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Brenna Spector #3
Stay With Me
When the past intersects with the future . . . Brenna Spector is held prisoner by the past. She has perfect memory, which allows her to recall in vivid and remarkable detail every moment of every day of her adult life. If only she could remember more from her child-hood . . . for she's still trying to unravel the mystery of her sister Clea's disappearance twenty-eight years ago when Clea was seventeen. But now her obsession with finding out what happened to Clea is taking a toll on her own teenage daughter, Maya, who's been very secretive lately. And when Maya goes missing, Brenna fears her worst nightmare has come true. . . . the outcome can be dangerous As Brenna relies on her P.I. skills to find her daughter before it's too late, evidence surfaces showing a possible link between Maya's disappearance and Clea's. But could a case from three decades ago really be connected to her daughter? Or is someone hoping that Brenna will play along in a twisted game—one that there's no chance of winning . . . or surviving?
375 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 24, 2014
149 people are currently reading
1266 people want to read
About the author
Alison Gaylin
41 books1,776 followersUSA Today and international bestselling author Alison Gaylin has won the Edgar and Shamus awards, and has been nominated for many more, including the L.A. Times Book Prize, the ITW Thriller, the Strand Book Award, the Anthony and the Macavity. She is currently at work on her 15th novel.
Series:
* Samantha Leiffer Mystery
* Simone Glass Mystery
Series:
* Samantha Leiffer Mystery
* Simone Glass Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 123 reviews
May 3, 2014
Alison Gaylin is an under appreciated author. I do not think that she get the recognition that she deserves for the phenomenal Brenna Spector series that she writes. Usually, an author falls apart by book three, but ‘Stay With Me’ is by far one of her best books.
From the first paragraph to the startling conclusion, Ms. Gaylin holds the reader with a steady concentrated rhythm that never lets you down. Building upon her previous books (And She Was and Into the Dark) this author builds upon the intensity of the disappearance of Brenna’s sister three decades prior. What Brenna remembers from that day is her sister getting into the passenger seat of a blue car and driving away. From that day on, Brenna has been afflicted with Hyperthymestic Syndrome, which gives her perfect autobiographical memory – every word, every moment, and every detail of everyday of her life since Clea’s disappearance.
Through the last three books, the search for Clea has intensified. Individuals come forward with information that only Clea could know. Tidbits from her diary and a bag of her clothing are taking center stage. Suddenly there is an even more desperate situation - Brenna’s daughter, Maya, is missing. Why her? Why today?
As Brenna and her ex-husband and his current wife search for Maya, all points in this very desperate story come to a culmination. Lies are revealed, old truths are exposed and as everyone is cut to their bloody core the last chapter is finally revealed.
I did not see this coming. How I did not see it, I do not know; there were so many prior false leads and now it is all laid bare.
I do not know where Alison Gaylin will go with this series, but I am in for the long haul. Where she wants to take me I am willing to go and I will drag every reader who loves excellent thrillers and suspense with me.
From the first paragraph to the startling conclusion, Ms. Gaylin holds the reader with a steady concentrated rhythm that never lets you down. Building upon her previous books (And She Was and Into the Dark) this author builds upon the intensity of the disappearance of Brenna’s sister three decades prior. What Brenna remembers from that day is her sister getting into the passenger seat of a blue car and driving away. From that day on, Brenna has been afflicted with Hyperthymestic Syndrome, which gives her perfect autobiographical memory – every word, every moment, and every detail of everyday of her life since Clea’s disappearance.
Through the last three books, the search for Clea has intensified. Individuals come forward with information that only Clea could know. Tidbits from her diary and a bag of her clothing are taking center stage. Suddenly there is an even more desperate situation - Brenna’s daughter, Maya, is missing. Why her? Why today?
As Brenna and her ex-husband and his current wife search for Maya, all points in this very desperate story come to a culmination. Lies are revealed, old truths are exposed and as everyone is cut to their bloody core the last chapter is finally revealed.
I did not see this coming. How I did not see it, I do not know; there were so many prior false leads and now it is all laid bare.
I do not know where Alison Gaylin will go with this series, but I am in for the long haul. Where she wants to take me I am willing to go and I will drag every reader who loves excellent thrillers and suspense with me.
September 25, 2020
This is the third book in the Brenna Spector series and I definitely think readers should read them in order. I have enjoyed all three of them. Spector is a unique character and the mystery here is compelling. Well worth the time to read the series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
March 18, 2015
Put me in the camp that you can read this as a stand-alone. No problem. Alison Gaylin does a great job of slipping in the necessary details and backstory. That's a non-issue.
The writing rockets right along and the scenes move quickly. With Harlan Coben's name on the cover, readers will know this is not Marcel Proust or Charles Dickens. (I generally prefer mystery-suspense without quite the headlong interest in plot, plot, plot.)
The main character is Brenna Spector. She has perfect memory. I've seen people on television demonstrate this ability and, well, it sounds like something that would prove hauting, maybe a "skill" you'd like to lose. It sounds exhausting.
It's a great concept for a main character and Gaylin milks it well.
From what I'm told about the previous books, Spector has been focused on finding missing people and tracking the disappearance of her older sister, Clea, a long time ago. This time, it's her missing daughter Maya and that search leads back and winds around issues with her missing sister and a missing father as well.
Flashbacks, text messages, chat room exchanges, "Stay With Me" is built for speed. I often wanted events to slow down just a bit so we could get to know Brenna is a less breathless situation.
But, this is a quick read and the memory issues give it a fine twist. The Brenna Spector character has Hollywood movie all over it.
The writing rockets right along and the scenes move quickly. With Harlan Coben's name on the cover, readers will know this is not Marcel Proust or Charles Dickens. (I generally prefer mystery-suspense without quite the headlong interest in plot, plot, plot.)
The main character is Brenna Spector. She has perfect memory. I've seen people on television demonstrate this ability and, well, it sounds like something that would prove hauting, maybe a "skill" you'd like to lose. It sounds exhausting.
It's a great concept for a main character and Gaylin milks it well.
From what I'm told about the previous books, Spector has been focused on finding missing people and tracking the disappearance of her older sister, Clea, a long time ago. This time, it's her missing daughter Maya and that search leads back and winds around issues with her missing sister and a missing father as well.
Flashbacks, text messages, chat room exchanges, "Stay With Me" is built for speed. I often wanted events to slow down just a bit so we could get to know Brenna is a less breathless situation.
But, this is a quick read and the memory issues give it a fine twist. The Brenna Spector character has Hollywood movie all over it.
January 24, 2015
This is the third novel in the "Clea Triology" of the Brenna Spector novels by Alison Gaylin. I have loved every book that Ms. Gaylin has written and especially the Brenna Spector series. I started this book expecting I would like it as much as the previous ones and my expectations were greatly surpassed. This is even better than the previous ones, even though I didn't think they could get much better. Ms. Gaylin has woven a story filled with suspense and an intricate plot that works seamlessly. You are taken along for the ride, story, emotions and all. My favorite thing about Ms. Gaylin's writing (in any of her books) is her narrative and dialogue. No other author I have read creates a more realistic-sounding narrative and dialogue. Characters speak the way you expect them to, for their age, geography and character development. Ms. Gaylin succeeds in creating multi-faceted characters that feel and sound real. It helps to sweep the reader up and forget they are reading a book. I had to stop reading this novel over and over because I didn't want it to end and I was reading it way too quickly. I highly recommend all of Ms. Gaylin's novels, especially the Brenna Spector series and I look forward to her future works.
July 18, 2016
3.75 Stars This is the third, and I think final, book in the Brenna Spector series. Brenna is still looking for her sister Clea who has been missing for many years. Brenna gets a serious lead in this book when a man from Idaho shows up at her apartment with a bag of Clea's belongings. However, Brenna's search for Clea has to be put on hold when Brenna's 13 year old daughter goes missing. This is a true thriller style book and a real page turner. I liked this book the best out of the three. The characters are interesting, if a bit over the top.
In looking back, I actually rated the first book 4.25 stars, so I am apparently mistaken about which book I liked best. Or maybe I am just cranky...
In looking back, I actually rated the first book 4.25 stars, so I am apparently mistaken about which book I liked best. Or maybe I am just cranky...
September 22, 2018
Holy crap. That was good. A little sad there's only 3. 1 more would have been good I think...
November 17, 2021
It was quick to read. There is a woman missing since she was seventeen, there is her thirteen year old niece who has been abducted. Drama swirls around these two and their family. Yawn. I wanted to be entertained but really wasn't.
April 5, 2019
3 stars--I liked the book.
I've enjoyed the Brenna Spector series--all three books are paced well and full of action. Characters are solid, and the books are quick to read. This one was no exception.
The plot was a little over the top, but this third (and final?) book wrapped up the series nicely. I'll be checking out Gaylin's other books.
I've enjoyed the Brenna Spector series--all three books are paced well and full of action. Characters are solid, and the books are quick to read. This one was no exception.
The plot was a little over the top, but this third (and final?) book wrapped up the series nicely. I'll be checking out Gaylin's other books.
June 29, 2014
Loved it. Would definitely love more books about Brenna Spector. Hoping Ms. Gaylin revisits her in the future.
July 5, 2014
Book 3; nice wrap of the trilogy; well played.
April 19, 2022
Brenna Spector’s decades-long search for her older sister continues in this third volume. She has joint custody of a teenage daughter, Maya, and as book three opens, someone kidnaps Maya off a street when a sleepover Maya attended went horribly awry.
Brenna is initially too emotionally involved to conduct a good investigation, and for good reason. Maya’s abductors know a lot about the girl and about her schedule and life. That becomes evident as Brenna scours chat sites devoted to missing family members. At least one fellow chatter is aware of Maya, and what she knows is disturbing.
This trilogy improves with each book it seems. This final book is the best one in the set.
I was impressed with the ending, which I won’t write about here, but not because I disliked it. It’s a sweeping satisfying ending. The subplots were worth reading. Brenna’s flamboyant computer assistant makes for fascinating reading, and he turns out to be a young man of substance after all.
Brenna is initially too emotionally involved to conduct a good investigation, and for good reason. Maya’s abductors know a lot about the girl and about her schedule and life. That becomes evident as Brenna scours chat sites devoted to missing family members. At least one fellow chatter is aware of Maya, and what she knows is disturbing.
This trilogy improves with each book it seems. This final book is the best one in the set.
I was impressed with the ending, which I won’t write about here, but not because I disliked it. It’s a sweeping satisfying ending. The subplots were worth reading. Brenna’s flamboyant computer assistant makes for fascinating reading, and he turns out to be a young man of substance after all.
March 18, 2019
I wish I had Brenna's memory because I read the second book in this trilogy five years ago and I remembered nothing about it. A little recap either at the beginning or worked into the plot would have been helpful. Otherwise, this was a good ending to this series, although there were a few tiny plot points that didn't get cleared up. I really enjoy this author's writing and I hope to read more from her. I was extra annoyed to find one pretty bad typo because the publisher is HarperCollins. Other than that one, it was pretty clean though.
December 13, 2022
Fantastic conclusion to the Brenna Spector series.
December 31, 2023
The final installment in the Brenna Spector trilogy doesn’t disappoint as Brenna’s long time search for her missing sister Clea comes to a screeching halt when her daughter Maya gets kidnapped, bringing her, her ex husband Jim and his new wife Faith together to end their nightmare. The conclusion is a whopper! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
February 8, 2023
Great series, did not see the end coming right away.
January 8, 2020
So many awesome twists!!
March 8, 2025
In dit derde en afsluitende deel komen heden en verleden samen. Eén waardige afsluiter van deze trilogie.
June 25, 2014
Brenna Spector series is a series that once you pick up, you won’t want to put it down.
I was lucky enough to start the series with the first book And She Was which was a fast page turner and engaging. The sequel Into The Dark had lots of twists and turns, and kept me absorbed! So I had pretty high expectations about Stay With Me the third and final book in the series. And wow, it did not disappoint.
Brenna suffers from a condition brought on by her sister’s disappearance. She can remember any day in time vividly, the sights, smells, noises. Everything. Like she is reliving the day again and again. This makes her a superb private investigator, but it also drives a wedge between her and her daughter Maya. Maya, who always feels like her mom’s living somewhere in the past. Maya, who thinks she plays second fiddle to her mom’s missing sister Clea, who disappeared all those years ago. Maya, who is suddenly missing in book three.
I don’t want to give a lot away but I recommend you start with book one. By the time book three rolls around, all of these little pieces that have been building up finally come together in one massive confrontation and it’s a very satisfying payoff. You can read each book individually, and trust me you would still enjoy each of them! But I think to achieve the greatest enjoyment of the series, read from the beginning.
That said, I think Stay With Me is the strongest book in the trilogy, balancing emotional and psychological thrills with physical danger, high stakes and action. It’s easy to root for Brenna, who has had it hard since the day her sister died. Who can’t even be in the same room as her ex-husband because it brings back good memories of when they were happy. Who really does care about his new wife, Faith. Faith loves Maya just as much as Brenna. The family dynamics, carefully laid out tensions since book one, comes to a head in book three. While this is interesting, I’m interested in Nick and Brenna as well. He’s not really front and center as he was in previous books, but this one focuses more on the core family so I understand.
Overall, Stay With Me is a solid knock out in the series. I think a lot of fans of thrillers and mystery will eat up Brenna Spector’s cases and unique circumstances. What are you waiting for? Grab a copy now!
I was lucky enough to start the series with the first book And She Was which was a fast page turner and engaging. The sequel Into The Dark had lots of twists and turns, and kept me absorbed! So I had pretty high expectations about Stay With Me the third and final book in the series. And wow, it did not disappoint.
Brenna suffers from a condition brought on by her sister’s disappearance. She can remember any day in time vividly, the sights, smells, noises. Everything. Like she is reliving the day again and again. This makes her a superb private investigator, but it also drives a wedge between her and her daughter Maya. Maya, who always feels like her mom’s living somewhere in the past. Maya, who thinks she plays second fiddle to her mom’s missing sister Clea, who disappeared all those years ago. Maya, who is suddenly missing in book three.
I don’t want to give a lot away but I recommend you start with book one. By the time book three rolls around, all of these little pieces that have been building up finally come together in one massive confrontation and it’s a very satisfying payoff. You can read each book individually, and trust me you would still enjoy each of them! But I think to achieve the greatest enjoyment of the series, read from the beginning.
That said, I think Stay With Me is the strongest book in the trilogy, balancing emotional and psychological thrills with physical danger, high stakes and action. It’s easy to root for Brenna, who has had it hard since the day her sister died. Who can’t even be in the same room as her ex-husband because it brings back good memories of when they were happy. Who really does care about his new wife, Faith. Faith loves Maya just as much as Brenna. The family dynamics, carefully laid out tensions since book one, comes to a head in book three. While this is interesting, I’m interested in Nick and Brenna as well. He’s not really front and center as he was in previous books, but this one focuses more on the core family so I understand.
Overall, Stay With Me is a solid knock out in the series. I think a lot of fans of thrillers and mystery will eat up Brenna Spector’s cases and unique circumstances. What are you waiting for? Grab a copy now!
September 13, 2014
Maybe it was because I paid a lot for the audio of this book and did not buy it as a cheap paperback, but this book really was a let down compared to the first 2. when I read it was about Mia being kidnapped, I even hesitated to get it; But hey, I had an audible credit,so might as well. maybe it was the length between books that "made the book somewhat less suspenseful than the other two" but I really just no longer cared for the story line with anticipation as I had the last 2 years. I even hesitated getting it when I read how it was about Mia being kidnapped. I found the book not near as suspenseful as the other 2. And She Was was my favorite book of 2012 well ahead of the pack and Into the Dark was also a top favorite the next year. This will be a mediocre book for 2014. Reasons: There was hardly any focus on Brenna's special abilities in this one. I did not like Brenna's character very well here; I could not at all identify with her. I did not at all like how Cleo was made to be a bad guy and the little action Brenna took to keep her sister from ending up the way she did. It made no sense that Cleo did what she did just to have it end like it does so many years later: "Hokey" somewhat, if I can use that term. I expected more. Nothing seemed pulled together either. Faith and Ashley did not fit with the story, though it was forced into as trying somehow to fit. Faith's petty jealousy and Trent's baby angle, just annoyed me; This book just did not keep me on the "edge of my seat" as the other two. I really think that @ "Eve Nolon's" idea for the plot on here (see her Review) would have made a much better book, but to give Alison Gaylin the benefit of the doubt; I still gave this book 4*rs because it may have been my focus on the book being audio and doing other things as I "read" it that may have been why I was not as "drawn in" as I had been with the other 2 I read as pages.
March 31, 2016
gaylin definitely has a misogynistic streak. also the constant use of following structure in the dialogues that reveal pieces of the puzzle become pretty boring after a while:
X: She went to that town in 2009.
Y: Ok but everybody goes there.
X: No you don't understand.
Y: Look I know you are trying but yada yada yada.
X: No, you don't understand. That's the town ZZZZ was found dead.
X: She went to that town in 2009.
Y: Ok but everybody goes there.
X: No you don't understand.
Y: Look I know you are trying but yada yada yada.
X: No, you don't understand. That's the town ZZZZ was found dead.
May 1, 2018
This book never really held together for me which surprised me as I have read others in this series that i have thoroughly enjoyed.
The characters never came off as true, I suspect that they were not developed enough to to make them believable.
I am still enthusiastic about this author just not this book.
The characters never came off as true, I suspect that they were not developed enough to to make them believable.
I am still enthusiastic about this author just not this book.
May 31, 2016
I did not know this book was the last of a trilogy until half way through. however it was not necessary to read the others because I was able to understand what was happening. this book was hard to put down and a great ending!
May 11, 2015
I could not put this book down. Loved the series altogether!
December 20, 2022
Stay With Me is the third novel in a trilogy about Brenna Spector. I had no idea about this being the case but it can certainly be read as a good standalone and I had no problems following the story. It does give away some vital details about an incident in the second novel so unless you don’t want to know who was behind it or how the incident ended you’ll be fine reading this. I actually picked up my copy (published in 2014 and translated in Dutch in 2016) because I recently read about one of her other books, The Collective, which received several five star ratings from other book reviewers already and sparked my interest as well.
In the novel Brenna is a private investigator and her worst nightmare comes true when her 13-year old daughter Maya goes missing almost 3 decades after her own sister Clea went missing at the age of 17. Together with her quirky sidekick Trent, boyfriend/detective Nick Morasco and detective Plodsky of Missing Persons they try to find out what happened at the slumber party Maya went to and what went on in her head in the days beforehand. Both paths turn up a number of disconcerting answers with toxic friendships and secret chats at the base of it.
Brenna’s photographic memory (hyperthymestic syndrome) helped to keep Clea’s disappearance in my head at all times and there seemed to be a small breakthrough there as well when she gets hold of some items that belonged to her sister. The question then is who had them all this time and how did they reach her.
Stay With Me was a good read but remained a bit cursory all the same, it didn’t go in very deep. I especially wanted to know more about what made one of the characters tick and made them so dangerous but I didn’t get the flashbacks that I wanted. The novel was an enjoyable read and I liked Brenna’s special ability (although it definitely is much more a curse than a blessing so not a superpower I want anymore) so I had no trouble steaming through this but at the same time I had a good idea what was in store in the end, even though I do think it’ll come as a surprise if you’re not a seasoned crime reader. It was a bit of a let down for me though and although the author did have one last twist in store, it felt overdone and I suspect it was only written for its shock value.
So with these ups and downs I’m still debating whether or not to add The Collective to my readlist. At the moment it is perhaps a bit more doubtful but of course Gaylin might have only gotten better with her writing and then I’d be missing out on a good story, so the vote is still very much out.
In the novel Brenna is a private investigator and her worst nightmare comes true when her 13-year old daughter Maya goes missing almost 3 decades after her own sister Clea went missing at the age of 17. Together with her quirky sidekick Trent, boyfriend/detective Nick Morasco and detective Plodsky of Missing Persons they try to find out what happened at the slumber party Maya went to and what went on in her head in the days beforehand. Both paths turn up a number of disconcerting answers with toxic friendships and secret chats at the base of it.
Brenna’s photographic memory (hyperthymestic syndrome) helped to keep Clea’s disappearance in my head at all times and there seemed to be a small breakthrough there as well when she gets hold of some items that belonged to her sister. The question then is who had them all this time and how did they reach her.
Stay With Me was a good read but remained a bit cursory all the same, it didn’t go in very deep. I especially wanted to know more about what made one of the characters tick and made them so dangerous but I didn’t get the flashbacks that I wanted. The novel was an enjoyable read and I liked Brenna’s special ability (although it definitely is much more a curse than a blessing so not a superpower I want anymore) so I had no trouble steaming through this but at the same time I had a good idea what was in store in the end, even though I do think it’ll come as a surprise if you’re not a seasoned crime reader. It was a bit of a let down for me though and although the author did have one last twist in store, it felt overdone and I suspect it was only written for its shock value.
So with these ups and downs I’m still debating whether or not to add The Collective to my readlist. At the moment it is perhaps a bit more doubtful but of course Gaylin might have only gotten better with her writing and then I’d be missing out on a good story, so the vote is still very much out.
April 15, 2018
Written competently enough, the story circles around Our Heroine's personal life like a turd making its way down the toilet bowl. We get self-described earth-shattering revelations about Our Heroine's father, sister, and mother. The plot peripherally revolves around the abduction of Our Heroine's daughter, and Our Heroine's efforts, along with her boyfriend, her ex-husband, her ex's wife, and her male secretary to find Our Heroine's daughter. The blatant authoritarian segregation of in-group (all actions are excusable) and other disgusted me. . The unintended theme in this novel is not the importance of family. The message is, as always from authoritarian writers, protect your in-group. Nothing else matters.
November 24, 2022
Brenna Spector is held prisoner by the past. She has perfect memory, which allows her to recall in vivid and remarkable detail every moment of every day of her adult life. If only she could remember more from her child-hood . . . for she's still trying to unravel the mystery of her sister Clea's disappearance twenty-eight years ago when Clea was seventeen. But now her obsession with finding out what happened to Clea is taking a toll on her own teenage daughter, Maya, who's been very secretive lately. And when Maya goes missing, Brenna fears her worst nightmare has come true.
. . . the outcome can be dangerous
As Brenna relies on her P.I. skills to find her daughter before it's too late, evidence surfaces showing a possible link between Maya's disappearance and Clea's. But could a case from three decades ago really be connected to her daughter? Or is someone hoping that Brenna will play along in a twisted game—one that there's no chance of winning . . . or surviving? (less)
. . . the outcome can be dangerous
As Brenna relies on her P.I. skills to find her daughter before it's too late, evidence surfaces showing a possible link between Maya's disappearance and Clea's. But could a case from three decades ago really be connected to her daughter? Or is someone hoping that Brenna will play along in a twisted game—one that there's no chance of winning . . . or surviving? (less)
September 23, 2024
This is a newer author for me who I have enjoyed so far. I didn't realize this book was the third in a series before I picked it up but I don't think it made that much of a difference other than I'm sure some of the stuff brought up in this book will be addressed in the first two but didn't take away from the story. I really enjoyed this book. It was fast moving from the very beginning. It had a few storylines converging into one in the end but was very enjoyable. Sometimes it was hard to keep up but it was very good in the end. I would highly recommend this author and this book but maybe read the first two first as I will be going back to do that.
March 21, 2018
Final book in Brenna Spector trilogy. This book moves along really quickly and was hard to put down. All the clues and mysteries from the earlier books are answered. Maya is much more complex teenager than you'd think, Evelyn, her mom, isn't what she seems to be either. I did find Brenna's ex and his wife tedious to read about (don't know why...I always found him a non-sympathetic person to tell the truth). Anyway, we find out what happened to Clea her long lost sister! This trilogy is the perfect beach read!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 123 reviews