough to believe that she didn’t just walk away. But where is she, who has taken her, and why.
Oh this is a book that will have you suspecting so many people of being the villain in this story. It is creepy and involves a little girl, age nine, who wants a new mother. That is all I will tell you of the plot, but it is original and disturbing but utterly absorbing.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of psychological thrillers, you won’t be able to guess the outcome of this one! Wendy Walker is now on my list of must read authors.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
This was a buddy read with Mary Beth and my friends in the No Rules-Just Thrills group!
The book is set to publish on September 20th, don’t miss this one!
In DON’T LOOK FOR ME, Wendy Walker delivers twist after twisted twist, and magically combines them with a heartfelt story of guilt, forgiveness and the desperate need of a mother to protect herself and her family. The result is an astonishing, fast-paced and intricately woven tale with characters who leap off the pages. This is the perfect psychological thriller and will keep you glued to your seat, unable to breathe, until you reach the last page.
Wendy Walker hits it out of the park once again in her newest psychological suspense DON’T LOOK FOR ME, a riveting and intimate story of unimaginable loss which raises the question: When you’ve already done the unthinkable, can there be any chance of redemption? Sharp, nuanced, utterly real and absolutely terrifying, this beautifully written and emotionally powerful novel is Walker at her best. I didn’t simply read this book—I devoured it!
5 stars plus !! Wendy Walker you have done it again !
Could not put the book down, ignored the dog, no time for wine, just one more page !
Don’t Look for Me is full of clever twists and turns for the moment Molly disappears one stormy night and the police put it down to a walk away.
But her daughter Nicole has more faith and senses something is not right; her mom would never do that.
That is all I am saying is except run don’t walk to get your copy of Don’t Look For Me !
Thanks to Net Galley and St Martin’s Press for a thrilling read !!!!
This book was a twisty, wild ride from start to finish. There were so many layers to this story that it kept me turning the pages long after I should have gone to bed.
With realistic characters that show the raw emotions of losing someone close to them, this book offers a glimpse inside a family that has suffered a terrible loss. When Molly suddenly disappears, her husband and children are left wondering if she did just walk away from it all.
Every chapter builds the suspense and will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The ending is a complete surprise and offers readers an aha moment and a well written conclusion.
If you like thrilling suspenseful books then grab this one and start reading today!
This book grabs you from page one and never lets you go!
It was a twisted kind of story! I enjoyed it! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy