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The Lost Highway #1
The Grapevine
From bestselling authors Alexandra Sokoloff and Craig Robertson, The Grapevine is a thrilling mystery featuring a quirky and relentless female protagonist, perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn and Karin Slaughter.
How far would you go to find your missing child?
Lou Gomersall’s going as far as it takes. And there’s no turning back.
When her nineteen-year-old daughter Abby disappears, Lou embarks on a reckless road trip in the family RV, scouring the highways and back roads of California. Through desert and mountains, into the woods, and to the ocean’s edge.
A year later, the police don’t believe Lou’s theory that four other missing young women have been taken by the same elusive predator. So, when another college sophomore vanishes, Lou jumps on the fresh trail, enlisting millennial #vanlifers, Gen Z entrepreneurs, boomer RVers, homeless sages, truck stop prostitutes and everyone in between in her do-or-die mission to rescue Abby …
Or kill the man who took her.
How far would you go to find your missing child?
Lou Gomersall’s going as far as it takes. And there’s no turning back.
When her nineteen-year-old daughter Abby disappears, Lou embarks on a reckless road trip in the family RV, scouring the highways and back roads of California. Through desert and mountains, into the woods, and to the ocean’s edge.
A year later, the police don’t believe Lou’s theory that four other missing young women have been taken by the same elusive predator. So, when another college sophomore vanishes, Lou jumps on the fresh trail, enlisting millennial #vanlifers, Gen Z entrepreneurs, boomer RVers, homeless sages, truck stop prostitutes and everyone in between in her do-or-die mission to rescue Abby …
Or kill the man who took her.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2026
About the author
Alexandra Sokoloff
38 books1,013 followersI'm the Thriller Award-winning, Bram Stoker and Anthony Award-nominated author/screenwriter of the bestselling, feminist HUNTRESS MOON thrillers & the new LOST HIGHWAY thrillers, co-written with my Scottish husband. The New York Times Book Review has called me "a daughter of Mary Shelley" and my novels "some of the most original and freshly unnerving work in the genre."
I'm a California native and a graduate of U.C. Berkeley, where I majored in theater and minored in everything that Berkeley has a reputation for. After college I moved to Los Angeles, where I made an interesting living doing novel adaptations and selling original thriller scripts to various Hollywood studios.
Now I (mostly!) live in Scotland with my Scottish crime-writing husband, Craig Robertson. We've just written a new mystery/thriller series together — and we're still married and haven't killed each other! THE GRAPEVINE will be out in 2026.
My HUNTRESS MOON series follows a haunted FBI agent on the hunt for a female serial killer, which means I can smash hated genre cliches and kill a lot of men who need to be killed.
In my paranormal and supernatural thrillers, I like to cross the possibility of the supernatural with very real life explanations for any strangeness going on, and base the action squarely in fact. THE UNSEEN is based on real paranormal research conducted at the Duke University parapsychology lab, and BOOK OF SHADOWS teams a Boston homicide detective and a practicing Salem witch in a race to solve what may be a Satanic killing. THE SPACE BETWEEN is an edgy supernatural YA about a troubled high school girl who is having dreams of a terrible massacre at her school, and becomes convinced that she can prevent the shooting if she can unravel the dream.
My non-fiction workbooks SCREENWRITING TRICKS FOR AUTHORS and WRITING LOVE, based on my internationally acclaimed workshops and blog, have helped writers of all levels all over the world finish their books and find agents and book deals. https://alexandrasokoloff.substack.com/
When I'm not writing I travel and I dance: jazz, ballet, salsa, Lindy, swing - I do it all, every chance I get.
Join the mailing list (and receive a FREE short story from the SHATTERING GLASS anthology!):
https://authoralexandrasokoloff.subst... -
Connect with me:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexandra.so...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandraso...
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alexsokoloff...
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@alexandrasok...
Substack: https://alexandrasokoloff.substack.com -
Read more about the books! http://alexandrasokoloff.com
I'm a California native and a graduate of U.C. Berkeley, where I majored in theater and minored in everything that Berkeley has a reputation for. After college I moved to Los Angeles, where I made an interesting living doing novel adaptations and selling original thriller scripts to various Hollywood studios.
Now I (mostly!) live in Scotland with my Scottish crime-writing husband, Craig Robertson. We've just written a new mystery/thriller series together — and we're still married and haven't killed each other! THE GRAPEVINE will be out in 2026.
My HUNTRESS MOON series follows a haunted FBI agent on the hunt for a female serial killer, which means I can smash hated genre cliches and kill a lot of men who need to be killed.
In my paranormal and supernatural thrillers, I like to cross the possibility of the supernatural with very real life explanations for any strangeness going on, and base the action squarely in fact. THE UNSEEN is based on real paranormal research conducted at the Duke University parapsychology lab, and BOOK OF SHADOWS teams a Boston homicide detective and a practicing Salem witch in a race to solve what may be a Satanic killing. THE SPACE BETWEEN is an edgy supernatural YA about a troubled high school girl who is having dreams of a terrible massacre at her school, and becomes convinced that she can prevent the shooting if she can unravel the dream.
My non-fiction workbooks SCREENWRITING TRICKS FOR AUTHORS and WRITING LOVE, based on my internationally acclaimed workshops and blog, have helped writers of all levels all over the world finish their books and find agents and book deals. https://alexandrasokoloff.substack.com/
When I'm not writing I travel and I dance: jazz, ballet, salsa, Lindy, swing - I do it all, every chance I get.
Join the mailing list (and receive a FREE short story from the SHATTERING GLASS anthology!):
https://authoralexandrasokoloff.subst... -
Connect with me:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexandra.so...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandraso...
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alexsokoloff...
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@alexandrasok...
Substack: https://alexandrasokoloff.substack.com -
Read more about the books! http://alexandrasokoloff.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
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10/10!!!!!
The Grapevine is currently the best thriller I have read this year and I'm blown away by it. I have recently been in a thriller slump and The Grapevine changed that! I couldn't put it down once I started and finished within two days!
This is for lovers of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri or Flight Plan (maybe True Detective on the Jodie Foster kick). I can totally see Frances McDormand or Jodie Foster as Lou.
There were so many elements of this book that were executed perfectly. I think one of the best parts of the book was Lou's character. Although not much occurred in the way of her own character arc, the way The Grapevine was written had me utterly enthralled and invested in Lou. I think despite Lou's unconventional and unauthorized actions to find her daughter, she never once came across as insufferable or annoying. The ENTIRETY of the book, I was wholeheartedly rooting for her success in finding Abby and honestly so proud of her brash and brazen actions. I don't necessarily need to love the protagonist to enjoy the book, but it absolutely makes the reading experience sweeter. It's easy for most people (especially women) to relate to a mother in search of her child, and the unending determination to only cease upon finding her. So even if (hopefully) most of us will never be in a similar experience, it is easy to emphasize and sympathize with Lou.
The pacing throughout the book was incredible. Not once did tension let up; the story kept moving at a quick pace that kept me on my toes but also not overly stressed. I loved all of the twists and turns of the investigation. When I thought I had things figured out, I didn't and was taken on another surprising turn. I also thought the elements of the investigation were well thought out but not overly obvious. None of the big plot twists or breaks in the case were out of left field where it verges on the edge of unbelievable, but I also really had no idea where the story would go.
Seriously, a 10/10 thriller. I have no criticisms.
The Grapevine is currently the best thriller I have read this year and I'm blown away by it. I have recently been in a thriller slump and The Grapevine changed that! I couldn't put it down once I started and finished within two days!
This is for lovers of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri or Flight Plan (maybe True Detective on the Jodie Foster kick). I can totally see Frances McDormand or Jodie Foster as Lou.
There were so many elements of this book that were executed perfectly. I think one of the best parts of the book was Lou's character. Although not much occurred in the way of her own character arc, the way The Grapevine was written had me utterly enthralled and invested in Lou. I think despite Lou's unconventional and unauthorized actions to find her daughter, she never once came across as insufferable or annoying. The ENTIRETY of the book, I was wholeheartedly rooting for her success in finding Abby and honestly so proud of her brash and brazen actions. I don't necessarily need to love the protagonist to enjoy the book, but it absolutely makes the reading experience sweeter. It's easy for most people (especially women) to relate to a mother in search of her child, and the unending determination to only cease upon finding her. So even if (hopefully) most of us will never be in a similar experience, it is easy to emphasize and sympathize with Lou.
The pacing throughout the book was incredible. Not once did tension let up; the story kept moving at a quick pace that kept me on my toes but also not overly stressed. I loved all of the twists and turns of the investigation. When I thought I had things figured out, I didn't and was taken on another surprising turn. I also thought the elements of the investigation were well thought out but not overly obvious. None of the big plot twists or breaks in the case were out of left field where it verges on the edge of unbelievable, but I also really had no idea where the story would go.
Seriously, a 10/10 thriller. I have no criticisms.
August 3, 2026
The Grapevine is an adventurous, emotional suspense story that follows a mother's desperate search for her missing daughter.
Lou Gomersall is going to do whatever it takes to find her 19-year-old daughter, Abby. A free spirit who may also have been battling a dive into depression, Abby goes missing after walking away from her life to find herself in the California foothills. When she doesn't return or answer any calls, Lou begins her own investigation. Taking to the road in the family RV, Lou finds out that there are four other missing women with stories strikingly similiar to Abby's. Determined that the cases must be linked, Lou starts a statewide crusade across California to find the truth. Along the way, she encounters a host of quirky (and some nefarious!) characters: truck stop sex workers, vagabond hippies, frat boys, traveling retirees and a contingent of #vanlife devotees.
This is not a fast paced thriller. The Grapevine is a very character-driven, slowburn thriller that has a gritty, detective noir feel to it. I can easily imagine this playing out as a season of True Detective. Lou is kind of an antihero but I couldn't help but admire her devotion to her daughter. I don't know if the authors, a husband and wife team, plan to continue with the character of Lou but I think she could absolutely carry an entire series.
This is a good pick for people who like character driven books, flawed protagonists, road trip vibes, detective noir and thrillers where average people take the law into their own hands. 3.75 stars rounded up
Lou Gomersall is going to do whatever it takes to find her 19-year-old daughter, Abby. A free spirit who may also have been battling a dive into depression, Abby goes missing after walking away from her life to find herself in the California foothills. When she doesn't return or answer any calls, Lou begins her own investigation. Taking to the road in the family RV, Lou finds out that there are four other missing women with stories strikingly similiar to Abby's. Determined that the cases must be linked, Lou starts a statewide crusade across California to find the truth. Along the way, she encounters a host of quirky (and some nefarious!) characters: truck stop sex workers, vagabond hippies, frat boys, traveling retirees and a contingent of #vanlife devotees.
This is not a fast paced thriller. The Grapevine is a very character-driven, slowburn thriller that has a gritty, detective noir feel to it. I can easily imagine this playing out as a season of True Detective. Lou is kind of an antihero but I couldn't help but admire her devotion to her daughter. I don't know if the authors, a husband and wife team, plan to continue with the character of Lou but I think she could absolutely carry an entire series.
This is a good pick for people who like character driven books, flawed protagonists, road trip vibes, detective noir and thrillers where average people take the law into their own hands. 3.75 stars rounded up
July 20, 2026
The Grapevine was a well-written highly engaging book that was loaded with suspense.
Lou Gomersall's 19 year old daughter disappeared while she was taking a road trip in the California hills not far from her house. With no clues as to her daughter Abby's whereabouts, Lou (short for Louise) drove her trusty RV for hundreds and hundreds of miles searching small towns, colleges, festivals, parks, camping sites and everything else she can think of looking for clues as to where Abby might be. She works with police on occasion but they cannot dissuade her from continuing her search.
She interviews hundreds of people including many young women with a profile similar to Abby's. When another young woman disappears, Lou immerses herself in the search hoping to both help and perhaps find clues as to Abby's disappearance. She finds that a very persistent young man has been trying to pick up young women whether they seem interested or not. As it turns out, this man has been seen in a variety of places where young women have disappeared so Lou, with the help of several of these women, pulls together a sketch of his face. She turns that sketch into a poster asking for help in finding him.
Ultimately word reaches her that he has been spotted in a nearby college town so Lou jumps into her RV and takes off after him. Unbeknownst to Lou, a recently vanished young woman's relatives also pursue this man and they find him.
I read in bed before I go to sleep for the night and The Grapevine had me looking forward to that time more than is customary. In fact, on a couple of occasions, I actually went to bed a little earlier than normal so I could get at the book. The authors (there were two) did an excellent job of developing several of the characters. They also created an exciting story line which kept me very interested throughout the book.
Additionally, while reading this book one could not help but think about the vulnerability of women who are on their own, not just as they travel, but also just visiting a bar for a drink or a restaurant for a meal. Since I've been a man my whole life, I was never concerned as I traveled throughout the country and the world taking minimal precaution. Clearly women face different issues when they are on their own.
adios
Lou Gomersall's 19 year old daughter disappeared while she was taking a road trip in the California hills not far from her house. With no clues as to her daughter Abby's whereabouts, Lou (short for Louise) drove her trusty RV for hundreds and hundreds of miles searching small towns, colleges, festivals, parks, camping sites and everything else she can think of looking for clues as to where Abby might be. She works with police on occasion but they cannot dissuade her from continuing her search.
She interviews hundreds of people including many young women with a profile similar to Abby's. When another young woman disappears, Lou immerses herself in the search hoping to both help and perhaps find clues as to Abby's disappearance. She finds that a very persistent young man has been trying to pick up young women whether they seem interested or not. As it turns out, this man has been seen in a variety of places where young women have disappeared so Lou, with the help of several of these women, pulls together a sketch of his face. She turns that sketch into a poster asking for help in finding him.
Ultimately word reaches her that he has been spotted in a nearby college town so Lou jumps into her RV and takes off after him. Unbeknownst to Lou, a recently vanished young woman's relatives also pursue this man and they find him.
I read in bed before I go to sleep for the night and The Grapevine had me looking forward to that time more than is customary. In fact, on a couple of occasions, I actually went to bed a little earlier than normal so I could get at the book. The authors (there were two) did an excellent job of developing several of the characters. They also created an exciting story line which kept me very interested throughout the book.
Additionally, while reading this book one could not help but think about the vulnerability of women who are on their own, not just as they travel, but also just visiting a bar for a drink or a restaurant for a meal. Since I've been a man my whole life, I was never concerned as I traveled throughout the country and the world taking minimal precaution. Clearly women face different issues when they are on their own.
adios
June 3, 2026
Lou’s daughter, Abby, vanished a year ago. Leaving her husband, Brian, behind Lou sets off on a road trip in ‘Lady Luck’, her campervan, travelling to where other girls have gone missing. She’s desperate to find Abby and/or discover what has happened to her.
This is a fast paced and intense rollercoaster of a thriller. Lou comes across as a very determined and resilient woman on a mission. I also liked Ethan, the budding reporter, who joins her on her search. The depiction of campervan life is described wonderfully, so much so I felt as if I’d joined Lou and Ethan in ‘Lady Luck’ on their quest for the truth. I was fascinated by the idea of the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ festival - I wouldn't mind a visit myself and having a chat with the Cheshire cat. 😸 it sounded magical! To sum it up it’s an edge of your seat type of mystery, a page turner and a very enjoyable, entertaining read.
This is a fast paced and intense rollercoaster of a thriller. Lou comes across as a very determined and resilient woman on a mission. I also liked Ethan, the budding reporter, who joins her on her search. The depiction of campervan life is described wonderfully, so much so I felt as if I’d joined Lou and Ethan in ‘Lady Luck’ on their quest for the truth. I was fascinated by the idea of the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ festival - I wouldn't mind a visit myself and having a chat with the Cheshire cat. 😸 it sounded magical! To sum it up it’s an edge of your seat type of mystery, a page turner and a very enjoyable, entertaining read.
July 7, 2026
What a terrific thriller this was!
You've got a mother with a mission, a possible serial killer, and a road trip built on longing and vengeance. What more can you want?
I adored Lou. I was hoping against hope that she'd find some sort of closure. Also, as a mom of a daughter about to head out to college in the fall, I felt what she was going through! As I was reading this, I wanted to hug my kiddo and just keep her home and safe.
This was book one in the series and I can't wait for book two to be available. I'm definitely in for the ride on this one. (Also, Ethan is kind of adorable.)
You've got a mother with a mission, a possible serial killer, and a road trip built on longing and vengeance. What more can you want?
I adored Lou. I was hoping against hope that she'd find some sort of closure. Also, as a mom of a daughter about to head out to college in the fall, I felt what she was going through! As I was reading this, I wanted to hug my kiddo and just keep her home and safe.
This was book one in the series and I can't wait for book two to be available. I'm definitely in for the ride on this one. (Also, Ethan is kind of adorable.)
June 19, 2026
Continuing my trend of reading books with moms who will do anything for their kids, we go on an interesting journey. Lou's daughter went missing a year ago, and Lou decides to leave her hubby at home, take the RV out, and go on a road trip looking for answers to what happened to her daughter. Along the way, she discovers other missing women, gets stalked via the phone, and meets a young journalist who jumps on her bandwagon and goes on a journey with Lou. Lou winds up getting herself into some precarious situations and bites off a bit more than she can chew. Upsetting police, getting calls from the bad guy, and being the hope for women she meets along the way. This story is non-stop and very easy to read/listen to. Plummer is a great narrator, though sometimes I feel like I'm in a weird Virgin River world. Anyway, this does end abruptly, not when you expect it to. This being a series, the authors do leave it on a heck of a cliffhanger. I love all the characters and how fierce a mother Lou is. She is not willing to give up even if it is just to find a body, but she still has hope her daughter is alive somewhere. She picks up momentum and attention with her search, and it gets intense sometimes. Plus, we get to see an Alice in Wonderland festival, which is such an interesting concept, and I would imagine that would be a wild ride by itself.
October 6, 2026
Great read! I did not see the twist at the end coming!
September 18, 2026
📚🍇 Book Review: The Grapevine by Craig Robertson & Alexandria Sokoloff 🍇📚
OMG! 😱 This was such an amazing change of pace for my book club! 📖✨ I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going in, but I was hooked by the mystery, the story, and especially that ending! 👀🤯
I really loved the storyline involving a mother desperately trying to find her daughter and get justice. 💔🔎 Her determination, persistence, and refusal to give up made her such a compelling character. Watching the pieces slowly come together kept me guessing! 🧩🕵️♀️
There were twists, secrets, family drama, and plenty to talk about! 😳🍷📚 And that ending?! Let’s just say… my book club is going to have THOUGHTS! 😂
Definitely a great pick when you want something a little different from your usual book-club read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🍇 Book Club Questions 🍇
🔎 What did you think of the mystery? Were you able to figure out what was happening before the characters did?
👩👧 How did you feel about the mother’s determination to find her daughter and seek justice? Would you have made the same choices?
🧩 Which character did you trust the most—and which character did you question?
🤯 What was your reaction to the ending? Did it surprise you?
💭 How did the secrets and lies throughout the story affect the characters and their relationships?
⚖️ The story explores the idea of justice. What does “justice” mean to the different characters?
🍇 Why do you think the authors chose the title The Grapevine? What did the title mean to you after finishing the book?
📚 Was this a good change of pace for a book club? Would you recommend it to your group?
OMG! 😱 This was such an amazing change of pace for my book club! 📖✨ I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going in, but I was hooked by the mystery, the story, and especially that ending! 👀🤯
I really loved the storyline involving a mother desperately trying to find her daughter and get justice. 💔🔎 Her determination, persistence, and refusal to give up made her such a compelling character. Watching the pieces slowly come together kept me guessing! 🧩🕵️♀️
There were twists, secrets, family drama, and plenty to talk about! 😳🍷📚 And that ending?! Let’s just say… my book club is going to have THOUGHTS! 😂
Definitely a great pick when you want something a little different from your usual book-club read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🍇 Book Club Questions 🍇
🔎 What did you think of the mystery? Were you able to figure out what was happening before the characters did?
👩👧 How did you feel about the mother’s determination to find her daughter and seek justice? Would you have made the same choices?
🧩 Which character did you trust the most—and which character did you question?
🤯 What was your reaction to the ending? Did it surprise you?
💭 How did the secrets and lies throughout the story affect the characters and their relationships?
⚖️ The story explores the idea of justice. What does “justice” mean to the different characters?
🍇 Why do you think the authors chose the title The Grapevine? What did the title mean to you after finishing the book?
📚 Was this a good change of pace for a book club? Would you recommend it to your group?
July 14, 2026
I picked this book up during my reading slump and I am so glad I did. I actually saw it being promoted here on Good Reads on one of the banners. Thank you Good Reads! Here is the set up. Lou is married to Brian and they have a college aged daughter, Abby. They live in California. When Abby is suddenly missing and the police offer little help Lou takes off in the family RV and begins her quest to find her daughter. In her search she finds many girls have gone missing, similar in age to Abby and ties their disappearances to a young guy who stalks women at bars or clubs. All the girls are similiar in age to Abby. Lou is able to come up with a composite drawing and as she travels up and down the freeway in California looking for someone who might recognize this guy more girls become targets. I won't give away any more other than to say Lou is one strong woman. You can't help but feel her pain and understand the length a mother will go through to find her daughter. Out there, by herself, she deals with truckers, vagrants, prostitutes, bartenders, and local law enforcement. All in an attempt to locate Abby. This book is a winner because you felt you were along for the ride. Four stars!
July 21, 2026
This was such an engaging road-trip thriller. I thought I had parts of the mystery figured out, but the twists kept proving me wrong.
Lou was the reason this book worked for me. She refused to accept dead ends or dismissive answers, and I loved the grit she showed every time someone tried to convince her to stop looking. Her determination never felt reckless, it came from how deeply she cared, not only for Abby but for every family still searching for someone they loved.
The mystery kept me invested, but Lou is what I'll remember most. If you enjoy thrillers driven by character as much as suspense, this is definitely worth picking up.
Lou was the reason this book worked for me. She refused to accept dead ends or dismissive answers, and I loved the grit she showed every time someone tried to convince her to stop looking. Her determination never felt reckless, it came from how deeply she cared, not only for Abby but for every family still searching for someone they loved.
The mystery kept me invested, but Lou is what I'll remember most. If you enjoy thrillers driven by character as much as suspense, this is definitely worth picking up.
August 12, 2026
I received this book as an ALC from NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing in return for an honest review.
I loved this book. It has literally everything I could want. A sassy FMC who likes to tell off the bad guys, Lady Luck, a van that’s a character in her own right - missing women, a little female rage tossed in and an ending that made me curse out loud a little.
Honestly, there was a character in the story that said it best. If I was missing, I’d hope my mom would look for me the way Lou does.
The only issue I had was trying to keep the women’s names and stories straight - 100% that could be on me as I’m usually cleaning or whatnot while listening.
Highly recommend if you are looking for a good thriller and extra highly recommend listening to - the narration is top tier.
I loved this book. It has literally everything I could want. A sassy FMC who likes to tell off the bad guys, Lady Luck, a van that’s a character in her own right - missing women, a little female rage tossed in and an ending that made me curse out loud a little.
Honestly, there was a character in the story that said it best. If I was missing, I’d hope my mom would look for me the way Lou does.
The only issue I had was trying to keep the women’s names and stories straight - 100% that could be on me as I’m usually cleaning or whatnot while listening.
Highly recommend if you are looking for a good thriller and extra highly recommend listening to - the narration is top tier.
July 19, 2026
I was a fan of Sokoloff and her Moon series but hadn’t read anything by Robertson now I am a fan of the two together. The book pulls you in from the beginning and stays with you until the end. The characters show how the disappearance of young people affects people in different ways. Lou is determined to find Abby even without the support of her husband and the other families she meets along the way run the gamut of giving up hope to not being able to move on with life. It is a tragic tale but filled with hope and a satisfying ending.
Read
July 7, 2026A slow burn with an unexpected ending that left me wanting more.
Okay, now that I know this is going to be a series, I can forgive the ending, but let’s back up a bit.
Lou will stop at nothing to find out what happened to her daughter, even if it means discovering the worst. She goes full detective mode, traveling around in her RV and pestering the police, who don’t believe the murders and disappearances of other young girls are connected.
I listened to the audiobook, and Thérèse Plummer was great. She was perfect for this character.
As Lou travels across California, we get fun facts sprinkled in about the places she visits, and I loved that. It really helped paint a picture of the scenery. Honestly, I could see this making a great TV series.
Between the writing style and the narration, I was invested throughout. I did not see the ending coming at all, but it also felt abrupt and left me with a lot of questions. Knowing there’s another book coming makes me much more okay with that.
Overall, I can definitely recommend this one, and I’m already looking forward to the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced listening copy.
Okay, now that I know this is going to be a series, I can forgive the ending, but let’s back up a bit.
Lou will stop at nothing to find out what happened to her daughter, even if it means discovering the worst. She goes full detective mode, traveling around in her RV and pestering the police, who don’t believe the murders and disappearances of other young girls are connected.
I listened to the audiobook, and Thérèse Plummer was great. She was perfect for this character.
As Lou travels across California, we get fun facts sprinkled in about the places she visits, and I loved that. It really helped paint a picture of the scenery. Honestly, I could see this making a great TV series.
Between the writing style and the narration, I was invested throughout. I did not see the ending coming at all, but it also felt abrupt and left me with a lot of questions. Knowing there’s another book coming makes me much more okay with that.
Overall, I can definitely recommend this one, and I’m already looking forward to the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced listening copy.
July 8, 2026
4.5 🌟 - ALC 🎧
Thank you NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, Alexandra Sokoloff & Craig Robertson for the opporunity to listen and review this audiobook.
This book would make a great movie adaptation! I pictured the FMC as Jodie Foster the whole time. I dont know if it was the narrator or the Determined Mother energy I got from this book that kind of mirrored JF in the movie "Flight Plan." Either way, this book was 👌🏼.
The narrator conveyed and expressed the characters' emotions well, and I found it easy to discern between them. I also felt the adrenaline the FMC felt when she was on to something, the sadness/grief from losing her daughter and the tenacity to find her!
If you enjoy a thriller with missing girls, a mother taking the case into her own hands, a taunting psychopath, and an ending that has you asking more questions; The Grapevine should be on your TBR!
Thank you NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, Alexandra Sokoloff & Craig Robertson for the opporunity to listen and review this audiobook.
This book would make a great movie adaptation! I pictured the FMC as Jodie Foster the whole time. I dont know if it was the narrator or the Determined Mother energy I got from this book that kind of mirrored JF in the movie "Flight Plan." Either way, this book was 👌🏼.
The narrator conveyed and expressed the characters' emotions well, and I found it easy to discern between them. I also felt the adrenaline the FMC felt when she was on to something, the sadness/grief from losing her daughter and the tenacity to find her!
If you enjoy a thriller with missing girls, a mother taking the case into her own hands, a taunting psychopath, and an ending that has you asking more questions; The Grapevine should be on your TBR!
July 14, 2026
I loved this! Lou was a fantastic character, the no-nonsense mom who would do anything to find out what happened to her missing daughter. The back roads and deserts of California were atmospheric and a perfect backdrop to this story. It was a nice mixture of tension and suspense with poignancy and the love a mother has for her daughter.
June 29, 2026
Your heart breaks as this one opens and you find out about Lou and her daughter. I feel for her, really love how she is doing whatever it takes to find her daughter and along the way other missing women. It's interesting the network she builds along the way and what she finds out, things the police haven't. But even as she's searching, there is an evil person that seems to be stalking her and it feels related to her daughter. The things this person says are horrible and just pick at all the bad things Lou tries not to think about.
It's interesting how things ended, how Lou was instrumental in finding the bad guy and what she found out about her daughter.
It's interesting how things ended, how Lou was instrumental in finding the bad guy and what she found out about her daughter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2026
I gave The Grapevine 4 out of 5 stars. This was an intense and emotionally charged thriller that kept me invested from beginning to end. Lou's determination to find her missing daughter, Abby, made for a compelling protagonist, and her relentless journey across California in an RV added a unique and memorable backdrop to the story.
The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with plenty of suspense and unexpected twists that kept me guessing. I especially enjoyed the way the authors incorporated an eclectic cast of characters from different walks of life who help Lou in her search, making the story feel rich and authentic.
The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with plenty of suspense and unexpected twists that kept me guessing. I especially enjoyed the way the authors incorporated an eclectic cast of characters from different walks of life who help Lou in her search, making the story feel rich and authentic.
June 23, 2026
The Grapevine by Alexandra Sokoloff and Craig Robertson is an excellent start to a new series that I thoroughly enjoyed.
A year after her daughter Abby disappears, Lou refuses to give up hope. Convinced there’s a link to other missing girls, she takes matters into her own hands. Along the way she teams up with aspiring journalist Ethan, setting off in her camper van, Lady Luck, determined to uncover the truth.
I loved Lou’s determination and the developing relationship between her and Ethan. The mystery kept me engaged throughout, and I found myself eager to discover what had happened to Abby.
A gripping start to the series, and I can’t wait to see where Lou and Ethan’s journey takes them next.
A year after her daughter Abby disappears, Lou refuses to give up hope. Convinced there’s a link to other missing girls, she takes matters into her own hands. Along the way she teams up with aspiring journalist Ethan, setting off in her camper van, Lady Luck, determined to uncover the truth.
I loved Lou’s determination and the developing relationship between her and Ethan. The mystery kept me engaged throughout, and I found myself eager to discover what had happened to Abby.
A gripping start to the series, and I can’t wait to see where Lou and Ethan’s journey takes them next.
June 26, 2026
This was such a gripping emotional story that had me invested from the beginning to end. Reads like an investigative detective story if the detective was a mom who drives an RV tracking a serial killer who’s been abducting girls along the I-5 highway in California. Her daughter has been missing for a year now and Lou is desperate to find out what happened to her. This was a captivating read for me!
July 30, 2026
3.5 for me. The ending?! We deserved so much more! There were times Lou really annoyed me, and other times I was really rooting for her. Still a great mystery and I couldn’t put it down - but the ending was bad!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2026
Husband and wife writing duo Sokoloff and Robertson are well respected and best selling authors in their own right. I've often wondered if they would ever collaborate on a book, and they have, and here it is. It's an absolute cracker too, I read this whilst on holiday in Greece an was absolutely enthralled by it throughout.
For me, the fact that the story is driven by a mother's determination makes this so compelling. Tense, emotional and utterly addictive, I was grabbed from the first chapter.
Lou Gomersall has spent a year searching for her missing daughter, Abby. While everyone around her seems ready to accept defeat, Lou simply keeps going. Travelling across California in an RV, following every lead and chasing every possibility, she is a woman fuelled by hope, grief and sheer stubbornness. I loved her from the very start.
Lou is not always easy to like, and for me, that is exactly what makes her such a fascinating character. Her desperation pushes her into risky situations and she makes some shady decisions, but every action feels completely real. I found myself urging her on, willing her to find the answers that so many others had given up searching for.
The setting is brilliantly used. The highways, campgrounds and forgotten corners of California become characters in their own right. The community of vanlifers, travellers and drifters adds colour and depth to the story. I almost felt a sense of movement throughout the novel, as though we are sitting in the passenger seat, travelling alongside her.
The plotting is superb. The mystery unfolds at exactly the right pace, with clues scattered carefully enough to keep the reader guessing.
What impressed me most was the emotion at the centre of the story. Underneath the suspense and danger there is a powerful exploration of loss, hope and the extraordinary lengths a parent will go to for their child. It gives the novel real depth and makes Lou's journey impossible to forget.
The Grapevine is a thrilling start to what promises to be an outstanding series. Alexandra Sokoloff and Craig Robertson have created a memorable heroine and a story packed with tension, emotion and surprises. I raced through it and was genuinely disappointed when I reached the final page.
Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys intelligent, character-driven thrillers with a huge heart and plenty of twists along the way.
For me, the fact that the story is driven by a mother's determination makes this so compelling. Tense, emotional and utterly addictive, I was grabbed from the first chapter.
Lou Gomersall has spent a year searching for her missing daughter, Abby. While everyone around her seems ready to accept defeat, Lou simply keeps going. Travelling across California in an RV, following every lead and chasing every possibility, she is a woman fuelled by hope, grief and sheer stubbornness. I loved her from the very start.
Lou is not always easy to like, and for me, that is exactly what makes her such a fascinating character. Her desperation pushes her into risky situations and she makes some shady decisions, but every action feels completely real. I found myself urging her on, willing her to find the answers that so many others had given up searching for.
The setting is brilliantly used. The highways, campgrounds and forgotten corners of California become characters in their own right. The community of vanlifers, travellers and drifters adds colour and depth to the story. I almost felt a sense of movement throughout the novel, as though we are sitting in the passenger seat, travelling alongside her.
The plotting is superb. The mystery unfolds at exactly the right pace, with clues scattered carefully enough to keep the reader guessing.
What impressed me most was the emotion at the centre of the story. Underneath the suspense and danger there is a powerful exploration of loss, hope and the extraordinary lengths a parent will go to for their child. It gives the novel real depth and makes Lou's journey impossible to forget.
The Grapevine is a thrilling start to what promises to be an outstanding series. Alexandra Sokoloff and Craig Robertson have created a memorable heroine and a story packed with tension, emotion and surprises. I raced through it and was genuinely disappointed when I reached the final page.
Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys intelligent, character-driven thrillers with a huge heart and plenty of twists along the way.
Review of advance copy
This is a collaboration by two authors who I have previously read and enjoyed solo books by. Alexandra Sokoloff's Huntress Moon series, and Craig Robertson's Narey and Winter Series. So I was very excited to see what this husband and wife team could do together!
And I wasn't disappointed! It's the story of a missing daughter. Of several missing women in fact. But one specifically - that of Lou Gomersal whose daughter Abby disappeared a year before we first meet her. Since then, and frustrated by the lack of progress by the police, she has taken to the streets in her RV trying to trace her last steps. But that's not all she's been doing. She's also been doing her own investigation into not only Abby's disappearance, but also the disappearance of a bunch of other similar young women, whose circumstances all resemble those of Abby's. Obviously the police don't like her "interference" when she clashes with them, especially when she gate-crashes press conferences, but then she is a mother who has lost her child...
As well as all the investigating, we also get quite the overview of #vanlife and the world that encompasses this. I've often thought of embracing that lifestyle and I hope I live long enough after retiring from work to be able to do just that. But that's all outwith the main story being told herein. That of the missing girls and I have to be more than impressed by Lou's grit, determination, and smarts in the way she tries to find out who, and indeed catch the person she believes responsible...
And then she teams up with Ethan, a reporter who believes in her. Which is something she is desperate for. And then there's her tormentor.. a nasty voice on the end of the phone...
This book hooked me from the start and drew me right in. I felt so much for Lou, especially when she was being ignored, and dismissed for interfering. I was also impressed at how she put her life on the line to try and get to the truth. But then, she is a mum, and that's what they do...
And then, when the clouds started to clear and the truth started to come into focus, I read avidly as Lou got so close to the truth, a truth she didn't want to hear. Putting herself in danger to get it.
And that ending - oh my days, perfect for this book but, at the same time, proving scope for the next in series... maybe... I'll definitely be up for that...
And I wasn't disappointed! It's the story of a missing daughter. Of several missing women in fact. But one specifically - that of Lou Gomersal whose daughter Abby disappeared a year before we first meet her. Since then, and frustrated by the lack of progress by the police, she has taken to the streets in her RV trying to trace her last steps. But that's not all she's been doing. She's also been doing her own investigation into not only Abby's disappearance, but also the disappearance of a bunch of other similar young women, whose circumstances all resemble those of Abby's. Obviously the police don't like her "interference" when she clashes with them, especially when she gate-crashes press conferences, but then she is a mother who has lost her child...
As well as all the investigating, we also get quite the overview of #vanlife and the world that encompasses this. I've often thought of embracing that lifestyle and I hope I live long enough after retiring from work to be able to do just that. But that's all outwith the main story being told herein. That of the missing girls and I have to be more than impressed by Lou's grit, determination, and smarts in the way she tries to find out who, and indeed catch the person she believes responsible...
And then she teams up with Ethan, a reporter who believes in her. Which is something she is desperate for. And then there's her tormentor.. a nasty voice on the end of the phone...
This book hooked me from the start and drew me right in. I felt so much for Lou, especially when she was being ignored, and dismissed for interfering. I was also impressed at how she put her life on the line to try and get to the truth. But then, she is a mum, and that's what they do...
And then, when the clouds started to clear and the truth started to come into focus, I read avidly as Lou got so close to the truth, a truth she didn't want to hear. Putting herself in danger to get it.
And that ending - oh my days, perfect for this book but, at the same time, proving scope for the next in series... maybe... I'll definitely be up for that...
August 26, 2026
I listened to the audiobook The Grapevine by authors Alexandra Sokoloff and Craig Robertson.
Nineteen year old Abby Gomersall pulled off from Interstate 5 in California at a popular pit stop. She was never seen again.
Her mother Lou drives her RV on a broken heart mission to find out what happened to her daughter. Putting miles and miles of highway and backroads on the tires, Lou searches. She finds threads that could connect her daughter’s disappearance with several other missing young women but will lack of hard evidence, her concerns are dismissed by law enforcement.
As this mother’s journey to find answers and justice for her baby girl continue, and clues are revealed, can Lou find the closure she needs?
What a solid and well paced thriller this book is! Full of dynamic moving puzzle pieces, plenty of suspense, sharp and clever dialogue, and effective symbolism. Also, the palpable emotions of a mother’s love, blood, sweat and tears to solve the mystery of what happened to her daughter…by any and all means possible.
I was so very excited to have the opportunity to listen to this book. Having lived in Central and Northern CA for some years, we spent time in many of the areas Lou traveled. I love reading about places I have had boots on ground. The authors’ described the variety of areas vividly with spot on accuracy, capturing the unique energy held by the individual towns and cities.
The narrator was an absolute pleasure to listen to. She was successful at brining life to the colorful array of characters that wove the story together seamlessly. They are well developed, easy to invest in. Or despise. Anxiety, sadness, hope, anger, fear..more anxiety…are some of the feels that rode with me as a reader in Lou’s RV.
I did the entire 10 hour audiobook in one day. I had to know what was going to happen next. This was a very thrilling and satisfying story.
Definitely recommend.
Thank you to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for providing the opportunity to enjoy this audiobook. This is my voluntary and honest review
Nineteen year old Abby Gomersall pulled off from Interstate 5 in California at a popular pit stop. She was never seen again.
Her mother Lou drives her RV on a broken heart mission to find out what happened to her daughter. Putting miles and miles of highway and backroads on the tires, Lou searches. She finds threads that could connect her daughter’s disappearance with several other missing young women but will lack of hard evidence, her concerns are dismissed by law enforcement.
As this mother’s journey to find answers and justice for her baby girl continue, and clues are revealed, can Lou find the closure she needs?
What a solid and well paced thriller this book is! Full of dynamic moving puzzle pieces, plenty of suspense, sharp and clever dialogue, and effective symbolism. Also, the palpable emotions of a mother’s love, blood, sweat and tears to solve the mystery of what happened to her daughter…by any and all means possible.
I was so very excited to have the opportunity to listen to this book. Having lived in Central and Northern CA for some years, we spent time in many of the areas Lou traveled. I love reading about places I have had boots on ground. The authors’ described the variety of areas vividly with spot on accuracy, capturing the unique energy held by the individual towns and cities.
The narrator was an absolute pleasure to listen to. She was successful at brining life to the colorful array of characters that wove the story together seamlessly. They are well developed, easy to invest in. Or despise. Anxiety, sadness, hope, anger, fear..more anxiety…are some of the feels that rode with me as a reader in Lou’s RV.
I did the entire 10 hour audiobook in one day. I had to know what was going to happen next. This was a very thrilling and satisfying story.
Definitely recommend.
Thank you to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for providing the opportunity to enjoy this audiobook. This is my voluntary and honest review
Review of advance copy
A mother's search for her missing child.
Lou Gomersall is a mother on a mission. Her daughter, Abby, disappeared a year ago. Since then, Lou has been on the road in her RV, trying to retrace her daughter’s steps and find out why she disappeared. Her investigations lead her to butt heads with police departments all over the state, who don’t like citizens investigating crimes. But Lou is persistent, as only a mother of a missing child can be.
This debut novel by Alexandra Sokoloff and Craig Robertson is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you up late at night reading. The investigation leads Lou into some dangerous situations, and she meets some great characters along the way as well.
I loved the depiction of the vanlifers’ world. It’s not one that we get to glimpse often. The roads Lou traveled are very familiar from my own travels up and down the state, so it was a thrill to recognize the many places Lou stopped on her journey. She is a complex character and her motivations are pretty clear. The fact that no one wants to believe her theories hits home. It certainly leads the character to take bigger risks over time as she narrows in on her suspect. Lou gets herself into some dangerous situations, but the reader understands her motivations and the desperation of a mother who just wants to know what happened to her child. She’s a very relatable character.
The book hooked me from the start. It was one that I wanted to read in one sitting, but life got in the way. Each time I had to put it down to go do something else, I could not wait to pick up the story again. It was amazing writing and so suspenseful. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would love to read more from this author in the future. Thankfully, there will be a sequel to this book to look forward to.
Lou Gomersall is a mother on a mission. Her daughter, Abby, disappeared a year ago. Since then, Lou has been on the road in her RV, trying to retrace her daughter’s steps and find out why she disappeared. Her investigations lead her to butt heads with police departments all over the state, who don’t like citizens investigating crimes. But Lou is persistent, as only a mother of a missing child can be.
This debut novel by Alexandra Sokoloff and Craig Robertson is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you up late at night reading. The investigation leads Lou into some dangerous situations, and she meets some great characters along the way as well.
I loved the depiction of the vanlifers’ world. It’s not one that we get to glimpse often. The roads Lou traveled are very familiar from my own travels up and down the state, so it was a thrill to recognize the many places Lou stopped on her journey. She is a complex character and her motivations are pretty clear. The fact that no one wants to believe her theories hits home. It certainly leads the character to take bigger risks over time as she narrows in on her suspect. Lou gets herself into some dangerous situations, but the reader understands her motivations and the desperation of a mother who just wants to know what happened to her child. She’s a very relatable character.
The book hooked me from the start. It was one that I wanted to read in one sitting, but life got in the way. Each time I had to put it down to go do something else, I could not wait to pick up the story again. It was amazing writing and so suspenseful. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would love to read more from this author in the future. Thankfully, there will be a sequel to this book to look forward to.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE GRAPEVINE (The Lost Highway Book #1) by Alexandra Sokoloff and Craig Robertson is a tension-filled thriller featuring a mother who will go anywhere and do anything to find her missing daughter. This is a collaboration between two authors I have enjoyed reading individually, so of course I was excited when I was asked to read this book.
Lou Gomersall’s daughter, Abby, is missing without any clues. Leaving her husband at home, she takes the family RV and begins scouring the highways and byways of California. She collects any mention of other missing young women and uses the network of other people on the road living the van life, campground operators, and even prostitutes at truck stops to search for connections. Even when the police are skeptical and tell her to stay out of the cases she has found and go home, she continues. She refuses to believe her daughter is dead, no matter how crazy she seems or acts.
Lou is on a mission to save Abby and kill the man who took her.
Lou is such a memorable protagonist. You have empathy for her, you feel sorrow for her, you cheer her on even when she seems or acts crazy, and you keep hoping with each revelation she discovers the truth of what happened to all the missing girls, not just Abby. All the secondary characters are believable, and I was glad she had Ethan in the second half of the book to help her search for clues and try to keep her more grounded in reality. The plot pace continuously builds as more pieces of the puzzle of the missing young women cases are revealed. The ending chapters kept me on a rollercoaster of emotions and left me completely shocked and not expecting the revelation at the climax of the crime plot and I love it when that happens. I am not sure what these authors and this series will have instore in the future, but you can definitely count me in.
I highly recommend this emotionally charged, edge-of-your-seat crime thriller!
THE GRAPEVINE (The Lost Highway Book #1) by Alexandra Sokoloff and Craig Robertson is a tension-filled thriller featuring a mother who will go anywhere and do anything to find her missing daughter. This is a collaboration between two authors I have enjoyed reading individually, so of course I was excited when I was asked to read this book.
Lou Gomersall’s daughter, Abby, is missing without any clues. Leaving her husband at home, she takes the family RV and begins scouring the highways and byways of California. She collects any mention of other missing young women and uses the network of other people on the road living the van life, campground operators, and even prostitutes at truck stops to search for connections. Even when the police are skeptical and tell her to stay out of the cases she has found and go home, she continues. She refuses to believe her daughter is dead, no matter how crazy she seems or acts.
Lou is on a mission to save Abby and kill the man who took her.
Lou is such a memorable protagonist. You have empathy for her, you feel sorrow for her, you cheer her on even when she seems or acts crazy, and you keep hoping with each revelation she discovers the truth of what happened to all the missing girls, not just Abby. All the secondary characters are believable, and I was glad she had Ethan in the second half of the book to help her search for clues and try to keep her more grounded in reality. The plot pace continuously builds as more pieces of the puzzle of the missing young women cases are revealed. The ending chapters kept me on a rollercoaster of emotions and left me completely shocked and not expecting the revelation at the climax of the crime plot and I love it when that happens. I am not sure what these authors and this series will have instore in the future, but you can definitely count me in.
I highly recommend this emotionally charged, edge-of-your-seat crime thriller!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
When nineteen-year-old Abby vanishes, her mother Lou spends a year chasing leads the police ignore. Convinced a serial predator is targeting young women, she launches her own cross-California investigation, determined to find Abby, and the person responsible.
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
There’s so much passion and heart in this gripping audiobook. Thérèse Plummer is a known thriller narrator but she’s new to me. She fully encapsulates Lou and she’s able to capture the other characters too. The atmospheric descriptions occasionlly got a bit tired, but the audio kept me engaged.
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
This isn’t a fast action thriller. It's a gritty, slow-paced story focused on Lou's journey, the people she meets, and the places she travels while slowly piecing the mystery together. There are very few dramatic scenes - it’s more about Lou’s thoughts, and observations.
It’s a straightforward plot structure - linear with a single POV.
Lou was an easy FMC to root for. She's relentless in her pursuit of the truth and willing to push boundaries to find her daughter.
Ethan was such a welcome addition - he brought a lighter energy. All the other characters kind of blended together and didn’t have much personality or depth.
The ending more or less played out as I thought - I liked the finale but I found the “second book tease” a little corny.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
Not gonna lie, I didn’t find this story particularly fresh or thrilling. It was well written and inspired me to road trip California in a van, but the story itself felt fairly predictable.
Thank you @blackstonepublishing Blackstone Publishing Audio and NetGalley for this gifted ARC.
🎧 Narrated by Thérèse Plummer
📖 Release 06•23•26 | 354 pages | 10h 9m
When nineteen-year-old Abby vanishes, her mother Lou spends a year chasing leads the police ignore. Convinced a serial predator is targeting young women, she launches her own cross-California investigation, determined to find Abby, and the person responsible.
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
There’s so much passion and heart in this gripping audiobook. Thérèse Plummer is a known thriller narrator but she’s new to me. She fully encapsulates Lou and she’s able to capture the other characters too. The atmospheric descriptions occasionlly got a bit tired, but the audio kept me engaged.
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
This isn’t a fast action thriller. It's a gritty, slow-paced story focused on Lou's journey, the people she meets, and the places she travels while slowly piecing the mystery together. There are very few dramatic scenes - it’s more about Lou’s thoughts, and observations.
It’s a straightforward plot structure - linear with a single POV.
Lou was an easy FMC to root for. She's relentless in her pursuit of the truth and willing to push boundaries to find her daughter.
Ethan was such a welcome addition - he brought a lighter energy. All the other characters kind of blended together and didn’t have much personality or depth.
The ending more or less played out as I thought - I liked the finale but I found the “second book tease” a little corny.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
Not gonna lie, I didn’t find this story particularly fresh or thrilling. It was well written and inspired me to road trip California in a van, but the story itself felt fairly predictable.
Thank you @blackstonepublishing Blackstone Publishing Audio and NetGalley for this gifted ARC.
🎧 Narrated by Thérèse Plummer
📖 Release 06•23•26 | 354 pages | 10h 9m
August 28, 2026
Thank you @blackstonepublishing for the gifted audiobook...this is my honest review.
🎧 10 hrs 26 min | 🗣️ Thérèse Plummer
Psychological | Crime | Thriller
✌️ VIBE CHECK ✌️
🧑🧒 Mama moments
🚐 Lady Luck/Rig life
🛣️ On the road again
🫥 Abduction
🎬 Cliffhanger 🫠
🫖 THE TEA
When her 19-year-old daughter disappears and the cops hit a dead end, Lou hits the road in her RV. Fueled by pure mama-bear rage, she will do whatever it takes to hunt down a predator.
💭 MY THOUGHTS
What a banger! I had never read anything by this duo before, but the moment I read “perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter,” on the synopsis my fate was sealed. Slaughter is my absolute favorite author, so I went in with high standards and it delivered! It gave me those dark, twisty vibes that make a book impossible to put down with a complex character you can root for. I flew through the audio in 24 hours over the weekend.
Our main character, Lou, completely won me over. Her fierce love for her daughter Abby, alongside the sheer desperation and rage over her disappearance, felt so raw and real. I was 100% invested in her journey.
I’ll admit the ending initially had me 🫠 but only because I didn’t realize it was book one of a series. Now that I know, I kind of love how they left it! Sign me up for book two right now! 🙋♀️🎧
🎧 WHY THE AUDIO?!
If you can, 100% go the audiobook route. Thérese Plummer completely owned this performance. She moves between multiple characters seamlessly, hitting Lou’s gritty, gravelly toughness just as brilliantly as her soft, heartbreaking moments. Pure gold.
⭐ FINAL VERDICT | 5 🌟
A brilliant story, an incredible narration, and a main character I could root for. I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s a yes for me! 🎉
DeAnn @deannsreadingriot 🖤
🎧 10 hrs 26 min | 🗣️ Thérèse Plummer
Psychological | Crime | Thriller
✌️ VIBE CHECK ✌️
🧑🧒 Mama moments
🚐 Lady Luck/Rig life
🛣️ On the road again
🫥 Abduction
🎬 Cliffhanger 🫠
🫖 THE TEA
When her 19-year-old daughter disappears and the cops hit a dead end, Lou hits the road in her RV. Fueled by pure mama-bear rage, she will do whatever it takes to hunt down a predator.
💭 MY THOUGHTS
What a banger! I had never read anything by this duo before, but the moment I read “perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter,” on the synopsis my fate was sealed. Slaughter is my absolute favorite author, so I went in with high standards and it delivered! It gave me those dark, twisty vibes that make a book impossible to put down with a complex character you can root for. I flew through the audio in 24 hours over the weekend.
Our main character, Lou, completely won me over. Her fierce love for her daughter Abby, alongside the sheer desperation and rage over her disappearance, felt so raw and real. I was 100% invested in her journey.
I’ll admit the ending initially had me 🫠 but only because I didn’t realize it was book one of a series. Now that I know, I kind of love how they left it! Sign me up for book two right now! 🙋♀️🎧
🎧 WHY THE AUDIO?!
If you can, 100% go the audiobook route. Thérese Plummer completely owned this performance. She moves between multiple characters seamlessly, hitting Lou’s gritty, gravelly toughness just as brilliantly as her soft, heartbreaking moments. Pure gold.
⭐ FINAL VERDICT | 5 🌟
A brilliant story, an incredible narration, and a main character I could root for. I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s a yes for me! 🎉
DeAnn @deannsreadingriot 🖤
August 15, 2026
Thérèse Plummer gives Lou the PERFECT mature, mama bear, take ZERO shit voice while still nailing her sarcastic humor. I believe this is my first solo, 3rd person listen from her and WOW, she’s officially on my list of narrators who can handle that with EASE. There is a ton of dialogue as Lou interviews different people, and Thérèse moves between everyone so effortlessly. The sheriff’s male voice, the female detective, flipping into the younger girls during conversations, and the Hispanic accents across male/female and young/old characters..FAB. Emotional, funny, and genuinely a performance I could write 10 pages about. Easy 5+ stars.
The story follows Lou, a mother hell bent on finding out what happened to her daughter, living in an RV and driving around investigating. The pacing was perfect, things were constantly moving without sacrificing the characters or setting. I especially loved that Lou felt like a believable amateur sleuth. She actually tells people to take information to the police instead of suddenly deciding she's the FBI and can solve everything herself lol
There are A LOT of characters and multiple cases woven in, which gave me major PI series vibes, and I ate it up. But Lou was easily the heart of this book. She’s an empath and a mama bear thru n thru, and even while desperate to find her own daughter, she treats the other young women she meets with that same care. I realllllly loved this one and PLEASE tell me we’re getting more Lou soon!!
The story follows Lou, a mother hell bent on finding out what happened to her daughter, living in an RV and driving around investigating. The pacing was perfect, things were constantly moving without sacrificing the characters or setting. I especially loved that Lou felt like a believable amateur sleuth. She actually tells people to take information to the police instead of suddenly deciding she's the FBI and can solve everything herself lol
There are A LOT of characters and multiple cases woven in, which gave me major PI series vibes, and I ate it up. But Lou was easily the heart of this book. She’s an empath and a mama bear thru n thru, and even while desperate to find her own daughter, she treats the other young women she meets with that same care. I realllllly loved this one and PLEASE tell me we’re getting more Lou soon!!
July 31, 2026
The Grapevine
Series: A Lost Highway Thriller, Book 1
By Craig Robertson & Alexandra Sokolofff
🎧 Narrated by Thérèse Plummer
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
I have a feeling this is going to be a 5-star read for a lot of people.
I really enjoyed this one, especially the second half of the book when it finally felt like the mother was truly starting to piece everything together. That's when I became completely invested.
The beginning had me a little worried. At times the story felt slow, and some of the internal thoughts became repetitive. But nearly every chapter added depth to the characters and the communities we experience throughout The Grapevine, making the emotional payoff well worth it.
And with a phenomenal narrator like Thérèse Plummer? I could probably listen to her read the phone book. She's firmly in my top five narrators, and her performance elevated every scene.
The story is heartbreaking, suspenseful, and incredibly compelling. I wouldn't classify it as a full-on thriller. To me, it reads more like a true crime-inspired mystery told through the eyes of a mother desperately searching for answers, and that perspective is what makes it so powerful.
Highly recommend if you enjoy emotional mysteries, missing persons cases, and stories that stay with you long after you've finished.
Series: A Lost Highway Thriller, Book 1
By Craig Robertson & Alexandra Sokolofff
🎧 Narrated by Thérèse Plummer
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
I have a feeling this is going to be a 5-star read for a lot of people.
I really enjoyed this one, especially the second half of the book when it finally felt like the mother was truly starting to piece everything together. That's when I became completely invested.
The beginning had me a little worried. At times the story felt slow, and some of the internal thoughts became repetitive. But nearly every chapter added depth to the characters and the communities we experience throughout The Grapevine, making the emotional payoff well worth it.
And with a phenomenal narrator like Thérèse Plummer? I could probably listen to her read the phone book. She's firmly in my top five narrators, and her performance elevated every scene.
The story is heartbreaking, suspenseful, and incredibly compelling. I wouldn't classify it as a full-on thriller. To me, it reads more like a true crime-inspired mystery told through the eyes of a mother desperately searching for answers, and that perspective is what makes it so powerful.
Highly recommend if you enjoy emotional mysteries, missing persons cases, and stories that stay with you long after you've finished.
August 30, 2026
The Grapevine by Alexandra Sokoloff & Craig Robertson is an suspenseful, emotional, character-driven story about one mother's desperate search for her missing daughter teenaged daughter.
The main character is a smart, driven woman named Lou who will do anything to find her 19-year-old daughter, Abby, who went missing in the California foothills. Abby was a free spirit. A hippie, of sorts. But she was also battling depression, and one days she seems to have walked away from everything. Lou has called many times, but when the calls go unanswered she starts her own investigation. Lou drives the countryside in her old RV, talking to people who are searching for their own loved ones -- four other missing women with similar stories.
As she moves through the roads and towns of California she meets intersting, quirky and sometimes scary characters, including other travelers, sex workers, nomadic hippies and more.
It is a gritty, suspenseful story that is completely dependent on the very authentic characters. Lou is strong, smart, scared, angry, worried, and devoted to her daughter. I admired her, liked her, and wanted to walk into that RV, sit down at the table, talk to her about what she had learned, and find a way to help her.
Thank you @LibroFM & @BlackstonePublishing for the #gifted audiobook. The always excellent Thérèse Plummer narrated.
The main character is a smart, driven woman named Lou who will do anything to find her 19-year-old daughter, Abby, who went missing in the California foothills. Abby was a free spirit. A hippie, of sorts. But she was also battling depression, and one days she seems to have walked away from everything. Lou has called many times, but when the calls go unanswered she starts her own investigation. Lou drives the countryside in her old RV, talking to people who are searching for their own loved ones -- four other missing women with similar stories.
As she moves through the roads and towns of California she meets intersting, quirky and sometimes scary characters, including other travelers, sex workers, nomadic hippies and more.
It is a gritty, suspenseful story that is completely dependent on the very authentic characters. Lou is strong, smart, scared, angry, worried, and devoted to her daughter. I admired her, liked her, and wanted to walk into that RV, sit down at the table, talk to her about what she had learned, and find a way to help her.
Thank you @LibroFM & @BlackstonePublishing for the #gifted audiobook. The always excellent Thérèse Plummer narrated.
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