Gone Again

by Doug Johnstone

'It's just to say that no-one has come to pick Nathan up from school, and we were wondering if there was a problem of some kind?' As Mark Douglas photographs a pod of whales stranded in the waters off Edinburgh's Portobello Beach, he is called by his son's his wife, Lauren, hasn't turned up to collect their son. Calm at first, Mark collects Nathan and takes him home but as the hours slowly crawl by he increasingly starts to worry. With brilliantly controlled reveals, we learn some of the painful secrets of the couple's shared past, not least that it isn't the first time Lauren has disappeared. And as Mark struggles to care for his son and shield him from the truth of what's going on, the police seem dangerously short of leads. That is, until a shocking discovery...

Genres: Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Audiobook, Thriller, Scotland, Mystery Thriller

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 26, 2013

About the author

Doug Johnstone is a writer, musician and journalist based in Edinburgh. His fourth novel, Hit & Run, was published by Faber and Faber in 2012. His previous novel, Smokeheads, was published in March 2011, also by Faber. Before that he published two novels with Penguin, Tombstoning (2006) and The Ossians (2008), which received praise from the likes of Irvine Welsh, Ian Rankin and Christopher Brookmyre. Doug is currently writer in residence at the University of Strathclyde. He has had short stories appear in various publications, and since 1999 he has worked as a freelance arts journalist, primarily covering music and literature. He grew up in Arbroath and lives in Portobello, Edinburgh with his wife and two children. He loves drinking malt whisky and playing football, not necessarily at the same time.

Reviews

[Donna Irwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not having a good run with books this year so far! This started off well, loved the relationship between father and son, but it deteriorated into implausibility and silliness.

[Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book confused me no end. The blurb on the back implies it's a thriller, but having seen Doug Johnstone in person recently, he himself described it as a study of the relationship between a father and his young son when the mother goes missing.

If it's the latter, it's quite effective, but I didn't find the thriller bit all that convincing. The central characters, including Ruth the mother-in-law, are good, but I wasn't sure about the way the police conducted things around the book's main incident. (I think they'd have been swarming around a possible crime scene.) I also felt completely unconvinced by the villains.

For all that, I enjoyed this as a quick read (it's short, around 60,000 words), and also I enjoyed its setting around Portobello in Edinburgh, an area I know really well. I had to wait for someone in Portobello for 40 minutes and actually spent the time in my car reading about Portobello in Portobello. How cool is that?

I will definitely look out for other Doug Johnstone books, though.

[Woofas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starts well, particularly the relationship between the child & his father, but gradually descends into almost farce.

[Mayra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off incredibly well--a sure recipe for a wonderful crime drama of sorts, but what seemed so promising fell flat 2/3 of the way in. The author lost his way, as did I. I give 3 stars for keeping me engaged enough to finish, but it was a chore when the story became too incredible.

[Kathryn Holden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers: this novel started off well, as other reviewers stated, as a discussion of relationships and mental illness. I was captive in the story to find out what the wife was dealing with and if she would mysteriously reappear or, since found dead, if somehow the husband, who was admitted to anger issues on occasion where he lost control and focus of the situations around him and may have inadvertently killed his wife. However, none of this was the case as with a bizarre plot twist that made no sense 75% into the book with regards to the seedy underbelly of the city and the husband going all vigilante. It made no sense. I had great difficulty finishing the story as it delved into much cursing and blood and gore. It turned from a fascinating mystery into something I wouldn't read.

[Teresa bee book a lula · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stelle. Un libro che ti tiene letteralmente incollato alle pagine, ma oltre all'intreccio e alla trama dai risvolti noir c'è molto di più. Ci sono un padre e un figlio che scoprono l'un l'latro, e scoprono di esserci l'uno per l'altro, nel modo più traumatico e allo stesso tempo più puro.

[Littlenel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've given this three stars because although I enjoyed it, there were aspects of it that didn't sit right. The book starts off with Mark getting a phone call from his son's school because his wife hasn't picked Nathan up from school. As you learn more about Mark and Lauren's past you discover things that throw you a curve ball, and makes you think about and reassess what you thought you'd figured out. There were things that happened (can't say what as it would spoil it) that were in my opinion a bit unbelievable, they happened too neatly for them to be realistic. Maybe this is just me though! I hadn't read any Doug Johnstone's books before and I would try another, but maybe not straightaway.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Setting: Edinburgh, UK; present day. Freelance photographer Mark is on Portobello Beach taking photos for a local newspaper of a pod of whales at risk of beaching themselves when he receives a phone call from his son's school. His wife Lauren has failed to turn up to collect their six year old son Nathan so Mark has to go. And so begins a rollercoaster of events for Mark, his son and his mother-in-law Ruth as Lauren's failure to collect Nathan becomes a full-blown disappearance. Sadly Lauren has done this before when suffering from post natal depression but Mark still can't believe that history has repeated itself and suspects foul play - but has difficulty convincing the police of this..... A totally gripping read that I simply could not put down - great characters and setting - 9.5/10.

[Dale Levy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good tight story

The story is layered and you are one moment with the hero and one against him. And the main armature of the whole story is about telling the truth...how you can see it one way and someone else sees it another...one! Actually the story is brilliant...like a shiny piece of seaglass yours to cherish. Oh and another thing about the story is that you worry all the time you are reading it....I meAn mother's worry about their kids, kids eating properly how much does something cost to clean up...and who pays. Brilliant!!!.....sorry. right it is a good read!

[Katharine Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fast paced and kept my interest although I often thought "Mark - what are you doing?!"

At the end, some questions were left unanswered, and I liked this aspect but it might not be for everyone.

There were a few twists in the plot and some of these seemed pretty unrealistic to me, which has lowered the final score I gave it.

As a study of a man's relationship with his son, it was touching and I think that was my favourite part about it.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

For all that we don't know Mark and Nathan very well, I wanted nothing but the best for them.
They are coming to terms with the death of a family member, not a natural death but a murder relating to dodgy financial dealings.
This is another great read by this author. Again, because the book is set in the city where I have lived for over thirty years, geographically I know of the areas mentioned in the book.
I look forward to reading the remainder of Doug Johnstone's books.

[Terri Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted this book to end. It started out interesting, but quickly deteriorated. The fact that the dad has no problem punching women in the face made me wish he would go to jail regardless of whether or not he killed his wife. His son was also crazily violent. What is up with that? The author wrote about it as if it was normal.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first half was great tension, waiting what could be the deal, but the last half wasn't as great. But satisfactory read, I did find myself wanting to know what happened.

[Michael Dawson · Rating 1 out of 5]

What put me off reading this book were the negative reviews and the UK slang

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an Audible offering. I had to adjust to the accent but after slowing down the speed I didn’t have any issues. I enjoyed the book but was not happy with the ending. I don’t expect or even want everything to be tied up in a neat package but this just left too much unanswered about Mark and Nathan’s future.

[Dawn Marsanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very fast paced and shortish book.
I liked the father son relationship and thought that was handled well.
The story builds to a dramatic climax which is violent and bloody.
I'm not sure some of the actions are entirely believable though.
Would read more by this author.

[Lisa Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 but rounded up for the audiobook narrator’s sexy accent! Lol

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Becomes quite a page turner very early on when a mother disappears and her husband and 5 year old son are desperate to find her. I recommend!!

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pitch perfect examination of familial relationships are at the fore of this compelling new thriller by Doug Johnstone. As the synopsis states, the reader is drawn into the tale through a series of reveals, that allow us to bear witness to the deep, dark secrets that exist within families, and yet, by the same token, illustrates the ability to bring forth forgiveness for the sins of the past.

Mark Douglas’ life is turned upside down by the suspicious disappearance of his wife Lauren, leaving himself and his six year old son, Nathan, in a state of turmoil. Lauren has disappeared before suffering the effects of post-natal depression in the wake of Nathan’s birth, and with Mark’s knowledge that his wife is pregnant again he fears that these events may well be repeating themselves. However, as the plot unfolds and Mark receives some devastating news, it becomes clear that with the police dragging their heels, there are darker motives at work in relation to her disappearance than at first thought, leading Mark and his son into extreme danger.

As events unfold we discover Mark’s previous propensity for violence, admittedly in defence of his wife Lauren initially, but enough to cause the police some suspicion as to how much of a part it plays in his wife’s disappearance. As Mark struggles to keep mind and body together for the sake of his son, Johnstone builds the air of tension and frustration, that Mark experiences and more crucially how this dark corner of Mark’s personality rises again as he labours to discover the truth. We see a man quick to anger under pressure, but is he as guilty as the police suspect? I’m not telling...


His relationship with his son is perfectly portrayed, showing the mantle of parenthood is no easy one with Mark experiencing all the normal peaks and troughs of becoming a sole parent to a lively six year old boy, confused by sudden the absence of his mother. As events spiral out of control and Mark embarks on his own personal crusade to uncover the truth, his anger levels ratchet up, until he questions his own sense of control even in relation to his son, and this provides another interesting facet to the overall story. There is also a poignant theme of familial reconciliation built into the plot, as bridges are rebuilt between Mark and Lauren’s mother, following a violent altercation some years previously, centring on Lauren’s relationship with her father. This works well within the plot, and adds a solidity to the portrayal of human relationships, which I think is the stand out feature of the novel.

As the reasons for Lauren’s disappearance come to light and the story denigrated into some fairly unbelievable confrontations, I must admit by not being truly convinced by the whole set-up and the central premise. However, as I have already identified the strength of the characterisation and the development of relationships as the main hook for this novel, any weaknesses in the playing out of the plot are easily ignored, as Johnstone so readily engages us with his heartfelt portrayal of Mark and Nathan and the minutiae of their relationship, reeling from the loss of their wife and mother respectively.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this author after reading another of his books, Hit & Run, which I really enjoyed and very much looked forward to reading more by him.

Mark is very much your average type of guy. Married, a father to Nathan as well as a working man. On the day he gets the phone call to tell him that no one has picked Nathan up from school, he has no idea what a roller coaster of a ride his life is about to take.

You can very much feel Mark's frustration that no one seems to be taking the disappearance of his wife, Lauren, seriously. He is sick with worry but is trying to go on as normal for the sake of his son, Nathan. Nathan is a very bright little boy though and he knows that something isn't quite right where his mother is concerned.

Mark is trying his best to keep it together but as time goes on he starts to fall apart.

Mark very much trusts his own instincts as to who is behind his wife's disappearance and more than once takes the law into his own hands and does some investigating of his own. This causes some dire consequences.

Gone Again is a gripping read that I flew through in no time. I can't say that the story line holds any shocks or surprises but it certainly makes for a tense and enjoyable read and I can't wait to read more.

[Nenette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow, one can guess on what/who was really behind the murder, but this was not a spoiler for me because of the no-fuss storytelling. I like it that the author was direct to the point, yet was able to hold my interest. Maybe it was because he was able to successfully put across the intensity of the protagonist's turbulent feelings. I was able to feel for him, even hating some of the decisions he made but rationalizing just the same; as if I was his own self.

Only one thing I find quite impossible - how can a 6-year old boy fire a pistol/gun and hit his target? I don't know anything about guns, but I understand there's a lot of force involved in the firing action, that I find not plausible for a small boy to sustain.

Setting that single point aside, it was a good read overall; good enough to make me buy another work by the same author.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the way the tension was built, this is worth three stars. The way the past was dripped into the novel created a tension which gave the story creditability.

It is difficult to avoid spoiling this novel with a summary of the plot.

Apparently no tension between husband and wife.
Why had she disappeared before?
Then real tension between husband and mother in law. To the degree that there is a restraining order, why?
Is there something going on at work?
Is the husband a suspect?


The end provides some answers, but the way the end is reached leaves something to be desired. However, I will try another of Doug Johnstone's novels, so it can't be that bad.

[Brian Stoddart · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different offering from Doug Johnstone, and probably a touch below his normal high standards. His main character undergoes a bewildering set of trials including the murder of his wife, having his very young son involved in shooting an intruder, a rapprochement with his estranged mother-in-law, and dealing with a stolid police force.

he triumphs in the end, in a sort of way, and Scotland provides its normal terrific background. As a whole, it is perhaps too much a stretch of the reader's credibility, but still contains patches of Johnstone's normal high octane writing

[Zogman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doug Johnstone doing what he does best. He takes a reasonably simple event, complicates it, then builds on that complication until you have a full blown disaster. OK, sometimes he gets a bit carried away and if you isolate some of the events, they don't hold water (which is why it dropped one star in my review), but in the flow of the story they make perfect sense at the time.
Good to see another Scottish story teller writing about Scottish locations. Not big historical places, but everyday towns around the country.

[Vivienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started off well, yet dragged along quickly. I was tempted to stop reading halfway through but wanted to see how it finished. I didn't like the husbands violence and him hitting two women without remorse. He was very unlikeable. I also felt no connection with the characters especially the husband and wife. Left me not really interested in their relationship or what happened. The father son relationship was also cold. It was glad to be finished.

[Sarah Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is ok... I think I got the ending that I wanted less than half way through though, and then the rest of the book seemed to get more far fetched. I didn't really believe in the characters, although I did love the way that the relationship between father and son was handled. I'm not disappointed to have read this, but I won't be searching out any of his books in a hurry.

[Ellen Thielen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fast paced novel is based in Scotland, where a man has to deal with his wife's unexpected disappearance, and take care of his young son. She left once before while dealing with post-partem depression. Now with another baby on the way he is trying to keep his young son in the dark about where his mom went.

[Diletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spietato e perfetto. Doug Johnstone non molla la presa neanche un secondo, i più piccoli dettagli diventano indimenticabili.
Bonus: primo bambino nella storia dei gialli/noir/thriller che non sia antipatico/insopportabile.


(Qui l'intervista a Doug Johnstone:

Intervista Doug Johnstone

)

[Jane Everhart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not believable

Too much happened, Mark would have been in jail. He was a very violent man, smacking women around when he got angry. Didn't believe Ruth would have come around like she did, probably would have just tried to get custody of Nathan.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was exciting all the way through, but the ending was a little lackluster.