A few years ago, Gabe Forman’s wife, Jenny, and their 5-year-old daughter, Izzy, were killed in their home, but Gabe is thoroughly convinced that Izzy is still alive, he begins traveling England in a camper van which is now his home, in an endless search for clues to his daughter might be. That of course is no way to live, but Gabe, is a mere shadow of his former self, seeing this as penance. During the attack on his family three years ago, Gabe wasn’t home. He was on the road, where he insists, he caught a glimpse of Izzy in an old car. His father-in-law identified the bodies, but Gabe’s sighting of Izzy that day, and a few other things, has convinced him that she’s still alive. He was a suspect for a while, but he was cleared and couldn’t convince the police of what he saw. A tip on Izzy from a mysterious man who calls himself the "Samaritan" leads to a submerged car, a dead body, and an underground network that calls itself "The Other People". Its website that is only accessible via the dark web, and it offers a very exclusive service for victims of crime who feel robbed of the justice they feel they deserve, but the group's help isn't free, and it comes at a terrible price. Meanwhile, a woman, Fran, is on the run with a little girl called Alice, who has terrifying visions of a girl on an eerie beach. Noone knows who the girl is or what is she trying to tell Alice. The narrative is saturated in menace, and the action, once it starts, barely lets up. Gabe’s urgency becomes almost electric as he gets closer to finding out the truth about that horrible day that he lost his family and changed his very life. The author skillfully weaves in poignant observations on the nature of justice and the overpowering essence of grief. While the supernatural storyline is certainly creepy, it could have used a bit more, but it was still a fantastic read. Thos eof us that like Dean Koontz's books will enjoy this sinister and unsettling offering. ( )

3.5 stars ( )

Gabe is on his way home, when a face suddenly appears in the rear window of the beaten-up old car in front of him. It’s his daughter Izzy’s face! But it can’t be, she’s at home with her mum Jenny. Gabe is tired and thinks he must be seeing things, but a terrible shock awaits him - his wife and daughter have been murdered in their own home, and the police won’t allow him in. Sadly, he’s too distressed to attend a formal identification later, (his father- in-law has to do it) so in his mind Izzy is still alive - he knows he saw her in that car. There are many peripheral characters he discovers during his search, and all are well developed, which adds to the suspense. It is a chilling premise that does require some suspension of disbelief along the way. Fortunately, the supernatural element is minor. ( )

First, let me say I like C.J.Tudor’s work and I found the opening of this book gripping. Can’t say I would call it horror unless I count human nature as being horrific. I’ve seen this referenced to Stephen King’s work, but it made me think of Dean Koontz. This is a suspense novel. A thriller. And I found it immensely enjoyable. The whole concept of a father seeing his daughter in the back of a strange car, which he tries to follow and loses track of, is a solid opening. It’s a fabulous book if one overlooks a likely plot hole; namely the incompetency of the police and the simple matter of DNA evidence. This book may have worked if set in another era where forensics weren’t so advanced, and there are also a few supernatural elements that aren’t fully explained… at least not to my satisfaction. In short, a superb book let down by a plot implausibility, which I struggle to believe no one — writer, editor, publisher — spotted. Saying all that, I still enjoyed it enough to suspend disbelief, mainly because of the suspense and will read more by this author. ( )

Gabe is driving home to his wife and daughter when, in the truck just ahead with offensive bumper stickers in the window, the driver driving badly, up pops the head of a little blonde girl in the back – Gabe’s daughter Izzy! How is that possible? Gabe chases for a few minutes, but the truck gets away and when Gabe calls home, a police officer picks up.

Three years later, and Gabe hasn’t stopped looking for Izzy, though the police are convinced Izzy is dead. Katie is a waitress where Gabe often comes in, so they recognize each other, and Katie has held onto a missing flyer passed on to her by Gabe. Fran and little girl Alice are running from something. All three storylines do gradually come together with, of course, a few twists and turns along the way.

I really liked this. The beginning pulled me in right away and I wanted to know what happened. Gabe himself has some secrets we learn about along the way, as well. A really enjoyable book (for me) in what is my current favourite genre. ( )