I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
I have loved every book this author has written and once again he writes a winner!
Sloan is doing a research assignment and must enter her DNA into a geology site. —never expecting the answers she discovers. She is baby Charlotte who disappeared with her parents 30 years ago, Wanting answers to where her parents are- alive or dead she goes to Cedar
creek and meets sheriff Eric. Together they begin digging for answers but someone is willing to kill to keep things quiet.

Fascinating high octane mystery! Sloan Hastings is in the final years of study to become a medical examiner when she is assigned forensic genealogy for her research, she submits her DNA to genealogy site. Sloan is adopted, and really didn't know what to expect, but she certainly didn't expect to learn that she was kidnapped as a baby!

Thus she sets off a series of events that include old secrets, violence and murder! Join Sloan as she tries to find out where she came from and how she got to where she is now!

Donlea has created a perfectly paced thriller filled with interesting facts, an incredibly likeable heroine and an exciting mystery. #kensingtonbooks #charliedonlea #longtimegone #crossfit

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This starts when Sloan, a doctor training to become a medical examiner, takes a genealogy website DNA test as part of a research project and discovers she is Baby Charlotte, who went missing together with her parents decades ago. Sloan is approached by the sheriff whose father (also a sheriff) was the one who initially investigated the circumstances of the disappearances, but died himself in arguably mysterious circumstances.

This is told in differing timelines and from different perspectives, which results in a fair amount of repetition. Characters also explain things to one another a lot (e.g. how to develop film), and I hope the author got a kick back from Cross Fit, because there was a big focus on that too. The ending was fairly over the top in comparison with what had gone before. This book does not make the US justice system look particularly robust...

Ok, Donlea may be my new favorite crime author. This book literally had me on the edge of my seat THE WHOLE BOOK! I loved Twenty Years Later and I’m kicking myself for not reading this Arc sooner. It was so suspenseful and so just EVERYTHING! I loved every minute of this! I loved the short chapters and the different timelines. This was just so well done. I will definitely be reading everything this author writes from here on out. This is my new auto buy author!

Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fast read with some holes

Sloan is studying to be a forensic pathologist. Each student is assigned a topic to research and present after their first year of the fellowship. Her topic is forensic and investigative genealogy. To learn a little about genealogy, she thinks that she should have her DNA tested and added to a database. That was the first head scratcher for me. Sloan is adopted and is concerned about registering, but feels like she needs to so she can learn how the process works. My mind just doesn’t follow that. She is learning how to do autopsies without being autopsied herself. I don’t think that she would have needed to register herself to thoroughly understand the process. Anyway, she matches to a woman who is very active in genealogy. But she isn’t really related to her by blood, so the woman must have registered her spouse. A little spoiler alert, but that also would not have happened. She finds that she is a child of a couple who disappeared almost 30 years ago. She teams up with the sheriff of the town where she went missing to find out what happened to her and her parents.

I read a pre-publication copy, so this may be corrected in the final version, but there was a big flaw that, as a former photography nut drove me crazy. Sloan learns how to print film photos from her aunt. The process was correct. But they find a roll of film in a camera and somehow magically print photos from that without developing the film. That needs to be corrected.

The story was good and I could see Sloan becoming a recurring character. I would gladly read more of her and her family.

This mystery is set in several locations from North Carolina to Nevada and Oregon with some alternating time periods. A Sheriff (Eric) is searching for answers about his father’s death. A bright graduate (Sloan) is beginning her fellowship program to be a medical examiner. Her area of interest will be in forensic pathologist and investigative genealogy. The two cross paths and soon find they have a common interest. Sloan uses her own DNA for her research project. Little does she know the revelation of her own genealogy will forever change her life. Her new family has fame, wealth, notoriety, mountains of lies and generations of skeletons. The characters came alive and kept me guessing. The author does a fabulous job in providing interesting, informative, detailed explanations. I particularly enjoyed the aunt who had been a photographer. The forgotten art of photography with an actual camera and film development. I still own my beloved 35mm Canon. The dark room process was compelling and brought back memories. There is a very complex plot with outcomes that surprised me. It was a great read that I finished quickly.
I’ve enjoyed previous books by Mr. Donlea and look forward to more. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of “Long Time Gone” by Charlie Donlea, Kensington Publishing, expected publication 05/23/2024. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

When researching the use of genealogy in solving crime, Dr Sloane Hastings finds herself embroiled in a cold case, after her DNA identifies her as missing ‘baby Charlotte’. Unsure of who to trust, and desperately dodging the media, Sloane returns to her place of birth to discover what happened thirty years ago.

This was a really enjoyable mystery. The genealogy premise felt fresh and unique. I loved Sloane’s strength, capability and decisiveness. There were so many viewpoints and perspectives captured, and the author did a fantastic job of weaving them together in a way that was really easy to follow. The short, sharp chapters made the book really fast paced, and a quick read.

I also really loved the ambiance of Cedar Creek as a setting. The tie in with the bridge on the cover really gave a sense of a rural small town community. The author did a wonderful job of interweaving the various time periods, and I found the ending really satisfying and credible. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a small town, twisty mystery with a unique premise!

Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Huge fan of this author, his writing style, and the subtle connections to his other works interlaced into books. This was yet again, another great read. I couldn’t figure this one out until the very end and then all I can say is WOW! Perfect ending; so well written; highly recommend!

Charlie Donlea is one of those authors that is an automatic read for me. I was so excited to start this! Long Time Gone is full of suspense, forensics, and family secrets in a riveting tale that unfolds around the rediscovery of Baby Charlotte, now Dr. Sloan Hastings. The book navigates the complexities of Sloan's search for identity, drawing readers into a small town haunted by a decades-old mystery. With a cast of like-able characters and a plot shrouded in secrecy, this book captivates from start to finish, delivering a compelling blend of forensic intrigue and the haunting repercussions of a long-buried past.

Thank you to Charlie Donlea, NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this advanced reading copy.

Another gripping well thought out, well written and shocking book by Charlie Donlea! Long Time Gone instantly grabbed my attention from the opening scene and never let it go! I had a hard time putting this book down as I was fully invested and wanted more. Donlea is a must read for me, and Long Time Gone did not disappoint!

Imagine submitting your DNA to an online site as part of a research assignment and finding out more than you bargained for! Dr. Sloan Hastings has a fellowship in forensic pathology under a renowned doctor. She always knew she was adopted and had no intentions of finding her biological parents. But when her DNA results come back, she learns she is Charlotte Margolis, aka “Baby Charlotte”, a baby who went missing in 1995.

As Sloan travels to Cedar Creek, Nevada, to meet her biological family and is greeted warmly. Sloan has a lot of questions; will they have the answers? There she will also meet Sheriff Eric Stamos who has some questions of his own...

Donlea did a fantastic job with the characters. Each was distinct and not one stood out to me as being questionable or worthy of suspicion. I came up with a few theories but didn't come close to solving what happened prior to Sloan/Baby Charlotte going missing and was subsequently adopted. Donlea kept me on my toes wanting more, more, more as the book progressed.

This book is told using dual timelines which really worked for me. I always love tension in books and during the last half of the book, the tension creeps in and begins to mount. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next! Like Sloan, I had questions as well, and was on the edge of my seat, waiting for answers! Plus, the pacing was spot on. There were no slow parts and the going back and forth in time kept things moving nicely.

Gripping, well written, shocking, and captivating!

LONG ТΙМE GONE
вy Cнarlιe Donlea
Releaѕe Daтe 05/21/2024

Sloan Hastings is working her way through school to become a forensic pathologist and just began her training in the ME’s office in pathology training when she is assigned investigative genealogy and submits her DNA - finding out she was a missing baby that was national news 30 years ago along with her parents. All were presumed dead or disappeared voluntarily.

Once this is discovered, her world gets completely turned upside down.

Every chapter is super informative, and if you have any interest in this subject, it’s just ONE of the reasons you’ll love this book…
(Another reason is it’s Charlie Donleas's book, and I can’t seem to put them down. )
He’s a master at medical / thriller/action-packed books that craft a deeply fascinating mystery that has twists and turns with fantastic pacing to keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end!!!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️S̥ͦT̥ͦḀͦR̥ͦS̥ͦ


#chaliedonlea #booklover #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #instabooks #bookblogger #goodreads #bookreview #bookrecommendations #alwaysreading #bookstagrammers #bookrecommendation #booknerds #bookblogging #bookpile #bookworld #arcbooks#kensingtonbooks

Multiple POVs and dual timelines; short chapters; badass FMC (I want to be her fr); perfect pace and great storytelling; was hooked from the beginning and it just kept slowly pulling me further in; the perfect amount of depth and complexity; loved each component of the plot; addictive and kept me guessing.

My favorite of the 3 I’ve read by this author so far.

Special thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My go-to thriller author has hit it out of the park again. Dr. Sloan Hastings finds through DNA testing that she is the famous Baby Charlotte gone missing 30 years ago. The twists and turns will keep you rapt!

An innocent DNA test leads to a forensic scientist uncovering secrets of a past she knew nothing about, resulting in a fight for her life.

Sloan Hastings has always known that she was adopted, but she had the best parents in the world, so it never really bothered her, until an online genealogy search proves her to be baby Charlotte Margolis who, along with her birth parents had gone missing thirty years ago. What started off as a course research for her fellowship in Forensic Pathology soon gets Sloan embroiled in solving a cold case - that of her own disappearance.

Over the past year, I had been binge-watching episodes of Forensic Files on YouTube and was fascinated by how cold cases spanning decades were solved using DNA evidence. The plotline of Long Time Gone brings to mind several of those episodes.
I loved the character of Sloan - brilliant doctor, ambitious student, Crossfit champion - the perfect protagonist, with no flaws. Though it was faintly hinted at, the author does not insert a romance angle and hamper the intensity of the plot.

The narrative is peppered with plenty of technical details - information on how genealogy sites work, the ethics behind using these sites to hunt criminals, the coursework for Forensic Pathology, Sloan's crossfit routine with Eric, etc. - while this gives the reader some know-how on matters that may or may not have been familiar to them before, it does become tedious after a while.

Overall, suspenseful and riveting. After this book, Charlie Donlea has become an auto-select author for me. Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington books for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

i've heard good things about some of charlie's other books, so i was excited to start this one. it did not disappoint! it had a great amount of suspense and i found myself constantly reaching for my kindle to keep reading. even things that i thought were odd, like her gym obsession, all came into play at the end. can't wait to check out his other books!

If you are just now reading one of my reviews for the first time, I will let you in on a little secret….
I can be quite critical of popular authors. I’m not a fan of Ruth Ware, Lisa Jewell, BA Paris, Lucy Foley, Freida McFadden, or Alice Feeney. The reason I’m telling you this is because I’m always looking for an author that stands out. Keeps me on my toes! Doesn’t have the most ridiculous twists. Folks, it appears I have found a new author that has blown me away! Charlie Donlea is a heck of a writer! 👌

Sloan Hastings is a pathologist that has to go into a two year fellowship under another forensic pathologist. As part of the study, she asked to do a DNA test for an online genealogy site. Sloan is adopted. With permission from her adoptive parents, she takes the plunge. However, Sloan isn’t ready for what they find out.

Her results suggest she is the daughter of a couple who went missing thirty years ago. A nationwide case that rocked the country, she is in fact baby Charlotte Margolis! Her father, mother and her vanished into thin air. Why was the story so famous? The Margolis family was and is a successful family of wealth full of lawyers and political ties. Only thing is, there were some suspicious deaths back then that were tied to the case.

Whew, that was a lot of information. I know.

Sloan decides to head to Cedar Creek, Nevada to meet her new family and find out what happened to her real parents. How did she become adopted? Who gave her up for adoption when her parents were missing? What really happened to those people with suspicious deaths? How in the heck is this all tied together?

When we get to the meat and potatoes of the story, I was incredibly fascinated! Donlea thought up a brilliant link to bring all of this together! This is exactly what I’m talking about, a completely unique plot of a story with a common trope, the missing child trope. I enjoyed every single minute of it and I think you will too!

I truly believe this book will explode! Several times last night, my mouth flew open and I gasped out loud. I mean, how could I stop reading? Shocking twists and turns lead me up late into the night. It did get a little wild towards the end and a little unbelievable, however, it didn’t even matter. I loved this unique tale and will definitely read him again.

I am grateful to Kensington, NetGalley and Charlie Donlea for the opportunity. All opinions are my own. Publication date May 21, 2024.
4.5 ⭐️ raised to 5
Run and add this to your TBR now!!!! 😊

Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea
All I can say is RUN when this book comes out and get it! I’ve enjoyed all of Charlie Donlea’s books but this one blew it out of the park. My new favorite from him.
Sloan Hastings is about to start her fellowship for medical examiner. Part of this is learning about forensic geology. Sloan who was adopted grudgingly agrees to have her DNA tested as part of this. She really has no interest in her past, she was raised by her loving adoptive parents and hates to rock that boat. When her DNA links her to an infamous missing couple and their infant daughter her whole life as she knew it is about to explode. Now she’s rocketed into finding all the answers.
This book will be one I’ll recommend over and over.

I enjoy this author and this book was no exception. I was hooked from the first few pages. I did figure the story out ie who was the bad guy but i still enjoyed this very much.

This is as perfect as a book can be. The characterization is well done and really showcases the traits of each of the people in the story so well you would think you know them.

There are descriptions of settings that truly helped me visualize what the scenes looked like, and the mystery itself--so carefully played out that it kept me intrigued throughout the story.

This book is worth every one of the 5 stars I am giving it.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this copy!

This is my 3rd book by Charlie Donlea and I haven’t been disappointed yet. From the very first page I was sucked in and the action and suspense didn’t stop until the very last page. I’m now scrambling to get ahold of every single book. Thanks again to the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy, I’m truly obsessed with this author!!