A perfect thriller. An abused wife hastily packs up her two kids and flees her home, making a cross-country trek in a desperate search for safety. Along the way she stops for water and soda. A cop follows her out and arrests her on a drummed up charge. Another officer arrives to take her children to safety until she's out of jail, but as soon as the jail door is locked, the officers deny any knowledge of her children. It gets worse, she is then framed for harming them.

The premise is out of a parent's worst nightmare and the way that Beck carefully unwraps and reveals makes this book utterly un-put-downable. Well done.

Here and Gone by Haylen Beck started with Audra and her two kids on the road to California. The author gives a vivid description of the journey, it was on a terribly hot day and Audra and the children were uncomfortable in the car. She made a stop to buy water and snacks and that is when first saw the Sherriff’s car. She later drove off only to be followed and stopped by the Sheriff and this is where all the drama began. It was clear from the start that something was amiss with this Sheriff and his interest in Audra. Things start going terribly wrong then and they become worse when suddenly Audra is locked up and the Sheriff denies ever seeing any kids with her.

The story is narrated through multiple narrators. Audra is the main narrator and through her, we get to know about her marriage and reasons for her trip to California. Her anguish at losing her kids is unimaginable. There were moments when she started doubting her own sanity. I admit that I also started wondering about her recollections. I mean, were the kids even there? That is how good the writing was. It made me doubt even what was supposedly obvious. I also like that her son was also one of the narrators. His narrations were heartbreaking but his portrayal was pretty impressive. Like his mom, Sean was a brave and he made me smile a couple of times. I liked the kid. There are other narrators in the story who we get to meet at different points.

I really loved the setting of this book. I am not sure if I have read any other books set in Arizona although I have watched some movies/series set there. The desert heat and the small town added to the intrigue of the narrative. The first scene on the deserted Arizona road with the Sheriff, phew…the imagery was something else. I have always been curious about the small towns with their 2/3 sheriffs and the diners and everyone knowing everyone. This town had secrets and some crazy people. The author described the setting in such a vivid manner that I could see it all. I could even feel the heat. It was the perfect setting for this story.

I liked everything in this book. The characters were well-crafted. There was a mix of likeable and unlikable characters which made the book feel realistic. I even liked the support characters such as the old guy who lived in the woods with his dog and guns. I loved the action in the book. There were no dull moments. Things just kept moving with new twists and endless jaw-dropping moments. This was a perfect fast-paced thriller where everything just came together to make it a page-turner. I can see this being made into a movie.

Here and Gone by Haylen Beck was everything I thought it would be and more.

Here and gone by Haylen Beck.
Here and Gone begins on a desolate road in Arizona where Audra is fleeing her abusive husband in the family car. Her children, Sean and Louise, are buckled up in the back. Desperate not to draw attention, Audra is petrified when she is pulled over by the local sheriff. What happens next is every parent’s worst nightmare: one minute her children were here, the next they were gone.
Absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved the story and the characters. Really had me thinking. Full of twists and plots. 5*. Netgalley and random house UK.

Oh I LOVED this one. Well, you know, I use the word loved to mean it destroyed me and stole a few hours of my life then spat me out ragged the other side. One sitting, totally immersive, bang on the money thriller with heart. Just load up on the sugar and dive right in (the slight sugar rush might be running this review too)

So Here and Gone has a hugely emotional core, missing children, now in danger – of course its going to get you right by the throat. What helps that along and makes it so darned addictive is the near perfect pacing, the highly intriguing and resonant characters and that indefinable something that means you just CANNOT put it down.

I always think its clever when an author manages to make a book fairly rock along, but still keeps the heart and soul in it. Here and Gone is a book that you feel – from the opening pages when Audra is making her tentative but determined escape from an abusive marriage you just get enveloped right into it. Then the heart stopping moment when she loses sight of her kids stays with you from that moment and as events unfold you spend half the time wanting to clap your hands over your eyes, wondering what fresh hell Audra will face next. The plotting is tight, intense and utterly riveting, the final few chapters I barely drew breath for and in the end you let out a huge sigh of…well you’ll have to read it to find out but the whole thing was completely traumatic – reading trauma. Its what I live for.

Oh that Sheriff, I wanted to poke him with red hot pokers. Danny I adored. Audra was a particularly strong character because her flaws were on display for the world to see but she had that tough inner core that just resonates so you are with her all the way. And she wasn’t stupid. You know? Sometimes in thrillers like this the main protagonist is so stupid you want to throttle them, but Here and Gone has a healthy dose of reality that just feeds into the wider drama.

Things I wish would happen now.

Danny would get his own book series.

I could see what Audra does next.

Patrick’s mother falls down a well and Lassie never comes. (remember the whole sugar rush thing)

Seriously though, Here and Gone is a very clever, very emotive, highly charged read that will mess with your head and keep you up at night. The themes running underneath the thrill ride are hard hitting and distressing. None of it is impossible. All of it is compelling. Overall Here and Gone is a purely dazzling read.

I thought I would probably like it, this being the pseudonym of an author I’m already a fan of – but you can never be quite sure when these authors go rogue and write something different whether they really should be doing that or not. In this case the answer is a hugely resounding YES. So do it again please.

An edge of the seat full on emotional blast of a novel.

Highly Recommended.

**Review also available on Goodreads**

Oh wow! What a superb thriller. I'd be very surprised if I read a better thriller this year. I started this in bed one evening and I didn't sleep before 4am! I often hear of unputdownable books but this one breaks the mould. Once started, you will want to finish. Just try to stop reading after chapter 5! If you only read one thriller this year, make sure it's this one. I heard the film rights have been sold. Truly, I cannot wait.

Loved this book! A fast paced, edge of your seat, tense thriller that gripped me from start to finish. I read it in just two sittings.

Many thanks to Netgalley who provided me with this ARC. I chose to read it and give a voluntary and unbiased review.

Wow! At a time when every other psychological thriller plot leads with a mother losing her child, Haylen Beck’s new book really stands out in the crowd. From the words ‘What children?’ I was hooked! Audra’s strength shines through as the world around her refuses to believe that she didn’t harm her children. Could not put this book down!