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DC Maggie Neville #1
Gone Astray
When a Lesley Kinnock buys a lottery ticket on a whim, it changes her life more than she could have imagined . . .
Lesley and her husband Mack are the sudden winners of a £15 million EuroMillions jackpot. They move with their 15-year-old daughter Rosie to an exclusive gated estate in Buckinghamshire, leaving behind their ordinary lives - and friends - as they are catapulted into wealth beyond their wildest dreams.
But it soon turns into their darkest nightmare when, one beautiful spring afternoon, Lesley returns to their house to find it their daughter Rosie is gone.
DC Maggie Neville is assigned to be Family Liaison Officer to Lesley and Mack, supporting them while quietly trying to investigate the family. And she has a crisis threatening her own life - a secret from the past that could shatter everything she's worked so hard to build.
As Lesley and Maggie desperately try to find Rosie, their fates hurtle together on a collision course that threatens to end in tragedy . . .
Money can't buy you happiness.
The truth could hurt more than a lie.
One moment really can change your life forever.
Lesley and her husband Mack are the sudden winners of a £15 million EuroMillions jackpot. They move with their 15-year-old daughter Rosie to an exclusive gated estate in Buckinghamshire, leaving behind their ordinary lives - and friends - as they are catapulted into wealth beyond their wildest dreams.
But it soon turns into their darkest nightmare when, one beautiful spring afternoon, Lesley returns to their house to find it their daughter Rosie is gone.
DC Maggie Neville is assigned to be Family Liaison Officer to Lesley and Mack, supporting them while quietly trying to investigate the family. And she has a crisis threatening her own life - a secret from the past that could shatter everything she's worked so hard to build.
As Lesley and Maggie desperately try to find Rosie, their fates hurtle together on a collision course that threatens to end in tragedy . . .
Money can't buy you happiness.
The truth could hurt more than a lie.
One moment really can change your life forever.
459 pages, ebook
First published March 24, 2016
33 people are currently reading
899 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Davies
14 books103 followersMichelle Davies was born in Middlesex in 1972, raised in Buckinghamshire and now lives in north London.
Her debut crime novel, Gone Astray, was published in 2016 and features Family Liaison Officer DC Maggie Neville as its central police character. Gone Astray was part of a two-book deal with Pan Macmillan and the follow-up, Wrong Place, also featuring Maggie, is out now. Her third in the series, False Witness, is due out in July next year while a fourth will follow in 2019.
When she's not turning her hand to crime, Michelle writes as a freelance journalist for women's magazines including Marie Claire, YOU and Stylist. Her last staff job before going freelance was as Editor-at-Large at Grazia and she was previously Features Editor at heat. She began her career straight from school at 18, working as a trainee reporter on her home-town newspaper, the Bucks Free Press.
Her debut crime novel, Gone Astray, was published in 2016 and features Family Liaison Officer DC Maggie Neville as its central police character. Gone Astray was part of a two-book deal with Pan Macmillan and the follow-up, Wrong Place, also featuring Maggie, is out now. Her third in the series, False Witness, is due out in July next year while a fourth will follow in 2019.
When she's not turning her hand to crime, Michelle writes as a freelance journalist for women's magazines including Marie Claire, YOU and Stylist. Her last staff job before going freelance was as Editor-at-Large at Grazia and she was previously Features Editor at heat. She began her career straight from school at 18, working as a trainee reporter on her home-town newspaper, the Bucks Free Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
March 16, 2016
Gone Astray is another psychological thriller of the type so in favour at the moment, with family and tragedy and secrets and lies. Gone Astray is at the higher end quality speaking of this popular genre, with an addictive fast moving plot focusing on the family and their family liaison officer – a slightly different take on things that worked very well and kept me engaged and intrigued throughout.
I was highly fascinated by all the characters and it had a thought provoking style about it, especially with reference to the money angles – I’ve always suspected that money would not buy happiness (even if it buys choices) in “Gone Astray” that theme is taken as a central pivot point. Michelle Davis builds an addictive and cleverly written plot around a hugely life changing event, there is a lot of the darker side of human nature in this novel and we all know I like a walk on the dark side.
It was also a plus that the police officer involved was specifically a family liaison officer – this gave a different edge to the investigation threads of the plot and Maggie Neville was a beautifully drawn character who with any luck is about to be part of a series. This is the type of psychological thriller I particularly like, where there is a separation of storytelling between police and those they are investigating, it allows for a wider viewpoint, gives more depth to the reading experience overall and in the case of “Gone Astray” is pitched perfectly between the two.
Overall I would definitely recommend this. I’ve had a lot of starting and stopping with novels in this genre lately as it is becoming very overcrowded and predictable – so when I find one that I read in practically one sitting and never question the validity of during the process, I’m a very happy reader. Give it a go!
I was highly fascinated by all the characters and it had a thought provoking style about it, especially with reference to the money angles – I’ve always suspected that money would not buy happiness (even if it buys choices) in “Gone Astray” that theme is taken as a central pivot point. Michelle Davis builds an addictive and cleverly written plot around a hugely life changing event, there is a lot of the darker side of human nature in this novel and we all know I like a walk on the dark side.
It was also a plus that the police officer involved was specifically a family liaison officer – this gave a different edge to the investigation threads of the plot and Maggie Neville was a beautifully drawn character who with any luck is about to be part of a series. This is the type of psychological thriller I particularly like, where there is a separation of storytelling between police and those they are investigating, it allows for a wider viewpoint, gives more depth to the reading experience overall and in the case of “Gone Astray” is pitched perfectly between the two.
Overall I would definitely recommend this. I’ve had a lot of starting and stopping with novels in this genre lately as it is becoming very overcrowded and predictable – so when I find one that I read in practically one sitting and never question the validity of during the process, I’m a very happy reader. Give it a go!
September 8, 2017
Suspenseful, absorbing, and skillfully executed!
Gone Astray is a well-paced psychological thriller set in Buckinghamshire, England that is told from multiple perspectives; Lesley, Rosie's loving, distraught mother who is not entirely comfortable with her new wealth; Maggie, the dedicated, appointed Family Liaison Officer whose own personal life is in tatters; and finally a menacing, aggressive character whose hostility and anger towards the Kinnocks is escalating rapidly.
The writing is crisp and fluid. The characters are flawed, complex, and intriguing. And the plot, using alternating chapters, does an excellent job of intertwining, unraveling and building not only all the tension and increasing family drama but also the suggestions, clues, and procedures of the unfolding police investigation.
Overall, I think Gone Astray is a fantastic debut for Davies that definitely highlights money doesn't always bring happiness and often we don't know people as well as we think.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
Gone Astray is a well-paced psychological thriller set in Buckinghamshire, England that is told from multiple perspectives; Lesley, Rosie's loving, distraught mother who is not entirely comfortable with her new wealth; Maggie, the dedicated, appointed Family Liaison Officer whose own personal life is in tatters; and finally a menacing, aggressive character whose hostility and anger towards the Kinnocks is escalating rapidly.
The writing is crisp and fluid. The characters are flawed, complex, and intriguing. And the plot, using alternating chapters, does an excellent job of intertwining, unraveling and building not only all the tension and increasing family drama but also the suggestions, clues, and procedures of the unfolding police investigation.
Overall, I think Gone Astray is a fantastic debut for Davies that definitely highlights money doesn't always bring happiness and often we don't know people as well as we think.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
October 29, 2016
I don’t know about you, but when I read about some lucky person winning millions on the lottery, I do, for just a moment, think “how lucky are they and what I would do with that amount of money”. My other fleeting thought is how dangerous it could be having that much wealth, particularly if your win is made public.
This thought is picked up in Gone Astray. When Lesley Kinnock impulsively buys a lottery ticket and ends up winning a huge amount of money, she is not to know that she has unknowingly placed her family in danger.
There is a saying – “money can’t buy you happiness” – I’m sure that Lesley would agree with that. Despite winning £15 million, she is at odds with her husband Mack; she feels uncomfortable flaunting their new found wealth and doesn’t feel at home in their expensive new house however her husband likes nothing more than flashing the cash and feeling important.
When the unthinkable happens and their teenage daughter Rosie disappears, they are both beside themselves. Unbeknown to them somebody resents their win and is determined to get a share for themselves.
Gone Astray grabbed me from the first few pages and was a truly addictive read. At first it was unclear whether Rosie had gone off somewhere of her own volition but as time passes and she hasn’t returned, concern turns to panic.
All the way through this story, I was convinced that not everyone was telling the truth. Lesley seemed to be holding back information and I couldn’t help thinking that if you were so worried for your daughter’s safety wouldn’t you tell the police everything you knew that could possibly help them find her. Her husband Mack also has secrets of his own and Rosie’s friends seem to know more than they are telling.
Told in the third person, the chapters feature the viewpoints of Lesley, together with the FLO and there is also an anonymous, rather sinister voice. As the story continues, we find out how this person connects.
Gone Astray is a very intriguing crime thriller featuring as the main police character, a Family Liaison Officer, DC Maggie Neville, who along with a colleague, is one of two Family Liaison Officers assigned to the family. Maggie has her own backstory – she has a complicated family life (which includes a seemingly very ungrateful sister); it is made clear from the outset that something has gone badly wrong with one of her previous cases and she is keen to redeem herself here with her superiors, particularly DCI Umpire (whom I suspect will feature a little more in Maggie’s life!). I believe that this is the first in a series featuring this FLO – and I’m looking forward to getting to know her better. Whilst she comes across as being diligent and sympathetic, she also has the potential to be a bit of a loose cannon and instead of always following orders goes with her gut. Her job is not just tea and sympathy though, as well as supporting the family, she is also expected to find out what she can and report back anything of interest and assistance to the investigating team.
With realistic characterisations and a fast paced and interesting plot, there was an awful lot to like about this book. The author’s journalistic experience is put to good use with the story narrative and all the various strands come together very well to form a dramatic and nail-biting conclusion.
This thought is picked up in Gone Astray. When Lesley Kinnock impulsively buys a lottery ticket and ends up winning a huge amount of money, she is not to know that she has unknowingly placed her family in danger.
There is a saying – “money can’t buy you happiness” – I’m sure that Lesley would agree with that. Despite winning £15 million, she is at odds with her husband Mack; she feels uncomfortable flaunting their new found wealth and doesn’t feel at home in their expensive new house however her husband likes nothing more than flashing the cash and feeling important.
When the unthinkable happens and their teenage daughter Rosie disappears, they are both beside themselves. Unbeknown to them somebody resents their win and is determined to get a share for themselves.
Gone Astray grabbed me from the first few pages and was a truly addictive read. At first it was unclear whether Rosie had gone off somewhere of her own volition but as time passes and she hasn’t returned, concern turns to panic.
All the way through this story, I was convinced that not everyone was telling the truth. Lesley seemed to be holding back information and I couldn’t help thinking that if you were so worried for your daughter’s safety wouldn’t you tell the police everything you knew that could possibly help them find her. Her husband Mack also has secrets of his own and Rosie’s friends seem to know more than they are telling.
Told in the third person, the chapters feature the viewpoints of Lesley, together with the FLO and there is also an anonymous, rather sinister voice. As the story continues, we find out how this person connects.
Gone Astray is a very intriguing crime thriller featuring as the main police character, a Family Liaison Officer, DC Maggie Neville, who along with a colleague, is one of two Family Liaison Officers assigned to the family. Maggie has her own backstory – she has a complicated family life (which includes a seemingly very ungrateful sister); it is made clear from the outset that something has gone badly wrong with one of her previous cases and she is keen to redeem herself here with her superiors, particularly DCI Umpire (whom I suspect will feature a little more in Maggie’s life!). I believe that this is the first in a series featuring this FLO – and I’m looking forward to getting to know her better. Whilst she comes across as being diligent and sympathetic, she also has the potential to be a bit of a loose cannon and instead of always following orders goes with her gut. Her job is not just tea and sympathy though, as well as supporting the family, she is also expected to find out what she can and report back anything of interest and assistance to the investigating team.
With realistic characterisations and a fast paced and interesting plot, there was an awful lot to like about this book. The author’s journalistic experience is put to good use with the story narrative and all the various strands come together very well to form a dramatic and nail-biting conclusion.
August 27, 2023
Gone Astray is about a couple who won the Euromillions lottery a little while ago and their daughter Rosie. When they won the lottery they moved to a large and expensive house, away from, but not far away from, their previous home. Lesley, Rosie's mother, comes home one day to find her daughter missing and blood on the lawn. The book follows the story of the police investigation through the eyes of Maggie who acts as the Family Liaison Officer (although she is a detective too). Some chapters are from the eyes of someone who appears to be the perpetrator of the abduction if that is what it is.
The pace of this book was good and kept me engaged in what is, in many ways, a routine police investigation story. I found the characters less good and some of them seemed stereotypical and lacking depth. Maggie as a character worked the best for me. She has a personal story here too which came over well to me. It seems that this may be the first in a series of books featuring her and that has promise. All in all the story moves along ok however I cannot say I was gripped by this and I did think it was somewhat clichéd at times. I would read another book by Michelle Davies.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
The pace of this book was good and kept me engaged in what is, in many ways, a routine police investigation story. I found the characters less good and some of them seemed stereotypical and lacking depth. Maggie as a character worked the best for me. She has a personal story here too which came over well to me. It seems that this may be the first in a series of books featuring her and that has promise. All in all the story moves along ok however I cannot say I was gripped by this and I did think it was somewhat clichéd at times. I would read another book by Michelle Davies.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
November 30, 2016
I have just finished listening to Gone Astray on Audible. It was a gripping thriller involving the abduction of a 15 year old girl - Rosie - who is also the daughter of a Mac and Lesley Kinnock- winners of £15m on the EuroMillions. Introducing DC Maggie Neville as the Family Liaison Office - it's an authentic police procedural story which I thoroughly enjoyed. An impressive debut with believable characters and a fast-paced storyline. Recommended.
September 6, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Good story line and relatable characters. It wasn’t the most original plot, but when so many similar books are out there it’s hard for a crime thriller to really shock or be “out there”.
About to start the next one in the series and I would recommend x
About to start the next one in the series and I would recommend x
July 14, 2016
4.5 *. This book encapsulated everything that I like about great reads - it was entertaining, fast-paced, had believable dialogue, characters to like and hate, a good plot and it made me want to get home every day and read. This is a great debut novel that had me turning the pages diligently every night after I got into bed...and then kept me reading for way longer than I should have. Yes, it's a goodie and I look forward to reading more by this author.
March 31, 2016
Lesley Kinnock buys a lottery ticket on the spur of the moment and she wins the jackpot. Little does Lesley realise just how much of an impact this win will have on her loved ones. Lesley, her husband Mack and their daughter Rosie, move to a mansion on the other side of town away from their friends and family. One day Lesley returns from shopping to find that Rose has disappeared and she contacts police. DC Maggie Neville is one of the two Family Liaison Officers appointed to support the family. However, Maggie has problems of her own. Lesley & DC Neville must work together to prevent a tragedy and find Rosie before it is too late.
Wowzers this is one heck of a debut novel. There is one main plot but there are several sub plots which are not complicated and which feed back into the main story.
Maggie, the lead character, is a Family Liaison Officer and she is tasked with supporting the Kinnock family. She sees this case as an opportunity to make amends for the mistake she made in a previous case and to redeem herself. She has problems in her personal life, both family and romantically. These problems threaten to affect her work. Lesley is like a fish out of water. She has won a large sum of money but she doesn’t really know what to do with it. She and her family move to a bigger house in the posh part of town but Lesley wants to be amongst familiar surroundings and feel comfortable, Mack is a businessman, who loves having this wealth and he makes sure that everybody knows about it. Mack flaunts his wealth. Mack is hiding something but it isn’t what you might think at first. Mack is also hot headed, which does not help the investigation at all.
Reading this book felt a bit as though I was on a rollercoaster ride in that there were lots of twists, turns and stomach churning moments. As the book goes on secrets and lies come tumbling out of the closet so to speak. Clues and subtle hints are given throughout the book and in a sense the reader is being drip fed highly relevant information even if the reader doesn’t realise at the time.
Michelle is very talented in that she can create and increase the sense of drama. At times, whilst reading this book my heart rate increased rapidly and I had to hold my breath on more than one occasion as I feared what was going to happen next. I totally immersed myself in this book and I really did feel as though I was ‘living’ this case as a silent witness.
I loved this book and I can’t wait to read more from this fantastic author, who deserves to go far. I wouldn’t be surprised if this series is snapped up by a television company and adapted for television. In fact I am already thinking who could play the various roles. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
Wowzers this is one heck of a debut novel. There is one main plot but there are several sub plots which are not complicated and which feed back into the main story.
Maggie, the lead character, is a Family Liaison Officer and she is tasked with supporting the Kinnock family. She sees this case as an opportunity to make amends for the mistake she made in a previous case and to redeem herself. She has problems in her personal life, both family and romantically. These problems threaten to affect her work. Lesley is like a fish out of water. She has won a large sum of money but she doesn’t really know what to do with it. She and her family move to a bigger house in the posh part of town but Lesley wants to be amongst familiar surroundings and feel comfortable, Mack is a businessman, who loves having this wealth and he makes sure that everybody knows about it. Mack flaunts his wealth. Mack is hiding something but it isn’t what you might think at first. Mack is also hot headed, which does not help the investigation at all.
Reading this book felt a bit as though I was on a rollercoaster ride in that there were lots of twists, turns and stomach churning moments. As the book goes on secrets and lies come tumbling out of the closet so to speak. Clues and subtle hints are given throughout the book and in a sense the reader is being drip fed highly relevant information even if the reader doesn’t realise at the time.
Michelle is very talented in that she can create and increase the sense of drama. At times, whilst reading this book my heart rate increased rapidly and I had to hold my breath on more than one occasion as I feared what was going to happen next. I totally immersed myself in this book and I really did feel as though I was ‘living’ this case as a silent witness.
I loved this book and I can’t wait to read more from this fantastic author, who deserves to go far. I wouldn’t be surprised if this series is snapped up by a television company and adapted for television. In fact I am already thinking who could play the various roles. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
February 16, 2017
A tense roller coaster of a read. Sensitively portrayed characters. Loved Maggie.
November 16, 2018
Review can also be found on my blog here: https://booksonthebookshelf.wordpress...
Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Publishers Group Canada for gifting me a beautiful paperback copy of this book! I love a good police procedural, detective type book and was thrilled to have received a copy of this one.
Gripping, thrilling and powerfully captivating!
Gone Astray was written in alternating chapters from three different point of views – Lesley, the distraught mother whose teenage daughter is missing, Maggie, the Family Liason Officer assigned to support the family, and an unknown person who is disturbed and upset that somehow he has been wronged by the Kinnock family and is hell bent on making them pay!
I enjoyed how the three alternating point of views in the story all tied together and came together nicely in a way to tell the complete story. It was interesting to read from each character’s point of view and to get a glimpse into their personalities, and the way that they think and view things. All characters in this novel are complex and flawed at best, which made for quite the interesting read.
Can you imagine winning so much money from the lottery and having all sorts of people calling you, mailing you, messaging you, etc? It must have been the Kinnock’s worst nightmare to realize their daughter is missing because someone felt wronger by them, and decided to make them suffer as a result, all due to the fact that the Kinnock family won this money. Their new found financial freedom and happiness is short lived as their biggest fears and nightmares come true. All they want is their daughter back, safe where she belongs.
I found myself immersed in this storyline as I was curious to find out what happened to the Kinnock’s daughter and if she would be found safe and unharmed. I had my theories on who was responsible, only to be proven over and over that my initial suspicions were wrong. I love books that make you think and this book certainly did just that! I was hooked to find out who the responsible person was.
We are introduced to a lot of different characters in this book, and in my eyes everyone was a suspect. Who could the Kinnock family trust? Could they trust their friends? Could they trust their daughter’s friends? Their neighbours? Who could you turn to when you are not sure who you could trust?
Will they be able to find out exactly what happened before it is too late? Be sure to read this novel to find out! A must read!
Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Publishers Group Canada for gifting me a beautiful paperback copy of this book! I love a good police procedural, detective type book and was thrilled to have received a copy of this one.
Gripping, thrilling and powerfully captivating!
Gone Astray was written in alternating chapters from three different point of views – Lesley, the distraught mother whose teenage daughter is missing, Maggie, the Family Liason Officer assigned to support the family, and an unknown person who is disturbed and upset that somehow he has been wronged by the Kinnock family and is hell bent on making them pay!
I enjoyed how the three alternating point of views in the story all tied together and came together nicely in a way to tell the complete story. It was interesting to read from each character’s point of view and to get a glimpse into their personalities, and the way that they think and view things. All characters in this novel are complex and flawed at best, which made for quite the interesting read.
Can you imagine winning so much money from the lottery and having all sorts of people calling you, mailing you, messaging you, etc? It must have been the Kinnock’s worst nightmare to realize their daughter is missing because someone felt wronger by them, and decided to make them suffer as a result, all due to the fact that the Kinnock family won this money. Their new found financial freedom and happiness is short lived as their biggest fears and nightmares come true. All they want is their daughter back, safe where she belongs.
I found myself immersed in this storyline as I was curious to find out what happened to the Kinnock’s daughter and if she would be found safe and unharmed. I had my theories on who was responsible, only to be proven over and over that my initial suspicions were wrong. I love books that make you think and this book certainly did just that! I was hooked to find out who the responsible person was.
We are introduced to a lot of different characters in this book, and in my eyes everyone was a suspect. Who could the Kinnock family trust? Could they trust their friends? Could they trust their daughter’s friends? Their neighbours? Who could you turn to when you are not sure who you could trust?
Will they be able to find out exactly what happened before it is too late? Be sure to read this novel to find out! A must read!
December 11, 2018
I thought this book was a very good read. It hooked me in from the start and I really enjoyed it from start to finish. I really liked the character Maggie Neville. I found her to be very kind, caring and empathetic. I did like all the twists and turns the only tiny downside is I wished the person behind it wasn’t just someone random but other than that it was brilliant. I am definitely looking forward to reading the other books in the series. I definitely recommend this book.
May 3, 2017
Such a disappointment. Interesting premise spoilt by paint-by-the-numbers writing and one-dimensional stock characters.
We have them all, folks - the harried single mother, the bluff Scotsman, the bitchy teenage girl, the blunt best friend, the newly rich anti-snob, the bored housewife with the drinky close to hand, the mother who just wants what is best for her daughter.
And let's not forget our plucky young detective, who will stop at nothing to solve the case. Nothing deters our heroine - not withholding evidence, not wrangling favours to uncover information other detectives should follow up on, not forcibly and aggressively questioning a hospitalised minor under considerable duress and without parental consent, not breaking and entering on the flimsiest of grounds. Her behaviour seriously jeopardizes the chances of a successful prosecution, but I guess that doesn't matter much to Maggie! Who cares about locking up the criminal if you can prove you knew who did it before anyone else, eh? Detectives work in teams for a reason; every member has a specific role and each need to play his or her own role to ensure that a case is investigated and solved properly so that it can be prosecuted successfully. If you want to run around saving London from itself and holding the family's hand while doing so, become a private investigator.
We have them all, folks - the harried single mother, the bluff Scotsman, the bitchy teenage girl, the blunt best friend, the newly rich anti-snob, the bored housewife with the drinky close to hand, the mother who just wants what is best for her daughter.
And let's not forget our plucky young detective, who will stop at nothing to solve the case. Nothing deters our heroine - not withholding evidence, not wrangling favours to uncover information other detectives should follow up on, not forcibly and aggressively questioning a hospitalised minor under considerable duress and without parental consent, not breaking and entering on the flimsiest of grounds. Her behaviour seriously jeopardizes the chances of a successful prosecution, but I guess that doesn't matter much to Maggie! Who cares about locking up the criminal if you can prove you knew who did it before anyone else, eh? Detectives work in teams for a reason; every member has a specific role and each need to play his or her own role to ensure that a case is investigated and solved properly so that it can be prosecuted successfully. If you want to run around saving London from itself and holding the family's hand while doing so, become a private investigator.
March 13, 2016
This is a 3.5
An ordinary couple from a normal background win £15 million on the Euro millions jackpot, and their lives are changed forever. But not how they’d imagined. This had an interesting premise; and the kind of story that I’d never read before.
Lesley and Mack’s only daughter Rosie goes missing and throughout every turn and twist, they are left with more questions than answers. DC Maggie Neville - the Family Liaison Officer - juggles the tough task of finding Rosie, whilst a secret from her past is bubbling over the surface.
I tried to second guess where the story was going throughout but I was very wrong. I liked the surprises I got along the way and I look forward to more from Michelle Davis.
Thanks goes to Net Galley & the publishers for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
An ordinary couple from a normal background win £15 million on the Euro millions jackpot, and their lives are changed forever. But not how they’d imagined. This had an interesting premise; and the kind of story that I’d never read before.
Lesley and Mack’s only daughter Rosie goes missing and throughout every turn and twist, they are left with more questions than answers. DC Maggie Neville - the Family Liaison Officer - juggles the tough task of finding Rosie, whilst a secret from her past is bubbling over the surface.
I tried to second guess where the story was going throughout but I was very wrong. I liked the surprises I got along the way and I look forward to more from Michelle Davis.
Thanks goes to Net Galley & the publishers for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2016
I had my copy of Gone Astray kept up high on my shelves, as its a signed first edition, so I hadn’t gotten around to reading it until now. I hadn’t re-read the blurb before reading it either, as I didn’t want to go in with any knowledge of the story. This served me well as I was well and truly hooked immediately.
Gone Astray is a promising debut from Michelle Davies. It is a tightly plotted novel with many different strands woven together.Once I started reading, I didn’t want to put it down as I was so engrossed in the story.
Given the fact that it opens with the disappearance of the Kinnock’s daughter, the reader is instantly thrown into a missing persons investigation. With DC Maggie Neville acting as Family Liaison Officer to the family, the story gains traction as Neville has her own past issues threatening to come out during the course of the book.
I won’t go into specifics, but what I will say is that Michelle Davies has written a very confident debut. A crime thriller, with some very interesting threads running through the novel. I really hope this isn’t the last we see of DC Neville, she has the potential to be a superstar main character! Highly recommended!
Gone Astray is a promising debut from Michelle Davies. It is a tightly plotted novel with many different strands woven together.Once I started reading, I didn’t want to put it down as I was so engrossed in the story.
Given the fact that it opens with the disappearance of the Kinnock’s daughter, the reader is instantly thrown into a missing persons investigation. With DC Maggie Neville acting as Family Liaison Officer to the family, the story gains traction as Neville has her own past issues threatening to come out during the course of the book.
I won’t go into specifics, but what I will say is that Michelle Davies has written a very confident debut. A crime thriller, with some very interesting threads running through the novel. I really hope this isn’t the last we see of DC Neville, she has the potential to be a superstar main character! Highly recommended!
May 18, 2016
Review by www.ireadnovels.wordpress.com I enjoyed reading Gone Astray tremendously. Michelle Davies has been writing professionally for twenty years as a journalist on magazines. She currently writes for a number of women's magazines and newspaper supplements. Having said that it doesn't matter if you are a journalist or write for magazines, I can honestly tell readers that it is still very difficult for any writer to find characters and a plot that readers will love and appreciate. And I for one really appreciate the joy that Michelle Davies has given me, as I found it hard to put the hardback Gone Astray down. Thank you Michelle Davies, I loved reading every page!
January 9, 2017
A predictable thriller with predictable twists and ending. Won't be one of my reads of the year. A second book in the series out next month but this first didn't grab me enough to read a second installment.
January 4, 2019
Great fun, a twisty, exciting romp, really gripping and easy to read. The overlapping nature of people and events stretches belief on occasion but when it’s so fun, who cares! Loved Maggie, and looking forward to reading more in this series.
My rating strategy:
5 stars = An all time favourite, I could tell you about this 10 years later.
4 stars = Loved this, really gripping/fun/exciting, will remember long term.
3 stars = Definitely enjoyed, might forget quickly though, but happy to read more by the author.
2 stars = Likely to have some good points, but it didn't properly captivate me.
1 star = Not my cup of tea at all, wouldn't return to the author.
My rating strategy:
5 stars = An all time favourite, I could tell you about this 10 years later.
4 stars = Loved this, really gripping/fun/exciting, will remember long term.
3 stars = Definitely enjoyed, might forget quickly though, but happy to read more by the author.
2 stars = Likely to have some good points, but it didn't properly captivate me.
1 star = Not my cup of tea at all, wouldn't return to the author.
November 17, 2017
I didn’t particularly like this thriller. I found it a little predictable and consequently boring. It wasn’t terrible but just not memorable or very interesting.
December 9, 2022
One of the worst ever. Unconvincing and tedious. The resolution made very little sense. Dumb characters.
April 6, 2016
This is a debut novel with a feeling very much of its time. This year is awash with psychological suspense thrillers involving missing children, families hiding multiple secrets and police officers with their own dramas to contend with alongside crimes to solve. This book gives us something a little different as it's the first I've read when the main character is a FLO-a family liaison officer-Maggie who is drafted in when a young girl goes missing.
Mack and Lesley have hit the jackpot....literally! After a win on the Euromillions to the tune of £15 million, they are living the life in a beautiful mansion in a gated community with their only child,15 year old Rosie. On returning from a shopping trip one day, Lesley finds the house alarm turned off and Rosie missing. Has she been abducted and if so is the Euromillions win the reason? Maggie Neville is a FLO who is brought in to support the Kinnock family as soon as the disappearance has been reported. She also has more than a few secrets of her own in her personal life including an outstanding complaint against her from a previous case. The race is on to find Rosie....
I was drawn to this book from the synopsis as I liked the fact that it was told from the point of view of Maggie, a police officer called in about 3 times a year as a FLO. I've seen on the news that families have been assigned a FLO after a crime has taken place and often wondered how far their duties extended. It's not all making tea and fending off the press apparently!! Maggie didn't seem to have the personal connection with the family that I would have expected but I imagine it may be difficult to maintain a level of professionalism whilst living as an outsider within a house full of grieving or desperate people. I did struggle to feel an attachment to her at times, her relationship with the parents also lacked the empathy I expected but whether this was deliberate or based on research I don't know. I just felt rather detached at times. Saying that, this is a really enjoyable read plotwise that steams ahead even though it did leave a few questions unanswered. It twists around so that although we are aware of the person who has a grievance against the family, we don't know w/o not is or how it relates to Rosie until near the end. This is another novel where the use of social media is used to great effect mirroring the real life of today's teenager.
I assume this will be the first in a series based on Maggie and I would certainly be interested in seeing where she goes from here. Her family life and her relationship with her DCI definitely have more to give and I'm hoping that the author has now settled into her writing style and can relax into her characters a bit more. This is an interesting concept and certainly needs to be explored further.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Mack and Lesley have hit the jackpot....literally! After a win on the Euromillions to the tune of £15 million, they are living the life in a beautiful mansion in a gated community with their only child,15 year old Rosie. On returning from a shopping trip one day, Lesley finds the house alarm turned off and Rosie missing. Has she been abducted and if so is the Euromillions win the reason? Maggie Neville is a FLO who is brought in to support the Kinnock family as soon as the disappearance has been reported. She also has more than a few secrets of her own in her personal life including an outstanding complaint against her from a previous case. The race is on to find Rosie....
I was drawn to this book from the synopsis as I liked the fact that it was told from the point of view of Maggie, a police officer called in about 3 times a year as a FLO. I've seen on the news that families have been assigned a FLO after a crime has taken place and often wondered how far their duties extended. It's not all making tea and fending off the press apparently!! Maggie didn't seem to have the personal connection with the family that I would have expected but I imagine it may be difficult to maintain a level of professionalism whilst living as an outsider within a house full of grieving or desperate people. I did struggle to feel an attachment to her at times, her relationship with the parents also lacked the empathy I expected but whether this was deliberate or based on research I don't know. I just felt rather detached at times. Saying that, this is a really enjoyable read plotwise that steams ahead even though it did leave a few questions unanswered. It twists around so that although we are aware of the person who has a grievance against the family, we don't know w/o not is or how it relates to Rosie until near the end. This is another novel where the use of social media is used to great effect mirroring the real life of today's teenager.
I assume this will be the first in a series based on Maggie and I would certainly be interested in seeing where she goes from here. Her family life and her relationship with her DCI definitely have more to give and I'm hoping that the author has now settled into her writing style and can relax into her characters a bit more. This is an interesting concept and certainly needs to be explored further.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
August 6, 2017
Lesley and Mack are winners of the jackpot in the Euromillions lottery. Lesley is uncomfortable with the idea of being rich and she is decidedly lonely and feels isolated in her new mansion. She feels shut out of her 15 year old daughters life and ignored by her husband who is busy playing golf and enjoying his new found wealth. Rosie the daughter suddenly goes missing one Tuesday morning when Lesley is grocery shopping. A blood stained skirt is all that is left as evidence.
Lesley is distraught as Mack is away golfing in Scotland. Maggie is the Family Liaison officer assigned to the case. Maggie has her own troubles with her older sister and her three children. Plus Maggie has only just been reinstated as a FLO due to her going against the wishes of her senior officer on a previous case.
A lot of the characters in this book are keeping secrets for various reasons. This is a well written book full of twists and turns which really held my attention. I felt sorry for Lesley, even though she has hit the jackpot her life is very empty. She has left all her friends behind and is shut out by the closeness between father and daughter. I actually thought this book was going in a totally different direction but was proved wrong.
I really enjoyed reading about the role of the FLO and the development of Maggie's charater and look forward to the second book in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy
Lesley is distraught as Mack is away golfing in Scotland. Maggie is the Family Liaison officer assigned to the case. Maggie has her own troubles with her older sister and her three children. Plus Maggie has only just been reinstated as a FLO due to her going against the wishes of her senior officer on a previous case.
A lot of the characters in this book are keeping secrets for various reasons. This is a well written book full of twists and turns which really held my attention. I felt sorry for Lesley, even though she has hit the jackpot her life is very empty. She has left all her friends behind and is shut out by the closeness between father and daughter. I actually thought this book was going in a totally different direction but was proved wrong.
I really enjoyed reading about the role of the FLO and the development of Maggie's charater and look forward to the second book in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy
June 10, 2023
Boring. Just kept reading as I had read quite a bit, thinking it must get better at some point. It didn't though. None of the characters are believable, or more importantly, likeable.
August 2, 2017
Gone Astray by Michelle Davies was published by Pan Macmillan in paperback on 20 October 2016 and is the author's debut novel, and the first in the DC Maggie Neville series.
Gone Astray had been sitting on my shelf for around six months before I took it away to Corfu with me in June as one of my holiday reads. Book shops seem to be overflowing with books with dark covers, red title print and featuring missing children. It's very easy to become tired of this trend, but the blurb from Gone Astray is very inviting, and the story inside is a clever take on the subject.
The main difference between Gone Astray and so many of the other books of its type is the main character; Maggie Neville. Although she is a serving police officer, her role within this story is that of a Family Liaison Officer; very different to the tired, stereotypical police officers we often come across in fiction.
Lesley and Mack Kinnock, and their fifteen-year-old daughter Rosie won £15m on the Lottery and it has changed their lives. Their new home is in an exclusive estate in Buckinghamshire, their new neighbours are wealthy; so very different to their previous ordinary lives. Whilst Mack embraces their new life and the trappings of wealth, Lesley is uneasy. She doesn't feel comfortable and misses their old life and house.
Maggie Neville meets the Kinnocks when she is assigned as their Family Liaison Officer after the disappearance of Rosie who vanished from the garden, with no clues left, except for some small smatterings of blood.
Maggie is a complex and very well created character. I enjoyed getting to know her, and her role, and also picking up hints about her background. Her relationship with her boss DCI Umpire is both intriguing and compelling and lays the path for more in this series.
The plot can sometimes edge towards the unbelievable but the story is so well put together that I can certainly forgive the author, and this is a fine debut novel that certainly kept me entertained for a couple of days in the Greek sunshine.
Secrets, lies and unanswered questions abound in this fast-moving and very readable domestic thriller.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
Gone Astray had been sitting on my shelf for around six months before I took it away to Corfu with me in June as one of my holiday reads. Book shops seem to be overflowing with books with dark covers, red title print and featuring missing children. It's very easy to become tired of this trend, but the blurb from Gone Astray is very inviting, and the story inside is a clever take on the subject.
The main difference between Gone Astray and so many of the other books of its type is the main character; Maggie Neville. Although she is a serving police officer, her role within this story is that of a Family Liaison Officer; very different to the tired, stereotypical police officers we often come across in fiction.
Lesley and Mack Kinnock, and their fifteen-year-old daughter Rosie won £15m on the Lottery and it has changed their lives. Their new home is in an exclusive estate in Buckinghamshire, their new neighbours are wealthy; so very different to their previous ordinary lives. Whilst Mack embraces their new life and the trappings of wealth, Lesley is uneasy. She doesn't feel comfortable and misses their old life and house.
Maggie Neville meets the Kinnocks when she is assigned as their Family Liaison Officer after the disappearance of Rosie who vanished from the garden, with no clues left, except for some small smatterings of blood.
Maggie is a complex and very well created character. I enjoyed getting to know her, and her role, and also picking up hints about her background. Her relationship with her boss DCI Umpire is both intriguing and compelling and lays the path for more in this series.
The plot can sometimes edge towards the unbelievable but the story is so well put together that I can certainly forgive the author, and this is a fine debut novel that certainly kept me entertained for a couple of days in the Greek sunshine.
Secrets, lies and unanswered questions abound in this fast-moving and very readable domestic thriller.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
July 5, 2018
Easy to read and absorbing crime thriller. Davies' cleverly created central character Maggie Neville is a Detective Constable who is also a Family Liaison Officer, allowing Davies to write a great police crime novel with all the usual whodunnit/howdunnit/whydunnit enjoyment combined with a domestic psychology thriller.
This story is about the disappearance of a teenage girl from the family home of a couple who have recently had a big lottery win. As well as the distress over their missing child, the parents are struggling to come to terms with the changes to their lives and their relationships brought on by their sudden dramatic increase in wealth.
Davies includes in her influences 2 of my favourite authors - Sophie Hannah and Tana French. As if I needed any more reasons to become a devoted fan!
This story is about the disappearance of a teenage girl from the family home of a couple who have recently had a big lottery win. As well as the distress over their missing child, the parents are struggling to come to terms with the changes to their lives and their relationships brought on by their sudden dramatic increase in wealth.
Davies includes in her influences 2 of my favourite authors - Sophie Hannah and Tana French. As if I needed any more reasons to become a devoted fan!
May 6, 2017
Lesley and Mack Kinnock won £15 million in the EuroMillions lottery, moved to an exclusive gated community in Buckinghamshire, leaving behind their old lives and friends. However, money doesn't necessarily buy happiness and when the Kinnocks' daughter, Rosie is abducted, their nightmare begins as secrets surface and the media becomes hostile. DC Maggie Neville is assigned to the case as their Family Liaison Officer, trying to both support the family and gather evidence that will lead them to Rosie. Maggie is a strong and determined character with an interesting back story and this is an excellently plotted and very accomplished debut novel. Really looking forward to meeting Maggie again in Wrong Place.
September 29, 2019
I loved this book. I've just found Michelle Davies and will certainly read more of the DC Maggie Neville series.
The plot line is totally believable as are the characters. Everyone dreams of winning the lottery but when that dream turns into a nightmare it can be heart wrenching. This book is fast paced with many twists and turns and an unexpected finale
DC Maggie Neville is smart and sassy but still manages to be empathetic in her approach to dealing with victims of crimes and their familes.
If you enjoy a page turning intriguing crime novel set in the UK you will love this series.
The plot line is totally believable as are the characters. Everyone dreams of winning the lottery but when that dream turns into a nightmare it can be heart wrenching. This book is fast paced with many twists and turns and an unexpected finale
DC Maggie Neville is smart and sassy but still manages to be empathetic in her approach to dealing with victims of crimes and their familes.
If you enjoy a page turning intriguing crime novel set in the UK you will love this series.
February 15, 2018
Glad that this looks to be the beginning of a series because I quite like DC Maggie Neville. She feels like an authentic character and it was nice for a change to read a female lead who is intelligent and felt like a reliable narrator. The mystery was pretty good although some of the clues along the way made some (though not all) of the twists less twisty than I was expecting from the cover blurbs. I hope to read more about Maggie Neville soon!
September 30, 2022
Captivating and entertaining. I liked the storyline and though I wouldn't have minded it being a bit darker, I was entertained from beginning to the end, and I really like the main character Maggie! Looking forward to read the next in the series.
November 7, 2023
The plot was not bad but there's something mildly annoying about the protagonist lol. Maybe I'm in a weird mood.
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