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Winslow & Dyer #1
Nowhere Good
A criminal’s daughter and a city detective collide in this gritty romantic thriller perfect for fans of Karen Rose and Kendra Elliot.
Claire Dyer knows what kind of man her father is. The rest of Fairview, Missouri sees him as a pillar of the community—but Claire suspects he's the one feeding the town's opioid crisis. She's just been too afraid to speak up after what happened last time she tried to run. So she plays the good girl; she bartends at the family's bar, dates who she's told to date, and keeps her head down...
Until an addict is found murdered in town with the words it should have been me carved into her skin.
The victim looks just like Claire. It's the first thing Detective Seth Winslow notices when he arrives from Kansas City to take over the case. As the youngest man on the force, battling his own history with addiction, he's determined to solve this crime quickly and quietly.
But the killer has other plans. As more girls resembling Claire are killed, the investigation keeps leading Seth to the Dyers' doorstep—and to Claire. She's his best witness, but the closer he gets, the more the line between protecting her and wanting her starts to blur. Claire is desperate to trust this new detective, but doing so would mean the one thing she swore she'd never do: betray her family.
Claire Dyer knows what kind of man her father is. The rest of Fairview, Missouri sees him as a pillar of the community—but Claire suspects he's the one feeding the town's opioid crisis. She's just been too afraid to speak up after what happened last time she tried to run. So she plays the good girl; she bartends at the family's bar, dates who she's told to date, and keeps her head down...
Until an addict is found murdered in town with the words it should have been me carved into her skin.
The victim looks just like Claire. It's the first thing Detective Seth Winslow notices when he arrives from Kansas City to take over the case. As the youngest man on the force, battling his own history with addiction, he's determined to solve this crime quickly and quietly.
But the killer has other plans. As more girls resembling Claire are killed, the investigation keeps leading Seth to the Dyers' doorstep—and to Claire. She's his best witness, but the closer he gets, the more the line between protecting her and wanting her starts to blur. Claire is desperate to trust this new detective, but doing so would mean the one thing she swore she'd never do: betray her family.
- GenresMystery ThrillerThriller
383 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2026
About the author
T.J. Ellory
2 books41 followersT.J. Ellory is the penname of a young adult author who wishes to put her adult works out there. Her upcoming debut romantic thriller, NOWHERE GOOD, features a slow-burn romance in a small Missouri town that is battling the opioid crisis. T.J. enjoys playing with familiar tropes and writing gritty, realistic fiction with a love story at the center and characters who are in peril. She currently lives in Canada with her boyfriend, leopard gecko, and extremely fluffy cat. Find her on social media @authortjellory.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
August 11, 2026
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW!! Easily the best thriller I’ve read all year. I was hooked from the very first chapter into the plot. While a few of the twists were predictable, it worked in the best way because there were so many twists that weren’t predictable. A little bit of romance sprinkled in amongst the fast paced drama, I finished this book in two days because I literally couldn’t put it down! I gave up sleep (and my 1 year old barely sleeps as it is!). I will for sure be reading more books from this author and cannot wait for the next book to come out.
Add this one to your TBR or get on your waitlist for it at your local library…. You’re not gonna want to miss it!
WOW!! Easily the best thriller I’ve read all year. I was hooked from the very first chapter into the plot. While a few of the twists were predictable, it worked in the best way because there were so many twists that weren’t predictable. A little bit of romance sprinkled in amongst the fast paced drama, I finished this book in two days because I literally couldn’t put it down! I gave up sleep (and my 1 year old barely sleeps as it is!). I will for sure be reading more books from this author and cannot wait for the next book to come out.
Add this one to your TBR or get on your waitlist for it at your local library…. You’re not gonna want to miss it!
October 2, 2026
ARC Review
What a captivating read! I blew through it during my flight! I love a small town crime thriller with a detective x strong fmc romance
What a captivating read! I blew through it during my flight! I love a small town crime thriller with a detective x strong fmc romance
October 2, 2026
4.5 stars
This is such a good thriller. It catches the small town atmosphere so well, even if there's not much mention about the town itself. But the police station came to life and I really liked Seth. Claire was fine too, lol.
But what made me rate this so high? Ron. I LOVED Ron as a character. Not a person. He's a terrible person, but what an interesting character!
Of course, I do have a list of complaints: 1. Everything happens in a little over a week. Which makes sense, but that's not enough time for a slow burn of any kind.
2. WHY DOES THE BLURB SPOIL RON?? The way he was presented could have caused SO MUCH TENSION if I didn't already know what he was up to because of the blurb.
3. I'm still a little iffy about the romance, but we'll see how that goes as the series progresses.
Overall, solid story which I greatly enjoyed. Can't wait for the next in the series.
This is such a good thriller. It catches the small town atmosphere so well, even if there's not much mention about the town itself. But the police station came to life and I really liked Seth. Claire was fine too, lol.
But what made me rate this so high? Ron. I LOVED Ron as a character. Not a person. He's a terrible person, but what an interesting character!
Of course, I do have a list of complaints: 1. Everything happens in a little over a week. Which makes sense, but that's not enough time for a slow burn of any kind.
2. WHY DOES THE BLURB SPOIL RON?? The way he was presented could have caused SO MUCH TENSION if I didn't already know what he was up to because of the blurb.
3. I'm still a little iffy about the romance, but we'll see how that goes as the series progresses.
Overall, solid story which I greatly enjoyed. Can't wait for the next in the series.
August 12, 2026
Ron Dyer has no idea what the meaning of love or family means. He’s a manipulative man who loves the power of control, and knowing that you fear him.
When Detective Seth Winslow comes to town, he knows something isn’t right. Claire and Clementine are Ron’s daughters. Even though he’s always wanted sons, Ron has two daughters who look just like their mom did.
Their mom went missing years prior; in what everyone assumes was a hike gone wrong with a bear attack.
Detective Winslow was brought into town because of a murdered addict.
The town of Fairview is about to be turned upside down and inside out because there just so happens to be two more murders, which turns these individual murders into a serial killer spree.
When Detective Seth Winslow comes to town, he knows something isn’t right. Claire and Clementine are Ron’s daughters. Even though he’s always wanted sons, Ron has two daughters who look just like their mom did.
Their mom went missing years prior; in what everyone assumes was a hike gone wrong with a bear attack.
Detective Winslow was brought into town because of a murdered addict.
The town of Fairview is about to be turned upside down and inside out because there just so happens to be two more murders, which turns these individual murders into a serial killer spree.
September 25, 2026
**ARC Review**
I really enjoyed this book. You have romance, you have mystery, you have thrill, and while the ending was predictable in ways, the dynamics of the characters made it worth every second.
I took my time to really get to know the characters. There were so many layers of Seth. He was an amazing MMC, and I think I enjoyed his POV the most. Also the themes of the book, and the experiences that the characters were experiencing, you can tell that a lot of time and research has gone into this story. I am super excited to continue this series!
I really enjoyed this book. You have romance, you have mystery, you have thrill, and while the ending was predictable in ways, the dynamics of the characters made it worth every second.
I took my time to really get to know the characters. There were so many layers of Seth. He was an amazing MMC, and I think I enjoyed his POV the most. Also the themes of the book, and the experiences that the characters were experiencing, you can tell that a lot of time and research has gone into this story. I am super excited to continue this series!
July 27, 2026
This was my first ARC, and I’m so happy that this was my first. The pacing was perfect, I couldn’t put it down. The characters were very well developed,and I found myself genuinely concerned at times. I cant wait for everyone to read this!
August 17, 2026
I received this novel as an ARC in exchange for an honest review as a co-founder of Novel Tea Spilled Bookstagram.
My review will be posted @novelteaspilled as well this week.
⭐️ ARC REVIEW | Nowhere Good by T.J. Ellory ⭐️
Nowhere Good gave me the kind of reading high I’ve been chasing since 2012. I have not been this completely consumed by a book in over a decade—and somehow, even obsessed doesn’t feel like a strong enough word.
T.J. Ellory writes with such conviction that it feels less like she created this story and more like she lived it. I knew from the first chapter, when I read the line, “Not when freedom was so close she could taste it like honey on her tongue,” that I was in for something special. This wasn’t going to be a story I simply read; it was going to be one I experienced.
There is something about Ellory’s writing that gets under your skin. I’ve gotten chills just discussing this book with fellow readers afterward, and I genuinely can’t remember another book having that effect on me.
Nowhere Good is romantic suspense done exactly the way I want romantic suspense to be done. The romance feels natural and realistic within the circumstances—there is a killer on the loose, after all—and the story never sacrifices its tension just to push Seth and Claire together. Their relationship is a slow burn, but I was never so focused on waiting for the romance to develop that I lost sight of the suspense unfolding around them. The two elements complement each other beautifully, each making the other more compelling.
And the suspense? It had me guessing.
Every time I thought I had figured out where the story was headed, something shifted. There was one point where I managed to narrow my suspicions down to two possibilities, but even then, neither felt like the obvious answer. The mystery never became so glaring that I could comfortably call it—and that made the payoff even more satisfying.
I finished Nowhere Good feeling like I had finally found the book I’d been waiting years to read.
I cannot recommend this one enough. If romantic suspense, slow-burn tension, characters you become completely invested in, and a mystery that keeps you second-guessing yourself are your thing, put this one on your radar immediately.
Don’t walk—RUN when Nowhere Good releases. You are not going to want to miss it.
Thank you to T.J. Ellory for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 🤍
My review will be posted @novelteaspilled as well this week.
⭐️ ARC REVIEW | Nowhere Good by T.J. Ellory ⭐️
Nowhere Good gave me the kind of reading high I’ve been chasing since 2012. I have not been this completely consumed by a book in over a decade—and somehow, even obsessed doesn’t feel like a strong enough word.
T.J. Ellory writes with such conviction that it feels less like she created this story and more like she lived it. I knew from the first chapter, when I read the line, “Not when freedom was so close she could taste it like honey on her tongue,” that I was in for something special. This wasn’t going to be a story I simply read; it was going to be one I experienced.
There is something about Ellory’s writing that gets under your skin. I’ve gotten chills just discussing this book with fellow readers afterward, and I genuinely can’t remember another book having that effect on me.
Nowhere Good is romantic suspense done exactly the way I want romantic suspense to be done. The romance feels natural and realistic within the circumstances—there is a killer on the loose, after all—and the story never sacrifices its tension just to push Seth and Claire together. Their relationship is a slow burn, but I was never so focused on waiting for the romance to develop that I lost sight of the suspense unfolding around them. The two elements complement each other beautifully, each making the other more compelling.
And the suspense? It had me guessing.
Every time I thought I had figured out where the story was headed, something shifted. There was one point where I managed to narrow my suspicions down to two possibilities, but even then, neither felt like the obvious answer. The mystery never became so glaring that I could comfortably call it—and that made the payoff even more satisfying.
I finished Nowhere Good feeling like I had finally found the book I’d been waiting years to read.
I cannot recommend this one enough. If romantic suspense, slow-burn tension, characters you become completely invested in, and a mystery that keeps you second-guessing yourself are your thing, put this one on your radar immediately.
Don’t walk—RUN when Nowhere Good releases. You are not going to want to miss it.
Thank you to T.J. Ellory for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 🤍
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. NOWHERE GOOD is the best novel, in any genre, that I have read in a long while. In my opinion, T.J. Ellory is the new Tana French.
August 10, 2026
This was my first ARC, and I’m so happy that it was! ❤️
Being my first-ever ARC book, it definitely had me wanting more, and I was not disappointed. This book is a romantic crime thriller, and it was everything I would hope & expect from a romantic thriller.
This has been the best thriller I have read this year. It had me captivated and hooked right from page 1. I thought I had things figured out, and then all of a sudden, there was a new twist, and I was right back to trying to figure things out again!
With all the twists and turns, the story was still very easy to follow and understand. I never had trouble not following along.
I absolutely loved the characters Claire & Seth. I kept wanting more and more of them!
If you’re a fan of true crime, mystery, thriller & romance, this should definitely be added to your TBR list. 📚
Thank you, T. J. Ellory , for sharing your story and allowing me to be part of your ARC team and giving me the opportunity to share my review. ❤️
It is definitely a 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read and one that I’ll absolutely be putting a physical copy of on my shelf.
If you’re looking for a great book, preorder NOWHERE GOOD NOW! I recommend this book to everyone!! 📚❤️
Being my first-ever ARC book, it definitely had me wanting more, and I was not disappointed. This book is a romantic crime thriller, and it was everything I would hope & expect from a romantic thriller.
This has been the best thriller I have read this year. It had me captivated and hooked right from page 1. I thought I had things figured out, and then all of a sudden, there was a new twist, and I was right back to trying to figure things out again!
With all the twists and turns, the story was still very easy to follow and understand. I never had trouble not following along.
I absolutely loved the characters Claire & Seth. I kept wanting more and more of them!
If you’re a fan of true crime, mystery, thriller & romance, this should definitely be added to your TBR list. 📚
Thank you, T. J. Ellory , for sharing your story and allowing me to be part of your ARC team and giving me the opportunity to share my review. ❤️
It is definitely a 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read and one that I’ll absolutely be putting a physical copy of on my shelf.
If you’re looking for a great book, preorder NOWHERE GOOD NOW! I recommend this book to everyone!! 📚❤️
August 16, 2026
Honestly one of my top reads of this year!! I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what was going to happen! It sucks you in immediately from the very beginning. The characters have so much depth to them & history. You have a detective that comes to town to investigate some homicides & a possible serial killer case, & falls for a witness. The witness has sooo much going on with her family & past. You really feel for her throughout the entire story. It was a suuuuper slow burn, but worth it! The plot twists, suspense, & emotional moments were top tier. I’m really anxious for the sequel to see the character’s story continue!
Thank you so much T.J. Ellory for this ARC in exchange for my review❤️
***Definitely check the triggers as this does cover a lot of deep topics.
Thank you so much T.J. Ellory for this ARC in exchange for my review❤️
***Definitely check the triggers as this does cover a lot of deep topics.
September 25, 2026
“You never gave up on her.”
“That’s worth something, you know.”
NOWHERE GOOD was more than just a story; it was an entire atmospheric experience. And it wasn't sunshine and rainbows. It was raw and gritty and so real that you're drawn into the story like you've been dropped right in the middle of it. You can feel everything the characters are going through. The oppressive Missouri heat and humidity, the wind whispering through the cornfields. The weighted silence, the heated tension. The feelings of dread and unease, the need to constantly look over your shoulder to make sure no one is watching.
The story centered around small town girl, Claire Dyer, who witnessed one of a series of homicides and Detective Seth Winslow, who was investigating why the crime victims all looked like her. Was someone sending a message? Was it some kind of revenge fantasy? Would Claire be the next victim?
I loved how multidimensional the characters were, how they connected through their scarred history. The flashback memories kept me captivated and offered so much to think about and question. The story was told in the third person and I fully agree that this was the right choice here. The romance was secondary to the plot, a slow burn that was completely worth the wait. I loved how Seth was Claire's safe place, how she was his calming presence, how he never gave up on her.
At its core, this was a story about shattered innocence and what it means to matter to someone. It was about protection vs possession, control vs free will, betrayal and vulnerability, trust and forgiveness. It was a search for truth and justice and, ultimately, a path to self-discovery. The details were frequently dark and disturbing, a look at addiction, psychological manipulation, abuse and trauma. But there was also a sense of hope, good born from the darkness, comfort found in the pain.
I absolutely loved this book despite the difficult topics and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic thrillers or romantic suspense. It truly was a hidden gem. It was a complete story so there was no cliffhanger per se, but I can't wait to follow these characters in the sequel. 🤎
A million thanks to T.J. Ellory for letting me be part of the ARC team for your romantic thriller debut! 🫶
✨️Romantic Thriller
✨️City Boy x Small Town Girl
✨️Detective MMC
✨️Witness FMC
✨️Serial Killer
✨️Slow Burn
✨️He Falls First
“That’s worth something, you know.”
NOWHERE GOOD was more than just a story; it was an entire atmospheric experience. And it wasn't sunshine and rainbows. It was raw and gritty and so real that you're drawn into the story like you've been dropped right in the middle of it. You can feel everything the characters are going through. The oppressive Missouri heat and humidity, the wind whispering through the cornfields. The weighted silence, the heated tension. The feelings of dread and unease, the need to constantly look over your shoulder to make sure no one is watching.
The story centered around small town girl, Claire Dyer, who witnessed one of a series of homicides and Detective Seth Winslow, who was investigating why the crime victims all looked like her. Was someone sending a message? Was it some kind of revenge fantasy? Would Claire be the next victim?
I loved how multidimensional the characters were, how they connected through their scarred history. The flashback memories kept me captivated and offered so much to think about and question. The story was told in the third person and I fully agree that this was the right choice here. The romance was secondary to the plot, a slow burn that was completely worth the wait. I loved how Seth was Claire's safe place, how she was his calming presence, how he never gave up on her.
At its core, this was a story about shattered innocence and what it means to matter to someone. It was about protection vs possession, control vs free will, betrayal and vulnerability, trust and forgiveness. It was a search for truth and justice and, ultimately, a path to self-discovery. The details were frequently dark and disturbing, a look at addiction, psychological manipulation, abuse and trauma. But there was also a sense of hope, good born from the darkness, comfort found in the pain.
I absolutely loved this book despite the difficult topics and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic thrillers or romantic suspense. It truly was a hidden gem. It was a complete story so there was no cliffhanger per se, but I can't wait to follow these characters in the sequel. 🤎
A million thanks to T.J. Ellory for letting me be part of the ARC team for your romantic thriller debut! 🫶
✨️Romantic Thriller
✨️City Boy x Small Town Girl
✨️Detective MMC
✨️Witness FMC
✨️Serial Killer
✨️Slow Burn
✨️He Falls First
October 4, 2026
Some books you finish and move on from. This was not one of those books.
Nowhere Good by T.J. Ellory was a book I wasn't entirely sure I was going to be okay with once I reached the end. It got under my skin in a way I wasn't expecting and left me needing a moment to process everything I'd just experienced.
The slow burn was perfectly written, and the twists and turns were so carefully placed that I found myself completely absorbed in the story. Just when I thought I understood where things were going, something would shift and pull me further in.
What really stood out to me was the author's research and writing. It didn't feel like I was simply reading about what was happening I felt like I was living through the experiences alongside the characters. That made this such a powerful and, at times, difficult read, but it also made everything feel incredibly real.
This was truly a fantastic book, and one I know will stay with me long after finishing it. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it.
Nowhere Good by T.J. Ellory was a book I wasn't entirely sure I was going to be okay with once I reached the end. It got under my skin in a way I wasn't expecting and left me needing a moment to process everything I'd just experienced.
The slow burn was perfectly written, and the twists and turns were so carefully placed that I found myself completely absorbed in the story. Just when I thought I understood where things were going, something would shift and pull me further in.
What really stood out to me was the author's research and writing. It didn't feel like I was simply reading about what was happening I felt like I was living through the experiences alongside the characters. That made this such a powerful and, at times, difficult read, but it also made everything feel incredibly real.
This was truly a fantastic book, and one I know will stay with me long after finishing it. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it.
August 27, 2026
Thank you TJ for the ARC!
4.5/5 ⭐️ easily one of my favorite thrillers of the year!
I was nervous because this is book #1 in the series and it was long. But it went QUICK!
Really loved the details and character development. Also loved that I had my own theories but really never quite figured it out.
4.5/5 ⭐️ easily one of my favorite thrillers of the year!
I was nervous because this is book #1 in the series and it was long. But it went QUICK!
Really loved the details and character development. Also loved that I had my own theories but really never quite figured it out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, thank you to the author for allowing me to be an ARC reader for Nowhere Good.
*Trigger warnings - abuse, drug use, murder*
Detective Seth Winslow, a former NYC resident, is invited to Fairview, MO, where the drug crisis is running rampant and a serial killer is on the loose. Fairview is a close-knit community, and the Dyer family is right at the center of it.
During his investigation, he meets Claire Dyer, a born-and-raised Fairview native, and notices that the victims look strikingly just like her. Claire knows that her father, Ron Dyer, is a criminal but is virtually untouchable. So she does as she's told, stays quiet, and keeps her head down.
But Detective Winslow isn't convinced Ron is just a hard-working family man, and he plans to win Claire's trust and solve this case no matter what.
This book had me HOOKED from start to finish! Seth was such a dynamic character. The chemistry between him and Claire was a (painfully, lol) slow burn but extremely satisfying in the end. Every side character was interesting, even if it was in a bad way. And honestly, Ron Dyer was a damn good villain. He was smug, cunning, and far more intelligent than he was given credit for. Keeping control over so many people for so long and having several resources in his pocket... the man really was evil in the best way.
Not only was there the suspense from the actual case being solved, but the added romance and humor sprinkled in made this such an enjoyable read. And knowing the story will continue?? Sign me up!
Nowhere Good will be available September 24, 2026, anywhere you buy books!
*Trigger warnings - abuse, drug use, murder*
Detective Seth Winslow, a former NYC resident, is invited to Fairview, MO, where the drug crisis is running rampant and a serial killer is on the loose. Fairview is a close-knit community, and the Dyer family is right at the center of it.
During his investigation, he meets Claire Dyer, a born-and-raised Fairview native, and notices that the victims look strikingly just like her. Claire knows that her father, Ron Dyer, is a criminal but is virtually untouchable. So she does as she's told, stays quiet, and keeps her head down.
But Detective Winslow isn't convinced Ron is just a hard-working family man, and he plans to win Claire's trust and solve this case no matter what.
This book had me HOOKED from start to finish! Seth was such a dynamic character. The chemistry between him and Claire was a (painfully, lol) slow burn but extremely satisfying in the end. Every side character was interesting, even if it was in a bad way. And honestly, Ron Dyer was a damn good villain. He was smug, cunning, and far more intelligent than he was given credit for. Keeping control over so many people for so long and having several resources in his pocket... the man really was evil in the best way.
Not only was there the suspense from the actual case being solved, but the added romance and humor sprinkled in made this such an enjoyable read. And knowing the story will continue?? Sign me up!
Nowhere Good will be available September 24, 2026, anywhere you buy books!
August 3, 2026
This was such an exciting read!
The beginning took me a little while to get into because there are a lot of characters, relationships, and storylines introduced early on. At times it felt like there was a lot to keep track of, but once everything started falling into place, I couldn’t put it down.
Claire was a compelling main character, and I found myself rooting for her from the very beginning. The mystery kept me guessing, and every time I thought I had something figured out, something else came along and completely changed my perspective. The pacing really picked up in the second half, and from that point on I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter.”
I also really enjoyed the balance between the suspense and the emotional moments. Neither one overshadowed the other, and it made the story even more engaging.
Thank you to the author, T.J. Ellory for sending me an ARC for my honest review.
The beginning took me a little while to get into because there are a lot of characters, relationships, and storylines introduced early on. At times it felt like there was a lot to keep track of, but once everything started falling into place, I couldn’t put it down.
Claire was a compelling main character, and I found myself rooting for her from the very beginning. The mystery kept me guessing, and every time I thought I had something figured out, something else came along and completely changed my perspective. The pacing really picked up in the second half, and from that point on I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter.”
I also really enjoyed the balance between the suspense and the emotional moments. Neither one overshadowed the other, and it made the story even more engaging.
Thank you to the author, T.J. Ellory for sending me an ARC for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review – Nowhere Good by T.J. Ellory
Thank you to T.J. Ellory for the ARC. This review reflects my honest opinions.
I devoured this book.
If you love dark, atmospheric crime thrillers with a slow-burn romance woven through the mystery, Nowhere Good absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR. This romantic thriller that feels like you're binge-watching Mindhunter’s, with added romance…. just to keep it spicy!
Nowhere Good perfectly blends a gripping murder investigation with a beautifully developed slow-burn romance. The romance never overshadows the mystery, it enhances it. Every clue, every suspect, and every twist kept me questioning who could really be trusted.
From the first chapter, the story pulls you into a small town where everyone seems to be hiding something. The atmosphere is heavy with secrets, and there's a constant feeling that no one can be fully trusted. Every new clue made me question what I thought I knew, and I loved that the mystery never felt predictable.
The characters are one of this book's biggest strengths. Seth and Claire feel like real people, flawed, resilient, and layered. Seth, the dedicated homicide detective, is determined, protective, and impossible not to root for. Claire doesn't simply fall into his arms, she's cautious, independent, and has every reason to guard her trust. Their relationship develops naturally, making every moment between them feel earned instead of rushed. The romance adds emotional depth without ever taking away from the murder investigation.
The investigation itself is gripping and realistic, with enough twists to keep me turning the pages late into the night. The villains are layered rather than cartoonishly evil, making the story feel grounded and believable. Even the people you dislike have motivations that make sense, which only adds to the suspense.
T.J. Ellory has a cinematic writing style that made every scene play out vividly in my mind. It genuinely felt like I was watching a prestige crime drama unfold.
If you're a fan of Mindhunter or True Detective-style mysteries with rich characters and a touch of romance, I think you'll really enjoy this one.
I'm already looking forward to returning to Winslow and seeing where this series goes next.
If you love:
🖤 Detective MMC × Witness FMC
🖤 He falls first
🖤 Slow-burn romance
🖤 Small-town secrets
🖤 A serial killer investigation
🖤 Family secrets and generational trauma
🖤 Realistic, flawed characters
🖤 Nuanced villains
🖤 Atmospheric, cinematic storytelling
🖤 The promise of an exciting new series…
...then Nowhere Good is absolutely worth your time.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fave Quotes: Nowhere Good
"Whatever it is, I'll believe you." ❤️
“I Can’t believe Daddy asked us to shuck fuckin’ corn at a time like this.” 😉
Thank you to T.J. Ellory for the ARC. This review reflects my honest opinions.
I devoured this book.
If you love dark, atmospheric crime thrillers with a slow-burn romance woven through the mystery, Nowhere Good absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR. This romantic thriller that feels like you're binge-watching Mindhunter’s, with added romance…. just to keep it spicy!
Nowhere Good perfectly blends a gripping murder investigation with a beautifully developed slow-burn romance. The romance never overshadows the mystery, it enhances it. Every clue, every suspect, and every twist kept me questioning who could really be trusted.
From the first chapter, the story pulls you into a small town where everyone seems to be hiding something. The atmosphere is heavy with secrets, and there's a constant feeling that no one can be fully trusted. Every new clue made me question what I thought I knew, and I loved that the mystery never felt predictable.
The characters are one of this book's biggest strengths. Seth and Claire feel like real people, flawed, resilient, and layered. Seth, the dedicated homicide detective, is determined, protective, and impossible not to root for. Claire doesn't simply fall into his arms, she's cautious, independent, and has every reason to guard her trust. Their relationship develops naturally, making every moment between them feel earned instead of rushed. The romance adds emotional depth without ever taking away from the murder investigation.
The investigation itself is gripping and realistic, with enough twists to keep me turning the pages late into the night. The villains are layered rather than cartoonishly evil, making the story feel grounded and believable. Even the people you dislike have motivations that make sense, which only adds to the suspense.
T.J. Ellory has a cinematic writing style that made every scene play out vividly in my mind. It genuinely felt like I was watching a prestige crime drama unfold.
If you're a fan of Mindhunter or True Detective-style mysteries with rich characters and a touch of romance, I think you'll really enjoy this one.
I'm already looking forward to returning to Winslow and seeing where this series goes next.
If you love:
🖤 Detective MMC × Witness FMC
🖤 He falls first
🖤 Slow-burn romance
🖤 Small-town secrets
🖤 A serial killer investigation
🖤 Family secrets and generational trauma
🖤 Realistic, flawed characters
🖤 Nuanced villains
🖤 Atmospheric, cinematic storytelling
🖤 The promise of an exciting new series…
...then Nowhere Good is absolutely worth your time.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fave Quotes: Nowhere Good
"Whatever it is, I'll believe you." ❤️
“I Can’t believe Daddy asked us to shuck fuckin’ corn at a time like this.” 😉
Review of advance copy received from Author
*Spoiler-free review*
"Just because they were out, walking freely, didn’t mean they weren’t both still in that cage."
Thank you to the author, T.J. Ellory, for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Content warning: psychological and physical abuse, brief descriptions of sexual assault, murder, and drug addiction. This book is rated for adult fiction.
Nowhere Good is a suspense story that you will not be able to tear your eyes away from until you have finished reading the book entirely. It took me about 10 days to read it, and I was hooked from the first word. The pace is perfect for a reader who enjoys mystery/suspense novels without too much drag, but also values some world-building and character relations. The mystery/suspense is the clear plot driver, holding the core of this story and tethering the readers to it. There were several moving pieces in the mystery/suspense, including a central serial killer, various other criminals, and a very secretive family, all of which were relevant and kept the story engaging. There was also a subsidiary romantic subplot featuring the MMC, Seth Winslow, a sharp detective who recovered from a debilitating past of his own, and the FMC, Claire Dyers, who is resilient and kind, but controlled by her family. The romance was not distracting and did not follow a typical girl-who-needs-saving trope. Instead, Claire was strong enough on her own to find answers and speak up for herself, forming a bond that felt secure and natural rather than dependent. Not to mention, the slow-burn is always a great bonus to any romance. Departing from the main characters, all of the side characters were also nicely fleshed out and served a purpose. I found myself feeling sympathy for characters like Clementine, Marty, and Dillon, hoping that they'd rise above their circumstances and speak out more as Claire did. On a final note, I also found this story to be a pleasant read, without overwhelming the readers with too much information, plot holes, or confusing details that weren't explained later. The prose had the perfect balance of descriptions and dialogue; everything needed to paint the picture for the reader and to progress the story forward. Overall, a fantastic novel and a MUST-read! T.J. Ellory is gonna be the next best author!!
"Just because they were out, walking freely, didn’t mean they weren’t both still in that cage."
Thank you to the author, T.J. Ellory, for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Content warning: psychological and physical abuse, brief descriptions of sexual assault, murder, and drug addiction. This book is rated for adult fiction.
Nowhere Good is a suspense story that you will not be able to tear your eyes away from until you have finished reading the book entirely. It took me about 10 days to read it, and I was hooked from the first word. The pace is perfect for a reader who enjoys mystery/suspense novels without too much drag, but also values some world-building and character relations. The mystery/suspense is the clear plot driver, holding the core of this story and tethering the readers to it. There were several moving pieces in the mystery/suspense, including a central serial killer, various other criminals, and a very secretive family, all of which were relevant and kept the story engaging. There was also a subsidiary romantic subplot featuring the MMC, Seth Winslow, a sharp detective who recovered from a debilitating past of his own, and the FMC, Claire Dyers, who is resilient and kind, but controlled by her family. The romance was not distracting and did not follow a typical girl-who-needs-saving trope. Instead, Claire was strong enough on her own to find answers and speak up for herself, forming a bond that felt secure and natural rather than dependent. Not to mention, the slow-burn is always a great bonus to any romance. Departing from the main characters, all of the side characters were also nicely fleshed out and served a purpose. I found myself feeling sympathy for characters like Clementine, Marty, and Dillon, hoping that they'd rise above their circumstances and speak out more as Claire did. On a final note, I also found this story to be a pleasant read, without overwhelming the readers with too much information, plot holes, or confusing details that weren't explained later. The prose had the perfect balance of descriptions and dialogue; everything needed to paint the picture for the reader and to progress the story forward. Overall, a fantastic novel and a MUST-read! T.J. Ellory is gonna be the next best author!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Fairview might be a small town, but there is absolutely nothing small about the secrets buried there.
Nowhere Good was a brilliant read. I went in expecting a dark romantic thriller filled with murder, mystery, complicated histories and small-town secrets, and it delivered on every one of those elements.
There is a lot happening throughout this story, but it never felt overcrowded. Everything was given the detail it needed, the pacing stayed strong from beginning to end, and I never found myself bored or waiting for the plot to move along.
The mystery was probably my favourite part. The twists just kept coming. There were red herrings, new suspicions and reveals that constantly had me second-guessing what I thought I knew. It felt incredibly well thought out, with small details woven into the story that eventually came together in such a satisfying way. By the end, all of my questions had been answered.
Seth and Claire were also fantastic characters. Both had so much depth and history that I genuinely felt like I knew them by the end of the book. Their pasts added real emotional weight to the story, while the more sinister characters brought a genuinely unsettling edge.
The atmosphere was dark, gritty, eerie and suspenseful, with some heavier themes handled thoughtfully rather than simply being used for shock value.
I usually connect more easily with first-person narration, but the third-person writing here completely pulled me in. This story had me firmly in its grasp until the final page.
The romance is definitely on the subtler side. The yearning and tension are there, but the actual spice is very low and intimacy is fade-to-black. Because this is marketed as a romantic thriller, I would have liked a little more romantic payoff, but that's genuinely my only real criticism.
The thriller itself is so strong, clever and intricately put together that I was completely satisfied when I finished.
If you enjoy murder mysteries packed with twists, detailed character backstories, sinister small-town secrets and plenty of yearning alongside the darkness, I definitely recommend this one.
⚠️ Content warnings include: drug use/addiction, overdose, childhood/family abuse and trauma, murder, violence, blood/gore, grief/loss and sensitive themes.
Fairview might be a small town, but there is absolutely nothing small about the secrets buried there.
Nowhere Good was a brilliant read. I went in expecting a dark romantic thriller filled with murder, mystery, complicated histories and small-town secrets, and it delivered on every one of those elements.
There is a lot happening throughout this story, but it never felt overcrowded. Everything was given the detail it needed, the pacing stayed strong from beginning to end, and I never found myself bored or waiting for the plot to move along.
The mystery was probably my favourite part. The twists just kept coming. There were red herrings, new suspicions and reveals that constantly had me second-guessing what I thought I knew. It felt incredibly well thought out, with small details woven into the story that eventually came together in such a satisfying way. By the end, all of my questions had been answered.
Seth and Claire were also fantastic characters. Both had so much depth and history that I genuinely felt like I knew them by the end of the book. Their pasts added real emotional weight to the story, while the more sinister characters brought a genuinely unsettling edge.
The atmosphere was dark, gritty, eerie and suspenseful, with some heavier themes handled thoughtfully rather than simply being used for shock value.
I usually connect more easily with first-person narration, but the third-person writing here completely pulled me in. This story had me firmly in its grasp until the final page.
The romance is definitely on the subtler side. The yearning and tension are there, but the actual spice is very low and intimacy is fade-to-black. Because this is marketed as a romantic thriller, I would have liked a little more romantic payoff, but that's genuinely my only real criticism.
The thriller itself is so strong, clever and intricately put together that I was completely satisfied when I finished.
If you enjoy murder mysteries packed with twists, detailed character backstories, sinister small-town secrets and plenty of yearning alongside the darkness, I definitely recommend this one.
⚠️ Content warnings include: drug use/addiction, overdose, childhood/family abuse and trauma, murder, violence, blood/gore, grief/loss and sensitive themes.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love a mystery that makes me think I have everything figured out, only to turn around and completely change my perspective. And Nowhere Good absolutely delivered that for me. 🔥
The beginning took a little time to settle into because there are quite a few characters, relationships, and storylines being introduced. I definitely had to pay attention and keep track of everything—but once the pieces started falling into place, I was HOOKED.
Claire was such a compelling character, and I found myself rooting for her right from the beginning. Her situation is already complicated enough—being the daughter of a man she suspects is behind the town's opioid crisis—but then a woman who looks eerily like Claire is murdered with a terrifying message carved into her skin.
Ummm… excuse me?! 😳
And then more women who resemble Claire start turning up.
That mystery kept me guessing the entire time. Every time I thought I had finally connected the dots, something else happened and completely changed my perspective. 👀 I LOVE when a thriller can actually keep me on my toes instead of letting me solve the whole thing halfway through.
The pacing really picked up in the second half, and that's when I hit the “just one more chapter” zone… you know, the lie we tell ourselves at 11 PM when we absolutely should be sleeping. 😂📖
I also really loved the balance between the suspense and the emotional side of the story. Neither one completely overshadowed the other, which made everything feel more engaging and gave the characters room to breathe amidst all the twists and tension.
✨ If you love:
🖤 Gritty romantic thrillers
🔎 Twisty mysteries
🖤 Small-town secrets
🔎 Suspense that keeps you guessing
🖤 Complicated family dynamics
🔎 A strong, compelling heroine
🖤 Romance woven into a darker storyline
…you are going to want this one on your radar!
Nowhere Good had me suspicious of basically everyone by the end, and honestly? That's exactly what I want from a thriller. 😂🖤
⭐️ 5/5 stars
📖 383 pages
📅 Expected publication: September 24, 2026
If you enjoy thrillers that make you question what you think you know, definitely add this one to your TBR. 🖤✨
The beginning took a little time to settle into because there are quite a few characters, relationships, and storylines being introduced. I definitely had to pay attention and keep track of everything—but once the pieces started falling into place, I was HOOKED.
Claire was such a compelling character, and I found myself rooting for her right from the beginning. Her situation is already complicated enough—being the daughter of a man she suspects is behind the town's opioid crisis—but then a woman who looks eerily like Claire is murdered with a terrifying message carved into her skin.
Ummm… excuse me?! 😳
And then more women who resemble Claire start turning up.
That mystery kept me guessing the entire time. Every time I thought I had finally connected the dots, something else happened and completely changed my perspective. 👀 I LOVE when a thriller can actually keep me on my toes instead of letting me solve the whole thing halfway through.
The pacing really picked up in the second half, and that's when I hit the “just one more chapter” zone… you know, the lie we tell ourselves at 11 PM when we absolutely should be sleeping. 😂📖
I also really loved the balance between the suspense and the emotional side of the story. Neither one completely overshadowed the other, which made everything feel more engaging and gave the characters room to breathe amidst all the twists and tension.
✨ If you love:
🖤 Gritty romantic thrillers
🔎 Twisty mysteries
🖤 Small-town secrets
🔎 Suspense that keeps you guessing
🖤 Complicated family dynamics
🔎 A strong, compelling heroine
🖤 Romance woven into a darker storyline
…you are going to want this one on your radar!
Nowhere Good had me suspicious of basically everyone by the end, and honestly? That's exactly what I want from a thriller. 😂🖤
⭐️ 5/5 stars
📖 383 pages
📅 Expected publication: September 24, 2026
If you enjoy thrillers that make you question what you think you know, definitely add this one to your TBR. 🖤✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
OH. MY. GOD.
I absolutely LOVED this book!!! I cannot wait for the sequel to come out.
Mindhunter meets slow burn romance!? This book was EVERYTHING AND MORE. It far exceeded my expectations, I knew I’d enjoy reading it but holy hell, I LOVED IT. It’s 1:44am and it’s the third consecutive night that I’ve stayed up late because I simply couldn’t put the damn thing down!
The characters were all phenomenally crafted, so much substance to each of their stories! I am just blown away by this, honestly. The story was gripping, I loved the MMC and FMC, and again the amount of depth to the characters was just incredibly executed. The portrayal of the impact of abuse was done so well and spot-on, not just on an individual but also down to the family dynamics as a whole.
A slow-burn romantic thriller featuring a city boy detective and a small-town witness with a serial killer on the loose in Missouri.
•
Claire Dyer knows what kind of man her father is. The rest of Fairview, Missouri sees him as a pillar of the community but Claire suspects he’s the one feeding the town’s opioid crisis. She’s just been too afraid to speak up after what happened last time she tried to run. So she plays the good girl; she bartends at the family’s bar, dates who she’s told to date, and keeps her head down...
Until an addict is found murdered in town with the words “IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME” carved into her skin.
The victim looks just like Claire. It’s the first thing Detective Seth Winslow notices when he arrives from Kansas City to take over the case. As the youngest man on the force, battling his own history with addiction, he’s determined to solve this crime quickly and quietly.
But the killer has other plans. As more girls resembling Claire are killed, the investigation keeps leading Seth to the Dyers’ doorstep and to Claire. She’s his best witness, but the closer he gets, the more the line between protecting her and wanting her starts to blur. Claire is desperate to trust this new detective, but doing so would mean the one thing she swore she’d never do: betray her family.
I absolutely LOVED this book!!! I cannot wait for the sequel to come out.
Mindhunter meets slow burn romance!? This book was EVERYTHING AND MORE. It far exceeded my expectations, I knew I’d enjoy reading it but holy hell, I LOVED IT. It’s 1:44am and it’s the third consecutive night that I’ve stayed up late because I simply couldn’t put the damn thing down!
The characters were all phenomenally crafted, so much substance to each of their stories! I am just blown away by this, honestly. The story was gripping, I loved the MMC and FMC, and again the amount of depth to the characters was just incredibly executed. The portrayal of the impact of abuse was done so well and spot-on, not just on an individual but also down to the family dynamics as a whole.
A slow-burn romantic thriller featuring a city boy detective and a small-town witness with a serial killer on the loose in Missouri.
•
Claire Dyer knows what kind of man her father is. The rest of Fairview, Missouri sees him as a pillar of the community but Claire suspects he’s the one feeding the town’s opioid crisis. She’s just been too afraid to speak up after what happened last time she tried to run. So she plays the good girl; she bartends at the family’s bar, dates who she’s told to date, and keeps her head down...
Until an addict is found murdered in town with the words “IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME” carved into her skin.
The victim looks just like Claire. It’s the first thing Detective Seth Winslow notices when he arrives from Kansas City to take over the case. As the youngest man on the force, battling his own history with addiction, he’s determined to solve this crime quickly and quietly.
But the killer has other plans. As more girls resembling Claire are killed, the investigation keeps leading Seth to the Dyers’ doorstep and to Claire. She’s his best witness, but the closer he gets, the more the line between protecting her and wanting her starts to blur. Claire is desperate to trust this new detective, but doing so would mean the one thing she swore she’d never do: betray her family.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a brilliant debut! From the very first chapter, I felt like I was watching an incredibly intense crime drama rather than reading a novel. The writing is so cinematic that every chase, discovery, and confrontation played out vividly in my mind.
🌶️ 1/5 - Although this is marketed as a romantic thriller, I’d say it’s 90% thriller and 10% romance (+one spice scene) and I actually loved that! ❤️🔥 The romance is very good and never overshadows the story instead, it enhances it in the best possible way. I hope readers don’t overlook this book because of the genre label and could deeply appreciate how well written it is on thriller side.
“She looked perfect to him. If Seth had a girl like her at home, he’d never want to stop reminding her how pretty she was in his eyes. No, not a girl like her. Her.”
🔍 5/5 - The suspense is excellent, the pacing is addictive and the journey is so gripping that you won’t want to put it down. The atmosphere throughout is incredible, and the small-town setting adds so much tension and depth.
Book explores so many different angles, including psychological and emotional abuse (handled it with sensitivity and realism), and I was just pressing my palm to my mouth so many times because…wow….
“You don’t have to tell me,” Seth said. “I just want you to know that I’m on your side. Whatever it is, I’ll believe you.”
💛 4/5 - The romance is beautifully written because it’s built on trust, patience, and genuine emotional connection rather than instant physical attraction. The MMC is intelligent, kind, and quietly supportive, while the FMC feels incredibly real. Their relationship develop naturally and this is exactly what this book needed👌🏻
“He couldn’t imagine it ever being that good with anyone else. He didn’t want to find out.”
This was one of those books that completely pulled me in and made me forget I was even reading.
An outstanding debut, and I can’t wait for the second book!!!
What a brilliant debut! From the very first chapter, I felt like I was watching an incredibly intense crime drama rather than reading a novel. The writing is so cinematic that every chase, discovery, and confrontation played out vividly in my mind.
🌶️ 1/5 - Although this is marketed as a romantic thriller, I’d say it’s 90% thriller and 10% romance (+one spice scene) and I actually loved that! ❤️🔥 The romance is very good and never overshadows the story instead, it enhances it in the best possible way. I hope readers don’t overlook this book because of the genre label and could deeply appreciate how well written it is on thriller side.
“She looked perfect to him. If Seth had a girl like her at home, he’d never want to stop reminding her how pretty she was in his eyes. No, not a girl like her. Her.”
🔍 5/5 - The suspense is excellent, the pacing is addictive and the journey is so gripping that you won’t want to put it down. The atmosphere throughout is incredible, and the small-town setting adds so much tension and depth.
Book explores so many different angles, including psychological and emotional abuse (handled it with sensitivity and realism), and I was just pressing my palm to my mouth so many times because…wow….
“You don’t have to tell me,” Seth said. “I just want you to know that I’m on your side. Whatever it is, I’ll believe you.”
💛 4/5 - The romance is beautifully written because it’s built on trust, patience, and genuine emotional connection rather than instant physical attraction. The MMC is intelligent, kind, and quietly supportive, while the FMC feels incredibly real. Their relationship develop naturally and this is exactly what this book needed👌🏻
“He couldn’t imagine it ever being that good with anyone else. He didn’t want to find out.”
This was one of those books that completely pulled me in and made me forget I was even reading.
An outstanding debut, and I can’t wait for the second book!!!
August 14, 2026
ARC Review
This was my first proper romantic thriller and I genuinely really enjoyed how the two genres worked together. There was something about getting all those little crumbs of romance while also trying to figure out who everyone was, how they fitted together and just how deep the corruption went that completely sucked me in.
Claire and Seth worked really well for me. The romance is a proper slow burn and I loved that it was there bubbling away in the background before really ramping up around the 70–80% mark. Their individual backstories gave them enough depth that I was rooting for them separately as well as together, and the relationship never felt like it was taking away from the actual thriller.
I did guess the general direction of the plot quite early on, but I think that’s partly the curse of reading a lot of thrillers. You start to recognise where things might be heading. What I didn’t have figured out were all the nuances and connections along the way. There were still plenty of little “ohhh, okay!” moments where another piece suddenly clicked into place, as well as a couple of reveals I genuinely didn’t see coming.
The pacing was really good throughout and, even when I thought I knew where we were heading, I never felt like I was just waiting for the book to catch up with me. The corruption storyline was particularly well done and gave the whole thing that slightly unsettling feeling of not quite knowing who could actually be trusted.
I also really liked that it feels like there’s more story to tell. There’s enough left open that I can absolutely see where a sequel could take things, without this feeling unfinished.
Overall, just a really solid, gripping read. It didn’t quite give me that completely rocked, “what the fuck have I just read?” feeling that my absolute favourites do, but I had a bloody good time reading it and I’ll definitely be interested to see where T.J. Ellory takes it next.
This was my first proper romantic thriller and I genuinely really enjoyed how the two genres worked together. There was something about getting all those little crumbs of romance while also trying to figure out who everyone was, how they fitted together and just how deep the corruption went that completely sucked me in.
Claire and Seth worked really well for me. The romance is a proper slow burn and I loved that it was there bubbling away in the background before really ramping up around the 70–80% mark. Their individual backstories gave them enough depth that I was rooting for them separately as well as together, and the relationship never felt like it was taking away from the actual thriller.
I did guess the general direction of the plot quite early on, but I think that’s partly the curse of reading a lot of thrillers. You start to recognise where things might be heading. What I didn’t have figured out were all the nuances and connections along the way. There were still plenty of little “ohhh, okay!” moments where another piece suddenly clicked into place, as well as a couple of reveals I genuinely didn’t see coming.
The pacing was really good throughout and, even when I thought I knew where we were heading, I never felt like I was just waiting for the book to catch up with me. The corruption storyline was particularly well done and gave the whole thing that slightly unsettling feeling of not quite knowing who could actually be trusted.
I also really liked that it feels like there’s more story to tell. There’s enough left open that I can absolutely see where a sequel could take things, without this feeling unfinished.
Overall, just a really solid, gripping read. It didn’t quite give me that completely rocked, “what the fuck have I just read?” feeling that my absolute favourites do, but I had a bloody good time reading it and I’ll definitely be interested to see where T.J. Ellory takes it next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Book Review: Nowhere Good by T.J. Ellory
Nowhere Good by T.J. Ellory is a “glued to my seat” thriller. As book 1 of the series Winslow & Dyer, the author creates a dark mystery that has some pretty intense themes like drug addiction, serial murder, family abuse and trauma. But these topics are carefully written and not too intense for this reader.
I think the main characters were well described, especially Seth and Claire. Seth is a big city cop assigned to a small town murder case which turns into a serial murder case. But Seth is not a flawless hero. He has a messy, complicated history, but his dedication to turning his life around makes him immediately compelling. What makes him truly believable is that his recovery isn't treated as a quick fix; his ongoing struggle with addiction adds a layer of authentic tension to his investigative work and how he handles the victims.
Claire, has an equally powerful role. She battles with PTSD stemming from her father Ron’s abuse and her fear of Ron is absolutely gut-wrenching.
Ellory handles Claire’s trauma with immense sensitivity, showing her as a resilient woman. I love the gradual, slow-burn growth of trust and romance between Claire and Seth.
There are lots of twists and turns as Seth tries to rule out murder suspects and his growing relationship with Claire clouds his judgement on occasion. The twists and turns involve different suspects and Claire’s dad Ron is the suspect you would want arrested. I would have liked to have understood the character Ron a bit more to understand the history of his character, as he is a terrible person. His treatment of women, especially his family is scary.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and I look forward to book 2.
If you look for certain tropes then you will find: Big City boy and small-town girl relationship, Slow Burn romance, Family Secrets/Never Betray family
Nowhere Good by T.J. Ellory is a “glued to my seat” thriller. As book 1 of the series Winslow & Dyer, the author creates a dark mystery that has some pretty intense themes like drug addiction, serial murder, family abuse and trauma. But these topics are carefully written and not too intense for this reader.
I think the main characters were well described, especially Seth and Claire. Seth is a big city cop assigned to a small town murder case which turns into a serial murder case. But Seth is not a flawless hero. He has a messy, complicated history, but his dedication to turning his life around makes him immediately compelling. What makes him truly believable is that his recovery isn't treated as a quick fix; his ongoing struggle with addiction adds a layer of authentic tension to his investigative work and how he handles the victims.
Claire, has an equally powerful role. She battles with PTSD stemming from her father Ron’s abuse and her fear of Ron is absolutely gut-wrenching.
Ellory handles Claire’s trauma with immense sensitivity, showing her as a resilient woman. I love the gradual, slow-burn growth of trust and romance between Claire and Seth.
There are lots of twists and turns as Seth tries to rule out murder suspects and his growing relationship with Claire clouds his judgement on occasion. The twists and turns involve different suspects and Claire’s dad Ron is the suspect you would want arrested. I would have liked to have understood the character Ron a bit more to understand the history of his character, as he is a terrible person. His treatment of women, especially his family is scary.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and I look forward to book 2.
If you look for certain tropes then you will find: Big City boy and small-town girl relationship, Slow Burn romance, Family Secrets/Never Betray family
October 19, 2026
Thank you to the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy and the opportunity to read and review her book!
I have never read a romantic thriller like this before, and it was so much fun! I blew through this page-turner as I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
This story follows Claire Dyer, a young woman stuck in small-town Missouri working for her family’s business. A murder brings in big-city detective Seth Winslow to investigate. This story addresses the opioid crisis and showcases the consequences of addiction head-on, which is especially pertinent to the current times (especially in small towns in the Midwest). The story also includes family crime drama and the discovery of a serial killer – as Seth works to solve the case, Claire reluctantly gets involved and ends up more entangled than she expects. As he gets more invested and spends more time with Claire, Seth struggles to keep their relationship strictly professional.
I loved how the hot-shot detective had struggles that Claire was able to help him through, and that he couldn’t solve the case without her. I liked her character arc a lot and was rooting for her. The small-town Midwest setting was engaging (and I particularly appreciated it as someone who lives in Missouri) and the drama and entanglement of the families in town that extends throughout their lifetimes (kids dating in high school and working together later, etc) was very natural. The crime was brutal and intriguing, and as a lover of serial killer stories, I really enjoyed watching the plot develop (even with sometimes predictable twists and turns).
Fans of crime thrillers, serial killers, and small-town drama will love this one; I’d compare it to books like Karin Slaughter’s “Pretty Girls” and “We Are All Guilty Here.” I’m excited to see what comes next for Dyer and Winslow!
I have never read a romantic thriller like this before, and it was so much fun! I blew through this page-turner as I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
This story follows Claire Dyer, a young woman stuck in small-town Missouri working for her family’s business. A murder brings in big-city detective Seth Winslow to investigate. This story addresses the opioid crisis and showcases the consequences of addiction head-on, which is especially pertinent to the current times (especially in small towns in the Midwest). The story also includes family crime drama and the discovery of a serial killer – as Seth works to solve the case, Claire reluctantly gets involved and ends up more entangled than she expects. As he gets more invested and spends more time with Claire, Seth struggles to keep their relationship strictly professional.
I loved how the hot-shot detective had struggles that Claire was able to help him through, and that he couldn’t solve the case without her. I liked her character arc a lot and was rooting for her. The small-town Midwest setting was engaging (and I particularly appreciated it as someone who lives in Missouri) and the drama and entanglement of the families in town that extends throughout their lifetimes (kids dating in high school and working together later, etc) was very natural. The crime was brutal and intriguing, and as a lover of serial killer stories, I really enjoyed watching the plot develop (even with sometimes predictable twists and turns).
Fans of crime thrillers, serial killers, and small-town drama will love this one; I’d compare it to books like Karin Slaughter’s “Pretty Girls” and “We Are All Guilty Here.” I’m excited to see what comes next for Dyer and Winslow!
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌟Indie 🇨🇦 Author Book Review🌟
*ARC Read*
"Nowhere Good" by T. J. Ellory
A thriller romance debut novel.
Deep in the middle of the Missouri cornfields lurks a serial killer threatening to rip a small town apart. As the story unfolds, family secrets become unveiled, past decisions come home to roost, and love slowly blossoms. The main characters experience a slow burn romance as the mystery surrounding them heats up.
T. J. Ellory knocks it out of the park with this gritty tale of murder, intrigue, and courage. I blazed through this book in one sitting as I could not put it down!
For a debut novel, this story was crafted with precision, creating suspense for both the characters and the world they experience, showing that blood does not always mean family.
An evocative read from the very beginning, showcasing two very human main characters who both face demons from their pasts and conquer them. They grip your mind and stake claim to your emotions. Here's to more of Seth and Claire! 🥂
Release date is September 24, 2026. Run to Amazon and secure your pre-order today! 🏃🏼♀️💨💨
⭐️5/5 The world-building and suspense were excellent. It keeps you hooked without disrupting your sleep at night.
🌶1/5 The spice is minimal, with a slow burn and yearning throughout the book.
🧁4/5 The FMC and MMC are lovely characters who each have overcome a dark past, and find love and acceptance in each other and support each other throughout.
🔍4.5/5 Loved the twists and turns and suspense. Figuring out the "whodunnit" is not overly difficult, but the way the story unfolds has you engrossed in the story, eagerly awaiting the next development.
*ARC Read*
"Nowhere Good" by T. J. Ellory
A thriller romance debut novel.
Deep in the middle of the Missouri cornfields lurks a serial killer threatening to rip a small town apart. As the story unfolds, family secrets become unveiled, past decisions come home to roost, and love slowly blossoms. The main characters experience a slow burn romance as the mystery surrounding them heats up.
T. J. Ellory knocks it out of the park with this gritty tale of murder, intrigue, and courage. I blazed through this book in one sitting as I could not put it down!
For a debut novel, this story was crafted with precision, creating suspense for both the characters and the world they experience, showing that blood does not always mean family.
An evocative read from the very beginning, showcasing two very human main characters who both face demons from their pasts and conquer them. They grip your mind and stake claim to your emotions. Here's to more of Seth and Claire! 🥂
Release date is September 24, 2026. Run to Amazon and secure your pre-order today! 🏃🏼♀️💨💨
⭐️5/5 The world-building and suspense were excellent. It keeps you hooked without disrupting your sleep at night.
🌶1/5 The spice is minimal, with a slow burn and yearning throughout the book.
🧁4/5 The FMC and MMC are lovely characters who each have overcome a dark past, and find love and acceptance in each other and support each other throughout.
🔍4.5/5 Loved the twists and turns and suspense. Figuring out the "whodunnit" is not overly difficult, but the way the story unfolds has you engrossed in the story, eagerly awaiting the next development.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"... he felt like he was on the tip of a roller coaster, waiting for it to drop."
That line was my exact physical state for this entire ARC. That heavy-chest feeling of waiting for the floor to be pulled out from under you which reminded me of reading All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles.
Seth and Claire had phenomenal character development. Seth is a big city detective with a dark past and a big heart. Claire is a small town girl with a traumatic past trying to find an escape.
We see how each of their pasts and choices shaped them to the character they are today and the paths they choose. Their stories are connected by a serial killer on the loose and Seth trying to solve the case. Seth doesn't just solve the case he untangles a web of lies and other cases. It showcases how much he begins to care for Claire and at times clouding his professional judgement. But the thing with Seth is he follows his intuition, that gut feeling-I think this is what makes him so good at his job. Claire doesn't want to be saved; she has so much insight into her life and trauma can either make you follow the same path you've always known or make drastic changes to stop the cycle. Seth and Claire are cycle breakers.
She also crafted each of the supporting characters fitting them into the story like a puzzle. The ending still has me shocked and was not anything I expected.
This book carries heavy themes such as sexual assault, drug abuse, family/domestic/child abuse but each theme was carefully crafted and handled with care that did not make it feel overwhelming.
I already look forward to the sequel Underworld.
That line was my exact physical state for this entire ARC. That heavy-chest feeling of waiting for the floor to be pulled out from under you which reminded me of reading All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles.
Seth and Claire had phenomenal character development. Seth is a big city detective with a dark past and a big heart. Claire is a small town girl with a traumatic past trying to find an escape.
We see how each of their pasts and choices shaped them to the character they are today and the paths they choose. Their stories are connected by a serial killer on the loose and Seth trying to solve the case. Seth doesn't just solve the case he untangles a web of lies and other cases. It showcases how much he begins to care for Claire and at times clouding his professional judgement. But the thing with Seth is he follows his intuition, that gut feeling-I think this is what makes him so good at his job. Claire doesn't want to be saved; she has so much insight into her life and trauma can either make you follow the same path you've always known or make drastic changes to stop the cycle. Seth and Claire are cycle breakers.
She also crafted each of the supporting characters fitting them into the story like a puzzle. The ending still has me shocked and was not anything I expected.
This book carries heavy themes such as sexual assault, drug abuse, family/domestic/child abuse but each theme was carefully crafted and handled with care that did not make it feel overwhelming.
I already look forward to the sequel Underworld.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to T.J. Ellory for providing this ARC of Nowhere Good in exchange for my review.
⭐⭐ 4/5 stars ⭐⭐
Right, so I went in expecting Your Standard Thriller™ and came out the other side a bit rattled, in the best way. This is not just your normal thriller, and I say that as someone who has read approximately one billion thrillers at this point.
Seth. SETH. Here's a man whose past has very much not stayed in the past, no matter how hard he's tried to bury it, and watching him wrestle with that gave him this rich vein of humanity that a lot of crime fiction protagonists just don't bother with. It also had me sat there thinking, genuinely, shouldn't there be more support for people in his line of work? More regular check-ins, more therapy, more actual care? I'm not saying sack the man, I'm saying give him a therapist and possibly a lie down before you hand him another case.
And then there's Claire. Oh, Claire. I cannot in good conscience sit here and say "just leave, just run" because with what she grew up with, staying put out of sheer terror makes complete sense. It's the kind of characterisation that makes you furious on someone's behalf rather than at them, which is a much harder thing to pull off than it sounds.
The twists though... I'd guess at something, feel quite smug about it, get the confirmation... and then get absolutely blindsided by the next one. Properly kept me turning pages, which is always the mark of a good one for me.
Given this is Winslow & Dyer #1, I am already thinking about book two. What happens next? I need to know, T.J., and I need to know soon.
⭐⭐ 4/5 stars ⭐⭐
Right, so I went in expecting Your Standard Thriller™ and came out the other side a bit rattled, in the best way. This is not just your normal thriller, and I say that as someone who has read approximately one billion thrillers at this point.
Seth. SETH. Here's a man whose past has very much not stayed in the past, no matter how hard he's tried to bury it, and watching him wrestle with that gave him this rich vein of humanity that a lot of crime fiction protagonists just don't bother with. It also had me sat there thinking, genuinely, shouldn't there be more support for people in his line of work? More regular check-ins, more therapy, more actual care? I'm not saying sack the man, I'm saying give him a therapist and possibly a lie down before you hand him another case.
And then there's Claire. Oh, Claire. I cannot in good conscience sit here and say "just leave, just run" because with what she grew up with, staying put out of sheer terror makes complete sense. It's the kind of characterisation that makes you furious on someone's behalf rather than at them, which is a much harder thing to pull off than it sounds.
The twists though... I'd guess at something, feel quite smug about it, get the confirmation... and then get absolutely blindsided by the next one. Properly kept me turning pages, which is always the mark of a good one for me.
Given this is Winslow & Dyer #1, I am already thinking about book two. What happens next? I need to know, T.J., and I need to know soon.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.75 stars
This was my first ARC, and I’m so happy that I got to start my ARC journey with such a great first book. I started reading this book before I went to bed, with the intentions of getting about halfway through it or so before going to sleep….that did not happen. I read the entire book in one sitting because I just could not put it down. Was I tired when I woke up today? Yes. But was it worth it? Oh absolutely yes.
Our two main characters, Claire and Seth, were both very well written. Both have grown up in their own different hells, but although they still carry their traumas with them, it only pushes them to be more resilient and driven; neither one let their childhood define the ending to their personal stories.
The relationship between them was a slow burn, enough to have you rooting for them, but not enough to take away from the thriller aspect.
As for that, it kept you intrigued the entire time. There were a few small subplots here and there, but not to the point where they felt confusing or just randomly tossed in; instead the storyline was easy to follow, and everything was connected in one way or the other.
Between the storyline, the pacing, the characters, and the writing itself, it’s hard to believe that this is the authors debut novel, but she did an incredible job. I’m so excited to see that there’s going to be a second book, and I’ll be anxiously awaiting for the day that it comes out
A huge thank you to T.J. Ellory for the ARC and the opportunity to give an early review!
This was my first ARC, and I’m so happy that I got to start my ARC journey with such a great first book. I started reading this book before I went to bed, with the intentions of getting about halfway through it or so before going to sleep….that did not happen. I read the entire book in one sitting because I just could not put it down. Was I tired when I woke up today? Yes. But was it worth it? Oh absolutely yes.
Our two main characters, Claire and Seth, were both very well written. Both have grown up in their own different hells, but although they still carry their traumas with them, it only pushes them to be more resilient and driven; neither one let their childhood define the ending to their personal stories.
The relationship between them was a slow burn, enough to have you rooting for them, but not enough to take away from the thriller aspect.
As for that, it kept you intrigued the entire time. There were a few small subplots here and there, but not to the point where they felt confusing or just randomly tossed in; instead the storyline was easy to follow, and everything was connected in one way or the other.
Between the storyline, the pacing, the characters, and the writing itself, it’s hard to believe that this is the authors debut novel, but she did an incredible job. I’m so excited to see that there’s going to be a second book, and I’ll be anxiously awaiting for the day that it comes out
A huge thank you to T.J. Ellory for the ARC and the opportunity to give an early review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ SPOILER FREE ARC REVIEW ✨
A huge thank you to T.J. Ellory for sending me an ARC copy of NOWHERE GOOD in exchange for my honest review! 🤍📚
This book hooked me from the very beginning, and being a Missourian myself made the setting feel especially close to home. I loved being thrown into the story, meeting the characters, and slowly figuring out who was who and what everyone was really about.
Both the FMC and MMC were incredibly well-written. They had depth, complicated pasts, and motivations that shaped the choices they made throughout the story. I especially connected with the idea of carrying a haunted past while still finding a way to keep living your life. Not because I related to their specific histories, but because that feeling of learning to live beyond what has happened to you really resonated with me.
And the villain? 👏 Absolutely fantastic. I hated them with a PASSION, which means the author did exactly what they were supposed to do.
The romance was quite possibly the most painful slow burn of the century, but WOW was it worth the wait. The suspense kept me flying through the chapters because every time I thought I could put the book down, I needed to know what happened next.
Overall, NOWHERE GOOD gave me the perfect mix of thriller, suspense, and slow-burn romance, with characters I actually cared about and a villain I loved to hate. This one definitely kept me invested until the very end.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
NOWHERE GOOD releases September 24, 2026! Add it to your TBR and be ready to grab your copy on release day. 🖤📖
A huge thank you to T.J. Ellory for sending me an ARC copy of NOWHERE GOOD in exchange for my honest review! 🤍📚
This book hooked me from the very beginning, and being a Missourian myself made the setting feel especially close to home. I loved being thrown into the story, meeting the characters, and slowly figuring out who was who and what everyone was really about.
Both the FMC and MMC were incredibly well-written. They had depth, complicated pasts, and motivations that shaped the choices they made throughout the story. I especially connected with the idea of carrying a haunted past while still finding a way to keep living your life. Not because I related to their specific histories, but because that feeling of learning to live beyond what has happened to you really resonated with me.
And the villain? 👏 Absolutely fantastic. I hated them with a PASSION, which means the author did exactly what they were supposed to do.
The romance was quite possibly the most painful slow burn of the century, but WOW was it worth the wait. The suspense kept me flying through the chapters because every time I thought I could put the book down, I needed to know what happened next.
Overall, NOWHERE GOOD gave me the perfect mix of thriller, suspense, and slow-burn romance, with characters I actually cared about and a villain I loved to hate. This one definitely kept me invested until the very end.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
NOWHERE GOOD releases September 24, 2026! Add it to your TBR and be ready to grab your copy on release day. 🖤📖
Review of advance copy received from Author
Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the author. I am voluntarily writing this review.
Pros: Overall, the story was good. It grabbed my attention and drew me in. The MMC had depth, and Marty, the FMC's brother-in-law, showed meaningful character growth. I also liked the setting. If this were a film, I could almost picture it in a sepia tone.
Weaknesses: The biggest weakness for me was the basic grammatical errors. For example, the author used "till" multiple times instead of "until" outside of character-relevant dialogue, and phrases such as "lied in bed" or "laid in bed" were used where "lay in bed" would have been correct. These issues were distracting and took me out of the story.
Secondly, the FMC lacked depth and personality. Her entire character seemed to be based on being "pretty and needing saving." There was also no real twist for me. Rather, the story introduced a possible suspect, and then it turned out to be that person, although not the first suspect presented. The earlier suspects did not make much sense as viable options, so it was not surprising when they were ruled out.
I also felt there was too much going on at once, including the mother's disappearance, the drug ring, and the serial killer plotline. I'm guessing some of this was intended to set up future books. Personally, I think it would have been better to foreshadow the mother's disappearance and the drug ring while focusing more on the killer targeting these women. That would have also allowed more room to develop the FMC's depth and personality.
Pros: Overall, the story was good. It grabbed my attention and drew me in. The MMC had depth, and Marty, the FMC's brother-in-law, showed meaningful character growth. I also liked the setting. If this were a film, I could almost picture it in a sepia tone.
Weaknesses: The biggest weakness for me was the basic grammatical errors. For example, the author used "till" multiple times instead of "until" outside of character-relevant dialogue, and phrases such as "lied in bed" or "laid in bed" were used where "lay in bed" would have been correct. These issues were distracting and took me out of the story.
Secondly, the FMC lacked depth and personality. Her entire character seemed to be based on being "pretty and needing saving." There was also no real twist for me. Rather, the story introduced a possible suspect, and then it turned out to be that person, although not the first suspect presented. The earlier suspects did not make much sense as viable options, so it was not surprising when they were ruled out.
I also felt there was too much going on at once, including the mother's disappearance, the drug ring, and the serial killer plotline. I'm guessing some of this was intended to set up future books. Personally, I think it would have been better to foreshadow the mother's disappearance and the drug ring while focusing more on the killer targeting these women. That would have also allowed more room to develop the FMC's depth and personality.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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