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No Way Out
A Gripping Novel of Suspense
Ellie Bowman barely remembers the incident that put her into a coma. When she awoke, filled with unease, all she knew for certain was that her boyfriend, Rick, was missing. She knew she needed to get away from her old life and recover in safety. With the proceeds of a video game she helped develop, Ellie starts over in rural Missouri, working from her cottage and trusting no one except her friend and business partner.
Yet even in this quiet small town, it’s impossible to completely isolate herself. Especially when a curious eight-year-old boy, smitten with Ellie’s pup, stops by every day to talk to him over the fence. Little by little, Ellie is being drawn back into the world through the neighbors and community around her, realizing that everyone has their own fears and obstacles to contend with.
But when Ellie hears that Rick has resurfaced, her nightmares return, and with them, small snippets of memory. No one has heard from Rick since before the incident, so why is he back now? Ellie wants to move forward with her life, but first she must find the courage to look into her past, no matter what she finds there . . .
Ellie Bowman barely remembers the incident that put her into a coma. When she awoke, filled with unease, all she knew for certain was that her boyfriend, Rick, was missing. She knew she needed to get away from her old life and recover in safety. With the proceeds of a video game she helped develop, Ellie starts over in rural Missouri, working from her cottage and trusting no one except her friend and business partner.
Yet even in this quiet small town, it’s impossible to completely isolate herself. Especially when a curious eight-year-old boy, smitten with Ellie’s pup, stops by every day to talk to him over the fence. Little by little, Ellie is being drawn back into the world through the neighbors and community around her, realizing that everyone has their own fears and obstacles to contend with.
But when Ellie hears that Rick has resurfaced, her nightmares return, and with them, small snippets of memory. No one has heard from Rick since before the incident, so why is he back now? Ellie wants to move forward with her life, but first she must find the courage to look into her past, no matter what she finds there . . .
241 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2021
5262 people are currently reading
29436 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
428 books6,545 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,142 reviews
dnf
January 3, 2026I was looking forward to a “gripping novel of suspense” but I soon found out that this book was more like a cozy mystery that I never really got into. It didn’t grip me.
The story started out interesting enough with Ellie, a woman who doesn’t leave her home. I wanted to know why and what the event was that caused this. This kept me reading, in hopes of finding out soon. Then Colleen and Jackson were introduced to the story with Mitchel, the husband/father. This was a domestic abuse situation that escalated quickly in the chapter.
As I was reading, waiting for some information to why Ellie was almost a recluse, it began to appear that the main character was really Colleen, not Ellie as the book's summary suggests. There wasn’t enough in the story about Ellie and her memory loss and what happened with her boyfriend.
In addition, I found it hard to believe too many details about the characters and setting. The small town as described was just a bit too idyllic... it was too much like "Mayberry." Mitchel's reform happened too quick for it to be realistic. Colleen’s new romance was too fast. Hector, as a teenager, wouldn’t have time to do the amount of work that he is given credit for.
The plot came to an end pretty quick and was anticlimactic with many situations working out for the positive so easily. No cliffhanger, no “wow” moment. I didn’t hate the book, I did finish it, but I felt like there was too much that was lacking.
Thanks the NetGalley and Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
The story started out interesting enough with Ellie, a woman who doesn’t leave her home. I wanted to know why and what the event was that caused this. This kept me reading, in hopes of finding out soon. Then Colleen and Jackson were introduced to the story with Mitchel, the husband/father. This was a domestic abuse situation that escalated quickly in the chapter.
As I was reading, waiting for some information to why Ellie was almost a recluse, it began to appear that the main character was really Colleen, not Ellie as the book's summary suggests. There wasn’t enough in the story about Ellie and her memory loss and what happened with her boyfriend.
In addition, I found it hard to believe too many details about the characters and setting. The small town as described was just a bit too idyllic... it was too much like "Mayberry." Mitchel's reform happened too quick for it to be realistic. Colleen’s new romance was too fast. Hector, as a teenager, wouldn’t have time to do the amount of work that he is given credit for.
The plot came to an end pretty quick and was anticlimactic with many situations working out for the positive so easily. No cliffhanger, no “wow” moment. I didn’t hate the book, I did finish it, but I felt like there was too much that was lacking.
Thanks the NetGalley and Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 29, 2021
No suspence. No thrill.
I expected better from this author after having read many, many of her books. This bordered on boring and was one of those books that while I'm reading it my mind wanders and when I focus I noticed that I read a couple pages and have no idea what I read. It tries to build you up for this big ending and when you get to it the boyfriend gets to the front of her house, starts yelling, and then is taken away by the cops. That's it. I don't know why I finished this book to begin with other than the anticipation that maybe the ending would save the story...but no.
I expected better from this author after having read many, many of her books. This bordered on boring and was one of those books that while I'm reading it my mind wanders and when I focus I noticed that I read a couple pages and have no idea what I read. It tries to build you up for this big ending and when you get to it the boyfriend gets to the front of her house, starts yelling, and then is taken away by the cops. That's it. I don't know why I finished this book to begin with other than the anticipation that maybe the ending would save the story...but no.
February 26, 2021
Really enjoyed this one... the ending was so quick and rather anti climactic.
January 14, 2022
I'm at a loss for words, No Way Out by Fern Michaels was so good! Fern Michaels has been on my author radar for a while now, and I will continue to read her books. No Way Out is a gripping suspense novel, and gave me the chills, I love when a book does that to me! My only disappointment was the ending happened so quick and nothing was explained as to what happened to the other families, but all in all I loved this story. I was hooked from the very beginning. This story truly touched my heart, and it will be a long time before I forget this story.
Ellie Bowman barely remembers the incident that put her into a coma. When Ellie awoke at the hospital she was so confused as to what happened and why she was there. Ellie woke up with bruises all over her face. Ellie knew she needed to get away from her old life and recover in safety. Ellie moves to a rural town in Missouri where no body knows her, all her neighbors know her as the lady who never leaves her house. Ellie trusts no one except her business partner. Ellie's neighbor Colleen keeps trying to invite Ellie over for tea, but Ellie won't budge.
Colleen Haywood, Ellie's neighbor gets into a domestic dispute with her drunk husband Mitchel one night, that one night Colleen decides she's had enough of Mitchel's behavior, Colleen wants to protect her son Jackson. Ellie has a dog named Buddy, who Jackson has quite adored and always pets him through the fence. I often found myself cheering on Ellie, Colleen, and Jackson. One day Ellie gets a call from her best friend Kara that Ellie's boyfriend Rick is back in town. No one has heard from Rick since before the incident, so why is he back now?
Ellie has severe nightmares that play back to the night of the incident. Ellie wants to move forward with her life, but first she must find the courage to look into her past, no matter what she finds. Ellie and Colleen develop a friendship over the phone because Ellie won't go outside, Ellie has a high school student who gets her mail, does her shopping for her, and does all her gardening for her. My heart broke for Ellie and Colleen as well for everything they both have been through.
Ellie Bowman barely remembers the incident that put her into a coma. When Ellie awoke at the hospital she was so confused as to what happened and why she was there. Ellie woke up with bruises all over her face. Ellie knew she needed to get away from her old life and recover in safety. Ellie moves to a rural town in Missouri where no body knows her, all her neighbors know her as the lady who never leaves her house. Ellie trusts no one except her business partner. Ellie's neighbor Colleen keeps trying to invite Ellie over for tea, but Ellie won't budge.
Colleen Haywood, Ellie's neighbor gets into a domestic dispute with her drunk husband Mitchel one night, that one night Colleen decides she's had enough of Mitchel's behavior, Colleen wants to protect her son Jackson. Ellie has a dog named Buddy, who Jackson has quite adored and always pets him through the fence. I often found myself cheering on Ellie, Colleen, and Jackson. One day Ellie gets a call from her best friend Kara that Ellie's boyfriend Rick is back in town. No one has heard from Rick since before the incident, so why is he back now?
Ellie has severe nightmares that play back to the night of the incident. Ellie wants to move forward with her life, but first she must find the courage to look into her past, no matter what she finds. Ellie and Colleen develop a friendship over the phone because Ellie won't go outside, Ellie has a high school student who gets her mail, does her shopping for her, and does all her gardening for her. My heart broke for Ellie and Colleen as well for everything they both have been through.
April 23, 2021
This is the first Fern Michaels book I have read, and it will be the last. Written at about a fourth grade reading level, the two dimensional characters are all of average or below average intelligence. Story events are rehashed in conversations in case you missed information the first, second, or third time it was conveyed. A purportedly smart woman with a magnificent backyard isn’t smart enough to teach her dog to poop in a specific place, thus effectively ruining the whole yard. The child is portrayed as a moron. The unexplainable behavior of the mother-in-law is commented on over and over. No way would Colleen ever have married her drunken, smoking, violent husband (Who is now supposedly going to change his life for the better.)I would recommend reading this book if you are feeling rather brain dead and don’t want to do much thinking.
April 8, 2021
Many thanks to Kensington Press for the complimentary copy of Fern Michael’s “No Way Out”. I want to say that my response to this book would have been totally different had it not been marketed as a thriller.
There is no way that I can spin a positive review of this book. It is a mediocre attempt for a mystery much less a thriller. Promoted as a “gripping novel of suspense” on Amazon, this story fails to connect on all levels. I am sure that I would have a different opinion of the story had it been advertised as a “feel-good” neighborhood tale but for me, there was no suspense in this story.
We are introduced to Ellie, a reclusive, “tech geek”, “techno whiz”, gamer, and computer support person who finds companionship in her dog, Buddy, and cat, Percy. She has not been out of her house in 2 years and has created a fortress to rival Fort Knox. When the reason for her fear is disclosed, well…let us just say it is much ado about nothing. Based on the story, I felt like it was an overblown response to the situation.
Ellie can maintain her lifestyle, thanks to the help of Hector. Hector is a high school student that Ellie met through online gaming. Because of Hector, Ellie moved to Hibbing, MO from NYC. Hector runs all Ellie’s errands, maintains the exterior of Ellie’s house, and has created and maintains a garden to rival those in “Southern Living.” His character is beyond unbelievable.
Ellie’s neighbor is Colleen. Colleen is married to Mitchell. Mitchell has become a chain-smoking, wandering husband who comes home drunk and is borderline abusive. One night, he crosses the line and Colleen calls the police. Based on this one incident, Colleen is fearful for her life and the life of her son, Jackson. She installs a state-of-the-art security system and purchases a Taser from the too good to be true police officer who comes to her rescue.
Colleen’s young son, Jackson, who spends hours each day playing with Ellie’s dog Buddy never misbehaves despite all the turmoil in his life. Jackson uses terms like “swell” and “yippee.” He comes across as a child of the ’50s, not the 2020s.
We are also introduced to the rest of the neighbors as the story unfolds. One thread remains constant and that is everyone is just too good and overcomes any flaws in a short time and with minimal struggle.
The language used is in this book is so outdated. I have listed a few examples but there are many more. The book tone is also very 1050’s. The biggest complaint is nothing exciting really happens in this book; even the scene where Mitchell is abusive is lack-luster.
There are instances where certain phrases are used repeatedly. We read several times about how Ellie is sure that Hector has cleaned the yard so that Buddy and Jackson do not get in the dog poop.
I have not read Fern Michael’s other works, but they must be better for her to be such a successful writer. If you are looking for a gentle mystery, then check out Rita Mae Brown or Sofie Kelly.
There is no way that I can spin a positive review of this book. It is a mediocre attempt for a mystery much less a thriller. Promoted as a “gripping novel of suspense” on Amazon, this story fails to connect on all levels. I am sure that I would have a different opinion of the story had it been advertised as a “feel-good” neighborhood tale but for me, there was no suspense in this story.
We are introduced to Ellie, a reclusive, “tech geek”, “techno whiz”, gamer, and computer support person who finds companionship in her dog, Buddy, and cat, Percy. She has not been out of her house in 2 years and has created a fortress to rival Fort Knox. When the reason for her fear is disclosed, well…let us just say it is much ado about nothing. Based on the story, I felt like it was an overblown response to the situation.
Ellie can maintain her lifestyle, thanks to the help of Hector. Hector is a high school student that Ellie met through online gaming. Because of Hector, Ellie moved to Hibbing, MO from NYC. Hector runs all Ellie’s errands, maintains the exterior of Ellie’s house, and has created and maintains a garden to rival those in “Southern Living.” His character is beyond unbelievable.
Ellie’s neighbor is Colleen. Colleen is married to Mitchell. Mitchell has become a chain-smoking, wandering husband who comes home drunk and is borderline abusive. One night, he crosses the line and Colleen calls the police. Based on this one incident, Colleen is fearful for her life and the life of her son, Jackson. She installs a state-of-the-art security system and purchases a Taser from the too good to be true police officer who comes to her rescue.
Colleen’s young son, Jackson, who spends hours each day playing with Ellie’s dog Buddy never misbehaves despite all the turmoil in his life. Jackson uses terms like “swell” and “yippee.” He comes across as a child of the ’50s, not the 2020s.
We are also introduced to the rest of the neighbors as the story unfolds. One thread remains constant and that is everyone is just too good and overcomes any flaws in a short time and with minimal struggle.
The language used is in this book is so outdated. I have listed a few examples but there are many more. The book tone is also very 1050’s. The biggest complaint is nothing exciting really happens in this book; even the scene where Mitchell is abusive is lack-luster.
There are instances where certain phrases are used repeatedly. We read several times about how Ellie is sure that Hector has cleaned the yard so that Buddy and Jackson do not get in the dog poop.
I have not read Fern Michael’s other works, but they must be better for her to be such a successful writer. If you are looking for a gentle mystery, then check out Rita Mae Brown or Sofie Kelly.
January 18, 2021
I've never read Fern Michaels before, but I'd classify No Way Out as a cozy. It started out very interesting with a young woman who never left her house. I wanted to know why and what she was afraid of.
A second thread involves a case of domestic abuse in the neighborhood.
What could have been a really suspenseful read turned into a "everything works out in the end" sort of book. That's fine, but building so much suspense and curiosity and then having half the characters reform completely--makes the original suspense feel false.
I didn't hate it, but it isn't really a genre I enjoy; however, it should appeal to those who are already fans of Fern Michaels.
NetGalley/Kensington Books
Cozy. March 30, 2021. Print length: 322 pages.
A second thread involves a case of domestic abuse in the neighborhood.
What could have been a really suspenseful read turned into a "everything works out in the end" sort of book. That's fine, but building so much suspense and curiosity and then having half the characters reform completely--makes the original suspense feel false.
I didn't hate it, but it isn't really a genre I enjoy; however, it should appeal to those who are already fans of Fern Michaels.
NetGalley/Kensington Books
Cozy. March 30, 2021. Print length: 322 pages.
April 10, 2021
No Way Out by Fern Michaels is not what I expected. I was looking forward to a riveting, suspenseful story. Unfortunately, No Way Out is not that type of book. It is reminiscent of a light cozy mystery or a women’s fiction story. This book lacks the suspense and action that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Ellie moves to the small town of Hibbing, Missouri on a quiet street where there are a variety of residents. We get to meet the various residents as the book progresses. I liked the residents of the lane with their various quirks. Colleen Haywood lives with her husband, Mitchel as well as her eight-year-old son, Jackson. Mitchel drinks too much and becomes abusive. Colleen, Mitchel, and Jackson seem to take up more of the book than Ellie. I liked how we get to see the neighbors helping each other. They are supportive, kind, and accepting. They never picked on Ellie or criticized her for not leaving her home. They accepted her for who she was which I thought was wonderful. I found the ending to be anticlimactic as well as too quick and smooth. There is an epilogue, but it felt incomplete. My favorite phrase from No Way Out is, “Even when you think there is no way out, if you try hard enough, you can usually find a way.” If you are looking for a light book to read by the pool or at the beach, then No Way Out is just the ticket.
July 24, 2025
This is another one that has been on my to-read list a long time (Jul2022) thus making it a candidate for my 2025 cleaning out the to-read closet challenge. I wouldn’t call myself a huge Michaels fan, but I’ve read enough of her books back in the day (mostly sappy holiday stories) to know that her work is pretty safe and tame, which is what I’m feeling in the mood for right now. This was a classic domestic drama with a little suspense.
The book summary pretty much lays out most of the story of Ellie recovering from some kind of really traumatic incident, revolving around the disappearance of her boyfriend, Rick, and her ending up in the hospital in a coma. Two years later, Ellie remembers nothing of the incident and has become a shut-in. The whole story follows the comings and goings of the residents on the street. While Ellie is the MC, several of her neighbors become key players in the story. I loved how the story flipped back and forth between Ellie and several other people in Ellie’s world.
One neighbor is, Colleen, and her son, Jackson, who are both alone now that the loser, abusive husband/father, Mitchell, has been arrested for domestic abuse; Colleen now has a restraining order against him. From Ellie’s second story office, Ellie sees her whole street and all the comings and goings on, and she is creeped out that Mitchell is now stalking Colleen. Don’t even get started on that retched Vivian, who was Mitchell’s mommy dearest.
There are others like Hector, an 18yr old college student that Ellie met online in a gaming app. Ellie and Hector have become friends and partners since they developed a game together. Hector does a lot of errands for Ellie too since she never leaves her house. There’s also the 90yr old man, Andy, who lives across the street, and who is lonely. Andy has become a hoarder, who doesn’t decide to do something about it until he realizes he wants to help his shut-in neighbor, Ellie, but to do that, he will need to find the item in his home first. There’s also the kindly retired couple, who adore Colleen and Jackson, and are very protective of them.
The character development of most of the characters, especially Ellie, was good. The pacing for the story was steady and I finished it in two sittings. The storyline interesting enough to finish it because I wanted to know how it ended. The writing was ok, even if I saw the ending coming from early in the story. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.3 that I will be rounding down to a 3star review.
The book summary pretty much lays out most of the story of Ellie recovering from some kind of really traumatic incident, revolving around the disappearance of her boyfriend, Rick, and her ending up in the hospital in a coma. Two years later, Ellie remembers nothing of the incident and has become a shut-in. The whole story follows the comings and goings of the residents on the street. While Ellie is the MC, several of her neighbors become key players in the story. I loved how the story flipped back and forth between Ellie and several other people in Ellie’s world.
One neighbor is, Colleen, and her son, Jackson, who are both alone now that the loser, abusive husband/father, Mitchell, has been arrested for domestic abuse; Colleen now has a restraining order against him. From Ellie’s second story office, Ellie sees her whole street and all the comings and goings on, and she is creeped out that Mitchell is now stalking Colleen. Don’t even get started on that retched Vivian, who was Mitchell’s mommy dearest.
There are others like Hector, an 18yr old college student that Ellie met online in a gaming app. Ellie and Hector have become friends and partners since they developed a game together. Hector does a lot of errands for Ellie too since she never leaves her house. There’s also the 90yr old man, Andy, who lives across the street, and who is lonely. Andy has become a hoarder, who doesn’t decide to do something about it until he realizes he wants to help his shut-in neighbor, Ellie, but to do that, he will need to find the item in his home first. There’s also the kindly retired couple, who adore Colleen and Jackson, and are very protective of them.
The character development of most of the characters, especially Ellie, was good. The pacing for the story was steady and I finished it in two sittings. The storyline interesting enough to finish it because I wanted to know how it ended. The writing was ok, even if I saw the ending coming from early in the story. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.3 that I will be rounding down to a 3star review.
January 20, 2022
It's not good, period. It's rambling and the plot makes no sense. There are multiple areas where the text and story repeats itself, it needs a serious technical and story edit. I can't believe this is a real published book I got from the library and not some self published free deal off Amazon. Maybe it was rushed due to the pandemic but it's just not worth anyone's time. It's not suspense in any form, it's cozy women's fiction at best but even then there are much better written books in the genre.
Skip this one for sure.
Skip this one for sure.
January 4, 2022
This was a romance novel that was supposed to be a thriller. I found no sense of foreboding. No fear of what was to happen next. It was just a little story of a rural community and how the wonderful neighbors come together to help each other. Even the guy the heroine is so terrified of that she changes her name, moves to a rural community, doesn't go out of the house for over 2 years, communicates over burner phones - one for each person she speaks to, has a neighborhood teenager do all of her errands and, ends up arriving at her house to apologize! PLEASE!!!
This was a complete waste of my time.
This was a complete waste of my time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2023
I was very disappointed with this book. It wasn't "gripping" or even very suspenseful. I had pretty much figured out the outcome just by reading the description. The writing was repetitive, a lot of the dialog was in the third person, making it hard to follow, and the characters were "ho-hum"...not even in the category of "so-so". I really expected more from a writer as talented as Fern Michaels. I'm quite sure there are a plethora of others out there that loved it or are going to really like it...I just didn't happen to be one of them.
May 6, 2021
I wish I could get back the 8 days I spent reading this book for it to abruptly end out of the blue! I think someone must have had a vacation planned...never again
April 29, 2021
Ellie Bowman moves to a quiet street, Birchwood Lane, in the small town of Hibbing, Missouri where there are a variety of residents. As the story progresses the reader gets to meet many of them with their various quirks and habits. Colleen Haywood lives with her drinker husband, Mitchel as well as her eight-year-old son, Jackson. Ellie, a young recluse, has lived on the street for two years but had never been seen outside by any of her neighbours, nor Hector who helps with gardening and shopping. Her story captivated me and kept me interested, wanting to know what happened to cause her reclusive behaviour. I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling tale of abuse, small-town politics and community life. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 8, 2021
NO WAY OUT by Fern Michales
Meh! It was a good enough read, I guess. I hung on because I kept waiting for the magic to happen, so it wasn't a thriller or a mystery. I thought it was just a drama about family or neighborhood.
Essentially it was about neighbor women who both have safety issues in their life based on domestic violence, remembered and not remembered. The best thing about the book was the tech stuff and the dog. It is a good enough read, but you should reserve your expectations.
3 stars
Happy Reading
Meh! It was a good enough read, I guess. I hung on because I kept waiting for the magic to happen, so it wasn't a thriller or a mystery. I thought it was just a drama about family or neighborhood.
Essentially it was about neighbor women who both have safety issues in their life based on domestic violence, remembered and not remembered. The best thing about the book was the tech stuff and the dog. It is a good enough read, but you should reserve your expectations.
3 stars
Happy Reading
February 22, 2022
Absolutely nothing happens. I read through to the end thinking something interesting might eventually happen; it doesn’t.
The main character is supposed to be a computer expert, but is written by someone who appears to know almost nothing about computers, making all of the “hacking” scenes unbelievable and dull.
The characters are not interesting and do not have unique voices, which makes the dialogue awkward. I almost stopped reading when the child character literally says “jeepers”, an extremely weird and dated trope, then immediately returns to speaking like a boring adult.
The main character is supposed to be a computer expert, but is written by someone who appears to know almost nothing about computers, making all of the “hacking” scenes unbelievable and dull.
The characters are not interesting and do not have unique voices, which makes the dialogue awkward. I almost stopped reading when the child character literally says “jeepers”, an extremely weird and dated trope, then immediately returns to speaking like a boring adult.
April 1, 2021
Ellie lives a sequestered and protected life. She never leaves her house and lives in constant fear. The only problem is, Ellie doesn’t know why. Suffering from amnesia, Ellie knows her life is in danger, but her memories are vague. Until she figures out the mystery behind her head injury, hospitalization, and subsequent memory loss, she won’t leave her well-protected home or see the people she loves most. Most importantly, she is hiding from her ex Rick, who took off after Ellie’s hospitalization.
Ellie spends much of her time observing the day-to-day lives of her neighbors, but she never interacts with them until a young neighborhood boy named Jackson develops a bond with Ellie’s dog. Slowly, Ellie begins to long for friends, interaction, and a sense of belonging, and she finds a friend in Jackson’s mother Colleen, who is going through trials and tribulations of her own.
However, when Rick reappears, Ellie’s nightmares and migraines return. Determined to understand his role in her injury, Ellie uses her technological skills to find answers. Can Ellie face her past and find out what happened to her? Can she trust her neighbors and friends to help her reenter the world?
The strength of this novel lies in the character development. There are many characters in the story, and they are all well-developed. You really get the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of all of the people who live on Ellie’s street as well as a few who don’t. That being said, there are a lot of characters to follow, and I didn’t feel invested in too many of them.
Much of the story focuses on Ellie’s day-to-day life, as well as the lives of her neighbors. Ellie’s neighbors are an eclectic mix and include an elderly man who lives alone, a teacher and her young son who are victims of abuse, a new family who has just moved in, and a couple who frequently travels. All of these characters influence Ellie’s life, especially Jackson and his mother Colleen.
The relationship between Ellie’s dog Buddy and Jackson is very sweet. I think seeing the daily interactions between Jackson and Buddy propels Ellie to open herself up to others again. Slowly, Ellie warms to the idea of connecting with her neighbors. However, fear of the unknown, especially in regards to her accident, limits her. Colleen and Jackson also need some support, and find it in Ellie, much to the surprise of all of their neighbors.
I did like the messages about the power of supportive neighbors, trusting yourself, embracing friendship, starting over, and reaching out to others when you need help. However, the story is slow-building and slow-paced. I felt like not much happened for much of the story. It progressed so slowly, and then everything wrapped up very quickly and a little too smoothly. Colleen’s abusive, alcoholic husband, his toxic mother, Ellie’s amnesia, and the reason she doesn’t leave her house are all resolved so easily that it felt anti-climactic. I felt like the entire book was a big build-up, but it didn’t really build up to much, and I was left disappointed.
I think people who enjoy women’s fiction and Fern Michaels might enjoy this book, but it wasn’t my favorite by the author. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Ellie spends much of her time observing the day-to-day lives of her neighbors, but she never interacts with them until a young neighborhood boy named Jackson develops a bond with Ellie’s dog. Slowly, Ellie begins to long for friends, interaction, and a sense of belonging, and she finds a friend in Jackson’s mother Colleen, who is going through trials and tribulations of her own.
However, when Rick reappears, Ellie’s nightmares and migraines return. Determined to understand his role in her injury, Ellie uses her technological skills to find answers. Can Ellie face her past and find out what happened to her? Can she trust her neighbors and friends to help her reenter the world?
The strength of this novel lies in the character development. There are many characters in the story, and they are all well-developed. You really get the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of all of the people who live on Ellie’s street as well as a few who don’t. That being said, there are a lot of characters to follow, and I didn’t feel invested in too many of them.
Much of the story focuses on Ellie’s day-to-day life, as well as the lives of her neighbors. Ellie’s neighbors are an eclectic mix and include an elderly man who lives alone, a teacher and her young son who are victims of abuse, a new family who has just moved in, and a couple who frequently travels. All of these characters influence Ellie’s life, especially Jackson and his mother Colleen.
The relationship between Ellie’s dog Buddy and Jackson is very sweet. I think seeing the daily interactions between Jackson and Buddy propels Ellie to open herself up to others again. Slowly, Ellie warms to the idea of connecting with her neighbors. However, fear of the unknown, especially in regards to her accident, limits her. Colleen and Jackson also need some support, and find it in Ellie, much to the surprise of all of their neighbors.
I did like the messages about the power of supportive neighbors, trusting yourself, embracing friendship, starting over, and reaching out to others when you need help. However, the story is slow-building and slow-paced. I felt like not much happened for much of the story. It progressed so slowly, and then everything wrapped up very quickly and a little too smoothly. Colleen’s abusive, alcoholic husband, his toxic mother, Ellie’s amnesia, and the reason she doesn’t leave her house are all resolved so easily that it felt anti-climactic. I felt like the entire book was a big build-up, but it didn’t really build up to much, and I was left disappointed.
I think people who enjoy women’s fiction and Fern Michaels might enjoy this book, but it wasn’t my favorite by the author. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
May 11, 2021
Domestic Thriller / Women's Fiction / Contemporary
Publication date : March 30, 2021
Ellie is a reclusive “tech geek”. She has adopted a dog and a cat who keep her company. Ellie is suffering from amnesia due to the brain injury. She has no recollection of the accident but she fears she's still in danger, so she keep to herself and never leave her home. What happened to her? What she's running away from?
Synopsis sounded interesting but this story has too many characters to follow. Author constantly jump from one character to another character, then drop them and choose someone else to follow.
Not fan of fragmented narratives!
"A Gripping Novel of Suspense" also not true as not much happen for much of the story. With so many characters, their backstories, there wasn't much time to build tension. suspense and develop protagonist. Not even sure who the protagonist was. If it was Ellie, then she was more in the backround than in the front, then everything was suddenly resolved and the story ended. Perhaps I had too high expectations but this story was dissapointingly boring and tepid for me.
Publication date : March 30, 2021
Ellie is a reclusive “tech geek”. She has adopted a dog and a cat who keep her company. Ellie is suffering from amnesia due to the brain injury. She has no recollection of the accident but she fears she's still in danger, so she keep to herself and never leave her home. What happened to her? What she's running away from?
Synopsis sounded interesting but this story has too many characters to follow. Author constantly jump from one character to another character, then drop them and choose someone else to follow.
Not fan of fragmented narratives!
"A Gripping Novel of Suspense" also not true as not much happen for much of the story. With so many characters, their backstories, there wasn't much time to build tension. suspense and develop protagonist. Not even sure who the protagonist was. If it was Ellie, then she was more in the backround than in the front, then everything was suddenly resolved and the story ended. Perhaps I had too high expectations but this story was dissapointingly boring and tepid for me.
April 14, 2021
I received a free copy from Kensington books and was asked to give an honest review. I have never read anything by author, Fern Michaels, before.
If you are looking for a true thriller, this book is definitely not it. There is an element of mystery as to why Ellie, one of the main characters, refuses to come out of the house. The only sections where any action takes place is during a scene of domestic violence and toward the end of the book when Ellie's ex-boyfriend hunts her down.
This is more of a feel good novel about redemption where all the major characters go through a transformation. However, I found a number of flaws in the novel which affected how I rated it.
For instance, Ellie is reading the news about the pandemic and other things going on in the world. Yet, there is no mention of anyone wearing a mask. No one is practicing social distancing anywhere in the novel. Jackson, a young boy in the story, goes to school every day and never has to stay home to do his lessons on the computer. I feel it would have been better not to mention the pandemic at all unless the author intends to be consistent with the details. If something doesn't add to your story, don't include it.
Another example is a scene that takes place at a restaurant in Hibbing, MO. The server is described as popping gum and wiggling her hips to impress Mitchel with whom she had an affair. First, every restaurant I've been to during the pandemic, the servers were wearing masks even if the patrons were not. And that's when indoor dining was allowed. For many months, only takeout was permitted. Second, I've worked in restaurants during my high school and college years--we were not allowed to chew gum on the floor. This "waitress" stereotype from the 50's and 60's or from some comedy show didn't work for me. And if you are not going to work in details about how the pandemic alters people's routines, it's best not to mention this happened during the pandemic.
The author also kept repeating certain words like creep and creepy, sometimes on the same page. Another example was "auburn hair." I just read that a paragraph or two ago and she repeats it again. I felt like I was reading a rough draft instead of a polished novel.
Fern Michaels is a best-selling author. If you're like me and this is your first time reading her books, I recommend starting with Michaels' best seller before reading this novel.
If you are looking for a true thriller, this book is definitely not it. There is an element of mystery as to why Ellie, one of the main characters, refuses to come out of the house. The only sections where any action takes place is during a scene of domestic violence and toward the end of the book when Ellie's ex-boyfriend hunts her down.
This is more of a feel good novel about redemption where all the major characters go through a transformation. However, I found a number of flaws in the novel which affected how I rated it.
For instance, Ellie is reading the news about the pandemic and other things going on in the world. Yet, there is no mention of anyone wearing a mask. No one is practicing social distancing anywhere in the novel. Jackson, a young boy in the story, goes to school every day and never has to stay home to do his lessons on the computer. I feel it would have been better not to mention the pandemic at all unless the author intends to be consistent with the details. If something doesn't add to your story, don't include it.
Another example is a scene that takes place at a restaurant in Hibbing, MO. The server is described as popping gum and wiggling her hips to impress Mitchel with whom she had an affair. First, every restaurant I've been to during the pandemic, the servers were wearing masks even if the patrons were not. And that's when indoor dining was allowed. For many months, only takeout was permitted. Second, I've worked in restaurants during my high school and college years--we were not allowed to chew gum on the floor. This "waitress" stereotype from the 50's and 60's or from some comedy show didn't work for me. And if you are not going to work in details about how the pandemic alters people's routines, it's best not to mention this happened during the pandemic.
The author also kept repeating certain words like creep and creepy, sometimes on the same page. Another example was "auburn hair." I just read that a paragraph or two ago and she repeats it again. I felt like I was reading a rough draft instead of a polished novel.
Fern Michaels is a best-selling author. If you're like me and this is your first time reading her books, I recommend starting with Michaels' best seller before reading this novel.
January 25, 2021
Received a free copy from a giveaway and thought I was going to be in for a treat based on the book description. Aside from proofreading and editing, what this book really needs is an updated description. “Ellie” is more of a secondary character and not the story’s protagonist. That role belongs to Colleen. This book reads more like an author’s first attempt at writing a novel. I was shocked to see that she has written well over 100 and is on the NYT best sellers list.
May 21, 2021
I expected better from Fern Michaels -- this was kind of draggy, with unexplainable touches. How did the brutal ex-husband and his bitchy mother SUDDENLY become all sweetness and light?? And what was the reason for the new family across the street? And the old guy who was a hoarder? And most of all, how did the ex-boyfriend find Ellie?? And was this a mystery, or a domestic violence study? Anyway, I read it, but the ending was certainly abrupt.
February 23, 2022
Suspenseful? Not so much...Disappointing, yes
The title and book description of "a gripping novel of suspense" should be deemed false advertising. Strong female characters with smarts and grit deserved a better story. What had a possibility of a really great strong women versus bad guys story at the beginning, got most of the way through and then fizzled out in a rushed and lame ending. Would not recommend.
The title and book description of "a gripping novel of suspense" should be deemed false advertising. Strong female characters with smarts and grit deserved a better story. What had a possibility of a really great strong women versus bad guys story at the beginning, got most of the way through and then fizzled out in a rushed and lame ending. Would not recommend.
April 4, 2021
Not her best book
I wonder if Fern Michaels was the author of this book. Its not her usual writing and I've been reading her books for years and have always been an avid fan.
This was a lukewarm mediocre book that lacked Fern Michaels usual personality, style and grace. Not at all like any of her other books.
I wonder if Fern Michaels was the author of this book. Its not her usual writing and I've been reading her books for years and have always been an avid fan.
This was a lukewarm mediocre book that lacked Fern Michaels usual personality, style and grace. Not at all like any of her other books.
June 20, 2021
First book by Fern. From the other reviews I've read, her big fans said this book did not reach up to her potential. Some questioned whether she even wrote it. I see the potential in the writing, but this was a simplistic, repetitive read. And it came to an almost unthinkably abrupt ending. I plan to give some of her earlier books a try.
June 15, 2025
I was really surprised to see this classified as Suspense because it's not. It's a good story with good characters but if you're looking for a thriller, you're bound to be disappointed. Either way, I really enjoyed the characters and the story.
May 12, 2021
I've read 3 Fern Michaels books.. and they weren't very good.. the ending was so quick and rather anti climactic.. I will add a trigger warning because it deals with domestic abuse.
October 20, 2024
Well written and paced, but there is no suspense or thrill here.
March 7, 2024
1.5 stars, rounded up to 2.
This is not a thriller in any way, shape, or form. Thriller is one of the main categories of books I read. And this is not.
I’m seriously questioning if the reviews saying that it’s such a great thriller are talking about this book. It’s incredibly boring.
I listened to the audio book, and the performance was fine, the narrator should at least be nominated for a reward for an okish performance while working with this material.
This is a story about a little boy who plays with a dog of a neighbor who doesn’t leave her house. Oh, and one of their other neighbors is an old man who also is a hoarder.
The little boy’s mom is a teacher who just kicked out her alcoholic husband out in probably the most exciting scene in the book, yet still entirely forgettable. She gets a restraining order, there’s a hearing, he does some stalking. Could be an interesting storyline. But nope. He basically just decides to stop drinking (and chain smoking) and things become all hunky dory. But they’re still getting a divorce so the mom can go on a date with the police officer who arrested her husband.
Oh, and a good 5-10 minutes is spent on a different neighbor teaching the little boy how to memorize the planets of the solar system… in painstaking detail. And then later, we get to hear about it again when the boy explains it to his mom. What’s the point of this new “skill” the boy learned? No idea. It never comes up again. In fact, the little boy and the dog are pretty absent in the last 30 minutes of the story, which is where ALL the “action” happens.
Major “spoiler”: the neighborhood gets together in the LAST 20 MINUTES of the story to clean up the old man’s house so he can come home from the hospital after falling in his driveway (which also happened in the last 30 minutes). Much of the final portion of the story was devoted to the old man and the cleaning up of his house. Not joking, but man do I wish I was.
Pretty sure the only reason a new family moved onto the street was so their moving boxes could be used to pack up the old man’s stuff.
Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about the lady who doesn’t leave her house. But the author did. Why doesn’t she leave her house you might be asking yourself? She fell and hit her head on the street while having a disagreement with her boyfriend. Instead of calling for help, he ran away. She’s been having trouble remembering what happened so she goes into hiding. Obviously. Her mother and her friend have no idea where she actually is (but she talks to them once a week using a burner phone). Don’t even get me started on the ex-boyfriend’s storyline.
The last five minutes of the book include the ex showing up to the shut-in’s house and being promptly arrested, but not until after he’s hit by the old man’s classic car.
According to the epilogue, he’s “up to his eyeballs in legal trouble” and the teacher gets that date with the cop. Everyone lives happily ever after.
This is not a thriller in any way, shape, or form. Thriller is one of the main categories of books I read. And this is not.
I’m seriously questioning if the reviews saying that it’s such a great thriller are talking about this book. It’s incredibly boring.
I listened to the audio book, and the performance was fine, the narrator should at least be nominated for a reward for an okish performance while working with this material.
This is a story about a little boy who plays with a dog of a neighbor who doesn’t leave her house. Oh, and one of their other neighbors is an old man who also is a hoarder.
The little boy’s mom is a teacher who just kicked out her alcoholic husband out in probably the most exciting scene in the book, yet still entirely forgettable. She gets a restraining order, there’s a hearing, he does some stalking. Could be an interesting storyline. But nope. He basically just decides to stop drinking (and chain smoking) and things become all hunky dory. But they’re still getting a divorce so the mom can go on a date with the police officer who arrested her husband.
Oh, and a good 5-10 minutes is spent on a different neighbor teaching the little boy how to memorize the planets of the solar system… in painstaking detail. And then later, we get to hear about it again when the boy explains it to his mom. What’s the point of this new “skill” the boy learned? No idea. It never comes up again. In fact, the little boy and the dog are pretty absent in the last 30 minutes of the story, which is where ALL the “action” happens.
Major “spoiler”: the neighborhood gets together in the LAST 20 MINUTES of the story to clean up the old man’s house so he can come home from the hospital after falling in his driveway (which also happened in the last 30 minutes). Much of the final portion of the story was devoted to the old man and the cleaning up of his house. Not joking, but man do I wish I was.
Pretty sure the only reason a new family moved onto the street was so their moving boxes could be used to pack up the old man’s stuff.
Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about the lady who doesn’t leave her house. But the author did. Why doesn’t she leave her house you might be asking yourself? She fell and hit her head on the street while having a disagreement with her boyfriend. Instead of calling for help, he ran away. She’s been having trouble remembering what happened so she goes into hiding. Obviously. Her mother and her friend have no idea where she actually is (but she talks to them once a week using a burner phone). Don’t even get me started on the ex-boyfriend’s storyline.
The last five minutes of the book include the ex showing up to the shut-in’s house and being promptly arrested, but not until after he’s hit by the old man’s classic car.
According to the epilogue, he’s “up to his eyeballs in legal trouble” and the teacher gets that date with the cop. Everyone lives happily ever after.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2021
I couldn't finish it - this book was not for me. In my opinion it was miscategorized as a thriller. I would not even call it a cozy mystery, bc I couldn't get interested in the mild "suspense." The only amusing bit was how badly the "tech" stuff was described. This was, I believe, my first Fern Michaels book & she lost me in all the boredom.
October 1, 2022
The book starts off okay, centering on the main character who lives in a small town and lives in an almost complete isolation. The synopsis says suspense, but I have to disagree. The writing style and dialogues are very descriptive. There is not much happening and the ending is abrupt.
First time reading Fern Michaels. Thank you for the e-copy I received from the Goodreads giveaway.
First time reading Fern Michaels. Thank you for the e-copy I received from the Goodreads giveaway.
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