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No Prisoners
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jul 26A riveting neo-crime thriller in the vein of A Simple Plan, about a brilliant physicist searching for her missing husband, and the beleaguered detective in her way
Hannah Lyon is a brilliant, celebrated physicist, employed by a think tank outside of Albuquerque to question the very nature of how the world works.
And her husband is missing.
But not only is she struggling to cope with his sudden, baffling disappearance, no one believes her when she insists that Adam would never just leave. He was a loving husband, but more than that, a devoted father. He would never leave their young son Joe behind.
Detective Aloysius Hunt assures Hannah they’re doing everything they can to find Adam, but Hannah doesn’t trust him. Lou Hunt has done nothing but stonewall her at every turn.
With no help from the authorities, Hannah is on her own to find Adam and bring him home, but uncovering the truth means revealing dark secrets in her husband’s past, and her own. Secrets better left buried.
When Hannah notices a red SUV stalking her every move, she takes matters into her own hands and sets No Prisoners speeding towards its shocking conclusion.
Twisty, gritty and evocative, No Prisoners by Ellis Blake blends heart-pounding suspense with an emotionally resonant, razor-sharp exploration of grief, set against an unforgiving, icy landscape.
Hannah Lyon is a brilliant, celebrated physicist, employed by a think tank outside of Albuquerque to question the very nature of how the world works.
And her husband is missing.
But not only is she struggling to cope with his sudden, baffling disappearance, no one believes her when she insists that Adam would never just leave. He was a loving husband, but more than that, a devoted father. He would never leave their young son Joe behind.
Detective Aloysius Hunt assures Hannah they’re doing everything they can to find Adam, but Hannah doesn’t trust him. Lou Hunt has done nothing but stonewall her at every turn.
With no help from the authorities, Hannah is on her own to find Adam and bring him home, but uncovering the truth means revealing dark secrets in her husband’s past, and her own. Secrets better left buried.
When Hannah notices a red SUV stalking her every move, she takes matters into her own hands and sets No Prisoners speeding towards its shocking conclusion.
Twisty, gritty and evocative, No Prisoners by Ellis Blake blends heart-pounding suspense with an emotionally resonant, razor-sharp exploration of grief, set against an unforgiving, icy landscape.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 21, 2026
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31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 22, 2025
This is a most enjoyable gritty crime thriller with a strong leading female character. Hannah is determined to figure out the disappearance of her husband, deal with a frustrating detective, keep her son safe, and deal with a mystery person that appears to be following her.
There was lots of good suspense and buildup as the plot developed and it became fast paced and full of action the rest of the way through which really kept my focus! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There was lots of good suspense and buildup as the plot developed and it became fast paced and full of action the rest of the way through which really kept my focus! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 3, 2025
What a ride this was, definitely a lot of twists and turns.
The book started off a bit slow, but the overall pacing was great. The author does a fantastic job building tension, delivering on that tension, then giving you a brief moment to catch your breath before ratcheting things up again. I predicted a few of the curve balls, but there was enough going on here that seeing a few things coming early didn't diminish the overall experience. Definitely enjoyed this one, and I liked Detective Hunt a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the review copy!
The book started off a bit slow, but the overall pacing was great. The author does a fantastic job building tension, delivering on that tension, then giving you a brief moment to catch your breath before ratcheting things up again. I predicted a few of the curve balls, but there was enough going on here that seeing a few things coming early didn't diminish the overall experience. Definitely enjoyed this one, and I liked Detective Hunt a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the review copy!
November 10, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for this advance reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review. “No Prisoners” is scheduled for release on July 21, 2026.
I have a lot of issues with this novel from Ellis Blake, and I’ll get into the specifics shortly.
The setting is New Mexico, just outside Albuquerque in 2008. Hannah Lyon, a brilliant physicist with a 10-year-old son, Joe, works at the New Mexico Institute. Her husband, Adam, is missing. And not just recently missing, as in a few days ago, but 4-5 weeks ago. Just disappeared off the face of the earth. This is on top of her father who also disappeared into thin air just two years prior.
Working the case is Detective Aloysius (Lou) Hunt. The verb working might be misleading as it doesn’t seem Hunt has accomplished much since Adam’s disappearance. Hannah, who insists her husband would never just leave, is frustrated by the lack of progress Hunt has made. In fact, Hunt has his own heavy baggage that seems to bog down any possible headway he might make in the case.
Snippets of breadcrumbs are periodically dropped, including Adam’s possible involvement in drug trafficking, but the pieces of the puzzle don’t come together smoothly. By that I mean there are almost as many questions raised as answered. Like why is Hunt’s teenage daughter confined to a wheelchair (the subject matter is barely touched on)? Or how do you calculate the weight of a pickup truck from a security camera?
Perhaps most frustrating is the lack of interest or empathy that is generated for either Hannah or Hunt. Little backstory is provided, so we really don’t understand who they are or what makes them tick. For example, when Hunt regularly experiences shortness of breath and his wife asks if he took his medication, it’s hard to really care whether he took the meds or not. Similarly, a red SUV has begun following Hannah, and she becomes ruthless in her pursuit of finding what happened to her husband. But nothing happened for 4-5 weeks? Why now?
The ending is anticlimactic. But more than that, it leaves behind a lot of loose ends. And in a narrative that often feels convoluted, that’s a very unsettling feeling after trekking through 400 pages.
Just two stars for “No Prisoners.”
And you can read all of my reviews at my Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com) book blog.
I have a lot of issues with this novel from Ellis Blake, and I’ll get into the specifics shortly.
The setting is New Mexico, just outside Albuquerque in 2008. Hannah Lyon, a brilliant physicist with a 10-year-old son, Joe, works at the New Mexico Institute. Her husband, Adam, is missing. And not just recently missing, as in a few days ago, but 4-5 weeks ago. Just disappeared off the face of the earth. This is on top of her father who also disappeared into thin air just two years prior.
Working the case is Detective Aloysius (Lou) Hunt. The verb working might be misleading as it doesn’t seem Hunt has accomplished much since Adam’s disappearance. Hannah, who insists her husband would never just leave, is frustrated by the lack of progress Hunt has made. In fact, Hunt has his own heavy baggage that seems to bog down any possible headway he might make in the case.
Snippets of breadcrumbs are periodically dropped, including Adam’s possible involvement in drug trafficking, but the pieces of the puzzle don’t come together smoothly. By that I mean there are almost as many questions raised as answered. Like why is Hunt’s teenage daughter confined to a wheelchair (the subject matter is barely touched on)? Or how do you calculate the weight of a pickup truck from a security camera?
Perhaps most frustrating is the lack of interest or empathy that is generated for either Hannah or Hunt. Little backstory is provided, so we really don’t understand who they are or what makes them tick. For example, when Hunt regularly experiences shortness of breath and his wife asks if he took his medication, it’s hard to really care whether he took the meds or not. Similarly, a red SUV has begun following Hannah, and she becomes ruthless in her pursuit of finding what happened to her husband. But nothing happened for 4-5 weeks? Why now?
The ending is anticlimactic. But more than that, it leaves behind a lot of loose ends. And in a narrative that often feels convoluted, that’s a very unsettling feeling after trekking through 400 pages.
Just two stars for “No Prisoners.”
And you can read all of my reviews at my Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com) book blog.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was a solid 3.5 ⭐️ book for me. I will be honest, it started off a little sluggish and I struggled to stay in the zone trying to read. But ultimately, I was invested more in the plot as it started moving.
Hannah is a stoic mom to one son and her husband has been mysteriously missing for a bit. The weird thing? Her husband went missing in the same exact way her father once did so many years ago. Coincidence? Could be. Maybe not.
I liked that Hannah was resolute in solving her husband’s disappearance when she feels let down by the detective in charge of his case. She is a fierce mom who wants to protect her son at all costs. But I had a little beef with the ending. First- it was a little rushed and I felt needed some more wrapping up. I still had unanswered questions in the end. Also- I found it difficult to believe that Hannah and Hunt suddenly came to the conclusions they came to at the end based on little information (I don’t want to give spoilers, so I will just say that a few mysteries are figured out with virtually no hints given). Specifically, I found myself going back through chapters to see where the characters put some things together and really thought wow- hard to believe they just thought of that now based on virtually….nothing. Maybe it’ll make sense once you read because I probably sound odd here. I just don’t want to give anything away. Overall, I think this is a solid read.
Thank you to #netgalley and Putnam | G.P. Putnam’s sons for the ARC!
Hannah is a stoic mom to one son and her husband has been mysteriously missing for a bit. The weird thing? Her husband went missing in the same exact way her father once did so many years ago. Coincidence? Could be. Maybe not.
I liked that Hannah was resolute in solving her husband’s disappearance when she feels let down by the detective in charge of his case. She is a fierce mom who wants to protect her son at all costs. But I had a little beef with the ending. First- it was a little rushed and I felt needed some more wrapping up. I still had unanswered questions in the end. Also- I found it difficult to believe that Hannah and Hunt suddenly came to the conclusions they came to at the end based on little information (I don’t want to give spoilers, so I will just say that a few mysteries are figured out with virtually no hints given). Specifically, I found myself going back through chapters to see where the characters put some things together and really thought wow- hard to believe they just thought of that now based on virtually….nothing. Maybe it’ll make sense once you read because I probably sound odd here. I just don’t want to give anything away. Overall, I think this is a solid read.
Thank you to #netgalley and Putnam | G.P. Putnam’s sons for the ARC!
November 24, 2025
The first couple chapters were slow and disorienting for me. Some of the things left unsaid for the sake of mystery made it hard for me to connect with the story. However, once I hit 25% I was locked in and invested. I really liked the placement of the four parts. The right amount of reveal or suspense happened that kept my interest peaked and the pace moving. The icy and remote setting is perfect for the story, adding to the desperation and isolation of Hannah’s experience. Hannah is badass, tough and driven to find the truth while protecting her family. I’m curious about where it all came from though. Being able to wield a rifle confidently comes from experience and not just because a husband goes missing and suspect behavior from an SUV. Sometimes that part of Hannah’s character felt like a reach to me. But then again I wouldn’t doubt the strength or the lengths a mom would go to protect her family.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
No Prisoners starts quietly, almost deceptively so. Hannah’s husband has been missing for three weeks. There are no solid leads, no dramatic breakthroughs, and the detective assigned to the case has essentially stalled out. At first, it feels like a straightforward missing persons investigation ... sad, frustrating, but contained.
Then Hannah realizes someone is following her.
From that moment on, the story tightens its grip and refuses to let go. What unfolds is a steadily escalating thriller where nothing is quite what it seems, and every new detail subtly shifts your understanding of what’s really happening. This book doesn’t rely on shock for shock’s sake; instead, it builds tension brick by brick until you suddenly realize you’re reading way past your bedtime.
One of the strongest aspects of this novel is how precise it is. There’s nothing superfluous here. Every scene, every detail serves a purpose. Ellis Blake trusts the reader to pay attention, and that trust pays off in a twisty, deeply satisfying way. The moment I read that Hannah was being followed, I was all in. Sleep became optional. Regrets were minimal.
There is mention of domestic violence. It is not a recurring or graphic theme, but it is present and may be difficult for some readers.
As for critiques, this is one of those rare cases where I don’t have much to nitpick. The pacing is deliberate rather than flashy, which may not work for readers who want nonstop action right out of the gate, but for me, that slow, creeping tension is exactly what made the payoff so effective.
This is absolutely a book for readers who love psychological thrillers, unreliable situations, and stories where the unease grows quietly until it’s impossible to ignore. If you enjoy thrillers that reward close reading and leave you thinking long after you close the book, this one is for you.
Five out of five stars. I only hand out my highest praise when a book costs me sleep. No Prisoners definitely did.
A special thank you to Penguin Random House for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Then Hannah realizes someone is following her.
From that moment on, the story tightens its grip and refuses to let go. What unfolds is a steadily escalating thriller where nothing is quite what it seems, and every new detail subtly shifts your understanding of what’s really happening. This book doesn’t rely on shock for shock’s sake; instead, it builds tension brick by brick until you suddenly realize you’re reading way past your bedtime.
One of the strongest aspects of this novel is how precise it is. There’s nothing superfluous here. Every scene, every detail serves a purpose. Ellis Blake trusts the reader to pay attention, and that trust pays off in a twisty, deeply satisfying way. The moment I read that Hannah was being followed, I was all in. Sleep became optional. Regrets were minimal.
There is mention of domestic violence. It is not a recurring or graphic theme, but it is present and may be difficult for some readers.
As for critiques, this is one of those rare cases where I don’t have much to nitpick. The pacing is deliberate rather than flashy, which may not work for readers who want nonstop action right out of the gate, but for me, that slow, creeping tension is exactly what made the payoff so effective.
This is absolutely a book for readers who love psychological thrillers, unreliable situations, and stories where the unease grows quietly until it’s impossible to ignore. If you enjoy thrillers that reward close reading and leave you thinking long after you close the book, this one is for you.
Five out of five stars. I only hand out my highest praise when a book costs me sleep. No Prisoners definitely did.
A special thank you to Penguin Random House for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hannah was living a comfortable life. Her son has a serious problem with diabetes, but they have that under control. She has a good job in a research institution, and her husband she thinks, is happy doing construction since he gave up trying to solve an impossible math problem. Then her life falls apart, because her husband disappears and she is being followed. The police do not take her seriously--she cannot get a license number for the red suv that follows her, and maybe her husband just decided to leave like her father did. Hannah is a well written character, and the plot will keep you interested. There were a couple of issues left unfinished, but I would recommend to someone who likes a mystery. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc with no pressure for a positive review.
November 27, 2025
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Hannah’s husband is missing—- she said he would never leave her or their son. Shes beginning to feel the cops aren’t taking her serious. She sets out to find him herself. In the process she begins to notice a red car following her. Who could it be? What do they want? The mystery she uncovers involving her husband leads to more questions and danger the closer she gets to answers. What is he involved in? Where is he? Is he alive?
Hannah’s husband is missing—- she said he would never leave her or their son. Shes beginning to feel the cops aren’t taking her serious. She sets out to find him herself. In the process she begins to notice a red car following her. Who could it be? What do they want? The mystery she uncovers involving her husband leads to more questions and danger the closer she gets to answers. What is he involved in? Where is he? Is he alive?
February 11, 2026
This book started out really slow, the finishing touches wrapped up nicely, but the suspense in the beginning was lackluster. I loved the ending, however, I felt the author could have amped up the intensity of the thrill in the beginning a little more. I also love when people bring awareness to people who struggle with TD1 and how this was informal on the upkeep and knowledge from both the mother and son. Giving this full read a 3.6/5⭐️
November 21, 2025
I struggled to connect with both the characters and plot in NO PRISONERS. The plot felt jumbled, and Hannah and Detective Hunt were difficult to like. The plot was a bit twisty—which I usually like—but I wasn’t a fan overall of the ending.
🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟
🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟
December 10, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
The story had a good overall plot with great tension, although it started slowly. I found it confusing at times when the point of view changed without any indication. There were also parts in the beginning that felt dragged on, and the ending felt rushed, leaving gaps that I wish I had more information on throughout but overall a good and suspenseful read.
The story had a good overall plot with great tension, although it started slowly. I found it confusing at times when the point of view changed without any indication. There were also parts in the beginning that felt dragged on, and the ending felt rushed, leaving gaps that I wish I had more information on throughout but overall a good and suspenseful read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My favorite part of this book was the gradual buildup to the point that the book was SO intense. There was lots of action for sure. Ellis Blake did great with keeping my attention. I'm typically picky about the pacing, but I really enjoyed how Blake paced the book. I enjoyed the characters a lot, specifically Detective Hunt.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Arc.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The book has great twists and turns. It will keep you guessing and surprise you. This book was a good book to keep you guessing what happened and who could have done it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
November 30, 2025
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. This was an author that was new to me. It was an easy to read police thriller but it did seem to drag on a bit.
December 7, 2025
First book I have read by this author, and I was not let down. The dialogue was superb, very well written and technical. This was one of those novels I felt like I was part of, like I knew these people on a personal level and I would wonder what was happening when I wasn't reading , that's an ideal story for me, I truly enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews