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Tick-Tock Trilogy #2
Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake?
If your daughter went missing, how many years would it take for you to admit she’s never coming home?
Betsy Blake was only four years old when she vanished outside her family home in Dublin.
Her father – wracked with guilt for the past seventeen years – still can’t bring himself to admit the search is over, despite the fact his wife has moved on and police have closed off the investigation.
When he is informed he must undergo major heart surgery that he only has a fifty percent chance of surviving, Gordon Blake hires a local PI to give the investigation one last try.
But surely rookie PI Lenny Moon – who has little or no experience in such high-profile investigating – doesn’t have what it takes to make a breakthrough in this case before Gordon is put to sleep.
…or does he?
The clock is ticking…
Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake? will stay in your head for a long time. A very, very long time.
Betsy Blake was only four years old when she vanished outside her family home in Dublin.
Her father – wracked with guilt for the past seventeen years – still can’t bring himself to admit the search is over, despite the fact his wife has moved on and police have closed off the investigation.
When he is informed he must undergo major heart surgery that he only has a fifty percent chance of surviving, Gordon Blake hires a local PI to give the investigation one last try.
But surely rookie PI Lenny Moon – who has little or no experience in such high-profile investigating – doesn’t have what it takes to make a breakthrough in this case before Gordon is put to sleep.
…or does he?
The clock is ticking…
Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake? will stay in your head for a long time. A very, very long time.
318 pages, ebook
First published March 20, 2019
1736 people are currently reading
2103 people want to read
About the author
David B. Lyons
25 books140 followersDavid B. Lyons is an international bestselling author from Dublin, Ireland
He writes psychological thriller novels and has achieved No.1 rankings in the Amazon crime charts in Ireland, the UK, Canada and Australia.
Former freelance journalist David grew up in Dublin - the city his novels are set - but currently spends his time between Birmingham in the UK and the Irish capital. David is married to a Brummie, Kerry, and they have one daughter, Lola.
Before becoming a novelist David was a football writer, a celebrity columnist and a music reviewer. He has lectured in Journalism and in Creative Writing in colleges and universities in both Ireland and in the UK.
You can connect with David here:
Website: TheOpenAuthor.com
Twitter: @TheOpenAuthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorDavidBLyons/
He writes psychological thriller novels and has achieved No.1 rankings in the Amazon crime charts in Ireland, the UK, Canada and Australia.
Former freelance journalist David grew up in Dublin - the city his novels are set - but currently spends his time between Birmingham in the UK and the Irish capital. David is married to a Brummie, Kerry, and they have one daughter, Lola.
Before becoming a novelist David was a football writer, a celebrity columnist and a music reviewer. He has lectured in Journalism and in Creative Writing in colleges and universities in both Ireland and in the UK.
You can connect with David here:
Website: TheOpenAuthor.com
Twitter: @TheOpenAuthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorDavidBLyons/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
June 23, 2019
A knockout read.
Do you know what I liked most about this book? Everything.
I liked how David put me on solid ground and let me know that I could trust him implicitly, how he let me know exactly where this tale was going.
It turns out that the solid ground was made of papier mache, and I had no idea at all where this tale was going at all. I liked how he lied with total honesty. Do not trust this author because if you do, like I did, you’ll think that you know the outcome to within a few millimetres, and I’ll take bets right now that you’ll join me on the wrong side of town in a place called Hoodwinked. There are so many options open to your imagination, so many ways this book could have turned out, and he wrong-footed me every step of the way.
It’s not often I feel tension when reading a book, but I did with Betsy Blake. David cranks it up towards the end until it’s almost unbearable, until I became adept at speed-reading, so desperate was I to find out the truth of it all.
Do you know what I liked most about this book? Everything.
I liked how David put me on solid ground and let me know that I could trust him implicitly, how he let me know exactly where this tale was going.
It turns out that the solid ground was made of papier mache, and I had no idea at all where this tale was going at all. I liked how he lied with total honesty. Do not trust this author because if you do, like I did, you’ll think that you know the outcome to within a few millimetres, and I’ll take bets right now that you’ll join me on the wrong side of town in a place called Hoodwinked. There are so many options open to your imagination, so many ways this book could have turned out, and he wrong-footed me every step of the way.
It’s not often I feel tension when reading a book, but I did with Betsy Blake. David cranks it up towards the end until it’s almost unbearable, until I became adept at speed-reading, so desperate was I to find out the truth of it all.
January 23, 2021
Bessie was taken from the street outside her home when she was four years old.
Now seventeen years later her father is in hospital waiting on heart surgery that only has a 50/50 chance of him surviving.
He calls a private detective and begs him to find out what happened to his daughter before he goes into surgery in five hours time.
I enjoyed this books it had me hooked, with a twist I didn’t see coming. A real page turner that I read this afternoon.
Now seventeen years later her father is in hospital waiting on heart surgery that only has a 50/50 chance of him surviving.
He calls a private detective and begs him to find out what happened to his daughter before he goes into surgery in five hours time.
I enjoyed this books it had me hooked, with a twist I didn’t see coming. A real page turner that I read this afternoon.
August 13, 2019
This book has knocked my top read of the year off its number one position and I would even go as far as to say it is in my top 5 reads ever. So clear time to savour this book because it is one to be read in one sitting, somewhere your emotions can pour out of you because boy did I cry. I literally feel like I have been hit with a tsunami of emotions that haven’t finished with me yet.
The chapters come in alternating heartbreak of a guilt-ridden father that took his eye from his 4-year-old child playing in the street just for a second, then she was gone, to a terrified Betsy telling how she had been playing when a man put his hand over her mouth and whisked her away in his car and into his cellar. Some 17 years had passed and Gordan Blake is now in hospital waiting for an operation where he only has a 50% survival rate and he was no nearer to finding out who had taken her. As far as everyone else is concerned the case is closed.
In a final desperate attempt, he rings a random local P.I. Lenny Moon with an offer he couldn’t refuse. Bring him a new piece of information that he hadn’t had before and he would leave him his million euro house to him, if he doesn’t survive the surgery later in the day. Plus a thousand euros for the day as expenses and fee. The race is on and soon it is clear that Lenny is way out of his depth with the people he is tracking down.
As the hours are ticking down in the day the story jumps back to the past with the years of Betsy’s captivity being told by her as the relationship between her and the man constantly change. Some of the scenes are brutal and the beatings horrendous but mostly it is when the man won’t talk to her or forgive her that hurts her the most. Reading Betsy’s words made me feel so very humble because it was the simplest things in life where she found pleasure, the things that we take as a right to have.
The story increases in speed and intensity as Gordon Blake’s operation approaches and time for Lenny and Betsy is running out, then it becomes completely unbearable. OMG, these words just sizzled. I so wanted Gordan to pull through as I had grown so very fond of this man and yet the house would be life-changing for Lenny Moon and his complicated family. But most of all what of Betsy? This is one mind-blowing story where you need to read to find out ………………………. Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake?
Just Speechless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The chapters come in alternating heartbreak of a guilt-ridden father that took his eye from his 4-year-old child playing in the street just for a second, then she was gone, to a terrified Betsy telling how she had been playing when a man put his hand over her mouth and whisked her away in his car and into his cellar. Some 17 years had passed and Gordan Blake is now in hospital waiting for an operation where he only has a 50% survival rate and he was no nearer to finding out who had taken her. As far as everyone else is concerned the case is closed.
In a final desperate attempt, he rings a random local P.I. Lenny Moon with an offer he couldn’t refuse. Bring him a new piece of information that he hadn’t had before and he would leave him his million euro house to him, if he doesn’t survive the surgery later in the day. Plus a thousand euros for the day as expenses and fee. The race is on and soon it is clear that Lenny is way out of his depth with the people he is tracking down.
As the hours are ticking down in the day the story jumps back to the past with the years of Betsy’s captivity being told by her as the relationship between her and the man constantly change. Some of the scenes are brutal and the beatings horrendous but mostly it is when the man won’t talk to her or forgive her that hurts her the most. Reading Betsy’s words made me feel so very humble because it was the simplest things in life where she found pleasure, the things that we take as a right to have.
The story increases in speed and intensity as Gordon Blake’s operation approaches and time for Lenny and Betsy is running out, then it becomes completely unbearable. OMG, these words just sizzled. I so wanted Gordan to pull through as I had grown so very fond of this man and yet the house would be life-changing for Lenny Moon and his complicated family. But most of all what of Betsy? This is one mind-blowing story where you need to read to find out ………………………. Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake?
Just Speechless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 28, 2019
David B. Lyon’s previous book, Midday, was one of the most surprising books I read last year. So when I was approached to read his next book, I didn’t hesitate, fully expecting another clever and tense plot and that is exactly what I got!
Seventeen years ago, four year old Betsy Blake disappeared. She was never found. Now, her father Gordon is in hospital awaiting surgery. His odds of surviving aren’t exactly great. Gordon’s biggest fear is dying on the operating table, not knowing what happened to his daughter. So he hires a private investigator, Lenny Moon, who has exactly five hours to find out whatever happened to Betsy Blake. Can Lenny achieve what police have failed to do?
The clock is ticking. For real. David B. Lyons manages to ratchet up the tension by having his characters check the time on a regular basis, constantly keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. I can just imagine watching this on tv, with a countdown slowly but surely ticking away the minutes in the corner of my screen.
Some of the chapters are incredibly harrowing and haunting. I often felt quite unsettled and went through a whole gamut of emotions, from anger to sheer sadness. Luckily, there are also a few chuckles along the way. Lenny doesn’t exactly ooze confidence. As a PI whose jobs mostly come from insurance companies trying to catch out frauds, he’s very much out of his depth and it shows. But he’s also extremely likeable and against all the odds, you can’t help but root for him. Gordon too is someone to sympathise with and root for. I can’t even begin to imagine the endless nightmare parents have to live with when their child goes missing.
This is one of those books that has me desperate to read it again because I just know I missed clues left, right and centre! That’s not a bad thing, obviously, because I was left completely blindsided and reeling at the end of it all. David B. Lyons has an uncanny knack for coming up with clever and refreshing plots, in this instance taking something like the disappearance of a child, which has obviously been done before, and turning it completely onto its head. And once again, he managed to pull the rug right from under my feet! Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake is a compelling and addictive story with a few surprises in store and I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next!
Seventeen years ago, four year old Betsy Blake disappeared. She was never found. Now, her father Gordon is in hospital awaiting surgery. His odds of surviving aren’t exactly great. Gordon’s biggest fear is dying on the operating table, not knowing what happened to his daughter. So he hires a private investigator, Lenny Moon, who has exactly five hours to find out whatever happened to Betsy Blake. Can Lenny achieve what police have failed to do?
The clock is ticking. For real. David B. Lyons manages to ratchet up the tension by having his characters check the time on a regular basis, constantly keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. I can just imagine watching this on tv, with a countdown slowly but surely ticking away the minutes in the corner of my screen.
Some of the chapters are incredibly harrowing and haunting. I often felt quite unsettled and went through a whole gamut of emotions, from anger to sheer sadness. Luckily, there are also a few chuckles along the way. Lenny doesn’t exactly ooze confidence. As a PI whose jobs mostly come from insurance companies trying to catch out frauds, he’s very much out of his depth and it shows. But he’s also extremely likeable and against all the odds, you can’t help but root for him. Gordon too is someone to sympathise with and root for. I can’t even begin to imagine the endless nightmare parents have to live with when their child goes missing.
This is one of those books that has me desperate to read it again because I just know I missed clues left, right and centre! That’s not a bad thing, obviously, because I was left completely blindsided and reeling at the end of it all. David B. Lyons has an uncanny knack for coming up with clever and refreshing plots, in this instance taking something like the disappearance of a child, which has obviously been done before, and turning it completely onto its head. And once again, he managed to pull the rug right from under my feet! Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake is a compelling and addictive story with a few surprises in store and I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next!
April 8, 2019
What an absolute fantastic book.
I love David B. Lyons style of writing and how he keeps you guessing right until the end.
Perfect plot twist at then end.
I love David B. Lyons style of writing and how he keeps you guessing right until the end.
Perfect plot twist at then end.
August 1, 2023
Irish author David B. Lyons was raised in Dublin where his 2019 mystery, Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake, takes place. A little girl named Betsy had been kidnapped 17 years before at age 4 and has been missing ever since.
The author is proud of the clues he’s hidden in his story which answer the question Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake. He offers a video revealing the clues, warning his readers that they will “end up kicking themselves” for missing them. I wound up kicking myself too, but only because I wasted my time reading a book which was not nearly as clever as the author thinks.
As the story opens, Betsy Blakes’ father, Gordon, is about to undergo dangerous heart surgery in five hours, a surgery he might not survive. Gordon never stopped believing his daughter is still alive, so from his hospital bed he desperately hires a local private investigator named Lenny Moon to find her in what may be the last five hours of his life.
As a private investigator Lenny Moon is no Sam Spade. Instead of wearing a fedora and trench coat to cultivate his image in the manner of Humphrey Bogart, he comes across as a nebbish in his puffer jacket and woolen Sherpa hat. Being short, bald, and constantly chewing on his rubber mobile phone case are no help to his image either.
The story is told in real time over those five hours, with flashbacks about Betsy who had been kidnapped by a man she calls Dod and kept as a prisoner in his house. So we do know what happened to a little girl named Betsy; we just don’t know until the end who’s Dod and why did he take her.
One final warning. The author drops the F-bomb no less than 214 times in his 307 page novel. If you find gratuitous vulgarity offensive, unnecessary, or both, there are plenty of other books out there to occupy your time — and where you won’t even end up wanting to kick yourself.
The author is proud of the clues he’s hidden in his story which answer the question Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake. He offers a video revealing the clues, warning his readers that they will “end up kicking themselves” for missing them. I wound up kicking myself too, but only because I wasted my time reading a book which was not nearly as clever as the author thinks.
As the story opens, Betsy Blakes’ father, Gordon, is about to undergo dangerous heart surgery in five hours, a surgery he might not survive. Gordon never stopped believing his daughter is still alive, so from his hospital bed he desperately hires a local private investigator named Lenny Moon to find her in what may be the last five hours of his life.
As a private investigator Lenny Moon is no Sam Spade. Instead of wearing a fedora and trench coat to cultivate his image in the manner of Humphrey Bogart, he comes across as a nebbish in his puffer jacket and woolen Sherpa hat. Being short, bald, and constantly chewing on his rubber mobile phone case are no help to his image either.
The story is told in real time over those five hours, with flashbacks about Betsy who had been kidnapped by a man she calls Dod and kept as a prisoner in his house. So we do know what happened to a little girl named Betsy; we just don’t know until the end who’s Dod and why did he take her.
One final warning. The author drops the F-bomb no less than 214 times in his 307 page novel. If you find gratuitous vulgarity offensive, unnecessary, or both, there are plenty of other books out there to occupy your time — and where you won’t even end up wanting to kick yourself.
January 8, 2020
I read this book last year it was by far my favourite book of 2019. I loved it from start to finish, read it in one sitting & I recommend it to anyone who is looking for recommendations and every person has loved it too. I have not come across a twist like that in years !
July 18, 2023
The twist would be every parent's worst nightmare. I'll skip Betsy's point of view because it's too disturbing for me, even though I don't have a child. The writing is too dry for my liking.
September 4, 2019
4.5 stars, this was unexpectedly great! I am glad going in that I didn’t know this was set in Dublin (my home town!) as i may have avoided it and I really would have missed out.
I usually read 2 books at the same time but I dedicated myself to this one, I just had to know what happened
I usually read 2 books at the same time but I dedicated myself to this one, I just had to know what happened
July 17, 2019
very good and suspenseful with a surprising ( at least for me ) twist at the end
March 22, 2019
Wow! Sit back and prepare for the ride! Gordon is in hospital and may only have a few hours left to live. He is having an operation at 3pm and the doctors have given him a fifty:fifty chance of survival. Lenny is a private investigator who just about makes enough to keep his family's head above water, mostly by doing simple insurance jobs. In all the years doing this he has never had that one big, urgent case that could make him. Seventeen years ago Betsy Blake was playing on a wall whilst her father nearby talked to a friend. She disappeared and was never seen again. The police closed their case, presuming she was dead after nothing had been found other than some DNA in a car which somehow showed she was no longer alive. Gordon has never given up on his daughter returning and now in what may be his last hours he needs answers and quickly. Lenny’s agency is the nearest one to the hospital and so he employs him to find whatever he can in the five hours he has left. Gordon is convinced that one of two men took her and so begins Lenny’s first real big case. We get chapters from three different perspectives. Lenny and Gordon who of course interact and occasional ones of Betsy with a timeline of how far back she is describing of how she is being looked after.
I took to Lenny. He had a simplicity about him that was endearing. Ok he was after the reward but he also had Gordon’s best interest at heart. Gordon you felt for being in such a predicament but he had had seventeen years to do this. The Nurse Elaine doing her utmost to try and keep Gordon’s heart suitable for surgery whilst all the time the search is ongoing. I won’t give anything away other than to say prepare for the unexpected. I should have seen that coming!! Clever, brilliant, gripping. 5* all the way.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
I took to Lenny. He had a simplicity about him that was endearing. Ok he was after the reward but he also had Gordon’s best interest at heart. Gordon you felt for being in such a predicament but he had had seventeen years to do this. The Nurse Elaine doing her utmost to try and keep Gordon’s heart suitable for surgery whilst all the time the search is ongoing. I won’t give anything away other than to say prepare for the unexpected. I should have seen that coming!! Clever, brilliant, gripping. 5* all the way.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
May 12, 2019
Gripping read
Very surprising ending loved it. Would highly recommend this book, a gripping thriller that you can't put down and leaves you wanting more.
Very surprising ending loved it. Would highly recommend this book, a gripping thriller that you can't put down and leaves you wanting more.
March 28, 2019
One of my favourite authors of 2018 and the winner of Promising Author in my Rubina Reads Awards is back with another book and is absolutely living up to his promise.
When the author, David B. Lyons, contacted me regarding his next book, I said yes IMMEDIATELY! Who was I to say no after reading his mind blowing debut novel Midday last year? I have to confess, though, I was nervous reading this book. I didn’t want to be disappointed. I didn’t want the author’s second book to change my feelings for the first book and my trust on the author’s skills. And you know what? I was COMPLETELY wrong! Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake? is equal to, if not more amazing than, Midday!
I couldn’t fathom the fact that David just wrote another mind blowing book! I was on the edge the whole time, reading and thinking and trying to piece it together but I failed so miserably and I AM HAPPY ABOUT IT! Every chapter is charged with tension, and the last sentences of each of them are such great read-on prompts. I was glued to my kindle for two complete days. I couldn’t help myself but continue reading it.
I was tormented and sweaty thinking what and how Gordon and Lenny will find the answers. And the supporting characters did their best to keep me worried throughout.
At one point I thought I got the answer and the author immediately debunked it, as if he could read my mind! Then I was presented with a conclusion I wasn’t satisfied with. And with just a couple of chapters left, I couldn’t help but wonder how the book will end. What happened to Betsy? Lenny did all this for nothing? I read all this for nothing?
What I forgot was David B. Lyons is the author of Midday, my favourite book of 2018, one that blew my mind. And blow my mind he did! The final reveal just threw me off the cliff. I thought I might need to get myself admitted. I had to read the last couple of chapters twice to make myself believe what I just read. And then I started laughing like a hysterical woman. I am still having a hard time coming back to the reality around me.
I have told this to David and I’ll write it here again. The effect this book has given me is other-worldly. And there are only VERY few books that have that effect on me – And Then There Were None by my first love Agatha Christie, Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer, Stalker by Lars Kepler, Afterlife by Marcus Sakey, Jack Jordan did with two of his books – My Girl and Before Her Eyes and now I add David, too, to this list, with both his books – Midday and What Happened to Betsy Blake?
The writing – amazing! The pace – amazing! The structure – amazing! The characters – amazing! The twists and turns – amazing! The final reveal – amazing! The intelligence behind writing this book – AMAZING!
Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake? is a heart-racing, ticking-bomb thriller that will play with your brains and leave you numb, wanting for more.
And with that, I ask – David, when is your next book coming? Just curious. 😊
Final Verdict: Need I say this? Ok, if you wish.
Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake? by David. B Lyons gets 5 out of 5 stars from me.
Thank you to author David B. Lyons for providing me with the e-book.
For more reviews, please check out www.rubinareads.com
When the author, David B. Lyons, contacted me regarding his next book, I said yes IMMEDIATELY! Who was I to say no after reading his mind blowing debut novel Midday last year? I have to confess, though, I was nervous reading this book. I didn’t want to be disappointed. I didn’t want the author’s second book to change my feelings for the first book and my trust on the author’s skills. And you know what? I was COMPLETELY wrong! Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake? is equal to, if not more amazing than, Midday!
I couldn’t fathom the fact that David just wrote another mind blowing book! I was on the edge the whole time, reading and thinking and trying to piece it together but I failed so miserably and I AM HAPPY ABOUT IT! Every chapter is charged with tension, and the last sentences of each of them are such great read-on prompts. I was glued to my kindle for two complete days. I couldn’t help myself but continue reading it.
I was tormented and sweaty thinking what and how Gordon and Lenny will find the answers. And the supporting characters did their best to keep me worried throughout.
At one point I thought I got the answer and the author immediately debunked it, as if he could read my mind! Then I was presented with a conclusion I wasn’t satisfied with. And with just a couple of chapters left, I couldn’t help but wonder how the book will end. What happened to Betsy? Lenny did all this for nothing? I read all this for nothing?
What I forgot was David B. Lyons is the author of Midday, my favourite book of 2018, one that blew my mind. And blow my mind he did! The final reveal just threw me off the cliff. I thought I might need to get myself admitted. I had to read the last couple of chapters twice to make myself believe what I just read. And then I started laughing like a hysterical woman. I am still having a hard time coming back to the reality around me.
I have told this to David and I’ll write it here again. The effect this book has given me is other-worldly. And there are only VERY few books that have that effect on me – And Then There Were None by my first love Agatha Christie, Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer, Stalker by Lars Kepler, Afterlife by Marcus Sakey, Jack Jordan did with two of his books – My Girl and Before Her Eyes and now I add David, too, to this list, with both his books – Midday and What Happened to Betsy Blake?
The writing – amazing! The pace – amazing! The structure – amazing! The characters – amazing! The twists and turns – amazing! The final reveal – amazing! The intelligence behind writing this book – AMAZING!
Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake? is a heart-racing, ticking-bomb thriller that will play with your brains and leave you numb, wanting for more.
And with that, I ask – David, when is your next book coming? Just curious. 😊
Final Verdict: Need I say this? Ok, if you wish.
Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake? by David. B Lyons gets 5 out of 5 stars from me.
Thank you to author David B. Lyons for providing me with the e-book.
For more reviews, please check out www.rubinareads.com
April 3, 2019
This was my Amazon FirstReads choice for March, and it did not disappoint! I was interested in the premise from the start (a man, about to have surgery from which he will likely not survive, is desperate to finally learn what happened to his daughter who disappeared 17 years ago. He hires a private investigator to see what, if anything, new on the case that he can possibly uncover in the next 5 hours). I liked the writing style, I liked that of was told from 3 different perspectives (both past and present), and I liked that it was a quick read. I really wanted to see where it would end up, and had s hard time putting it down. And all I can say about the ending is...Wow!! Great job, David Lyons; I read so many books in this genre that I am rarely surprised by this type of book these days, but I did NOT see that twist coming! Fantastic! I thought it was brilliant. Definitely would love to read more by this author, and could easily see this book as a movie.
July 21, 2019
I couldn’t put this book down! My mum read it before me and told me it was really good and that I wouldn’t see the twist coming at all. We read a lot of psychological thrillers and crime books and it’s rare that a book can completely trick me but that’s exactly what happened here!
Written beautifully from different character perspectives, each of the characters draws you in and I found myself really rooting for Lenny & Gordon to find out the truth about Betsey’s disappearance before it was too late. I distrusted all of the possible suspects and had my own idea of what happened - turns out I couldn’t have been further from the truth!
This is the first book of David’s I have read and certainly won’t be the last, and I will for sure be recommending this to all of my book friends!
Thank you David for writing such a fantastic story, I had almost given up recently on finding a book that really gripped me and you managed to do that from the very first page!
Written beautifully from different character perspectives, each of the characters draws you in and I found myself really rooting for Lenny & Gordon to find out the truth about Betsey’s disappearance before it was too late. I distrusted all of the possible suspects and had my own idea of what happened - turns out I couldn’t have been further from the truth!
This is the first book of David’s I have read and certainly won’t be the last, and I will for sure be recommending this to all of my book friends!
Thank you David for writing such a fantastic story, I had almost given up recently on finding a book that really gripped me and you managed to do that from the very first page!
March 28, 2019
I don't really know what I expected from this novel but this really engulfed me in the story and shocked me with some of its twists and turns. I did not expect the ending that occurred. Well written with fascinating characters and some fantastic chapters written from the child's point of view. This novel is really atmospheric it reads like an action movie and I would genuinely pay to go and see this at the movies.
I really enjoyed the fact that apart from the child in the story none of the characters were likeable people especially our protagonist Gordon. This I think is a truer reflection of real life, people are complex and not necessarily likeable and you see this really reflected in the story.
As I said in the opening to this blog this author is new to me and i'm upset that I have only just discovered him now, this may be one of my crime reads of the year and will certainly be bidding to be in my top 10 reads of the year. I heartily recommend this if you like a clever well written but unusual thriller, this one is smart, dark and fascinating in all the right amounts, a read in one go type of novel. A solid 5* from me
I really enjoyed the fact that apart from the child in the story none of the characters were likeable people especially our protagonist Gordon. This I think is a truer reflection of real life, people are complex and not necessarily likeable and you see this really reflected in the story.
As I said in the opening to this blog this author is new to me and i'm upset that I have only just discovered him now, this may be one of my crime reads of the year and will certainly be bidding to be in my top 10 reads of the year. I heartily recommend this if you like a clever well written but unusual thriller, this one is smart, dark and fascinating in all the right amounts, a read in one go type of novel. A solid 5* from me
August 5, 2019
Great book
I liked the book , short and to the point. No nonsense waffling. Willing the investigator to find Betsy and a happy ending for all. Did not see the twist coming, although now I realise it was so obvious. Keeps you guessing ,and had difficulty putting the book down. It was a good read. Will defiantly be reading more of this author's books.
I liked the book , short and to the point. No nonsense waffling. Willing the investigator to find Betsy and a happy ending for all. Did not see the twist coming, although now I realise it was so obvious. Keeps you guessing ,and had difficulty putting the book down. It was a good read. Will defiantly be reading more of this author's books.
August 22, 2019
Great story
Kept me guessing right to the end. Not a lot of stories do, so I always appreciate it when they do. One of the reasons I enjoy UK writers is that so many of the mystery writers focus on the psychology of the story rather than any major gore. Thanks to the author for such a great read.
Kept me guessing right to the end. Not a lot of stories do, so I always appreciate it when they do. One of the reasons I enjoy UK writers is that so many of the mystery writers focus on the psychology of the story rather than any major gore. Thanks to the author for such a great read.
April 8, 2019
I could not put this down!!!
Omg what a book.
I enjoyed every part of it.
Each chapter is written from the perspective of Gordon (Betsy’s dad), Lenny (PI) and Betsy.
Apparently there are clues to the massive twist at the end, but I didn’t find then.
Omg what a book.
I enjoyed every part of it.
Each chapter is written from the perspective of Gordon (Betsy’s dad), Lenny (PI) and Betsy.
Apparently there are clues to the massive twist at the end, but I didn’t find then.
April 9, 2019
Loved it
Great book I loved his writing and I certainly didn't guess the ending a 4 year old child is snatched while her father is distracted and how he lives with this will definitely follow this author
Great book I loved his writing and I certainly didn't guess the ending a 4 year old child is snatched while her father is distracted and how he lives with this will definitely follow this author
June 2, 2019
Another thrilling read and an excellent twist.
The second book by David B. Lyons is another thrilling read. Really exciting page turner with a definitely didn't see it coming twist at the end that kept me riveted for days. One of my favourite reads this year and looking forward to his next.
The second book by David B. Lyons is another thrilling read. Really exciting page turner with a definitely didn't see it coming twist at the end that kept me riveted for days. One of my favourite reads this year and looking forward to his next.
July 9, 2020
Bravo
I really enjoyed Midday by Lyons so was very excited to start Betsy Blake due to the high ratings and number of reviews talking about the ending.
All I can say is bravo. Didn't see it coming and hats off to a very talented author with a fiendish mind. A must read!
I really enjoyed Midday by Lyons so was very excited to start Betsy Blake due to the high ratings and number of reviews talking about the ending.
All I can say is bravo. Didn't see it coming and hats off to a very talented author with a fiendish mind. A must read!
November 1, 2020
What an amazing read this was. Literally could not put this down and have read it in less than 24 hrs. Thanks have to go yet again to my sister for recommending this book to me. A very well deserved 5*
September 14, 2025
Easy five stars I couldn’t put this book down , I loved it. This book wasn’t a typical thriller more of an investigation which I don’t normally read but I love it I really did NOT expect this ending how it all pieced together was perfect 🤩 love love ❤️
April 25, 2019
Really great story....I never guessed the ending correctly!!
May 8, 2019
Recommended
I thorough enjoyed this book. The way it was told was very good. Don't want to spoil it for anyone by saying too much, but very well worth reading.
I thorough enjoyed this book. The way it was told was very good. Don't want to spoil it for anyone by saying too much, but very well worth reading.
June 23, 2019
It was awesome! Awesome twist!
June 26, 2019
I don’t usually write reviews but WOW! A twist at the end I didn’t see coming!
September 13, 2019
The first book I’ve read by this author, definitely won’t be my last. A real page turn and not at all predictable.
November 1, 2019
David Lyons has the ability to pull at every emotion inside of you..In parts I cried ..then raged for what was lost and could have been ..This story will lead you into places that are dark ..where one moment ..a millisecond in time can have an effect that lasts an eternity. Read in one sitting ..I think Lyons took my heart and ripped it into a million pieces ..Phenomenal..❤
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