This southern mystery had an intriguing premise, but the pacing felt sluggish. I was eager to discover the culprit, but the story's meandering narrative made it a challenge to finish. A more focused approach with fewer perspectives might have improved the overall experience.

This is an emotional read, about the effects of grief, loss, and the unknown. The full cast audiobook makes for an immersive experience.

One summer night in 1985, 11-year-old Davy goes missing when accompanying his older brother TJ and friends for some night games in a nearby field. Davy is never seen again after that night, until twenty years later, the distinctive jacket he was wearing that night is found in an abandoned shed. Told from the perspective of multiple people: Davy's older brother, now known as Thaddeus, who has written a bestselling memoir about the incident; Tabitha, Davy's mother; Anissa, the police department public information officer in charge of helping the family, but also has ties to the night Davy went missing; Philip, one of TJ' friends; and Gordon, the man accused of the crime but never convicted.

This is a melancholy story. The grief and loss is well communicated. The way the haunting of not knowing affected each of the characters. I appreciated that we do find out what happened to Davy, but even my mystery-loving heart admits that this particular mystery isn't what drives this story. It's the nuance of the characters and how each of them copes with what happened that night and for the years afterward.

The one part I really didn't care for, and this is a me thing, is that I really, really dislike when a person is wrongly accused and has to protest their innocence. It might have made me put the book down had it been structured a different way, so I am thankful that we start the book twenty years after the incident so we know how things stand at that point vs. living it in real time along with the characters.

Overall, this is a contemplative read and truly shines as an audiobook.

This story really had a gritty, raw sense of an emotional rollercoaster and accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do! The author details the story in a non linear timeline and it really takes you back to in time in places where you're with Davy, feel all the anxiety and concerns of an eleven year old. The story absolutely shines when we see how lives are shattered and altered forever with one incident. The emotions are all there - anger, despair, sadness, indifference and a heavy dose of guilt.
This is not a whodunnit cold case mystery but a very deep, thoughtful and haunting potrayal of collective human experience based on one incident that changes the town and the people in it. Every character from the Sheriff, the PIO, the suspect and the family themselves are handled in a very real sense, beautifully, giving you a first hand look at their thought process. The juxstaposition of feeling a myriad of emotions when they discover it is their child that is found, the survivors guilt is intense and I thought the book articulates and navigates thought all this very very well.
It made me cry, feel profound angst and gasp in despair for and with the Malcor family - what more can you ask for in a story that relays a tragic incident! A definite recommendation and read it in the audio format, if possible. The cast narrators are amazing and make the experience so much more tangible and raw.

This audiobook gave me all the feels and it was for sure a binge-listen. The narrators did an excellent job with the distinct points of view. There are lots of missing-person stories but I thought this one had a unique spin with unexpected turns and beautiful writing. It was the kind of story that made me want to give my kids a hug and try to be more present before it's too late.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters, the plot, even the somewhat slow pacing. It kept my intrigue the whole time. I can't really explain why but I was a tiny bit let down by the ending though. Instead of feeling a thrill that a mystery was being solved, I was left feeling sad and kind of empty with it. I wish there had been a little more wow factor to the ending.

This had such a sad feel to it. Little Davy has been gone for over 20 years, and now that they believe he’s been found, those around him are searching for answers.
The narration of the audio book was excellent.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for this arc in return for my honey opinion.

Pub date: 01 October 2024

In the quiet town of Wynotte, North Carolina, Davy Malcor's sudden disappearance over two decades ago left a lasting impact on the community. The discovery of his long-lost jacket revives the cold case, drawing renewed media attention and reopening old wounds. The story follows Davy's family—his brother Thaddeus, who gained fame from a memoir that doesn’t tell the whole truth; his mother, Tabitha, who lives with constant regret; Anissa Weaver, who harbors a secret connection to Davy and Gordon Swift, long suspected in the case. As the investigation progresses, each character must confront the painful past and seek redemption or closure.
The book stirred deep emotions in me, especially as I empathized with the characters' grief over losing a family member. However, the story didn't fully resonate. The frequent shifts between past and present timelines were confusing at times, and the large cast of characters made it hard to keep track. While the narrative delved deeply into the long-lasting impact of the disappearance, the resolution of the case felt rushed and abrupt, with the final revelation coming unexpectedly.
Although it touches on themes of loss and growth, the thriller and coming-of-age aspects were overshadowed by the story’s complexity.

This book follows the story of a little boy named Davy who went missing in 1985 and finally over 20 years later they figure out what happened. The story bounces between multiple POVs and also another book within the book written by Davy's brother, Thaddeus.

You should definitely listen to Every Moment Since and get a real feeling of what happens when a little boy goes missing in a small southern town and the turmoil that everyone has to go through including the family and the alleged killer. I teared up at the end of Chapter 33.



Thank you to netgalley and harpermuseaudio for allowing me the opportunity to review this audiobook in advance.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this title. I received the audiobook and feel the readers really helped to convey the turmoil and pain and uncertainty of the characters.

What a beautifully written story about moving forward in life after the unimaginable happens. I was completely enthralled by this novel. Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare, and this novel that looks at that kind of loss decades later brings forward mystery, grief, complex relationships, and the impact it all has on the family and community left behind. I was kind of stunned by how much I enjoyed this book, and I look forward to reading more by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen!

Long held small town secrets lurk in Marybeth Whalen's southern fiction thriller surrounding a child's mysterious disappearance and the broken threads of a family grappling with the past... A true family saga story with subtle hints of mystery woven throughout. Whalen’s prose shines in this incredibly moving yet suspenseful novel. Sure to capture book club attention, EVERY MOMENT SINCE is a novel that will keep people talking! The audiobook is the definitive way to read this novel; narrated by a full cast, it is immersive and a breathtaking experience. I loved listening to the story!

Of course this is a sad story, at least on the surface. How couldn’t it be? A child goes missing. A family lives without closure for over 20 years. Then his coat is found.

So, yes, it’s pure tragedy. The nightmare parents hope to avoid. The reality some are forced to live with.

But the emotional component of Every Moment Since felt rather stale. The content is utterly devastating, and that did stir some emotion in me, but I cannot credit the writing for that. Had this been a news article, I would have shed the same tears. Looking at the impact of this terrible loss on this family made me feel like I was being held at arm’s length. I don’t think the author successfully probed at the profound complications of this particular experience. The interior world of these characters was shallowly explored and, truth be told, they did not come alive as authentic individuals to me.

The storytelling was largely a practice in playing it safe. Whalen didn’t really poke the hive, and ultimately delivered the most simplistic ending possible. While it wasn’t completely tidy, given the circumstances, it did take on quite a few conveniences, regarding both the mystery and the structure of certain relationships in the novel.

I know, despite the synthetic neatness of that ending, the author was aiming to give characters who had lost so much a glimmer of hope. As much as I appreciate the objective in that, and in the story as a whole, I don’t care for saccharine implausibilities that almost insult the true suffering of life altering traumas.

I am immensely grateful to Harper Collins Focus and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Thank you, NetGalley, Marybeth Mayhem Whalen, and Harper Muse, for providing an early copy of ‘Every Moment Since’ in exchange for an unbiased review.

A haunting and gripping tale that delves into every parent's worst nightmare, exploring the profound impact a child’s disappearance has—not only on the parents, their marriage, and their family—but also on how it alters their view of the world and how others perceive them.

On a Saturday night in October 1985, in a small town in North Carolina, 11-year-old Davy Malcor vanishes without a trace. All that remains are the photos and videos shared with the police and media, redistributed over the years, as if time itself conspires to keep him forever 11 years old.

Twenty-one years later, Davy’s jacket is discovered in an abandoned farm building near where he was last seen. As the case unfolds, we are drawn into the perspectives of four key individuals, shifting between 1985 and 2006.

Tabitha, Davy’s mother, now divorced and an advocate for missing children, fights to keep the media from forgetting her son. She is consumed by her weekly regret lists, but despite her efforts to convince herself otherwise, she cannot overcome her greatest regret: leaving Davy the night he disappeared.

Thaddeus (TJ), Davy’s older brother, who was present when Davy vanished, has written a memoir about the event. However, he seems to have been selective in recounting the details leading up to that fateful night, raising the question: what is he hiding? Struggling with unresolved emotions and fearing the public's judgment, he cuts his book tour short to return home and support his parents.

Anissa, the Public Information Officer for the local police department, serves as the liaison between the Malcor family and the media. She harbors her own memories and regrets from the night Davy disappeared. Although she was new in town when they met that fateful evening, she felt an inexplicable bond with Davy—one that, if revealed, could cost her the case.

Gordon, the prime suspect, is tormented by regret. Although it is unclear what he knows about the night Davy disappeared, it is evident that he is hiding something. Hounded by the media, his life was never the same. He now lives in isolation, focusing on his art. But it seems the past refuses to stay buried, especially now that the discovery of the jacket has once again drawn the media’s relentless attention…

From the very first page, I knew this book was going to be something special. The characters are so well developed that as a reader, you feel like you truly know them.

You can sense Tabitha’s pain, understand what drives her as a victims' advocate, and feel the weight of her regrets and the reasons behind her resignation. Her need to write her weekly regret list, and the realization that despite trying to convince herself otherwise, the past 20 years have been filled with regrets she cannot shake, shows how deeply she struggles to move forward. She cannot accept that Davy is gone, and her inability to move on with her life is palpable as long as there is still a glimmer of hope.

Her relationships with her ex-husband and children are portrayed with such depth that, even though I have not experienced anything like their pain, I can grasp the unique ways they each struggle with guilt and regret.

There is so much more I could delve into, but I do not want to spoil the book. Instead, I highly recommend you check it out and form your own opinion. I, for one, will be exploring Marybeth Mayhew Whalen’s previous releases!

🎧 I highly recommend this on audio if you enjoy audiobooks. It features a full cast of narrators who do an excellent job bringing each character to life.

And of course, how stunning 🍁 is this cover?

Audio Read. This was such a well done story and the full cast of voices led to a full experience of the story. It’s such a heartbreaking topic that no parent ever wants to be apart of and Marybeth told it so well.

“Every Moment Since” by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen is a poignant exploration of grief, hope, and the indelible impact of a single event on a small community. Set against the backdrop of Wynotte, North Carolina, this novel delves into the life of Davy Malcor, a boy whose disappearance over two decades ago continues to haunt the town. Through Whalen’s masterful storytelling, readers are invited to witness the reopening of this cold case when Davy’s iconic Marty McFly jacket is found, stirring up old memories and unresolved questions.
The narrative weaves together the perspectives of four individuals intimately connected to Davy’s story. Thaddeus Malcor, the older brother, has crafted a successful memoir from his family’s tragedy, yet he grapples with the weight of untold truths. Tabitha Malcor, Davy’s mother, lives a solitary life marked by advocacy for victims’ rights while privately chronicling her regrets. Anissa Weaver, once a child herself when Davy vanished, now serves as the Public Information Officer for the Malcor family, harboring a secret link to the boy. Lastly, Gordon Swift, long suspected in the disappearance, struggles to maintain anonymity as the renewed attention threatens to expose his past.
Whalen’s prose is hauntingly vivid, pulling readers into the emotional vortex experienced by those left behind. The characters are endearing, each one intricately drawn and compelling in their complexity. The full cast narration, featuring the talents of Cassandra Campbell among others, brings an added layer of depth to the story, making it one of my favorite listening experiences of the year.
The novel is not only suspenseful but also heartfelt, striking a delicate balance that keeps you invested in the outcome. It touches on profound themes such as the essence of motherhood and the agony of losing a child, offering an examination that is both raw and tender. This book stands out as a really special work, resonating with anyone who has ever faced loss or sought closure.
In conclusion, “Every Moment Since” is a beautifully crafted tale that captures the complexities of human emotions and the relentless pursuit of truth. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community in the face of adversity. Marybeth Mayhew Whalen has created a memorable and moving novel that deserves a place on any reader’s shelf, especially those who appreciate stories that are as suspenseful as they are soul-stirring.

I was really interested in this one, but truly this story dragged so much. Honestly, nothing happens. It's just people talking.. no action. It truly was very dull for me, I only finished this one since it was an audiobook, if not it would've definitely been added to my DNF. I truly did not enjoy this one.

I went into this expecting a bit of a murder mystery but what I got was an emotional story about the fall out of losing someone you love and how everyone picks up the pieces. This was moving and at times so wholesome. The narration was wonderful and it was such an easy audio book to listen to, I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you for the ARC

I love this book! I really felt for the characters, sadness, dislike, hope…all the things that a great book that is well developed makes you feel. I want everyone to read this book! I did figure it out about 70% of the way through, but still wanted to continue to see if I was correct and what would happen to the other characters in the book who I was enjoying getting to know. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The author was inspired by two movies about the disappearance of Adam Walsh that she watched growing up. I vividly remember those movies myself. This book didn’t have quite as much suspense and tension as I would have expected from a story about a missing child, and the ending felt somewhat anticlimactic. The writing was good, as was the narration. I would try another book by this author.

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
3 ☆
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The premise of this story caught my attention. "A small Southern town. An ordinary Saturday night. A little boy disappears without a trace." Now, that line drew me in and hooked me because I wanted to know what happened to the little boy. Unfortunately, this book really DRAGGED a lot. It was a lot of talking and nothing getting done. It just fell flat for me. I think it was because we got four different POVs with different timelines.
The audiobook production was great because each character had their own narrator, so you could tell the characters apart. So, if I'm rating just the audiobook and not the storyline, the audiobook alone would be a 3-3.5☆.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Oct.1
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Harper Muse Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.