Love You Gone by Rona Halsall – a #BookReview

Title: Love You Gone by Rona Halsall

Genre: Psychological Thriller-Suspense, Literary Fiction

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: November 15, 2018

Source: Publisher and NetGalley

288 Pages

Book Blurb:

‘Hello? Police? My husband and our children… they’re gone.’

When Mel arrives at the holiday cottage in the Lake District, she expects to find the heating on and her husband Luke and the two children waiting for her. Maybe a bottle of wine open…

Instead, there is just a note on the side, saying they’ve gone out for a walk.

But they aren’t back several hours later, and Mel knows something is wrong. Really wrong. When a search doesn’t find them, she has to confess to the police that her marriage isn’t all that it seems.

Even if that risks her own secrets being revealed…

My Review:

If you’ve been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know I am seldom at a loss for words. But this book…where do I even begin?

Okay, wait…

We are talking about a psychological thriller that hooks you immediately, and whether or not you think you know where this is going, you’d be wrong. Oh yeah, I was burning some serious cell phone battery, because once you get started reading, it is very difficult to put down.

The thing is…it starts off with Luke’s POV and then switches to Mel’s and you’re left wondering what happened. First, she seems hopeful, excited even, then as the evening wears on emotional, wrought with anxious nerves over the lapse of time in which she’d fully expected her hubby and two children back to the holiday cottage they’d rented for a getaway and a chance to “sort” things out. Uh oh…Your first clue and maybe not a good sign? But is she really a reliable narrator?

Because. The book is divided into parts (there are always two sides to the story–right?), and it isn’t until you’re into the book that you really begin to get a glimmer that this may be a whole other scenario than the originally posed of a missing man and his kids. Off on a hike. Lost? Whoa! Maybe not and the rug has just been pulled out from under your feet.

In addition, to the change of narrators are jumps in time. Yes, you can buy that as it is a way to understand how we got to this point. And it isn’t pretty. It’s heart-wrenching. Luke is working on putting his life back together and the two kids are his. Mel is pushing her biological clock and Luke. The little girl and boy are at a very tender age. Young. Vulnerable.

Lies, misdirection, twists, changes of POV and time stamp. Little by little more secrets come out, dished in very small helpings. Support characters offer some hope, and most are sympathetic, engaging, well-developed. Luke’s parents are aging and their health is not the best. His mother, always a strong woman, is battling a debilitating disease. Cousin Ted just adds stress and tension. You want to volunteer to beat him up (or I could do it!). But then Luke; gees! is he ever going to man-up or not?

The pacing of the well-plotted narrative is swift. No commercial breaks–forget it. It’s a race to the conclusion, and it’s beginning to look like everything will work out. Maybe you can take a breath now. Or maybe not, but it does make sense, huh?

And then, WHAM! The final twist. Like a boxer, down for the count. Did NOT see that one coming! (But then I’d been playing catch up from the beginning.)

Loved the book, opened up a new premise for me, although several elements pushed some disbelief. Questionable activity and the argument for or against that one, a tough call. And I had a little problem with Luke’s mother’s attitude at the end. There were some edit misses, but really this is such a fast and furious read you tend to barrel right over those.

I received this ebook download from the publisher and NetGalley after reading Shalini’s review. (Thank you, Shalini!) I really needed a good psychological thriller to get my reading excitement back on level. Totally appreciated the opportunity to read and review and can recommend for any reader looking for something off-track, fast, and thought-provoking. This is one that will resonate after the last page!

Rosepoint Publishing:  Four point Five of Five Stars

The Author: Rona’s debut psychological thriller, Keep You Safe was released in August and her second novel, Love you Gone will be out on 15th November 2018. She lives on the Isle of Man with her husband, two dogs, and three guinea pigs and has been a bookworm since she was a child – now she’s actually creating stories of her own it feels like a dream come true.

She is an outdoorsy person and loves stomping up a mountain, walking the coastal paths and exploring the wonderful beaches on the Island while she’s plotting how to kill off her next victim.

She has three children and two step-children who are now grown up and leading varied and interesting lives, which provides plenty of ideas for new stories!

To find out more about Rona’s novels, go to http://www.facebook.com/RonaHalsallAuthor or follow @RonaHalsallAuth on Twitter.

©2018 V Williams