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Never Go Back: A Mystery / Crime Thriller
What happens when the only eyewitness to a murder becomes the only suspect?
Alison Carter's world is upended when her boss is shot in front of her eyes. Worse yet, the more Detective Brad Gilmore investigates, the more evidence he discovers against her. Now the happy life Alison once took for granted is in danger of being shattered forever . . . unless she can find the real killer before she ends up serving time for his crime.
Alison Carter's world is upended when her boss is shot in front of her eyes. Worse yet, the more Detective Brad Gilmore investigates, the more evidence he discovers against her. Now the happy life Alison once took for granted is in danger of being shattered forever . . . unless she can find the real killer before she ends up serving time for his crime.
- GenresMystery
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 27, 2016
10 people want to read
About the author
Marla Bradeen
12 books74 followersMarla Bradeen previously worked as a software consultant and analyst. In 2012, she gave up a traditional job for no other reason than to have more time to pursue personal interests, such as sleeping in late and taking naps. Although she misses seeing regular deposits into her bank account, she hasn't once regretted that decision.
These days, Marla enjoys inventing imaginary friends and killing them off. She's thrilled to have finally found a use for that bachelor's in psychology: getting into her characters' heads. When she's not plotting murder, she spends her time fighting for mattress space with her two rescue cats.
She also writes cozy mysteries under the pseudonym Paige Sleuth.
These days, Marla enjoys inventing imaginary friends and killing them off. She's thrilled to have finally found a use for that bachelor's in psychology: getting into her characters' heads. When she's not plotting murder, she spends her time fighting for mattress space with her two rescue cats.
She also writes cozy mysteries under the pseudonym Paige Sleuth.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 5, 2017
Alison Carter wished her mind didn't drift during her weekly video conference call that Thursday afternoon. It seemed like just another call hammering out issues with their one and only casino client, until his doorbell rang, followed by a scream and a gunshot. He got shot just offscreen in the middle of the call. Alison, trying to do the right thing, calls the police to the scene. Her good intentions might have worked out when they found his dead body later, except for one small problem: he saw shot with Alison's gun, which had recently gone missing. Soon, Alison goes from the only witness to the primary suspect in a crime that may or may not be all that it seems. Never Go Back - A Mystery/Crime Thriller by Marla Bradeen, takes readers through a thrilling ride over the two days following the tragic death and unraveling case of a murder that's more than it seems.
I enjoyed this novel because it's the kind of mystery I like: fast paced, with plenty of twists and turns over the course of the critical hours following a crime. Marla Bradeen does a great job of balancing the story between Alison and the detectives investigating the case. What happens in Vegas definitely doesn't stay in Vegas as this case unravels to reveal the dirty underbelly of gambling and the casino industry. Never Go Back - A Mystery/Crime Thriller is a well written and well developed novel that takes readers on an exciting journey that starts and ends with a bang. If you're looking for a great story with good characters and an exciting setting, then this is the book for you.
I enjoyed this novel because it's the kind of mystery I like: fast paced, with plenty of twists and turns over the course of the critical hours following a crime. Marla Bradeen does a great job of balancing the story between Alison and the detectives investigating the case. What happens in Vegas definitely doesn't stay in Vegas as this case unravels to reveal the dirty underbelly of gambling and the casino industry. Never Go Back - A Mystery/Crime Thriller is a well written and well developed novel that takes readers on an exciting journey that starts and ends with a bang. If you're looking for a great story with good characters and an exciting setting, then this is the book for you.
March 1, 2019
Alison Carter witness her boss getting killed while on a video conference. He went to open the front door and heard the gunshot. After rushing to his house to see if he was okay, she later find her own gun is missing, and that that gun is the murder weapon. Guess who's the prime suspect now?
A fun and well written story, well developed characters, solid plot line, and (at least for me) a really surprise ending.
A fun and well written story, well developed characters, solid plot line, and (at least for me) a really surprise ending.
December 27, 2022
Kind of unintentionally comical. A little too long for the story line. A lot of repeated data. A bit of dropped connections at times. But I did enjoy the story.
September 14, 2016
Never Go Back, by Marla Bradeen is a murder mystery set in the quiet little town of Las Vegas, Nevada. (It's quiet if you don't go into the casinos or don't stay out after 7pm. Right?)
I have to admit that I have a soft spot for detective novels, so keep that in mind. I read a lot of different genres, but I always come back to the whodunit. As long as someone did something bad and someone is trying to figure it out, I'll probably like it. There's a pact between writer and reader in the mystery category. The writer will keep the reader in the dark, doling just enough to get their brain thinking they can figure it out, but keeping just enough hidden to make the reader turn the pages. The reader's part? They keep turning the pages.
I think Marla Bradeen keeps up her end of the bargain here. By throwing the crime in right at the beginning, she sweeps you up in events before you can even think "Hey, wait, who are these people?" Then she doles out pieces at a time over the course of the fluid narrative.
When I say fluid narrative, I mean that, to me, everything flowed naturally. I didn't get the idea that there was a master plot she was holding on to and forcing characters into. It felt like the story moved organically from one scene to another based on character choices. The story alternates between Alison and the lead detective, as each goes about their business of solving the case. It actually works well because it provides a bridge of suspense between each chapter without stringing you out for long. And, of course, there's a lot of dialogue, which I live for.
On the other hand, the narrative left some room for additional character building. I wasn't sure the stakes were high enough for Alison to make some of the choices she did early on. Her husband turns on her rather quickly and I couldn't help but think maybe there should have been an underlying problem there already, or some other obstacle or character flaw that would guide some of her decisions. This would have lent more drama to her part. The mystery was satisfying, but it could have been more so if there were deeper character goals to resolve. It's harder to do than it sounds, but it's there nonetheless.
The same with the lead detective. He has issues with his new, wet-behind-the-ears partner. I would have liked to have seen the tensions externalized in how the characters interacted with each other (again, creates more drama). But most of the troubles in that relationship existed in internal monologues.
That said, several minor characters shined in their limited page-time. The victim's sort-of grieving wife and the girl who goes by the name Candy in particular felt alive as soon as they hit the page. Maybe it was my own imagination adding things, but I really liked those characters and the way they were written.
So, there's a little push and pull here and, of course, it's all subjective.
Never Go Back is an enjoyable, light-reading mystery that could have used a little more drama, but the organic storytelling and interesting mystery kept me turning the pages.
I have to admit that I have a soft spot for detective novels, so keep that in mind. I read a lot of different genres, but I always come back to the whodunit. As long as someone did something bad and someone is trying to figure it out, I'll probably like it. There's a pact between writer and reader in the mystery category. The writer will keep the reader in the dark, doling just enough to get their brain thinking they can figure it out, but keeping just enough hidden to make the reader turn the pages. The reader's part? They keep turning the pages.
I think Marla Bradeen keeps up her end of the bargain here. By throwing the crime in right at the beginning, she sweeps you up in events before you can even think "Hey, wait, who are these people?" Then she doles out pieces at a time over the course of the fluid narrative.
When I say fluid narrative, I mean that, to me, everything flowed naturally. I didn't get the idea that there was a master plot she was holding on to and forcing characters into. It felt like the story moved organically from one scene to another based on character choices. The story alternates between Alison and the lead detective, as each goes about their business of solving the case. It actually works well because it provides a bridge of suspense between each chapter without stringing you out for long. And, of course, there's a lot of dialogue, which I live for.
On the other hand, the narrative left some room for additional character building. I wasn't sure the stakes were high enough for Alison to make some of the choices she did early on. Her husband turns on her rather quickly and I couldn't help but think maybe there should have been an underlying problem there already, or some other obstacle or character flaw that would guide some of her decisions. This would have lent more drama to her part. The mystery was satisfying, but it could have been more so if there were deeper character goals to resolve. It's harder to do than it sounds, but it's there nonetheless.
The same with the lead detective. He has issues with his new, wet-behind-the-ears partner. I would have liked to have seen the tensions externalized in how the characters interacted with each other (again, creates more drama). But most of the troubles in that relationship existed in internal monologues.
That said, several minor characters shined in their limited page-time. The victim's sort-of grieving wife and the girl who goes by the name Candy in particular felt alive as soon as they hit the page. Maybe it was my own imagination adding things, but I really liked those characters and the way they were written.
So, there's a little push and pull here and, of course, it's all subjective.
Never Go Back is an enjoyable, light-reading mystery that could have used a little more drama, but the organic storytelling and interesting mystery kept me turning the pages.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews