What do you think?
Rate this book
Cutler, Sutter, & Salinas #1
When All the Girls Have Gone
When Charlotte Sawyer is unable to contact her step-sister, Jocelyn, to tell her that one her closest friends was found dead, she discovers that Jocelyn has vanished.
Beautiful, brilliant—and reckless—Jocelyn has gone off the grid before, but never like this. In a desperate effort to find her, Charlotte joins forces with Max Cutler, a struggling PI who recently moved to Seattle after his previous career as a criminal profiler went down in flames—literally. Burned out, divorced and almost broke, Max needs the job.
After surviving a near-fatal attack, Charlotte and Max turn to Jocelyn’s closest friends, women in a Seattle-based online investment club, for answers. But what they find is chilling…
When her uneasy alliance with Max turns into a full-blown affair, Charlotte has no choice but to trust him with her life. For the shadows of Jocelyn’s past are threatening to consume her—and anyone else who gets in their way...
Beautiful, brilliant—and reckless—Jocelyn has gone off the grid before, but never like this. In a desperate effort to find her, Charlotte joins forces with Max Cutler, a struggling PI who recently moved to Seattle after his previous career as a criminal profiler went down in flames—literally. Burned out, divorced and almost broke, Max needs the job.
After surviving a near-fatal attack, Charlotte and Max turn to Jocelyn’s closest friends, women in a Seattle-based online investment club, for answers. But what they find is chilling…
When her uneasy alliance with Max turns into a full-blown affair, Charlotte has no choice but to trust him with her life. For the shadows of Jocelyn’s past are threatening to consume her—and anyone else who gets in their way...
331 pages, Hardcover
First published November 29, 2016
2118 people are currently reading
7594 people want to read
About the author
Jayne Ann Krentz
398 books7,192 followersThe author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,005 reviews
February 21, 2017
I'll be honest, I just skim read the last half of this book. While it may be partially due to my book hangover from a fabulous last read, this story was unfortunately nothing special. In fact, I felt as though I've already read it 500 times before. The romance was ok but predictable, the mystery didn't hook me, and I found my eyes closing every time I picked this book up. I hate writing less than glowing reviews, so I'll say that I think this book just wasn't for me; I think the right reader would enjoy this, but if you're an avid consumer of romantic suspense, you might be let down by this one.
January 3, 2018
When all the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz is a 2016 Berkley publication.
Charlotte is stunned when her step-sister’s best friend is found dead. When she learns Jocelyn, who had uncharacteristically gone off radar, could be in danger, as well, she teams up with private detective, Max Cutler, to discover who may be after her sister and her friends.
While this story is, in many ways, standard fare for JAK, but in other ways, this book is edgier than usual, dealing with dark topics, like rape.
I prefer romantic suspense to be as balanced as possible, with equal parts suspense and romance. If an author must favor one side or the other, I prefer the focus to stay on the mystery, and that is exactly what JAK did in this instance.
If you are looking for steamy, hot, angsty romance, this one might not work for you. There is chemistry between Charlotte and Max, but it is very much in the background and the one moment they get in the book was very anticlimactic and bland.
Although the plot is very fast-paced, with some complexities and a few nice twists, the dialogue, as with the romance, was bland and stilted.
I’ve read JAK for many, many years, although over the last ten years or so, I have only read or two of her later releases and found them to be very disappointing, save for one. I had hoped this new series would be a nice fresh start for me with this author, but I will have to withhold judgement until I read the next book in the series.
I’m finding it harder and harder to hold on to my optimism, but I’m still not quite ready to give up on this author or this series without giving it a fair shake. So, here's hoping 'Promise not to Tell' will restore my faith. Stay tuned.
3 stars
Charlotte is stunned when her step-sister’s best friend is found dead. When she learns Jocelyn, who had uncharacteristically gone off radar, could be in danger, as well, she teams up with private detective, Max Cutler, to discover who may be after her sister and her friends.
While this story is, in many ways, standard fare for JAK, but in other ways, this book is edgier than usual, dealing with dark topics, like rape.
I prefer romantic suspense to be as balanced as possible, with equal parts suspense and romance. If an author must favor one side or the other, I prefer the focus to stay on the mystery, and that is exactly what JAK did in this instance.
If you are looking for steamy, hot, angsty romance, this one might not work for you. There is chemistry between Charlotte and Max, but it is very much in the background and the one moment they get in the book was very anticlimactic and bland.
Although the plot is very fast-paced, with some complexities and a few nice twists, the dialogue, as with the romance, was bland and stilted.
I’ve read JAK for many, many years, although over the last ten years or so, I have only read or two of her later releases and found them to be very disappointing, save for one. I had hoped this new series would be a nice fresh start for me with this author, but I will have to withhold judgement until I read the next book in the series.
I’m finding it harder and harder to hold on to my optimism, but I’m still not quite ready to give up on this author or this series without giving it a fair shake. So, here's hoping 'Promise not to Tell' will restore my faith. Stay tuned.
3 stars
September 27, 2020
Another great mystery read by Jayne Ann krentz!!! I loved the storyline and the characters had her signature chemistry and humour that are part of all her mysteries. Some of my favorite parts happen at the retirement home were are heroin Charlotte works.so many awesome and funny characters,Ethel deeping is one hell of a character!!!and as always we have a very sexy alpha hero in max cultler he's a keeper! This story is a great romance mystery,can't wait for krentz next book!!! It keeps you guessing til the end!!
November 22, 2023
When I want to curl up on the couch with a comfy blanket and tea to read without interruption, there are a few authors that I know I can sit down with their books and always be satisfied. Jayne Ann Krentz is one of those authors. WHEN ALL THE GIRLS HAVE GONE is one of those books.
Charlotte Sawyer is the average, steady, and some say naïve, director of activities at a senior retirement home. Her step-sister, Jocelyn is beautiful, adventurous and reckless. When Charlotte hears that Jocelyn’s best friend from her investment club has been found dead, she tries to contact Jocelyn at the retreat she is on. Jocelyn has disappeared and Charlotte is desperate to find her.
Max Cutler is starting his own P.I. firm after complete burnout from his criminal profiling job and his divorce that followed. He knows the job of finding out what really happened to Jocelyn’s friend won’t pay, but he is convinced to look into it. Charlotte is trying to find out what happened also and to find her sister so the two join forces.
There are two plotlines intertwined in this story. The investment club’s members are being targeted and disappearing and you have Jocelyn’s 16 year old rape case that was purposely derailed. Power, privilege, an escalating serial rapist and a friend that may not really be a friend all are fighting to silence Charlotte and Max.
Charlotte and Max were perfect together. Charlotte is very much the steady, optimistic character that isn’t boring, even though she believes she is, but you would want to have in your corner. Max is down and considers himself boring, but Charlotte sees him as steadfast and talented in his profession. The banter between these two had me smiling several times and the sex was well written. I liked that these characters weren’t looking for a relationship, but they fit.
I enjoyed this story and these characters as much as I knew I would. Sometimes in my romantic suspense reads, I don’t want super testosterone alpha males and either their matches in female form or the little woman that they rescue. Sometimes in my romantic suspense, I want normal, everyday characters that come together to become something more and they are just great. Max has two 'brothers' so I believe this will be a trilogy.
Charlotte Sawyer is the average, steady, and some say naïve, director of activities at a senior retirement home. Her step-sister, Jocelyn is beautiful, adventurous and reckless. When Charlotte hears that Jocelyn’s best friend from her investment club has been found dead, she tries to contact Jocelyn at the retreat she is on. Jocelyn has disappeared and Charlotte is desperate to find her.
Max Cutler is starting his own P.I. firm after complete burnout from his criminal profiling job and his divorce that followed. He knows the job of finding out what really happened to Jocelyn’s friend won’t pay, but he is convinced to look into it. Charlotte is trying to find out what happened also and to find her sister so the two join forces.
There are two plotlines intertwined in this story. The investment club’s members are being targeted and disappearing and you have Jocelyn’s 16 year old rape case that was purposely derailed. Power, privilege, an escalating serial rapist and a friend that may not really be a friend all are fighting to silence Charlotte and Max.
Charlotte and Max were perfect together. Charlotte is very much the steady, optimistic character that isn’t boring, even though she believes she is, but you would want to have in your corner. Max is down and considers himself boring, but Charlotte sees him as steadfast and talented in his profession. The banter between these two had me smiling several times and the sex was well written. I liked that these characters weren’t looking for a relationship, but they fit.
I enjoyed this story and these characters as much as I knew I would. Sometimes in my romantic suspense reads, I don’t want super testosterone alpha males and either their matches in female form or the little woman that they rescue. Sometimes in my romantic suspense, I want normal, everyday characters that come together to become something more and they are just great. Max has two 'brothers' so I believe this will be a trilogy.
November 28, 2021
Charlotte Sawyer is the activities director at a retirement community in Seattle, Washington, and - among other things - oversees a program for senior citizens who are writing their autobiographies.
When one would-be author wants to spice up her story by saying she shot her husband, it causes a hubbub.....and leads to a discussion of fiction vs. non-fiction.
Charlotte has other things on her mind as well. Her former fiancé called off the wedding five days before the nuptials, leaving Charlotte with a stack of bills and a large dollop of self-doubt. And Charlotte's step-sister Jocelyn has gone off on a 'tech-free' retreat, leaving Charlotte to water her plants and take care of the mail.
As it happens, Jocelyn's mail contains a package from her best friend Louise, with a key and a mysterious note about hidden files. Shortly afterward Louise is found dead from a supposed drug overdose, and - when Charlotte goes to Louise's apartment to look for the files - she meets private investigator Max Cutler.
Max has been hired to look into Louise's death, which her cousin suspects was murder. Moreover, when Charlotte and Max try to inform Jocelyn about Louise's demise, they learn that Jocelyn isn't at the tech-free retreat and her whereabouts are unknown.
Charlotte and Max team up to investigate Louise's death, and find two likely paths for inquiry. Firstly, Louise, Jocelyn, and several other women belong(ed) to an 'investment club' that's about to reap a huge profit. This brings up the possibility that one of the club members is killing off her compatriots, to get all the money for herself.
Secondly, the investment club was secretly involved in another activity. The members were looking into 'cold case' rapes and murders. The impetus for this investigation was Jocelyn's rape, on her college campus, 15 years ago. The police never solved the case, and in fact LOST all the files. The club members think Jocelyn's attacker went on to assault and kill other women, and they're trying to track down the perp and bring him to justice. Did the rapist/murderer find out they're on his trail?
As Charlotte and Max pursue their dual-approach inquiries they put their lives in grave danger.
Max is an interesting character. As a child he lived in a cult with his mother, and was almost burned to death when the cult leader set fire to the compound. Many people were killed.....and Max lost his mom.
However, all the children were rescued - and three of the boys (including Max) were taken in and raised by a loving foster father.
Max grew up, got married, and became a criminal profiler, but lost his wife and job when stress and anxiety derailed him. Afterwards, Max moved to Seattle and became a private investigator. A side issue of the story involves Max searching for the cult leader who killed his mom, and I imagine this will be revisited in future books in the series.
As Charlotte and Max work together, there are sparks of attraction that lead to a slow-burning romance.....and hot encounters between the sheets. {So if you like romance in your books (unlike me) there it is. LOL 💖
During the course of the story, we meet a variety of interesting characters, including: members of the investment club; the police officer who was in charge of Jocelyn's old rape case; senior citizens at the retirement community; Max's foster father and foster brothers; Charlotte's ex-fiancé (guess what he wants....ha ha ha); and more.
The solution to the mystery struck me as unlikely, but the book is entertaining.....and there's a fun surprise at the end. I would recommend the novel to fans of romantic suspense.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
November 22, 2016
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
This was a decent book. I would probably rate this book closer to 3.5 stars but I decided to round up since I am feeling generous. It was a very readable story that I never quite figured out but it failed to completely pull me in. I thought that the book had some really nice elements with a fast paced plot. There were some parts of the story that were a bit predictable but it was entertaining nonetheless.
I liked both Charlotte and Max. It was nice to see them work together on the case from the very beginning of the story and I thought that they made a nice team. I liked that they both gave equally to their partnership and really tried to work together. The romance between them was nice but it never felt very exciting to me. For some reason, I didn't really feel their chemistry like I had hoped. I believed that their feelings were genuine but I missed the extra spark that I had hoped to see.
The mystery was fairly complex. Max and Charlotte were busy trying to solve a murder and find a missing person from the start of the book. As they worked to figure things out, the book takes a few twists and turns that keep the book moving along. There were times that I was able to predict some of the twists but I still enjoyed the overall mystery aspect.
I would recommend this book to fans of romantic suspense. This was a quick read with a lot of enjoyable aspects. I have not read a lot of books by Jayne Ann Krentz but I have found that I enjoy her writing style and I plan to read more of her work in the future.
I received a copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
This was entertaining. There were a few things that happened in the book that were a bit of a stretch but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless.
This was a decent book. I would probably rate this book closer to 3.5 stars but I decided to round up since I am feeling generous. It was a very readable story that I never quite figured out but it failed to completely pull me in. I thought that the book had some really nice elements with a fast paced plot. There were some parts of the story that were a bit predictable but it was entertaining nonetheless.
I liked both Charlotte and Max. It was nice to see them work together on the case from the very beginning of the story and I thought that they made a nice team. I liked that they both gave equally to their partnership and really tried to work together. The romance between them was nice but it never felt very exciting to me. For some reason, I didn't really feel their chemistry like I had hoped. I believed that their feelings were genuine but I missed the extra spark that I had hoped to see.
The mystery was fairly complex. Max and Charlotte were busy trying to solve a murder and find a missing person from the start of the book. As they worked to figure things out, the book takes a few twists and turns that keep the book moving along. There were times that I was able to predict some of the twists but I still enjoyed the overall mystery aspect.
I would recommend this book to fans of romantic suspense. This was a quick read with a lot of enjoyable aspects. I have not read a lot of books by Jayne Ann Krentz but I have found that I enjoy her writing style and I plan to read more of her work in the future.
I received a copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
This was entertaining. There were a few things that happened in the book that were a bit of a stretch but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless.
November 5, 2016
3.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Checking her step-sister's mail while she is on vacation, Charlotte comes across a letter and a set of keys from one of her sister's friends that has her very curious. When Charlotte finds out that friend is now dead, she has even more questions. Teaming up with private investigator Max, they start to discover that each thread they pull on only stirs up more questions. A decades old rape case, murder, money, and friendship hold all the clues but will they be able to find all the answers before it is too late?
Not the handsomest man in Seattle---not by a long stretch, she thought. But probably the one most likely to survive if he went into the gladiators' ring to confront the best-looking guy.
Where Have All the Girls Gone is at heart a mystery thriller with Charlotte and Max's building romance and relationship a companion piece. From the moment they meet it's obvious that they have chemistry but their past hurts keep them cautious. Charlotte is freshly off a broken engagement that ended only five days before the wedding and Max recently moved cross country after a divorce and job burnout. Both were fully flushed out characters whose insecurities and shy vulnerability kind of made them adorable. Their instant connection didn't feel too fast as they just seemed to click and as they spent more time together it was apparent their personalities gelled. They're not a hot and cold drama angst couple but cool and calm sexily belonging together partners.
The catalyst for the murder mystery is Charlotte's step-sister Jocelyn investigating rapes and murders that have occurred recently that seem to match her rape in college where the man was never caught. We learn the investment group Jocelyn belongs to and didn't want Charlotte a part of doubles as a cover for her and her friends to find men who abuse their wives and covertly punish them. When Jocelyn's friend Louise is found dead, it's not known if she really did overdose, one of the punished men found out about the group, or if Jocelyn's rapist has discovered that she is hunting him. As Charlotte and Max investigate, the tangled weave starts unraveling with even more threads, a corrupt police department, the investment group might be coming into some money, a serial rapist might have turned murderer, and even more lies, backstabbing, and deceit. Add all this in with multiple povs from secondary characters who have their own very flushed out storylines, background drama with Max and his biological father, and a reappearance from Charlotte's ex-fiancée and you have enough storylines for at least five books.
All the characters and their storylines were interesting on their own but we already had a great kitchen, each added drama started to feel like an extra sink being thrown in. The secondary characters and their storylines were obviously added to keep the reader guessing as to who was guilty of what but they ended up detracting from the true villain/s as their storylines were hidden towards the end; made them feel the least flushed out with their motivations. The ending and big reveals ended up feeling dragged out and full of info dumps, very staggered. We are left with some loose threads in regards to Max's past and with mentions of two other brothers, one coming to work for Max, along with Jocelyn and her friends in the investment club, it looks like this might be the start of a series.
With rape and murder being the center of this mystery thriller it had some darker tones but Max and Charlotte brought a lightness and charm that also gave it some light. Too many plot lines unnecessarily overcomplicated and cluttered the story at times but the danger, mystery, romance, and fully fleshed out secondary characters will keep you locked in, engaged, and entertained.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Checking her step-sister's mail while she is on vacation, Charlotte comes across a letter and a set of keys from one of her sister's friends that has her very curious. When Charlotte finds out that friend is now dead, she has even more questions. Teaming up with private investigator Max, they start to discover that each thread they pull on only stirs up more questions. A decades old rape case, murder, money, and friendship hold all the clues but will they be able to find all the answers before it is too late?
Not the handsomest man in Seattle---not by a long stretch, she thought. But probably the one most likely to survive if he went into the gladiators' ring to confront the best-looking guy.
Where Have All the Girls Gone is at heart a mystery thriller with Charlotte and Max's building romance and relationship a companion piece. From the moment they meet it's obvious that they have chemistry but their past hurts keep them cautious. Charlotte is freshly off a broken engagement that ended only five days before the wedding and Max recently moved cross country after a divorce and job burnout. Both were fully flushed out characters whose insecurities and shy vulnerability kind of made them adorable. Their instant connection didn't feel too fast as they just seemed to click and as they spent more time together it was apparent their personalities gelled. They're not a hot and cold drama angst couple but cool and calm sexily belonging together partners.
The catalyst for the murder mystery is Charlotte's step-sister Jocelyn investigating rapes and murders that have occurred recently that seem to match her rape in college where the man was never caught. We learn the investment group Jocelyn belongs to and didn't want Charlotte a part of doubles as a cover for her and her friends to find men who abuse their wives and covertly punish them. When Jocelyn's friend Louise is found dead, it's not known if she really did overdose, one of the punished men found out about the group, or if Jocelyn's rapist has discovered that she is hunting him. As Charlotte and Max investigate, the tangled weave starts unraveling with even more threads, a corrupt police department, the investment group might be coming into some money, a serial rapist might have turned murderer, and even more lies, backstabbing, and deceit. Add all this in with multiple povs from secondary characters who have their own very flushed out storylines, background drama with Max and his biological father, and a reappearance from Charlotte's ex-fiancée and you have enough storylines for at least five books.
All the characters and their storylines were interesting on their own but we already had a great kitchen, each added drama started to feel like an extra sink being thrown in. The secondary characters and their storylines were obviously added to keep the reader guessing as to who was guilty of what but they ended up detracting from the true villain/s as their storylines were hidden towards the end; made them feel the least flushed out with their motivations. The ending and big reveals ended up feeling dragged out and full of info dumps, very staggered. We are left with some loose threads in regards to Max's past and with mentions of two other brothers, one coming to work for Max, along with Jocelyn and her friends in the investment club, it looks like this might be the start of a series.
With rape and murder being the center of this mystery thriller it had some darker tones but Max and Charlotte brought a lightness and charm that also gave it some light. Too many plot lines unnecessarily overcomplicated and cluttered the story at times but the danger, mystery, romance, and fully fleshed out secondary characters will keep you locked in, engaged, and entertained.
January 12, 2024
This is an entertaining, well-written romantic suspense novel. It has a likable, intelligent, strong and capable female protagonist, whose employment provides for an delightful diversion, an engaging male protagonist, murder, mystery, suspense, twists and turns and a satisfying conclusion. I am looking forward to reading the next entry in this series with great anticipation. I listened to the audio book, and the narrator, Ms. Amanda Leigh Cobb, has a lovely voice and does a wonderful job depicting the characters and their personalities.
March 11, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this romantic suspense. Enjoyed characters, mystery and light romance. All for one foot in front of the other. Go Max and Charlotte.
July 1, 2022
I had this shelved as GR friend recommendation, but I'm not sure who! It was years ago I added this, I think it was when I was looking for some good romantic suspense titles.
This was a little convoluted, Charlotte had a failed engagement and was told by her therapist she was playing it too safe and had to push herself a little more.
Nothing more than a missing step sister and a handsome PI to get things moving along, she can't be accused of playing it safely now, can she?!
This was very run of the mill writing, a plot line that was not overly interesting to me. Charlotte was looking for her step sister who was involved with a syndicate of women using a cover of a money making scheme to moonlight as a vigilante group looking for an unknown rapist. I could even have this wrong as it wasn't captivating reading and I was quite distracted on the audio version!
I still would like some good romantic suspense titles, so I won't give up! I did enjoy the romance aspect, it was nice experiencing the build up between Max and Charlotte, the storyline just wasn't for me.
This was a little convoluted, Charlotte had a failed engagement and was told by her therapist she was playing it too safe and had to push herself a little more.
Nothing more than a missing step sister and a handsome PI to get things moving along, she can't be accused of playing it safely now, can she?!
This was very run of the mill writing, a plot line that was not overly interesting to me. Charlotte was looking for her step sister who was involved with a syndicate of women using a cover of a money making scheme to moonlight as a vigilante group looking for an unknown rapist. I could even have this wrong as it wasn't captivating reading and I was quite distracted on the audio version!
I still would like some good romantic suspense titles, so I won't give up! I did enjoy the romance aspect, it was nice experiencing the build up between Max and Charlotte, the storyline just wasn't for me.
November 29, 2016
Charlotte Sawyer has been house sitting for her step-sister, Jocelyn, while she is off on a no technology retreat for a month when a package arrives from one of Jocelyn's close friends. Charlotte tries to get into contact to find out more about what the package means but finds out that the friend that had sent the package has died.
Charlotte immediately tries to notify Jocelyn that her friend has passed but finds that Jocelyn hadn't stayed at the retreat and has gone into hiding herself. During her searching Charlotte meets Max Cutler, a private investigator hired to look into the suspicious death so Charlotte decides to team up with Max to find the answers of what's happened to her step-sister.
When All The Girls Have Gone was one of those books that kept the pages turning all throughout the journey. A bit of a cozy mystery feel to it with Charlotte and Max teaming up to find out the answers of not only one crime but also investigating things that had happened in the past. In the current story Jocelyn had a group of friends that seem to be being targeted with one of the members already being murdered but in the past there is a rape case that is still open that the ladies had also become involved in. Never a dull moment as the action builds throughout the story with several twists and turns to keep a reader guessing.
Overall, likable characters and intense plot to solve, would definitely recommend checking this one out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Charlotte immediately tries to notify Jocelyn that her friend has passed but finds that Jocelyn hadn't stayed at the retreat and has gone into hiding herself. During her searching Charlotte meets Max Cutler, a private investigator hired to look into the suspicious death so Charlotte decides to team up with Max to find the answers of what's happened to her step-sister.
When All The Girls Have Gone was one of those books that kept the pages turning all throughout the journey. A bit of a cozy mystery feel to it with Charlotte and Max teaming up to find out the answers of not only one crime but also investigating things that had happened in the past. In the current story Jocelyn had a group of friends that seem to be being targeted with one of the members already being murdered but in the past there is a rape case that is still open that the ladies had also become involved in. Never a dull moment as the action builds throughout the story with several twists and turns to keep a reader guessing.
Overall, likable characters and intense plot to solve, would definitely recommend checking this one out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
June 17, 2018
”’It seemed like a game at first. But it was never a game. We all knew we were taking chances. There was always the possibility that someone would realize what we were doing.’
‘But we were very careful.’
‘Maybe not careful enough.”
This book shows that some authors are worth taking second chances on.
Charlotte Sawyer has always lived a very cautious life compared to her older stepsister Jocelyn. If you don’t count the fact that she was dumped at her wedding reception, Charlotte would say that her life was predictable but comfortable. That is, until her sister’s co-worker is found dead in her apartment. Convinced it wasn’t murder, her co-worker’s cousin hires a private investigator to dig deeper into the mystery. Divorced, broke and battling his childhood demons, Max Cutler needs this job just to stay afloat. He also likes to work alone, but when forces collide and Charlotte Sawyer becomes entangled in the same mystery, they must work together to solve the case before anyone else ends up dead, including themselves.
Well, what do you know? A romantic suspense novel that actually has both romance and suspense. What a time to be alive! All sarcasm aside, I say this because Krentz’s last book I attempted to read had neither of these elements. This had both, and they were done extremely well. How well? I was going to read a completely different book and started reading the inside of this one just for kicks, and before you know it, I got completely sucked in.
Charlotte and Max’s relationship was amazing. Their interactions were some of my favorite parts of the book to read about. I’ve noticed a pattern when it comes to these some so-called romantic suspense novels; the male is completely alpha and the woman tries desperately to tag along and prove herself to him, that she’s “one of the boys” or something along those lines. Sexist dialogue and toxic masculinity ensue, usually with the two main characters having hot and steamy hate sex. I was internally bracing myself for more of that, but what a refreshing surprise for this book to turn a total 180 on that plot point. Charlotte and Max are complete, utter equals. When she wants to become part of the investigation he accepts and keeps her fully informed. He doesn’t keep her in the dark about anything and never tried to show off or make her feel inferior to him. He willingly asks her opinion about the case and actually listens to her advice.
DO YOU HEAR THAT ROMANTIC SUSPENSE WRITERS? This book shows that it is, indeed, possible for romantic suspense males not to be dickheads.
Charlotte and Max work so darn well together. Krentz could write a 36 book series about them solving mysteries and I wouldn’t even be mad. In fact, I demand it. I want more of their teamwork and detecting and Max being all sweet to the senior citizens at the retirement home where Charlotte works. Their banter isn’t so bad, either.
The mystery aspect of the novel is also quite well done. At first you think it’s a financial investment fraud thing that got Jocelyn’s co-worker killed, but then you begin to realize that nothing is what it appears. The twists and turns just keep coming, and just when you think the case is solved and you know who’s guilty, bam! The rug is pulled out from beneath you and you’re in for another surprise. They never felt overdone or done just to keep the page count up. It genuinely felt like a fleshed out story. Within the murder mystery, there’s also the mystery of Max and his adopted foster brothers (which actually drew me to this series in the first place because I have a morbid fascination with cults). Max and his brothers Cabot and Jack were orphaned in a fire started by cult leader Quinton Zane; a fire that killed their mothers. They never believed that he was killed in the fires, but no one believes them. I think that mystery will be revealed through the series, but the little crumbs left by the author were enough to leave me horribly intrigued.
The entire book was the exact opposite of The Secret Sisters, the book by Krentz I read before and didn’t particularly enjoy. The plot was rather convoluted, and the romance was about boring as a bowl of plain oatmeal. This book, on the other hand, had a romance I really rooted for and a plot that had me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages rapidly, desperate to know what happened next. I need the next book ASAP And while I can’t say that this book 100% put my faith back into the romantic suspense genre, it did signal a great start!
‘But we were very careful.’
‘Maybe not careful enough.”
This book shows that some authors are worth taking second chances on.
Charlotte Sawyer has always lived a very cautious life compared to her older stepsister Jocelyn. If you don’t count the fact that she was dumped at her wedding reception, Charlotte would say that her life was predictable but comfortable. That is, until her sister’s co-worker is found dead in her apartment. Convinced it wasn’t murder, her co-worker’s cousin hires a private investigator to dig deeper into the mystery. Divorced, broke and battling his childhood demons, Max Cutler needs this job just to stay afloat. He also likes to work alone, but when forces collide and Charlotte Sawyer becomes entangled in the same mystery, they must work together to solve the case before anyone else ends up dead, including themselves.
Well, what do you know? A romantic suspense novel that actually has both romance and suspense. What a time to be alive! All sarcasm aside, I say this because Krentz’s last book I attempted to read had neither of these elements. This had both, and they were done extremely well. How well? I was going to read a completely different book and started reading the inside of this one just for kicks, and before you know it, I got completely sucked in.
Charlotte and Max’s relationship was amazing. Their interactions were some of my favorite parts of the book to read about. I’ve noticed a pattern when it comes to these some so-called romantic suspense novels; the male is completely alpha and the woman tries desperately to tag along and prove herself to him, that she’s “one of the boys” or something along those lines. Sexist dialogue and toxic masculinity ensue, usually with the two main characters having hot and steamy hate sex. I was internally bracing myself for more of that, but what a refreshing surprise for this book to turn a total 180 on that plot point. Charlotte and Max are complete, utter equals. When she wants to become part of the investigation he accepts and keeps her fully informed. He doesn’t keep her in the dark about anything and never tried to show off or make her feel inferior to him. He willingly asks her opinion about the case and actually listens to her advice.
DO YOU HEAR THAT ROMANTIC SUSPENSE WRITERS? This book shows that it is, indeed, possible for romantic suspense males not to be dickheads.
Charlotte and Max work so darn well together. Krentz could write a 36 book series about them solving mysteries and I wouldn’t even be mad. In fact, I demand it. I want more of their teamwork and detecting and Max being all sweet to the senior citizens at the retirement home where Charlotte works. Their banter isn’t so bad, either.
”’My therapist told me I needed to learn to be more spontaneous. One of the residents at Rainy Creek Gardens suggested kayaking. Mildred said she’s done it for years. She told me it was a great way to meet outdoorsy-type men.’I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH, OK?
‘How’d that work out for you?’
‘Quite well, actually. Here I am in the great outdoors- with a man.’”
The mystery aspect of the novel is also quite well done. At first you think it’s a financial investment fraud thing that got Jocelyn’s co-worker killed, but then you begin to realize that nothing is what it appears. The twists and turns just keep coming, and just when you think the case is solved and you know who’s guilty, bam! The rug is pulled out from beneath you and you’re in for another surprise. They never felt overdone or done just to keep the page count up. It genuinely felt like a fleshed out story. Within the murder mystery, there’s also the mystery of Max and his adopted foster brothers (which actually drew me to this series in the first place because I have a morbid fascination with cults). Max and his brothers Cabot and Jack were orphaned in a fire started by cult leader Quinton Zane; a fire that killed their mothers. They never believed that he was killed in the fires, but no one believes them. I think that mystery will be revealed through the series, but the little crumbs left by the author were enough to leave me horribly intrigued.
The entire book was the exact opposite of The Secret Sisters, the book by Krentz I read before and didn’t particularly enjoy. The plot was rather convoluted, and the romance was about boring as a bowl of plain oatmeal. This book, on the other hand, had a romance I really rooted for and a plot that had me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages rapidly, desperate to know what happened next. I need the next book ASAP And while I can’t say that this book 100% put my faith back into the romantic suspense genre, it did signal a great start!
November 29, 2016
I've been on a thriller kick lately so this easy read fit the bill. 'When All the Girls Have Gone' is intelligent, fast-paced and very creative. Max and Charlotte are very real and relatable characters. Loved the author's smart and snappy writing style! The romance felt completely honest, down-to-earth and very "true".
Jayne Ann Krentz is a new author to me so I very much enjoyed getting to know her writing style. She has legions of fans and I can see why. I adored Max, who is a man of few words but knows how to get the job done. He has a very painful past so his lovely romance with Charlotte seems all the more sweeter. Charlotte is a no-nonsense heroine, who finds herself working in a retirement home after making some big life changes.
Charlotte's step-sister Jocelyn is traveling to a retreat. The two sisters are very close but Jocelyn has protected and sheltered Charlotte all of their lives. A mysterious package arrives at Jocelyn's home while she is away and Charlotte learns that Jocelyn's best friend Louise has died. Jocelyn is unreachable, since she is on a "no technology" retreat.
Enter Max Cutler, who was already involved in the matter after being hired by a cousin of Louise's. Is Louise's sudden death related to Jocelyn's disappearance? The details begin to unfold in this delicious thriller. There are lots of shady characters and plenty of secrets. This is a quick, super-intriguing and twisty story that you can read in one day. I absolutely loved Max Cutler, with his smart, strong, quiet ways. He is my kind of hero! The romance is a quiet one but it fits perfectly with this story. There is tons of action and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading this book.
Jayne Ann Krantz is a skilled writer and Max and Charlotte's story grabbed me from the very first page. There are lots of surprises in this one with some humor thrown in for good measure. Charlotte and Max are a little awkward, very lonely and absolutely perfect together! If you love a good mystery with a little romance and a smart and "spunky" heroine, then you'll love 'When All the Girls Have Gone.' There are several characters' POV's in this book which kept me on my toes. All in all, an enjoyable, solid thriller with just the right amount of romance and danger!
(ARC provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.)
Jayne Ann Krentz is a new author to me so I very much enjoyed getting to know her writing style. She has legions of fans and I can see why. I adored Max, who is a man of few words but knows how to get the job done. He has a very painful past so his lovely romance with Charlotte seems all the more sweeter. Charlotte is a no-nonsense heroine, who finds herself working in a retirement home after making some big life changes.
Charlotte's step-sister Jocelyn is traveling to a retreat. The two sisters are very close but Jocelyn has protected and sheltered Charlotte all of their lives. A mysterious package arrives at Jocelyn's home while she is away and Charlotte learns that Jocelyn's best friend Louise has died. Jocelyn is unreachable, since she is on a "no technology" retreat.
Enter Max Cutler, who was already involved in the matter after being hired by a cousin of Louise's. Is Louise's sudden death related to Jocelyn's disappearance? The details begin to unfold in this delicious thriller. There are lots of shady characters and plenty of secrets. This is a quick, super-intriguing and twisty story that you can read in one day. I absolutely loved Max Cutler, with his smart, strong, quiet ways. He is my kind of hero! The romance is a quiet one but it fits perfectly with this story. There is tons of action and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading this book.
Jayne Ann Krantz is a skilled writer and Max and Charlotte's story grabbed me from the very first page. There are lots of surprises in this one with some humor thrown in for good measure. Charlotte and Max are a little awkward, very lonely and absolutely perfect together! If you love a good mystery with a little romance and a smart and "spunky" heroine, then you'll love 'When All the Girls Have Gone.' There are several characters' POV's in this book which kept me on my toes. All in all, an enjoyable, solid thriller with just the right amount of romance and danger!
(ARC provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.)
April 24, 2017
Liked! I listened to the audiobook, compliments of LibraryThing's Early Reviewers. This was my kind of romantic suspense: a believable romance between Charlotte and Max, but the story stayed focused on solving the mystery. Lots of twists and strong female characters. The audiobook was narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb, and her performance fit well with Charlotte's personality.
December 12, 2016
I am such a sucker for a good romantic suspense. I need a break from swoons and feel good romances occasionally, and love a little danger and intrigue thrown in for good measure. When All the Girls have Gone delivered that perfectly. The pace was non-stop, yet never overly hurried. The romance was not to pressing, like a nice little cherry thrown on top for good measure. There didn't seem to be a huge amount of mystery to figure out, yet as pieces fell into play there were so many little parts of the puzzle that came together to make this a worthwhile read.
"It wasn't one of the slow, drugging kisses that left her clutching at his shoulders. It was a quick, deliberate, intensely intimate kiss."
The spark was bright, and the romance definitely a factor in upping the ante for the suspense. It gave a new level of investment in how things would play out for the main characters. It made you want so much more for them than to just survive. Max and Charlotte were two incredibly strong characters, not giving in, or subjecting the readers to annoying amounts of angst and whining. Yet their relationship helped to soften them, make them just a little more relate-able. Charlotte's see the best in everyone trusting nature was a breath of fresh air, and Max's hard cynicism gave it a knock of reality that balanced them out perfectly.
All in all, this was a wild ride from beginning to end, pulling you to the edge of your seat then knocking you back with a blast of romance. Jayne Ann Krentz always delivers and this was no exception. ~ George 4 Stars
"It wasn't one of the slow, drugging kisses that left her clutching at his shoulders. It was a quick, deliberate, intensely intimate kiss."
The spark was bright, and the romance definitely a factor in upping the ante for the suspense. It gave a new level of investment in how things would play out for the main characters. It made you want so much more for them than to just survive. Max and Charlotte were two incredibly strong characters, not giving in, or subjecting the readers to annoying amounts of angst and whining. Yet their relationship helped to soften them, make them just a little more relate-able. Charlotte's see the best in everyone trusting nature was a breath of fresh air, and Max's hard cynicism gave it a knock of reality that balanced them out perfectly.
All in all, this was a wild ride from beginning to end, pulling you to the edge of your seat then knocking you back with a blast of romance. Jayne Ann Krentz always delivers and this was no exception. ~ George 4 Stars
November 29, 2016
A special thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jayne Ann Krentz delivers her "best yet" with her latest: WHEN ALL THE GIRLS HAVE GONE A rip-roaring good old fashioned, multi-layered complex cleverly crafted crime mystery thriller(with a twist of psychological suspense)!
A satisfying tightly wound page-turner of corruption, treachery, and deception that will keep you intrigued to the final page.
Before I begin, have read many mixed reviews about this book. I am shaking my head, thinking, “Did we read the same book?" As many of you are aware (Goodreads' friends and my blog followers)- I am not a fan of paranormal, romance, or a lot of women’s fiction.
However, I am an avid fan of mystery, suspense, crime, and psychological thrillers. With this in mind, there are a few select authors which write a mix of romance-suspense and do it extremely well:
Sandra Brown, Jayne Ann Krentz, Christina Dodd, and Tami Hoag.
They can flat out twist a knife in so many directions, making a reader "pay attention to every detail." You can be assured one element you read in the first part of the book, will someway brilliantly connect to several critical parts of the mystery, the further you go along. These types of books are the ones you go racing back to the parts which may not have made sense or connected early on.
When All the Girls Have Gone is a superb example of one brilliantly written twisted gritty, crime noir mystery. Every page is gripping, riveting, complex. I cannot even imagine the skill and art, it takes to weave such a complex web of deceit, multi-leveled story, "intricately plotted." There are so many pieces of the puzzle, and characters which ultimately will link. Be patient, it is worth the ride. This is not one of those books to rush through.
From old to new cases, and everything in between. Everyone is hiding secrets, dark pasts. From old grudges, past lovers, vigilante justice, blackmail, corruption, revenge, power, greed, betrayal, conspiracy, murder-So many elements which connect. Everyone has their own agenda. From numerous plot twists leading to stunning revelations and a nail-biting conclusion.
For me, this book was "top notch." I like to "work" a little when I read, or should I say,
"work for it." While reading, am thinking: What sets this book apart from the rest? As a reader you also are playing amateur sleuth in your own mind; trying to solve the mystery as well. When you read 400 books a year, you try and choose the ones which best suits your specific favorite reading type. It has to stand out.
The first time I began reading this one, was totally distracted by events going on around me. I knew this was going to be a book to savor, to read without distractions- there was much to be absorbed and a number of secondary characters. I am one which has to wrap my head around each one. So glad I started over, and the second time around was a totally different experience.
Krentz’s sweet spot, as she meticulously develops a stellar cast of characters, weaving them into a tension-filled ongoing mystery. The bad guys and girls are evil. They have two faces, which is even, more sinister. .
I hope we see more of this style. Was hooked. I did not even mind the romantic suspense since I loved Charlotte, and Max together and their relationship was not the main focus. I think there is more here to develop in future books with these two, even though it was not a cliffhanger. Especially Max and his family- a very intriguing past. Keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel. These characters are too good to end.
OK, here is a little about the book to entice you. Charlotte works at a retirement home. There are some fun characters here in a writing group. Charlotte has been dumped by the guy she was to marry. Her stepsister is a world traveler and has more of a glamorous lifestyle.
Charlotte is aware of a rape at college, in her stepsister’s past. However, she is not aware she has been seeking her own vigilante justice for years with a group of women in an investment club. Don’t let the title fool you. These women do have investments; however, they use their business resources with the shelters and seek revenge on the abusive men who have got away with their crimes. They were once a victim.
However, years later, when some of the women wind up being murdered, and a powerful man is murdered, the fallout begins. An evidence box is missing which threatens the first rape, plus you have the women, not knowing which one is in bed with the enemy, plus sins of the parents (more vigilante justice), working their own angle of revenge, and a bad cop.
Plus Charlotte’s stepsister, Jocelyn is missing, and some of the other women in the investment group are being murdered, and she tags up with Max, a former FBI profiler (now PI), hired by a member of the murdered gals' family. Whom can she trust?
Max is a very interesting character I really enjoyed. Krentz’ portrayal of Max as a well-rounded character, adding depth to the fast-paced drama. She never leaves you dangling. Rest assured each end will be tied up eventually. Each path she takes you on is central to the investigation and storyline. It is the "journey" here, guys.
All in all, Krentz has delivered a non-stop high adrenaline fueled mystery suspense, keeping you glued to the pages dying to see how the pieces will all fit. Enjoyed it so much, also pre-ordered the audiobook, narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb, as well. Highly recommend! Great cover by the way.
Speaking of covers, have you seen Amanda Quick's (AKA Jayne Ann Krentz), The Girl Who Knew Too Much coming May 9, 2017? OMG, love this cover and the time period!. This one will be in line for the "best cover" of 2017. Add this to your TBR list. Am already salivating to hopefully receive an ARC- "Hollywood 1930’s"---this has my name written all over it!
JDCMustReadBooks
Jayne Ann Krentz delivers her "best yet" with her latest: WHEN ALL THE GIRLS HAVE GONE A rip-roaring good old fashioned, multi-layered complex cleverly crafted crime mystery thriller(with a twist of psychological suspense)!
A satisfying tightly wound page-turner of corruption, treachery, and deception that will keep you intrigued to the final page.
Before I begin, have read many mixed reviews about this book. I am shaking my head, thinking, “Did we read the same book?" As many of you are aware (Goodreads' friends and my blog followers)- I am not a fan of paranormal, romance, or a lot of women’s fiction.
However, I am an avid fan of mystery, suspense, crime, and psychological thrillers. With this in mind, there are a few select authors which write a mix of romance-suspense and do it extremely well:
Sandra Brown, Jayne Ann Krentz, Christina Dodd, and Tami Hoag.
They can flat out twist a knife in so many directions, making a reader "pay attention to every detail." You can be assured one element you read in the first part of the book, will someway brilliantly connect to several critical parts of the mystery, the further you go along. These types of books are the ones you go racing back to the parts which may not have made sense or connected early on.
When All the Girls Have Gone is a superb example of one brilliantly written twisted gritty, crime noir mystery. Every page is gripping, riveting, complex. I cannot even imagine the skill and art, it takes to weave such a complex web of deceit, multi-leveled story, "intricately plotted." There are so many pieces of the puzzle, and characters which ultimately will link. Be patient, it is worth the ride. This is not one of those books to rush through.
From old to new cases, and everything in between. Everyone is hiding secrets, dark pasts. From old grudges, past lovers, vigilante justice, blackmail, corruption, revenge, power, greed, betrayal, conspiracy, murder-So many elements which connect. Everyone has their own agenda. From numerous plot twists leading to stunning revelations and a nail-biting conclusion.
For me, this book was "top notch." I like to "work" a little when I read, or should I say,
"work for it." While reading, am thinking: What sets this book apart from the rest? As a reader you also are playing amateur sleuth in your own mind; trying to solve the mystery as well. When you read 400 books a year, you try and choose the ones which best suits your specific favorite reading type. It has to stand out.
The first time I began reading this one, was totally distracted by events going on around me. I knew this was going to be a book to savor, to read without distractions- there was much to be absorbed and a number of secondary characters. I am one which has to wrap my head around each one. So glad I started over, and the second time around was a totally different experience.
Krentz’s sweet spot, as she meticulously develops a stellar cast of characters, weaving them into a tension-filled ongoing mystery. The bad guys and girls are evil. They have two faces, which is even, more sinister. .
I hope we see more of this style. Was hooked. I did not even mind the romantic suspense since I loved Charlotte, and Max together and their relationship was not the main focus. I think there is more here to develop in future books with these two, even though it was not a cliffhanger. Especially Max and his family- a very intriguing past. Keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel. These characters are too good to end.
OK, here is a little about the book to entice you. Charlotte works at a retirement home. There are some fun characters here in a writing group. Charlotte has been dumped by the guy she was to marry. Her stepsister is a world traveler and has more of a glamorous lifestyle.
Charlotte is aware of a rape at college, in her stepsister’s past. However, she is not aware she has been seeking her own vigilante justice for years with a group of women in an investment club. Don’t let the title fool you. These women do have investments; however, they use their business resources with the shelters and seek revenge on the abusive men who have got away with their crimes. They were once a victim.
However, years later, when some of the women wind up being murdered, and a powerful man is murdered, the fallout begins. An evidence box is missing which threatens the first rape, plus you have the women, not knowing which one is in bed with the enemy, plus sins of the parents (more vigilante justice), working their own angle of revenge, and a bad cop.
Plus Charlotte’s stepsister, Jocelyn is missing, and some of the other women in the investment group are being murdered, and she tags up with Max, a former FBI profiler (now PI), hired by a member of the murdered gals' family. Whom can she trust?
Max is a very interesting character I really enjoyed. Krentz’ portrayal of Max as a well-rounded character, adding depth to the fast-paced drama. She never leaves you dangling. Rest assured each end will be tied up eventually. Each path she takes you on is central to the investigation and storyline. It is the "journey" here, guys.
All in all, Krentz has delivered a non-stop high adrenaline fueled mystery suspense, keeping you glued to the pages dying to see how the pieces will all fit. Enjoyed it so much, also pre-ordered the audiobook, narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb, as well. Highly recommend! Great cover by the way.
Speaking of covers, have you seen Amanda Quick's (AKA Jayne Ann Krentz), The Girl Who Knew Too Much coming May 9, 2017? OMG, love this cover and the time period!. This one will be in line for the "best cover" of 2017. Add this to your TBR list. Am already salivating to hopefully receive an ARC- "Hollywood 1930’s"---this has my name written all over it!
JDCMustReadBooks
February 12, 2017
Another great page turner from Jayne Ann Krentz!! I love this author (in all her guises)!
Set in the beautiful (and Trump resisting) state of Washington, it is a story of women trying to get justice and dying in the process. There's romance, danger, and a bit of humor thrown in. Great fun!!
Set in the beautiful (and Trump resisting) state of Washington, it is a story of women trying to get justice and dying in the process. There's romance, danger, and a bit of humor thrown in. Great fun!!
September 10, 2017
When I think of romantic suspense, I usually think of Nora Roberts and Jayne Ann Krentz. A new book by one of these two authors is always a reason to celebrate, and yet somehow, I’ve waited until now to read When all the Girls Have Gone… just in time for the UK paperback release.
When all the Girls Have Gone explores what happens to strong women when the system turns against them. It tells the story of Charlotte’s step-sister Jocelyn, raped in college by an unknown assailant, and denied justice and protection by the police. Politically, it was much easier to hide Jocelyn’s rape than publicly stand by her and protect her. Years later, Jocelyn is missing, her best friend is dead, and the other three women from her investment club are behaving very strangely.
When Charlotte meets Max, he’s already working on the tangled case, and he instantly recognizes the ferocity in Charlotte. Her only concern is her sister’s safety, but she reveals enough about herself to intrigue the restrained private investigator. For her part, Charlotte understands Max very well and trusts his abilities fully. The two click from the beginning and their dynamics are very interesting. They are both unusually calm and collected and they approach most things the same way.
The mystery itself isn’t predictable, but it’s a bit over the top. I had a hard time believing that so many people would be involved in such ugliness, and for so many reasons. Even so, the resolution was satisfying and justice was served, which is enough for me.
Some things about Max’s past were left open in the end, which signaled an upcoming sequel. Promise Not to Tell will be released in early 2018 and it will focus on Max’s foster brother Cabot, who’s been through the same tragic ordeal. While I’m hoping for a glimpse of Charlotte and Max, I honestly can’t wait to learn more about Cabot Sutter and the kind of man he is.
When all the Girls Have Gone explores what happens to strong women when the system turns against them. It tells the story of Charlotte’s step-sister Jocelyn, raped in college by an unknown assailant, and denied justice and protection by the police. Politically, it was much easier to hide Jocelyn’s rape than publicly stand by her and protect her. Years later, Jocelyn is missing, her best friend is dead, and the other three women from her investment club are behaving very strangely.
When Charlotte meets Max, he’s already working on the tangled case, and he instantly recognizes the ferocity in Charlotte. Her only concern is her sister’s safety, but she reveals enough about herself to intrigue the restrained private investigator. For her part, Charlotte understands Max very well and trusts his abilities fully. The two click from the beginning and their dynamics are very interesting. They are both unusually calm and collected and they approach most things the same way.
The mystery itself isn’t predictable, but it’s a bit over the top. I had a hard time believing that so many people would be involved in such ugliness, and for so many reasons. Even so, the resolution was satisfying and justice was served, which is enough for me.
Some things about Max’s past were left open in the end, which signaled an upcoming sequel. Promise Not to Tell will be released in early 2018 and it will focus on Max’s foster brother Cabot, who’s been through the same tragic ordeal. While I’m hoping for a glimpse of Charlotte and Max, I honestly can’t wait to learn more about Cabot Sutter and the kind of man he is.
October 14, 2016
Meh.
Obvious plot line, feels simplistic. Also feels like every other book I've read by her lately.
Obvious plot line, feels simplistic. Also feels like every other book I've read by her lately.
January 24, 2021
I liked it & I would like to read more books in this series..
A kind of romantic suspense that I enjoy...
A kind of romantic suspense that I enjoy...
November 16, 2016
3.5 stars
Normally I’m a sucker for romantic suspense books and this one started out with a unique plot. With plenty of characters to follow and get to know, things really got interesting in the development of this story. But I found a few problems with this story for me, as well.
One thing that disappointed me a bit was the fact that the romance portion of this book seemed a bit lacking. There was no heat or passion. It was just more like the couple agreed that they would be together. There’s a few heated looks and personal thoughts and one get together with the couple. But the romantic portion of the story definitely took a backseat in the plot.
While I enjoyed the story, there were also a few issues where the words seem rather dry. I just felt a real disconnect between the characters in the book. I started out liking Charlotte, but as the story progressed, I ended up not caring for her mouthy attitude much. Plus, the story felt like it was missing something and was lacking finesse. The suspense part was not overly suspenseful and parts of the story seemed a bit predictable.
All of the books I have read prior by this author I have enjoyed. And while the plot and story line was great, this one just didn’t grab me like her others have in the past.
Normally I’m a sucker for romantic suspense books and this one started out with a unique plot. With plenty of characters to follow and get to know, things really got interesting in the development of this story. But I found a few problems with this story for me, as well.
One thing that disappointed me a bit was the fact that the romance portion of this book seemed a bit lacking. There was no heat or passion. It was just more like the couple agreed that they would be together. There’s a few heated looks and personal thoughts and one get together with the couple. But the romantic portion of the story definitely took a backseat in the plot.
While I enjoyed the story, there were also a few issues where the words seem rather dry. I just felt a real disconnect between the characters in the book. I started out liking Charlotte, but as the story progressed, I ended up not caring for her mouthy attitude much. Plus, the story felt like it was missing something and was lacking finesse. The suspense part was not overly suspenseful and parts of the story seemed a bit predictable.
All of the books I have read prior by this author I have enjoyed. And while the plot and story line was great, this one just didn’t grab me like her others have in the past.
October 18, 2016
When All The Girls Have Gone is a cozy romantic mystery by Jayne Ann Krentz with not too many surprises.
Charlotte finds out that her step sister’s friend Louise was murdered and there meets Max who is looking into the investigation at her brother’s request .Then Charlotte discovers her step sister Jocelyn is not on her month long tech free vacation and all of Jocelyn’s friends who were participating in an investment trading club are getting killed one by one. Charlotte teams up with Max to find out who is behind the murders and tries to save Jocelyn before the murderer get to her.
Overall I would rate this book 3 3 ½ stars. It is a fast ,breezy read with some witty banter between Charlotte and Jocelyn .I liked the romance between Max and Charlotte too but the mystery was lacking. It was easy to guess the murderer and I so think it was a beginning of a series as some of Max’s past remained unresolved .
A quick fun read if you are into cozy mysteries.
Many thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
Charlotte finds out that her step sister’s friend Louise was murdered and there meets Max who is looking into the investigation at her brother’s request .Then Charlotte discovers her step sister Jocelyn is not on her month long tech free vacation and all of Jocelyn’s friends who were participating in an investment trading club are getting killed one by one. Charlotte teams up with Max to find out who is behind the murders and tries to save Jocelyn before the murderer get to her.
Overall I would rate this book 3 3 ½ stars. It is a fast ,breezy read with some witty banter between Charlotte and Jocelyn .I liked the romance between Max and Charlotte too but the mystery was lacking. It was easy to guess the murderer and I so think it was a beginning of a series as some of Max’s past remained unresolved .
A quick fun read if you are into cozy mysteries.
Many thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
July 15, 2024
Очаквах криминална история, а се оказа обикновен бозав и розов роман.
Писна ми от интимните трепети на двамата главни герои и след една напълно нелепа секс сцена зарязавам това нещо по средата. Не виждам никакъв смисъл да го дочета.
Писна ми от интимните трепети на двамата главни герои и след една напълно нелепа секс сцена зарязавам това нещо по средата. Не виждам никакъв смисъл да го дочета.
October 3, 2016
Full review...
3.5 Stars. Jayne Anne Krentz has a formula which has served her well over the years, and When All The Girls Have Gone doesn’t stray far from the routine. However, as always, the story is snappy, witty, and full of JAK’s trademark character banter. This time around we have Charlotte, whose stepsister Jocelyn and her friends have been participating in an investment trading club. Something has gone wrong with the club, or maybe something from Jocelyn’s past come back to haunt her, and now Jocelyn has disappeared. After another one of the investment club members is found dead; the woman’s cousin hires a private investigator, Max Cutler, to look into what he considers mysterious circumstances. Max and Charlotte hook up in the investigation, as they are both looking into pretty much the same thing. I did like the fact that instead of the usual ‘we don’t trust each other’ dance, they were working together as a team from the outset.
The story is a breezy, fast read. Not overly suspenseful, but entertaining nonetheless. Lots of danger, murder, and white-collar crime. If you read the author’s other works, you pretty much know what kind of a read you are getting going in. The ending came together a little too fast for my tastes. There was almost an infodump of information and why the bad guys did what they did, and what is going to happen in our lead couples lives next. There were some things in Max’s past that were glossed over or left open ended. Given that he had two foster brothers mentioned a number of times and a couple of plot threads left open; I felt like there could have easily been a trilogy about all of these things and the other brothers without cramming so much into the end of this book. Who knows, there may be more planned, anyway.
It was fun...
3.5 Stars. Jayne Anne Krentz has a formula which has served her well over the years, and When All The Girls Have Gone doesn’t stray far from the routine. However, as always, the story is snappy, witty, and full of JAK’s trademark character banter. This time around we have Charlotte, whose stepsister Jocelyn and her friends have been participating in an investment trading club. Something has gone wrong with the club, or maybe something from Jocelyn’s past come back to haunt her, and now Jocelyn has disappeared. After another one of the investment club members is found dead; the woman’s cousin hires a private investigator, Max Cutler, to look into what he considers mysterious circumstances. Max and Charlotte hook up in the investigation, as they are both looking into pretty much the same thing. I did like the fact that instead of the usual ‘we don’t trust each other’ dance, they were working together as a team from the outset.
The story is a breezy, fast read. Not overly suspenseful, but entertaining nonetheless. Lots of danger, murder, and white-collar crime. If you read the author’s other works, you pretty much know what kind of a read you are getting going in. The ending came together a little too fast for my tastes. There was almost an infodump of information and why the bad guys did what they did, and what is going to happen in our lead couples lives next. There were some things in Max’s past that were glossed over or left open ended. Given that he had two foster brothers mentioned a number of times and a couple of plot threads left open; I felt like there could have easily been a trilogy about all of these things and the other brothers without cramming so much into the end of this book. Who knows, there may be more planned, anyway.
It was fun...
November 29, 2016
Shadow's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
This is a combination murder mystery/romance done in the best Jayne Ann Krentz style, but don't try to keep track of the plot twists and turns without a score card.
Charlotte Sawyer is recovering from the fact her fiance ditched her just days before the wedding, leaving her stuck with the bills when her stepsister, Jocelyn disappears-and Jocelyn's best friend is murdered.
PI Max Cutler, brought in to investigate the death of the friend, joins forces with Charlotte to discover not only who is the murderer, but where Jocelyn has gone. It doesn't take long before the two find themselves in danger-and clinging to each other for moral as well as physical support.
Can these two find the murderer, Jocelyn, and their own happiness together before the killer strikes again?
I really liked both the main characters. Charlotte is a great heroine, calm in the face of danger, determined in the face of obstacles, and supportive of the man who is helping her. Max is also a really good guy, protective but willing to let Charlotte help where she can. Charlotte's wisdom helps him with his decision making and coming to terms with his past.
Don't expect easy solutions, however. Just when the reader thinks the mystery is solved, the plot twists again-and the actual killer isn't as obvious as it appears on the surface.
For anyone who likes a rousing good mystery combined with a touching love story, this is a must read book.
ARC provided with no expectations.
This is a combination murder mystery/romance done in the best Jayne Ann Krentz style, but don't try to keep track of the plot twists and turns without a score card.
Charlotte Sawyer is recovering from the fact her fiance ditched her just days before the wedding, leaving her stuck with the bills when her stepsister, Jocelyn disappears-and Jocelyn's best friend is murdered.
PI Max Cutler, brought in to investigate the death of the friend, joins forces with Charlotte to discover not only who is the murderer, but where Jocelyn has gone. It doesn't take long before the two find themselves in danger-and clinging to each other for moral as well as physical support.
Can these two find the murderer, Jocelyn, and their own happiness together before the killer strikes again?
I really liked both the main characters. Charlotte is a great heroine, calm in the face of danger, determined in the face of obstacles, and supportive of the man who is helping her. Max is also a really good guy, protective but willing to let Charlotte help where she can. Charlotte's wisdom helps him with his decision making and coming to terms with his past.
Don't expect easy solutions, however. Just when the reader thinks the mystery is solved, the plot twists again-and the actual killer isn't as obvious as it appears on the surface.
For anyone who likes a rousing good mystery combined with a touching love story, this is a must read book.
ARC provided with no expectations.
February 26, 2017
Charlotte Sawyer and PI and former profiler Max Cutler team-up to find Charlotte’s sister Jocelyn who has disappeared. During the search they co-incidentally clear a few of the local police department’s unsolved cases that were indirectly related to their case.
When All The Girls Have was a very good romance suspense story. The twist and turns were enjoyable. Good writing and good concept and Amanda Leigh Cobb did a good job in telling the story.
What was a distraction for me was the constant reminder that Charlotte and Jocelyn were stepsisters. In the 21st Century I would have thought that we were beyond that and accept that biology doesn’t necessarily described a relationship. I look forward to the day when authors lead the way to get rid of labels and accept they too are teachers.
When All The Girls Have was a very good romance suspense story. The twist and turns were enjoyable. Good writing and good concept and Amanda Leigh Cobb did a good job in telling the story.
What was a distraction for me was the constant reminder that Charlotte and Jocelyn were stepsisters. In the 21st Century I would have thought that we were beyond that and accept that biology doesn’t necessarily described a relationship. I look forward to the day when authors lead the way to get rid of labels and accept they too are teachers.
January 25, 2017
This was another hard book for me to rate.... I kept bouncing back and forth between 3 and 4 stars, but finally ended up on 4. I really did like this book, but the romance aspect wasn't exactly believable and to be honest annoyed me at times. The book definitely surprised me at times though and that is the main reason I ended up at 4. It was a really good book and I was never bored with it except at a couple points during the "romance" parts. The mystery part kept me guessing which was awesome, because not all books can be surprising even though they try to be. I will definitely be reading more of this author as long as it isn't a romance book.
December 1, 2016
Jayne Ann Krentz has been writing good books for a while. I love her Arcane Society series and from the moment I saw this cover, I was excited to read When All The Girls Have Gone. One thing I'm always glad to see in her books is how she's able to weave suspense and romance into her novels and the end result is invariably good.
In When All the Girls Have Gone, Charlotte Sawyer is looking for her step-sister Jocelyn. Jocelyn has left for a month retreat in a convent without electronics but before long her friend and business partner Louise is found dead from an alleged overdose. Charlotte's sure this isn't the case after she meets the man investigating her death. Every clue she learns points to Jocelyn's past who was raped while she was in college and the perpetrator was never caught.
Max Cutler is a P.I. Yet, before he became one, he was a very good profiler working in D.C. A bad decision made him leave his job and move to Seattle. He's just starting his own business when he's asked to look into the death of a woman who had a past history of drug abuse. Max realizes things don't add up. For one, her cousin believes she was murdered. Second, she was part of a five women foundation where one woman is dead and another is missing. Third, Charlotte lands into his life, making this case more personal than he would like it to be.
It was easy to like the main characters. They were both depicted as regular people. Charlotte was a woman who was coming out of failed relationship but was trying to move forward. She was naive to a point but she was also able to keep a clear head when she was in danger. Max was very honest about what his expectations are with the case and with Charlotte. He was smart, level headed and willing to accept help when needed. He also loved the man who treated him like a son, Anson Salinas. He was there for him and his brothers when they needed him the most.
Another reason to like When All The Girls Have Gone would be the side stories it contains. For instance, we still don't know if the man responsible for the death of Max's mother is still alive. To me, this represents a bigger arc that could lead to more books in this setting. There are two brothers Cabot Sutter and Jack Lancaster who are mentioned and who might want justice against the man that wronged them. In addition, we get some drama in regards to Max's biological family too. Last, we get Ethel and her memoir. Quite an interesting lady she turned out to be!
I'm hoping Mrs. Krentz decides to continue writing stories in this world. I can assure you I'll read them.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
December 1, 2016
Charlotte Sawyer’s stepsister Jocelyn has gone off the grid for a month, holing up on a Caribbean island, so Charlotte does what all stepsisters do—she waters Jocelyn’s plants and collects the mail and opens just the stuff that looks important. One day she opens an important-looking envelope that turns out to be from Jocelyn’s best friend, and contains a cryptic message and a set of keys to the friend’s storage box.
Charlotte goes to investigate and finds out Jocelyn’s friend is dead. The police has ruled it an overdose, but the friend’s cousin doesn’t buy the easy theory and has hired a private investigator—Max Cutler, a former profiler, whose gut tells him the death was no accident. His gut also tells him Jocelyn isn’t where she’s supposed to be, so Charlotte, despite her better judgment, joins the investigation. First order of business: check the storage locker.
Little do Max and Charlotte know that what they’ll find, albeit seemingly insignificant documents and maps, will prove to be much larger and will put them in the path of a dangerous killer willing to do anything to keep his secret.
This book continues the latest Jayne Ann Krentz (and her alter-egos) slump. Although, if I may be frank, this is the worst of the bunch. Formulaic, template-y, with rather bland characters, a very slow start and stilted, uneven pacing. What bothered me the most was the narration style. It didn’t seem like a Krentz (et al.) book at the beginning. It felt like it was written by someone else, someone not that good at writing. And the plot and characters suffered for it, with the heroine coming across as a too-trusting imbecile, the hero a card-board copy of the heroes from previous books (in all three time settings), and the plot so boring that the first remotely interesting and intense scene happened around 40% in.
Only later, the narration became “Krentz-ish”, and the pacing quickened, the plot thickened, the suspense kicked in, and the heroine got a quick personality change (for the better). Unfortunately, the hero remained rather bland and template-y, and the chemistry between him and the heroine practically non-existent (they didn’t even hit the lukewarm temperature), making their “relationship” appear forced.
The plot, once it thickened and got a little more “meaty”, was interesting and gripping, but, as in the previous book it became a little overblown and overcomplicated toward the end with multiple villains, their reasons for perpetrating their villainy, secrets from the past, secrets from the present, and that one added subplot revolving around the hero that had nothing to do with the main story, and, instead of adding layers and weight to the hero’s character, only bogged the story down, contributed nothing to the overall plot, and made little sense in the bigger picture.
It definitely had potential, but was too long, too bland, and too overblown to really shine.
Charlotte goes to investigate and finds out Jocelyn’s friend is dead. The police has ruled it an overdose, but the friend’s cousin doesn’t buy the easy theory and has hired a private investigator—Max Cutler, a former profiler, whose gut tells him the death was no accident. His gut also tells him Jocelyn isn’t where she’s supposed to be, so Charlotte, despite her better judgment, joins the investigation. First order of business: check the storage locker.
Little do Max and Charlotte know that what they’ll find, albeit seemingly insignificant documents and maps, will prove to be much larger and will put them in the path of a dangerous killer willing to do anything to keep his secret.
This book continues the latest Jayne Ann Krentz (and her alter-egos) slump. Although, if I may be frank, this is the worst of the bunch. Formulaic, template-y, with rather bland characters, a very slow start and stilted, uneven pacing. What bothered me the most was the narration style. It didn’t seem like a Krentz (et al.) book at the beginning. It felt like it was written by someone else, someone not that good at writing. And the plot and characters suffered for it, with the heroine coming across as a too-trusting imbecile, the hero a card-board copy of the heroes from previous books (in all three time settings), and the plot so boring that the first remotely interesting and intense scene happened around 40% in.
Only later, the narration became “Krentz-ish”, and the pacing quickened, the plot thickened, the suspense kicked in, and the heroine got a quick personality change (for the better). Unfortunately, the hero remained rather bland and template-y, and the chemistry between him and the heroine practically non-existent (they didn’t even hit the lukewarm temperature), making their “relationship” appear forced.
The plot, once it thickened and got a little more “meaty”, was interesting and gripping, but, as in the previous book it became a little overblown and overcomplicated toward the end with multiple villains, their reasons for perpetrating their villainy, secrets from the past, secrets from the present, and that one added subplot revolving around the hero that had nothing to do with the main story, and, instead of adding layers and weight to the hero’s character, only bogged the story down, contributed nothing to the overall plot, and made little sense in the bigger picture.
It definitely had potential, but was too long, too bland, and too overblown to really shine.
December 22, 2016
Again Krentz continues her masterful story telling in this gripping read. When All The Girls Have Gone was highly emotional for me personally which affected how long it took me to finish this book.
Keep in mind there is mention of sensitive topics like kidnappings, missing persons, rapes, murders etc but its not so heavy on those details that it negatively affects the reader.
It never ceases to amaze me how well Krentz taps into the mind of our bad guy and brings him to life the way she does, draw in all the dead bodies and who's who / who dunnit going on and you got quite an exciting read.
Of course Krentz books are nothing without its cast which are fantastic, determined and full of their own bright personalities that readers latch onto them from the start. I really liked both Charlotte and Max - I thought they were perfect for this adventure.
If you haven't read this book I highly recommend it.
Keep in mind there is mention of sensitive topics like kidnappings, missing persons, rapes, murders etc but its not so heavy on those details that it negatively affects the reader.
It never ceases to amaze me how well Krentz taps into the mind of our bad guy and brings him to life the way she does, draw in all the dead bodies and who's who / who dunnit going on and you got quite an exciting read.
Of course Krentz books are nothing without its cast which are fantastic, determined and full of their own bright personalities that readers latch onto them from the start. I really liked both Charlotte and Max - I thought they were perfect for this adventure.
If you haven't read this book I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,005 reviews