Never There

by Nicole Loughan

Mystery / Suspense / Humor - Michelle's life isn't going so well. She's broke, she's lonely, and the only plan on her calendar is her ten-year high school reunion. Just before the only event of the season, she gets a call from an old friend who stirs up a long-forgotten mystery, the legend of Cedar Rapids. Michelle and her former classmates went on a trip to the small town of Cedar Rapids, Michigan, in the third grade and visited a picturesque farm that exists warmly in their memories. The only problem is that's the only place it exists.

After twenty years with no trace of the enigmatic town, Michelle's friend claims to have found it, but when the call ends, just like Cedar Rapids, she disappears.

Michelle rallies her childhood friends and quirky Midwestern family to help her unravel the mystery. As they delve deeper, the haze around their memory lifts, revealing a clue to something far more sinister.

Soon, Michelle holds a secret that could destroy a whole town.

When the truth is revealed, it's beyond what anyone imagined. Michelle will have to fight her way through a cast of bad characters and a fair number of spiders to survive this tangled web. Lucky for her, she's got a secret that has always kept her safe, so far...

This twisty small-town mystery delves into the phenomenon of the Mandela Effect. It is a perfect fit for readers of Stephanie Plum novels or fans of the TV show Fargo. Never There is a cozy adjacent mystery with a dark edge and a hefty dose of humor.

Genres: Mystery

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 9, 2024

About the author

When Nicole is not heading off a tantrum or finding the best public bathroom to use with young children she is writing her column "The Starter Mom" or working on one of her books. She also writes about restaurants for two greater Philadelphia newspapers, not that she ever finds time to eat in restaurants anymore.

Reviews

[Unpredictable Opinions · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn’t just not good, it was bad. I felt like I was reading a story written by a high school freshman. It barely made sense, the romance was unbelievable at best, the ‘twists and turns’ were juvenile, and the big plot twist was just plain dumb. The book said it was published in 2024, but I read about flip phones and phone minutes too much. Details were added for literally no reason. Like, what was with Grandma and the newspaper clippings? Why give one to someone and then never tell us what it said? What was the benefit of that?

And the help that what’s-her-face FMC (why retain her name?) got was so eye-roll worthy it was stunning. But I finished the book so I gave it more than one star.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!

This book was like finding treasure in the hunt for a good story! I've never heard of Nicole Loughlin before, but she's been added to my list of authors to look out for.

This story has a charming small town feel to it. It makes it easy to like the characters and get invested in what happens to them and the town itself. The storyline was unique and creative. I was so interested in how she intertwined the Mandela Effect into the story. It was unpredictable and the FMC was relatable and likable. A hard book to put down with an unforgettable story!

[Sienna S'Zell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good plot, a delicate handling of all the characters, and beautiful writing. A really nice read.