I'm always intrigued by forensics and genetics, so Long Time Gone was right up my alley. This book hooked me from the start. It was fast paced, interesting, and hard to put down because I was intrigued and invested in the story. I enjoyed the character development as well as the characters themselves, particularly Sloane Hastings. The twists were mostly great and unpredictable, and while the end was a bit graphic it wasn't overly abrupt and the story wrapped up nicely.

Vivienne Leheny's narration of each character was very well done. Another winner by Charlie Donlea. A solid 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, and Charlie Donlea for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Long Time Gone is a gripping, addictive, amazing, edge of your seat thriller that will have you flipping those pages until you get to the end. Once I started this one I was completely hooked, I couldn't stop, I needed to know. I was so immersed in this story. The amount of knowledge, research and detail that Donlea has put in this book is AMAZING.

I loved that we got to revisit characters from previous books, that was really fun, as you already have their background stories. Sloane was an amazing FMC so strong and resilient. I loved that I truly had no idea who the culprit was. The pacing and suspense in this book is constant, everything is revealed expertly and at the perfect time. Which makes for a great thrilling ride.

@charliedonlea is truly a master storyteller. I am completely OBSESSED ! There were multiple things happening, but never did I get confused, it was all perfectly done, the jumps from past to present were also very well indicated. The way he made all the storylines connect was just PERFECTION, I am absolutely in love with his writing style and his stories.

🎧 The narration by Vivienne Leheny was really good. She did a fantastic job at keeping the suspense high throughout the whole book and at keeping the listener engaged. She was great with the voices, the emotions and the tones. Amazing performance, highly recommend the audio !

𝕽𝖊𝖑𝖊𝖆𝖘𝖊 𝕯𝖆𝖙𝖊 : May 21st 2024

𝕸𝖞 𝕽𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖌 : ✭✭✭✭✭

✨️ Thank you to @netgalley, @rbmedia, @kensingtonbooks & @charliedonlea for my gifted ALC & ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The field of forensic genealogy is relatively new, and Charlie Donlea does a good job of introducing the concept in Long Time Gone. Dr. Sloan Hastings has been given a research assignment to learn more about the field for her fellowship and submits her DNA to a genealogy site. The information that comes back is life-changing and sets the stage for Donlea's novel.

Overall, this was a fun ride and a good use of forensic genealogy. There were a few spots that felt slow, but the unraveling of the mystery of the kidnapping of baby Charlotte kept me along for the ride. The audiobook has a fantastic narrator and was easy to lose myself in the story while listening. Highly recommend for mystery thriller fans.

Sloane Hastings is assigned a fellowship project on how DNA testing is now being used by the police. What she finds out when submitting her own DNA changes her life forever.

I read this as an audiobook for Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is easily a 6 star book for me. I love forensics, and all it can do, so I was very excited about the premise of this book. The way the book is written is so smooth and very realistic. The plot twists were entertaining, and I actually thought other people did the stuff, and I was wrong. Charlie Donlea has become a must read author for me and I can't wait to read his other books!

This was a great audiobook thriller. I was hooked immediately. I love Charlie Donleas books and this one did not disappoint. Overall a solid 4 because I love mysteries will missing kids being found.

This was great!!! Super solid detective story with a bomb going off in the end haha I loved the focus on forensic genetics. Had no idea who was guilty until the very end! This is only my second Donlea book but I look forward to more. Really enjoyed this narrator too.

Sloan is studying to get her doctorate in forensic medicine. She is studying DNA which is of interest to her because she is adopted. In the process, she discovers her birth family and with it a family mystery which leads to quite the story - comprised of a complicated familial relationships and a long history. Brilliant as usual coming from Charlie Donlea. Thanks to NetGalley for this fabulous read! Loved the narrator as well!

I absolutely loved it! I listened to the audiobook and hung on every word! The narrator did an AMAZING job bringing the story to life and making each character distinct and believable. The premise of the book is such a hot topic right now and I loved the way it was handled. So good!!

Donlea does it again in this awesome page turning thriller!

4.5 🌟

Dr. Sloane Hastings is a medical pathologists that is currently training for forensic pathology. She's assigned the task of looking into genealogy databases and how they play a role in forensic pathology.

This project prompts her submitting her own DNA to a database. Sloane was adopted and is nervous to see what her results return as she never imagined finding her birth family. Her results not only link her to her biological family but also to a decades long unsolved case!

Sloane's character was pleasantly likable. Her determination to solve her own case and the grit she had in doing so!
I love the depth of the plot and how fast-paced it was. Truly a page turner.

I received an ARC audiobook copy. Narration was great! 4/5 stars. Easy to follow, easy to differentiate character voices.

While I found this easy to read like all of Donlea's books I found it failed as a mystery/thriller. The first half was overly repetitive and the second half spent more time describe the characters hobbies than developing suspects and motives. The final reveals felt both anticlimactic and silly.

🎧 Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea
Publication Date: May 21, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sloan is anxious when she submits her DNA for a forensic genealogy project, but the results are much more complex than anyone was expecting. Not only do the results reveal the identity of her biological parents but that she is long lost Baby Charlotte who vanished 30 years ago. This is one wild ride as she dives into this three decade long cold case.- determined to find out what happened on that fateful day that changed the entire trajectory of her life. This captivating story grabbed my attention and held on the whole book. I loved Sloan’s story and can totally see more books as she begins her forensic medical examination career specializing in genealogy. Vivienne Leheny did an excellent job narrating. Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this audio advanced reader copy.

LONG TIME GONE by Charlie Donlea

Once again, Vivienne Leheny has nailed it. Her narration is spot on.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the audiobook
of this thriller; exploring the science of forensic genealogy.

An addictive read/listen told in dual timelines and moves along at a good pace. The tension builds rapidly in this story of a missing baby from decades ago named, Charlotte. DNA results from a research project that Sloan Hastings submitted, comes back that she is the missing baby Charlotte. And so begins this tangled web of long ago secrets, lies, murder and corruption.

I really enjoy Charlie Donlea’s writing skills and he knows how to weave a thrilling tale of mystery and suspense.

There is a bit of a quirky twist near the end that I chuckled at and thought——no way, but it didn’t change my rating of the book.

Wow wow wow! A unique and twisty thriller that had me zooming through the pages to see how it all would end. I absolutely loved the genealogy tie in that upturned and entire cold case and it just brought such a fun element to the story. Donlea wove such an intricate timeline between the past and present to an explosive conclusion. This was my first book from him, and will most definitely not be my last! The narration on the audio was also phenomenally done.

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for my ALC in exchange for my honest feedback! An easy 5 stars for this one!

"Long Time Gone" by Charlie Donlea is a gripping thriller that delves into the world of forensic genealogy to unravel a decades-old mystery.

Here we will meet Dr. Sloan Hastings, a forensic scientist who, upon submitting her DNA to an online genealogy site, discovers a shocking connection to the infamous disappearance of Baby Charlotte nearly thirty years ago. As Sloan embarks on a quest for answers, she’s drawn into a web of family secrets, power struggles, and unresolved crimes in the small town of Cedar Creek, Nevada.

Donlea masterfully weaves a tale that moves between the past and present, keeping me planted on the edge of my seat. The tension is ever present as Sloan uncovers layers of deceit within the influential Margolis family, whose reach extends deep into the town’s fabric. The author’s attention to detail and deep knowledge of forensic science adds to the plot and makes for a compelling read that not only entertains but also educates.

The characters are well-developed, with Sloan Hastings standing out as a strong protagonist determined to uncover the truth of her past. Her partnership with Sheriff Eric Stamos adds depth to the investigation, as they both have personal stakes in solving the mystery. The Margolis family is portrayed with complexity, each member revealing different facets that contribute to the evolving story.

Donlea balances the technical aspects of forensic genealogy with human drama, creating a psychological thriller that resonates with authenticity and suspense. Fans of the genre will appreciate the intricate plot, while new readers (like myself) will find it an accessible and thrilling introduction to Donlea’s work.

Also, the narration by Vivienne Leheny was outstanding. Her inflection, tone, and character voices definitely enhanced my listening experience.

“Long Time Gone” is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted mystery that challenges the mind and tugs at the heartstrings. It’s a story of identity, belonging, and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth. The relentless pace kept me engaged and allowed for this novel to be a standout as I start my Summer reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to listen and review this book. "Long Time Gone" releases on 5/21/2024.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! The story was interesting and didn't seem cheesy or conveniently written to set up some generic twist. I was pulled in to the story from page one and didn't feel like there was a boring period of character and story development.

The audio was great. I think the narrator did an amazing job and at times I even forgot she was impersonating a male voice. For a single narrator she did a great job at making me forget it was a single narrator. The chapters were short and flowed well. The transitions between chapters sometimes felt a bit choppy but the narrator made it feel very fluid. I was impressed by her intonation and inflection during the tense parts of the story. Overall, I really enjoyed the audio and would highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Charlie Donlea’s newest thriller, Long Time Gone. The narrator of this audiobook kept me captivated by this riveting story from beginning to end.

As Sloan Hastings embarks on her career in forensic science, she is persuaded to submit her DNA for genealogy testing. When she discovers that she is connected to a family that was connected to many unsolved crimes and disappearances, Sloan is thrust into an investigation into the past that takes her on a wild and often dangerous ride.

This is another compulsively readable winner by Donlea.

Wow! I could not stop listening to this! I really enjoyed Twenty Years Later by this author so I was excited to dive in. This story was told in dual timelines from 1995 and present day. It involves a forensic psychologist fellow, a missing couple and their baby, murder and plenty of investigating the past. I liked how old school photography helped to piece the puzzle together. The mystery throughout was excellent and I don’t want to spoil too much but the ending was a surprise to me!

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Charlie Donlea, & RB Media for the chance to read this awesome book!

I really enjoyed the genealogy portions of this book. I personally think I would have enjoyed the physical copy more as there was quite a few characters.

Thank you NetGalley, RB Media and Charlie Donlea for an advanced listener's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Long Time Gone is my first novel by Charlie Donlea and it was a first-class experience. The mystery is multi-layered and nuanced, as new and old connections 1re created throughout the book. I am very impressed with how seemingly unimportant people and details are discovered to be key aspects of the mystery. This book is chock full of people and connections, so I had to go back often to make sure I didn't miss anything. I love the subplots and how they all connect imthroughout and in the end. This author is a genius, really, to come up with such a complicated, but believable thriller. Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I can't wait to devour more by the author!

Another great book by Charlie Donlea! I was hooked right from the beginning and just kept wanting more. I wanted to know what was going on. At times I thought I had it figured out...then I was like wait maybe no it was someone else...then someone else. Yes, one of my many ideas ended up being right BUT throughout the book I bounced from who I thought it was to different people. I also loved how he incorporated characters from previous books but not so much that you needed to read those books. HIs books intertwine but you only know if you have read the other books and it doesn't ruin it if you haven't. I can't wait to see what else he comes up with in his next books!