Book #2 in the VCI series. The books center on the actual police team that is investigating the crimes. A unique plot difference that is surprisingly great. The team will investigate the disappearance of a middle school teacher. A in most investigations, the truth is usually much different than first presented. The stories are attention grabbing, even when the pacing slows, but the time spent building the backstory and the community pays off in the reveal.

This would be a good read for the right target audience. It just wasn't for me. I stopped and started so many times. The characters were off-putting. The different scenarios presented, I could care less with how things would work out. The writing was confusing and I found myself reading certain passages over and over. So many times I wanted to DNF the book. It just wasn't for me.

#NETGALLEY #THEDAYHELEFT. #FREDERICKWEISEL

The story starts with a high school English teacher suddenly going missing. He leaves his regular life, his much loved children, and his dream job and does not return. When his wife reports him missing to the police, family secrets come out, and everybody's life is left bare to be judged. But is it so easy to judge a person's life without walking in his shoes?

This book soon turns out to be a murder mystery, a whodunit. However, it is a slow burn, and more philosophical and poignant that any other books I've read in this genre. It makes you introspect, and ponder. It delves into the minds of all the parties involved, the good and the bad guys. And in the end, it makes you understand the thoughts and insecurities of even the murderer. The author does a great job of developing and maturing the characters. I loved the gray shades of all the characters, their strengths and weaknesses made them feel more real to me. The impact of a sudden loss of a member in a family was also portrayed very well.

The only reason I'm taking away half a start is that the story has multiple side stories that so not contribute to the main storyline at all. They do strengthen the characters introduced, but I felt that they are unnecessary and make one somewhat lose track of the main story. Apart from this one thing, I absolutely loved this book and am looking forward to reading more from this author.

I would like to thank netgalley and poisonedpenpress for this eARC, although I'm terribly late in reading this book.

When dedicated middle school teacher, Paul Behrens fails to turn up for work, it’s totally out of character for this man who loves his job. His wife Annie does not hesitate to call the Santa Rosa Police Department. Lieutenant Eddie Mahler decides his Violent Crimes Investigations Team will dedicate the next twenty-four hours to finding him.
But as they take a closer look at the man’s life, and those close to him, it seems that Paul had plenty more than the usual worries about money and job: an unfaithful wife with a drinking problem; a sixteen-year-old son dealing drugs; a thirteen-year-old daughter being bullied; accusations made by a student; and concern for the welfare of another student. He drove off to an appointment of which Annie knew nothing.
And when the team does find him, the mystery is far from solved.
There were a lot of story lines in this and could be a bit confusing.
Over all it was an enjoyable read

A teacher fails to show up for work and is immediately reported as missing to the police by his wife. This is the second book in a series that is based on a violent crimes investigation team. At first it appears the teacher, a man named Paul, has an ideal life and family. However upon closer look, the police discover it's the opposite. Money, job issues, his wife is having an affair and has a drinking problem, their children also have issues going on. One thing I really liked about this book is it revealed information little by little, as the police in the story learn new things, so do you as the reader. It was a great read, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

Can we please stop using adultery as part of the plot of mystery books? I think that such troupe is already a cliche and it romanticizes the idea of cheating which is not OK.

Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Great story - compelling and intriguing! This is the second book in a series which I did not realize at the time. IT almost works as a stand alone novel, but I am going to read the first one.

Annie has lost the habit of paying attention to her spouse. It’s simple to nod while he drones on, listening to his voice but entirely disregarding every word he says. Of course, this creates an issue when Paul vanishes and the police inquire. Was Paul experiencing difficulties at work? Is there any reason to believe he’ll cause himself harm? Annie has no idea. Someone, though, does. An unnerving photograph discovered among Paul’s belongings directs the investigators to his employment as a middle school teacher and a disturbed girl with her secrets. But what occurred on the day Paul departed for work and never arrived at the classroom? Is his disappearance linked to a heroin trafficking ring in the area? As Eddie Mahler and the Santa Rosa Violent Crime Investigations Team race to find the teacher, they discover that his family members have hidden lives of their own and that Paul may not have been running away from something, but toward something that could ruin his career, marriage, and even his life.

This is the second book in a series, and I believe I would have loved it more if I had first read the first. I didn’t like Annie as the protagonist, but I enjoyed Eddie as the detective. It’s comforting to see that this cast seldom puts themselves in danger unnecessarily, but instead shares information, works well together, and stands by one other when it counts. Eden was the one with whom I had the most difficulty, but she’s a fantastic analyst with a bright future with the organization, in my opinion. Frames, Rivas, and Bailey complete the team, and each has unique attributes and skills that add to the overall answer. I appreciate it when each member contributes something unique to the group, allowing them to stand out from the crowd.

The writing is tense and angular. The characters are complex, thorough, and tenacious. The narrative is a fast-paced, thrilling story full of twists and turns, familial drama, red herrings, manipulation, secrets, deceit, mayhem, danger, and murder. THE DAY HE LEFT is unpredictable, and the team is both difficult and exceptional. This is one of the more finely crafted and thorough police procedurals I’ve read in a long time. This is the second book in the series, and while it may be read on its own, it is recommended that you read the first one first. Strongly suggested.

At the center of this novel is a teacher who has gone missing, leaving behind evidence of being intertwined with one of his students. I liked that this book didn't rely solely on typical "male teacher" tropes and added some complexity to the storyline. I did not read the first book in this series, but that didn't seem to put me at a disadvantage. I really enjoyed learning details of the lives of various detectives involved in the case. I know not everyone loves when the focus is expanded behind only the case into the personal lives of the detectives involved, but I do - it gives me Law and Order vibes :) Definitely interested in reading the first in the series and following along with the series.

It's the second book in a series. I've never known that and I think even if I read the first book, I still won't enjoy it that much. It's about a murder-mystery-thriller in a family drama. I don't even like the main character, Annie. She's meh for me. The detective did a great job tho.
Thanks to Netgalley for the copy!

The Day He Left is the second novel in the Violent Crime Investigations Team Mystery books. Annie and Paul have been married for several years. When Paul disappears, Eddie Mahler and his team will try to find the teacher. What starts off as a missing person investigation will turn into something much darker. The secrets that they uncover can have dangerous consequences if they don’t get to the bottom of them. Frederick Weisel has done it again. He brings us on an incredible journey, weaving together a great storyline and intriguing characters. An interesting police procedural with a fast-paced, suspenseful story.

I received an eARC of The Day He Left by Frederick Weisel from Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
4 stars for this crime thriller! It's the second book in the series, but can be read as a stand-alone. Well-written and engaging!

What an intriguing story, kept me turning the pages, wanting to know what happened. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It's something we all dread – having someone we love disappear without a trace. No reason, no explanation, just gone. I’d be beside myself with worry and overflowing with questions for sure.

Annie Behrens isn’t a very sympathetic character at the start of the novel. She’s actually pretty unlikable, which might have been the point. She admits to not having listened to her husband in months and engages in a lot of questionable activity. And yet, when her husband, Paul, goes missing, everything seems to change perspective for her. Their son, Jesse, is a mess and also unlikable at times, but he’s also sixteen. A lot of kids are unlikable at that age, although he does come around by the end. Claire, their thirteen-year-old daughter seems to be the only one without any secrets.

I didn’t realize when I requested this book that it was the second in a series. If I’d read the first in the series, I probably would have been more comfortable with the VCI team investigating the disappearance. However, I did learn a lot about them as we moved through the novel and came to like them all by the end. Eddie was likable from the beginning, there was something about him that drew me in. Eden was the one I struggled with the most, but she’s a great analyst and has a good future with the team, I believe. Frames, Rivas, and Bailey round the group out and each have their own qualities and specialties that contribute towards the solve. I like it when each member has their own thing to add to the group, helping them to stand out amongst the others.

While the action takes a bit to pick up the pace, the story is laid out before you in an interesting and easy to follow manner. It builds on itself and throws you a couple times as you follow the investigation. Honestly, I had no idea why Paul had bolted or who the bad guy was. When it was revealed, it made sense and was both a surprise and not at the same time. I’m looking forward to reading the first in the series while I wait for the next to come out. I want to know more about this team and how they fit together as a unit.

When Paul Behrens leaves for his teaching job one morning, all looks the same as usual. When he doesn’t show up at the school and is declared missing, secrets start to unfold and nothing will ever be the same as usual again. Paul’s briefcase and phone are left behind, a briefcase that contains some questionable things. Annie, his wife, has secrets of her own. Is that why Paul left? Their son is mixed up in drugs and their daughter just wants to find her dad. The only question is where did he go? Weisel writes a police procedural with heart that weaves together three different crimes and does so effortlessly. Hope there’s more to come in this series!

This feels like a bit of a moot point since this title released already, however I did just finish reading it overnight and after sleep I’ll be back to share my thoughts/review.

I won’t share this message anywhere else. I’ll wait until I’ve written my thoughts. Also, I’m posting a mid range 3 star since I can’t post this without a rating. I’m still thinking on that.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and to the author for allowing me the opportunity to read this for my honest review………which is on the way.

A new crime team lead by Detective Eddie Mahler is the basis of The Day He Left, written by Frederick Weisel. This is in fact the second book of the Violent Crimes Investigations Unit series set in California. A school teacher leaves home one morning only to disappear without warning and totally out of character. The VCI team are called in to investigate and the model family is not all as seems and secrets are discovered but are only more confounding. The apparently innocuous crime is soon complicated by the revelations of various characters, then a teenage girl goes missing. Initially, this police procedural appeared somewhat lacklustre and the narrative side tracks into the VCI team members’ backstories. Whilst the pace and action does pick up, it only makes for a three-star rating. With thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given, without obligation.

The plot for this book was super compelling and right up my alley. However, I wasn't very connected to the characters or the larger book. I struggled to get through it because it wasn't really drawing me in and I saw the ending coming. Annie and Paul's relationship is compelling because it is an authentic representation of a stagnant marriage. There are elements of the book that I can see people loving, but overall, I expected more.

Paul, a school teacher, didn't turn up for class - and that sets off a deep dive into not only his secrets but those of his wife and others. And then he's found dead in his car, This is a fine police procedural that is actually stronger in some ways on building the characters within and relationships between the Violent Crime team. I missed the first book so these people were new to me but that didn't matter- Wiesel has taken what's becoming a trope and turned it into a very good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This is my second read by Weisel and I’m hooked. He has a way with flawed characters, managing to give them each their own faults and strengths. I look forward to more from this author.