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Thursday, August 28, 2025

Cozy Mystery Review-Murder on Cape Cod

Cape Cod Lighthouse Photo by Mary Beth Granger

I love a good cozy mystery and the latest one I have read was delightful. It is part of the "Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery" and was written by Maddie Day. The author has a wonderful way of bringing the characters to life on the pages of the book. This book was book one of the series and in it we are introduced to Mackenzie Almelda (Mac to her friends). Mac had spent time after college traveling the world and has decided to come back to her home town, a small village on Cape Cod, to settle in and make a life for herself. She opens a bicycle repair and rental shop, which is popular with all the tourists that visit the area. In this first book we meet some of the other shop owners who are also members of her cozy mystery book club.

Book Summary

In this charming town on Cape Cod, Mackenzie "Mac" Almeida stumbles upon a dead body while walking home from a book club meeting in the dense fog. The victim is a local character, Jake who has been stabbed and the police investigation begins.

Despite warning from the police to stay out of it, Mac and her book club friends decide that the police need help determining the suspect and they start snooping around for clues. As Mac digs deeper she fears that her brother Derrick will become a suspect. She does more snooping and one evening comes home to a note in her door threatning her to stay out of it.

With the help of her quirky friends and loved ones, Mac navigates the web of complex relationships and secrets in the small town to uncover the truth behind Jake's murder.

The Book on Amazon

Here is a link to the book on Amazon Murder on Cape Cod

More Cozy Mystery Reviews on Review This

Here are some other cozy mysteries reviewed by the Review This Staff.

Fear in First Gear

Tea by Sea

Irish Village Mystery Series

Mrs Fix it Mystery Series

Review of Cozy Mystery Genre

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Saturday, August 23, 2025

Book Review of Heaven Adjacent

A novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde

What if you have been living a high-powered life, where work is everything and your time is totally organized? Then, something drastic happens that makes you realize that there may be more to living than what you have been doing. This is what happens to Roseanna Chaldecott the day her best friend and law partner suddenly dies.

Heaven Adjacent

Synopsis of Heaven Adjacent

Something snaps in Roseanna’s life one morning when she takes a step back and realizes that all she and her law partner had worked for now has no real meaning anymore. Instead of dutifully going off to the office as usual, and feeling unsure of her future, Roseanna leaves her home in New York City and begins to drive upstate on one tank of gas with no plans to return. Nothing seems to matter anymore; she lives alone and is estranged from her grown son, and work no longer seems important.

Hours later, Roseanna’s need for gas occurs in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains where she discovers a ramshackle farm located on seventy-six acres that is for sale. Deciding this is the perfect hideout, she purchases the property and arranges to have her Manhattan apartment closed up and her belongings shipped to the farm. She also notifies her secretary that she won't be back.

The farm appears to be full of possibilities, but also includes a few surprises. It seems there is a young mother and her small daughter who have been squatting on the property. Having company is the last thing Roseanna wants, but she reluctantly allows them to stay.

As time goes by, it is discovered that there is a lot of old farm equipment and other metal things stored in and around the farm and its many buildings. Roseanna and the young girl begin sculpting zoo animals using this ‘junk’. As a result, others are drawn to the farm; some of whom stay on, camping on the many acres. Eventually, a newspaperman writes a story about the sculptures and even her estranged son, Lance, shows up. Lance pleads with her to return to the city, but Roseanna has finally discovered where she belongs. And, soon Lance also discovers a simple truth.

Summary

Roseanna thought she needed space and solitude when her new adventure began, but, although her new life does not provide the solitude she first sought, her heart has found room for much more.

This is a wonderful, yet bittersweet, story about slowing down and discovering what can be gained when leaving everything behind!

People come into our lives and it’s not always a forever kind of thing, and not always meant to be. Not every deal is for keeps.
~from Heaven Adjacent by Catherine Ryan Hyde

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*Book Review of ‘Heaven Adjacent’ was written by Wednesday Elf

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Saturday, August 16, 2025

Invisible and Unsolved ~ the Invisible Series by James Patterson

Book Reviews of the Two-Book ‘Invisible’ series of novels by James Patterson and David Ellis

Synopses of the Invisible Series

Invisible

Emmy Dockery is an FBI researcher in Washington, DC who often finds patterns to crimes that seem to point her toward cases she believes the FBI needs to investigate. She comes across a great many unsolved cases all across the country which Emmy is convinced are connected. She becomes obsessed with finding a link between these cases, to the point where she even takes a leave from her job to continue gathering information on hundreds of kidnappings, rapes, and murders.

Everyone, including her ex-boyfriend, field agent Harrison “Books” Bookman, think she is crazy. No one believes her until Emmy finds a piece of evidence which cannot be ignored.

Could one person be responsible for all these crimes, even though no motives or murder weapons or suspects have ever been proved?

James Patterson takes you on a chilling and scary thriller in Invisible!

Unsolved

In this follow-up to Invisible, we find a series of perfect murders, each of which look like an accident. But as the bodies begin to pile up, Emmy Dockery realizes that something horrible is happening. She also begins to believe that her twin sister’s death in a house fire several months ago, believed to be accidental, is anything but!

Emmy has a unique skill at seeing connections others miss. As a result this has brought her an impressive string of arrests. But these cases where the victims all appear to have died by accident, seemingly with nothing in common, have not only baffled Emmy, but have left her findings so unbelievable that she cannot get anyone to investigate.

The FBI Director talks to former special agent Harrison (Books) Bookman, now running a book store called “The Book Man”, into returning to look into these cases because one of the suspects is Books’ ex-fiancee Emmy Dockery. Books accepts because he wants to prove the agency is wrong about Emmy.

But, someone else is also watching Emmy and waiting until the perfect time to strike!

Summary

In each book in this series, the villain is someone you would never suspect. I was fooled right to the end. Surprising endings indeed, typical of James Patterson. This was definitely a series well worth reading.

Read more reviews of books by James Patterson on Review This Reviews!

Read more book reviews at ReviewThisReviews.com

*Book Reviews of James Patterson's The Invisible Series was written by Wednesday Elf

The Invisible Series by James Patterson and David Ellis:

Invisible

Unsolved (Invisible Book 2)

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Thursday, August 14, 2025

Peasants to Patriots - A Book Review

This carefully researched book of historical fiction takes place in the early days of the United States. It covers the time period just prior to the revolutionary war and continuing until the colonies become a country. It is particularly interesting that the author researched when his ancestors entered the colonies and their struggles through the early years of the new country.

This is the fourth in a series of books the author has written, tracing back his ancestors to Scotland, Ireland, Prussia and finally to the new world.

Book Summary

Peasants to Patriots: Book 4 by Dewayne Landwehr is a masterful blend of historical research and family legacy, brought to life through the lens of historical fiction. By tracing his own ancestors' journeys from Scotland and Ireland to the American colonies, Landwehr crafts a compelling narrative that immerses readers in the epic story of the Revolutionary War.

The strength of this book lies in its unique perspective. Rather than relying on broad historical accounts, Landwehr dives deep into the lives of his ancestors, recreating their experiences with vivid detail and imaginative storytelling. We see them face countless challenges, from the harsh realities of frontier life to the brutal battles of the war.

What sets this book apart is the way Landwehr weaves his ancestors' stories together with those of well-known historical figures. The encounters between his family members and legends like Daniel Boone feel particularly compelling, offering a glimpse into the interconnectedness of history. While rooted in meticulous research, the dialogue and personal moments are skillfully fictionalized, bringing the characters to life in a way that feels both authentic and engaging. For me, this brings history to life in a way that textbooks never could.

Landwehr's dedication to uncovering the past is inspiring, and his writing brings the struggles and triumphs of his ancestors to life. This book isn't just a historical account – it's a tribute to the people who shaped America, told through the lens of one family's journey.

For anyone interested in historical fiction, the Revolutionary War, or genealogy, Peasants to Patriots: Book 4 is a captivating read. Landwehr's passion for his ancestors and his craft shines through, making this book an enriching experience that draws readers into the tumultuous world of America's founding. I highly recommend this book!

Links to books and Reviews

This book is available on Amazon and can be purchased at the following link: Peasants to Patriots

Here are links for reviews I wrote on other books in this series by Dewayne Landwehr.

This is the first in the series.

Smoke on the Whiteadder

This is the third in the series.

Spark of Revolution

The second in the series Inside Odenwald can be purchased on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3Hw9Pod

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Wednesday, August 13, 2025

The Protein Advantage Cookbook — A Delicious, Healthy New Cookbook

The Protein Advantage Cookbook is a collection of 100 high-protein, low-carb recipes and tips from bestselling author Carolyn Ketchum, the deservedly popular recipe developer and blogger behind All Day I Dream About Food. Ketchum’s newest cookbook blends quick weeknight meals with make-ahead basics and treats, wrapped in her pragmatic, low-carb approach, this time with a focus on high-protein recipes.

Its official launch date was yesterday, August 12, 2025, but I was lucky enough to get an advance review copy courtesy of the author and the publisher, Fair Winds Press (an imprint of Quarto). It’s a terrific cookbook for anyone interested in increasing their protein intake, and I’m delighted to share my review.

The Protein Advantage Cookbook by Carolyn Ketchum

Who It's For

This low carb, high protein cookbook is for anyone looking to improve their health through “weight loss, blood sugar management, building lean muscle mass, or simply having more energy for daily life” while eating delicious, easy to prepare, wholesome food.

Ketchum’s stance of prioritizing protein aligns with the current science: increasing protein intake can improve satiety and support lean mass, especially alongside resistance training. And for adults 40+, adequate protein becomes increasingly important.

What's Inside

Ketchum opens with a concise science and strategy overview, including what “protein-forward, low-carb” means, why prioritizing protein matters from a health perspective, and how to stock a high-protein, low-carb pantry with healthy, tasty ingredients.

True to its name, of course, the majority of The Protein Advantage Cookbook is devoted to the recipes. I was delighted to see Ketchum's signature format: clear, easy to follow, step-by-step instructions, lots of full-color photos (although not every recipe has a photo), and practical tips, such as for swapping ingredients or scaling portions.

The 100 recipes are organized into chapters with straightforward labels:

Breakfast
Breads and Muffins
Appetizers and Snacks
Soups and Salads
Main Dishes
Desserts

The Breakfast chapter includes 22 tasty recipes, such as Loaded Breakfast Casserole (29.5g of protein), Chocolate Protein Pancakes (19.7g of protein), Hot Maple Cereal (29.7g of protein), and Everything Bagel Smoked Salmon Toast (26.5g of protein).

Loaded Breakfast Casserole recipe from The Protein Advantage Cookbook

The Breads and Muffins chapter has 10 yummy high-protein recipes including Easy Protein Bagels (13.3g of protein), Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread (11g protein), Cheddar Jalapeño Biscuits (12.9g protein), and even Chocolate-Glazed Donuts (10g protein)!

The Appetizers and Snacks chapter caters to both savory and sweet cravings, including 17 recipes such as Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms (12.8g protein), Taco Bites (18.7g protein), Frozen Hot Chocolate (17.6g protein) and Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (9.8g protein).

Asian Chicken Noodle Soup recipe from The Protein Advantage Cookbook

The Soups and Salads chapter features 13 simple yet satisfying recipes such as Asian Chicken Noodle Soup (31.1g protein), Chicken Chile Verde (35.3g protein), Turkey Club Salad (29.1g protein) and Old Bay Shrimp Salad (23.3g protein).

Easy Steak Fajitas recipe from The Protein Advantage Cookbook

The Main Dishes chapter contains 22 terrific recipes to suit a wide range of tastes, such as Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs (33.3g protein), Easy Steak Fajitas (25.2g protein), Pork Tenderloin with Dijon Cream Sauce (33.4g protein), and Teriyaki Salmon (30.2g protein).

If you have a sweet tooth, never fear! Carolyn Ketchum is also the author of The Ultimate Guide to Keto Baking, and The Protein Advantage Cookbook includes 16 luscious desserts with a high-protein twist, such as Deep Dish Brownies (16g of protein), Lemon Cheesecake Bars (12.3g of protein), Coconut Candy Bars reminiscent of Mounds bars (10.4g of protein), and Strawberry Lemonade Ice Pops (10.1g of protein).

There's also a chapter called "A Day in the Life" which chronicles what Ketchum ate over the course of a few typical days, along with the workouts she did on those days. As a very active, extremely fit woman, her calorie limits are much higher than mine, but it was still helpful to see how she incorporates the cookbook recipes into her daily meal plans.

Why It Deserves a Place in Your Kitchen

The Protein Advantage Cookbook delivers exactly what it promises: approachable, protein-centric low-carb recipes anchored in sensible nutrition guidance. For those of us who want to feel more satiated, lift heavier weights, or simply be stronger as we age, while eating delicious, nutritious food and without spending all day in the kitchen, this book will be an excellent, much-used addition to our cookbook collections.

The Protein Advantage Cookbook: High-Protein, Low-Carb Recipes That Burn Fat, Build Muscle, and Restore Metabolism

Saturday, August 9, 2025

The Language of Hoofbeats by Catherine Ryan Hyde - A Book Review

Among the many interests and activities which author Catherine Ryan Hyde enjoys, is that of horses. She is an avid equestrian and often posts pictures online of her horses. In addition, Catherine has featured horses in several of her books. The Language of Hoofbeats is one such book. This is my review of this fascinating and interesting novel.

Synopsis

Two of the main characters, Clementine and Jackie, each narrate the story, taking alternating chapters to tell their side of the events.

The Language of Hoofbeats

The story begins when Jackie and her wife, Paula, looking for a quiet life for their kids - a young adopted son and two teenage foster children - move in across the street from Clementine. Paula is a veterinarian and this move has brought her to a remote country area in need of another vet. Jackie is a stay-at-home mom for the kids.

Clementine is a terribly unhappy person who is so damaged by her daughter’s suicide that she cannot be civil to most people, including her husband. The husband finally cannot take her negativity any longer and he moves out about the time Paula & Jackie and the kids move in next door.

Clem has a horse named Comet who used to belong to the now-dead daughter. Comet is quite high-strung and has not been receiving very good care because Clementine is rather scared of the horse and the husband has moved out. When the foster teen Star, a quite unhappy girl herself, is drawn to and bonds with Comet and attempts to begin a friendship with the horse. Clementine, in her usual horrid fashion, resents the friendship developing between Star and the horse and chases her away from her property several times. Clem is extremely nasty to Star and also to her foster mothers, Jackie and Paula. Finally, not being able to stand the way the horse is neglected, Star steals Comet and they become lost. The real action in the story begins as Jackie and Clementine join forces to search for both Star and Comet.

Throughout the story, we also become acquainted with the other foster child, Mando, and the younger adopted son, and learn what happened to Clementine’s daughter.

Summary

From the book jacket:

When a troubled girl steals a horse, her foster moms are thrown together with their reluctant neighbor

The Language of Hoofbeats shows us the complexity of human relationships and points out how very relatable characters can sometimes be intensely flawed. But, by facing the scars they carry and the choices they have made, along with forgiving the regrets, a diverse group of people often can be transformed into a family. An extremely good read!

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Catherine Ryan Hyde

*Book Review of “The Language of Hoofbeats” is written by Wednesday Elf

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Thursday, August 7, 2025

Reviewing Simple Green Smoothies Book

I hadn't been planning on buying a new smoothie book. I still had several from years past, and had even donated some of the ones I had to Goodwill.

However, I had been trying to improve my nutrition. I usually had a couple of eggs sauteed with fresh spinach on most weekday mornings. I decided to cut down my egg intake; I have been trying to become more vegan for sometime now.

I switched my egg ratio to one egg and upped my spinach amount. That first breakfast that I ate with my new ratio was transforming. Wow, I really enjoyed the extra taste of spinach compared to the egg. I wanted more spinach in my diet. And then the book, Simple Green Smoothies showed up on my radar.

My local bookstore showed that they had one in stock, so I purchased that one. I was impressed. Two women told about how drinking a green smoothie a day had been transformative for them. They felt more energized throughout their day, had less cravings, and dropped off weight relative easily, after having made the switch, even if they ate some of their old ways for the rest of the day.

It sounded too good to be true, but also hopeful.

I had already had a couple of days of green smoothies before buying the book. Just winging it on whatever I wanted to put in it. And I liked them. And I saw it as a way to more easily get more greens into my diet.

After I got the book, I started making some of the recipes from the book, Simple Green Smoothies. I liked that they were refreshing for the most part. I liked that the authors gave tips on how to switch things up; i.e. if you wanted them to be creamier, or have more protein, etc. I liked that this gave me more flexibility in how I wanted to approach my green smoothie making.

The authors, Jen Hansard and Jadah Sellner, also give tips on why certain foods were combined; i.e. the combination of spinach with pineapple, helped with the absorption of both vitamins, A and C.

I like how I have been progressing with my diet, since purchasing, reading, and practicing what I have read in this book, and recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to get more greens and or plants, or fresh plants into their diet.

Simple Green Smoothies book on Amazon. Check price.

The earlier smoothie books that I had purchased, were more dessert like than being focused on nutrition; I was in a different place when I purchased the earlier ones compared to this one. Also, not all smoothie recipe books are alike. There can be different types of ingredients, i.e. some books were heavy on using protein powder as a main ingredient. I prefer fresh whole foods.

Cheryl Paton

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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Addie's Eyes ~ A Book Review

What draws someone to pick out a book? I constantly ask myself that question. Sometimes it's the cover and sometimes it's something else. In this case it was the title that grabbed my attention. I confess, I have a granddaughter named Addison, Addie for short and she does have the most beautiful eyes! So when I saw the book titled Addie's Eyes, I just knew I would have to read it!

Addie's Eyes is listed as a Historical Fantasy by Tim Landry. It's not my usual genre of reading material, but I was committed to reading it!

Tim Landry did NOT disappoint me at all. What a magical adventure set in the Victorian era. This tale follows the life of Addie Alexander, a young girl who happens to be blind.

Her father, who runs the local theater/sideshow/entertainment venue, mistakes the friendship that his daughter Addie has formed with one of the sideshow headliners.

Fedor, is an "act" that uses his facial disfigurement to amuse the people of the time. He would be considered a "freak" because of his "appearance". But Fedor also is human and has feelings that need some extra TLC, (tender loving care).

Addie does not see his disfigurement, just hears his calm voice. Immediately a friendship with the young Fedor is formed .

Fedor tells her stories of magical lands where he is the Lost Prince and that his kingdom is doomed unless he is able to get back home!

Can a blind and sheltered young girl help Fedor get back to his kingdom? Will she have the courage and strength of character to do what needs to be done in order to help Fedor?

You will have to read the book to find out what happens and I'm sure that you will not regret picking this book up. It is a story that will resonate with children of all ages (I'm in my 70's and loved every word).

Addie's Eyes is a great book for anyone who has a child who is "different" or sees themselves as "different". Different can be anything from blindness to ADHD, to a misshapen hand and anything in between. These young people will see themselves in either Addie's character or Fedor's character. It's how they handle their differences that will make life make sense and help them understand that different isn't bad or less than anyone else.

This fantasy adventure is a book that should be read by anyone and everyone ages 8 and up. I loved the book from start to finish and wanted it to go on!

Congratulations to Tim Landry the author and Nataliia Kretsu the Illustrator. The book is wonderful and the words on the page are made even more magical by the illustrations found within the book! If you love reading to your children or grandchildren, this book is definitely for you!

It rates a 5 out of 5 stars from me! And I don't give up 5 stars that quickly! Give Addie's Eyes a read and let me know if you loved it like I did.

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Saturday, July 26, 2025

Dead Heat Book Review

A horseracing mystery by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

After a successful eleven-year career as a jockey in England (during which he became one of Britain's leading National Hunt jockeys and a champion steeplechaser, riding as jockey to the Queen Mother. Queen Elizabeth), Dick Francis wrote his first book, an autobiography (The Sports of Queens), which led to a job on a London newspaper as a racing correspondent. In 1982, he published his first mystery book that dealt with crime in the horse-racing world. Through a publishing career of nearly 40 books, Francis’ wife, Mary, was his researcher, proofreader and biggest fan.

Mary died in 2000 and Dick, heartbroken, virtually gave up writing. Six years later, their son Felix talked his dad into writing again and they collaborated on Dead Heat. Herein, is my review of this book.

Synopsis of Dead Heat

Dead Heat

The main character in Dead Heat is Max Moreton. Max is locally known as a celebrity chef, enjoying success in his horse-racing themed restaurant in Newmarket called The Hay Net. Max also frequently caters special meals at nearby racetracks. His troubles begin when he caters a dinner at Newmarket races where dozens of guests end up with food poisoning. Max cannot figure out what went wrong.

But, that incident was just the beginning of Max’s problems. The very next day, he caters a VIP lunch in one of the special boxes at Newmarket races, and he is nearly killed in an explosion. It suddenly becomes time for Max to start trying to figure out what is going on and why it seems as though someone is trying to kill him.

Summary

The clever plot of Dead Heat has some interesting and some quirky characters (there is the laughing lawyer for one) and a romantic interest between Max and a beautiful viola player from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London who originally starts out to sue him! In addition, the reader gets to enjoy the ambience of the world of haute cuisine.

I enjoyed this first collaboration of Dick Francis with his son Felix. The team went on to publish 3 more books together. Since Dick’s death at age 89 in 2010, Felix Francis has continued on in the same vein, writing horse-racing mysteries.

Click here for more Books by Francis (Dick & Felix)
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*Book Review of ‘Dead Heat by Dick & Felix Francis was written by Wednesday Elf

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Thursday, July 24, 2025

Review of The Writer-James Patterson

I am a big fan of James Patterson novels. I have enjoyed his books for years and follow several of his series of books, always looking forward to the newest book. While looking through his newer books from the library, I came across one that came out earlier this year. It was co-written with J.D. Barker and in reading the description on the cover I was very curious about the book. The cover has the claim "You'll Never Forget the Ending". I decided I needed to read that book and I was not disappointed. The book keeps you guessing on who the killer is the entire book. I thought I had it figured out several times, but boy was I wrong. In the final chapters of the book there is a real twist that I would have never guessed. Wow! What an ending!

Book Summary

The book starts with Declan Shaw, a NYPD detective standing in a subway train station contemplating throwing himself overboard, when he suddenly gets a call sending him to the scene of a murder.

The scene is in the home of a award winning novelist and her doctor husband. The husband has been stabbed, and the wife is standing over him in bloody clothes with the murder weapon. At first glance it is an open and shut case, but then nothing is what it seems in the rest of the book.

We are introduced to Declan's partner, his lieutenant, the wife's attorney and many more possible suspects. There is also another case of a woman in a nearby alley that plays into the picture. In addition, there are some doubts about a prior case that Declan and his partner worked and the suspect was found guilty and is in jail.

There are so many twists and turns that I hate to give anymore away. I will tell you this is a very compelling book and once you get into it, it is hard to put down. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a fascinating murder thriller.

Book on Amazon

The book is available on Amazon in hardcover, kindle and audio books. Here is a link The Writer

Reviews on James Patterson Books

Writers for Review this have written several reviews on various James Patterson books. Here are a few.

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Saturday, July 12, 2025

A Different Kind of Gone - Book Review

A Catherine Ryan Hyde novel about justice, involving lies and impossible choices.

An image of mountains and forest in Utah

Synopsis of ‘A Different Kind of Gone’

A Different Kind of Gone: A Novel

What if ‘missing’ doesn’t mean ‘never found’. What if a search and rescue volunteer searching for the missing teenager in the mountains near the Utah-Arizona border finds her and discovers she is actually in hiding, as she fears her abusive boyfriend will kill her for trying to leave him.

The search and rescue volunteer, Norma Gallagher, finds Jill huddled in a cave, terrified that Jake will kill her if he ever sees her again. Norma has to make a difficult decision. Does she try to help this girl by secretly returning her to her grateful parents and keeping silent about it, or returning with her so law enforcement and the rescue personnel can stop looking.

Eventually, to protect Jill from a dangerous man, Norma secretly takes her home to California. Keeping her safe and hidden from Jake, the press and the public, this act will remain a secret between Jill, her parents, and Norma. But, secrets cannot last forever.

Five years go by, when Jake is arrested for severely beating his wife, a girl he met during the time of the search for Jill. Because Jill Moss has been declared legally dead after five years, in addition to a trial for the attempted murder of his wife, Jake will also be tried for the murder of Jill Moss.

Jill’s family, who has successfully hidden her away all these years, refuses to come forward. This leaves Norma with a life-changing decision.

Summary

Jake’s jail term for the beating will no doubt be short-term. What happens when Jake is released from prison? On one hand, there is the danger to Jill if Jake finds out she is still alive. Then there is also the possible danger down the road to his wife, who we discover is pregnant, for turning him in. But, should a man be put on trial for a murder that never happened?

Norma Gallagher has to weigh the consequences if she keeps quiet, and the risks if she dares to finally tell the truth.

A Different Kind of Gone is an interesting exploration of domestic violence with a compelling look at women married to abusers. The author explores the situation of domestic violence in sensitive and gentle ways, making the story one that is very readable.