The USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestseller!Lily’s gone.Someone took her.Unless she was she never there… rabbit.
Has Nova’s abusive ex stolen his “little bunny” back for good?
At first, Officer Ellie James assumes this is a clear custody battle. Until she discovers that there are no pictures of the girl and her drawers are full of unused toys and brand new clothes that have never been worn…
Is Ellie searching for a missing child who doesn’t actually exist?
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Oh my! I absolutely LOVE everything about Carissa’s writing style. I have adored every book I have read by her, and this was beyond exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed the detail and level of personality that was given to characters. It meant that I was kept on my toes, throughout the read, and really enjoyed trying to guess what might happen next.
The pace is fantastic. It really kept the book flowing well and is exactly what I expect and love in a thrilling read. It was written so well, that I often felt a part of the story and was fully submerged into the plot, wanting to know what had happened.
I honestly cannot recommend this book enough. It is truly a must read!
What a powerful story! I’ve read all of Carissa’s books but this one definitely stands out amongst them and is now my absolute new favorite of hers. It is so powerful not only due to the fascinating plot but because of an important subject it deals with – domestic abuse and the victim’s attempt to fight back. It was terrifying to read at times because the topic, now finally so widely discussed and not silenced anymore, hits so close to home; reading about Nova and her little daughter Lily I kept thinking about all the articles I’ve read and news I’ve seen in which an abusive partner killed his wife/girlfriend and/or kidnapped their child. But whereas the news articles and reports often offer a short and dry account of the events, Carissa invites the reader into the very mind of the victim and perpetrator, and she does it so masterfully that I found it chilling to read through certain scenes. What I also enjoyed immensely is the growth and transformation of all three main characters (I won’t give away any spoilers but you’ll understand everything in the end) and the newfound strength that connected them as the case with the missing girl progressed. Brilliantly written, haunting and chilling, “Without a Trace” is a true must read for everyone, not just readers interested in thrillers. Bravo!
Wow!
Once again I’m left breathless by one of Carissa Ann Lynch’s books. Every time I thought I could guess what was going to come next, the plot would sneak up and smack me with a curveball. I absolutely love how the author was able to keep me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.
When the book begins, Nova is glad to have finally escaped from her abusive husband with her daughter, Lily. In the morning though, Lily is gone, and she has no choice but to go to the police. From there, secrets of Nova’s life begin to unravel. And with it comes questions. The most haunting of those, is Lily even real?
All the characters in this book are beautifully fleshed out, each of them with a solid understandable background, flaws, and strengths. It made the ending all the more satisfying. Every character has secrets and they’ll all come to light.
Narration was beautiful, bringing each character to life in a unique way.
Definitely a recommended read for lovers of psychological suspense.
A wonderful follow up to My Sister is Missing, Carissa definitely has a firm grip on suspense in a small town!
Between a cop trying to redeem herself for a questionable act earlier in her career, and an abused woman trying to flee her husband with their child, this story brings you between several points of view as you, and Officer Ellie James try to figure out what happened to Nova’s daughter.
This will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat!
Nova is in hiding with her young daughter, Lily. She’s scared that her abusive husband will find her … and kill her as he has threatened.
The first night they spend in this dilapidated cabin far away from where she came from, her daughter disappears from her bed. Left in her place is a raggedy stuffed bunny rabbit,
Certain that her husband has found them and taken her daughter, she calls the police. Officer Ellie James assumes this is most likely a case for the courts to decide when it comes to custody battles. As Nova is still married, the husband has a right to their child.
But Officer James is getting some strange vibes from the terrified mother. There are no signs that a child is living there. All the clothes are brand new, some still with tags on them. Some toys are in a bag .. nothing to show they’ve been played with. No pictures … no drawings … no colored pictures.
Nova’s nearest neighbor states she has never met Nova or her daughter. Nova’s husband says he and Nova have never had a daughter.
Is Ellie searching for a missing child who doesn’t actually exist?
This is an excellent psychological thriller. It’s well written with memorable, finely drawn characters. Everyone seems to be harboring secrets. Ellie James is a relative rookie. She started out by shooting an abusive man who also happened to be a retired cop. She’s also coping with a mother who is a bit controlling herself.
This would make a great series ….
Many thanks to the author / Harper Collins – Killer Reads / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this excellent book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
The endings are always such a shocker!
There is almost nothing better than spending a rainy Sunday reading a good book. Such is the case of Sunday, March 14, 2021 … for me anyway. Ms. Lynch has fast become one of my favorite authors to read and Without A Trace is no exception.
We find Lily a four-year-old little girl has gone missing and her mom, Nova, is a mess as you can imagine. We also discover that what started out as a fairy tale for Nova’s didn’t turn out that way … or is she lying? There is Martin, Nova’s real estate husband, who seemingly has his professional personality and his when you’re alone in the room with him personality. The police officer on the case, Ellie, was involved in an incident that she is still trying to come back from. There is Nova’s neighbor, Clara, with a secret of her own. And, there is Rachel, the midwife, who gives Nova a business card with a knitting group’s app site on it. As it turns out, it may not be “just” a knitting club.
There is also an underlying theme running through this book that makes me a put a trigger warning on it for domestic abuse … the underlying theme being there is help available even if it is hidden, sort of like an underground system. The thing is, victims of abuse sometimes have a hard time escaping and don’t know how. They are scared. It is not an easy decision to leave one’s abuser, most especially if you have been threatened in any way and if there are kids involved that makes it even harder in some cases. This is true for both men and women. I highly praise Ms. Lynch for putting this book out in the world, to let victims know that there is help available.
There is definitely more to this book than what I was expecting. And the ending … well, you’ll have to read that for yourself.
Loved this novel. Great suspense novel
What an intense story that will have you turning the pages as fast as you can to get to the end. If you figure out the ending of the story before you turn the last page, then you are truly amazing! The book is about domestic abuse but you will be impressed with the women who are working to change this aspect of their lives. They are strong and resilient and you will be cheering them on.
This is a good thriller that will keep you up late at night to finish the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Killer Reads for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Very confusing until the end. I found it hard to follow the threads.
Definitely kept you guessing. Interesting concept.
I couldn’t put this down. I read the last half in one day. Highly recommended
Mystery book that keeps you guessing. One twist after another.
I really liked this book, it was different and very interesting to follow, definitely worth reading!
Couldn’t put it down. Excellent book.
A page turner, impossible to put down. Thrilling and nailbiting-ly good. The only thing I had an issue with, was the abrupt ending. It felt a little rushed, something I wasn’t ready for at this point. Aside from that it was really, really good.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
This was the first book written by this author that I have read. I enjoy suspense/thrillers its one of my favorite genres. I found this book a little strange as it jumped from character to characters point of view. Nova has ran with Lily from her abusive husband, and then the first night Lily disappears. Is there actually a Lily, that is one of the main questions or is Nova a whack job. I enjoyed that the book wasnt a long one, so that I got the answers before I got to the point the overall style of the book turned me off. I’m not saying this wasnt a good book because it actually was, just that I have never been a big fan of books jumping for character to chacter constantly and their point of view. I would give this book 3.5 stars.
Nothing is what you think in this book. Keeps you guessing until the end.
I can usually figure these things out. This one had me guessing to the last page.
This book had so many twists and turns I couldn’t put it down! Just when you think you have it figured out, a new twist! Well written, good character development. I loved it!