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All Who Wander
One snowy night in 1998, Brooke Mulcahy's car slides off the road in rural Vermont. Her car is discovered. She is not. Twenty-one years later, Robert Kirby, Brooke's stepbrother, is paid a visit from a young woman (Lily), claiming to be Brooke's daughter. Since a tumultuous upbringing, Robert, formerly known as "Bobby," has enjoyed considerable success. Now an esteemed professor at a private Upstate New York university, Robert has just received a significant NEH grant. After Lily's visit, Robert's life is upended.
His wife Stephanie reveals she is unhappy in the marriage and takes their teenage son to visit her sister. Brooke's former best friend, Aaron Reardon, still devastated from Brooke's disappearance, offers to help. And forever lurking in the background is Mike Rakowski, Brooke's ex, a possessive, abusive drug addict.
As Robert's world unravels, he revisits that night twenty-one years ago where everything went wrong, unearthing a horrible, bone-chilling secret. In the vein of Simone St. James's Sun Down Motel, All Who Wander mines the depths of past transgression, begging the do past sin automatically negate future happiness?
His wife Stephanie reveals she is unhappy in the marriage and takes their teenage son to visit her sister. Brooke's former best friend, Aaron Reardon, still devastated from Brooke's disappearance, offers to help. And forever lurking in the background is Mike Rakowski, Brooke's ex, a possessive, abusive drug addict.
As Robert's world unravels, he revisits that night twenty-one years ago where everything went wrong, unearthing a horrible, bone-chilling secret. In the vein of Simone St. James's Sun Down Motel, All Who Wander mines the depths of past transgression, begging the do past sin automatically negate future happiness?
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First published September 5, 2023
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About the author
Joe Clifford
56 books309 followersJoe Clifford is the author of several books, including Junkie Love, the Jay Porter Thriller Series, Say My Name, All Who Wander, as well as editor of Trouble in the Heartland: Crime Stories Based on the Songs of Bruce Springsteen and others. Joe’s writing can be found at www.joeclifford.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
November 11, 2023
What a suspenseful psychological thriller with familial drama and a heart-pounding mystery!
I absolutely loved this novel and appreciated the writing style of the author. The twists and turns in this story had me rubbing my neck from all the whiplash….but in a good way. I was captivated by the way the story was written in a dual timeline / dual POV, traipsing back and forth between present day and the past. It felt like the story was a gripping but slow unraveling of what really happened that night, all those years ago.
This was a super good atmospheric read for me, enoying the chilling setting while wrapped warmly in my blanket. I was left turning page after page and had to take a break a few times to regroup and start again. As the mystery unfurls and we get more and more details, the struggling family dynamics are put to the test and we learn more about Brooke, her supposed daughter Lily and her step-brother Robert. These characters were well developed and I was really able to put myself in their shoes. I think the ending could have been a titch better, so I took off one star for that.
Currently on KU for FREE, so if you’re looking for a dark atmospheric read with familial drama and want to be in the winter season setting, this one id for you!
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this novel and appreciated the writing style of the author. The twists and turns in this story had me rubbing my neck from all the whiplash….but in a good way. I was captivated by the way the story was written in a dual timeline / dual POV, traipsing back and forth between present day and the past. It felt like the story was a gripping but slow unraveling of what really happened that night, all those years ago.
This was a super good atmospheric read for me, enoying the chilling setting while wrapped warmly in my blanket. I was left turning page after page and had to take a break a few times to regroup and start again. As the mystery unfurls and we get more and more details, the struggling family dynamics are put to the test and we learn more about Brooke, her supposed daughter Lily and her step-brother Robert. These characters were well developed and I was really able to put myself in their shoes. I think the ending could have been a titch better, so I took off one star for that.
Currently on KU for FREE, so if you’re looking for a dark atmospheric read with familial drama and want to be in the winter season setting, this one id for you!
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2024
One snowy night in 1998, Brooke Mulcahy's car slides off the road in rural Vermont and, although her car is found, she isn't. Twenty-one years later Brooke's half-brother Robert (Bobby), now an esteemed professor at a private Upstate New York university, is paid a visit by Lily, a young woman claiming to be Brooke's daughter.
This book is from my backlog and was published in September 2023. The past story is told mostly from Brooke's point of view and in the present mostly from Robert's point of view. It took me a while to get into the book but eventually I became very engrossed as we learn the truth about what happened to Brooke Mulcahy. All in all, not bad but it was a bit longer than it needed to be in my opinion. 3.5 stars rounded down.
TW. Drug and alcohol use/abuse is a strong theme in the book as well as sexual activity and foul language. This may be just a me thing but there was one part in the book where Brooke confronts a drug dealer who suffers from "cocaine nose" and the description literally turned my stomach. Also, harm to a dog.
Thank you to Square Tire Books via Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
This book is from my backlog and was published in September 2023. The past story is told mostly from Brooke's point of view and in the present mostly from Robert's point of view. It took me a while to get into the book but eventually I became very engrossed as we learn the truth about what happened to Brooke Mulcahy. All in all, not bad but it was a bit longer than it needed to be in my opinion. 3.5 stars rounded down.
TW. Drug and alcohol use/abuse is a strong theme in the book as well as sexual activity and foul language. This may be just a me thing but there was one part in the book where Brooke confronts a drug dealer who suffers from "cocaine nose" and the description literally turned my stomach. Also, harm to a dog.
Thank you to Square Tire Books via Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 13, 2023
All Who Wander (publication, Sept. 5, 2023) (273 pages) (Square Tire Books) is set in snowy New England and features as one of the two lead characters Robert Kirby who still has questions about his stepsister Brooke Mulcahy’s disappearance twenty years earlier, questions that few are still willing to entertain. The FBI never officially closed the case, but they are convinced a serial killer who lived near where Brooke disappeared into the snowy night when her car crashed on a rural highway was the one who entertained her last. The local police no longer want to deal with Robert, passing him on to the state troopers, who try to placate him with what they know. The case of Brooke’s disappearance in 1998 was a major true crime event with numerous nuts and shut-ins who reached out to the family at the time and the years since. When Lily turns up and claims to be Brooke’s daughter, Robert does not know what to make of it.
Clifford tells this story in alternating narratives between nineteen-year-old Brooke in 1998, telling her story starting with January 8, 1998, at 1:24 a.m., the morning of her disappearance and offering us the story of what happened weeks earlier as Brooke’s life falls off the edge with her abusive boyfriend/not boyfriend who stalks her relentlessly, her theft of drugs from the elderly patients at the nursing home where she works, her pending court case, the people after her, her drunken shiftless father, her mother who abandoned her for most of her childhood and then returned with a defective step-brother Bobby (Robert as he now wants to be known). “Everyone has a story. And Brooke didn’t want hers ending with another used-up girl, clutching her fading beauty like smoke, getting nailed against dumpsters behind townie bars.”
The shifting between the two narratives and the two timelines works seamlessly here, particularly since we, as readers, want to know what happened to Brooke because it appears that there is more to meet the eye than one knows.
It is a compelling read as you come to identify with the two lead characters who are, in some sense, loners, cast-offs, oddballs, who hope to someday “walk in the sun,” but “until then life sucked.”
While there are some surface similarities to the Jay Porter Lamentation Mountain books in that the scene is snowy New England, no one official wants to believe the guy who is sort of acting like an amateur detective, but this novel, by using the shifting timelines, gives greater depth to more than one character. We get to know Brooke just as much as we get to know Robert and what is interesting is just how different each of these characters see the other.
Clifford tells this story in alternating narratives between nineteen-year-old Brooke in 1998, telling her story starting with January 8, 1998, at 1:24 a.m., the morning of her disappearance and offering us the story of what happened weeks earlier as Brooke’s life falls off the edge with her abusive boyfriend/not boyfriend who stalks her relentlessly, her theft of drugs from the elderly patients at the nursing home where she works, her pending court case, the people after her, her drunken shiftless father, her mother who abandoned her for most of her childhood and then returned with a defective step-brother Bobby (Robert as he now wants to be known). “Everyone has a story. And Brooke didn’t want hers ending with another used-up girl, clutching her fading beauty like smoke, getting nailed against dumpsters behind townie bars.”
The shifting between the two narratives and the two timelines works seamlessly here, particularly since we, as readers, want to know what happened to Brooke because it appears that there is more to meet the eye than one knows.
It is a compelling read as you come to identify with the two lead characters who are, in some sense, loners, cast-offs, oddballs, who hope to someday “walk in the sun,” but “until then life sucked.”
While there are some surface similarities to the Jay Porter Lamentation Mountain books in that the scene is snowy New England, no one official wants to believe the guy who is sort of acting like an amateur detective, but this novel, by using the shifting timelines, gives greater depth to more than one character. We get to know Brooke just as much as we get to know Robert and what is interesting is just how different each of these characters see the other.
September 14, 2023
Joe Clifford's ALL WHO WANDER is a dark and disturbing literary, domestic psychological suspense about a troubled young woman who mysteriously disappears during a snowstorm, never to be found again.
PAST: 1998 Vermont. A brutal snowy night. A young woman, Brooke Mulcahny, escapes her nightmare of a life, crossing the border from Massachusetts to rural Vermont. She is running from danger and her past. She was looking for a motel when, due to the weather, she ran off the road and crashed due to the icy roads and blizzard.
From that night, no one had seen her since. A neighbor man stopped by and offered help. She declined. Some cameras showed she may have gotten into a white van. Was she picked up by the serial killer who lived nearby—one who had killed other women?
The author takes us back to Brooke's childhood. Growing up in a highly dysfunctional home, her mom left without a word when she was young. Her father, Paul, was distant and spent most of his time working and drinking. Emotionally distant, he offered them food and shelter, and that was about it.
Her mother showed back up at their door years later with a baby boy, Bobby, from another man. Their life returned to some sense of normal until she told them she had cancer. Her mom left them again, died, and now left them with a boy. A boy that Brooke thought was weird. He just took up space.
Brooke got into drugs and all sorts of trouble with men as a teen, from the married high school coach to Mike, the drug addict. She was not pleasant to her stepbrother Bobby. She had a best friend, an upstanding, brilliant, friendly Aaron, who adored her, but she was not interested in him as a boyfriend.
She was dating an evil, abusive, bad boy, a drug addict, controlling and jealous, Mike, also from a bad home environment. Brooke dropped out of nursing school and worked at a nursing retirement home.
Then, with a crazy scheme for money, Brooke with a co-worker and Mike, a drug deal goes down badly. Now Brooke's dad has to put up the house as collateral. No one was there as an influence for Bobby. His mom was always on the run before she died, so he never had a stable upbringing.
From past to present, we learn the events leading up to the night Brooke disappeared. It kept you on the edge, waiting to see what happened the night of the accident.
PRESENT: Now, twenty-one years later, Bobby is all grown up and now going by Robert, an esteemed professor at a private Upstate New York University; he has just received a significant NEH grant and married with son Peter. He has undergone years of therapy to cope with his traumatic past. Can he leave his past behind?
Even though Robert does not owe Paul anything, he purchased Paul's home for him and pays his bills in an assisted living facility, which will not last much longer.
He has always wondered what happened to Brooke. Then, a young woman named Lily appears, claiming to be Brooke's daughter. From here on out, his world becomes unraveled as he investigates further.
Robert's life is out of control; he becomes detached. His wife left with his son to visit her parents for a while. Robert is determined to find out what happened to Brooke. Someone breaks into their home and screws up the dog's vocal cords. He does not believe Lily is Brooke's daughter. Something is up, menacing and sinister.
What happened to Brooke?
Atmospheric, gritty, dark, and compelling ALL WHO WANDER is my first book by Joe Clifford, a talented author. His writing is lyrical, with vivid descriptions, delving deep into the evil human conditions.
Honestly, I was hooked from the first page towards the end UNTIL the book turned to weird Stephen Kingish horror! Until this point, this was 5 Stars, and due to this strange turn, I downgraded it to 4 Stars.
When he brought the characters Robert/Bobby, Mike, and Aaron together —what happened next was just creepy! I was unsure of the purpose of this unless the author was exploring how people change. The good can turn evil, and the evil can turn good, doing a complete 180 and Robert going rogue! Do past sins define you? All the characters were deeply flawed—nature vs. nurture.
I enjoyed the author's lyrical, beautiful writing. The storyline was powerful, thought-provoking, and intriguing until it turned weird and twisted with an ending that was not satisfying. However, I look forward to seeing what comes next from the author.
There are themes of drug use, addiction, violence, abusive relationships, alcoholism, trauma, inner demons, step-siblings, and abuse.
Thanks to Swell Media and NetGalley for a gifted ARC for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 5, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
Sept 2023 Must-Read Books
PAST: 1998 Vermont. A brutal snowy night. A young woman, Brooke Mulcahny, escapes her nightmare of a life, crossing the border from Massachusetts to rural Vermont. She is running from danger and her past. She was looking for a motel when, due to the weather, she ran off the road and crashed due to the icy roads and blizzard.
From that night, no one had seen her since. A neighbor man stopped by and offered help. She declined. Some cameras showed she may have gotten into a white van. Was she picked up by the serial killer who lived nearby—one who had killed other women?
The author takes us back to Brooke's childhood. Growing up in a highly dysfunctional home, her mom left without a word when she was young. Her father, Paul, was distant and spent most of his time working and drinking. Emotionally distant, he offered them food and shelter, and that was about it.
Her mother showed back up at their door years later with a baby boy, Bobby, from another man. Their life returned to some sense of normal until she told them she had cancer. Her mom left them again, died, and now left them with a boy. A boy that Brooke thought was weird. He just took up space.
Brooke got into drugs and all sorts of trouble with men as a teen, from the married high school coach to Mike, the drug addict. She was not pleasant to her stepbrother Bobby. She had a best friend, an upstanding, brilliant, friendly Aaron, who adored her, but she was not interested in him as a boyfriend.
She was dating an evil, abusive, bad boy, a drug addict, controlling and jealous, Mike, also from a bad home environment. Brooke dropped out of nursing school and worked at a nursing retirement home.
Then, with a crazy scheme for money, Brooke with a co-worker and Mike, a drug deal goes down badly. Now Brooke's dad has to put up the house as collateral. No one was there as an influence for Bobby. His mom was always on the run before she died, so he never had a stable upbringing.
From past to present, we learn the events leading up to the night Brooke disappeared. It kept you on the edge, waiting to see what happened the night of the accident.
PRESENT: Now, twenty-one years later, Bobby is all grown up and now going by Robert, an esteemed professor at a private Upstate New York University; he has just received a significant NEH grant and married with son Peter. He has undergone years of therapy to cope with his traumatic past. Can he leave his past behind?
Even though Robert does not owe Paul anything, he purchased Paul's home for him and pays his bills in an assisted living facility, which will not last much longer.
He has always wondered what happened to Brooke. Then, a young woman named Lily appears, claiming to be Brooke's daughter. From here on out, his world becomes unraveled as he investigates further.
Robert's life is out of control; he becomes detached. His wife left with his son to visit her parents for a while. Robert is determined to find out what happened to Brooke. Someone breaks into their home and screws up the dog's vocal cords. He does not believe Lily is Brooke's daughter. Something is up, menacing and sinister.
What happened to Brooke?
Atmospheric, gritty, dark, and compelling ALL WHO WANDER is my first book by Joe Clifford, a talented author. His writing is lyrical, with vivid descriptions, delving deep into the evil human conditions.
Honestly, I was hooked from the first page towards the end UNTIL the book turned to weird Stephen Kingish horror! Until this point, this was 5 Stars, and due to this strange turn, I downgraded it to 4 Stars.
When he brought the characters Robert/Bobby, Mike, and Aaron together —what happened next was just creepy! I was unsure of the purpose of this unless the author was exploring how people change. The good can turn evil, and the evil can turn good, doing a complete 180 and Robert going rogue! Do past sins define you? All the characters were deeply flawed—nature vs. nurture.
I enjoyed the author's lyrical, beautiful writing. The storyline was powerful, thought-provoking, and intriguing until it turned weird and twisted with an ending that was not satisfying. However, I look forward to seeing what comes next from the author.
There are themes of drug use, addiction, violence, abusive relationships, alcoholism, trauma, inner demons, step-siblings, and abuse.
Thanks to Swell Media and NetGalley for a gifted ARC for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 5, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
Sept 2023 Must-Read Books
September 26, 2023
This book fascinated me as it's a thriller and a domestic family drama all in one! Told in a "now" and "then" format, the novel shows us Brooke going missing in a snowstorm after her car crashed (then), and her step-brother, Bobby trying to piece together what really happened even as his marriage is imploding (now). Brooke was wild, experimenting with drugs, loser boyfriends, and just tolerating younger nerdish Bobby. But Bobby--now Robert-- is a distinguished doctor, receiving an NEH award, and believing his wife and young son are the solutions to his crazy upbringing. Of course the two worlds collide, and Bobby desperately seeks answers when Brooke's supposed-daughter, Lily shows up at his door unexpectedly. A wild ride for sure but great fun!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
November 20, 2025
A good story. A little hard to follow at times, but it all sorted out in the end.
September 11, 2023
Joe Cliffird, has entered the room and he is here to stay!
Whoa, that was a doozy of a book, All Who Wander, will have you thinking about what you read long after you conclude. Jam packed with twists and turns, you will never be prepared for what happens next.
The snowy setting gave me the chills, both literally and figuratively. This book is TWISTED!!!!!
I hate to admit this, but this was my first book by Joe Cliffird. I won't be making that same mistake twice, I have already downloaded "Junkie Love" and "Say My Name" to read next!
Check out this teaser:
One snowy night in 1998, Brooke Mulcahy's car slides off the road in rural Vermont. Her car is discovered. She is not. Twenty-one years later, Robert Kirby, Brooke's stepbrother, is paid a visit from a young woman (Lily), claiming to be Brooke's daughter. Since a tumultuous upbringing, Robert, formerly known as "Bobby," has enjoyed considerable success. Now an esteemed professor at a private Upstate New York university, Robert has just received a significant NEH grant. After Lily's visit, Robert's life is upended.
His wife Stephanie reveals she is unhappy in the marriage and takes their teenage son to visit her sister in PA. Brooke's former best friend, Aaron Reardon, still devastated from Brooke's disappearance, offers to help. And forever lurking in the background is Mike Rakowski, Brooke's ex, a possessive, abusive drug addict.
As Robert's world unravels, he revisits that night twenty-one years ago where everything went wrong, unearthing a horrible, bone-chilling secret. In the vein of Simone St. James' Sun Down Motel and other female-driven domestic psychological thrillers today, All Who Wander mines the depths of past transgression, begging the question: do past sins automatically negate future happiness?
Whoa, that was a doozy of a book, All Who Wander, will have you thinking about what you read long after you conclude. Jam packed with twists and turns, you will never be prepared for what happens next.
The snowy setting gave me the chills, both literally and figuratively. This book is TWISTED!!!!!
I hate to admit this, but this was my first book by Joe Cliffird. I won't be making that same mistake twice, I have already downloaded "Junkie Love" and "Say My Name" to read next!
Check out this teaser:
One snowy night in 1998, Brooke Mulcahy's car slides off the road in rural Vermont. Her car is discovered. She is not. Twenty-one years later, Robert Kirby, Brooke's stepbrother, is paid a visit from a young woman (Lily), claiming to be Brooke's daughter. Since a tumultuous upbringing, Robert, formerly known as "Bobby," has enjoyed considerable success. Now an esteemed professor at a private Upstate New York university, Robert has just received a significant NEH grant. After Lily's visit, Robert's life is upended.
His wife Stephanie reveals she is unhappy in the marriage and takes their teenage son to visit her sister in PA. Brooke's former best friend, Aaron Reardon, still devastated from Brooke's disappearance, offers to help. And forever lurking in the background is Mike Rakowski, Brooke's ex, a possessive, abusive drug addict.
As Robert's world unravels, he revisits that night twenty-one years ago where everything went wrong, unearthing a horrible, bone-chilling secret. In the vein of Simone St. James' Sun Down Motel and other female-driven domestic psychological thrillers today, All Who Wander mines the depths of past transgression, begging the question: do past sins automatically negate future happiness?
October 9, 2023
All Who Wander is a dark psychological thriller set in New England, by an author who is new to me. I received an invitation to read it from the publisher, and since I’m up to date with my NetGalley ARCs and thought the blurb sounded intriguing, decided to give it a go. I liked the writing and was drawn into the mystery, but ultimately was disappointed by the ending and didn’t like any of the characters.
Told in two timelines, this has 20 year old college dropout Brooke running away from her dysfunctional family and abusive boyfriend, only to crash her car during a snowstorm and disappear. Twenty two years later, her younger brother Robert is now a happily married professor of engineering, who has put his difficult childhood behind him and has just been awarded a prestigious prize. Then a young woman contacts him claiming to be Brooke’s daughter, and his life rapidly spirals out of control. As we alternate between their very different perspectives, the shocking reason behind Brooke’s fateful decision is revealed.
I enjoyed the writing, the tension and the twisty plot for most of this, which was why I was so disappointed by the “is that it?” ending which fails to wrap up most of the storyline and delivers some underwhelming twists. Neither Brooke nor Robert are remotely likeable - she steals drugs from dying patients and is horrible to her poor fat orphaned 14 year old brother Bobby, and he’s an arrogant judgemental knowitall. This wouldn’t matter if there was some kind of redemption in the plot, but it just leaves his fate unresolved. I also have an intense dislike of present tense narration which further put me off his chapters.
What I really didn’t like was the inclusion of a completely unnecessary episode of animal cruelty which is revealed to have been inflicted on Robert’s dog, although we don’t see it happening, and he does survive. Ironically Robert muses about Stephen King’s bemusement that he got more complaints from readers about hurting a fictional dog than any of the horrific things that he’s done to his human characters. When will authors learn? I’m sorry but if you have to put an apology for something in your afterword, maybe just go back and delete it? It wasn’t awful enough to stop me continuing the book, but it would put me off reading any more from this author. Other reviewers have rated this higher than I did and clearly enjoyed it more so don’t let my lukewarm assessment of it deter you if you like this kind of disturbing thriller.
Thanks to NetGalley and Square Tire Books for the ARC. All Who Wander is available now.
Told in two timelines, this has 20 year old college dropout Brooke running away from her dysfunctional family and abusive boyfriend, only to crash her car during a snowstorm and disappear. Twenty two years later, her younger brother Robert is now a happily married professor of engineering, who has put his difficult childhood behind him and has just been awarded a prestigious prize. Then a young woman contacts him claiming to be Brooke’s daughter, and his life rapidly spirals out of control. As we alternate between their very different perspectives, the shocking reason behind Brooke’s fateful decision is revealed.
I enjoyed the writing, the tension and the twisty plot for most of this, which was why I was so disappointed by the “is that it?” ending which fails to wrap up most of the storyline and delivers some underwhelming twists. Neither Brooke nor Robert are remotely likeable - she steals drugs from dying patients and is horrible to her poor fat orphaned 14 year old brother Bobby, and he’s an arrogant judgemental knowitall. This wouldn’t matter if there was some kind of redemption in the plot, but it just leaves his fate unresolved. I also have an intense dislike of present tense narration which further put me off his chapters.
What I really didn’t like was the inclusion of a completely unnecessary episode of animal cruelty which is revealed to have been inflicted on Robert’s dog, although we don’t see it happening, and he does survive. Ironically Robert muses about Stephen King’s bemusement that he got more complaints from readers about hurting a fictional dog than any of the horrific things that he’s done to his human characters. When will authors learn? I’m sorry but if you have to put an apology for something in your afterword, maybe just go back and delete it? It wasn’t awful enough to stop me continuing the book, but it would put me off reading any more from this author. Other reviewers have rated this higher than I did and clearly enjoyed it more so don’t let my lukewarm assessment of it deter you if you like this kind of disturbing thriller.
Thanks to NetGalley and Square Tire Books for the ARC. All Who Wander is available now.
October 3, 2023
ne snowy night in 1998, Brooke Mulcahy's car slides off the road in rural Vermont. Her car is discovered. She is not. Twenty-one years later, Robert Kirby, Brooke's stepbrother, is paid a visit from a young woman (Lily), claiming to be Brooke's daughter. Since a tumultuous upbringing, Robert, formerly known as "Bobby," has enjoyed considerable success. Now an esteemed professor at a private Upstate New York university, Robert has just received a significant NEH grant. After Lily's visit, Robert's life is upended.
This is a new author for me who I have never heard of before but had read some good reviews of his work so thought I would give it a try. This is quite a dark story where we are focused on two main characters, Robert who is still troubled over the disappearance of his stepsister Brooke and Brooke herself. Brooke has made some dubious decisions in her life and has not always associated with the best of people. This is the heart of the story which is told by these two POV's. Great characterization and a strong plot that really enhances the book and I felt the author did a great job of taking us into the heart of these people's lives. An enjoyable read, four stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a new author for me who I have never heard of before but had read some good reviews of his work so thought I would give it a try. This is quite a dark story where we are focused on two main characters, Robert who is still troubled over the disappearance of his stepsister Brooke and Brooke herself. Brooke has made some dubious decisions in her life and has not always associated with the best of people. This is the heart of the story which is told by these two POV's. Great characterization and a strong plot that really enhances the book and I felt the author did a great job of taking us into the heart of these people's lives. An enjoyable read, four stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2023
All Who Wander is a deep, dark and dynamic psychological thriller in the order of Girl On A Train and Gone Girl. I read it in one sitting- I could not put it down! It is the first I have read of Joe Clifford’s extensive collection, but certainly won’t be my last! It’s delightful to discover new authors with such writing mastery. Joe Clifford is an award winning author, which is no surprise after reading his latest installment.
The pacing starts slow but builds up steam to an electrifying climax and shocking resolution! WOW!🤩 The MANY twists build heart pounding suspense! The character driven story fuels the plot chillingly. It is a dark and gritty noir type of storyline- quite rough but so engrossing; it is steeped in mystery that keeps one guessing to the very end! WOW!🤩
Some thematic elements addressed: do past sins negate future happiness, past trauma and it’s affect on the present psyche and human condition, the depths and depravity of our alter-ego, guilt, redemptive transformation and conversely how easily a “respectable” person can fall downhill on the slippery slope. Fascinating and thought-provoking, this one will stay with this reader for some time.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an unsolicited and unbiased review. The opinions of this reviewer are entirely my own.
The pacing starts slow but builds up steam to an electrifying climax and shocking resolution! WOW!🤩 The MANY twists build heart pounding suspense! The character driven story fuels the plot chillingly. It is a dark and gritty noir type of storyline- quite rough but so engrossing; it is steeped in mystery that keeps one guessing to the very end! WOW!🤩
Some thematic elements addressed: do past sins negate future happiness, past trauma and it’s affect on the present psyche and human condition, the depths and depravity of our alter-ego, guilt, redemptive transformation and conversely how easily a “respectable” person can fall downhill on the slippery slope. Fascinating and thought-provoking, this one will stay with this reader for some time.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an unsolicited and unbiased review. The opinions of this reviewer are entirely my own.
September 18, 2023
What a dark, twisty story!
What a broken and dysfunctional family!
If you are in the mood for a dark psychological thriller…..you need to pick this book up!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
What a broken and dysfunctional family!
If you are in the mood for a dark psychological thriller…..you need to pick this book up!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 2, 2023
I received a complimentary electronic copy of this excellent title from Netgalley, author Joe Clifford, and Square Tire Books via Lisa at Swell Media on September 30, 2023. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read All Who Wander of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am always pleased to recommend Joe Clifford to friends and family. He writes a tight, compelling tale with personable characters who feel like friends in settings he can make you see.
Our protagonist, Brooke, is a very complicated and compelling character, one we would like to see thrive. She is at first her own worst enemy. Before long, we see that she is only what she was compelled to be, by circumstance and family pressure. and Bad Luck is her best friend. Bobby - Robert, too is a likable character created by his circumstances. They will both have your sympathy. They both need a lot more than that.
pub date Sept. 5, 2023
Reviewed on October 2, 2023, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
rec Sept. 30, 2023
Square Tire Books - Lisa/Swell Media
Our protagonist, Brooke, is a very complicated and compelling character, one we would like to see thrive. She is at first her own worst enemy. Before long, we see that she is only what she was compelled to be, by circumstance and family pressure. and Bad Luck is her best friend. Bobby - Robert, too is a likable character created by his circumstances. They will both have your sympathy. They both need a lot more than that.
pub date Sept. 5, 2023
Reviewed on October 2, 2023, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
rec Sept. 30, 2023
Square Tire Books - Lisa/Swell Media
January 11, 2024
I was looking for books for the HoHoHoRAT in November and wanted to read a winter setting read. You’ll remember I always choose at least one darker novel, like NOS42A, to enjoy during the readathon.
The author tells the story through two timelines and it was quite compelling. First we have Vermont, 1988 when Bobby’s sister Brooke Mulcahny disappears. She was a suspected runaway/abduction. The trail goes cold near Vermont, where her car was found abandoned. Her case was never closed and has been the subject of true crime stories. In this timeline, we get Brooke’s point of view on events leading up to her disappearance.
The second timeline takes place in the present twenty-one years after Brooke’s disappearance. Bobby, now called Robert, is a professor at a private Upstate New York University. He owns a home nearby with his wife and their son, Peter. Bobby was Brook’s half-sister, but he still cares for her father and spent years in therapy dealing with issues related to his childhood.
When a young woman named Lily approaches Robert, claiming to be his sister’s daughter, his world slowly unravels, and he investigates. Dark things happen in his home and cracks appear.
Clifford wove a tightly knit, compelling story with dark, twisted threads. The pacing and build up was well done and kept me guessing through both timelines. A perfect suspense thriller for a cold snowy day!
Fans of crime fiction and psychological thrillers will enjoy this one. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
The author tells the story through two timelines and it was quite compelling. First we have Vermont, 1988 when Bobby’s sister Brooke Mulcahny disappears. She was a suspected runaway/abduction. The trail goes cold near Vermont, where her car was found abandoned. Her case was never closed and has been the subject of true crime stories. In this timeline, we get Brooke’s point of view on events leading up to her disappearance.
The second timeline takes place in the present twenty-one years after Brooke’s disappearance. Bobby, now called Robert, is a professor at a private Upstate New York University. He owns a home nearby with his wife and their son, Peter. Bobby was Brook’s half-sister, but he still cares for her father and spent years in therapy dealing with issues related to his childhood.
When a young woman named Lily approaches Robert, claiming to be his sister’s daughter, his world slowly unravels, and he investigates. Dark things happen in his home and cracks appear.
Clifford wove a tightly knit, compelling story with dark, twisted threads. The pacing and build up was well done and kept me guessing through both timelines. A perfect suspense thriller for a cold snowy day!
Fans of crime fiction and psychological thrillers will enjoy this one. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
December 9, 2023
Honestly I’m not sure what to classify this one? A mystery? Not quite a thriller.
Interesting read and well thought out plot however the ending didn’t settle any of the questions.
Who was lily? Why did Brooke lie? How would a blood test have solved anything is lily wasn’t the daughter? Why add on the wife leaving?
There was a lot going on which muddled the story and there were characters that really didn’t need to be in the story.
Interesting read and well thought out plot however the ending didn’t settle any of the questions.
Who was lily? Why did Brooke lie? How would a blood test have solved anything is lily wasn’t the daughter? Why add on the wife leaving?
There was a lot going on which muddled the story and there were characters that really didn’t need to be in the story.
July 7, 2024
All Who Wander is a psychological thriller involving the disappearance of Brooke Mulcahy, twenty-one years ago. Robert Kirby (Bobby), Brooke’s half-brother, has moved on from the tragedy and is now a university professor, living a comfortable life, with a family of his own. He is no longer the strange, teenage boy who Brooke despised. Brooke was young, reckless and had a hard upbringing. Years later, when a young woman comes forward claiming to be Brooke’s daughter, Robert decides to do some investigating. The story is told in dual timelines and contains a host of horrible characters, including Robert and Brooke. Despite the unlikable main characters, I still enjoyed this mystery. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my copy of Joe Clifford’s book.
February 20, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. An intriguing mystery if there ever was one. Perfect for a snowy winter's weekend to get you even more into the story. This had me in it from the first chapter.
September 25, 2023
Is she dead or is she alive? That is the major premise for this different type of mystery that captured me from the beginning. With a great writing style and effective character development (which definitely gives you feelings about each of the characters) and a narrative that is somewhat unreliable, I found this book staying in my mind, whether I was actually reading it or not. My only caveat, and I realize this is personal preference, is that I could’ve done without a lot of the sexual depictions throughout. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I will check out some of his other books, since I enjoyed this one. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.
March 3, 2025
Audio Edition Review
A dual timeline winter season domestic thriller ominous with darker tones and a noir-feel, this standalone tale had me returning to an author who drew me into the world of his story once again. I’ve only read one previous book by Joe Clifford, but had plans to pick up more of his work. I liked the stark, chilling settings, characters with shade and depth, and twisting, complex plotting he brings to a story and this was all present once again enhanced further by the dual narration work of familiar Eric Michael Summerer and new to me narrator, Jennifer Jill Araya.
Told in alternating timelines with Summerer taking Robert’s present day time and Jennifer portraying the missing nineteen year old half-sister, Brooke in the 1998 time line, the story builds from a tragic runaway or kidnapping cold case to a warmer present day mystery when Robert is confronted by a young woman claiming to be Brooke’s daughter. There is so much uncertainty and a sense that so much has been covered over and hidden for a long time and it will not be pretty when it all spills out.
I confess that for all my anticipation, this one took a bit to draw me fully in as it set up and got started. I could set it aside for other books though I always came back to it. Then, it finally caught hold. I shivered in my blanket as this dark, edgier story particularly Brooke’s end unfolded and Robert’s life really went off the deep end. Truthfully, Robert’s past, his oddities, and what comes after was sad to me. Everyone in this book either started or ended flawed so that human nature at its twisted worst was really on display. The local law enforcement have the past case down to a serial killer who was working the area at the time and the case was handed off to the State Police. However, the FBI still have an open case and Robert is also doing his own investigating with Lily showing up. He’s got his suspicions about her and there’s Brooke’s old bestie Aaron and her loser boyfriend Mike still around to dredge up those past days once he goes looking.
Meanwhile, Brooke’s last days and hours are playing out in the past thread. She wants something more than being a dead end town statistic dead junkie prostitute behind a bar though with a dad dealing with his addictions and problems, a mom abandoning her and bringing along a half-brother after returning then getting sick with cancer and leaving again, and her own flirting with drugs, abusive boyfriend, bad decisions…odds are against her.
All in all, this is a dark winter thriller and it gets horrific by the end so that I had to listen by the light of day. Summerer and Araya took Clifford’s fantastic words and all came together for a book that gripped sensations and emotions all together. This is for those who want a chilling, edgier noir-style mystery.
I rec'd an audio copy from Tantor Audio to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About 2.13.25
A dual timeline winter season domestic thriller ominous with darker tones and a noir-feel, this standalone tale had me returning to an author who drew me into the world of his story once again. I’ve only read one previous book by Joe Clifford, but had plans to pick up more of his work. I liked the stark, chilling settings, characters with shade and depth, and twisting, complex plotting he brings to a story and this was all present once again enhanced further by the dual narration work of familiar Eric Michael Summerer and new to me narrator, Jennifer Jill Araya.
Told in alternating timelines with Summerer taking Robert’s present day time and Jennifer portraying the missing nineteen year old half-sister, Brooke in the 1998 time line, the story builds from a tragic runaway or kidnapping cold case to a warmer present day mystery when Robert is confronted by a young woman claiming to be Brooke’s daughter. There is so much uncertainty and a sense that so much has been covered over and hidden for a long time and it will not be pretty when it all spills out.
I confess that for all my anticipation, this one took a bit to draw me fully in as it set up and got started. I could set it aside for other books though I always came back to it. Then, it finally caught hold. I shivered in my blanket as this dark, edgier story particularly Brooke’s end unfolded and Robert’s life really went off the deep end. Truthfully, Robert’s past, his oddities, and what comes after was sad to me. Everyone in this book either started or ended flawed so that human nature at its twisted worst was really on display. The local law enforcement have the past case down to a serial killer who was working the area at the time and the case was handed off to the State Police. However, the FBI still have an open case and Robert is also doing his own investigating with Lily showing up. He’s got his suspicions about her and there’s Brooke’s old bestie Aaron and her loser boyfriend Mike still around to dredge up those past days once he goes looking.
Meanwhile, Brooke’s last days and hours are playing out in the past thread. She wants something more than being a dead end town statistic dead junkie prostitute behind a bar though with a dad dealing with his addictions and problems, a mom abandoning her and bringing along a half-brother after returning then getting sick with cancer and leaving again, and her own flirting with drugs, abusive boyfriend, bad decisions…odds are against her.
All in all, this is a dark winter thriller and it gets horrific by the end so that I had to listen by the light of day. Summerer and Araya took Clifford’s fantastic words and all came together for a book that gripped sensations and emotions all together. This is for those who want a chilling, edgier noir-style mystery.
I rec'd an audio copy from Tantor Audio to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About 2.13.25
October 11, 2023
This was a much more intense mystery than I anticipated - and I loved it! Brooke and Bobby are half siblings in a broken, unloving family. One night, Brooke disappears and is never heard from again. Bobby has struggled with his past and questions about Brooke’s disappearance, but he’s built a good life - successful college teacher, husband and father. But then Lily shows up claiming to be Brooke’s daughter and things start to go off the rails. A highly entertaining story!
May 3, 2025
Made myself finish it
What an utter disappointment and waste of time. There's no real mystery here but too much recalling bad memories and unnecessary details of abuse in various forms. Absolutely one of the worst books I've ever read.
What an utter disappointment and waste of time. There's no real mystery here but too much recalling bad memories and unnecessary details of abuse in various forms. Absolutely one of the worst books I've ever read.
September 12, 2023
All Who Wander is a deep, dark and dynamic psychological thriller in the order of Girl On A Train. I read it in one sitting- I could not put it down! It is the first I have read of Joe Clifford’s extensive collection, but certainly won’t be my last! It’s delightful to discover new authors with such writing mastery. Joe Clifford is an award winning author, which is no surprise after reading his latest installment.
The pacing starts slow but builds up steam to an electrifying climax and shocking resolution! WOW!🤩 The MANY twists build heart pounding suspense! The character driven story fuels the plot chillingly. It is a dark and gritty noir type of storyline- quite rough but so engrossing; it is steeped in mystery that keeps one guessing to the very end! WOW!🤩
Some thematic elements addressed: do past sins negate future happiness, past trauma and it’s affect on the present psyche and human condition, the depths and depravity of our alter-ego, guilt, redemptive transformation and conversely how easily a “respectable” person can fall downhill on the slippery slope. Fascinating and thought-provoking, this one will stay with this reader for some time.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an unsolicited and unbiased review. The opinions of this reviewer are entirely my own.
The pacing starts slow but builds up steam to an electrifying climax and shocking resolution! WOW!🤩 The MANY twists build heart pounding suspense! The character driven story fuels the plot chillingly. It is a dark and gritty noir type of storyline- quite rough but so engrossing; it is steeped in mystery that keeps one guessing to the very end! WOW!🤩
Some thematic elements addressed: do past sins negate future happiness, past trauma and it’s affect on the present psyche and human condition, the depths and depravity of our alter-ego, guilt, redemptive transformation and conversely how easily a “respectable” person can fall downhill on the slippery slope. Fascinating and thought-provoking, this one will stay with this reader for some time.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an unsolicited and unbiased review. The opinions of this reviewer are entirely my own.
September 14, 2023
In typical fashion, Joe Clifford's narrative unfolds against the backdrop of the grim, damp, and snow-covered East Coast, delving deep into the shadowy facets of human existence rather than basking in sunny beach settings. His characters are exposed at their most vulnerable, providing readers with a raw and intense exploration of their lives. My introduction to Clifford's writing came through the Jay Porter series a few years ago, and I was immediately captivated by his unique style.
In "All Who Wander," Clifford crafts a psychological labyrinth that may unsettle some readers with its disturbing events. The story revolves around Robert (Bobby), a successful academic who, on the surface, should be content with his life—a loving marriage, a son, and professional success. However, he remains haunted by the unresolved mystery of his half-sister's disappearance during his childhood. Despite numerous therapy sessions, closure eludes him, and he hungers for answers. Recent developments suggest that he might finally uncover the truth, but as the saying goes, the truth isn't always what we hope for, and it may be more unsettling than the ambiguity he's lived with. As Robert embarks on a quest to reconnect with individuals from his sister Brooke's past, long-buried and distressing memories resurface.
Brooke, his missing sister, was just twenty years old when she vanished, trapped in a grim home environment and entangled with unsavory characters. Her life was marred by poor decisions and ill-fated romances. Did she simply leave in pursuit of a better future, or did something sinister befall her? With the passage of time, both memories and witnesses become unreliable, adding to the complexity of unraveling this mystery. Clifford's meticulous character descriptions paint vivid mental portraits, allowing readers to envision each individual vividly.
The urgency of Robert's quest to unearth the truth had me on edge throughout the narrative. "All Who Wander" is a relentless journey filled with revelations, concealed secrets, and morally questionable characters. I found it impossible to find a moment to pause and ended up devouring the book in just twenty-four hours.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley for providing me with an advance digital copy of "All Who Wander" by Joe Clifford, a publication of Square Tire Books. These thoughts and opinions are entirely my own, offered willingly and without any form of compensation.
In "All Who Wander," Clifford crafts a psychological labyrinth that may unsettle some readers with its disturbing events. The story revolves around Robert (Bobby), a successful academic who, on the surface, should be content with his life—a loving marriage, a son, and professional success. However, he remains haunted by the unresolved mystery of his half-sister's disappearance during his childhood. Despite numerous therapy sessions, closure eludes him, and he hungers for answers. Recent developments suggest that he might finally uncover the truth, but as the saying goes, the truth isn't always what we hope for, and it may be more unsettling than the ambiguity he's lived with. As Robert embarks on a quest to reconnect with individuals from his sister Brooke's past, long-buried and distressing memories resurface.
Brooke, his missing sister, was just twenty years old when she vanished, trapped in a grim home environment and entangled with unsavory characters. Her life was marred by poor decisions and ill-fated romances. Did she simply leave in pursuit of a better future, or did something sinister befall her? With the passage of time, both memories and witnesses become unreliable, adding to the complexity of unraveling this mystery. Clifford's meticulous character descriptions paint vivid mental portraits, allowing readers to envision each individual vividly.
The urgency of Robert's quest to unearth the truth had me on edge throughout the narrative. "All Who Wander" is a relentless journey filled with revelations, concealed secrets, and morally questionable characters. I found it impossible to find a moment to pause and ended up devouring the book in just twenty-four hours.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley for providing me with an advance digital copy of "All Who Wander" by Joe Clifford, a publication of Square Tire Books. These thoughts and opinions are entirely my own, offered willingly and without any form of compensation.
August 13, 2025
Worthwhile read from Clifford about the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young girl who left town to start a new life from an abusive boyfriend and is never heard from again. Her half brother has spent his life wondering what happened to her, and suddenly a young girl shows up at his college office claiming to be the half-sister's daughter. The story progresses from there and takes some interesting turns, with various theories about what happened to the girl and the effect her disappearance had on those around her. The ending does feel a bit anti-climactic and does not pack the emotional impact one would have been expecting from a story like this. Still, it's an entertaining read and does not overstay its welcome. 3.5-3.75 stars. Recommended for fans of the genre.
November 25, 2023
This novel is the story of a cold case, of the disappearance of a troubled young woman.
Twenty years later her despised step-brother Bobby receives a call from a girl claiming to be his sister's daughter. She has a piece of jewellery to prove it. But her university accommodation phone number turns out to be fake. What could be going on?
Át first, it seems things are going fine for Bobby Kirby: despite a difficult early life he has a job, wants for nothing, has a loving wife, and a child. When cracks suddenly appear in this picture however, Bobby feels intensely motivated to get to the bottom of what really happened to his sister.
This story simultaneously follows the days leading up to the sister's, Brooke's, disappearance. From both sides of the story, a violent, dysfunctional demimonde of drugs, violence and deprivation open up - alongside a whiff of real evil literally hiding in the shadows for Bobby.
No one proves to be quite what they seem as the story progresses, and no one completely innocent either, with Bobby being confronted with realities even earlier interventions did not touch.
Sometimes the sheer baseness in the way way some of the characters in this book behave in family settings just comes across as truly dreary. From that perspective the redemption of one or two characters seemed a little unrealistic
This is not a neat whodunit, the novel leaves loose ends in its wake, which some may well say would better reflect the messiness of real life, though some of these loose ends were also somewhat unsatisfying, at least for this reader.
Twenty years later her despised step-brother Bobby receives a call from a girl claiming to be his sister's daughter. She has a piece of jewellery to prove it. But her university accommodation phone number turns out to be fake. What could be going on?
Át first, it seems things are going fine for Bobby Kirby: despite a difficult early life he has a job, wants for nothing, has a loving wife, and a child. When cracks suddenly appear in this picture however, Bobby feels intensely motivated to get to the bottom of what really happened to his sister.
This story simultaneously follows the days leading up to the sister's, Brooke's, disappearance. From both sides of the story, a violent, dysfunctional demimonde of drugs, violence and deprivation open up - alongside a whiff of real evil literally hiding in the shadows for Bobby.
No one proves to be quite what they seem as the story progresses, and no one completely innocent either, with Bobby being confronted with realities even earlier interventions did not touch.
Sometimes the sheer baseness in the way way some of the characters in this book behave in family settings just comes across as truly dreary. From that perspective the redemption of one or two characters seemed a little unrealistic
This is not a neat whodunit, the novel leaves loose ends in its wake, which some may well say would better reflect the messiness of real life, though some of these loose ends were also somewhat unsatisfying, at least for this reader.
October 9, 2023
All Who Wander by Joe Clifford is an interesting and gripping psychological thriller. I picked this book up because the description had me really intrigued, and I was not disappointed.
The author has a very nice writing style, which meant that I flew through this book and found it hard to put down right from the very beginning. The use of flashbacks can sometimes be confusing and make the story seem muddled, but in this case it worked very well. The glimpses into the past that the author offered us not only helped to build a sense of mystery and suspense, but also allowed us to get an insight into Brooke's character that we otherwise would have missed. Being able to see the past events unfolding from Brooke's point of view was a clever addition to this novel and helped the readers to slowly form a picture of what happened leading up to Brooke's disappearance as well as getting a look at Brooke's mental state during this time. Throughout this book, the author is constantly hiding information; offering just enough to keep us wanting more but withholding the crucial details to keep us guessing and engrossed by the web of mystery that Joe Clifford spins.
The characters in this book were incredibly well written, and the author clearly has a very good understanding of the human brain/mental health. Each character was psychological evaluated by the author, with each of their morals and values being questioned throughout the novel. The author makes some interesting commentary on guilt, shame, remorse, childhood trauma and much more, all through the way he depicts his characters. Bobby was a brilliant example of this. He was not particularly likeable both in the past and present, nut the more the story unfolded, the more we realised why he had turned out the way he had. From Brooke's past perspective, Bobby is a useless child who she resents strongly and, therefore, she is terribly horrible to him, which make us feel sorry for him and develop a dislike towards Brooke. However, this "useless child" is completely contrasted by the strong, intelligent and successful Bobby who we see in the present day. We assume that he has healed all his past issues due to the flashy exterior he shows the world, but as the story unfolds we realise that actually his childhood trauma has left him with many scars that he is unable to hide. The fact that Bobby also did some bad things as a child was a different, but interesting, addition to the story. He holds onto a lot of shame and guilt for what he has done and never truly works through this, so it sits with him all the way until adulthood. All of Bobby's buried emotions cause him to be in constant emotional turmoil and he bottles it all up until he finally explodes towards the end of the book. His character really shows just how important going to therapy and speaking to someone about these issues can be.
Brooke's character was also cleverly written. At most points throughout this novel, she did not come off as particularly likeable, yet I still ended up feeling desperately sorry for her and wishing the hardships she was facing away. Having grown up in a broken household where her mum has left to start a new life, Brooke holds a lot of abandonment issues that are clear in her relationships with men. The way she treats Bobby is cruel and unfair, but we can almost understand where the hatred is coming for as we empathise that it must be horrible for your own mother to run away and leave you for many years. Brooke's choice to keep dating bad guys who caused her nothing but trouble simply because the nice guys were "boring" was infuriating at times, but again is understandable as she has no experience with healthy relationships considering her mum and dad never had a particularly happy marriage. This is also showing how Brooke's childhood trauma is affecting her years later, as she only feels comfortable when living in chaos, as that is all she knows. Brooke's relationship with Mike was frustrating, as the reader just wants to scream at her that she could do better than him, but only adds to the suspense in this novel. When we are trying to figure out why/how Brooke disappeared, the author is very good at dropping hints that Mike may have been involved, which keeps us on the edge of our seat desperately trying to work out the facts right up until the end. All of the characters in this book were cleverly crafted, but particular appreciation has to go to the incredible way in which the author has dived into the mental health aspect of Brooke and Bobby, and even their father in a miniscule way.
The ending of this book was a little disappointing as I did work out in my head what had happened about halfway through, but I still enjoyed the outcome nonetheless. The author did a great job at throwing suspicion on each character for their involvement in Brooke's disappearance so that we didn't get a clear picture of what happened until the very last chapter. Overall, I did thoroughly enjoy reading this book, but it wasn't necessarily unique and was simply an enjoyable run of the mill mystery thriller novel. The psychological aspects of this book is what made it so enjoyable, and the commentary on mental health and childhood trauma was a very clever addition to the story as a whole. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable read that will have your mind in overdrive and will keep you hooked from the first page until the last page.
I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Joe Clifford for the ARC.
The author has a very nice writing style, which meant that I flew through this book and found it hard to put down right from the very beginning. The use of flashbacks can sometimes be confusing and make the story seem muddled, but in this case it worked very well. The glimpses into the past that the author offered us not only helped to build a sense of mystery and suspense, but also allowed us to get an insight into Brooke's character that we otherwise would have missed. Being able to see the past events unfolding from Brooke's point of view was a clever addition to this novel and helped the readers to slowly form a picture of what happened leading up to Brooke's disappearance as well as getting a look at Brooke's mental state during this time. Throughout this book, the author is constantly hiding information; offering just enough to keep us wanting more but withholding the crucial details to keep us guessing and engrossed by the web of mystery that Joe Clifford spins.
The characters in this book were incredibly well written, and the author clearly has a very good understanding of the human brain/mental health. Each character was psychological evaluated by the author, with each of their morals and values being questioned throughout the novel. The author makes some interesting commentary on guilt, shame, remorse, childhood trauma and much more, all through the way he depicts his characters. Bobby was a brilliant example of this. He was not particularly likeable both in the past and present, nut the more the story unfolded, the more we realised why he had turned out the way he had. From Brooke's past perspective, Bobby is a useless child who she resents strongly and, therefore, she is terribly horrible to him, which make us feel sorry for him and develop a dislike towards Brooke. However, this "useless child" is completely contrasted by the strong, intelligent and successful Bobby who we see in the present day. We assume that he has healed all his past issues due to the flashy exterior he shows the world, but as the story unfolds we realise that actually his childhood trauma has left him with many scars that he is unable to hide. The fact that Bobby also did some bad things as a child was a different, but interesting, addition to the story. He holds onto a lot of shame and guilt for what he has done and never truly works through this, so it sits with him all the way until adulthood. All of Bobby's buried emotions cause him to be in constant emotional turmoil and he bottles it all up until he finally explodes towards the end of the book. His character really shows just how important going to therapy and speaking to someone about these issues can be.
Brooke's character was also cleverly written. At most points throughout this novel, she did not come off as particularly likeable, yet I still ended up feeling desperately sorry for her and wishing the hardships she was facing away. Having grown up in a broken household where her mum has left to start a new life, Brooke holds a lot of abandonment issues that are clear in her relationships with men. The way she treats Bobby is cruel and unfair, but we can almost understand where the hatred is coming for as we empathise that it must be horrible for your own mother to run away and leave you for many years. Brooke's choice to keep dating bad guys who caused her nothing but trouble simply because the nice guys were "boring" was infuriating at times, but again is understandable as she has no experience with healthy relationships considering her mum and dad never had a particularly happy marriage. This is also showing how Brooke's childhood trauma is affecting her years later, as she only feels comfortable when living in chaos, as that is all she knows. Brooke's relationship with Mike was frustrating, as the reader just wants to scream at her that she could do better than him, but only adds to the suspense in this novel. When we are trying to figure out why/how Brooke disappeared, the author is very good at dropping hints that Mike may have been involved, which keeps us on the edge of our seat desperately trying to work out the facts right up until the end. All of the characters in this book were cleverly crafted, but particular appreciation has to go to the incredible way in which the author has dived into the mental health aspect of Brooke and Bobby, and even their father in a miniscule way.
The ending of this book was a little disappointing as I did work out in my head what had happened about halfway through, but I still enjoyed the outcome nonetheless. The author did a great job at throwing suspicion on each character for their involvement in Brooke's disappearance so that we didn't get a clear picture of what happened until the very last chapter. Overall, I did thoroughly enjoy reading this book, but it wasn't necessarily unique and was simply an enjoyable run of the mill mystery thriller novel. The psychological aspects of this book is what made it so enjoyable, and the commentary on mental health and childhood trauma was a very clever addition to the story as a whole. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable read that will have your mind in overdrive and will keep you hooked from the first page until the last page.
I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Joe Clifford for the ARC.
May 21, 2025
Just couldn’t get past the fact the author said Worcester was in Southern Mass, when in fact it’s in Central Mass and then proceeds to dis the city of Worcester by stating “Worcester isn’t a place you want to end up..”
Not a lot to like about this book. The characters are unlikable. The premise of the daughter Lily fell short in the end as did what happened to Brooke. Robert’s ending fell flat as well.
I’m not a fan of books that take place in fictitious towns but then talk about real towns or cities. Why not just use all real names throughout?
Not a lot to like about this book. The characters are unlikable. The premise of the daughter Lily fell short in the end as did what happened to Brooke. Robert’s ending fell flat as well.
I’m not a fan of books that take place in fictitious towns but then talk about real towns or cities. Why not just use all real names throughout?
October 9, 2023
All Who Wander by Joe Clifford is an interesting and gripping psychological thriller. I picked this book up because the description had me really intrigued, and I was not disappointed.
The author has a very nice writing style, which meant that I flew through this book and found it hard to put down right from the very beginning. The use of flashbacks can sometimes be confusing and make the story seem muddled, but in this case it worked very well. The glimpses into the past that the author offered us not only helped to build a sense of mystery and suspense, but also allowed us to get an insight into Brooke's character that we otherwise would have missed. Being able to see the past events unfolding from Brooke's point of view was a clever addition to this novel and helped the readers to slowly form a picture of what happened leading up to Brooke's disappearance as well as getting a look at Brooke's mental state during this time. Throughout this book, the author is constantly hiding information; offering just enough to keep us wanting more but withholding the crucial details to keep us guessing and engrossed by the web of mystery that Joe Clifford spins.
The characters in this book were incredibly well written, and the author clearly has a very good understanding of the human brain/mental health. Each character was psychological evaluated by the author, with each of their morals and values being questioned throughout the novel. The author makes some interesting commentary on guilt, shame, remorse, childhood trauma and much more, all through the way he depicts his characters. Bobby was a brilliant example of this. He was not particularly likeable both in the past and present, nut the more the story unfolded, the more we realised why he had turned out the way he had. From Brooke's past perspective, Bobby is a useless child who she resents strongly and, therefore, she is terribly horrible to him, which make us feel sorry for him and develop a dislike towards Brooke. However, this "useless child" is completely contrasted by the strong, intelligent and successful Bobby who we see in the present day. We assume that he has healed all his past issues due to the flashy exterior he shows the world, but as the story unfolds we realise that actually his childhood trauma has left him with many scars that he is unable to hide. The fact that Bobby also did some bad things as a child was a different, but interesting, addition to the story. He holds onto a lot of shame and guilt for what he has done and never truly works through this, so it sits with him all the way until adulthood. All of Bobby's buried emotions cause him to be in constant emotional turmoil and he bottles it all up until he finally explodes towards the end of the book. His character really shows just how important going to therapy and speaking to someone about these issues can be.
Brooke's character was also cleverly written. At most points throughout this novel, she did not come off as particularly likeable, yet I still ended up feeling desperately sorry for her and wishing the hardships she was facing away. Having grown up in a broken household where her mum has left to start a new life, Brooke holds a lot of abandonment issues that are clear in her relationships with men. The way she treats Bobby is cruel and unfair, but we can almost understand where the hatred is coming for as we empathise that it must be horrible for your own mother to run away and leave you for many years. Brooke's choice to keep dating bad guys who caused her nothing but trouble simply because the nice guys were "boring" was infuriating at times, but again is understandable as she has no experience with healthy relationships considering her mum and dad never had a particularly happy marriage. This is also showing how Brooke's childhood trauma is affecting her years later, as she only feels comfortable when living in chaos, as that is all she knows. Brooke's relationship with Mike was frustrating, as the reader just wants to scream at her that she could do better than him, but only adds to the suspense in this novel. When we are trying to figure out why/how Brooke disappeared, the author is very good at dropping hints that Mike may have been involved, which keeps us on the edge of our seat desperately trying to work out the facts right up until the end. All of the characters in this book were cleverly crafted, but particular appreciation has to go to the incredible way in which the author has dived into the mental health aspect of Brooke and Bobby, and even their father in a miniscule way.
The ending of this book was a little disappointing as I did work out in my head what had happened about halfway through, but I still enjoyed the outcome nonetheless. The author did a great job at throwing suspicion on each character for their involvement in Brooke's disappearance so that we didn't get a clear picture of what happened until the very last chapter. Overall, I did thoroughly enjoy reading this book, but it wasn't necessarily unique and was simply an enjoyable run of the mill mystery thriller novel. The psychological aspects of this book is what made it so enjoyable, and the commentary on mental health and childhood trauma was a very clever addition to the story as a whole. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable read that will have your mind in overdrive and will keep you hooked from the first page until the last page.
I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Joe Clifford for the ARC.
The author has a very nice writing style, which meant that I flew through this book and found it hard to put down right from the very beginning. The use of flashbacks can sometimes be confusing and make the story seem muddled, but in this case it worked very well. The glimpses into the past that the author offered us not only helped to build a sense of mystery and suspense, but also allowed us to get an insight into Brooke's character that we otherwise would have missed. Being able to see the past events unfolding from Brooke's point of view was a clever addition to this novel and helped the readers to slowly form a picture of what happened leading up to Brooke's disappearance as well as getting a look at Brooke's mental state during this time. Throughout this book, the author is constantly hiding information; offering just enough to keep us wanting more but withholding the crucial details to keep us guessing and engrossed by the web of mystery that Joe Clifford spins.
The characters in this book were incredibly well written, and the author clearly has a very good understanding of the human brain/mental health. Each character was psychological evaluated by the author, with each of their morals and values being questioned throughout the novel. The author makes some interesting commentary on guilt, shame, remorse, childhood trauma and much more, all through the way he depicts his characters. Bobby was a brilliant example of this. He was not particularly likeable both in the past and present, nut the more the story unfolded, the more we realised why he had turned out the way he had. From Brooke's past perspective, Bobby is a useless child who she resents strongly and, therefore, she is terribly horrible to him, which make us feel sorry for him and develop a dislike towards Brooke. However, this "useless child" is completely contrasted by the strong, intelligent and successful Bobby who we see in the present day. We assume that he has healed all his past issues due to the flashy exterior he shows the world, but as the story unfolds we realise that actually his childhood trauma has left him with many scars that he is unable to hide. The fact that Bobby also did some bad things as a child was a different, but interesting, addition to the story. He holds onto a lot of shame and guilt for what he has done and never truly works through this, so it sits with him all the way until adulthood. All of Bobby's buried emotions cause him to be in constant emotional turmoil and he bottles it all up until he finally explodes towards the end of the book. His character really shows just how important going to therapy and speaking to someone about these issues can be.
Brooke's character was also cleverly written. At most points throughout this novel, she did not come off as particularly likeable, yet I still ended up feeling desperately sorry for her and wishing the hardships she was facing away. Having grown up in a broken household where her mum has left to start a new life, Brooke holds a lot of abandonment issues that are clear in her relationships with men. The way she treats Bobby is cruel and unfair, but we can almost understand where the hatred is coming for as we empathise that it must be horrible for your own mother to run away and leave you for many years. Brooke's choice to keep dating bad guys who caused her nothing but trouble simply because the nice guys were "boring" was infuriating at times, but again is understandable as she has no experience with healthy relationships considering her mum and dad never had a particularly happy marriage. This is also showing how Brooke's childhood trauma is affecting her years later, as she only feels comfortable when living in chaos, as that is all she knows. Brooke's relationship with Mike was frustrating, as the reader just wants to scream at her that she could do better than him, but only adds to the suspense in this novel. When we are trying to figure out why/how Brooke disappeared, the author is very good at dropping hints that Mike may have been involved, which keeps us on the edge of our seat desperately trying to work out the facts right up until the end. All of the characters in this book were cleverly crafted, but particular appreciation has to go to the incredible way in which the author has dived into the mental health aspect of Brooke and Bobby, and even their father in a miniscule way.
The ending of this book was a little disappointing as I did work out in my head what had happened about halfway through, but I still enjoyed the outcome nonetheless. The author did a great job at throwing suspicion on each character for their involvement in Brooke's disappearance so that we didn't get a clear picture of what happened until the very last chapter. Overall, I did thoroughly enjoy reading this book, but it wasn't necessarily unique and was simply an enjoyable run of the mill mystery thriller novel. The psychological aspects of this book is what made it so enjoyable, and the commentary on mental health and childhood trauma was a very clever addition to the story as a whole. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable read that will have your mind in overdrive and will keep you hooked from the first page until the last page.
I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Joe Clifford for the ARC.
December 14, 2023
It's been over two decades since 20-year-old Brooke Mulcahy disappeared. Her body never found, rumors about her fate have plagued her younger half-brother Bobby's life. He was only a kid at the time she went missing, living with Brooke's alcoholic father following their mother's death. Detested by Brooke, uncared for by her dad, and abused by her boyfriend, his childhood was a nightmare no kid deserved. It wouldn't have been a shock if he'd turned to alcohol and drugs to cope like those around him. But he didn't. Instead, he rose above it.
Now known as Robert with a wife and child of his own, he's a successful professor at Uniondale University and the winner of a coveted NEH grant. His life is pretty sweet. His wife is gorgeous. His son's thirteen and a great kid. He lives in a nice house in the suburbs and drives a Porsche. Although he goes to therapy to try to find closure from his childhood and Brooke's disappearance, he's lived his adult life as a stable, proud, and happy man. However, his life quickly starts to unravel when a young woman named Lily shows up at his office one afternoon claiming to be Brooke's daughter.
Suddenly, the past is literally at his doorstep, breaking into his house and mutilating his dog. His wife leaves him without warning and takes his son with her. A red car starts stalking his house. Robert has no choice but to go back to the night Brooke disappeared and figure out exactly what happened. However, nothing that he uncovers about that night is as horrific as the truth about their lives leading up to her disappearance -- or the unraveling of Robert's life in present-day.
Chilling, gritty, and twisty, "All Who Wander" by Joe Clifford is just what you expect from this author. It's brilliant. Unputdownable. And filled with a darkness that you can feel as if it were your own. Joe Clifford has a knack for creating characters that you don't just get to know. You get to "feel" them too. It's almost like you can hear them breathing and read their thoughts. There's a depth to them that you don't find with every author, even the mega popular and talented ones.
This is especially true with Robert's "character". He's a heavy character who I couldn't like, no matter how much was written into the story early-on that should have made me feel otherwise. Brooke was cruel to him when he was a kid, but she was troubled too and just wanted out of her unloved, unhappy life. She was written to be unliked, but I couldn't quite get there. Did Clifford want me to dislike her? Definitely -- if you judge by the words he wrote. However, you get gut feelings about Joe's characters like you would people in real life. Your gut feelings are very likely not to be the same as mine because in real life (again) we aren't always going to like the same people.
There's a lot going on in "All Who Wander". Although the book follows Robert as he searches for the truth about what happened to his half-sister Brooke, other characters and revelations about the past deliver a much more complex storyline. It's well-written and completely engrossing right up until the conclusion when he reveals Brooke's fate and what happened before she disappeared. It's a satisfactory final twist that you'll either have you shocked or saying "meh". It didn't knock my socks off, but it did lower them to my ankles. That's good enough for me. Not every ending has to be a jaw-dropper, especially when the book as a whole is as good as this one.
Thank you to Joe Clifford and Lisa from Swell Media for the complimentary eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Now known as Robert with a wife and child of his own, he's a successful professor at Uniondale University and the winner of a coveted NEH grant. His life is pretty sweet. His wife is gorgeous. His son's thirteen and a great kid. He lives in a nice house in the suburbs and drives a Porsche. Although he goes to therapy to try to find closure from his childhood and Brooke's disappearance, he's lived his adult life as a stable, proud, and happy man. However, his life quickly starts to unravel when a young woman named Lily shows up at his office one afternoon claiming to be Brooke's daughter.
Suddenly, the past is literally at his doorstep, breaking into his house and mutilating his dog. His wife leaves him without warning and takes his son with her. A red car starts stalking his house. Robert has no choice but to go back to the night Brooke disappeared and figure out exactly what happened. However, nothing that he uncovers about that night is as horrific as the truth about their lives leading up to her disappearance -- or the unraveling of Robert's life in present-day.
Chilling, gritty, and twisty, "All Who Wander" by Joe Clifford is just what you expect from this author. It's brilliant. Unputdownable. And filled with a darkness that you can feel as if it were your own. Joe Clifford has a knack for creating characters that you don't just get to know. You get to "feel" them too. It's almost like you can hear them breathing and read their thoughts. There's a depth to them that you don't find with every author, even the mega popular and talented ones.
This is especially true with Robert's "character". He's a heavy character who I couldn't like, no matter how much was written into the story early-on that should have made me feel otherwise. Brooke was cruel to him when he was a kid, but she was troubled too and just wanted out of her unloved, unhappy life. She was written to be unliked, but I couldn't quite get there. Did Clifford want me to dislike her? Definitely -- if you judge by the words he wrote. However, you get gut feelings about Joe's characters like you would people in real life. Your gut feelings are very likely not to be the same as mine because in real life (again) we aren't always going to like the same people.
There's a lot going on in "All Who Wander". Although the book follows Robert as he searches for the truth about what happened to his half-sister Brooke, other characters and revelations about the past deliver a much more complex storyline. It's well-written and completely engrossing right up until the conclusion when he reveals Brooke's fate and what happened before she disappeared. It's a satisfactory final twist that you'll either have you shocked or saying "meh". It didn't knock my socks off, but it did lower them to my ankles. That's good enough for me. Not every ending has to be a jaw-dropper, especially when the book as a whole is as good as this one.
Thank you to Joe Clifford and Lisa from Swell Media for the complimentary eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
July 2, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
Joe Clifford’s All Who Wander is a gripping psychological thriller that delves deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of loss, redemption, and the haunting shadows of the past. This novel is a masterclass in suspense, keeping us on the edge of our seats.
The story follows the protagonist, a former detective turned private investigator, drawn back into a cold case that has haunted him for years. The disappearance of a young girl in a small, tight-knit community sets the stage for a complex web of secrets, lies, and unexpected twists. As he digs deeper, he uncovers connections that challenge his perceptions and force him to confront his own demons.
Clifford excels in creating multi-dimensional characters that are both relatable and deeply flawed. The protagonist’s journey is particularly compelling, as his personal struggles and professional challenges intertwine, revealing a man grappling with guilt and a desperate need for closure. The supporting characters are equally well-crafted, each adding depth and nuance to the narrative.
Clifford’s writing is both evocative and precise, painting vivid scenes that draw readers into the story’s atmospheric setting. His ability to build tension and maintain a sense of unease is remarkable, making All Who Wander a true page-turner. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, further enhancing the authenticity of the characters and their interactions.
At its core, All Who Wander is a meditation on the impact of unresolved trauma and the lengths to which people will go to uncover the truth. Clifford explores the darker aspects of human nature with sensitivity and insight, offering a thought-provoking commentary on the complexities of memory and identity.
All Who Wander is a standout in the psychological thriller genre, offering a compelling blend of mystery, emotion, and psychological depth. Joe Clifford has crafted a novel that is thrilling and introspective, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. Whether you’re a longtime admirer of Clifford’s work or new to his writing, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Joe Clifford’s All Who Wander is a gripping psychological thriller that delves deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of loss, redemption, and the haunting shadows of the past. This novel is a masterclass in suspense, keeping us on the edge of our seats.
The story follows the protagonist, a former detective turned private investigator, drawn back into a cold case that has haunted him for years. The disappearance of a young girl in a small, tight-knit community sets the stage for a complex web of secrets, lies, and unexpected twists. As he digs deeper, he uncovers connections that challenge his perceptions and force him to confront his own demons.
Clifford excels in creating multi-dimensional characters that are both relatable and deeply flawed. The protagonist’s journey is particularly compelling, as his personal struggles and professional challenges intertwine, revealing a man grappling with guilt and a desperate need for closure. The supporting characters are equally well-crafted, each adding depth and nuance to the narrative.
Clifford’s writing is both evocative and precise, painting vivid scenes that draw readers into the story’s atmospheric setting. His ability to build tension and maintain a sense of unease is remarkable, making All Who Wander a true page-turner. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, further enhancing the authenticity of the characters and their interactions.
At its core, All Who Wander is a meditation on the impact of unresolved trauma and the lengths to which people will go to uncover the truth. Clifford explores the darker aspects of human nature with sensitivity and insight, offering a thought-provoking commentary on the complexities of memory and identity.
All Who Wander is a standout in the psychological thriller genre, offering a compelling blend of mystery, emotion, and psychological depth. Joe Clifford has crafted a novel that is thrilling and introspective, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. Whether you’re a longtime admirer of Clifford’s work or new to his writing, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.
September 16, 2023
A respected academic with an apparently bright future, the recipient of grant funding, and the father of a young son, Robert Kirby (aka Bobby) would seem to have everything anyone could want. But things are not as they seem in Bobby's life, and at one point, his wife Stephanie has had enough. She takes their son Peter to stay with family, and leaves him to sort himself out.
Not that he hasn't tried to do that already. Bobby has been through years of therapy to get over a complicated and unpleasant childhood, which culminated in the disappearance of his half-sister Brooke Mulcahy in the midst of a winter storm. The mystery of what happened to her has haunted Bobby for over two decades.
Brooke and Bobby were not close, primarily because their mother abandoned Brooke's father Paul and Brooke herself for several years, returning with another child by another man i.e. Bobby. The two kids lost their mother a few years later to cancer, and Brooke grew up to be a troubled young woman making bad choices in life and keeping very bad company in terms of boyfriends.
Now, Bobby is taken aback when a young woman shows up in his life, claiming to be Brooke's daughter. But strange things begin to happen after Lily, as she calls herself, comes into Bobby's life. Could it be possible that Lily is lying about her parentage? And if so, why?
This is a very dark story, going to the heart of a deeply dysfunctional family and demonstrating the fallout of that dysfunction for all concerned.
The last part of the book actually became a bit too scary for me. The exploration of the darkest corners of the human psyche was more than I was comfortable with.
But there is no question that this is a gripping story, and if you can cope with the many trigger factors involved - multiple forms of abuse, problematic family dynamics, addiction and violence - it is a compelling read. I give it 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
Not that he hasn't tried to do that already. Bobby has been through years of therapy to get over a complicated and unpleasant childhood, which culminated in the disappearance of his half-sister Brooke Mulcahy in the midst of a winter storm. The mystery of what happened to her has haunted Bobby for over two decades.
Brooke and Bobby were not close, primarily because their mother abandoned Brooke's father Paul and Brooke herself for several years, returning with another child by another man i.e. Bobby. The two kids lost their mother a few years later to cancer, and Brooke grew up to be a troubled young woman making bad choices in life and keeping very bad company in terms of boyfriends.
Now, Bobby is taken aback when a young woman shows up in his life, claiming to be Brooke's daughter. But strange things begin to happen after Lily, as she calls herself, comes into Bobby's life. Could it be possible that Lily is lying about her parentage? And if so, why?
This is a very dark story, going to the heart of a deeply dysfunctional family and demonstrating the fallout of that dysfunction for all concerned.
The last part of the book actually became a bit too scary for me. The exploration of the darkest corners of the human psyche was more than I was comfortable with.
But there is no question that this is a gripping story, and if you can cope with the many trigger factors involved - multiple forms of abuse, problematic family dynamics, addiction and violence - it is a compelling read. I give it 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
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