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The Father She Went to Find
A road trip to find closure… or a reckless chase that could turn deadly?
Penny has never met anyone smarter than her. That's par for the course when you're a savant--one of less than one hundred in the world. But despite her photographic memory and super-powered intellect, there's one mystery Penny's never been able to solve: why did her father leave when she was in a coma at age seven, and where is he now?
On Penny's twenty-first birthday, she receives a card in the mail from him, just as she has every year since he left. But this birthday card is different. For the first time ever, there's a return address. And a goodbye.
Penny doesn't know the world beyond her mother's house and the special school she's attended since her unusual abilities revealed themselves, but the mystery of her father's disappearance becomes her new obsession. For the first time ever she decides to leave home, to break free of everything that has kept her safe, and use her gifts to answer the questions that have always eluded her. What Penny doesn't realize is she might not be able to outsmart a world far more complicated and dangerous than she'd ever imagined...
Penny has never met anyone smarter than her. That's par for the course when you're a savant--one of less than one hundred in the world. But despite her photographic memory and super-powered intellect, there's one mystery Penny's never been able to solve: why did her father leave when she was in a coma at age seven, and where is he now?
On Penny's twenty-first birthday, she receives a card in the mail from him, just as she has every year since he left. But this birthday card is different. For the first time ever, there's a return address. And a goodbye.
Penny doesn't know the world beyond her mother's house and the special school she's attended since her unusual abilities revealed themselves, but the mystery of her father's disappearance becomes her new obsession. For the first time ever she decides to leave home, to break free of everything that has kept her safe, and use her gifts to answer the questions that have always eluded her. What Penny doesn't realize is she might not be able to outsmart a world far more complicated and dangerous than she'd ever imagined...
1 pages, Audio CD
First published April 2, 2024
163 people are currently reading
10739 people want to read
About the author
Carter Wilson
13 books1,519 followersCarter Wilson is the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of ten psychological thrillers, known for their intense emotion, tight pacing, and haunting twists. His books have received starred reviews from every major trade publication, have been optioned for film and television, and his 2025 novel Tell Me What You Did was selected as a national monthly pick by Barnes & Noble.
In addition to his fiction, Carter is the creator and host of Making It Up, a podcast featuring unscripted, revealing conversations with fellow writers about the creative process. He is also the founder of Unbound Writer, a company devoted to helping writers find their voice through coaching, immersive retreats, and online classes.
A seasoned public speaker and natural interviewer, Carter is known for his dynamic onstage presence and his deep curiosity about the craft of writing. He lives in Erie, Colorado, and travels frequently to speak at conferences, moderate author panels, and lead writing workshops.
Visit him at www.carterwilson.com and www.unboundwriter.com.
In addition to his fiction, Carter is the creator and host of Making It Up, a podcast featuring unscripted, revealing conversations with fellow writers about the creative process. He is also the founder of Unbound Writer, a company devoted to helping writers find their voice through coaching, immersive retreats, and online classes.
A seasoned public speaker and natural interviewer, Carter is known for his dynamic onstage presence and his deep curiosity about the craft of writing. He lives in Erie, Colorado, and travels frequently to speak at conferences, moderate author panels, and lead writing workshops.
Visit him at www.carterwilson.com and www.unboundwriter.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews
March 31, 2024
Happy 21st birthday Penny!🥳
After a traumatic fall as a child, Penny was left in a coma. When she recovered, she was never the same. But in a positive way... she developed a photographic memory. She became a one-percenter...of brilliant minds.
Those near to her considered her a savant. As she studied at an academy devoted to those with brilliant minds, they also studied her.
But now at 21, with her mentor leaving the school, Penny decided it was the perfect time to venture out. It was time to find her father. The man who despicably left her the day of her accident. She needs answers and maybe some long needed closure.
This would be her first time out on her own. And so the road trip of a life-time begins. It will be filled with colorful characters, amazing adventures as well as many dangerous moments. Is Penny ready to see the world? Is the world ready for Penny?
Strangely addictive! Though Penny’s naivety gave this book a bit of a YA feel and some of the situations she got herself into were a bit OOT, I still had a hard time putting this one down.
I chose the audio version, and the narrator did a great job with Penny’s character but her inflections for the males were a bit odd at times.
My only other (minimal) criticism is the book title. I nearly passed this one up because of it. (But that’s just me). 💁🏻♀️
This is the fourth book I’ve read by this author and am looking forward to more!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media🎧
After a traumatic fall as a child, Penny was left in a coma. When she recovered, she was never the same. But in a positive way... she developed a photographic memory. She became a one-percenter...of brilliant minds.
Those near to her considered her a savant. As she studied at an academy devoted to those with brilliant minds, they also studied her.
But now at 21, with her mentor leaving the school, Penny decided it was the perfect time to venture out. It was time to find her father. The man who despicably left her the day of her accident. She needs answers and maybe some long needed closure.
This would be her first time out on her own. And so the road trip of a life-time begins. It will be filled with colorful characters, amazing adventures as well as many dangerous moments. Is Penny ready to see the world? Is the world ready for Penny?
Strangely addictive! Though Penny’s naivety gave this book a bit of a YA feel and some of the situations she got herself into were a bit OOT, I still had a hard time putting this one down.
I chose the audio version, and the narrator did a great job with Penny’s character but her inflections for the males were a bit odd at times.
My only other (minimal) criticism is the book title. I nearly passed this one up because of it. (But that’s just me). 💁🏻♀️
This is the fourth book I’ve read by this author and am looking forward to more!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media🎧
April 2, 2024
EXCERPT: July 13, 1987
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Monday
I remember everything.
This isn't an exaggeration. As the few who know me would confirm, I'm not prone to hyperbole. And when I say I remember everything, I'm not talking about the events of this morning. Or yesterday. Or the whole of last week.
I remember everything since October 7, 1973.
ABOUT 'THE FATHER SHE WENT TO FIND': A road trip to find closure… or a reckless chase that could turn deadly?
Penny has never met anyone smarter than her. That's par for the course when you're a savant--one of less than one hundred in the world. But despite her photographic memory and super-powered intellect, there's one mystery Penny's never been able to solve: why did her father leave when she was in a coma at age seven, and where is he now?
On Penny's twenty-first birthday, she receives a card in the mail from him, just as she has every year since he left. But this birthday card is different. For the first time ever, there's a return address. And a goodbye.
Penny doesn't know the world beyond her mother's house and the special school she's attended since her unusual abilities revealed themselves, but the mystery of her father's disappearance becomes her new obsession. For the first time ever, she decides to leave home, to break free of everything that has kept her safe and use her gifts to answer the questions that have always eluded her. What Penny doesn't realize is she might not be able to outsmart a world far more complicated and dangerous than she'd ever imagined...
MY THOUGHTS: If there is one thing The Father She Went to Find by Carter Wilson reinforces, it's that intelligence doesn't always equal common sense.
The entire narrative is from Penny's point of view. A savant, she is determined to find her father who disappeared while she was aged seven and in a coma. The only clues she has to go on are the birthday cards she has received each year from different locations and a treasure map relating to a road trip the two of them took when she was aged six.
Penny hasn't really lived in the 'real world' since she woke from her coma with her new abilities. She has been isolated and protected in 'The Institute' (a nod to Stephen King?) only returning home to check on her alcoholic mother. She has no friends and the only person she feels close to is a doctor at the Institute - that is, until she meets Travis.
I have to admit to having been quite fascinated by this story. I didn't always like it, but it did fascinate me. It's a real mix of a tender coming-of-age story with a crime thriller with bad guys, car chases, guns and bodies. Surprisingly, it mostly works.
The ending isn't going to please everyone. Personally, I liked it.
I recommend you go into this read with no expectations. I went in expecting it to be a certain type of read, and it was nothing like I expected. This may have slightly affected my rating, and this is something I can think on and adjust.
I was lucky enough to receive both a digital and an audio ARC of The Father She Went to Find by Carter Wilson, and I honestly preferred the written to the audio. This is no reflection on the skills of narrator Gina Rogers who did a perfectly adequate job of the narration. It is just a personal preference with this book.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheFatherSheWenttoFind #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Born in New Mexico in 1970, Carter grew up primarily in Los Angeles before attending Cornell University in New York. He lived in Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Miami before moving to Boulder, Colorado in 1996. Throughout his life, Carter has journeyed the globe for both work and pleasure, and his travels have been a constant source of inspiration in his fiction.
Carter’s writing career began on a spring day in 2003, when an exercise to ward off boredom during a continuing-education class evolved into a 400-page manuscript. Since that day, Carter has been constantly writing.
Carter lives in Erie, Colorado in a Victorian house that is spooky but isn’t haunted…yet.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Dreamscape Media via NetGalley for providing both a digital and audio ARC of The Father She Went to Find written by Carter Wilson and narrated by Gina Rogers for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
The Father she Went to Find by Carter Wilson is due for publication 2nd April 2024.
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Monday
I remember everything.
This isn't an exaggeration. As the few who know me would confirm, I'm not prone to hyperbole. And when I say I remember everything, I'm not talking about the events of this morning. Or yesterday. Or the whole of last week.
I remember everything since October 7, 1973.
ABOUT 'THE FATHER SHE WENT TO FIND': A road trip to find closure… or a reckless chase that could turn deadly?
Penny has never met anyone smarter than her. That's par for the course when you're a savant--one of less than one hundred in the world. But despite her photographic memory and super-powered intellect, there's one mystery Penny's never been able to solve: why did her father leave when she was in a coma at age seven, and where is he now?
On Penny's twenty-first birthday, she receives a card in the mail from him, just as she has every year since he left. But this birthday card is different. For the first time ever, there's a return address. And a goodbye.
Penny doesn't know the world beyond her mother's house and the special school she's attended since her unusual abilities revealed themselves, but the mystery of her father's disappearance becomes her new obsession. For the first time ever, she decides to leave home, to break free of everything that has kept her safe and use her gifts to answer the questions that have always eluded her. What Penny doesn't realize is she might not be able to outsmart a world far more complicated and dangerous than she'd ever imagined...
MY THOUGHTS: If there is one thing The Father She Went to Find by Carter Wilson reinforces, it's that intelligence doesn't always equal common sense.
The entire narrative is from Penny's point of view. A savant, she is determined to find her father who disappeared while she was aged seven and in a coma. The only clues she has to go on are the birthday cards she has received each year from different locations and a treasure map relating to a road trip the two of them took when she was aged six.
Penny hasn't really lived in the 'real world' since she woke from her coma with her new abilities. She has been isolated and protected in 'The Institute' (a nod to Stephen King?) only returning home to check on her alcoholic mother. She has no friends and the only person she feels close to is a doctor at the Institute - that is, until she meets Travis.
I have to admit to having been quite fascinated by this story. I didn't always like it, but it did fascinate me. It's a real mix of a tender coming-of-age story with a crime thriller with bad guys, car chases, guns and bodies. Surprisingly, it mostly works.
The ending isn't going to please everyone. Personally, I liked it.
I recommend you go into this read with no expectations. I went in expecting it to be a certain type of read, and it was nothing like I expected. This may have slightly affected my rating, and this is something I can think on and adjust.
I was lucky enough to receive both a digital and an audio ARC of The Father She Went to Find by Carter Wilson, and I honestly preferred the written to the audio. This is no reflection on the skills of narrator Gina Rogers who did a perfectly adequate job of the narration. It is just a personal preference with this book.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheFatherSheWenttoFind #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Born in New Mexico in 1970, Carter grew up primarily in Los Angeles before attending Cornell University in New York. He lived in Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Miami before moving to Boulder, Colorado in 1996. Throughout his life, Carter has journeyed the globe for both work and pleasure, and his travels have been a constant source of inspiration in his fiction.
Carter’s writing career began on a spring day in 2003, when an exercise to ward off boredom during a continuing-education class evolved into a 400-page manuscript. Since that day, Carter has been constantly writing.
Carter lives in Erie, Colorado in a Victorian house that is spooky but isn’t haunted…yet.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Dreamscape Media via NetGalley for providing both a digital and audio ARC of The Father She Went to Find written by Carter Wilson and narrated by Gina Rogers for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
The Father she Went to Find by Carter Wilson is due for publication 2nd April 2024.
March 31, 2024
A intriguing story with some action sprinkled in.
Penny was a young girl who, after a tragic accident, developed savant syndrome. This rare condition endowed her with exceptional artistic abilities and an incredible photographic memory. As a result, she was kept at a special school where she spent most of her life. However, on her 21st birthday, she felt the strong urge to leave the school and search for her father, whom she hadn't seen since the day of the accident. All she had was his address, and from there, she boarded a bus and started her adventure. The road ahead was uncertain, but she was determined to find her father and experience the world around her.
I have to say, this book pleasantly surprised me. Penny, the main character, was unique and interesting to read about. While the plot did get a bit unrealistic at times, I still found it to be quite entertaining. However, I do want to mention that the story's ending is left open, which might not be everyone's cup of tea. But if you're in the mood for a mystery with some thrilling action, I highly recommend giving this novel a chance.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Carter Wilson, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Penny was a young girl who, after a tragic accident, developed savant syndrome. This rare condition endowed her with exceptional artistic abilities and an incredible photographic memory. As a result, she was kept at a special school where she spent most of her life. However, on her 21st birthday, she felt the strong urge to leave the school and search for her father, whom she hadn't seen since the day of the accident. All she had was his address, and from there, she boarded a bus and started her adventure. The road ahead was uncertain, but she was determined to find her father and experience the world around her.
I have to say, this book pleasantly surprised me. Penny, the main character, was unique and interesting to read about. While the plot did get a bit unrealistic at times, I still found it to be quite entertaining. However, I do want to mention that the story's ending is left open, which might not be everyone's cup of tea. But if you're in the mood for a mystery with some thrilling action, I highly recommend giving this novel a chance.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Carter Wilson, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
December 11, 2023
This book can be summarized in merely one word: “Wow”.
I’m going to go into it a bit further than that, but this one was a shocker. I started it a few weeks ago and couldn’t get into it, so I put it aside and tried again this week. I’m so glad I returned to this one…
Penny Bly (as her mother would say, named so because she’s pretty much worthless) fell down a flight of stairs when she was seven, and became a savant who has a photographic memory, synesthesia and an amazing artistic ability. While she was hospitalized, her father abandoned her and her mother - he now only sends her a birthday card each year. Penny voluntarily lives in an institution that examines her mind, and most of the time when she leaves, it’s to visit her mother. Unfortunately, her mom is not in a place to take care of her, so she was mostly raised in this place and by her doctor.
On her 21st birthday, her birthday card said that this would be the last one, as she clearly doesn’t need a father. That’s when she begins a road trip to California; she doesn’t remember much from before her head injury, but she had a snippet of a dream about a road trip with her father. He made a treasure map, and she’s going to follow it to the address written on his final card. This road trip her first time out in the world on her own, and even though she has a massive IQ, she has no idea what she’s doing. She just wants to find her father.
Her first stop after leaving the institute was to the mall, where she sees someone drawing (bad) portraits. She tries her hand at selling a portrait when she meets Travis, a starving artist who was watching her draw. Stuck with the same type of mother, he decides to join Penny on her adventure. The two are in for more than a fun ride across the country though…they quickly fall into a dangerous situation, and their leisurely journey becomes a frantic flee.
This book had a lot of thrills, action and suspense, but it was also a coming-of-age story. Penny may be 21, but she is just now facing the harsh world and trying to find her place in it. Throughout the journey, you see her blossom from a child into a woman who is stronger than she thinks, and it’s lovely despite the horror they’re facing. The ending was ambiguous, but absolutely beautiful. I would love a sequel to this one, for sure. Five happy stars.
(Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Carter Wilson and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on April 2, 2024.)
I’m going to go into it a bit further than that, but this one was a shocker. I started it a few weeks ago and couldn’t get into it, so I put it aside and tried again this week. I’m so glad I returned to this one…
Penny Bly (as her mother would say, named so because she’s pretty much worthless) fell down a flight of stairs when she was seven, and became a savant who has a photographic memory, synesthesia and an amazing artistic ability. While she was hospitalized, her father abandoned her and her mother - he now only sends her a birthday card each year. Penny voluntarily lives in an institution that examines her mind, and most of the time when she leaves, it’s to visit her mother. Unfortunately, her mom is not in a place to take care of her, so she was mostly raised in this place and by her doctor.
On her 21st birthday, her birthday card said that this would be the last one, as she clearly doesn’t need a father. That’s when she begins a road trip to California; she doesn’t remember much from before her head injury, but she had a snippet of a dream about a road trip with her father. He made a treasure map, and she’s going to follow it to the address written on his final card. This road trip her first time out in the world on her own, and even though she has a massive IQ, she has no idea what she’s doing. She just wants to find her father.
Her first stop after leaving the institute was to the mall, where she sees someone drawing (bad) portraits. She tries her hand at selling a portrait when she meets Travis, a starving artist who was watching her draw. Stuck with the same type of mother, he decides to join Penny on her adventure. The two are in for more than a fun ride across the country though…they quickly fall into a dangerous situation, and their leisurely journey becomes a frantic flee.
This book had a lot of thrills, action and suspense, but it was also a coming-of-age story. Penny may be 21, but she is just now facing the harsh world and trying to find her place in it. Throughout the journey, you see her blossom from a child into a woman who is stronger than she thinks, and it’s lovely despite the horror they’re facing. The ending was ambiguous, but absolutely beautiful. I would love a sequel to this one, for sure. Five happy stars.
(Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Carter Wilson and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on April 2, 2024.)
May 20, 2025
This was fine. I wasn’t super invested in the story even though her special abilities intrigued me. It was pretty slow moving and I didn't really care if she ever found her father quite honestly.
March 30, 2024
The writing is so good! It’s gripping and thrilling! It seems like the characters are unreliable but you can rely on their unreliability to give you the best thrilling experience of reading a thriller. Now how many thriller thrilling did I just mentioned in a few secs?!
The plot may seem like you will figure it out but yes you will most probably figure it out. But I would say do not pick up this thriller not for a never-done-before plot twist but for the short crazy chapters and the unreliable but reliable characters. Yes, test yourself how reliable characters can be in a twisty thriller story.
I would say rely mostly on the writing and the poor decisions by the main character. If you love literary writing style, you will love this book more than you will.
No story telling in my review as always but know this much: a young girl who’s been studied as a genius goes on a mission to find her father who she believes is her only sanctuary in a world which seems quite cold and strange.
Damn. This book is good. Just that I predicted the plot twists until the end. I love this book more for the other things rather than its plot twist. There I said it and you will know what to expect.
Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press, for the advance reading copy.
The plot may seem like you will figure it out but yes you will most probably figure it out. But I would say do not pick up this thriller not for a never-done-before plot twist but for the short crazy chapters and the unreliable but reliable characters. Yes, test yourself how reliable characters can be in a twisty thriller story.
I would say rely mostly on the writing and the poor decisions by the main character. If you love literary writing style, you will love this book more than you will.
No story telling in my review as always but know this much: a young girl who’s been studied as a genius goes on a mission to find her father who she believes is her only sanctuary in a world which seems quite cold and strange.
Damn. This book is good. Just that I predicted the plot twists until the end. I love this book more for the other things rather than its plot twist. There I said it and you will know what to expect.
Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press, for the advance reading copy.
November 21, 2025
Liked Penny as the main character but the story was a little bit chaotic and all over the place,should have written more about the institution she spent time at but all said I liked it and would recommend giving it a chance.
April 15, 2024
therapeutic to anybody with
abandonment issues or social
awkwardness by any measure,
penny's journey will have you
gripped right from the go. ♡
abandonment issues or social
awkwardness by any measure,
penny's journey will have you
gripped right from the go. ♡
September 11, 2023
Oh my! This book is a whirlwind of eccentric and wonderful plot lines and characters! It centers around Penny as she awakens from a coma after a fall down the basement stairs when she was seven. Now she has an eidetic memory and an incredible memory for faces; she sees colors for numbers and can recall pages of written material easily. She conjures her father in her head and has "conversations" with him, especially remembering a road trip where he left messages for her in hidden coke bottles. Newly awakened she has a "treasure map" and is determined to retrace those steps and find him. And of course there are great characters--mostly misfits, loan sharks, shootings, a crooked cop, and so many odd and wonderful happenings! Like all of Wilson's books, this one keeps you on the edge of your seat and never lets you go! Gritty and fabulous!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
April 4, 2024
Wow, I was hooked from the start and this book did not left go. This was such a unique premise and I felt so connected to Penny. Just within the first 10% I could not believe how Penny was treated and my mouth was floored while listening to the audiobook. This book definitely needs to be made into a movie, it is action packed and such a thrilling ride. The ending is mind blowing 🤯.
Add this to your TBR but just go in blind because you are in for a wild ride. I loved the narration of this audio and it just kept me thoroughly involved and not wanting to stop.
This is my second book by Carter Wilson and it definitely won’t be my last!
*****Many thanks to Dreamscape Media, Kaye Publicity, Carter Wilson, and NetGalley for my gifted copies!
Add this to your TBR but just go in blind because you are in for a wild ride. I loved the narration of this audio and it just kept me thoroughly involved and not wanting to stop.
This is my second book by Carter Wilson and it definitely won’t be my last!
*****Many thanks to Dreamscape Media, Kaye Publicity, Carter Wilson, and NetGalley for my gifted copies!
April 22, 2024
What an interesting story! Penny was such a unique and engaging character and I found myself drawn into her story as she searched for her father and the mystery surrounding his absence from her life.
3.5 stars
Full review coming soon
3.5 stars
Full review coming soon
October 29, 2024
This is a road trip adventure on steroids!
The road trip begins innocently enough with Penny following a “treasure map” to find her estranged father. Given the fact that Penny has essentially been sheltered her entire life (the part she remembers) it’s interesting to follow her thoughts and decisions as she makes her way in the “wild”. She’s emotionally immature and has an undefined sense of self. This could explain some of her erratic behavior. I didn’t find the novel all that suspenseful although I did wonder what chaos would happen next. Think along the lines of the films Kalifornia and Thelma and Louise. The characters she meets along the way are not all that compelling, though the foundation was there.
Set in 1987 I enjoyed the feeling of nostalgia and my own memories that came up that I hadn’t thought of in years. Pay phones, trips to 7-Eleven and the oh so important visit to the food court while hanging at the mall, which was THE place to be. Penny’s story fits well into the 80s time period. The writing style was smart and Penny’s musings were intelligent with a vocabulary worthy of a savant without being pretentious or feeling like $5 words were being included intentionally. However, I was thrown out of the story a bit by all the foul language. The chapters are relatively short at just a page or two in some cases, so to have multiple f-bombs in almost every chapter was excessive for me. It should also be noted that the content does have some material that warrants a trigger warning.
I liked Penny and I think some additional stories about her using her abilities to work either for or against, some of the “powers that be” could be quite intriguing, though she would need some deeper character development. I wanted to know how her adventure would end, but I didn’t feel any emotional investment.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
The road trip begins innocently enough with Penny following a “treasure map” to find her estranged father. Given the fact that Penny has essentially been sheltered her entire life (the part she remembers) it’s interesting to follow her thoughts and decisions as she makes her way in the “wild”. She’s emotionally immature and has an undefined sense of self. This could explain some of her erratic behavior. I didn’t find the novel all that suspenseful although I did wonder what chaos would happen next. Think along the lines of the films Kalifornia and Thelma and Louise. The characters she meets along the way are not all that compelling, though the foundation was there.
Set in 1987 I enjoyed the feeling of nostalgia and my own memories that came up that I hadn’t thought of in years. Pay phones, trips to 7-Eleven and the oh so important visit to the food court while hanging at the mall, which was THE place to be. Penny’s story fits well into the 80s time period. The writing style was smart and Penny’s musings were intelligent with a vocabulary worthy of a savant without being pretentious or feeling like $5 words were being included intentionally. However, I was thrown out of the story a bit by all the foul language. The chapters are relatively short at just a page or two in some cases, so to have multiple f-bombs in almost every chapter was excessive for me. It should also be noted that the content does have some material that warrants a trigger warning.
I liked Penny and I think some additional stories about her using her abilities to work either for or against, some of the “powers that be” could be quite intriguing, though she would need some deeper character development. I wanted to know how her adventure would end, but I didn’t feel any emotional investment.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 27, 2024
Hmm.
I’m not really sure how I feel about the book. It’s unique, but I would say it shares the same vibe as the show Stranger Things, minus the monsters. If it weren’t for a couple of moments, I would have thought this was a book for adolescents.
Penny has special abilities and lives in a “facility”. When she turns 21, she decides to break out on her own and find her father. She joins forces with a couple of folks along the way and gets into some trouble too.
Likes- the unique storyline, the characters
Dislikes- the whole “talking to her father in her head” thing, her abilities not being used much in the storyline (the portrait drawings could have been used more and the number/colors could have served a better purpose), the ending didn’t do it for me.
Narrator- I definitely liked her and felt that she fit the Penny character, but she has a bit of a monotone voice, which caused me to have some trouble paying attention.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC on exchange for an honest review.
I’m not really sure how I feel about the book. It’s unique, but I would say it shares the same vibe as the show Stranger Things, minus the monsters. If it weren’t for a couple of moments, I would have thought this was a book for adolescents.
Penny has special abilities and lives in a “facility”. When she turns 21, she decides to break out on her own and find her father. She joins forces with a couple of folks along the way and gets into some trouble too.
Likes- the unique storyline, the characters
Dislikes- the whole “talking to her father in her head” thing, her abilities not being used much in the storyline (the portrait drawings could have been used more and the number/colors could have served a better purpose), the ending didn’t do it for me.
Narrator- I definitely liked her and felt that she fit the Penny character, but she has a bit of a monotone voice, which caused me to have some trouble paying attention.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC on exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2023
Despite the dopey title, this is one of the best books of the year, a moving and thrilling journey of Penny, an acquired savant who leaves the comfort of the special school she's been in for many years to brave the real world and try to find her father, who she believes left her and her mom just after she went into a coma from falling down the stairs. On her way she meets Travis and Fia, who each play a part in her road to freedom, along with loan sharks, assassins, government agents and long-lost relatives. The outcome of this adventure is as satisfying, in its own weird way, as the steps taken to get there simply because it's so fitting. A terrific job by Wilson, who I've read twice before and has shown flashes of both brilliant and above-average storytelling. It's definitely the former here. 4.5 stars bumped to 5 for the quality of writing and overall satisfaction at the finish. Very highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2023
This book is way more intense than the synopsis would suggest. I’m not typically one to talk about trigger warnings, but I would advise checking them if you’re not already a hardcore thriller reader, or if there generally are some subjects you avoid.
I’m very much a fan of this authors twisty writing style, and he keeps up the twists in this read. Penny has been rather sheltered for the majority of her life, but now she’s embarking on a road trip to find her estranged father. She finds herself in rather sticky situations as she sets out on her own, finding a few friends along the way.
I would recommend this if you’re a fan of road trip style thrillers with an on the run element that may surprise you.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc!
I’m very much a fan of this authors twisty writing style, and he keeps up the twists in this read. Penny has been rather sheltered for the majority of her life, but now she’s embarking on a road trip to find her estranged father. She finds herself in rather sticky situations as she sets out on her own, finding a few friends along the way.
I would recommend this if you’re a fan of road trip style thrillers with an on the run element that may surprise you.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc!
April 12, 2024
I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting when I started this book, but this was actually so much more! I never ever expected the twists that came as the story unfolded. This was fast paced and entertaining. I was on the edge of my seat. The narrator also did a great job bringing the characters to life. I highly recommend this one!
Thanks NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook.
Thanks NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook.
April 7, 2024
I cant quite decide how I feel about this one. It definitely kept me interested, but it was also wildly far fetched? Especially the end was quite a bit wacky... but entertaining at the same time?
Regardless, it was a very quick, easy read! I do enjoy the authors writing style.
Regardless, it was a very quick, easy read! I do enjoy the authors writing style.
April 26, 2024
The premise of this book was so unique to me. I found this book to be intriguing. It was fast paced and full of action. What started as a road trip turned into so much more. The main character Penny was very interesting to me. I felt I watched her come into her own and grow up during the progression of this story. The plot was entertaining, and kept my interest from the beginning until the end. And that ending? It definitely was not what I was expecting at all! The author's writing style was twisty and suspenseful. A great road trip type thriller that will keep you engrossed in its pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange. for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange. for my honest review.
May 4, 2024
The Father She Went To Find by Carter Wilson was such a good and intriguing read. After a few chapters I was invested and I wanted to know what was going to happen next and I kept thinking I wonder how this is going to end. Well, I certainly wasn’t disappointed and I can say this was well worth reading. With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.
April 4, 2024
Holy shit. The intensity and jaw dropping moments never stopped. I couldn’t not devour this one. It was a wild ride for sure.
December 19, 2023
What can I say about The father she went to find? What I can say is that this book was simply wonderful and everything I would want in a book. Hope, despair, longing for happiness, loveable characters, and it takes place (in part) in my home state! I was HOOKED on page 1!!! I loved that the chapters were short, making it a great read even while trying to keep an eye on two crazy toddlers!
August 18, 2024
Savant leaves home & institute for the wilds to find her dad.
Quite a journey as seen through her eyes.
Twisty, emotional & bizarre.
Well written.
Different, yet good story.
I recommend this book!
Quite a journey as seen through her eyes.
Twisty, emotional & bizarre.
Well written.
Different, yet good story.
I recommend this book!
March 19, 2024
I can't believe how much I enjoyed this one.
The description barely interested me and the vibes from the cover/title didn't entice me at all... Fortunately they were all off/not representative of the story.
For example, the MC drives a car for half a chapter (LMAO why is this the cover). Also, while it is true she's decided to go find her father, it's the barest backbone foundation to the story.
SUMMARY: Penny turns 21. When she was 7, she fell down the stairs and awoke from a coma with exceptional artistic skills and a photographic memory. (She also has synesthesia). [This was a hard sell for me but I went with it].
Penny has been "studied" at a brain institute in Wisconsin for the last 13/14 years and as a consequence has been very, very sheltered. Her only "friend" is her therapist who has just told her he's leaving to take a job somewhere else. To make matters worse, Penny also gets a birthday card from her father saying he won't be writing her anymore. (Father left when she was in a coma and the only correspondence they have is this yearly birthday card).
On a whim, Penny decides to leave home/the institute and embark on a road trip to California where she believes her father lives. She wants to confront him about why he left. The story follows Penny as she makes this trip.
What I liked about this story was that it took place in 1986 and there is a lot of discussion around political things happening at the time and other social issues. I was a baby so I didn't know any of this, but enjoyed a "coming of age" story set in 1986 and what she deals with.
To keep things interesting, Penny often finds herself in trouble--hearing things she shouldn't, for example, and has to figure out what she is going to do. This is also where she calls upon her super brain to figure out how to handle a situation.
Finally, I loved the ending but imagine most people will not. The narrator was TERRIFIC.
Thanks netgalley for my ALC.
The description barely interested me and the vibes from the cover/title didn't entice me at all... Fortunately they were all off/not representative of the story.
For example, the MC drives a car for half a chapter (LMAO why is this the cover). Also, while it is true she's decided to go find her father, it's the barest backbone foundation to the story.
SUMMARY: Penny turns 21. When she was 7, she fell down the stairs and awoke from a coma with exceptional artistic skills and a photographic memory. (She also has synesthesia). [This was a hard sell for me but I went with it].
Penny has been "studied" at a brain institute in Wisconsin for the last 13/14 years and as a consequence has been very, very sheltered. Her only "friend" is her therapist who has just told her he's leaving to take a job somewhere else. To make matters worse, Penny also gets a birthday card from her father saying he won't be writing her anymore. (Father left when she was in a coma and the only correspondence they have is this yearly birthday card).
On a whim, Penny decides to leave home/the institute and embark on a road trip to California where she believes her father lives. She wants to confront him about why he left. The story follows Penny as she makes this trip.
What I liked about this story was that it took place in 1986 and there is a lot of discussion around political things happening at the time and other social issues. I was a baby so I didn't know any of this, but enjoyed a "coming of age" story set in 1986 and what she deals with.
To keep things interesting, Penny often finds herself in trouble--hearing things she shouldn't, for example, and has to figure out what she is going to do. This is also where she calls upon her super brain to figure out how to handle a situation.
Finally, I loved the ending but imagine most people will not. The narrator was TERRIFIC.
Thanks netgalley for my ALC.
November 4, 2024
I've been eagerly reading whatever Carter Wilson books my library has, but this was my least favorite so far. A young savant woman leaves home on her 21st birthday to go to California to find her estranged father. En route, she gets into some unbelievably dangerous, life-threatening situations. It became too over-the-top violent for me.
April 2, 2024
4.5 stars
Thoughts: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRTHTHLV/
Thoughts: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRTHTHLV/
March 20, 2024
Thanks to #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for the book #TheFatherSheWentToFind by #CarterWilson. This book is about the journey and 21 year old woman goes on to find her father. Along the way there is so much chaos and murder, until she makes it to where she thinks her father is. This is a first time author and I would recommend this book.
March 29, 2025
This was ok enough. It was a unique concept and it kept me interested, but somewhere around 2/3 of the way through, the wheels came off and it ventured into “an elite group of people with special skills that are important to the government” kind of story. It didn’t need that. Penny’s personal family baggage was interesting on its own.
March 11, 2024
You get so much more than you expect with this book! Carter Wilson always manages to surprise me, and in a good way.
A road trip and a 1980s setting…sold!! add to that Penny, a woman who had just turned 21 and has been living in an institution since she was 7 and suffered a brain injury than gave her extraordinary abilities. She wants to live in the wild, and she wants to find her father who left her when she was 7. Of course, things never go smoothly and she soon finds herself in some dangerous and deadly situations. It was addictive.
I read this book in 2 sittings. It was just one of those books that I couldn’t work out what was going to happen, how she would get out of the places she found herself . And would she find her father. Read it and find out.
Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. Published on April 2nd
A road trip and a 1980s setting…sold!! add to that Penny, a woman who had just turned 21 and has been living in an institution since she was 7 and suffered a brain injury than gave her extraordinary abilities. She wants to live in the wild, and she wants to find her father who left her when she was 7. Of course, things never go smoothly and she soon finds herself in some dangerous and deadly situations. It was addictive.
I read this book in 2 sittings. It was just one of those books that I couldn’t work out what was going to happen, how she would get out of the places she found herself . And would she find her father. Read it and find out.
Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. Published on April 2nd
Want to read
February 28, 2024This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!
April 4, 2024
Isn't it ironic? Yes, The Father She Went To Find by Carter Wilson is absolutely ironic, in the way that only a psychological thriller with a character driven plot can be!
The idea for this book came to Wilson in the form of a female character, Penny, whom he thought about for months; it's clear that he developed her thoroughly, looking at every aspect of her personality in detail since she is such a fully formed entity. Penny has savant syndrome, meaning she is extremely intelligent but also undeveloped socially. It was incredible to watch how she interacted with others on her quest to find her father, a man she hasn't seen since she was in a coma fourteen years ago.
I was constantly wondering where Penny's journey would take her, but instead of guessing, I just let the story unfold before me. The plot took many turns along the way, but none more shocking than how it ended! I could tell it was going to be this type of ending shortly before it unfolded, but watching it play out was a beautiful thing! This ending is perfection, and I'm not sure I've ever encountered a finale that perfectly fits the main character and book so well!
I love what Wilson said about Penny's happiness in the Author's Note (especially related to the books ending). As a lover of character-based novels, Penny's story will be one that stays with me for a while!
This audiobook is narrated by Gina Rogers, and she did a phenomenal job embodying Penny. There was both empathy in her voice towards Penny while still completely personifying the character. I really noticed the slight quietness that Rogers employed at times, emphasizing the importance of the specific scene.
I can't wait to read more from Wilson after loving this one so much!
Thank you NetGalley, Kaye Publicity, Poisoned Pen Press and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary copies to read and review.
The idea for this book came to Wilson in the form of a female character, Penny, whom he thought about for months; it's clear that he developed her thoroughly, looking at every aspect of her personality in detail since she is such a fully formed entity. Penny has savant syndrome, meaning she is extremely intelligent but also undeveloped socially. It was incredible to watch how she interacted with others on her quest to find her father, a man she hasn't seen since she was in a coma fourteen years ago.
I was constantly wondering where Penny's journey would take her, but instead of guessing, I just let the story unfold before me. The plot took many turns along the way, but none more shocking than how it ended! I could tell it was going to be this type of ending shortly before it unfolded, but watching it play out was a beautiful thing! This ending is perfection, and I'm not sure I've ever encountered a finale that perfectly fits the main character and book so well!
I love what Wilson said about Penny's happiness in the Author's Note (especially related to the books ending). As a lover of character-based novels, Penny's story will be one that stays with me for a while!
This audiobook is narrated by Gina Rogers, and she did a phenomenal job embodying Penny. There was both empathy in her voice towards Penny while still completely personifying the character. I really noticed the slight quietness that Rogers employed at times, emphasizing the importance of the specific scene.
I can't wait to read more from Wilson after loving this one so much!
Thank you NetGalley, Kaye Publicity, Poisoned Pen Press and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary copies to read and review.
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