Member Reviews
The 3rd book in the Sawyer Bennett series is another great installment in the series. Lots happening in this when Sawyer investigates a series of murders that could be copycats of The Black Wigs. Gripping, edge of your seat action throughout the book. Sawyer learns a lot about herself this time and love it! T.R. Ragan has created yet another must read series.
*ARC provided by NetGalley
I couldn’t finish this book. The story dragged along to the point that I lost interest in it. Also, the idea of the vigilante group abducting people and getting away with it seemed far-fetched.
T.R. Ragan is one of my favorite authors. I'm always ready for her books. With No Going Back, I found myself struggling during the first few minutes...and I wanted to stop reading it because it seemed to deal with the same topic, a new group of female vigilantes. And then, Sawyer Brooks name pops up, and I thought this is going to be good.
If you've read this series, you all know that Sawyer Brooks is a crime reporter involved in the Black Wigs story. She is assigned to investigate the new vigilante group and her world is set to spiral out of control. Truths will come to the surface....will be she able to handle it? You'll find yourself in her shoes and you'll cringe and you'll cry! There is too much going on and our heroine is on point!
Thrilling ride! The theme is still so prevalent in our society (sexual assault, child abuse) and many abusers allowed to walk the streets by the justice system. I'm not saying vigilantism is the right thing to do, but definitely changes have to be made to protect the victims!
This is a great story, with excellent characters and lots of moral questions you can answer for yourself. The plot is about a messy situation, so the story can be a little intricate, but it's not too hard to follow.
An orphanage with a troubled past and a history of raising unwanted children. Too small to protect yourself, you were tied up, beaten, abused and there was no one to turn to! T. R. Ragan paints this backdrop with vivid colors and bitter memories.
Occasionally ladies will get together to seek revenge for the cruelties foisted on them as young girls. This is one of those tales. Does the end justify the previous crimes committed on these young women? I found myself lacking in sympathy for the perpetrators.
Rape and molestation are often adjudicated by the courts in favor of the rapists. “The girl was asking for it.” However, if the victim is a ten year-old girl and the thugs are teenagers, this is obviously not the case. Four guys lying about the circumstances and a good defense attorney and the crime is thrown out of court.
A group called the “Black Wigs” undertake to right these wrongs. Sawyer Brooks is a reporter for the Sacramento Independent that is an investigative reporter trying to find out who is doing these crimes. She and another reporter are trying to get to the bottom of the case. Bodies are found in old warehouses and other locations in the Sacramento, CA area and a bizarre series of crimes are set into motion.
This well-developed narrative is satisfying in its’ conclusion and tragic in the outcome. I was hoping the police department would solve the murders but had my fingers crossed that the women seeking justice would not get caught. Definitely a near dual personality read. Enjoy this tale and hurrah for the author! 5 Stars-CE Williams
No Going Back – TR Ragan
Sawyer Brooks returns in another thriller, and this story picks up on the heels of where the second book ended.
For those unfamiliar with this series, Sawyer is a crime reporter for the ‘Sacramento Independent’ and in the last novel, she had just begun to investigate an attack and slaying of a man by a group of women vigilantes known as the ‘Black Wigs’. This novel opens with a murder taking place, and a nearby security camera that catches a slender intruder leaving the house. An impromptu meeting with the deceased’s ex-wife leads her to believe that this man was not a victim of the Black Wigs, but if not them, then who? A copycat killer?
The Black Wigs, with two attacks to their credit and another suspect individual missing, appear to be targeting rapists. A victim of incestual rape herself, Sawyer has been captivated by this case from the beginning. As she digs into the new victims’ background, she can find no evidence that he was ever accused of rape. But via an impromptu interview with his ex-wife, she learns that he was abandoned as a child and grew up in an orphanage that has since burned down. Intrigued by the possibility of a copycat, Sawyer begins to dig into his past, aided by her younger sister, Aria.
Meanwhile, a co-worker at the paper wants ‘in’ to Sawyer’s Black Wigs investigation after her niece and her friends are caught mimicking the actions of the Wigs and assault a teenaged boy. Forming an uneasy alliance, Sawyer & Lexi begin to work together and share their resources. But unbeknownst to Sawyer, her sister Harper - code name Malice – is an active Black Wigs team member…and they have just selected their next trio of victims…
As the bodies pile up, Sawyer & Lexi remain determined to find the answers – is this one group of killers? Or are there quite possibly two?
If it’s even possible, this book was even better than the last! I adore Sawyer’s character, she’s feisty, she’s lovable and, like most of us, she’s flawed, and she struggles within her own present relationships as a result of her past. This can be easily read as a stand-alone novel, but if read as a series you get a full flavor for character development and the situations that have made each character who they are today. Fabulous read and series from TR Ragan!!
I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!
Another fantastic installment in the Sawyer Brooks series, which can be read as a stand-alone. While the crime and vigilante work drives the plot, this novel in particular is a bit more character driven than the others, with focus on character arc development and relationship dynamics. Absolutely love where Ragan is taking these characters and the much needed finality needed in some of storyline aspects. Loved it.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #NoGoingBack. All thoughts and opinions posted by Wayward Readers Book Blog are original and offered voluntarily.
Great book, I really enjoyed it. I am finding this series to be interesting and engaging, I’m a big fan of this author and this book didn’t disappoint. Had me up half the night reading! A solid 4 star read.
With a plot that twists a bit this novel fell short for me in the lack of any real depth of character except for Lexi & Sawyer. Sister's boyfriend is all but non existent. The last quarter of the book had a bit more action and clarity but Sawyer's decision on what to do about her sister's love interest doesn't make sense. The police are exceptionally egotistical about her helping with clues which is rather unbelievable since generally cops just want to solve the crime
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc
Love T R Tagan books. This one was about being bullied and sexually assaulted and the people who got their revenge.
Excellent entry in this thrilling series! Nonstop thrills and twists. Highly recommended! Ragan did it again! Wow!!
No Going Back by T.R. Ragan is a thrilling novel where justice is being served and women are fighting back against rape and the men who got away with injustice. A very fitting book for the times and current media. I felt excited while reading and was interested in all the things throughout the book.
No Going Back by T.R. Ragan is the third book in the Sawyer Brooks series and is the best one yet!. Sawyer works as an investigative crime reporter for the Sacramento Independent and has been closely following the “Black Wigs” vigilantes in the Sacramento area. This group of women has vowed to get even with the rapists and abusers in their lives. Some of the narrative in the story is the communication and actions of The Crew. Now there seem to be copycat vigilantes who are carrying the idea of revenge too far.
Psycho, Cleo, Lily, and Malice have no connection to the copycats. What does this mean for the future of the ‘The Crew’? Harper/Malice wants to stop, she is expecting a baby and her late hours have caused problems with Nate. Harper is Sawyer’s sister. Wow, will Sawyer find out that Harper is one of the crew of the Black Wigs?
Sawyer and her sisters had a horribly abusive childhood. Sawyer has tried to make a normal life for herself. She is dating Derek and trying to learn to trust. There is more content about Harper and Aria in this book and it added to the feeling of unity between sisters and reflects Sawyers feeling, “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my sisters.”? Sweet Aria has finally become attracted to a man who brings a dog into the shelter. Is she being too trusting, too soon?
I won't post spoilers, but once you start reading you will want to continue non-stop until the ending!
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Revenge stories are quite common, so it takes something special to really stand out as this story does. The vigilantes in this story are unique as we learned in previous stories, and now they are being endangered on multiple fronts. Excellent characters and interesting plot.
The third installment of Sawyer Brooks is as fantastic as the rest. The Black Wigs introduced in the first two books have garnered quite the following and possibly a copycat! Sawyer and her sister Aria are looking into the similarities all while worrying about The eldest sister Harper! As, men keep turning up dead and someone is following Sawyer it’s up to her to figure things out before someone close to her dies.
Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley!
The female vigilante group dubbed by the media as the Black Wigs have inspired others to enact their vengeance on those that wronged them. When The Crew first formed they were 5 women who had been raped and were looking to make their rapist pay (in non lethal ways) for their sins against them. But things got out of control and now the copy cats are enacting their revenge with murder.
Sawyer Brooks, investigative reporter and rape survivor herself, has been working on an article about the Black Wigs. She wants to expose these women even though she has sympathy for their plight. A recent murder, clearly of the vengeance variety, has her thinking this is a new player that has entered the game. This mixed with one of the Black Wigs going off on her own has both the town and Sawyer on her toes.
Along with all of that Sawyer is still working with her therapist on her past. Intimacy with her boyfriend Derek is still something she struggles with. So many things/threads are exposed and come to a conclusion by the end of this book. So much so if there are future books in the series I see the base story line going in a different direction with I would be cool with.
This is another great entry in the Sawyer Brooks series. I wish I had better comments than that, but if you've already read the first two, then you know the quality to expect.
Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for providing this review copy.
This book is part of a series and you really need to read the other books to follow the storyline. I did enjoy reading this series and liked how the last book gave more information on the background of the characters.
Definitely not your average crime solving series! I've read all three books in this series, the protagonists are definitely well developed and are like phoenix rising from their dysfunctional pasts. The three sisters rise above their pasts in different ways, and I enjoy seeing how they've grown and conquered, for the most part. A solid mystery, intertwined with the complex relationships and the parallel story of "The Crew". No spoilers here, just a good read - so go read it!
Another hit from the author in this series. A book filled with much mystery and suspense. An easy read page turner which I would recommend to others.