Long Time Gone is an engaging and captivating story about family secrets. It was intense and gripping from the start. I enjoy the writing style and the dual timeline (which involves more character in the case). The story took an unexpected turn, and although it was quite obvious who's the responsible one, it didn't take away my enjoyment.

I previously enjoyed Those Empty Eyes so I was really excited for this one and I ended up really enjoying it. The different POVs/timelines were interesting and I liked how pieces of the story were revealed and how it all came together in the end! It was fast-paced, especially with the short chapters, and I did not want to put it down!

"Long Time Gone proved to be an engaging and captivating read that kept me glued to its pages until the very end. In a single sitting, I devoured Sloan Hastings' journey as she embarks on her path to becoming a forensics pathologist. The story takes an unexpected turn when Sloan decides to submit her DNA for a project, only to discover that she is a long-lost child, separated from her parents thirty years ago. The suspense and intricately woven plot twists in this book are not to be missed. I highly recommend adding it to your must-read list!"

Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Books for an advanced copy for me to read and review.

This was an excellent audiobook with a great narrator. It had really good pacing.

Donlea does a really nice job of weaving a story together and keeping me interested from start to finish. The pacing was spot on.

The characters were so fun to root for and the villains were just so…villainy.

I also enjoy how there are real life references to true crime in his books. In this particular book he talks about the Golden State Killer and the advances in DNA that led to his arrest and conviction.

Another thing you can count on with this author is people getting what they deserve. That’s why the conclusions to his books are so satisfying.

Just like his prior books, this one would make a great movie.

This was my 3rd book by this author, and I can’t wait to read more in the future, his writing is consistently good. Def achieved auto-buy status for me.

This was my first Charlie Donlea book, and I enjoyed the story, but it wasn't till the end that I really felt any tension. Sloan/Charlotte was an interesting character, and her story was definitely original. The ending had aspects that were a bit much to swallow, however. All in all it was an entertaining story.

I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

Sloan Hasting, studying forensics pathology has a research assignment focusing on online genealogy. When submitting her own DNA she is shocked to find out she’s baby Charlotte who went missing 30 years prior. Though she always knew she adopted she could not imagine she had disappeared along with her parents in 1995. This brings about an investigation into what happened to Sloan and her parents so many years ago.

As a fan of some of @charliedonlea previous work this book did not disappoint!! I enjoyed his writing style and how the story was told from present and past perspectives as the story unfolds. The book was very detailed with the DNA and genealogy terminology which seemed to drag at times. However, I was intrigued at least 80% of the book. I did have some idea of the plot but the way it was revealed was enjoyable. The only disappointment was to discover how and what happened to Sloans birth mother. Like lady why couldn’t you just follow directions for one more hour 😒🫠

Pub date was May21st so if you enjoy a good slow burn thriller this is a good one!! Thank you @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the an ARC of this book!

This is my second Charlie Donlea novel and the premise was just as riveting as the first book I read. I like the idea of cold cases and past and present timelines as the reader races through the chapters to put the pieces together. The author is a master of suspense and builds anticipation incredibly well without giving away any leads. I will say that when the big reveal occurs though, the air comes out of the balloon incredibly quickly. Literally both books I read the twist and ending happen in a handful of pages.

Sloan Hastings has always known she was adopted and decides to submit her DNA on a genealogy website. What she doesn’t anticipate is her DNA links her to a thirty-year-old cold case. Not only has it never been solved but she is the missing key in possibly finding the perpetrator.

When the local Sheriff requests her help, Sloan returns to her familial home and is seemingly embraced by lost family members. But this family is powerful and may have some very dark secrets to hide. Sloan finds herself in a precarious situation as she races to solve the disappearance of her parents and also avoid the press who are trying to exploit her story. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.

crime-thriller, multiple-perspectives, psychological, suspense, mysteries, secrets, families, family-dynamics, family-history, unputdownable, DNA, dishonest-business-practices, dishonest-people, entanglements, multiple-timeline*****

Terrible book to stick my nose into because I just couldn't get it unstuck until the wee hours!
The publisher's blurb is well done and I'd be afraid to do a spoiler if I tried to add anything to it.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you

This is the first book by this author I have ever read. I love discovering new authors and this one is definitely one I won’t forget. I enjoyed how this story unfolded.

Sloan is a forensic trainee and her project for the year is genetic information that has solved cold cases. To better understand her project, Sloan submits her DNA to an ancestry website. Sloan knew she was adopted but she had no idea she was stolen!

When Sloan discovers her history she immediately reaches out to her adoptive parents and then she has to get the FBI involved. This leads to her finding her birth family. And boy…they are a piece of work!

This is a tale full of family secrets, family drama and pure lies!

The narrator, Vivienne Leheny, did a fabulous job. I will be on the lookout for her!

Need a good story which may have you questioning your DNA…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

A sign of a good book is when you pick it up to read a few chapters … and then can’t put it down. Mr Donlea had me gripped from the very first page with his latest thriller. This is the third book I’ve read by him, and in my opinion, his best to date.

Told in duel timelines from the present to the past, we follow the story of the disappearance of baby Charlotte in 1995 to the present day. Sloan Hastings has begun a two year fellowship in training to be a forensic pathologist. Her first assignment is the study of genealogy and DNA. Donlea weaves an intricate and clever tale combining science, family dynamics and missing children tropes.

I like my thrillers twisty and full of suspense. Not only did this book deliver on those points (expertly IMO) but was also infused with a level of emotion and depth that I have come to expect from his books, elevating them into a richer, satisfying story.

An expertly crafted plot that had me at the edge of my seat, well developed characters that kept me invested and a suspenseful, fast paced narrative all make for a totally addictive read. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to @netgalley @kensingtonbooks for a complimentary ebook 💌
Huge thanks to #rbmedia for ALC 🎧 The narration by Vivienne Leheny was superbly executed and entertaining.

Recently accepted into a prestigious fellowship program in forensic pathology, twenty-nine-year-old Dr. Sloan Hastings is assigned the topic of forensic genealogy as her research project. To enhance her knowledge and gain a better understanding of the field, she submits her DNA to a genealogy website. She has always known she was adopted but little did she know that the results of her DNA analysis would result in a shocking revelation about her real identity – a revelation that connects her to the mysterious disappearance of three members of an influential family in Cedar Creek, Nevada in 1995 - a young couple and their two-month-old daughter, Charlotte.

As Sloan embarks on a quest to find out more about the cold case, her biological family and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her adoption, she travels to Cedar Creek where she meets members of her biological family who are overwhelmed to be reunited with “Charlotte” after all these years. She finds an ally in the local Sheriff who has a personal interest in the cold case but finding out what happened to her biological parents after all these years won’t be easy and whatever information she does gather leaves her with more questions than answers. Complicating matters further is the media frenzy brought on by “Charlotte” being found and the fact that there are people who would resort to any means to prevent Sloan from discovering the truth.

The narrative is presented in dual timelines – the present day where we follow Sloan as she pursues her search for the truth and 1995, wherein the events that led to the disappearance of Charlotte and her parents are slowly revealed.

Charlie Donlea’s Long Time Gone is UNPUTDOWNABLE! It’s been a while since I found a thriller that kept me glued to the pages and I couldn’t be more pleased. With an intriguing premise with a solid mystery at its core, interesting characters and dual timelines that are equally absorbing and seamlessly woven into a fast-paced, suspenseful narrative – this book checks all the boxes!

I paired my reading with the audiobook narrated by Vivienne Leheny, which made for a riveting immersion reading experience. I finished this one in a single day!

This is my third time reading Charlie Donlea and I can’t wait to explore his backlist while I wait for his next book!

Many thanks to Kensington Books for the digital review copy and RB Media for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I have been a Charlie Donlea fan since his debut, Summit Lake. With each release, I look forward to getting my hands on Donlea's new book. Long Time Gone was no different - I enjoyed this story of a DNA test opening lots of crazy doors and entering the world of the rich and elite. Another winner from Donlea.

A propulsive mystery that had me on the edge of my seat! Short chapters. Interesting characters. Original storyline. Exactly what I needed!!

There has been a lot going on in my personal life- so I really look to books to take me away and drop me in the middle of somewhere else for a little while. I have started so many books and then put them down as I lost focus. But that did NOT happen here!! I tore through this one - highly recommend!

The short version of the premise is that the main character, Sloan, is asked to submit to DNA processing as part of her ME training. She is hesitant since she knows she is adopted, and is not sure how she feels about finding her biological parents. Little did she know how much ruckus her appearance in the genealogy records would cause.

Enough of a synopsis to entice you? That’s all you need to know- try not to read more about the premise before reading- some big plot points are given away. This is a good- the less you know going in, the better - book.

I loved the unraveling of the mystery bit by bit. I was drawn in immediately and this book never lost steam. Pick up a copy ASAP!! Thank you to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the ARC to read and review. I also loved Those Empty Eyes by this author- so add that one to your TBR too.

Charlie Donlea delivers a book you will want to savor endlessly! This story is full of mystery and suspense. Past meets present, self discovery, family power and mysterious deaths uncovered is just the beginning of this page turner. Run don’t walk to pick up Long Time Gone for your next 5⭐️ read!!!

Thank you Net Galley and Kensington Books for providing an ARC of Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I can't get enough of this author!!! This book is hard to put down with an unforgettable ending I did not see coming. In 1995, Charlotte Margolis, "baby Charlotte", and her parents disappear. A prominent family tied into a famous case. Dr. Sloan Hastings decides to research the case for an assignment. When she has the DNA tested, she receives shocking results that confirm she is "baby Charlotte". She always knew she was adopted and never had the desire to find her birth parents, but this was epic.
Sloan meets Sheriff Eric Stamos and he has a curious interest in the case also because his father Sandy Stamos died suspiciously during his investigation.
Sloan sets out to meet her real family, the Margolis, and she is in for a rude awakening. There is something not adding up and she finds members not so happy she is interfering and digging up the past.
This is shocking as it is told in multiple POVS and one view is Sandy from his past investigation. Told in dual timelines with the present true crime podcaster Ryder. I think everyone is going to love this one. I was so excited to receive it. Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sloan Hastings thinks she has a pretty good handle on her life as she is about to begin her fellowship in forensics. She is assigned a research assignment on genealogy and submits her DNA to a website, knowing she is adopted and that she could unearth some interesting information. She gets more than what she bargained for when she is identified as Baby Charlotte, the child of wealthy parents who vanished years ago without a trace.

Donlea is quickly becoming an auto-read for me! He is so skilled at building interesting cases and I loved the cold case element here. Sloan was so likeable and the multiple perspectives kept it so fascinating! I was flipping pages, dying to know what Sloan could uncover.

2.5* —> 3*

I’m afraid the time has come to admit that Charlie Donlea’s books just aren’t for me.

Maybe not finishing his previous one should have been a clue, but I was swayed by the description of Long Time Ago. Unfortunately, that particular description was nearly 20% of the book. Meaning I was just waiting to discover something I didn’t already know.

The premise sounded so promising. Way back in 1995, Preston Margolis, his wife Annabel, and their baby daughter Charlotte disappeared. In the present day, Sloan hands over her DNA to a genealogy site to learn more about the ins and outs of how a DNA sample can help solve a cold case. I must admit I didn’t quite understand that particular reasoning but okay, it’s fiction. Turns out Sloane is Charlotte. Personally, I could have known without knowing that from the description. It ruined what could have been a nice turn of events.

What follows is mostly incredibly repetitive, quite easy to figure out, and predictable. Glimpses into the past are there to shed a light on things that happened in the nineties. But all in all, I never really became hooked on this story. It lacked suspense, but mostly tension. I considered not finishing it, but I wanted to see if my theory panned out. In case you wondered, some of it did. Although not entirely, and not quite for the reasons I thought.

All in all, an okay read but not one that will stay with me, nor one that convinces me to read another book by this author again. It happens, and looking at the reviews/ratings I am very much in the minority.

Long Time Gone is another page-turner from Charlie Donlea.

"Sloan Hastings submits her DNA to a geneology site as part of her research and discovers she is the long lost "Baby Charlotte". Her parents' disappearance captured the nation's attention almost 30 years ago. Sloan is drawn to Cedar Creek, Nevada - a place where her biological family - the Margolises - control almost every part of the town. Sloan discovers that there are secrets that someone is willing to kill for."

Whoa - what a wild ride from Donlea. The pages fly by and I really did not want to put this down. Sloan is a great character to pull for - an adopted girl who loves her parents but wants to know more about where she came from. She's unsure about how to react when she finds them.
I love the darkroom moments. (Film photography is quickly becoming a lost art) And the reveal was especially satisfying, especially with the Baby Charlotte twist.
This reminded me of a case here that got national attention. Who knew Donlea could predict the future.

This is one of the best thrillers I've read this year. Great pick if you're looking for a fast-paced read.

Title: Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: May 21, 2024

🧬 Found Family
🧬 30 Y/O Cold Case
🧬 Mystery Thriller
🧬 Corruption
🧬 Dual POV
🧬 Multiple Timelines

Sloane is training to become a forensic pathologist and is required to submit her DNA to a genealogy site as part of an assignment. The results are unbelievable, and she finds herself in the middle of trying to solve her and her biological parents' cold case/mysterious disappearance.
Her new family is very secretive, and not everyone is happy that Sloane is back. She spends the summer learning more about them while trying to uncover evidence of her parent's potential demise.

My Review:

I really enjoyed the majority of the story. The writing was pretty solid, and the dual timelines and POV made for a quick and engaging read! The twist at the end certainly couldn't have been predicted.

I loved the premise, but the twist at the end was just not for me. I truly love Charlie Donlea so please understand that maybe this just wasn't my kind of thriller, the twist is too unlikely for me and because of that it didn't offer the type of resolution I was hoping for.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Kensington, for the digital review copy ❣️

3.5/5

I have recently discovered Charlie Donlea and I am impressed so far!

Long Time Gone is a layered mystery that incorporates police procedural, domestic drama and thriller aspects to create a compelling storyline. In her final steps in her training to be a medical examiner, Sloan Hastings is assigned the research topic of genetics and how it helps solve crimes. When she submits her DNA to a genealogy site, Sloan discovers that she has been missing since she was a baby.

The story is told by switching back and forth from present to past timeline and keeps the reader turning the pages. I enjoyed the ride, although some might find the ending a bit of a reach.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!