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No Cry For Help
During a cross-border shopping trip, a family vanishes. No reason. No ransom. No cry for help.
Bus driver Wallace Carver fears the worst when his family fails to meet him at the Bellingham, Washington mall. His anxiety is justifiably heightened when security cameras unexplainably show that he crossed the Peace Arch border alone. Now all Wallace wants to do is get his wife and sons back. But first he has to work out why they were taken and by whom.
“Think Harlan Coben on speed with a heart breaking compassion that will literally have you biting your nails." - Ken Bruen, best-selling author.
“A terrific little-guy-in-big-trouble thriller.” - Lee Child, #1 NY Time bestselling author
Bus driver Wallace Carver fears the worst when his family fails to meet him at the Bellingham, Washington mall. His anxiety is justifiably heightened when security cameras unexplainably show that he crossed the Peace Arch border alone. Now all Wallace wants to do is get his wife and sons back. But first he has to work out why they were taken and by whom.
“Think Harlan Coben on speed with a heart breaking compassion that will literally have you biting your nails." - Ken Bruen, best-selling author.
“A terrific little-guy-in-big-trouble thriller.” - Lee Child, #1 NY Time bestselling author
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2010
1458 people are currently reading
1367 people want to read
About the author
Grant McKenzie
16 books75 followersBorn in Scotland, living in Canada and writing fast-paced fiction, Grant likes to wear a kilt and toque with his six-guns. Often compared to Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay, Grant has twelve internationally published thrillers to his name that have earned him an avalanche of positive reviews and loyal readership around the globe. His latest novel, The Seven Truths of Hannah Baxter, was shortlisted for the 2023 International Thriller Writers award. He also has a secret identity as mystery writer M.C. Grant (Oops, there goes that secret) who pens the Dixie Flynn mysteries set in San Francisco. This series was shortlisted for the prestigious Shamus award. As a journalist, Grant has won numerous awards across Canada and the U.S., including one in 2012 from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia — the same organization that Dixie’s fictitious San Francisco NOW belongs to. He resides in Victoria, B.C., where he works with people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
October 9, 2016
This was right up my alley, one of those stories where ordinary people must prevail under extraordinary circumstances.
Wallace Carver is a Canadian bus driver with a wife and two sons. The are in the US for a weekend of R&R and shopping when his wife Alicia and the boys don't turn up to meet him at the mall. Wallace waits over two hours and then calls police. The already seem a bit suspicious of him but when they request the photo from the border crossing earlier in the day and find it shows Wallace alone in his vehicle they insist he leaves the US.
So Wallace enlists the help of his Indian friend, Crow, to get back into the US and find his wife and children. Meanwhile blood has been found at Wallace's home and the RCMP want to arrest him for murder.
This is all very scary for the bus driver and he has no idea why his family has been targeted. As he learns more though he realises that they are in more danger than they could think possible. Can Wallace, against all odds, save his family?
A very enjoyable edge-of-your-seat thriller.
Wallace Carver is a Canadian bus driver with a wife and two sons. The are in the US for a weekend of R&R and shopping when his wife Alicia and the boys don't turn up to meet him at the mall. Wallace waits over two hours and then calls police. The already seem a bit suspicious of him but when they request the photo from the border crossing earlier in the day and find it shows Wallace alone in his vehicle they insist he leaves the US.
So Wallace enlists the help of his Indian friend, Crow, to get back into the US and find his wife and children. Meanwhile blood has been found at Wallace's home and the RCMP want to arrest him for murder.
This is all very scary for the bus driver and he has no idea why his family has been targeted. As he learns more though he realises that they are in more danger than they could think possible. Can Wallace, against all odds, save his family?
A very enjoyable edge-of-your-seat thriller.
November 15, 2010
In a modern society where time is precious and every second counts, we can I think be forgiven for not spending more time reading books. Why spend days reading when all we have to do is rent a dvd or Blu-ray from Blockbusters and it’s all over in two hours with very little effort required. (As a book reviewer I obviously don’t condone this sort of abominable behaviour!)
If you do happen to be that way inclined then you will certainly miss out on one of the most frenetic, atmospheric and imaginative books I’ve read this year. “No Cry For Help” by Grant McKenzie is one of the quickest page turners I have at the pleasure of reading in quite some time. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
When I first began reading “No Cry For Help” I couldn’t help but compare the storyline to that of Linwood Barclay’s “Never Look Away” - a woman goes missing and her husband investigates her disappearance. If you liked that book, you’ll love this one.
Wallace Carver and his family live in Canada and as one, they cross the longest unprotected border in the world for a well-earned break – the 49th parallel. Alicia, his wife, has her eye on shopping and together with her two boys they plan to meet up with Wallace later that day before checking in to the overnight hotel in Bellingham, Washington. Available from The Book Depository & Amazon.
The agreed rendezvous time passes and Wallace becomes anxious when his family fail to turn up. Unable to contact his wife (joint decision to leave their mobile phones at home) he begins to fret. As another hour passes and still no sign, he finds his way to the small security office and they begrudgingly place a call out on the tannoy.
Eventually the police are called in and he is suspected of wasting police time, escorting him back across the border and told never to return to the United States.
Wallace Carver is a regular Joe, a bus driver. His best friend and co-worker, Crow Joe, has known Carver for 15 years. With Carver in the States, Crow pulls up outside the Carver residence to find a hive of activity and flashing police lights – the police have discovered a pool of blood in the house. All traces of Alicia and the children have vanished; clothes, toys, passports and family pictures – it’s as if they never existed.
With an outstanding arrest warrant Carver has no option but to enlist Crow’s help and disappear back across the border. Determined to find his family and make those responsible pay, he begins a perilous journey full of danger – but will it all be in vein?
Full Review on my blog:- http://www.milorambles.com/2010/11/15...
If you do happen to be that way inclined then you will certainly miss out on one of the most frenetic, atmospheric and imaginative books I’ve read this year. “No Cry For Help” by Grant McKenzie is one of the quickest page turners I have at the pleasure of reading in quite some time. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
When I first began reading “No Cry For Help” I couldn’t help but compare the storyline to that of Linwood Barclay’s “Never Look Away” - a woman goes missing and her husband investigates her disappearance. If you liked that book, you’ll love this one.
Wallace Carver and his family live in Canada and as one, they cross the longest unprotected border in the world for a well-earned break – the 49th parallel. Alicia, his wife, has her eye on shopping and together with her two boys they plan to meet up with Wallace later that day before checking in to the overnight hotel in Bellingham, Washington. Available from The Book Depository & Amazon.
The agreed rendezvous time passes and Wallace becomes anxious when his family fail to turn up. Unable to contact his wife (joint decision to leave their mobile phones at home) he begins to fret. As another hour passes and still no sign, he finds his way to the small security office and they begrudgingly place a call out on the tannoy.
Eventually the police are called in and he is suspected of wasting police time, escorting him back across the border and told never to return to the United States.
Wallace Carver is a regular Joe, a bus driver. His best friend and co-worker, Crow Joe, has known Carver for 15 years. With Carver in the States, Crow pulls up outside the Carver residence to find a hive of activity and flashing police lights – the police have discovered a pool of blood in the house. All traces of Alicia and the children have vanished; clothes, toys, passports and family pictures – it’s as if they never existed.
With an outstanding arrest warrant Carver has no option but to enlist Crow’s help and disappear back across the border. Determined to find his family and make those responsible pay, he begins a perilous journey full of danger – but will it all be in vein?
Full Review on my blog:- http://www.milorambles.com/2010/11/15...
January 6, 2014
This is the first time that I have read this author and this is a bit of a departure from what I usually read. However, this was a page turner! It grabbed me and wouldn't let go. The story is well written and fast paced and left me with much to think about. To me, a sign of a good story. The lengths this father went to find his family against all odds. The reason behind the taking of his family. The help that he receives from unexpected places. The resolution. I found this an amazing, if a bit disturbing at times, story. Well done!
August 18, 2013
Wallace Carver's family disappears after they cross the border from Canada into The USA. The video footage shows him crossing the border alone. But he knows he didn't and now he has to figure out who has his wife and two boys and why. The police won't help him. Thank goodness for his good friend Crow. A good, quick, end of summer thriller! Fast paced, keeps you guessing about certain things. You think you know the why and then it turns out to be something different!
January 21, 2020
While shopping at a Mall in Washington state, a Canadian bus driver’s wife and two young sons are kidnapped. Back home in Canada, the bus driver is framed for killing them, even though he is a devoted and loving husband and father, never prone to violence, there are no bodies to prove a murder, and the alleged crime scene is covered in animal, not human, blood — as if such evidence could ever lead to his conviction for “killing” them. This is the comparatively realistic part of the story.
The remainder is as preposterous as it is exciting as our bus driver, aided by the best Indian sidekick since Tonto, discovers hidden reserves of courage, fortitude and adrenaline to find his family and overcome the small army of savage former US Marines, all skilled professional killers, who had taken them.
The author knows how to tell his story at a brisk clip without too many mistakes, though I don’t believe that Marines ever refer to themselves as “soldiers.” He also occasionally turns a clever phrase, like “it reminded him too much of too much.” It all unsurprisingly ends in an inevitably bloody battle as the unlikely hero claws, connives and kills his way to a predictable conclusion.
Not to overdo the bus driver’s background, but if you’re willing to suspend your disbelief you will enjoy the ride. Just picture Ralph Kramden channeling his inner Jack Reacher to fight a platoon of Rambos.
The remainder is as preposterous as it is exciting as our bus driver, aided by the best Indian sidekick since Tonto, discovers hidden reserves of courage, fortitude and adrenaline to find his family and overcome the small army of savage former US Marines, all skilled professional killers, who had taken them.
The author knows how to tell his story at a brisk clip without too many mistakes, though I don’t believe that Marines ever refer to themselves as “soldiers.” He also occasionally turns a clever phrase, like “it reminded him too much of too much.” It all unsurprisingly ends in an inevitably bloody battle as the unlikely hero claws, connives and kills his way to a predictable conclusion.
Not to overdo the bus driver’s background, but if you’re willing to suspend your disbelief you will enjoy the ride. Just picture Ralph Kramden channeling his inner Jack Reacher to fight a platoon of Rambos.
September 17, 2013
Solidly good and entertaining read. Just the kind of book to read for a change of pace, it was a nice quick read and kept my interest from chapter one.
November 1, 2013
I had no idea what to expect from this book, but I ended up liking it very much. It all starts with a middle-aged bus driver who is visiting the U.S. (from Canada) for a shopping trip with his family. When they go missing, he starts a journey to search for them. The reader can relate to him because he's just a regular guy making mistakes and not knowing what he's doing. He stumbles around, getting angry and running on adrenaline, then letting fear and confusion take over, just like anyone else would do who is so out of their depth. The story is suspenseful all the way up to the end when we discover the reason for the missing family. I felt the short epilogue was unnecessary and took away a little from the story--it would have been just as impactful (and maybe moreso) if it had ended just before that. But otherwise, the story was exciting, the psychology was interesting, and the characters were believable. I will read more from this author.
March 1, 2016
Clearly written for a male audience. A little comic-booky in its action. Lots of shoot-em-up, testosterone-fueled fights and speedy recoveries from what would normally be debilitating wounds. The women characters were idealized and not well developed beyond the notion that they, the women, were always and only the motivation for the men in the story to do whatever they did, which was primarily rushing towards revenge or rescue. The plot could have been more interesting without some of the gratuitous violence, but I think that was the point. It was compelling enough for me to finish it, but I predicted the endgame about halfway through, and though I like suspense and action, this was a little bloody for my taste
August 1, 2015
Great plot.
Love of family and friends, courage. Desperate father trying to get his wife and sons back. Great characters, different kind of a plot. Lots of blood and gruesome scenes.
Love of family and friends, courage. Desperate father trying to get his wife and sons back. Great characters, different kind of a plot. Lots of blood and gruesome scenes.
June 17, 2018
Didn't see this coming
I had no idea how fast paced this was going to be. Full of thrills and chills...normal, everyday guy, turns into a man on an impossible mission. Most of the time, you just know, he's not getting out of this alive.
I had no idea how fast paced this was going to be. Full of thrills and chills...normal, everyday guy, turns into a man on an impossible mission. Most of the time, you just know, he's not getting out of this alive.
March 18, 2025
Actually, I didn't read the entire book. When I began the book, it was fascinating and a really good story with a real mystery in the life of the main character Wallace. Wallace is a regular bus driver in Vancouver and he had a lovely wife and two young boys, and they happily took a short vacation into
Washington state, beginning at a mall where the wife and kids went shopping and Wallace waited in the food court. Well, he waited and waited and they didn't return. They never returned and poor Wallace was distraught. Only, this is where the plot thickens in a dreadful way. I don't want to give too much away, but as I say, the book began very promising. Things happened quickly and things got violent -- then, they got more violent and decided I did not want these pictures in my mind and so I stopped at around 60%. I wanted to find out what happened, but there was a sadistic character who loved to inflict pain and that kind of character I do not want to hear about. So, I went to the back of the book -- something I have only done a couple times in my long life of reading many thousands of books -- and I read the epilogue. That told me what I needed to know and I was satisfied. Between the language that got worse and also the violence, it was just not my kind of reading -- and it's a shame, because it was a riveting story otherwise.
Washington state, beginning at a mall where the wife and kids went shopping and Wallace waited in the food court. Well, he waited and waited and they didn't return. They never returned and poor Wallace was distraught. Only, this is where the plot thickens in a dreadful way. I don't want to give too much away, but as I say, the book began very promising. Things happened quickly and things got violent -- then, they got more violent and decided I did not want these pictures in my mind and so I stopped at around 60%. I wanted to find out what happened, but there was a sadistic character who loved to inflict pain and that kind of character I do not want to hear about. So, I went to the back of the book -- something I have only done a couple times in my long life of reading many thousands of books -- and I read the epilogue. That told me what I needed to know and I was satisfied. Between the language that got worse and also the violence, it was just not my kind of reading -- and it's a shame, because it was a riveting story otherwise.
August 17, 2013
This grabbed my attention from the first page! A family travels on a weekend excursion with plans to meet at a mall...the meeting time passes and no sign of the wife and two boys...meanwhile back at their house cops find no trace but blood which leads them to believe the father has done something horrific...it's the story of the father, who is a bus driver, trying to uncover what has happened to his family with the help of good friends...kept me wondering and guessing to the end...
July 26, 2011
Another great book from Grant Mc Kenzie. Was hooked from the start. Grant is one of those rare writers that grabs ur attention and never let's go. Great characters, likeable, believable and well written. I don't know why he's not more in the lime light he's one of the best suspense/thriller writers out there. Can't wait for the next one, well done Mr McKenzie :)
March 23, 2019
Canadian bus drive is on vacation to US with his family when he runs into a nightmare. His family (wife and two boys) disappear without a trace. The border crossing photos show he crossed alone, and now blood is found in his house.
He is now wanted for murder.
He evades the police while he tries to discover the truth.
He is now wanted for murder.
He evades the police while he tries to discover the truth.
December 9, 2019
Great story well told! Set between Canada and the United States, this thriller is also a banging mystery as the reader is allowed limited point of view. This makes it more of a page-turner. Though a few chapters could have been taken out in the final push, it still left me pleased. Grab this as you’ll thank yourself later!
January 20, 2012
This book galloped along at breakneck speed, the tension never slowing as Wallace, a normal bus driver and family man sought to get his wife and sons back from a crazed killer with a tenuous motive. Great characters, plot and tension.
August 19, 2013
Interesting storyline, although a bit on the gruesome side. Although I was able to guess the "why" behind the disappearance of Wallace's family before it was revealed in the book, there was more than enough intrigue and suspense to keep me reading. I'm also a sucker for a happy ending!
March 3, 2012
Fantastic thriller by an up and coming author. Written in a style that keeps the pages turning and the heart thumping until the final climax. Read it and enjoy!
March 6, 2012
This boy from Scotland has came a long way & has fantastic ideas for thrillers. Great page turner. Keep em coming Grant!
January 2, 2013
Yet another excellent read from Mr Mckenzie! Like the first, a true page-turner that kept me guessing till the end! Thoroughly enjoyable read! Excellent work!
December 28, 2012
Another great, action-packed thriller from Grant McKenzie. Warning - be prepared to read through this book in one sitting. Yes, it's that good.
August 11, 2013
great book
August 13, 2013
Great read...fast paced...really enjoyed the suspense...
September 25, 2017
No cry for Help
What an interesting story about obsession and grief! Sometime what we think is true is not true at all! Hate and spite can lead to trouble!
What an interesting story about obsession and grief! Sometime what we think is true is not true at all! Hate and spite can lead to trouble!
March 31, 2019
Enjoyable read
Enjoyed the pace of this book, decently written and a small twist near the end to make sense of it.
Enjoyed the pace of this book, decently written and a small twist near the end to make sense of it.
March 2, 2012
Excellent!! Gripping read. Unputdownable!
November 15, 2013
new author for me; pretty good book
November 14, 2019
This was a pretty good read. There was a good sense of mystery as to the motivation of the bad guys up to about 2/3 in.
Then it got just a bit to unreal to suspend my disbelief. For me, too much gratuitous violence, and both villains and heroes alike powered through way too many injuries to be believed.
Then it got just a bit to unreal to suspend my disbelief. For me, too much gratuitous violence, and both villains and heroes alike powered through way too many injuries to be believed.
November 13, 2024
Never sell a father’s love short!
A super read, best I’ve read in a long while. A story line that gets it all in. Certainly will be looking for more of this authors work. And by all means Mikey liked it!
A super read, best I’ve read in a long while. A story line that gets it all in. Certainly will be looking for more of this authors work. And by all means Mikey liked it!
February 8, 2023
Truly one of the most ridiculous and OTT books I've read. Another case of "I wanted to like the local author, but it was crap". Wallace is a Vancouver city bus driver. After undergoing some sort of accident to his leg? foot? , he's almost ready to go back to work and takes a weekend trip with his wife and sons to Bellingham, WA. On the way to their motel, they stop off at the Bellis fair Mall and said wife and kids disappear. After waiting over two hours for them (because, of course, they left their cell phones at home ) he goes to security where this mild mannered bus driver immediately turns into a Rambo wannabe- getting pissy with everyone over and over as he keeps asking for them to put out a call for family on the intercom. When eventually the cops are called, they go to his car and discover that only his luggage is there. And OF COURSE the immediate conclusion of the police is that Wallace has killed his wife and come to Bellingham as an alibi. Weird things happen, like only he shows up on the border crossing cameras, their home has blood smeared around and so Wallace is deported and told to never come back to the USA and goes home to North Van. Where his best friend tells him NOT to go home because of the blood and the warrant out. I could go on about the incredible violence, the incredibly unlikely scenario of a bunch of US Marines going after a Vancouver bus driver, his immediate familiarity with weapons of all sorts and lack of any sort of anger management, but suffice to say, it's overly violent, unbelievable, unpleasant and really you don't want to read it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews