“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 finished this one in one day. I have to say, it took me a lot longer to read it than I expected. It started out really strong and pulled me in but the middle ….. I found myself skimming sections. Of course, by then, I had already figured part of it out. I did find some of the characters creepy – especially Alice. The twist at the end was good
I would recommend this book to fellow readers.
Thank you #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the eARC.
This is another well-crafted thriller from Wendy Walker. It is also a story of survival, determination and family love.
Molly Clarke is a wife and mother of 3 children, but her family life is in turmoil due to a family tragedy 5 years earlier. While Molly is returning from her son’s football game, and contemplating her family’s situation, she runs out of gas, and is caught in a storm. As she walks from her car, she considers walking away from it all. She realizes this is foolish, and accepts a ride from a man with a young girl in a truck offering to take her into town.
Molly soon realizes that she has been taken prisoner by this man, and she is to care for the young girl.
Nicole, Molly’s daughter, is remorseful over the way she treated her mother, especially on the day of Molly’s disappearance. When a new witness comes forward, Nicole is determined to continue searching for her mother. She returns to the town of Hastings, and interviews Roger Booth, the innkeeper, Chief Watkins, chief of police, Jared Reyes, police officer, and Kurt Kent, bartender. All of them have a backstory, and Nicole doesn’t know whom to trust. She also makes poor choices regarding men and alcohol. Nicole keeps digging, and when she learns of another woman, Daisy Hollander, who disappeared years earlier, she is even more determined to find her mother.
Wendy Walker has created another thriller which will cause you to question who is the culprit and why. There is an extra surprise twist at the end of the novel. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed this-it kept me guessing!
#DontLookForMe #WendyWalker #StMartinsPress #NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins press and the Author Wendy Walker for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
WOW!! I couldn’t read this book fast enough!
Every time I thought I had it figured out, I got surprised again.
A most definite fast paced exciting thriller one of the best I’ve read so far this year.
I got to meet Wendy at a Thriller-fest event in 2019. I definitely HAVE to read all her other books!
This book grabbed me from the first page and held me captive till the very end. It had my favorite element in a book of this genre – a shocking twist I never saw coming!!! It was great! I couldn’t put the book down
#Don’t Look for Me #Wendy Walker
This book and author captured by attention after I was given an ARC copy via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of this book. Don’t Look for Me is a captivating story with lots of mystery, twists and turns. Characters are realistic, raw and well developed. The general premise is that a mother ends up accidentally taking the life of her youngest child, Anne, and ends up being a shell of her previous self. Her self-loathing spills over the rest of her family, who are each dealing with their pain in their own way. As the story unfolds, the mother, Molly, feels responsible for and deserving of, the horrible way her husband, son and other daughter treat her. After an argument with daughter, Nichole, she takes off to see her son, Evan, who is away at school. Molly gets stuck in a storm close to a small town where she runs out of gas. She has thoughts of leaving her family to their own devises and possibly running away. Next thing you know, a note is found at a hotel implying Molly may have left for good.. When it is discovered she hasn’t returned from her trip, the family and local agencies begin a search. When the search brings up limited clues everyone returns to life as usual except for Nichole who knows that her mother wouldn’t just walk away. Additionally, her father hires a PI to follow up on the few clues they have. Where is Molly? What has happened to her? Nichole goes to the town to find out and runs into a cast of characters, each with his own story. Who is telling the truth and what are the lies? This story pulls you in, keeps you guessing and has a wild conclusion.. The story is mostly told, alternatively between Molly and Nichole. It has a surprising conclusion and some interesting answers. An awesome book and author. I look forward to reading more of her novels!
Wow, just Wow!
A psychological thriller that had me on on the edge of my seat thru each chapter!
Wendy Walker makes it impossible to relax while thinking of these amazing characters even after this book has been finished!
Molly and her family have lived thu, yet not moved on from a horrendous family tragedy.
Her daughter Nicole wants to blame her mom, yet blames herself for the tragic death of her sister.
When Molly suddenly disappears one evening, one must wonder, is it by choice? How could she leave her broken family and why? Her daughter must and will find out the truth!
I loved how the suspense built up chapter by chapter! I would not believe the ending had I not read it for myself!
Truly and intense and well written intricate drama!
Classic Wendy Walker!
This one boasts the fast pacing and twisty goodness that those of us who call ourselves fans have come to love and expect!
Molly can’t forgive herself for the accident that took her daughter’s life so when she disappears during a storm on her way home from her son’s football game her family is devastated. Then the note surfaces…
Complex, twisty and chilling, this one grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let up until I got to the last page!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This story is told from Molly’s viewpoint, as well as that of Nic, her older daughter. We start with Molly driving home from her son Evan’s school a few hours away. Along the drive, Molly relates her story. Her husband, John, is estranged, her oldest daughter hates her, and her son doesn’t like her either. And the reason is because five years ago Molly accidentally ran over her youngest child, Annie, resulting in Annie’s death. Everyone blames her, she blames herself, and when a storm threatens and Molly runs out of gas in the tiny town of Hastings that is boarded up because of the storm, she thinks perhaps walking away from her life is the answer. She doesn’t get far when a truck stops to help her, and her real nightmare begins.
When her car is found abandoned, Molly’s family begins searching for her. Search and rescue teams don’t find a trace. The search is called off when her credit card shows charges at the local casino, along with a note that tells her family, “don’t look for me.” But Nic doesn’t stop. Since Annie’s death, she has stopped living. She dropped out of school, drinks to excess and picks up strange men in bars to take home for the evening. Nic said hateful things to her mother the morning Molly left for Evan’s game, and now she needs to find her to make amends.
Nic returns to Hastings, a town that has a lot of secrets as well as some creepy residents. There is a suspense, drama and a lot of twists which will keep you guessing. Nic’s investigation uncovers secrets and she no longer knows who to trust. The book has great character development and a keep-me-guessing plot, right up until the end. At which point it went from believable creepy right off the rails to unbelievable. It was a good book, and if you can look past the ending, it’s worth a read.
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This was a good book. The ending felt a little rushed, but that didn’t spoil the book. The things that happen are something most of us, thankfully, will never have to deal with. Although, I can see myself doing some of the same things or having some of the same feelings of the characters. For me, well spun characters are what makes a book and this one definitely had those in spades. Grab this book and start it today. If you’re in a reading slump this is your cure. If your not, it won’t disappoint, and will make you want to grab another Wendy Walker book fast!
4 stars
Another winner from Wendy Walker, which is why she is one of my “go-to” authors. She certainly knows how to keep the tension high and always manages to throw you some surprises and curve balls.
This story is told in alternating viewpoints of Molly and her daughter Nic (Nicole) during different timelines that ultimately merge at a heart stopping end. I don’t want to go into any of the plot points, but in typical Walker fashion, she delves into the shades of gray of human psychology and really makes you think and feel for these characters.
I highly recommend this book as it is one that you will not want to put down.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book via NetGalley
I rarely read mysteries, but this book makes me want to read more. I couldn’t concentrate on anything else until I finished the book. I was dying at the end of each chapter. The alternating POVs made it hard to put down because I’d finish a chapter with a cliffhanger… then have to read another chapter to have yet another cliffhanger before I could finally learn what happened next. I liked the book so much I immediately read two of Wendy Walker’s other books but found this one to be her best although the others were good too. I should note there were a few in my book club that didn’t care for it as much as I did when we were analyzing characters and plot. But I found it a great escape and don’t expect mysteries to stand up as much to analysis as other genres.
This story had a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. It was a fast and enjoyable read like all her others!
Don’t Look For Me is an emotional roller coaster paced like a thriller! Grief is a substantial theme so I would recommend it for fans of darker thrillers.
Don’t Look for Me was a fast-paced thriller following a woman who disappears and the daughter who looks for her.
The night Molly Clarke disappeared a hurricane was making its’ way through Hastings, the small town where Molly’s car was found abandoned. After a note is found at a nearby hotel indicating Molly walked away from her life, her family tries to find a way to move on. But after a new lead comes in, Molly’s daughter Nicole begins to wonder what really happened the night her mother vanished. Travelling to the town where her mother was last seen, Nicole tries to put together the pieces. The locals are eager to help, but Nicole quickly learns that everyone has secrets and not everyone is telling her the truth.
Don’t Look for Me is told in alternating chapters from Molly and Nicole’s points of view. Molly’s chapters start on day one of her disappearance and Nic’s pick up thirteen days after her mother went missing. Over the course of the book Molly’s chapters catch up in time to Nic’s and we see some scenes from both perspectives. I liked that we got to see what was happening from both ends as it gave the reader information the characters didn’t have. The dual perspectives also kept the suspense up as situations would arise in one point of view that were clearly going to directly impact the other.
I don’t want to give too much away about Molly’s situation, so I will try to be vague. I suspected a number of characters of being involved in Molly’s disappearance at some point as every character you meet seemingly has a hidden agenda. There was one character in particular who was downright creepy at times in their interactions with Molly. The author does an amazing job making you suspect different people throughout the book and just when you think you’ve figured everything out, she turns you in a new direction. I love thrillers that keep you guessing and this one definitely accomplished that. I will say there was a surprise twist at the end that came out of nowhere that I felt didn’t really add anything to the story. Other than that though the plot was the perfect blend of suspense and intrigue.
Overall Don’t Look for Me was an amazing read and I highly recommend it. I definitely plan to check out more of the author’s books in the future.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Bravo to Wendy Walker, a new author to me. Thrillers are not my go-to genre, but this one pulled me in from the start, slowly building from horrible to horror. Wow!
Five years ago a terrible confluence of events destroyed the Clarke family. Molly was slowly turning the blind corner into their driveway, when 9 year old Annie, ran out into the street, and was killed almost instantly. Five years later, Molly feels like neither her husband or other two children love her or even want her around. After driving 2 hours to watch her son play football, he doesn’t even acknowledge her, before she turns around to drive back another 2 hours. A hurricane is approaching Connecticut and she runs out of gas. She thinks about just disappearing in a field; would her family even notice? But then she does disappear. Did she walk away or was she taken? Her daughter Nicole has her own guilt, especially about her last parting words. While the police decide she just left, Nicole is not convinced. Is she trusting and believing in the right people? The suspense builds as they both are in danger. Who has Molly? So many suspects.
I red an ARC from NetGalley.com This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
The story alternates between when Molly goes missing to when Nicole starts searching for her mother about 2 weeks later.
Molly Clarke’s life is forever changed the day she accidentally hits and kills her youngest daughter five years ago when Annie was 9 years old. Molly was a middle school science teacher married to John with 2 surviving kids Evan away at boarding school and Nicole 20 year old who was expelled from her private school. One night Molly goes missing when her car runs out of gas during a hurricane on her way home from watching Evan’s football game.
The guilt since the tragic accident is a daily burden for Molly who receives the blame for her daughter’s death. When she runs out of gas and finds the gas station closed she is relieved when a man and a young girl stop to offer her a ride. Although hesitant Molly ignores all signs that she is in danger until it’s too late. Molly realizes that there are 3 gas cans in the truck and alarmed when they arrive at the boarded up Hastings Inn.
Molly fears she will never see her family again and that no one is looking for her. She sees her only way to survive is winning the trust and affection of Alice. Over time Alice reveals information to Molly which leads her to believe that her daughter Nicole is in danger.
The missing woman from Hastings soon loses the attention of the media and law enforcement. They attribute her disappearance to her depression and desire to escape the constant reminders of her Annie. As much as Nicole was angry with her mother she realizes that her anger is misplaced. She becomes alarmed when her mother hasn’t returned home as it was totally uncharacteristic of her mother.
Nicole goes in a mission to find out what happened to her mother. In her quest to uncover the truth Nicole finds that many of the people she meets are lying about what they know. She initially finds a believable lead when she speaks to Edith Moore. Since there’s a reward for information regarding her mother Nicole doesn’t know who to trust.
The story is a twisted convolution of unreliable characters who only serve to stir more confusion regarding Molly’s disappearance. This was a great read with many unexpected turn of events making it a challenge to predict the ending.
I liked how the book has both mother and daughter’s point of view. This was definitely a psychological thriller. The manipulation that happens is astounding. You go for a wild ride trying to find out what happened and who the bad guy is. The ending is more convoluted than you think it is going to be. I am glad I read this book. It will get you sucked it from the beginning and wondering what will happen next until the end.
*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily giving my honest opinion*
Molly has been in so much guilt and pain since her youngest daughters death. When her car is found on the side of the road with her purse and phone still inside, the police assume she “walked away” from her old life.
Molly’s daughter Nicole knows her mother would not walk away from her family. When a new lead is revealed, Nicole goes back to the town her mother was last seen. Will she find Molly before it is too late?
If you like fast paced psychology thrillers, then this is the book for you! The twist and turns kept me guessing. I read this book in a day and the ending had me at the edge of my seat.
I looking forward to reading more book by Wendy Walker. Thank you #netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ebook and this is my honest review.
Another suspenseful winner from one of the best in the business. If you’re looking for October thrills and chills, reach for this one.
Absolutely masterful and brilliant, DON’T LOOK FOR ME left me in awe. Excellent pacing, powerful emotion, and gripping suspense in one exceptional read that twists and turns down a terrifying path. I highly recommend this acclaimed thriller by sensational author, Wendy Walker!