Lost to Dune Road was a suspenseful, full-of-surprises thriller! Kara Thomas is a new author to me and I didn’t want to put down her twisty, turning book. Lots of action and intrigue packed into this tight story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Lost to Dune Road was a hard to put down mystery that features a really intriguing main character, who I kind of hope gets to feature in another book.

Lee is brash, stubborn, and dedicated to solving these mysteries but there's a great deal of humanity in her that I really responded to. Instead of being bogged down in how the mysteries effected her life, she's always thinking primarily of the victims involved, even if Jenna could have used as much attention as Amanda eventually got. It's slightly ironic that Jenna, who was overlooked by the media in the novel, is also overlooked in the narrative. I also wish that the romance was featured more heavily in the story given that it is so integral to Lee and how the story wraps up.

That being said, the book still features so many twists and turns that it's hard to get bored and even harder to predict how it was all going to wrap up.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Kara Thomas is 1 of my favorite YA mystery writers, and I believe this is her 2nd adult mystery. I loved her last one, and this book is more of a crime fiction book.

Natalee Ellerin is a journalist turned private investigator. She got fired and canceled 5 years ago, when she accused the wrong rich dude of killing a young woman named Jenna. Now, she's working for a local Long Island lawyer for workman's comp type claims. Natalee goes by Lee because of a creepy murderer who called and taunted her after her fall from grace. Natalee receives a call from a woman named Carol, who is Amanda Hartley's mother. Amanda is in a coma and is 6 months pregnant after a possible suicide attempt. Carol wants Lee to find the father of her daughter's baby and had her name written down in her daughter's handwriting.

Lee gets further in her investigating by connecting Amanda to Jenna and interviewing key people in Jenna's life, as well as a former cop turned FBI agent Chase Sullivan and retired cop Nelson Malave, and the looming presence of chief of police Mike Molineaux. For Long Island, racism and corruption go hand in hand.

There are parts in which I could hardly put the book down as we got Amanda's point of view in flashbacks. I very much felt this could have been an SVU or OC episode or story ARC. While Lee's a gifted writer, she shoes herself an accomplished investigator. If you are a fan of female PI's, you will like this book.

TW for mentions of rape in the past, grooming, drugs. The book is available 4/16/24. 4 25/5☆

Unfortunately this wasn't for me. It had a strong start but it started to feel very repititive in the middle. I didn't really feel the tension

There was a lot of information thrown at you in this book. Kara Thomas is an auto-buy author for me, so I was really psyched for this. I did like it, with the difficult subject matter and everything, but it was a bit overwhelming at times. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Lee is a private investigator asked to look into what happened to a pregnant woman in a coma by the woman's mother. Everyone believes Amanda tried to take her own life but her mother believes otherwise. Besides, Amanda had Lee's name written down.

Lee used to be a reporter until she investigated a woman's disappearance and subsequent murder. She made a mistake that led to her downfall. She soon discovers there's a connection with the case she reported on and what happened to Amanda.

It's a very interesting story, Lee is determined to gather enough evidence to take the person(s) responsible down. The only problem is they're all rich connected men and it's all much bigger than she even imagined.

I liked the story but had trouble getting into it at some points. There were lots of characters, lots of facts thrown at you from the past and present crimes. I found myself reading whole paragraphs that refused to stick in my mind. This book actually read like a true crime novel or an investigative report. The tone was pretty much emotionless a lot of the time.

I love everything that Kara Thomas writes. It pains me to give her book three stars. Which isn't bad at all! I did like this book, I just didn't love it.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

This was a really quick and tense read! I trusted no one and the snappy flow of the book made it even better! Don't hesitate to pick this book up.

This book is absolutely a five star read. The author did such a great job with her characterization and the story set up. So much so that I can’t even begin to describe the fury I felt in me while reading it. I think part of it is because the idea of people in power using their position to get away with anything, including murder, really happens everyday. I was infuriated for Lee, for Jenna, for Amanda. That men who had nothing more going for them, other than that they were ultra rich, could use people as playthings and ruin their lives when they were done with them. How quickly people were willing to fall into their pockets instead of speaking out against the wrong being committed. It happens all the time, and yet it still surprises me. Now, granted, this story is fictional, but the author did an incredible job of making you feel like it was real. The ending was more than satisfying. It was definitely a case of, “Here’s your cake, now choke on it.” I kind of hope this ends up being a series because I would love to read more with these characters!

Huge thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

A Compelling Mystery Muddled by Many Characters and Plot Threads

3.5 stars

Lost to Dune Road is a gripping thriller centered on a former journalist, now a Private Investigator, who tackles a case linked to the scandal that ruined her career. This novel highlights the rich and powerful in the form of a Jeffrey Epstein-like character.

Told primarily through the POV of Lee, a former Vanity Fair reporter, she is a driven character with a strong voice. Unfortunately, she is closed off, making it difficult to connect with her. The other POV shared is that of Amanda, a 20-year-old art student who falls prey to a wealthy and powerful man.

There are two mysteries, but as the plot progresses, other mysteries emerge. All were compelling, and there were some surprising twists that I didn’t see coming.

Unfortunately, there are some problematic elements. The plot is overly complicated. In addtition, there are too many characters to keep track of, a romance that fell flat and didn’t match the plot, and too many moving parts, which resulted in some parts being glossed over and creating plot holes. Another gripe is that information just seems to fall into Lee’s hands without much effort. This isn’t a bad read by any means; the plot and the characters just need to be simplified.

Thomas always brings strong characterization to the table, which is evident in this novel. Although I didn't love Lee, I understood her character. The case was fascinating yet sickening. The reveal of the killer caught me off guard, and there was one final surprising twist at the end. Overall, this is a worthy but flawed read.

TW: Sexual Assault

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas & Mercer in exchange for a honest review.

The plot and main mystery of the Lost to Dune Road was compelling and interesting. However the biggest downfall was the number of characters. At times I would need a refresher as to what role everyone played. Overall, the book was enjoyable.

Let me just say that I LOVE Kara Thomas's books. I am always hooked on her stories and I can never get enough after each read. I was so excited to receive an ARC for this book!

Lee is a reporter who has lost her career due to one mistake she made. She is blackballed from her journalism career, and now is trying to piece together a new life. Lee is now a private investigator and can't shake the case of the missing girl who ended her career. Now five years later, another girl, Amanda, is pregnant and in a coma. What happened to her, and why was Lee's information found on Amanda? Did she really try to end her life or was their something more nefarious going on. Lee is thrown back into investigating what really happened to Amanda. Was this all connected to the missing girl from Lee's past?

What I enjoyed:
- this was a very dark thriller and story. There were some crazy and toxic plots going on. There were things that made me uncomfortable but I was compelled to continue reading.
- This was full of twists, red herrings and kept me on my toes the whole time. I know their were times I held my breath and I was completely shocked.
- The pacing was well done! I felt like I was kept interested the whole time and had no issues devouring the book
- the slight romance! Now necessary, but I did enjoy it

Overall, this wasa really interesting and dark read. The themes were super dark but the author is truly amazjnf at crafting an intriguing plot line. I absolutely recommend this book for anyone looking for a wild ride of a thriller. 4 stars out of 5. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lost on Dune Road was a page turner for sure. I really enjoyed this story was more of a mystery to me than a thriller and did have some real life comparisons to the Long Island Serial Killer. I was surprised by the twist at the end which brought my rating up from 3.5 to 4 stars. Would absolutely recommend this one and will read more from Kara Thomas. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Five years ago, investigative journalist Natelee „Lee“ Ellerin was working on a story about the disappearance of a young woman from Dune Road, a stretch of road in Rhode Island where the rich and famous reside - a young woman who was later found dead. Following Lee‘s subsequent - and very public - fall from grace after her main suspect committed suicide but was later ruled out by local police, Lee works as a private investigator when the story opens. But then, a phone call from the mother of a pregnant young woman - who is in a coma following an apparent suicide attempt - leads Lee straight back to that unresolved murder five years ago, the case that ruined her career.

If you‘re looking for a fast-paced, intense thriller that will require you to pay attention (not least because of the large cast of characters), look no further. This is not an oversimplified murder mystery with an obvious conclusion at the beginning of the book, and it’s all the better for it. And while the bad guys are, by and large, rather one-dimensional, Lee is the perfect protagonist - determined, smart, gritty, but still likeable. The case itself is eery and the subject matter rather dark, but both are executed well and in a sensitive manner by the author.

What bothered me a little was that while the whodunnit itself ended up being no big surprise, the murderer‘s motives actually remained somewhat murky, which was unsatisfying. However, the only truly frustrating thing about the story was the romance angle, which was not only unnecessary, but felt a tad juvenile in its execution (why are two grown-ups, one of whom is engaged, still lusting after each other like hormone-crazed teenagers, years after they last met and shared a simple kiss?).

Overall, the entire book is well-written and kept me on the edge of my seat. I would gladly read another book by the same author.

TW for sexual assault, grooming, violence, abortion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 Stars

Coming from a journalism background, this story did pique my interest. However, I was struggling to finish reading just for the slower pace. Readers of procedural crime books would enjoy this suspense, but I think I just prefer faster thrillers. And because it took me awhile to finish, I got lost with the amount of characters and the romance was unnecessary.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I always love a Kara Thomas book! Natalee (Lee) has been working as a private investigator ever since her journalistic career ended. The guy she’s pointed to as the murderer of Jenna Mackey killed himself and was proven to be innocent. She was blacklisted. Luckily her lawyer had given her a job. Then she gets a phone call. The mother of Amanda Hartley wants to speak with her. Amanda’s been dragged through the mud despite the fact that she’s in a coma. She allegedly tried to kill herself while being pregnant. As Lee investigates the circumstances she begins to find connections between the two girls. Is it possible the cases are connected? Who’s the father of Amanda’s baby? Why did no one know she was pregnant? When the answers lead Lee to the powerful, rich, and elite, she may be in danger. Twisty and I definitely didn’t see the end coming! I love that Kara’s books are always so complex and that they draw you the characters! I loved that we got the events of Amanda’s life as Lee discovered them as well! I couldn’t put it down and I highly recommend! Can’t wait to read it again!

On the surface this book is exactly what I want, a great cover to draw me in and an interesting plot involving a unsolved murder connected to a new complicated case. Unfortunately this one didn't deliver for me. The best way I could describe this book is dense. Every time I picked it up I felt like I was taking a deep breath and reading it like I was studying for an exam. I thought there were too many characters that it got to the point I would read the name, pause and then have to think, oh ok that's the FBI agent dude. The story line itself was interesting and I loved that the author wanted to connect two cases, but it was just far too much information and pretty confusing. The way the main character was drawing comparisons between these two cases was wild, I would have been ROLLING my eyes at her if I was one of her several million police/FBI/lawyer connections. Without giving away any spoilers, I just didn't enjoy the ending either. When everything is revealed, it doesn't actually feel like a big reveal where all the pieces connect. It once again was sort of confusing and felt like I just needed to roll with it. And don't even get me started on the "romance". It was not needed, and was the equivalent of a high school crush...not the actions or behaviors of adults in their mid to late 30s. Despite all my dislikes, I have to say I was interested the entire time and wanted to know how everything would resolve. Was it the worst book I've ever read, not at all. Would I recommend it? Ehhhh maybe if you like very detailed stories with the deep process of a private investigator?

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

This story follows Natalee (Lee) who is a reporter turned private investigator who was fired in 2019 while trying to help solve the case of a missing girl, Jenna. Her body was found a year later on Dune Road.
Now it’s five years later, and another girl, Amanda, is pregnant and in a coma, and Lee’s information was found written on a piece of paper in her backpack. Lee doesn’t know her- but Amanda’s mother hires her to seek out answers. Lee is desperately trying to connect the two cases and help solve them both,

The story did get confusing at times, as it was constantly jumping back between Jenna’s story and Amanda’s. There were also quite a lot of characters and it was a little difficult to keep their stories straight sometimes.
I would recommend for fans of unsolved cases and police procedurals.

Overall, I did enjoy the story and was eager to find out how it ended.

This is Kara’s best work yet. A richly layered and atmospheric mystery with series potential! Loved every minute of this read!

Did you hear that buzz?

It’s bookstagram talking about Kara Thomas’ new book, Lost to Dune Road, and I can guarantee you, it’s worth all the hype.

I always get nervous asking a publicist for a copy, they instantly transform into these bookish fairies, either grant your wish or reject you like last nights Chinese.

I wasn’t rejected. My bookish dreams came true and I received my most anticipated book.

Well, you know me, I dropped my plans (nap and housewives) and began reading…

These characters jump from the pages and stand right before you, so much so that you can smell the sickly sweat as it drops across their brow. Your pulse will race just when you think you have it all figured out but then you’ll be clutching your chest as something pops right out of left field at you.

There was way too many WTF moments to count. At one point I grabbed Rock’s paw and white knuckled it for the better half of the ending .

This is a book you don’t want to miss!

Check out this teaser :

For a disgraced reporter, unraveling a conspiracy of murder could mean redemption in a powerful novel of suspense by the bestselling author of Out of the Ashes.

Reporter Lee Ellerin’s investigation into a young woman’s unsolved murder gained national attention―only for her to lose everything due to a tragic mistake. After being publicly ridiculed for causing a suspect’s death, Lee is forced to leave her career behind.

Five years later, pregnant college student Amanda Hartley lies in a coma. The police say she attempted suicide, but the details don’t add up. Where is the father? Who was paying for Amanda’s Manhattan penthouse? Why did Amanda have a note with Lee’s name in her backpack? There’s also one alarming coincidence: Amanda was last seen on Dune Road in the Hamptons―where the murder victim in Lee’s previous investigation disappeared.

As she’s pulled back into the still-unsolved case that destroyed her career, Lee sees the chance to amend the mistakes of her past. But finding a killer and unearthing Amanda’s secrets sends her down a darker path than she has ever walked before.

I would give this book ten stars if I could!!!!! That was a thrilling and layered mystery and I legit had no idea who the bad guy was until the very end!!! I'm now a big fan of Kara's books and I hope she does another asap!