You'll Never Find Me

by Tracy Clark

From the award-winning author of the Detective Harriet Foster series comes an emotionally charged journey of resilience and redemption, when a young woman flees her corrupt family to build the home where she belongs.

Esmee Manning sees something she wasn’t supposed to—and it opens her eyes to who her family really is.

Refusing to play the part of dutiful daughter, Esmee leaves her home and herself behind. She assumes a new identity, traveling from one city to the next, never staying too long in any of them. When she meets lawyer Augustus Payne, he promises her a place to once again call home…and another she’ll have to escape.

It’s not until Esmee and her son find their way to New Jerusalem, Illinois, that she breathes easy. But even amid the tight-knit community that becomes her sanctuary, Esmee keeps her eye on the outskirts.

Augustus won’t let her go that easily. Her family’s still out there. And now, it’s not only her freedom Esmee stands to lose. She has a whole life to protect.

And she’ll do whatever it takes to keep it—her son, her friends, her town—safe.

332 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 12, 2027

Reviews

[ShersBooks]

Unputtdownable - just ask the people I was camping with while I was reading this book lol. It really was fast moving, easy to focus on and hard to stop reading. I am sure if I was at home I would have finished it in a day.

The main character Esmee is strong, kind, resilient and determined to give others, especially her son a good life and she will do anything to make that happen. The author has a fabulous way of creating massive personalities, some you love and some you don’t but you know where each one stands and what they will do to get what they desire.

If you love well developed characters, a strong plot with smart, believable twists and a happy ending then this is the book for you. This is my first Tracy Clark novel, it won’t be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the Advanced Reading Copy. The opinions presented are mine alone.

[Maja]

Thank you very much Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!

You'll Never Find Me was my frist Tracy Clark book and it was really a great read! While the pace of the story was pretty fast - just how I like it - not everything gets revealed all at once, which builds up a lot of suspense, making you staying glued to the pages. I was also surprised how emotionally intense it was at times. That is not often the case with thriller stories. I was feeling for Esmee and hoping all the time everything would be okay for her and her son in the end. Can recommend!

[kellieb_reads]

This book was definitely a wild ride. The FMC was extremely likable and kept me rooting for her throughout. She had so many things happen to her, that it was a miracle she was as pulled together as she was. Of course, there were perfectly written horrendous characters, with questionable to no morals, that you just love to hate.

The story begins with a bang, then proceeds a bit more slowly, before picking up again. After a particular point, I did not want to put the book down and was very invested in the outcome. I did appreciate the ending, but also found I was left with a few unanswered questions, almost like there should be a sequel, despite it being marketed as a stand-alone. Still, I found this thriller enjoyable and would consider it a perfect beach read.

Thank-you to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and Tracy Clark for the ARC in exchange for my review.

[Jen N]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

This is the book you want when you're at the airport, waiting for boarding. You won't mind the noise. This is the book you want while on the plane while people are arguing about seats. You won't hear a thing! It's emotional, tense, and makes you want to get involved with these people. Highly recommend.

Author Tracy Clark is new to me. I am also a Chicago-area reader and will search out her many novels.

[Stephanie Elton]

Ok. Okay. What do I even say about this one??? The book kept me interested from top to bottom nonstop. BUT THE LAST 30-40 PAGES???? OMFG. my entire heart was in my throat! I have never read a @tclarkwrites book before so I had no idea if I was going to be left with emotional damage or not!! This book has made her an immediate read for everything she publishes. Which I can't say for a lot of authors of this genre.

[Britney Ireland]

Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced readers copy of this book.

I really enjoyed the book and how fast paced it was. I loved the character build up and the depth of the characters. I found myself lost in the book and flipping to find out what happened. I enjoyed that there was a world of hope out there for people wanting to stay hidden from their past.

[Maureen ~Bitch Can Write A Book]

This was wicked fast. I literally could not put it down. I’m a huge fan of this author and this did not disappoint. Esme was fierce and I loved her character. I gotta say I didn’t always love her choices…IYKYK. There were parts I’m not sure I agreed with. But that is the beauty of reading a good book. It’s thought provoking. I’m looking forward to what’s next for this author.

[Osheanna Lonergan]

I really enjoyed this book. The story was fast paced and kept me on my toes. I did feel like there were some unanswered questions at the end, and an entire plot line seemed to just end without resolve. Other than that, I found the "good guys" very likable and enjoyed routing for them.

[Eve]

I loved that the fmc never gave up no matter what was thrown at her. She fought to have her choice in life and wouldn’t give it up no matter what or who was against her.

Thank you NetGalley for access to the advance reader copy!

[Tessa Page]

Delighted to find this author. A tense thriller but with a genuinely human element. Loved the characters and especially the small town community where the lead protagonist finally finds peace.

Page-turnery without being silly, a proper story, and great pacing.