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Carter Blake #4
Don't Look for Me
Six years ago, the woman Carter Blake loved disappeared and told him not to ever look for her. For six long years, he kept that promise. She was a woman on the run — a woman with a secret many would kill for. It was better that she stay hidden.
But now someone else is looking for her. Trenton Gage is a hitman with a talent for finding people — dead or alive. And his next job is to track down the woman Carter Blake once loved, a woman on the run. With both men hunting the same person, the question Who will find her first?
A riveting new thriller from Mason Cross, ideal for readers of David Baldacci, Linwood Barclay, and Mark Billingham.
But now someone else is looking for her. Trenton Gage is a hitman with a talent for finding people — dead or alive. And his next job is to track down the woman Carter Blake once loved, a woman on the run. With both men hunting the same person, the question Who will find her first?
A riveting new thriller from Mason Cross, ideal for readers of David Baldacci, Linwood Barclay, and Mark Billingham.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2017
78 people are currently reading
2187 people want to read
About the author
Mason Cross
24 books481 followersFor the latest updates, exclusive giveaways and a free short story, join the Mason Cross Readers Club.
Mason Cross was born in Glasgow in 1979. He studied English at the University of Stirling and has worked variously as a tax officer, events coordinator, project manager and pizza delivery boy. He has written a number of short stories which have been published in Ellery Queen, Scribble and First Edition.
His story 'A Living', was shortlisted for the Quick Reads 'Get Britain Reading' Award. His first novel, The Killing Season was longlisted for the 2015 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and his second, The Samaritan was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club in Spring 2016. The third book in the series, The Time to Kill was released in 2016 and published in the US under the title Winterlong in 2017, followed by Don't Look For Me and Presumed Dead. He lives near Glasgow with his wife and three children.
You can find him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to varying extents (usually when he's distracting himself from doing the actual writing), and he also has a blog.
You can find out more about Mason Cross and the Carter Blake series by visiting his website.
Mason Cross was born in Glasgow in 1979. He studied English at the University of Stirling and has worked variously as a tax officer, events coordinator, project manager and pizza delivery boy. He has written a number of short stories which have been published in Ellery Queen, Scribble and First Edition.
His story 'A Living', was shortlisted for the Quick Reads 'Get Britain Reading' Award. His first novel, The Killing Season was longlisted for the 2015 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and his second, The Samaritan was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club in Spring 2016. The third book in the series, The Time to Kill was released in 2016 and published in the US under the title Winterlong in 2017, followed by Don't Look For Me and Presumed Dead. He lives near Glasgow with his wife and three children.
You can find him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to varying extents (usually when he's distracting himself from doing the actual writing), and he also has a blog.
You can find out more about Mason Cross and the Carter Blake series by visiting his website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
February 22, 2018
Carter Blake gets an email from a concerned neighbor of a couple that has gone missing and the cops are not doing a thing to find them since they don't suspect a crime has been committed. In their opinion have they left of their own free will. All that is left is a notebook with an email address to write to in case of emergency. In the email is a photo of the couple that has gone missing and Blake sees that it's Carol, the woman he loved and lost six years ago. The woman that left a note telling him "don't look for me." Something has scared away Carol and her husband and Blake, together with Susan, the neighbor, decides to find out what. Susan and Blake find a clue in the notebook that leads them to a ghost town. But, they are not the only ones looking for Carol and her husband...
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
May 28, 2017
This is the fourth in the Carter Blake series – following on from The Killing Season, The Samaritan and The Time to Kill. This novel reveals a little more of Blake’s past, as we learn how he informed his girlfriend, Carol Langford, in 2010 (after the murder of Senator John Carlson and his wife, which has been the focus of a previous book) that she had to disappear. Carol walked away from her previous life, leaving only a terse note for Blake – “Don’t Look for Me.”
Years have passed and Carter Blake is having something of a rest. However, relaxation is turning to boredom, and so he welcomes an unexpected email from Sarah Blackwell in Nevada. Sarah is concerned, as her neighbour has suddenly vanished. She befriended Rebecca, who lived quietly with husband Dom; even though she found her husband taciturn and unwelcoming. However, the couple suddenly disappear and Sarah sees two men break into their house. It turns out that Rebecca is Carol and, suddenly, a search has become personal for Blake.
This series just gets better and better. It is soon apparent that there is another person on Rebecca and Dom’s tail and he does not seem the kind of man who you want to find you… If Carol did not want Blake to find her, then why did she leave behind his email for her neighbour to find and how can Blake do his job with Sarah in tow, when he is used to working alone? Both the addition of Sarah, who is an excellent character, and the personal involvement of Blake in the chase, make this an interesting and exciting addition to the series. I look forward to reading more thrillers featuring Carter Blake and must thank the publisher, and NetGalley, for a review copy of this book.
Years have passed and Carter Blake is having something of a rest. However, relaxation is turning to boredom, and so he welcomes an unexpected email from Sarah Blackwell in Nevada. Sarah is concerned, as her neighbour has suddenly vanished. She befriended Rebecca, who lived quietly with husband Dom; even though she found her husband taciturn and unwelcoming. However, the couple suddenly disappear and Sarah sees two men break into their house. It turns out that Rebecca is Carol and, suddenly, a search has become personal for Blake.
This series just gets better and better. It is soon apparent that there is another person on Rebecca and Dom’s tail and he does not seem the kind of man who you want to find you… If Carol did not want Blake to find her, then why did she leave behind his email for her neighbour to find and how can Blake do his job with Sarah in tow, when he is used to working alone? Both the addition of Sarah, who is an excellent character, and the personal involvement of Blake in the chase, make this an interesting and exciting addition to the series. I look forward to reading more thrillers featuring Carter Blake and must thank the publisher, and NetGalley, for a review copy of this book.
May 28, 2017
I love a good thriller, me, but they have to be actually thrilling with characters that are more than cardboard cut outs running around with guns and there has to be some heart and soul in there otherwise I get bored and grumpy.
Enter, a few years ago now, onto my reading list Mason Cross and the Carter Blake novels. Each one has been a pure joy to read and this one is no different in fact it is probably my favourite so far. The reading adrenalin rush of these knows no bounds and they are fast paced, incredibly addictive, super compelling and definitely chock full of heart and soul.
Don’t Look For Me also has a beautifully twisted plot and a little emotional trauma for Carter Blake this time around plus it had Sarah who I really really engaged with (so let’s hope we see her again sometime) – really there was absolutely nothing at all that I did not like about this book. There’s not really a lot else to say, if you like thrillers you’ll love these. Handily enough you can read any one as a standalone – and although I would recommend reading in order for full immersion ( The Killing Season would be where to start) actually Don’t Look For Me would be a great entry point into the series so what the heck, go for your life.
A hot book for the hot weather – fantastic. Highly Recommended.
Enter, a few years ago now, onto my reading list Mason Cross and the Carter Blake novels. Each one has been a pure joy to read and this one is no different in fact it is probably my favourite so far. The reading adrenalin rush of these knows no bounds and they are fast paced, incredibly addictive, super compelling and definitely chock full of heart and soul.
Don’t Look For Me also has a beautifully twisted plot and a little emotional trauma for Carter Blake this time around plus it had Sarah who I really really engaged with (so let’s hope we see her again sometime) – really there was absolutely nothing at all that I did not like about this book. There’s not really a lot else to say, if you like thrillers you’ll love these. Handily enough you can read any one as a standalone – and although I would recommend reading in order for full immersion ( The Killing Season would be where to start) actually Don’t Look For Me would be a great entry point into the series so what the heck, go for your life.
A hot book for the hot weather – fantastic. Highly Recommended.
March 8, 2020
Carter Blake Number 4....
Don't Look for Me.
For Carter Blake enjoying life and resting and leading a quite life after the hectic time being chased in Book 3. His question to himself where was his next job going to come from, how would he continue is work, life changes quickly.
It was a simple instruction. And for six long years Carter Blake kept his word and didn't search for the woman he once loved. But now someone else is looking for her.
He'll come for you.
Trenton Gage is a hitman with a talent for finding people - dead or alive. His next job is to track down a woman who's on the run, who is harbouring a secret many will kill for.
Both men are hunting the same person. The question is, who will find her first?
Blake gets a call for assistance from a woman, former reporter, Sarah Blackwell, worried that something has happened to her reclusive neighbours, Dominic and Carol Freel, who suddenly disappeared, after she had made friends with her. As Blake investigates, he is stunned to discover that the missing Rebecca is actually Carol Langford, his former love who herself disappeared from his life six years earlier leaving him a note saying "Don't look For Me".
A slightly slower pace for the readers in this book, well paced, but a chase film around Arizona and Nevada, two strong female characters, and a great adversary in Trenton Cage for Carter Blake.
Strong characters,great twists and shocks, a step down from the first three books with a little more characters, but slightly less action.
But we do get to know Carter Blake better with each book.
If you like a great loner action hero, like I do, you will love these books...
Don't Look for Me.
For Carter Blake enjoying life and resting and leading a quite life after the hectic time being chased in Book 3. His question to himself where was his next job going to come from, how would he continue is work, life changes quickly.
It was a simple instruction. And for six long years Carter Blake kept his word and didn't search for the woman he once loved. But now someone else is looking for her.
He'll come for you.
Trenton Gage is a hitman with a talent for finding people - dead or alive. His next job is to track down a woman who's on the run, who is harbouring a secret many will kill for.
Both men are hunting the same person. The question is, who will find her first?
Blake gets a call for assistance from a woman, former reporter, Sarah Blackwell, worried that something has happened to her reclusive neighbours, Dominic and Carol Freel, who suddenly disappeared, after she had made friends with her. As Blake investigates, he is stunned to discover that the missing Rebecca is actually Carol Langford, his former love who herself disappeared from his life six years earlier leaving him a note saying "Don't look For Me".
A slightly slower pace for the readers in this book, well paced, but a chase film around Arizona and Nevada, two strong female characters, and a great adversary in Trenton Cage for Carter Blake.
Strong characters,great twists and shocks, a step down from the first three books with a little more characters, but slightly less action.
But we do get to know Carter Blake better with each book.
If you like a great loner action hero, like I do, you will love these books...
December 11, 2017
Don’t Look For Me is a thrilling ride through the desert involving a couple on the run, someone chasing them, and someone else good at finding people. After reading a few of these thrillers, you begin to wonder just how many people out there are on the run and hiding under mysterious aliases.
It’s one of those books easy to dive into and hard to put down. Basically, it’s a good story told by a good storyteller.
Although it’s the fourth book in the series, I found it was just fine to dive right in and reading the first three books was not a prerequisite.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.
It’s one of those books easy to dive into and hard to put down. Basically, it’s a good story told by a good storyteller.
Although it’s the fourth book in the series, I found it was just fine to dive right in and reading the first three books was not a prerequisite.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.
April 18, 2018
I have never heard of Mason Cross or of the Carter Blake series. I'm glad I have now. It was a twisty ride! Carter is awesome and Sara is a sweet bored and single woman. They come together to find Sara's missing friend and neighbor Rebecca. Buckle up and read carefully, it is fun ride.
January 19, 2023
,,Neieškok manęs" - tai jau ketvirtoji dalis apie Karterį Bleiką. Ankstesnės dalys leido mums geriau pažinti pagrindinį veikėją, jo gyvenimo būdą, draugus, darbo metodus bei asmenines savybes. Šioje dalyje Bleikas netikėtai dar labiau turi prisiminti praeitį, nes prieš 6 metus mylimos moters paliktas raštelis aiškiai pasakė jos poziciją - neieškok manęs.Surasti žmogų, kuris nenori būt surastas Karteris sugeba labai gerai, tačiau ką daryti kai tas žmogus aiškiai išreiškė savo poziciją būtent, kad nenori jog jis ieškotų.
Į jį kreipiasi Sara Blekvel, nes jos kaimynė Rebeka su vyru tiesiog vieną dieną dingo. Vyrui sunku suprasti, kaip nepažįstama moteris galėjo jį susirasti, o dar sunkiau suvokti, kas toji Rebeka ir kaip ji gali būt susijusi su juo. Neilgai trukus Bleikas suvokia, kad Rebeka ir yra jo mylima moteris yra tas pats asmuo. Jis nuoširdžiai laikėsi pozicijos jos neieškoti, o dabartinėmis aplinkybėmis - teks. Ne paslaptis, kad Karteris dirba vienas ir pagal savo metodus, tad įdomu, ar jam šios bylos imtis vienam pavyks. Sara Blekvel tvirta moteris nelinkusi pasiduoti, be to pasilikti vienai yra pavojinga.
Tikrai netrūko veiksmo ir intrigos šiai knygai. Labai buvo įdomu sužinoti kaip susiklostė Bleiko mylimos moters gyvenimas, kai buvo priversta bėgti ir slėptis. Autorius pakankamai detaliai ir neskubant aprašo Karterio Bleiko gyvenimą, jo svarbiausius momentus, tai skaitytojams dar labiau leidžia pamilti pagrindinį veikėją. Man labai patinka, kad šios knygų serijos dalys labai susietos viena su kita, ir autorius už tą kantrybę skaitant visas knygas iš eilės apdovanoja dar didesniais nuotykiais.
Į jį kreipiasi Sara Blekvel, nes jos kaimynė Rebeka su vyru tiesiog vieną dieną dingo. Vyrui sunku suprasti, kaip nepažįstama moteris galėjo jį susirasti, o dar sunkiau suvokti, kas toji Rebeka ir kaip ji gali būt susijusi su juo. Neilgai trukus Bleikas suvokia, kad Rebeka ir yra jo mylima moteris yra tas pats asmuo. Jis nuoširdžiai laikėsi pozicijos jos neieškoti, o dabartinėmis aplinkybėmis - teks. Ne paslaptis, kad Karteris dirba vienas ir pagal savo metodus, tad įdomu, ar jam šios bylos imtis vienam pavyks. Sara Blekvel tvirta moteris nelinkusi pasiduoti, be to pasilikti vienai yra pavojinga.
Tikrai netrūko veiksmo ir intrigos šiai knygai. Labai buvo įdomu sužinoti kaip susiklostė Bleiko mylimos moters gyvenimas, kai buvo priversta bėgti ir slėptis. Autorius pakankamai detaliai ir neskubant aprašo Karterio Bleiko gyvenimą, jo svarbiausius momentus, tai skaitytojams dar labiau leidžia pamilti pagrindinį veikėją. Man labai patinka, kad šios knygų serijos dalys labai susietos viena su kita, ir autorius už tą kantrybę skaitant visas knygas iš eilės apdovanoja dar didesniais nuotykiais.
January 6, 2024
Labai man patinka ši serija. O šįkart susidūrė du profesionalai, abu ieškantys žmonių, tik skirtingais metodais.
February 24, 2018
I'll give it 3.5 stars. This was a slight change of direction for our protagonist Carter Blake (formerly a Winterlong operative and latterly a finder of missing people).
He's having a prolonged sabbatical on a beach somewhere when he gets a surprising email. An unknown woman called Sarah contacts him expressing concern over her neighbors who disappeared suddenly in the dead of night a few weeks ago. Just a couple of nights ago three men with guns searched the house. Sarah, now an author but formerly a crime desk journalist, smells a rat and sneaks into the house the next day. She finds a notebook everyone else has overlooked. It's full of doodles and meaningless phrases but right at the end is a drawing of one of those signs that says "in case of emergency, break glass" and beneath that is an email address. Carter Blake's email address. Which is how he gets his sabbatical interrupted. Ah what the hell, he was getting bored anyway and that email was a very private one he'd given to an old lover six years ago. An old lover who had asked him not to look for her.
So off he goes to hook up with Sarah. They follow a trail of breadcrumbs and come up with a great big loaf. Rebecca/Linda appears to be in some trouble. An assassin seems to be on the trail of her and her husband. The police get involved and the action gets fast and furious as everyone is chasing the proceeds of a heist from years ago that never turned up.
Very entertaining but not Mason Cross's best work. I think I liked Carter Blake better when he was simply looking for missing people. Still, since his break is over I'm sure he'll get back to his regular job in the next book.
He's having a prolonged sabbatical on a beach somewhere when he gets a surprising email. An unknown woman called Sarah contacts him expressing concern over her neighbors who disappeared suddenly in the dead of night a few weeks ago. Just a couple of nights ago three men with guns searched the house. Sarah, now an author but formerly a crime desk journalist, smells a rat and sneaks into the house the next day. She finds a notebook everyone else has overlooked. It's full of doodles and meaningless phrases but right at the end is a drawing of one of those signs that says "in case of emergency, break glass" and beneath that is an email address. Carter Blake's email address. Which is how he gets his sabbatical interrupted. Ah what the hell, he was getting bored anyway and that email was a very private one he'd given to an old lover six years ago. An old lover who had asked him not to look for her.
So off he goes to hook up with Sarah. They follow a trail of breadcrumbs and come up with a great big loaf. Rebecca/Linda appears to be in some trouble. An assassin seems to be on the trail of her and her husband. The police get involved and the action gets fast and furious as everyone is chasing the proceeds of a heist from years ago that never turned up.
Very entertaining but not Mason Cross's best work. I think I liked Carter Blake better when he was simply looking for missing people. Still, since his break is over I'm sure he'll get back to his regular job in the next book.
June 17, 2024
Kol kas pati įdomiausia serijos dalis. Iki penkių žvaigždučių pritrūko visai nedaug.
May 17, 2018
As indicated by Goodreads, this is the 4th Carter Blake book. The 5th is being written and it's indicated that it will be released soon. I hope it's up to the very high standards as were 1 through 3 and an improvement over this novel.
You'll note that I've given this book 3 stars whereas I've given 4 or more for the previous works by Mr. Cross. A 3 star effort by Mr. Cross is better than some other 3 star ratings but I'm rating it in comparison with the first 3. (That sounds convoluted but it makes sense to me.)
Once again we go back in time with Carter Blake to a time when he thought he had found both freedom and love only to lose both. In this book you might say that Blake discovers the truism that you can't go home again. Or at least you can't find the same person you left some years previously.
Carol Langford is no longer Carol Langford. But then Blake is no longer the Black of those long ago years, longer in the years of the heart than of the calendar.
This story has indifferent cops, dirty cops, ruthless, sociopaths, neighbors who care, the glitz of Las Vegas and the emptiness of the desert. It lacks just a modicum of the quality story telling of the first 3 books but it's still not bad and it doesn't make me want to read #5 and less.
You'll note that I've given this book 3 stars whereas I've given 4 or more for the previous works by Mr. Cross. A 3 star effort by Mr. Cross is better than some other 3 star ratings but I'm rating it in comparison with the first 3. (That sounds convoluted but it makes sense to me.)
Once again we go back in time with Carter Blake to a time when he thought he had found both freedom and love only to lose both. In this book you might say that Blake discovers the truism that you can't go home again. Or at least you can't find the same person you left some years previously.
Carol Langford is no longer Carol Langford. But then Blake is no longer the Black of those long ago years, longer in the years of the heart than of the calendar.
This story has indifferent cops, dirty cops, ruthless, sociopaths, neighbors who care, the glitz of Las Vegas and the emptiness of the desert. It lacks just a modicum of the quality story telling of the first 3 books but it's still not bad and it doesn't make me want to read #5 and less.
January 15, 2018
Carter Blake is a retired Spec Ops guy who specializes in finding people who don't want to be found. He is contacted by a woman in Las Vegas who found his phone number in her friend's home after she unceremoniously disappeared with her mysterious husband. Blake recognizes her from the picture and quickly heads to Vegas for an intricately plotted and executed investigation that leads to a small desert town in Arizona. Check out Carter Blake if you have not done so already. He's an original!
November 25, 2019
3.5 Stars
I didn't like this one as much as did the three previous books in the series. I guess I didn't connect with the characters as I did in the previous three. I liked Sarah, though! And I'm still eager to read the next book. 😉
I didn't like this one as much as did the three previous books in the series. I guess I didn't connect with the characters as I did in the previous three. I liked Sarah, though! And I'm still eager to read the next book. 😉
April 2, 2019
Typical modern thriller and not really my genre.
Too many events, too many characters, too many short chapters, too rushed at the end. Ended up with a headache.
Cross experiments with shifting narrative viewpoints, but it has little impact on plot or character, little sense of 'style' overall, too little character development and even less emotional engagement.
Too many events, too many characters, too many short chapters, too rushed at the end. Ended up with a headache.
Cross experiments with shifting narrative viewpoints, but it has little impact on plot or character, little sense of 'style' overall, too little character development and even less emotional engagement.
June 30, 2017
New York, 2010. Carol Langford receives a phone call. The line is terrible. Carter Blake, 7,000 miles away and injured, tells Carol these four fateful words: "You have to disappear."
Under Blake's instructions Carol heads to his apartment where she watches the news story unfold on the television. It's the assassination of her boss, a US senator. Four days for Carol to decide what to do next. Finally, her mind made up, she writes Blake a letter, also with four words in it. "Don't look for me." Then she leaves and never comes back.
Six years pass and now Carter Blake is taking a holiday on the Louisiana Gold Coast after the bloody conclusion of his previous adventure. His ex-employer, Winterlong, came after Blake. In the process Blake's friend and business partner was killed. Since then Blake, a man hunter now by trade, has been figuring out what to do with himself.
In Summerlin, Nevada, a couple move in next door to full-time author and ex-reporter Sarah Blackwell. The pair, Rebecca and Dominic Freel, don't keep normal hours, coming and going separately and at unusual times. Sarah is intrigued. After an argument Rebecca comes around to apologise and, over a few weeks, the two become friends. However, one day the Freels just up and disappear. Sarah is worried for her friend, even more so when, in the dead of night, some men enter the empty house and search it, leaving soon after with a laptop.
In Las Vegas three men hire Trenton Gage, a former Mountie from Canada, to find Dominic Freel. He has something the men want, something valuable. Gage, a brutal killer, starts at the Freels' house in Summerlin.
The next day, Sarah does the same and she finds a notebook which appears to have been dropped. Inside there are drawings, notes and the signatures of various women. There's also an email address. Sarah sends a note to the address, including her phone number. It reaches Carter Blake and within an hour he's on his way to Nevada. It looks like Blake's past is about to catch up with him...
This is the fourth Carter Blake novel and follows on soon after the events in The Time To Kill (published in the US as Winterlong). It's a fast-paced, page-turning, consumate thriller in which we learn much more about the mysterious Blake.
Besides the relentless action the key element of Don't Look For Me is the characters. We experience the world through Carter Blake's senses in the first person, but Gage and Rebecca's stories are told third person. What's so interesting and well done is seeing the story unfold through these three characters. Blake is secretive and keeps much from us, while ex-reporter Rebecca uses her investigative skills and we can follow her process. Side-by-side we get two views of the same scenes and two very different perspectives. And then another from the ruthless Gage, a man who at one time was on the right side of the law, until his methods crossed a line. Despite his brutal side there are shades of humanity in him, and he has a son and ex-partner he'd like to be with... if only he had the money.
Through the process of tracking down the Freels and then learning what they have that's so valuable, Blake finally comes into contact with Carol. This leads us to another neat trick of the author's, because Carol isn't the person Blake knew, she's changed dramatically. But then so has Blake. Gage too isn't your average killer. He's tough and selfish, but he's more than that. Then there's Rebecca, she's believable too. Her past training and instincts help the narrative along.
Another gripping release from Mason Cross in what was already an excellent series.
Originally reviewed for Crime fiction Lover.
August 10, 2017
From the minute I read Mason Cross' first Carter Blake book, The Killing Season, I knew I was going to be in for the long haul. Now, with the fourth in the series, Don't Look For Me, read and placed neatly by the bed I feel quite bereft.
What really piqued my interest with Don't Look For Me is that we get to find out more about the mysterious Carol who has popped up more than once in previous books ... well that and the breakneck speed of the plot and the way Cross takes us to nooks and crannies of the states we don't normally see. Then, of course there's the fact that Don't Look For Me isn't only a fast paced thriller ... it's also a mystery or puzzle , and I just love puzzles. There's lots of why's and what if's and slotting clues together ... all the hallmarks of a good murder mystery ... albeit one on speed!
In a small suburb of LA, Sarah makes friends with her neighbour, Rebecca. When Rebecca and her husband disappear Sarah is convinced there's something strange about it. This feeling is intensified when some armed strangers break into their house in the middle of the night. Curious, ex- journalist Sarah, fobbed off by the police, sneaks into the house and finds a mysterious journal containing sketches and an email address ...
Blake, having taken a long sabbatical on the coast of Mexico, is getting antsy when he receives a mysterious message via a very old email address. The contents of the email compel him to re-visit his past and he sets off to help Sarah find her friend.
And, have I mentioned the 'baddie'?... no?... well Trenton Gage is fantastic. Threatening, huge, immoral and really, really scary ... oh and I nearly forgot he's got an Achilles heel of his own!
From the title to the very last page, Don't Look For Me is chock -full of suspense and has all the ingredients to keep you hooked. Carter Blake is as enigmatic a character now as he was in book one. The intensity of the plot drives you forward at breathtaking speed, so hold onto your breeches. The action scenes are as convincing and well described as any of Simon Kernick's. Cross skillfully manages to imbue Blake with just enough emotion to keep us invested in his character without detracting form the action. I find Blake totally intriguing. His moral code, his skill set, his emotion to keep us invested in his character without detracting form the action. I find Blake totally intriguing. His moral code, his skill set, his understated humour and his solidity combined with his inability to share and his enforced secrets, make him deliciously appealing.
In a recent creative writing workshop I delivered I used the prologue to Don't Look for Me as an example of suspense ... I could have used almost any chapter from the book with the same effect. This series is still one of my favourites.
If you want to find out more about the enigmatic Carter Blake look out for my Detectives In The Dock series in a few days time where the man himself will reveal some of his many secrets!
What really piqued my interest with Don't Look For Me is that we get to find out more about the mysterious Carol who has popped up more than once in previous books ... well that and the breakneck speed of the plot and the way Cross takes us to nooks and crannies of the states we don't normally see. Then, of course there's the fact that Don't Look For Me isn't only a fast paced thriller ... it's also a mystery or puzzle , and I just love puzzles. There's lots of why's and what if's and slotting clues together ... all the hallmarks of a good murder mystery ... albeit one on speed!
In a small suburb of LA, Sarah makes friends with her neighbour, Rebecca. When Rebecca and her husband disappear Sarah is convinced there's something strange about it. This feeling is intensified when some armed strangers break into their house in the middle of the night. Curious, ex- journalist Sarah, fobbed off by the police, sneaks into the house and finds a mysterious journal containing sketches and an email address ...
Blake, having taken a long sabbatical on the coast of Mexico, is getting antsy when he receives a mysterious message via a very old email address. The contents of the email compel him to re-visit his past and he sets off to help Sarah find her friend.
And, have I mentioned the 'baddie'?... no?... well Trenton Gage is fantastic. Threatening, huge, immoral and really, really scary ... oh and I nearly forgot he's got an Achilles heel of his own!
From the title to the very last page, Don't Look For Me is chock -full of suspense and has all the ingredients to keep you hooked. Carter Blake is as enigmatic a character now as he was in book one. The intensity of the plot drives you forward at breathtaking speed, so hold onto your breeches. The action scenes are as convincing and well described as any of Simon Kernick's. Cross skillfully manages to imbue Blake with just enough emotion to keep us invested in his character without detracting form the action. I find Blake totally intriguing. His moral code, his skill set, his emotion to keep us invested in his character without detracting form the action. I find Blake totally intriguing. His moral code, his skill set, his understated humour and his solidity combined with his inability to share and his enforced secrets, make him deliciously appealing.
In a recent creative writing workshop I delivered I used the prologue to Don't Look for Me as an example of suspense ... I could have used almost any chapter from the book with the same effect. This series is still one of my favourites.
If you want to find out more about the enigmatic Carter Blake look out for my Detectives In The Dock series in a few days time where the man himself will reveal some of his many secrets!
April 27, 2020
Mason Cross’s “Don’t Look For Me” is another mystery paperback from that mystery book club I signed up for months ago that I mentioned in my last review. The fun thing about that book club was receiving the five or six random mysteries by authors I have never read or heard of previously. The upside of this is discovering wonderful new authors that I like and want to read more of. The downside is finding authors like Mason Cross.
“Don’t Look For Me” is a very weak attempt at writing a Harlan Coben-esque suspense thriller. Missing from the book is nearly everything that makes Cobin’s books so great: a twisty plot, interesting characters, and a terrific pay-off at the end.
Maybe I’m being unfair. Admittedly, there’s a lot of backstory that I’m missing that might have helped in my appreciation of this novel. “DLFM” is the fourth book in a series featuring protagonist, Carter Blake, a former government agent (not his real name, by the way) who is apparently now a rogue operator whose specialty is finding people.
He’s an intriguing character, in concept. In practice, he’s not that interesting. He is, indeed, a cypher. His only purpose is to carry the story along for the other, more interesting, characters in the novel. He basically arrives out of the blue, does his thing, and disappears. He’s like Batman, minus the tragic backstory, fancy gadgets, and twisted psychology.
The story isn’t that interesting, either, as everything is essentially given to us on a platter. The reader does not have to do much thinking with this one. I understand that some readers don’t like to think too hard when reading, but I’m not that kind of reader. I like to figure out what’s going on through context clues and foreshadowing and secret hints. It’s funner that way. I don’t like being handed every important piece of detail. Show, don’t tell, people. Creative Writing 101: Show, don’t tell. Show, don’t tell. Show, don’t tell...
Thusly, there are absolutely no plot twists whatsoever to be had anywhere in this book. None. How can there be, when we know everything going into it?
Other things I didn’t like but are probably just nitpicking: Cross alternates between first person narration and a third-person limited narration throughout the book. It wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t, occasionally, forget which POV he was in. On more than one occasion, Cross drops an accidental “we” or “I” into a third-person section. He also drops an occasional “he thought to himself” in a first-person section, where we already know that the character is thinking to himself because the whole chapter is him thinking to himself. I chalk this all up to just bad editing.
Overall, “DLFM” wasn’t that good. I haven’t given up completely on Cross, though, as I understand that this was the first and only book by him that I have read. I will generally give an author a couple tries before completely dismissing him or her.
“Don’t Look For Me” is a very weak attempt at writing a Harlan Coben-esque suspense thriller. Missing from the book is nearly everything that makes Cobin’s books so great: a twisty plot, interesting characters, and a terrific pay-off at the end.
Maybe I’m being unfair. Admittedly, there’s a lot of backstory that I’m missing that might have helped in my appreciation of this novel. “DLFM” is the fourth book in a series featuring protagonist, Carter Blake, a former government agent (not his real name, by the way) who is apparently now a rogue operator whose specialty is finding people.
He’s an intriguing character, in concept. In practice, he’s not that interesting. He is, indeed, a cypher. His only purpose is to carry the story along for the other, more interesting, characters in the novel. He basically arrives out of the blue, does his thing, and disappears. He’s like Batman, minus the tragic backstory, fancy gadgets, and twisted psychology.
The story isn’t that interesting, either, as everything is essentially given to us on a platter. The reader does not have to do much thinking with this one. I understand that some readers don’t like to think too hard when reading, but I’m not that kind of reader. I like to figure out what’s going on through context clues and foreshadowing and secret hints. It’s funner that way. I don’t like being handed every important piece of detail. Show, don’t tell, people. Creative Writing 101: Show, don’t tell. Show, don’t tell. Show, don’t tell...
Thusly, there are absolutely no plot twists whatsoever to be had anywhere in this book. None. How can there be, when we know everything going into it?
Other things I didn’t like but are probably just nitpicking: Cross alternates between first person narration and a third-person limited narration throughout the book. It wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t, occasionally, forget which POV he was in. On more than one occasion, Cross drops an accidental “we” or “I” into a third-person section. He also drops an occasional “he thought to himself” in a first-person section, where we already know that the character is thinking to himself because the whole chapter is him thinking to himself. I chalk this all up to just bad editing.
Overall, “DLFM” wasn’t that good. I haven’t given up completely on Cross, though, as I understand that this was the first and only book by him that I have read. I will generally give an author a couple tries before completely dismissing him or her.
March 20, 2020
Between three and four. The book is long and the middle part is dry. This is the first book by Mason Cross I have read. The characters live on the edge, not always likeable, but exciting. The book begins in Las Vegas then into the Arizona desert. I got this book from a Sunday School lady who thought I would enjoy it, but it does get violent.
One of the main characters is Trenton Gage. He is a hired killer, he charges well, but he is good. He loves what he is doing. He goes around shooting characters because he can. He doesn't always expect to get paid. He is crazy about his young son. His mother doesn't allow him to see the boy. Wonder why. The second is Carter Blake who tells the story in first person. Then comes Sarah Blackwell, divorced,she had been a journalist, tired of the job, she is a writer, happy for the quiet life. Then she meets Rebecca and Dominic Smith, new neighbors. Sarah and Rebecca become good friends. But are Rebecca and Dominic really who they say they are? Sarah doesn't like Dominic. Then the two move out. Suddenly. Sarah worries about Rebecca. Can she be in harm? She goes through the empty house. Then a man comes into the house. A big man, muscular, strong. Sarah is terrified. Into the book comes Blake looking for Carol Langford, his long lost love. Can Carol be Rebecca? Carol has many names, she is a chameleon, can change looks and personality. Never the same.
Sarah tells Blake the couple went possibly to Arizona. There has been a robbery of a few million dollars worth of diamonds., the Ellison diamonds that the Las Vegas police are looking for. The two drive to Arizona. Blake hates planes. The book is over three days. The ride is long, the countryside flat. Sarah goes on this trip. She is afraid to stay home after meeting the big man who is looking for someone or something. Possible the jewels or he jewel robbers.
The two arrive in Corinth, an old, abandoned mining town, falling apart, where no one lived. A ghostlike place, especially at night. Sounds around. Fearful. Trenton Gage is looking for them and the loot. The pair climb around in one of the oldest and biggest buildings, dangerous, the wood on the floors is rotting. Possibly the diamonds could be here.
The two come to a small town, Quarter, a regular down to earth town. This is to buy provisions. Sarah wants to see another journalist, Blake thinks Carol is here and wants to meet up with her.
The book contains short chapters, possible meant to make the writing seem fast as does the story. The book is fast paced, quick moving, crooked cops, characters wanting a get rich kick. Good for those who like adventure.
One of the main characters is Trenton Gage. He is a hired killer, he charges well, but he is good. He loves what he is doing. He goes around shooting characters because he can. He doesn't always expect to get paid. He is crazy about his young son. His mother doesn't allow him to see the boy. Wonder why. The second is Carter Blake who tells the story in first person. Then comes Sarah Blackwell, divorced,she had been a journalist, tired of the job, she is a writer, happy for the quiet life. Then she meets Rebecca and Dominic Smith, new neighbors. Sarah and Rebecca become good friends. But are Rebecca and Dominic really who they say they are? Sarah doesn't like Dominic. Then the two move out. Suddenly. Sarah worries about Rebecca. Can she be in harm? She goes through the empty house. Then a man comes into the house. A big man, muscular, strong. Sarah is terrified. Into the book comes Blake looking for Carol Langford, his long lost love. Can Carol be Rebecca? Carol has many names, she is a chameleon, can change looks and personality. Never the same.
Sarah tells Blake the couple went possibly to Arizona. There has been a robbery of a few million dollars worth of diamonds., the Ellison diamonds that the Las Vegas police are looking for. The two drive to Arizona. Blake hates planes. The book is over three days. The ride is long, the countryside flat. Sarah goes on this trip. She is afraid to stay home after meeting the big man who is looking for someone or something. Possible the jewels or he jewel robbers.
The two arrive in Corinth, an old, abandoned mining town, falling apart, where no one lived. A ghostlike place, especially at night. Sounds around. Fearful. Trenton Gage is looking for them and the loot. The pair climb around in one of the oldest and biggest buildings, dangerous, the wood on the floors is rotting. Possibly the diamonds could be here.
The two come to a small town, Quarter, a regular down to earth town. This is to buy provisions. Sarah wants to see another journalist, Blake thinks Carol is here and wants to meet up with her.
The book contains short chapters, possible meant to make the writing seem fast as does the story. The book is fast paced, quick moving, crooked cops, characters wanting a get rich kick. Good for those who like adventure.
January 30, 2018
While DON'T LOOK FOR ME is the fourth book in Mason Cross's high-octane thriller series featuring former black-ops manhunter Carter Blake, it's the perfect point to start for those who haven't read the earlier novels. This volume answers a lot of questions about Blake's history and, unlike the previous mysteries, this new case involves him personally.
In 2010, Blake tells his partner Carol Langford to disappear for her own safety after the assassination of her boss, a U.S. senator. She leaves him a note: "Don't look for me." Six years later, former news reporter Sarah Blackwell is intrigued by her new neighbors, Rebecca and Dominic Freel. She slowly befriends Rebecca, but before she can figure them out, they suddenly vanish. After witnessing some men sneaking into the Freels' home and leaving with a laptop, Blackwell investigates and finds a notebook containing Carter Blake's e-mail address. When she contacts him, he agrees to help. A few cities away, three men hire trained killer Trenton Gage to track down Dominic Freel, who has something they want. Who will find the Freels first?
Cross ratchets up the tension with brief chapters and shifting POVs. Blake narrates his portions; the actions of Blackwell and Gage are in third-person. While Blake withholds information, readers can enjoy sorting through clues with Blackwell as she pieces things together. All three characters are smart and pleasingly complicated. DON'T LOOK FOR ME is enjoyable and action-packed, with violent twists and clever plotting.
In 2010, Blake tells his partner Carol Langford to disappear for her own safety after the assassination of her boss, a U.S. senator. She leaves him a note: "Don't look for me." Six years later, former news reporter Sarah Blackwell is intrigued by her new neighbors, Rebecca and Dominic Freel. She slowly befriends Rebecca, but before she can figure them out, they suddenly vanish. After witnessing some men sneaking into the Freels' home and leaving with a laptop, Blackwell investigates and finds a notebook containing Carter Blake's e-mail address. When she contacts him, he agrees to help. A few cities away, three men hire trained killer Trenton Gage to track down Dominic Freel, who has something they want. Who will find the Freels first?
Cross ratchets up the tension with brief chapters and shifting POVs. Blake narrates his portions; the actions of Blackwell and Gage are in third-person. While Blake withholds information, readers can enjoy sorting through clues with Blackwell as she pieces things together. All three characters are smart and pleasingly complicated. DON'T LOOK FOR ME is enjoyable and action-packed, with violent twists and clever plotting.
May 27, 2022
Pirmas sakinys: "Turi pradingti."
Nebeturiu, ką daugiau parašyti apie Karterio Bleiko seriją nei jau rašiau pirmosiose trijose dalyse: "Žudymo sezonas", "Samarietis"
ir "Metas žudyti". Nebent tik tai, kad tai mano guilty pleasure. Net nebevertinu, kaip ši ketvirtoji dalis atrodo lyginant su pirmosiomis trejomis: jau yra penktoji šios serijos knyga "Paskelbta mirusia" – skaitysiu ir ją.
Nebeturiu, ką daugiau parašyti apie Karterio Bleiko seriją nei jau rašiau pirmosiose trijose dalyse: "Žudymo sezonas", "Samarietis"
ir "Metas žudyti". Nebent tik tai, kad tai mano guilty pleasure. Net nebevertinu, kaip ši ketvirtoji dalis atrodo lyginant su pirmosiomis trejomis: jau yra penktoji šios serijos knyga "Paskelbta mirusia" – skaitysiu ir ją.
July 21, 2017
Got so immersed in this, I forgot who it was I was reading (sorry Gav) ;)
Fans of Lee Child would love this one!
Fans of Lee Child would love this one!
March 30, 2018
Much better than the last couple!
July 17, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed. Next door goes missing and everyone is looking for them. Good read . Would score 9/10
August 28, 2017
If you like page-whirring thrillers with an enigmatic, action-oriented central character (ala the exciting series from Lee Child, Zoe Sharp, Simon Kernick, or Ben Sanders), then you definitely want to give the Carter Black tales from Mason Cross a go.
Although Cross is Scottish, he sets his Carter Blake books in the United States. Don't Look For Me, the fourth in a burgeoning and very good series, is largely set around Las Vegas and the American southwest. Having finally shrugged off much of the lethal shadow cast by his former association with the secretive 'Winterlong' organisation, Blake is enjoying something of a sabbatical, when his past unexpectedly comes calling. He receives a message to one of his old email addresses, an address he'd only given to a woman who meant a lot to him, but had disappeared from his life years before.
'Don't Look For Me' was the note that Carol Langford left Blake (who she knew by another name, and whose actions had put her in grave danger), several years ago. And Blake, despite his talents for finding those who don't want to be found, had respected Carol's wishes ever since. Until now.
But the email isn't from Carol. Instead, it's journalist turned crime writer Sarah Blackwell who's reached out to Blake, having found his email in a notebook left behind by her neighbour Rebecca, who vanished one night along with her husband Dom, after an altercation at a neighbourhood party.
Sarah is worried about her newfound friend, and once he learns more, so is Blake.
Why have Rebecca and Dom vanished? What has been happening in the years since Blake gave his email address to Carol, and she disappeared without a trace?
Cross delivers an action-packed ripsnorter of a thriller, where Blake finds himself up against some talented and well-financed adversaries. Plenty of suspense, violent action, tension, and twists blend into a propulsive narrative. This is a one-sitting read that keeps the adrenalin high, while still delivering some nice shading with character and setting, elevating it above plot-based potboilers.
I tore through this in a few hours, and immediately wanted to read more Carter Blake.
Although Cross is Scottish, he sets his Carter Blake books in the United States. Don't Look For Me, the fourth in a burgeoning and very good series, is largely set around Las Vegas and the American southwest. Having finally shrugged off much of the lethal shadow cast by his former association with the secretive 'Winterlong' organisation, Blake is enjoying something of a sabbatical, when his past unexpectedly comes calling. He receives a message to one of his old email addresses, an address he'd only given to a woman who meant a lot to him, but had disappeared from his life years before.
'Don't Look For Me' was the note that Carol Langford left Blake (who she knew by another name, and whose actions had put her in grave danger), several years ago. And Blake, despite his talents for finding those who don't want to be found, had respected Carol's wishes ever since. Until now.
But the email isn't from Carol. Instead, it's journalist turned crime writer Sarah Blackwell who's reached out to Blake, having found his email in a notebook left behind by her neighbour Rebecca, who vanished one night along with her husband Dom, after an altercation at a neighbourhood party.
Sarah is worried about her newfound friend, and once he learns more, so is Blake.
Why have Rebecca and Dom vanished? What has been happening in the years since Blake gave his email address to Carol, and she disappeared without a trace?
Cross delivers an action-packed ripsnorter of a thriller, where Blake finds himself up against some talented and well-financed adversaries. Plenty of suspense, violent action, tension, and twists blend into a propulsive narrative. This is a one-sitting read that keeps the adrenalin high, while still delivering some nice shading with character and setting, elevating it above plot-based potboilers.
I tore through this in a few hours, and immediately wanted to read more Carter Blake.
November 11, 2018
This was an entertaining read; fast-paced and packed with action rather than character. What brought it down for me was more something I would attribute to bad editing than to bad writing. Let me 'splain...
First, what made me pick the book off the shelf was...A TYPO. The title on the spine of the book is "DON'T LOOKFOR ME." At first I thought there was some curious reason that would become clear as to what exactly "lookfor" was. I mean, how can a publisher/editor miss something as glaring as the very title of the book on the spine? (Well, one of my editors, who shall remain nameless, managed to misspell both my name and the title of my book until I drew it to her attention...but that's another story.) So now, hooked into this apparent series mid-stream, I began to read.
Second instance of what an editor should have axed, IMO, is the author's foreword. This genre really doesn't need it. The lengthy explanation of how THIS addition to the series is different and is ingeniously character-driven led to certain expectations. None of which were met. The characters were cardboard. The book is driven by action, not character. In many instances, I lost track of peripheral names and places because they were that forgettable. The whole "this is what I meant when I wrote it" lowered a pall over a pure action story. It made me feel the writer had failed. I would have preferred he left that bit out. I didn't empathize with what any of the people involved were supposed to be feeling.
Third, throughout the book, the only chapters written in first person are the POV of Blake. Then...POW!...in the middle you encounter a Blake-chapter written in the third person. It threw a wrench into the works for me and made the whole rhythm of the story stumble. Again, should have been caught by someone.
Other than that, it was a fun, fast, but formulaic tale. Not bad, but not stellar.
First, what made me pick the book off the shelf was...A TYPO. The title on the spine of the book is "DON'T LOOKFOR ME." At first I thought there was some curious reason that would become clear as to what exactly "lookfor" was. I mean, how can a publisher/editor miss something as glaring as the very title of the book on the spine? (Well, one of my editors, who shall remain nameless, managed to misspell both my name and the title of my book until I drew it to her attention...but that's another story.) So now, hooked into this apparent series mid-stream, I began to read.
Second instance of what an editor should have axed, IMO, is the author's foreword. This genre really doesn't need it. The lengthy explanation of how THIS addition to the series is different and is ingeniously character-driven led to certain expectations. None of which were met. The characters were cardboard. The book is driven by action, not character. In many instances, I lost track of peripheral names and places because they were that forgettable. The whole "this is what I meant when I wrote it" lowered a pall over a pure action story. It made me feel the writer had failed. I would have preferred he left that bit out. I didn't empathize with what any of the people involved were supposed to be feeling.
Third, throughout the book, the only chapters written in first person are the POV of Blake. Then...POW!...in the middle you encounter a Blake-chapter written in the third person. It threw a wrench into the works for me and made the whole rhythm of the story stumble. Again, should have been caught by someone.
Other than that, it was a fun, fast, but formulaic tale. Not bad, but not stellar.
January 9, 2018
I make no apologies - I am a big fan of Mason Cross. I have read all four of his book, and all have been excellent. He reminds me of Lee Child, one of the best thriller writers that I have run into. In this installment, we become more familiar with Carter Blake, our hero, and his backstory involving his girlfriend, Carol. In a previous book, Carter was forced to kill a politician and his wife. Then Carter had to evade the authorities. Unfortunately so did his girlfriend who was told never to return to New York, and to reinvent her self and start life over again.
A woman in Nevada has been spying on her new neighbor. One day two men enter the neighbor's house and the next day the neighbor disappears without a work. Carter gets word of this from the nosy neighbor. He then decides to follow up on the disappearance. Soon he discovers that the missing woman is his ex-girlfriend.
What happens from there is a wild, twisty, violent and involving story that makes Carter Blake a compelling hero who you will love to follow. I suggest that you read all of the Mason Cross Carter Blake novels. You will become a huge fan, just like me.
A woman in Nevada has been spying on her new neighbor. One day two men enter the neighbor's house and the next day the neighbor disappears without a work. Carter gets word of this from the nosy neighbor. He then decides to follow up on the disappearance. Soon he discovers that the missing woman is his ex-girlfriend.
What happens from there is a wild, twisty, violent and involving story that makes Carter Blake a compelling hero who you will love to follow. I suggest that you read all of the Mason Cross Carter Blake novels. You will become a huge fan, just like me.
March 21, 2018
I don’t really know why I have been so resistant to trying a Carter Blake book. I suspect that, deep down, I had a completely irrational view that these are what I would loosely term ‘boys books’.
Which only goes to show what a complete doozy I am. Because I loved Carter Blake and the storyline was perfectly pitched for some adrenalin fuelled high action escapism with a side helping of emotional quotient thrown in.
This was a dream to read. Pitched headlong into the action, I soon knew all I need to about Carter Blake’s backstory and from then on it was a huge adventure filled read with action packed sequences, characters you struggled to trust and brilliantly for me, two women at the forefront of the action with brains and ability who made a perfect accompaniment to the Carter Blake main dish.
Carter Blake has many reasons for staying off the grid. He’s also the cause of his ex-girlfriend Carol Langford having to make a hasty exit out of town some six years ago and she hasn’t been seen since. All that Carter knows is that she left him a note with four short words – ‘don’t look for me.’
So when, out of the blue, he gets an e-mail from journalist turned novelist Sarah Blackwell which puts him back on Carol’s trail, there’s a lot he needs to think about. Not least of which is whether he is prepared to ditch one of his cardinal rules -always work alone. What follows is a fast paced, rip-roaring story beautifully told and with a host of villains for Blake to deal with along the way as both he and hitman Trenton Gage race to find their quarry.
I really got into this book and it was a one day read for me; just perfect for enjoyment purposes. I especially liked the journalist Sarah – and I’d hope that we might meet her again one day…?
So I won’t be making the same mistake again. Carter Blake books are now firmly on my agenda. Fortunately, there’s another one coming soon…I can’t wait.
Which only goes to show what a complete doozy I am. Because I loved Carter Blake and the storyline was perfectly pitched for some adrenalin fuelled high action escapism with a side helping of emotional quotient thrown in.
This was a dream to read. Pitched headlong into the action, I soon knew all I need to about Carter Blake’s backstory and from then on it was a huge adventure filled read with action packed sequences, characters you struggled to trust and brilliantly for me, two women at the forefront of the action with brains and ability who made a perfect accompaniment to the Carter Blake main dish.
Carter Blake has many reasons for staying off the grid. He’s also the cause of his ex-girlfriend Carol Langford having to make a hasty exit out of town some six years ago and she hasn’t been seen since. All that Carter knows is that she left him a note with four short words – ‘don’t look for me.’
So when, out of the blue, he gets an e-mail from journalist turned novelist Sarah Blackwell which puts him back on Carol’s trail, there’s a lot he needs to think about. Not least of which is whether he is prepared to ditch one of his cardinal rules -always work alone. What follows is a fast paced, rip-roaring story beautifully told and with a host of villains for Blake to deal with along the way as both he and hitman Trenton Gage race to find their quarry.
I really got into this book and it was a one day read for me; just perfect for enjoyment purposes. I especially liked the journalist Sarah – and I’d hope that we might meet her again one day…?
So I won’t be making the same mistake again. Carter Blake books are now firmly on my agenda. Fortunately, there’s another one coming soon…I can’t wait.
February 21, 2025
This was definitely not my favorite of his. I will read on, but I am looking forward to him going back to his normal job of looking for people,not focused on the events of his past and what came of it. I really didn’t find the characters very interesting in this one. Even though we spent time in the minds of various of them, they were not fully developed. The story went on far too long and was very complicated. There were also some little mistakes here and there that just pulled me out of the story. For example, at one point a character knows someone by one name, but has learned the real name. Someone else who thinks she only knows the one name refers to the other person by the real name and they just carry on with the conversation. Nothing ever comes of it, and that should’ve been a clue. I think it was a mistake on the part of the author Because it is never brought up again. It also seems like he is much older of an author than he really is. These people are still using paper maps in 2017 even though they have smart phones. I suppose to some extent it makes sense when they’re in the middle of the desert, but when they’re in Las Vegas, GPS would be much faster and easier. I also thought it was weird that he kept talking about telegraph poles as opposed to telephone poles. Do we still have telegraph poles? I’m picturing a little telegraph operator tap tap, tapping out words with STOP in between for periods.
So this one was pretty mid for me, but I will try the next one and see how it goes .
So this one was pretty mid for me, but I will try the next one and see how it goes .
April 10, 2018
"Always assume trouble."
This is the motto of Carter Blake and should be the motto of all the characters in this book, because they all must fend off trouble throughout the complex and fast-moving plot.
Carter comes in contact with a former reporter turned writer, Sarah, who is worried about the disappearance of her neighbor, Rebecca and husband Dominic. Carter discovers Rebecca is a woman he knew in a former reincarnation and he has always had regrets about their time together. Carter and Sarah take off to discovered what has happened to Rebecca and Dominic. But they are not the only ones after Rebecca. The reader is gradually introduced to many threatening characters in this interesting, well-plotted mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the personalities of Carter, Sarah, and Rebecca. It was satisfying to see the author show clever women as well as men.
The action is fast-paced, but I would not call it a thriller. That actually made the read more fascinating for me because I was able to stop and contemplate new developments in the story along with the characters, allowed me to become more immersed in this book. I also enjoyed how the author interjected writing, reading and libraries into the plot.
This is the first book I have read of Mason Cross and his protagonist, Carter Blake. I was greatly entertained, so I will be going back to reading the first three books about this complex man.
This is the motto of Carter Blake and should be the motto of all the characters in this book, because they all must fend off trouble throughout the complex and fast-moving plot.
Carter comes in contact with a former reporter turned writer, Sarah, who is worried about the disappearance of her neighbor, Rebecca and husband Dominic. Carter discovers Rebecca is a woman he knew in a former reincarnation and he has always had regrets about their time together. Carter and Sarah take off to discovered what has happened to Rebecca and Dominic. But they are not the only ones after Rebecca. The reader is gradually introduced to many threatening characters in this interesting, well-plotted mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the personalities of Carter, Sarah, and Rebecca. It was satisfying to see the author show clever women as well as men.
The action is fast-paced, but I would not call it a thriller. That actually made the read more fascinating for me because I was able to stop and contemplate new developments in the story along with the characters, allowed me to become more immersed in this book. I also enjoyed how the author interjected writing, reading and libraries into the plot.
This is the first book I have read of Mason Cross and his protagonist, Carter Blake. I was greatly entertained, so I will be going back to reading the first three books about this complex man.
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