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This Side of Gone: A Vinnie Taylor Mystery
In this gripping debut PI procedural, an ex-cop is dragged back into the policing world that she fled when a teen girl goes missing in her new town.
Please help me. I think he killed Avery.
Vinnie Taylor isn’t a cop anymore. Once a decorated detective, Vinnie left behind a 25-year career in a blaze of scandal—working undercover to bust a sex trafficking ring in her own Homicide Unit. Nearly beaten to death by her former colleagues to prevent her testimony, Vinnie has found peace in the small town of Wills Harbor, Maryland. Or so she thought.
When a local teenager goes missing and nobody in town seems concerned besides the girl's best friend, Vinnie can’t help but take the case, even if it means returning to a world she's gone hundreds of miles to leave behind. She feels a certain kinship with Avery Adair, a whip smart teen who grew up on the wrong side of town, just like Vinnie.
But as she digs deeper, Vinnie uncovers a trail of dangerous online encounters and a double life that Avery kept from even her best friends. The closer Vinnie gets to answers, the more perilous her own circumstances become. Does Vinnie have the courage to face the ghosts of her past and the ugly truths hiding in her new hometown?
Please help me. I think he killed Avery.
Vinnie Taylor isn’t a cop anymore. Once a decorated detective, Vinnie left behind a 25-year career in a blaze of scandal—working undercover to bust a sex trafficking ring in her own Homicide Unit. Nearly beaten to death by her former colleagues to prevent her testimony, Vinnie has found peace in the small town of Wills Harbor, Maryland. Or so she thought.
When a local teenager goes missing and nobody in town seems concerned besides the girl's best friend, Vinnie can’t help but take the case, even if it means returning to a world she's gone hundreds of miles to leave behind. She feels a certain kinship with Avery Adair, a whip smart teen who grew up on the wrong side of town, just like Vinnie.
But as she digs deeper, Vinnie uncovers a trail of dangerous online encounters and a double life that Avery kept from even her best friends. The closer Vinnie gets to answers, the more perilous her own circumstances become. Does Vinnie have the courage to face the ghosts of her past and the ugly truths hiding in her new hometown?
Audible Audio
Published January 6, 2026
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About the author
Saundra Mitchell
30 books577 followersSaundra Mitchell is the author of SHADOWED SUMMER, THE VESPERTINE, THE SPRINGSWEET, THE ELEMENTALS, MISTWALKER, and ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK. In non-fiction, she’s the author of the non-fiction THEY DID WHAT!? series for middle grade readers. Her first adult novel, THIS SIDE OF GONE, will be published by William Morrow in January 2026.
She’s also the co-author of the CAMP MURDERFACE series with Josh Berk, and the editor of four YA anthologies: DEFY THE DARK, ALL OUT, OUT NOW, and OUT THERE. She also adapted the hit Broadway Musical THE PROM for teen readers!
Mitchell writes under multiple pen names, including Jessa Holbrook (WHILE YOU’RE AWAY,) Alex Mallory (WILD,) and Rory Harrison (LOOKING FOR GROUP.)
SHADOWED SUMMER was the 2010 winner of The Society of Midland Authors Book Award for Children’s Fiction and a 2010 Edgar® Award Nominee. It was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection and an ALAN Pick in 2009. In 2020, ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK was a Lambda Finalist, and the winner of the Indiana Authors Award for Young Adult Fiction.
Her short story “Ready to Wear” was nominated for a 2007 Pushcart Prize after appearing in Vestal Review Issue 27. Her short fiction and non-fiction has appeared in anthologies including TRANSMOGRIFY!, FORESHADOW, YOU TOO?, A TYRANNY OF PETTICOATS, FORETOLD, and DEAR BULLY.
For twenty years, she was the head screenwriter and an executive producer with Dreaming Tree Films on their various teen filmmaking programs, including the largest teen filmmaking program in the United States, Fresh Films. They produced more than four hundred films from her screenplays, and she earned Academy Award eligibility ten times during her tenure.
In other arenas, Ms. Mitchell was interviewed by the New York Times and the BBC for her part in exposing the Kaycee Nicole hoax, and she’s been tapped by morning radio shows all over the United States as a guest expert on Urban Legends & Folklore.
In her free time, she enjoys fandom, studying history, playing ttrpgs and video games, and spending time with her wife and daughters. Her pronouns are she/they.
She’s also the co-author of the CAMP MURDERFACE series with Josh Berk, and the editor of four YA anthologies: DEFY THE DARK, ALL OUT, OUT NOW, and OUT THERE. She also adapted the hit Broadway Musical THE PROM for teen readers!
Mitchell writes under multiple pen names, including Jessa Holbrook (WHILE YOU’RE AWAY,) Alex Mallory (WILD,) and Rory Harrison (LOOKING FOR GROUP.)
SHADOWED SUMMER was the 2010 winner of The Society of Midland Authors Book Award for Children’s Fiction and a 2010 Edgar® Award Nominee. It was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection and an ALAN Pick in 2009. In 2020, ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK was a Lambda Finalist, and the winner of the Indiana Authors Award for Young Adult Fiction.
Her short story “Ready to Wear” was nominated for a 2007 Pushcart Prize after appearing in Vestal Review Issue 27. Her short fiction and non-fiction has appeared in anthologies including TRANSMOGRIFY!, FORESHADOW, YOU TOO?, A TYRANNY OF PETTICOATS, FORETOLD, and DEAR BULLY.
For twenty years, she was the head screenwriter and an executive producer with Dreaming Tree Films on their various teen filmmaking programs, including the largest teen filmmaking program in the United States, Fresh Films. They produced more than four hundred films from her screenplays, and she earned Academy Award eligibility ten times during her tenure.
In other arenas, Ms. Mitchell was interviewed by the New York Times and the BBC for her part in exposing the Kaycee Nicole hoax, and she’s been tapped by morning radio shows all over the United States as a guest expert on Urban Legends & Folklore.
In her free time, she enjoys fandom, studying history, playing ttrpgs and video games, and spending time with her wife and daughters. Her pronouns are she/they.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 13, 2026
A sharp, gritty debut that introduces an investigator worth following.
Vinnie Taylor - a former detective whose career imploded after she blew the whistle in a sex-trafficking scandal inside her own Homicide Unit and was brutally attacked - is trying to rebuild her life in the quiet town of Wills Harbor, Maryland. But when a local teenager vanishes and the only person who seems to care is the girl's best friend, Vinnie is drawn back into the kind of investigation she thought she'd left behind.
With "This Side of Gone", Saundra Mitchell manages a seamless leap from her previous young adult fiction works to adult crime fiction, delivering a dark, fast-paced mystery anchored by a fierce and flawed heroine. Vinnie is a terrific lead: smart, complicated, sometimes infuriating (seriously, holding on to evidence for days?), and utterly compelling. Her past still shadows every decision she makes, but it never overwhelms the present-day case, though it comes close a few times. I was hooked by her tenacity and dark humor, and while she clearly still has miles to go in her own recovery, she's a protagonist I'd happily follow through a long series.
The mystery itself is gripping, with Mitchell's plotting sharp and the rural setting adding atmosphere and tension, grounding the story in small-town secrets and social fault lines. What stands out most, though, is how "This Side of Gone" refuses to be just a procedural. Mitchell threads in thoughtful commentary on police corruption, class, sexuality, and the dangers of online exploitation without ever losing the story's momentum. It's as emotionally grounded as it is suspenseful.
A riveting debut with breathtaking twists and turns, "This Side of Gone" brings Vinnie Taylor to life as a multi-layered, deeply human investigator whose ghosts make her both vulnerable and formidable. The conclusion is satisfying yet wide open, perfectly setting the stage for what promises to be an excellent series. I, for one, can't wait for the next case.
Many thanks to William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks for the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"This Side of Gone" was published on January 6, 2026, and is available now.
Vinnie Taylor - a former detective whose career imploded after she blew the whistle in a sex-trafficking scandal inside her own Homicide Unit and was brutally attacked - is trying to rebuild her life in the quiet town of Wills Harbor, Maryland. But when a local teenager vanishes and the only person who seems to care is the girl's best friend, Vinnie is drawn back into the kind of investigation she thought she'd left behind.
With "This Side of Gone", Saundra Mitchell manages a seamless leap from her previous young adult fiction works to adult crime fiction, delivering a dark, fast-paced mystery anchored by a fierce and flawed heroine. Vinnie is a terrific lead: smart, complicated, sometimes infuriating (seriously, holding on to evidence for days?), and utterly compelling. Her past still shadows every decision she makes, but it never overwhelms the present-day case, though it comes close a few times. I was hooked by her tenacity and dark humor, and while she clearly still has miles to go in her own recovery, she's a protagonist I'd happily follow through a long series.
The mystery itself is gripping, with Mitchell's plotting sharp and the rural setting adding atmosphere and tension, grounding the story in small-town secrets and social fault lines. What stands out most, though, is how "This Side of Gone" refuses to be just a procedural. Mitchell threads in thoughtful commentary on police corruption, class, sexuality, and the dangers of online exploitation without ever losing the story's momentum. It's as emotionally grounded as it is suspenseful.
A riveting debut with breathtaking twists and turns, "This Side of Gone" brings Vinnie Taylor to life as a multi-layered, deeply human investigator whose ghosts make her both vulnerable and formidable. The conclusion is satisfying yet wide open, perfectly setting the stage for what promises to be an excellent series. I, for one, can't wait for the next case.
Many thanks to William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks for the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"This Side of Gone" was published on January 6, 2026, and is available now.
January 15, 2026
This was great! The character development is great and I had a hard time putting this down! I was itching to know the ending and was immersed in the mystery. I would highly recommend this! Special Thank You to Saundra Mitchell, William Morrow and Netgalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2026
A contemporary noir that focuses on a former homicide cop who chose integrity over protecting the thin blue line.
Former Indianapolis detective Vinnie Tylor is a woman living in the shadows after a bout of grit and courage blew up her life. When she went undercover for internal affairs and blew the whistle on those in her unit who were using their authority to rape and traffic vulnerable women, they nearly beat her to death. Vinnie fled to Maryland and a quiet, small coastal town of Willis Harbor where she lives out in a cabin in the woods and self imposed isolation. Her attempt to find peace in retirement is shattered when a Hannah, a local high school girl, gives Vinnie a note on the back of a receipt that pleads for help in finding her best friend, Avery Adair, who went missing. Despite her misgivings, Vinnie takes on an investigative role and digs into Avery’s last known movements and dangerous online activity.
Let’s face it: Vinnie is damaged and has a lot of work to do in recovery from all that happened back in Indianapolis. She’s hesitant to trust anyone but has to in order to carry out her mission of bringing Avery home. She can’t solve this alone but fights against sharing any information even as she needs the local cops on her side since she’s no longer part of law enforcement. She’s definitely suffering post traumatic stress and often wobbles with making decisions. There’s quite a bit of social commentary on police corruption, gay relationships, dangers of the internet, and poverty. I liked the writing style even as I found myself somewhat impatient with Vinnie at times. The plot was generally a missing teenaged girl trope, but there were some surprises as the mysteries are revealed. This is the first in what is meant to be a new series, and I’m sure I’ll check out the next installment.
I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Lisa Flanagan, has a great voice for the personality of the damaged Vinnie without being melodramatic or overwrought. She also captures the accents and tone of the other characters and makes their roles sound unique as well. The production definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book and created an effective immersive atmospheric performance.
Former Indianapolis detective Vinnie Tylor is a woman living in the shadows after a bout of grit and courage blew up her life. When she went undercover for internal affairs and blew the whistle on those in her unit who were using their authority to rape and traffic vulnerable women, they nearly beat her to death. Vinnie fled to Maryland and a quiet, small coastal town of Willis Harbor where she lives out in a cabin in the woods and self imposed isolation. Her attempt to find peace in retirement is shattered when a Hannah, a local high school girl, gives Vinnie a note on the back of a receipt that pleads for help in finding her best friend, Avery Adair, who went missing. Despite her misgivings, Vinnie takes on an investigative role and digs into Avery’s last known movements and dangerous online activity.
Let’s face it: Vinnie is damaged and has a lot of work to do in recovery from all that happened back in Indianapolis. She’s hesitant to trust anyone but has to in order to carry out her mission of bringing Avery home. She can’t solve this alone but fights against sharing any information even as she needs the local cops on her side since she’s no longer part of law enforcement. She’s definitely suffering post traumatic stress and often wobbles with making decisions. There’s quite a bit of social commentary on police corruption, gay relationships, dangers of the internet, and poverty. I liked the writing style even as I found myself somewhat impatient with Vinnie at times. The plot was generally a missing teenaged girl trope, but there were some surprises as the mysteries are revealed. This is the first in what is meant to be a new series, and I’m sure I’ll check out the next installment.
I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Lisa Flanagan, has a great voice for the personality of the damaged Vinnie without being melodramatic or overwrought. She also captures the accents and tone of the other characters and makes their roles sound unique as well. The production definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book and created an effective immersive atmospheric performance.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
THIS SIDE OF GONE opens up with a former cop trying to stay under the radar, but soon becomes an utterly bingable missing girl mystery. Mitchell manages to give new life to the traditional investigative procedural with a diverse cast of characters and a plot that keeps the reader guessing until the last chapter.
What is so good about this book is that even though it is the first book in a series, it doesn’t read like one. Sure, we are introduced to several people who can and will most likely show up again. And, yes, the reader does get more information about Vinnie’s backstory, as well as seeing her develop some new relationships. However, the story is a solid crime novel. The way that Vinnie is sucked into investigating the disappearance of Avery Adair is wonderfully laid out. Then, when she starts to dive in further, down the rabbit hole she goes. There are twists, turns, shots fired, and secrets exposed. This one is so good!
THIS SIDE OF GONE is a perfect first book in this series. The author delivers the thrills and chills while still setting the stage for the future. Honestly, it was downright addictive. And with that ending, I need to find out what happens next.
Audiobook Note: Narrator, Lisa Flanagan, did a good job with this one. The pace was on point. The inflections and overall diction truly brought the story to life.
Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ + 1/2
Reviewer Disclaimer: I have been playing around with a hybrid reading method where I read and listen to the same book. The physical book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, but the audiobook was borrowed from my local library.
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
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✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
What is so good about this book is that even though it is the first book in a series, it doesn’t read like one. Sure, we are introduced to several people who can and will most likely show up again. And, yes, the reader does get more information about Vinnie’s backstory, as well as seeing her develop some new relationships. However, the story is a solid crime novel. The way that Vinnie is sucked into investigating the disappearance of Avery Adair is wonderfully laid out. Then, when she starts to dive in further, down the rabbit hole she goes. There are twists, turns, shots fired, and secrets exposed. This one is so good!
THIS SIDE OF GONE is a perfect first book in this series. The author delivers the thrills and chills while still setting the stage for the future. Honestly, it was downright addictive. And with that ending, I need to find out what happens next.
Audiobook Note: Narrator, Lisa Flanagan, did a good job with this one. The pace was on point. The inflections and overall diction truly brought the story to life.
Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ + 1/2
Reviewer Disclaimer: I have been playing around with a hybrid reading method where I read and listen to the same book. The physical book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, but the audiobook was borrowed from my local library.
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Follow the Art, Books, & Coffee:
Website | Instagram | Facebook Group
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Title: This Side by Gone
Series: A Vinnie Taylor Mystery
Author: Saundra Mitchell
Publisher: HarperAudio/Adult and William Marrow Books
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Lisa Flanagan
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: January 6, 2026
My Rating: 3- Stars
Pages; 384
Vinnie Taylor was a Homicide detective in fact she was a decorated detective. She left her twenty-five career in a scandal—working undercover to bust a sex trafficking ring in her own Homicide Unit.
Now as a PI, she likes Wills Harbor, Maryland.
Vinnie is persuaded to search for local teenager who has gone missing and nobody in town seems concerned besides the girl's best friend who seeks Vinnie’s. She feels connected to Avery Adair, a smart teen who grew up on the wrong side of town, just like Vinnie.
I checked reviews and mine is definitely way off compared to the others.
I thought the narrator did a great job in performing Vinnie.
Vinnie is an unhappy, mean foul mouth unlikeable character – making it difficult for me to get into this story. I get coming from the wrong side of tracks who works in a male dominate profession. I hung in there as I was hoping I would end up liking her or at least get beyond her personality and appreciate she work on the case Unfortunately that didn’t happen.
Want to thank NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult/William Marrow Books Perennial for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 6, 2026.
Series: A Vinnie Taylor Mystery
Author: Saundra Mitchell
Publisher: HarperAudio/Adult and William Marrow Books
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Lisa Flanagan
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: January 6, 2026
My Rating: 3- Stars
Pages; 384
Vinnie Taylor was a Homicide detective in fact she was a decorated detective. She left her twenty-five career in a scandal—working undercover to bust a sex trafficking ring in her own Homicide Unit.
Now as a PI, she likes Wills Harbor, Maryland.
Vinnie is persuaded to search for local teenager who has gone missing and nobody in town seems concerned besides the girl's best friend who seeks Vinnie’s. She feels connected to Avery Adair, a smart teen who grew up on the wrong side of town, just like Vinnie.
I checked reviews and mine is definitely way off compared to the others.
I thought the narrator did a great job in performing Vinnie.
Vinnie is an unhappy, mean foul mouth unlikeable character – making it difficult for me to get into this story. I get coming from the wrong side of tracks who works in a male dominate profession. I hung in there as I was hoping I would end up liking her or at least get beyond her personality and appreciate she work on the case Unfortunately that didn’t happen.
Want to thank NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult/William Marrow Books Perennial for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 6, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars.
This Side of Gone by Saundra Mitchell is a compelling mystery.
Former homicide detective Vanetta “Vinnie” Taylor lives a quiet life in the small town of Wills Harbor, MD. Despite leaving law enforcement, she cannot resist teenager Hannah Candlewood’s plea to look for her missing friend, Avery Adair. The Adair family is well known to the local police, and they do not seem to be searching for Avery. In spite of her many misgivings, Vinnie shares information with Nathan Rosier who works for the sheriff’s department.
Vinnie is smart, intuitive, and cannot walk away from her search for Avery. She is unsure whom to trust in Wills Harbor, and she is unable to trust her own instincts on occasion. Vinnie is also from the “wrong” side of the tracks and feels great empathy for Avery and her family. Although she frequently wants to give up on the case, Vinnie wants nothing more than to locate the missing girl.
This Side of Gone is a riveting mystery. Vinnie is multi-layered with a strong moral compass and relatable foibles. Her past haunts her throughout her search for Avery. The rural setting adds another layer of unease to the unfolding story. The storyline is well-developed and fast-paced. With breathtaking twists and turns, Saundra Mitchell brings this mystery to a conclusion that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.
This Side of Gone by Saundra Mitchell is a compelling mystery.
Former homicide detective Vanetta “Vinnie” Taylor lives a quiet life in the small town of Wills Harbor, MD. Despite leaving law enforcement, she cannot resist teenager Hannah Candlewood’s plea to look for her missing friend, Avery Adair. The Adair family is well known to the local police, and they do not seem to be searching for Avery. In spite of her many misgivings, Vinnie shares information with Nathan Rosier who works for the sheriff’s department.
Vinnie is smart, intuitive, and cannot walk away from her search for Avery. She is unsure whom to trust in Wills Harbor, and she is unable to trust her own instincts on occasion. Vinnie is also from the “wrong” side of the tracks and feels great empathy for Avery and her family. Although she frequently wants to give up on the case, Vinnie wants nothing more than to locate the missing girl.
This Side of Gone is a riveting mystery. Vinnie is multi-layered with a strong moral compass and relatable foibles. Her past haunts her throughout her search for Avery. The rural setting adds another layer of unease to the unfolding story. The storyline is well-developed and fast-paced. With breathtaking twists and turns, Saundra Mitchell brings this mystery to a conclusion that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A well paced and nicely twisty procedural about the search for a missing teen. Vinnie left the Indianapolis PD and settled in Maryland and she's not doing much of anything except healing. And then she rescues Hannah from a loathsome teen harassing her and Hannah asks for help finding Avery, her friend who has disappeared. Vinnie's no fool and she quickly realizes that teens lie, a lot, but also that something is very wrong. She sets out to find Avery and in doing so trolls through the underground of teen life. She's got understandable trust issues but feels a connection to Camila, a journalist, and Rosier, a cop who is equally committed to Avery. Vinnie's a great character and I liked that her back story spooled out slowly. This has topical threads and a surprise or two. If I have a quibble (and it's a really big one) it's that Mitchell has totally messed up the geography of Maryland. Fine if you want to invent a new county but so much else doesn't work (no way you'd from somewhere near Annapolis-I think-to Pennsylvania in 40 minutes by heading up I83 among other things.). That said, readers unfamiliar with the region won't have the issue and it doesn't take away at all from the plot. Good storytelling and characters who step off the page. And then there's Goober. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. A very good read that has an opening for a followup (which I'd very much welcome).
January 1, 2026
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗦
Vinnie Taylor is hiding from her past. Literally. Moving to a rental property in the middle of the forest in a town called Wills Harbor, Maryland, she’s hoping no one from her past comes knocking.
Once upon a time she was a top notch detective, and when a teenage girl from her new home town goes missing, she’s reluctantly pulled back into what she knows best: tracking down clues to arrest dangerous people.
But digging deeper only makes the hole you’re in harder to escape, and uncovering a world of online secrets and hidden identities will put Vinnie in harm’s way.
How much is she willing to risk?
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
This is a solid private investigator procedural.
I was into the small town vibe and suspicious of all the players, minor characters who were fully fleshed out and surprising.
Our missing girl, Avery, felt tragically real - trying to find a way out of shitty circumstances without compromising too much of herself without having access to the tools she needed.
Plus, the slow reveal of VInnie’s past is as delicious as it is gruesome and brutal.
And that ending. DAMN.
𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
Gimme some old fashioned Cagney & Lacey with the grit of Olivia Benson.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
If you like slow burn thrillers set in a small town full of secrets, and don’t mind a cliffhanger (not to the case but the series) I offer a resounding yes! I loved Vinnie’s character - she’s not warm and fuzzy but you can’t help but root for her.
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦
William Morrow sent me the galley which is due out January 26, 2026.
3.5 rounded up
Vinnie Taylor is hiding from her past. Literally. Moving to a rental property in the middle of the forest in a town called Wills Harbor, Maryland, she’s hoping no one from her past comes knocking.
Once upon a time she was a top notch detective, and when a teenage girl from her new home town goes missing, she’s reluctantly pulled back into what she knows best: tracking down clues to arrest dangerous people.
But digging deeper only makes the hole you’re in harder to escape, and uncovering a world of online secrets and hidden identities will put Vinnie in harm’s way.
How much is she willing to risk?
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
This is a solid private investigator procedural.
I was into the small town vibe and suspicious of all the players, minor characters who were fully fleshed out and surprising.
Our missing girl, Avery, felt tragically real - trying to find a way out of shitty circumstances without compromising too much of herself without having access to the tools she needed.
Plus, the slow reveal of VInnie’s past is as delicious as it is gruesome and brutal.
And that ending. DAMN.
𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
Gimme some old fashioned Cagney & Lacey with the grit of Olivia Benson.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
If you like slow burn thrillers set in a small town full of secrets, and don’t mind a cliffhanger (not to the case but the series) I offer a resounding yes! I loved Vinnie’s character - she’s not warm and fuzzy but you can’t help but root for her.
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦
William Morrow sent me the galley which is due out January 26, 2026.
3.5 rounded up
October 28, 2025
This Side of Gone is the first adult novel by Saundra Mitchell, an author whose previous books were targeted for younger readers. The book tells the story of Vinnie Taylor, a former police officer who seeks a new life away from her troubled past. Upon the request of the best friend, she ends up investigating the case of Avery Adair, a missing high school girl.
I found the This Side of Gone to be a fast-moving book. The case proved to be very interesting with surprises and fun twists. Between Avery coming from the wrong side of the tracks, several shady characters, and threats maybe related to the case, maybe not, I often read a few chapters in each sitting more than planned. The characters were well=developed and the rural setting enhanced the story.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to William Morrow and Goodreads for the copy provided. The above opinions are my own.
I found the This Side of Gone to be a fast-moving book. The case proved to be very interesting with surprises and fun twists. Between Avery coming from the wrong side of the tracks, several shady characters, and threats maybe related to the case, maybe not, I often read a few chapters in each sitting more than planned. The characters were well=developed and the rural setting enhanced the story.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to William Morrow and Goodreads for the copy provided. The above opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Vinnie is one of the characters you hate to love. She is flawed, foul mouthed, and does whatever is needed to get answers. Vinnie is escaping her former life as a homicide detective, seeking refuge she settles in the costal Maryland town of Wills Harbor. She inadvertently interrupts two teens arguing. Hannah slips her an ominus note. Not being able to resist the temptation of working a case, she begins investigating the missing person case of Avery Adair. Being from the wrong part of town, plus a family history of crime, the police have largely ignored the case with minimal effort put towards finding Avery.
This was an incredible story. There are so many layers to Vinnie. I cannot wait for the next installment. Very fast paced, small cliffhangers sprinkled throughout kept me engaged all the way.
This was an incredible story. There are so many layers to Vinnie. I cannot wait for the next installment. Very fast paced, small cliffhangers sprinkled throughout kept me engaged all the way.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Vinnie Taylor, an ex-homicide detective, now retired and trying to hide from her demons (and the fellow policemen who she helped put in prison for running a sex trafficking ring) is living in what she hopes is seclusion and isolation in a small Md town, hundreds of miles from her home of Indianapolis. Vinnie may no longer be a detective, but she still has the need and the skills to help others and to get justice for those in trouble. So, when she is approached by a teenaged girl to help find her missing friend her detective radar instantly goes off as she tries to understand what happened to Avery and why no one seems to be worried about her disappearance. This Side of Gone is a top-notch police procedural with a strong female lead who I definitely hope to see more of in future books. #harperaudio, #williammorrow, #netgalley
December 8, 2025
Ex homicide detective Vanetta Taylor (Vinnie) is trying to escape a brutal past by relocating to a small town in Maryland. But when a high school girl goes missing, and her best friend feels like the local police has given up on her, she enlists Vinnie to help.
What a great PI procedural debut. Vinnie is so easy to get attached to, and as she looks for a missing teenage girl you can’t help but root for her. The story sadly feels very current, as it deals with the dangers of online predators. This book is full of strong, scrappy yet kind and empathetic women, and I loved every second of it. I am already looking forward to book 2.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
What a great PI procedural debut. Vinnie is so easy to get attached to, and as she looks for a missing teenage girl you can’t help but root for her. The story sadly feels very current, as it deals with the dangers of online predators. This book is full of strong, scrappy yet kind and empathetic women, and I loved every second of it. I am already looking forward to book 2.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 10, 2025
This book hooked me from the start and kept me turning pages late into the night. It follows Vinnie, a battered former cop who heads to a quieter, rural town hoping for a fresh start. But the country isn’t as peaceful as she expected, and danger finds her fast. Vinnie’s snark, grit, and strong moral compass make her such an easy character to root for, and Mitchell’s writing genuinely made me laugh more than once.
The mystery is smartly structured, the pacing never drags, and the character development is strong all the way through. I was completely pulled in—and then hit with a cliffhanger that guarantees I’ll be picking up the next book. An impressive debut and a series I will continue to read.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!
The mystery is smartly structured, the pacing never drags, and the character development is strong all the way through. I was completely pulled in—and then hit with a cliffhanger that guarantees I’ll be picking up the next book. An impressive debut and a series I will continue to read.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely LOVED this!! I am not sure why.....landed at a perfect time for the perfect mindset.
Vinnie Taylor is one of new favorites in the fiction world! There is clearly going to be more of Vinnie in the future and I can't wait!
Vinnie retires from her cop job and that story slowly unravels. She retreats to a small town and cabin to regroup and figure out to what to do with herself. She is immediately sucked in to a missing persons case of a local teen. She oversteps some boundaries as she investigates yet makes friends along the way.
She is a strong character who has some things to figure out and more in this series will do exactly that!
YEAH! Thanks Netgalley for the audio ARC.
Vinnie Taylor is one of new favorites in the fiction world! There is clearly going to be more of Vinnie in the future and I can't wait!
Vinnie retires from her cop job and that story slowly unravels. She retreats to a small town and cabin to regroup and figure out to what to do with herself. She is immediately sucked in to a missing persons case of a local teen. She oversteps some boundaries as she investigates yet makes friends along the way.
She is a strong character who has some things to figure out and more in this series will do exactly that!
YEAH! Thanks Netgalley for the audio ARC.
December 25, 2025
This Side Is Gone by Saundra Mitchell kept me engaged from start to finish. I found it intriguing how invested Vinnie Taylor was in looking for the missing girl even though she was off the task force due to trauma she had faced but refused to just sit there when she was asked for help. That is the characteristics of a great police officer! The plot was full of surprises, I’ve been shocked the whole time while reading and did not see who the villain or culprit was because so many unexpected twist kept appearing. Readers who enjoy mystery, suspense, thriller, will definitely love this book. Thank goodness for the Goodreads giveaway, because winning this book was truly great!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2026
Vinnie Taylor has left behind a long career in law enforcement after exposing corruption in her own office. Needless to say, this did not make her popular and some of those involved would love to silence her for good. She tries to find some peace and quiet in Wills Harbor, Maryland. Instead, she lands herself right in the middle of a missing person investigation. It all starts with being passed a note from a local "Please help me. I think he killed Avery." She might not be a cop any more but she can't turn off the investigator part of herself. Now she has the benefit of not having to follow the book for every little step, though. Avery's family doesn't have the best reputation so not many people believe she is actually a victim of any crime. On her quest to find out the truth, Vinnie uncovers something more evil than she could imagine.
I found myself drawn into the story very quick and had to keep reading to see what happened. I guessed the outcome about halfway through the book but the twists and turns that got us to the end were great. I felt there were a few things thrown in that didn't add to the storyline and dampened part of my enjoyment. I read for enjoyment and an escape from reality, so some of the current events thrown into this just dampened part of my enjoyment. 3.75 out of 5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing a copy of this work for me to review. The opinions provided in this review are mine alone.
I found myself drawn into the story very quick and had to keep reading to see what happened. I guessed the outcome about halfway through the book but the twists and turns that got us to the end were great. I felt there were a few things thrown in that didn't add to the storyline and dampened part of my enjoyment. I read for enjoyment and an escape from reality, so some of the current events thrown into this just dampened part of my enjoyment. 3.75 out of 5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing a copy of this work for me to review. The opinions provided in this review are mine alone.
January 12, 2026
Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley for honest review.
Solid start to this series, and Vinnie Taylor is an interesting main character. I will say that this one often felt like I'd started a series on the second book- there is a lot that led Vinnie to where she is at the time readers meet her, and it felt like there was backstory I was already supposed to know. I thought the mystery in this one was very contemporary and solid, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Solid start to this series, and Vinnie Taylor is an interesting main character. I will say that this one often felt like I'd started a series on the second book- there is a lot that led Vinnie to where she is at the time readers meet her, and it felt like there was backstory I was already supposed to know. I thought the mystery in this one was very contemporary and solid, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
December 9, 2025
I enjoyed this book pretty much, at times it felt too long or overly detailed about things that didn't feel important. The main character, a former police officer who left the force, after turning in fellow officers and being beaten by cops to prevent her from testifying, moves to a new town and finds herself embroiled in a missing person case. A likeable, prickly main character, not sure who to trust, a possible romance with a reporter, she is someone we root for and care about.
January 8, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A young woman goes missing and former homicide detective, Vinnie Taylor, is persuaded by the missing woman's best friend to search for her.
I found this to be a well written mystery with relatable characters and a good plot. I am new to this author and really enjoyed the book. I could tell that the ending was building up to something big and it did not disappoint. Highly recommend.
A young woman goes missing and former homicide detective, Vinnie Taylor, is persuaded by the missing woman's best friend to search for her.
I found this to be a well written mystery with relatable characters and a good plot. I am new to this author and really enjoyed the book. I could tell that the ending was building up to something big and it did not disappoint. Highly recommend.
November 1, 2025
Such a fabulous debut! The mystery in This Side of Gone is creatively structured and supported by excellent character development. The story moves quickly and in a way that is hard to put down. Mitchell’s writing pulled me in and I didn’t want to let go. This is a series that could survive!
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a great read for me , I actually stopped reading a book that was on hold for months to finish this one, I thought the storyline was very well thought out, all the characters were significant and easy to imagine, This was my first book read from Saundra Mitchell and I will definitely read more .
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
THIS SIDE OF GONE - I found this an interesting and somewhat intriguing read with good characters and good story lines set a good pace. Vinnie suffered a lot, but still shone through the muck. Not a fan of the vulgar language, though. Source: Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers Inc. 4*
November 22, 2025
fast-moving and twisty mystery novel with some interesting and intensely unique vibes throughout. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
December 27, 2025
4.5 stars! This was a solid detective mystery and true page turner
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December 29, 2025Please read my review of this book in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, or on my website, when the book is released.
January 20, 2026
This was interesting and definitely a ride to the end, but it felt like a lot of time was spent on areas of the fmc that didn’t contribute to the book.
October 2, 2025
Thank you, Net Galley, for sharing this arc. What a ride. This book will have you on the edge of your seat and staying up all night to read to find out who did it. It follows Vinne a battered ex cop. Vinnie traverses to a new state to discover herself as well as a more rural environment. But everything in the country is not as safe as it seems. Vinnie has a snarky personality with a moral compass. Mitchell writing made me laugh. This book ends with a cliffhanger that lets me know I have to read the next book.
August 20, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
In This Side of Gone by Saundra Mitchell a young woman goes missing and former Homicide detective Vinnie Taylor is persuaded (by the missing woman's best friend) to search for her.
I found this book to be emotionally resonant and captivating - with rich character development, I will be watching for more books from this author, particularly entries in the Vinnie Taylor series.
5 stars from this pleased reviewer.
In This Side of Gone by Saundra Mitchell a young woman goes missing and former Homicide detective Vinnie Taylor is persuaded (by the missing woman's best friend) to search for her.
I found this book to be emotionally resonant and captivating - with rich character development, I will be watching for more books from this author, particularly entries in the Vinnie Taylor series.
5 stars from this pleased reviewer.
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