The Day He Never Came Home was the perfect book to pull me out of a massive reading slump! This was a fantastic fast-paced popcorn thriller, and I completely devoured it. As someone who lives within driving distance of Minneapolis, I loved that this was the setting chosen for the story. The added familiarity with the setting helped me to forge a greater connection to the plot, which was really nice. With that being said, what I enjoyed most about this book was the main characters, particularly Regan. She was complex, calculated and a real risk-taker. She made some questionable decisions along the way but, I couldn’t help but root for her!

Read if you like:

✨Minnesota setting
✨Binge-able reads
✨Multi-faceted characters
✨Ponzi schemes

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I have just finished this plot twisting summer read! I actually enjoyed it a lot! I was honestly shocked the entire time! mouth kept dropping every few chapters!! it was something new with everyone! I loved the flow of the book, and how the characters were told as well! I definitely would count this as a summer thriller! Regan was THAT GIRL! LOVED HER! she had to do everything she could for her children and herself!! it’s a tough world out here for woman for sure!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Published on: July 9, 2024

This took me a while to finish this book because in Part 1 I didn’t find Regan lovable. But as the story progress, it showed how resilient she was in facing the lies and the battles that John has put her through and then I started to love her.

When I reached Part 2 which is John’s POV, I simply could not put the book down. I finished it in one sitting! John’s perspective gave light to everything that led to their predicament. Despite the plenty of wrongdoings he’s made, his backstory will make you root for him.

This book has so many layers, it is slow-paced but a page turner for sure. You’ll be intrigued on what happens next. It wasn’t that thriller-y at least for me but it surely captured my attention until the end.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

The Day He Never Came Home
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This is a domestic thriller for fans of Things He Never Told Me. Domestic thrillers are always a little hit or miss for me, I feel like they can come off as a little basic or really surprise me! The Day He Never Came Home had potential, but in the end it honestly fell really flat. When I was reading Things He Never Told Me I was missing a lot of thrill, it was too calm for me, this one gave me a little more of that thrill but at the end of the day it was a calm cozy thriller. I think what really missed the mark for me was the lay out of the book. It’s spilt into three parts…the first part is one main characters POV, past and present is mixed together. The second POV is our other main characters POV starting back when he was kid and then going over the same stuff we already did in the first part and the third and final part was present day and just a couple chapters. So going over the same history was obviously a bit boring and just slowed down the story so much. It felt like we would get some momentum and then it would fizzle out and then we get momentum and fizzle out and the fizzled out moments dragged on! Honestly 90% of the book felt the same but different POV. I think it would have grabbed my attention more and flowed better if it was all mixed together because it was a good story, but overall didn’t work for me. ⭐️⭐️
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Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Andrew Deyoung for this e-Arc. The Day He Never Came Home is out July 9th!

This book title reminds me of The Last Thing He Told Me, although the story, characters, and plot are very different.

The story begins with Regan receiving a surprise gift from her husband John. Not just any ordinary gift, but a house on a lake—the type she had always dreamed of, a sanctuary away from her two little toddlers.

Then, John disappears. Soon, the news breaks that John is involved in a major Ponzi scheme and everyone is looking for him to recover their money, including the police. Regan becomes the police’s prime suspect in their search for John, as they believe she is involved in his financial crime.

I found myself rooting for Regan and feeling sympathetic towards her situation. Her life is suddenly torn apart, and she struggles to stay afloat while taking care of her two young children. Adding to her woes, her unsympathetic mother, who never liked or trusted John, is not in Regan’s corner. Regan is left on her own to figure things out.

I enjoyed the writing and felt for Regan. Her character is relatable, and some of her thoughts made me laugh out loud—haven’t we all been there before? However, the story lost me when the POV switched to John in the middle of the book. I found myself rushing through those pages, as I wasn't as interested in his tormented past or the reasons behind his deceit. I was more eager to find out the twist.

All the loose ends were tied up nicely at the end. However, this book felt more like a blend of women’s fiction with some suspense, as there are many pages devoted to Regan’s thoughts, feelings, and their past, which slowed down the pace of a thriller.

Overall, I enjoyed reading The Day He Never Came Home.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC copy.

Looking from the outside in, no one would think that one day Ragen’s husband John would not come home from work and the FBI would knock on their door and take everything while delivering the news that John was NOT who she thought he was. He was involved in a high level Ponzi scheme with some very dangerous people and John was just a small fish and they wanted it all.
As the story unfolds each pages gives more background and detail as to how deep the lies go in this relationship. A captivating and twisty domestic thriller that should not be missed. Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Andrew DeYoung for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well this was a thrilling ride. Iwas captivated from the start.

I felt like I was right there next to the protagonist the whole time as she and the other characters felt so real. The story itself was an edge of your seat story. A definite recommend.

Thank You Poisoned Pen and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influenced by anyone else's

The Day He Never Came Home is a gripping tale that kept me turning pages until the very end. From the opening scene to the final revelation, the plot is expertly crafted, drawing readers into a world of secrets, betrayal, and redemption.

Regan Peters is a compelling protagonist, whose world is turned upside down when the FBI comes knocking on her door, revealing shocking truths about her husband's hidden life. As she grapples with the fallout of his deception, Regan's journey is both heart-wrenching and empowering to witness.

I thoroughly enjoyed how the story unfolded, with each twist and turn keeping me on the edge of my seat. The author masterfully weaves together elements of suspense, drama, and emotion, creating a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

One of the aspects I appreciated most was the depth of the characters and their relationships. Regan's resilience in the face of adversity is inspiring, and her determination to protect her family at all costs is both admirable and relatable.

Overall, The Day He Never Came Home is a captivating read that will stay with me long after I've turned the final page. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling story with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you guessing until the end.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Regan js a devoted mother, who has just discovered that her husband, John has been keeping a secret from her. When the FBI show up at her door, Regan must decide what to do in order to protect her children. I really enjoyed this book. A definite page-turner. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars is because I had some lingering questions that went unanswered. Despite that, I found the story engaging. It kept me wondering how it would unfold.

A fantastic atmospheric read from Andrew DeYoung! Normally, I prefer fast-paced thrillers, but the slow build in this one didn’t bother me because it enhanced the backstory and pretext. The plot is captivating, the dual POVs are expertly written, and the character development is superb, making this a solid read.

This story was a thrill a minute. Regan Peters knows her husband John wants to give her and their children a good life. The long hours he puts in as a financial advisor prove his dedication, and despite how mysterious he is about his past, that's been enough for her to get through the hard days. Until the FBI shows up at their door looking for John, and Regan learns that her husband has been running a Ponzi scheme, is mixed up with dangerous criminals, and has been living under an assumed identity all these years. Everything she thought she knew about her husband has been a lie.
The story is told in two viewpoints and at times there is some overlap of re-telling a few of their experiences from each point of view but it was very interesting to get the two perspectives and at times it was a little repetitive.
I enjoy when main characters are a mixture of black and white..... living somewhere in the grey. It adds texture and nuance and a little bit of interest to know your main character may not always do the right thing... or the legal thing. There's a lot of ambiguity in this story and it layers on complexity that I found compelling.
Good thriller, I recommend! .

This was AMAZING. The writing was beautiful and very detailed. Felt like I was watching a movie, I was so engrossed in this story. The twists and turns was chefs kiss.

Imagine one day, everything is going so perfect, that the police show up at your door and tell you that your spouse is a criminal, running a Ponzi scheme! I was furious for Regan! I couldn’t even imagine. And to top it off, he’s not even who he says he is. She married and children with a complete stranger. As a mother, I’m not sure how I would be able to explain that to my kid. “John” really did her dirty.

This was kinda giving same book vibes but it has a different twist and I loved it. It shows how a mother will do anything for her kids and also how strong we can be when we have no choice. Often times I was thinking what would I do!

Thank you NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy of The Day He Never Came Home. This book had me hooked right at the start, and I was obsessed with the plot. It had such a good start however I felt as if it bored out and the writer got more into small description rather than keeping the thrill going. I was intrigued to see where the story went, however it felt lack luster and wasn't executed to its full potential. I will still recommend this book to newer crime lovers, as I did enjoy the mystery aspect. However for an avid reader for me this didn't reach the full potential it could have.

A fast-paced popcorn read.

The writing was engaging, but the plot felt underwhelming. The end was rushed and too convenient. And I'm still unsure why Regan married and then stayed with John in the first place -- I kept reading the book to find the answer, but never got it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC REVIEW

🏠THE DAY HE NEVER CAME HOME🏠

Author: Andrew DeYoung
Genre: Domestic Thriller
Pub Date: July 9, 2024
Rating: 4.5⭐️

What do you do when the man you built a life with doesn’t come home, only to then learn that the FBI is looking for him and accusing him of running a Ponzi scheme? How do you respond? What would you do in order to support your two kids? Regan Peters has to answer those questions. She thought she had a husband who was successful and worked very hard to provide the good life for her and their kids, but it turns out it was all a lie.

This was an enjoyable, quick read! The beginning seemed predictable to me, which had me worried. Then I realized, duh… setting it up that way helped to create the opportunity to develop the characters and the story. We get two POVs: Regan’s POV following the day her husband John never came home, and John’s POV leading up to the day he never came home. Regan is such a smart character, very thoughtful in how she chooses to handle the cards she has been dealt. And I was so pleased with what happens for her overall.

I loved how this was a story about reinvention and how one might choose to respond if their whole world was turned upside down. If you’re looking for a captivating, quick read, I’d definitely recommend giving this a read! 4.5 rounded to 5.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I absolutely loved everything about this book. One of my favorite authors. The writing is intense, nail biting and addictive. I was flipping through pages with anticipation needing to see where the story takes you. This book kept me up at night with heart palpitations. Strong characters, unexpected twists and fantastic ending.

I felt super locked in to this story/read, however that kind of faded when reading part two. the second half felt very repetitive, often recapping moments that were already explained in part one. i realize there were told through different perspectives but i think majority of part two could have been removed or just shortened.

regardless though i did think this was a good mysterious thriller. the beginning reminded me very much of Good Girls. the ending felt too easy to me, almost as if it wrapped up too quickly. I really liked the idea of Regan working with the FBI to get Skoval, so I was a little disappointed that as the reader we never got to see that play out.

mistaken and fake identities, secrets, family drama and murder are all themes I think excelled in this book, it’s just the execution (mostly in part two) that fell flat for me and I wish had been more sharpened.

Overall, really enjoyed this read. I did have a few complaints, but let's leave that for last. This was a slow burn, but once you get hooked it's easy to fall into the stories grip. John and Regan each have their own personal trauma they are dealing with from their pasts. Regan struggles with being a stay at home mom, and John works long hours. I did enjoy the 3 part aspect of being told from different POV's (Regan, John, then tied all together) however, i felt it was very repetitive? Like, the same things told, just a different person telling it. Didn't seem much different, honestly.

Again, overall enjoyed this one and I would recommend it to friends if asked!