When a child goes missing, how is the family impacted? When his jacket, and then his body are found 21 years later, how does the family react? How does guilt impact the lives of the parents and siblings, friends, neighbors, and the accused? In a heart-wrenching story, Marybeth Mahew Whalen explores these questions. Every Moment Since is a thought-provoking story of a family’s worst nightmare. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

This is a wonderfully written, heartbreaking story about a sudden disappearance of a little boy named Davy.
Davy;s vanishing took place one night, twenty years passed and he was never found.
Where could he have gone? Was this an abduction?
How this changes the family, friends and all living in this small town comes to light once more when his "McFly" jacket Davy always wore was found after all these years and the search is reopened!

This is truly a book that is emotional and intense at times. It is every parents nightmare and I could feel the pain of Davy's mom and siblings. The guilt of being a brother who wishes that he had done things different on that fateful evening is displayed and felt to the core.
If you enjoy family, suspense, drama and emotional stories then have a seat and open this incredible story!

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @HarperMuse for this ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review.

As a child of the 80s, I distinctly remember the abductions of the early 80s, especially Adam Walsh. Instead of focusing purely on what happen to the missing child, this book does a deep dive into those left behind and how the event has shaped their lives. From the siblings, to the friends, law enforcement, suspect and larger community. it shapes everyone in a different way and a few have secrets. I didn't see the ending coming, but it really made me think, especially as the actual outcome isn't necessarily the presumed outcome. This one will stick with me for.a while.

Wow! What a great book! This book was so well written. Even though there were many characters and dual timelines it was so easy to follow. The story being told had me hooked from the beginning. Great book!

More than twenty years ago, Davy Malcor went to play with his friends and never came home. The jacket he wore that night has been found, and the police believe they are close to solving his case. As family and friends await news, the past comes roaring back to life and people who were there replay their parts. It seems they all have guilt to bear.

A missing child story is always a good read. This story started slow for me. I understand the need to build the story but the pacing could have been better. I didn't become invested in the story until about 60%. Truth be told, I almost DNF'd this book several times. I ended up solving the who part of the mystery but I was glad I was wrong about the how aspect of it.

This book is a goldmine! What I expected from the blurb was more of a mystery thriller and police procedural on a decades old cold case... But the book is not about the missing child. It's about the family that is lost... Not literally but figuratively.

The plot is about a 11 year old child, Davy Malcor, who is lost one night... Never to be found again. After twenty one years, someone finds his jacket, reopening the decades old cold case. The book follows the family and closed ones of Davy as they deal with the revelations, how they've tried to move on but failed. There is a constant back and forth in timelines, excerpts from a book written by Davy's brother about his disappearance, which might be a little confusing in the initial few chapters.

I sobbed with Tabitha (Davy's mum) and I was shocked at the little plot twists. It's a unique book in the sense that there is no clear villain to hate... It's a giant wheel of consequences which is still haunting everyone involved. Ab absolutely gut wrenching book, which will make you cry for a child you don't know.

Thank you Netgalley, Harper collins Focus and Marybeth M Whalen for the audio arc of Every Moment Since.
Narrated by Cassandra Campbell; George Newbern; Kirby Heyborne; Jane Oppenheimer; MacLeod Andrews; Renata Friedman.

Every Moment Since is a small town mystery thriller surrounding a cold case of the disappearance of Davy Malcor. As a multi POV and duel timelines, makes this book a slow burn, with lots of character development, descriptive storyline to work out what indeed happened to Davy.
I found reading this deeply emotive. With the character building from different POV, I found I bonded and cared for the characters, especially Tabitha, Davy's Mother, All the characters have stories to tell, secrets to keep and the subplots come together very well.

I did also listen to the audio book whilst out walking. The narrators, coupled with the multi POV, gave everything a very human feel to the whole book which I enjoyed very much. Each narrator brought something different to the table, brought the characters to life and all of them were a pleasure to listen to.

4 Stars

4 ⭐️ It’s beyond my imagination to think of a child disappearing. The toll it takes on the family, friends, and community is unfathomable. This story focuses on just that.

While playing in a field after dark, 10 year old Davy disappears after being sent away by his brother Thaddeus. Alternating between two timelines, 1985 and 2006, the focus is on the tragedy and grief brought to the family of Davy, focusing mainly on his brother Thaddeus.

The story is well written, engaging, and leads to a surprise ending. Along the way told from multiple POV, we meet Davy’s Mom Tabby, his friend Anissa, and Gordon, a wrongfully accused man. Everyone touched by what happened to Davy is forever changed by guilt and grief.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse publishing. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The writing is so good!! I loved the overall plot and that there wasn’t a huge twist at the end, the story flowed so well with the multiple povs and dual timeline.

Not a fast paced thriller by any means but it’s very good and for me was a rather quick read.

I flew through this book! I just wanted to know how it was going to end and if this family would be okay. There are some heavy themes in this story, such as loss, grief, and forgiveness. This doesn't keep the story from moving along.. The characters are well developed and sympathetic. Highly recommend. Thank you netgalley for the review copy.

Every Moment Since will tug at your heart and soul. Characters and settings are beautifully developed to the point I felt I was living in the community with the family of the long-missing child. The sad story swirls around several family members as they grapple with loss, lingering doubts, and love.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Marybeth Whalen's novel about child loss is a heart-rending perspective on the people attached to the child. Davy Malcor, age 11, went missing from his small North Carolina town in 1985. Davy's parents were out, and his older brother TJ (Thaddeus) was supposed to watch out for him. Twenty-one years later, the story reveals the actions, thoughts, and feelings of each person connected to Davy and to the event of his disappearance.

Whalen's writing is wonderful. The story's flow kept me riveted from beginning to end. I recommend this thoughtful piece about love and grief.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book, which will be published on October 1, 2024.

This book was incredibly sad, 11-year-old Davey has been missing for over 20 years when his favourite jacket is found not too far from his home. His older brother, Thaddeus has written a best-selling book about the experience and stops his book tour to go home and be with his family as the investigation continues.

This is my first book by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen and it was a banger. It isn’t an exciting book, there are no car chases or manhunts and no real police procedures of any sort. It’s a character study of what such a tragedy can do to a family and a small town. There are two timelines, the night of Davey’s disappearance and the present. We watch the family go through this tragedy a second time and as with most tragedies, there are conspiracies abound and consequences.

This is a very slow burn of a book in the best way possible. We are with the family and all their endeavours, their highs and their lows. The Malcor family and most of the other characters are all very likable and the setting is very creepy…kids playing in cornfields and the woods was such a vibe. I loved the small town’s southern location as it was as much a character as anyone.

The ending wasn’t a big tada! I liked that, I don’t think the author was going for a big twist in the usual sense and I found that to be very original because in real life it usually isn’t that way the ending is always anti-climatic and sad. This is my first book by the author but it certainly won’t be my last.

4.5 stars

A quick read - easy to follow the characters and plot. I loved the multiple points of view. It brought to light some of the hardships and emotions that come with losing a loved one - particularly a child. A very tough and dark topic but the author did an excellent job of approaching it with the seriousness and respect it deserves. The pace of the plot was steady - there were never any dull moments. I enjoyed the entire unfolding. I had ideas throughout as to what I suspected happened but none of my predictions were correct. I was completely shocked by the twist at the end and I love when a book can give me that. At many times the emotions felt so raw and genuine that I forgot I was listening to a fictional story as it felt more like a documentary of a true crime case.
I did listen to the audiobook and the narration was 5 stars! Multiple narrators for the points of view which I absolutely love. I feel like this is such a crucial detail with an audiobook that makes distinguishing characters so effortless. The tone and speed of the narrators were steady and easy to listen to. One of the male narrators reminded me of the narrators from many of my favorite 90s movies like The Sandlot and it gave that book this nostalgic feel that I loved. Annunciation was perfect. No complaints at all with the narration.
Thanks to NetGalley, Marybeth Mayhew Whalen, Harper Muse Publishing, and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the ARC and ALC and the chance to give my honest feedback!

This book is mostly a mystery that revolves around Davy Malcor's disappearance more than 20 years ago. It has a very slow build-up and the reveal was kind of lacking for me, it's not quite mind-blowing if you compare it to other crime mystery books so I don't know if I would really consider this a thriller.

Honestly, the book focuses more on family dynamics, showing the aftermath of Davy's disappearance and how it affected all the members of his family and their relationships with each other. Especially that of his mom, Tabitha, and his older brother, TJ — both narrators of the story.

The 2 other narrators are Anissa — she has a connection to Davy when they were kids and to his family now that the case has been reopened, and Gordon — the man who was suspected of the crime.

Since this has multiple POVs, I loved that it was also a full-cast audiobook. I think it enhances my connection and understanding of a character when I can actually hear their thoughts from their own voice.

Overall, this was a beautifully written novel about a family and a whole community after experiencing a tragic loss and how they found closure after many years and navigated towards forgiveness and healing.

This wonderful story is an examination on how one tragedy can spread out and affect the lives of so many on a personal level. The story grabbed me right from the beginning and was gripping all the way through. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Every Moment Since by Marybeth Whalen is about the tragic disappearance of an 11-year-old boy. It's a very heavy story that is drenched in the anguish of his family's desperate search for their son and leaves a profound weight on the reader's heart. Each chapter unfolds with an oppressive sense of dread, as the boy's absence becomes a haunting presence in the lives of those who loved him. Character development in the book is hampered by so much angst that readers will have a hard time making a connection. This repetitive focus on their pain leaves little room for growth or complexity, making them seem stagnant rather than moving forward through their tragedy. While I am sure there are readers that will enjoy this book, it just wasn't for me.

So much more than a missing person thriller, this novel explores the impact on the lives of family members, witnesses, police, and the primary suspect. Told from multiple perspectives in two different timelines, the characters were vividly drawn and the pacing kept me turning the pages. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for an advanced reader copy

This book was a lot darker than a mystery. However it does keep you asking “who did it “ till the very end. Slightly triggering growing up around this time in America but it was beautifully and thoughtfully written. Only giving it less stars because it wasn’t my cup of tea.

EVERY MOMENT SINCE
BY: MARYBETH MAYHEW WHALEN

I had not been prepared for all of the emotions that would impact me to my very core while reading a brand new discovery of an empathetic Author named, MaryBeth Mayhew Whalen. She has written her newest literary fiction novel, called, Every Moment Since. This is the kind of storytelling that is so sophisticated and imbued with wisdom that it's evident she gained by maturity and life experience. The subject matter has been done before too often to give the impression that it wouldn't be of interest, but in this particular instance my intuition from reading her Author's Note it is written from the heart to pay tribute to all victims of the past and all those in the future who her characters represent. It's a common occurrence that could happen to anyone of us. My intuition is that this author's motive for writing such a story comes from the purest intentions to honor the lives of all the innocent children who have disappeared. It also is unique in the realism of the guilt that the families have suffered when it could happen to anyone of us. This heartbreaking story explores the overwhelming grief that the families that have lost a child suffer from blaming themselves when it's not their fault. Their lives are devastated living with so much unimaginable pain and regret as if they could have prevented it. This is special in that there's nothing sensationalizing what transpires. Having read her Author's Note my assumption of her reason to write this is not to entertain readers who are drawn to dark content. Just like keeping a diary or journal helps people gain clarity from reading their thoughts by the act of writing their feelings down. It's my belief that it's possible that published authors gain therapeutic benefits from their talents at crafting a narrative that they have witnessed. When I read this Author's Note it's clear that she was carrying a striking event that we both happened to have seen in a movie based on a famous true story that as both being mother's is the type of horror that is unforgettable. I'm not a mind reader and this is only my opinion, nothing more than that. My intuition that's a personal feeling could one of many reasons this story exists stems from a selfless desire to offer hope to families who have lived a similar fate and that by reading this helps them not feel less alone? Could she resemble the infinite number of people who write in their journals seeking to understand themselves utilizing transferring thoughts onto the page? Only she knows what drove her to have the idea to write this beautifully crafted story. Herself and those she shared her reasons know what insights she has mined that her brilliant character development that illuminates the depth of trauma that inhabit four specific people in this stunning portrait. If her goal was to make us remember all of those unfortunate to have been victimized by the events in this story. In my experience of how I felt while reading this will be that she achieved her objective with how authentic this felt to me. I had finished this with feeling nothing but empathy for all four characters portrayed that intersect in the final pages. As a mother with young adult sons, I related most to the mother with a deep seated visceral reaction that any mother would never forget. I can't begin to imagine how countless mothers, fathers and siblings have dealt with the loss of a child in their families. I know on some level it strikes your heart like a burning brand which will cause a memory that one carries forever. Just like this story will affect me forever leaving me grateful that I didn't endure it myself. I feel nothing but an unending supply of empathy towards every person by no fault of their own, having experienced the unthinkable of this firsthand.

In a small community twenty one years ago in 1985, Tabitha is trying to put on her make up to have a romantic evening with her husband with plans of getting together with good friends. I could feel how distracted she was when her oldest child who is fifteen years old named, Thaddeus is relentless to convince her to allow him and his friends to meet up to play what he called,"night games." She didn't seem comfortable and he explained it's the innocent games boys play during the day. At the same time her eleven year old son Davy pleads with her not to go out with her husband because he was scared that his parents were going out and leaving him home. She finally gave him permission with the stipulation that he take Davy and watch out for him. Thaddeus like a typical fifteen year old boy tells her what she needs to hear to allow him to get his way. Meanwhile the youngest child a little four year old girl named Kristyn is going to stay with the girl who lives next door.

Only Thaddeus doesn't want his eleven year old brother Davy hanging around him.

Davy disappears after losing track of a girl who is his age after they race back from spying on a man named Gordon Swift.

Twenty one years later.

Tabitha makes a list every week listing all of her regrets, the biggest one having never made it to her list. She's divorced which struck me as realistic but incredibly sad as most parents' grief is overwhelming. With each spouse if not turning towards each other for mutual support, their grief gets expressed in their own way. I wouldn't know but it's a well known statistic in the U.S., that most parents who lose a child get divorced. Tabitha gets notified by Anissa Weaver who was the young girl that last night with Davy is something she has kept to herself. She works for the sheriff as a Public Information Officer. The Sheriff sent her to notify Tabitha that Davy's jacket that his mother made for him which is what was unique that resembled what a character in his favorite movie wore.

A man who bought land found the jacket and turned it over to the authorities and the cold case gets reopened and with it a media storm ensues. Anissa's job is to comfort the family and try to shield them from the intrusive media.

Tabitha makes a phone call to Thaddeus telling him the news about t Davy's jacket being found and she tells her son that he must come home. Thaddeus doesn't want to come home. He tries to tell his mother that his bestselling memoir about their family's loss that he tours the Country at Author events won't permit it. He picks up a different female at every event, but he never develops a relationship since in my opinion his emotional development has been arrested since the age of fifteen when Davy disappeared. He has left out of the book the truth of what really happened. He never told his parents the truth either.

This book is emotionally complex in how this family has grown apart. What I felt was a powerful story that demonstrates how grief, regret and guilt has torn apart an intact family. How the four characters' lives intersect and the complex trauma are masterfully handled by this author. It manages to be an exploration of a family's way of not having processed the gamut of the psychological toll which they have to face now. Literary fiction rarely offers a character study combined with a suspenseful plot. It deeply affected me. This novel deserves to reach as wide an audience as possible with this heartfelt written story.


"She hadn't appreciated how rare and fleeting it would all be,
that the simplest moments were actually remarkable. She'd
looked right past them, her eyes always scanning the horizon
for something else. She'd had it all, and then it was all gone.
She would regret those oversights for the rest of her life,
no matter how many times she wrote that she regretted
nothing."

Publication Date: October 1, 2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Marybeth Mayhew Whalen and Harper Muse for providing me with my Amazing ARC, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#EveryMomentSicnce #MarybethMayhewWhalen #HarperMuse #NetGalley