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They're Gone
Two women's husbands are murdered on the same night in the same way--and their investigation uncovers a terrifying connection.
Two men from vastly different backgrounds are murdered one after another on the same night, in the same fashion with two bullet wounds: one in the head, another in the heart. The two slayings sends their wives on a desperate search for answers--and a desperate attempt to save their families' lives.
Grief takes a heavy toll on northern Virginia freelance editor Deb Linh Thomas when she learns of her husband's murder. And utter dismay sets in when, just a week after the funeral, she discovers that he had been the subject of an FBI investigation after withdrawing a large sum of money from their shared accounts.
Elsewhere, Baltimore bartender Cessy Castillo is less bereft when her abusive husband, ex-cop Hector Ramirez, is killed. But it turns out that he was deep in hock--and now Cessy's expected to pay up.
Deb and the FBI agent assigned to her case start digging into her husband's murder and learn that he had been the target of criminals. As Deb and Cessy join forces to learn the truth, their investigation reveals an ever-darker web of clues, but if they're not careful, they may just end up like their husbands.
Two men from vastly different backgrounds are murdered one after another on the same night, in the same fashion with two bullet wounds: one in the head, another in the heart. The two slayings sends their wives on a desperate search for answers--and a desperate attempt to save their families' lives.
Grief takes a heavy toll on northern Virginia freelance editor Deb Linh Thomas when she learns of her husband's murder. And utter dismay sets in when, just a week after the funeral, she discovers that he had been the subject of an FBI investigation after withdrawing a large sum of money from their shared accounts.
Elsewhere, Baltimore bartender Cessy Castillo is less bereft when her abusive husband, ex-cop Hector Ramirez, is killed. But it turns out that he was deep in hock--and now Cessy's expected to pay up.
Deb and the FBI agent assigned to her case start digging into her husband's murder and learn that he had been the target of criminals. As Deb and Cessy join forces to learn the truth, their investigation reveals an ever-darker web of clues, but if they're not careful, they may just end up like their husbands.
298 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2020
101 people are currently reading
2340 people want to read
About the author
E.A. Barres
1 book22 followersE.A. Barres' most recent thriller, The Unrepentant, was published in 2019 by Down and Out Books (written under E.A. Aymar). His other thrillers include the anthologies The Swamp Killers (March 2020) and The Night of the Flood (March 2018); in both anthologies, he served as co-editor and contributor. His column, "Decisions and Revisions," appears monthly in the Washington Independent Review of Books, and he is also the Managing Editor of The Thrill Begins, ITW's online resource for aspiring and debut thriller writers; he also serves on the Board of ITW as the Vice President of Author Programs. In addition to ITW, he is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, and SinC. Barres also runs the Noir at the Bar series for Washington, D.C. He was born in Panama and now lives and writes in the D.C./MD/VA triangle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
November 10, 2020
11/10/2020:
Happy publication day—this mystery is OUT!
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨3.5 STARS! I was so thoroughly entertained by this book that I literally devoured it in a day. Plot twists, resilient and resourceful women of colour, and well-timed black humour made for a fast-paced ride of a read.
E.A. Barres writes compulsively readable hardboiled crime. Pithy metaphors, sharp dialogue, bursts of violence broken up by some truly deadpan characters—I had a LOT of fun with They're Gone.
The story begins when the husbands of Deb Linh Thomas and Cessy Castillo are murdered on the same night. Deb's solidly upper-middle-class, and lives a fulfilling, mundane life as a mother to her daughter, Kim; she deeply mourns the loss of her husband—but things get complicated when the FBI comes a-knockin' and unexpected truths come to light. Meanwhile, Cessy's a young bartender whose grief is much overshadowed by relief: she's free of her abusive husband... but his death has called crueler men to come creeping out of the woodwork.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
The diversity of rep in this book is fantastic. Deb is a Vietnamese woman adopted as a child by a single American mother, and her daughter Kim comes out as bisexual in this novel (I really liked the depiction of her relationship with Rebecca—who's Black—and particularly this one dinner scene where they call out another character for being stereotypical about lesbians). Cessy's half-Panamanian and the daughter of a sex worker; one of my favourite things in this book was her relationship with her psychopathic (and hilarious) brother, Chris.
Both women face blatant racism and misogyny, as well as microaggressions that hurt/aggravate just as much (@ the white lady who was about to call the cops on Cessy for simply existing in her neighbourhood—a big eff you to you, too!) Both women are also consistently underestimated by the selfish, ruthless men stalking them... which, the book makes very clear, is a huge mistake.
I did find that I needed some suspension of disbelief as the narrative progressed, especially in the latter half of the novel. (At one point there are FOUR psychopathic killers playing active roles in the story, one of whom also has .)
And though I found the sudden introduction of so many POVs towards the end a little jarring, I did really enjoy how the author fleshed out each character—no matter how small their role—so that they leapt off the page at you. Even the villains are graced with nuance and personality beyond their (abominable) crimes.
In all, I'm impressed by the resilience of the women of colour in this book; and though some parts did require me to suspend my disbelief, I can't deny I gobbled this story up. This was even more entertaining than My Lovely Wife, imo!
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
She’d never accept those identities, never walk that broken glass path, never again be what someone else wanted.
She’d find another way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨3.5 STARS! I was so thoroughly entertained by this book that I literally devoured it in a day. Plot twists, resilient and resourceful women of colour, and well-timed black humour made for a fast-paced ride of a read.
E.A. Barres writes compulsively readable hardboiled crime. Pithy metaphors, sharp dialogue, bursts of violence broken up by some truly deadpan characters—I had a LOT of fun with They're Gone.
The story begins when the husbands of Deb Linh Thomas and Cessy Castillo are murdered on the same night. Deb's solidly upper-middle-class, and lives a fulfilling, mundane life as a mother to her daughter, Kim; she deeply mourns the loss of her husband—but things get complicated when the FBI comes a-knockin' and unexpected truths come to light. Meanwhile, Cessy's a young bartender whose grief is much overshadowed by relief: she's free of her abusive husband... but his death has called crueler men to come creeping out of the woodwork.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
The diversity of rep in this book is fantastic. Deb is a Vietnamese woman adopted as a child by a single American mother, and her daughter Kim comes out as bisexual in this novel (I really liked the depiction of her relationship with Rebecca—who's Black—and particularly this one dinner scene where they call out another character for being stereotypical about lesbians). Cessy's half-Panamanian and the daughter of a sex worker; one of my favourite things in this book was her relationship with her psychopathic (and hilarious) brother, Chris.
Both women face blatant racism and misogyny, as well as microaggressions that hurt/aggravate just as much (@ the white lady who was about to call the cops on Cessy for simply existing in her neighbourhood—a big eff you to you, too!) Both women are also consistently underestimated by the selfish, ruthless men stalking them... which, the book makes very clear, is a huge mistake.
Tie all the violence together, like loose threads, and then snip that complicated knot away.
I did find that I needed some suspension of disbelief as the narrative progressed, especially in the latter half of the novel. (At one point there are FOUR psychopathic killers playing active roles in the story, one of whom also has .)
And though I found the sudden introduction of so many POVs towards the end a little jarring, I did really enjoy how the author fleshed out each character—no matter how small their role—so that they leapt off the page at you. Even the villains are graced with nuance and personality beyond their (abominable) crimes.
In all, I'm impressed by the resilience of the women of colour in this book; and though some parts did require me to suspend my disbelief, I can't deny I gobbled this story up. This was even more entertaining than My Lovely Wife, imo!
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 4, 2020
The begining was good, i was enjoying the book. The plot was revealing slowly, secrets were out however halfway through the book, everything took a huge twist.
It wasn't like those twist where you would be like damn i didn't see it come, its epic. It was more likely, damn i didn't see it coming but it's just weird.
The book got really confusing, more plot twists were unfold. Even though it had tons of twists and turns it wasn't just satisfying. It was more likely used for shock value that didn't have any positive impact or pleasure after reading.
Arc Provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
It wasn't like those twist where you would be like damn i didn't see it come, its epic. It was more likely, damn i didn't see it coming but it's just weird.
The book got really confusing, more plot twists were unfold. Even though it had tons of twists and turns it wasn't just satisfying. It was more likely used for shock value that didn't have any positive impact or pleasure after reading.
Arc Provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
August 21, 2020
I was glad to receive an early copy of this book, and I was riveted from page one. This novel is filled with all my favorite things: diverse characters, strong women, interesting insights into domestic relationships and the complexities of grief. And I particularly love this author’s brand of crime fiction: gritty, darkly humorous, sensitive, and sprinkled with violence where necessary.
In his new novel, E.A. Barres masterfully weaves together the stories of two very different women and their burning desire to learn the truth about their murdered husbands. They’re Gone is about secrets and marriage, betrayal and grief, and will leave you questioning whether you can ever really know someone. A stunning, dark, evocative thriller.
In his new novel, E.A. Barres masterfully weaves together the stories of two very different women and their burning desire to learn the truth about their murdered husbands. They’re Gone is about secrets and marriage, betrayal and grief, and will leave you questioning whether you can ever really know someone. A stunning, dark, evocative thriller.
July 29, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, even more that I thought I would. The author has a great, succinct style which goes well with the more violent parts of the story while still managing to also expertly capture the grief of unexpectedly using a loved one. The husband with secrets story has been done so many times in our genre but E.A. Barres manages to put his own spin on it. I also appreciate what an amazing job he did creating a very, diverse group of characters. Cessy was my fave.
November 7, 2020
“Cessy used the couch to stand. Nausea touched the back of her throat, grudgingly stayed down as she stared at a pillow and blanket on the living room floor, trying to figure out what had happened the night before. And why she was naked. She spotted an empty bottle underneath the coffee table. Vodka. Vodka had happened. And so had Anthony Jenkins.”*
Two women, whose husbands both met the same bad end, find themselves in danger. Their husbands’ secrets put them directly in the crossfire, but what one of their husbands left behind might give them the leverage they need to put the bad guys away for good.
This book was a mixed bag for me. I found lots to love in Cessy, a great noir protagonist. She’s strong and has the backup she needs to take on the bad guys in her psychopathic sibling, Chris. I found her compelling and relatable. Two of the secondary characters, Dana and Rose, were fantastic. Cessy and Deb both exhibited agency and, for the most part, drove the story forward.
The book is packed with violent scenes including one where a bad guy uses Siri in a creative way. I enjoyed the diverse characters and the way the book addressed domestic abuse and human trafficking.
Certain things about the book were problematic for me. While I love thrillers, I am not a fan of overt manipulation, as I felt as done with the way ‘the killer’s” point of view was handled. Speaking of point of view, I felt that not only were there too many characters, too many points of views were used and the shifts between them too frequent, bordering on the dreaded “head hopping.” Certain aspects of the plot seemed implausible/convoluted/cliched and were explained in large chunks of introspection.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, an imprint of The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC. for providing an Advance Reader Copy.
*Please note that my review is based on uncorrected text.
Two women, whose husbands both met the same bad end, find themselves in danger. Their husbands’ secrets put them directly in the crossfire, but what one of their husbands left behind might give them the leverage they need to put the bad guys away for good.
This book was a mixed bag for me. I found lots to love in Cessy, a great noir protagonist. She’s strong and has the backup she needs to take on the bad guys in her psychopathic sibling, Chris. I found her compelling and relatable. Two of the secondary characters, Dana and Rose, were fantastic. Cessy and Deb both exhibited agency and, for the most part, drove the story forward.
The book is packed with violent scenes including one where a bad guy uses Siri in a creative way. I enjoyed the diverse characters and the way the book addressed domestic abuse and human trafficking.
Certain things about the book were problematic for me. While I love thrillers, I am not a fan of overt manipulation, as I felt as done with the way ‘the killer’s” point of view was handled. Speaking of point of view, I felt that not only were there too many characters, too many points of views were used and the shifts between them too frequent, bordering on the dreaded “head hopping.” Certain aspects of the plot seemed implausible/convoluted/cliched and were explained in large chunks of introspection.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, an imprint of The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC. for providing an Advance Reader Copy.
*Please note that my review is based on uncorrected text.
January 6, 2021
Bloody hell! What a wild ride and I loved it. Fast-paced, gritty, brilliantly written, this thriller had me flipping page after page until I found out who - if anyone - would make it out alive. E.A. Barres's quirky characters, hilarious sense of humour, and touch of snark made me laugh out loud, too. Absolutely fantastic!
July 27, 2020
THEY’RE GONE is a relentless, pulse-pounding thriller that showcases E.A. Barres’s talent for injecting gritty crime stories with sympathetic, emotionally complex characters and sharp black humor. Barres skillfully combines a dark story about corruption, greed, and violence with an emotional arc about grief, resilience, and the lengths a person will go to protect their family—all while keeping the pace swift and the dialogue witty.
October 19, 2020
Have you ever read a book that was so liberal you wanted to quit? This book was one of those.
Have you ever read a book you didn't want to quit so you could see the ending? This book was one of those.
Have you ever read a book and wanted to laugh at how hypocritical it was? This book was one of those.
Spoilers.>>>>
Main character with the daughter? Mrs. I'm super excepting, but I'm not sure my husband would've been? Mrs. Anti capitol punishment? She kills the murderer.
<<<<Favorite character???? Chris. Is he a bit crazy? Yes, but I respected almost every one of his actions.
Have you ever read a book you didn't want to quit so you could see the ending? This book was one of those.
Have you ever read a book and wanted to laugh at how hypocritical it was? This book was one of those.
Spoilers.>>>>
Main character with the daughter? Mrs. I'm super excepting, but I'm not sure my husband would've been? Mrs. Anti capitol punishment? She kills the murderer.
<<<<Favorite character???? Chris. Is he a bit crazy? Yes, but I respected almost every one of his actions.
September 11, 2020
I very much appreciate that the author laid out the social issues she was espousing in the first quarter of the book. These things are not to my taste in literature consequently I did not continue reading.
I wish her well and am sure many others will find the story to their liking.
This ARC was received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The review will be posted on Good Reads immediately.
I wish her well and am sure many others will find the story to their liking.
This ARC was received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The review will be posted on Good Reads immediately.
November 11, 2020
They’re Gone by @eaaymar is the best kind of thriller! It kept me turning the pages late into the night! It is full of tension and was paced so well! Interwoven with multiple POVs and dark, gritty secrets that will have you side eyeing your man wondering what he’s up to when you’re not around.
They’re Gone tells the story of two murders that occur on the same night, the exact same way. Told from the perspective of the murder victims’ wives, the story unfolds as each woman decides to figure out exactly what happened to their husbands. This book is about the secrets we keep, grief, betrayal, and the desire to protect our families no matter the cost.
This is a dark thriller that describes the sex worker industry in detail, so beware if that’s a trigger for you.
This thriller was in my opinion all the things that keep me turning the pages and I highly recommend it!!
Thank you to @crookedlanebooks @booksforwardpr for my advanced digital copy of the book to review!! Go, hurry grab this one now!! Don’t come crying to me when you find yourself searching your partner’s messages and emails after you’ve read it though!! I warned you!
They’re Gone tells the story of two murders that occur on the same night, the exact same way. Told from the perspective of the murder victims’ wives, the story unfolds as each woman decides to figure out exactly what happened to their husbands. This book is about the secrets we keep, grief, betrayal, and the desire to protect our families no matter the cost.
This is a dark thriller that describes the sex worker industry in detail, so beware if that’s a trigger for you.
This thriller was in my opinion all the things that keep me turning the pages and I highly recommend it!!
Thank you to @crookedlanebooks @booksforwardpr for my advanced digital copy of the book to review!! Go, hurry grab this one now!! Don’t come crying to me when you find yourself searching your partner’s messages and emails after you’ve read it though!! I warned you!
August 12, 2021
I would like to thank Crooked Lane Books and the Netgalley website for allowing me to read this book.
It all begins when two men are murdered on the same night. With similarities in the modus operandi, both shot in the head, one in the heart. Their wives wonder.
Beth Linh Thomas, a freelance writer in Virginia, is saddened to learn that her husband has been murdered. But a week after his funeral, she learns that the FBI was following him closely because he had withdrawn a large sum of money from their joint accounts.
As for Cessy Castillo, a bartender in Baltimore, she is less upset because her husband was violent with her, but he had debts and Cessy had to pay for them.
Deb and an FBI agent investigate her husband's murder and learn that he was a target for criminals. They will have to be very careful in their investigation if they don't want to end up like their husbands.
A book read in one sitting, so much so that I was hooked on the story, so moving at times, captivating, addictive, full of intrigue, suspense and twists and turns with very endearing characters. I love the author's writing.
It all begins when two men are murdered on the same night. With similarities in the modus operandi, both shot in the head, one in the heart. Their wives wonder.
Beth Linh Thomas, a freelance writer in Virginia, is saddened to learn that her husband has been murdered. But a week after his funeral, she learns that the FBI was following him closely because he had withdrawn a large sum of money from their joint accounts.
As for Cessy Castillo, a bartender in Baltimore, she is less upset because her husband was violent with her, but he had debts and Cessy had to pay for them.
Deb and an FBI agent investigate her husband's murder and learn that he was a target for criminals. They will have to be very careful in their investigation if they don't want to end up like their husbands.
A book read in one sitting, so much so that I was hooked on the story, so moving at times, captivating, addictive, full of intrigue, suspense and twists and turns with very endearing characters. I love the author's writing.
October 25, 2020
This novel is all about two completely different women and their husbands that have been murdered on the same night and in the same way. But who killed them and why?
Deb and Cessy decide they want to know more about their husband's death and quickly regrets it when things take a wild and scary turn. Can they trust the cops or even can they trust each other?. Will they get their answers? Will things ever get back to normal for them?.
This book was so good. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Lots of twists and turns. I just kept reading because I wanted to know what happens next. I love the leading ladies they were so badass. The writer really did an awesome job on this novel. I really liked having 2 stories with 2 very different characters but yet so much the same and in the same situation. Cessy and Deb make a good team.
I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books and E. A. Barres for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
I give this book 5 stars and recommend it to everyone that likes Mystery & Thrillers with badass leading females.
Deb and Cessy decide they want to know more about their husband's death and quickly regrets it when things take a wild and scary turn. Can they trust the cops or even can they trust each other?. Will they get their answers? Will things ever get back to normal for them?.
This book was so good. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Lots of twists and turns. I just kept reading because I wanted to know what happens next. I love the leading ladies they were so badass. The writer really did an awesome job on this novel. I really liked having 2 stories with 2 very different characters but yet so much the same and in the same situation. Cessy and Deb make a good team.
I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books and E. A. Barres for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
I give this book 5 stars and recommend it to everyone that likes Mystery & Thrillers with badass leading females.
November 10, 2020
They're Gone by E.A. Barres is a gritty mystery that is quite intriguing.
Deb Linh Thomas wakes up to discover her husband Grant did not come home the night before. Unfortunately two policemen show up at her door with the news that Grant has been murdered. The police believe his death is part of a recent string of unsolved killings. Deb is still reeling from her husband's death when an FBI agent informs her of the shocking details of why he was targeted. Stunned, she keeps this information from their nineteen year old daughter Kim. But as Deb soon discovers, the truth can only be concealed for so long when they are targeted by Grant's killers.
Bartender Cessy Castillo is not at all devastated by the news her husband Hector Rodriguez has been murdered. After he began regularly abusing her, she can barely remember the man she fell in love with. Cessy has an idea that Hector was involved in something shady before his death. When two men show up demanding she repay her deceased husband's outstanding loan, Cessy does not have the cash to give to them. While trying to uncover the truth about what Hector was involved with, she discovers shocking pictures. Cessy plans to use the photos as leverage to escape the thugs who are hounding her.
Cessy ends her estrangement with her brother Chris once she realizes how far in over her head she is. Once he arrives in town, their paths cross Deb's in the most unlikely set of circumstances. Realizing their husbands' deaths share more in common that the date they were both murdered, Deb, Chris and Cessy work together to bring down a shocking prostitution and blackmail ring. After deciding they need more help, will the police believe their bizarre story?
They're Gone is an action-packed mystery with a diverse set of characters. The storyline is well-executed but some of the secondary cast members are a bit one dimensional. With plenty of chilling twists and turns, E.A. Barres brings this brilliant woman-power mystery to an exciting conclusion. Fans of the genre will enjoy this engaging mystery.
Deb Linh Thomas wakes up to discover her husband Grant did not come home the night before. Unfortunately two policemen show up at her door with the news that Grant has been murdered. The police believe his death is part of a recent string of unsolved killings. Deb is still reeling from her husband's death when an FBI agent informs her of the shocking details of why he was targeted. Stunned, she keeps this information from their nineteen year old daughter Kim. But as Deb soon discovers, the truth can only be concealed for so long when they are targeted by Grant's killers.
Bartender Cessy Castillo is not at all devastated by the news her husband Hector Rodriguez has been murdered. After he began regularly abusing her, she can barely remember the man she fell in love with. Cessy has an idea that Hector was involved in something shady before his death. When two men show up demanding she repay her deceased husband's outstanding loan, Cessy does not have the cash to give to them. While trying to uncover the truth about what Hector was involved with, she discovers shocking pictures. Cessy plans to use the photos as leverage to escape the thugs who are hounding her.
Cessy ends her estrangement with her brother Chris once she realizes how far in over her head she is. Once he arrives in town, their paths cross Deb's in the most unlikely set of circumstances. Realizing their husbands' deaths share more in common that the date they were both murdered, Deb, Chris and Cessy work together to bring down a shocking prostitution and blackmail ring. After deciding they need more help, will the police believe their bizarre story?
They're Gone is an action-packed mystery with a diverse set of characters. The storyline is well-executed but some of the secondary cast members are a bit one dimensional. With plenty of chilling twists and turns, E.A. Barres brings this brilliant woman-power mystery to an exciting conclusion. Fans of the genre will enjoy this engaging mystery.
December 27, 2020
First book I have read by this author. About halfway through the book, the killer is revealed... but revealing the killer is only the first of serval things that makes this novel more than average. It's not a only a "whodunit" but also a "whydunit" and "whatdunit." It was a mix of good guys and bad guys and even worse guys causing the reader to kinda loose track of who is one which team. There are a lot of characters also but each one is well defined with their own purposes. On the good side there is a ton of diversity and the women well written and not make to look like "weeping willies" or silly, nervous Nellies. Well worth 4 stars.
October 24, 2020
Fast-paced! Twisted! Riveting! Exciting! Addictive! Not only is this a very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters, but the suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds. It was an artful melding of twisted psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense that kept me guessing the whole way! A MUST for your TBR list!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
December 21, 2020
This was an interesting thriller! Two men are murdered on the same night and their wives are left to pick up the pieces of their lives. Unfortunately the reasons the men were killed come back to impact their wives. One of the women is a suburban housewife and the other is a bartender with street smarts. They ultimately wind up being targeted by the same people who killed their husbands. This is a fast paced book and although it is a thriller there are elements of humour as well.
April 7, 2021
I finished in a day. Great suspense thriller. For fans of Long Bright River, Never Tell, and The Silent Wife.
January 15, 2021
Relentless pacing mixed with humor and richly-drawn characters. The premise - two women discover their husbands are murdered in the exact same manner - is very high concept and immediately drew me in. I enjoyed reading about the two women, Cessy and Deb, who are caught up in the aftermath of their husband's murders. They couldn't be more different but I loved them both. The villains were not cookie cutter and had their own quirks and pathos. Highly recommended for fans of dark, gritty thrillers.
September 13, 2020
Cessy and Deb live very diff lives, one lives as a bartender with an abusive husband, the other lives in an affluent suburb with her well off family. Their lives come crashing together when both their husbands are murdered! A little far fetched and draggy at times this book was still an enjoyable escapist read.
April 18, 2021
I didn’t care for this book. Probably just me.
September 7, 2020
2.6 rounded up 3 Stars
This is my first E.A. Barres novel but I am a big mystery fan so this caught my eye.
Story stars with two men from very different background and from different cities are both murdered on the same night in the same way but seem to have no connection.
Soon the story centers on how the wives relate to this situation, both wives Deb Thomas and Cessy Costello have nothing in common and are as different as their husbands. Deb is a homemaking in Northern Virginia and her husband Grant is a reputable businessman. Cessy is a bartender in a not so nice part of Baltimore and her husband Hector is a drunk, although Cessy is a bit confused by his death but is not sad, in fact pleased to rid of her abusive husband.
Deb and daughter Kim a college student are both devastated. Soon we find what the connection might be between the two husbands. The two wives meet to try to get to the bottom.
Although I was completed drawn in at first, I started to get distracted by incoming emails and dings alerting new Facebook messages. Not a good sign as my reading time is highly valued and I typically am not so easily distracted.
I did hang in there and it did get more interesting and exciting! Interesting characters, some likeable some not so much!
Want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this early release granted to me in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 10, 2020
This is my first E.A. Barres novel but I am a big mystery fan so this caught my eye.
Story stars with two men from very different background and from different cities are both murdered on the same night in the same way but seem to have no connection.
Soon the story centers on how the wives relate to this situation, both wives Deb Thomas and Cessy Costello have nothing in common and are as different as their husbands. Deb is a homemaking in Northern Virginia and her husband Grant is a reputable businessman. Cessy is a bartender in a not so nice part of Baltimore and her husband Hector is a drunk, although Cessy is a bit confused by his death but is not sad, in fact pleased to rid of her abusive husband.
Deb and daughter Kim a college student are both devastated. Soon we find what the connection might be between the two husbands. The two wives meet to try to get to the bottom.
Although I was completed drawn in at first, I started to get distracted by incoming emails and dings alerting new Facebook messages. Not a good sign as my reading time is highly valued and I typically am not so easily distracted.
I did hang in there and it did get more interesting and exciting! Interesting characters, some likeable some not so much!
Want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this early release granted to me in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 10, 2020
November 27, 2020
The first part of THEY’RE GONE, by E.A. Barres, is really good; the moment when the readers introduced to Deb and Cessy, their similar narratives intertwine after their husbands' deaths. I love the diversity of the characters.
There’s a twist that I wasn’t expecting that adds to this whodunit's tension. However, it’s the overall dialogue and actions of the characters that didn’t seem to meld, in my mind, creating a disconnect.
Though THEY’RE GONE didn’t tick off all the boxes for me, I look forward to reading what Barres comes up with next.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for loaning me an eGalley of THEY’RE GONE in exchange for an honest review.
There’s a twist that I wasn’t expecting that adds to this whodunit's tension. However, it’s the overall dialogue and actions of the characters that didn’t seem to meld, in my mind, creating a disconnect.
Though THEY’RE GONE didn’t tick off all the boxes for me, I look forward to reading what Barres comes up with next.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for loaning me an eGalley of THEY’RE GONE in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2020
This started out as an interesting concept, two women from different backgrounds both lose their husbands to gun violence. The backstory on the two protagonists unfolded easily and was a pretty good read for the first quarter of the novel. But as the story line developed, cracks started to appear. The blind trust that Deb showed, despite red flags, didn’t seem plausible. And 3/4 of the way in the plot just lost all steam. None of the decisions made by the characters made sense, the trust they put in others was misguided, and the end result wasn’t believable.
November 29, 2020
This book started out strong, with an interesting plot and sympathetic main characters. But it's as if one person wrote the first half, and another lessor author wrote the second. The book completely lost it's way about halfway through, and the ending was horrible.
January 19, 2021
I don't read a lot of thrillers but this writer, E.A. Aymer writing as E. A. Barres -- writes deep psychological thrillers set in the DC area (where I live now), and I wholeheartedly recommend his newest novel: THEY'RE GONE.
His writing reminds me of my other guilty pleasure thriller -crime writer George Pelecanos:
The Sweet Forever: The DC Quartet Series
But why read THEY'RE GONE by E.A. Barres as soon as you can (because you should read this page-turning thriller as soon as you can!)?
It's the story of two women from vastly different backgrounds -- Deb Thomas from wealthy Northern Virginia and Cessy Castillo from inner city Baltimore -- who both learn that their husbands are murdered -- and murdered with secrets that they didn't quite take to their grave. There are other particulars of their background that makes them real, complex characters. For example, Deb Thomas is a Vietnamese-American -- she was adopted as a child and feels very much an outsider in her well-to-do circles.
Both these women have choices that must be made -- and violence or the threat of it-- is always near. The killer -- unnamed, a mystery within a thriller-- circles them both in short, tightly written chapters -- always unnamed, but lurking.
However, the FBI is on the case, and soon their lives are intertwined. But I don't want to give any spoilers away.
The dialogue is sharp and smart. The descriptions spot on: "This was how the men reacted. An odd mix of wanting to be helpful and, underneath that surface, naked curiosity Like violence was a fire to which they were drawn."
I was drawn to this novel too! A perfect guilty pleasure 'escape the pandemic' read!!
--Caroline
His writing reminds me of my other guilty pleasure thriller -crime writer George Pelecanos:
The Sweet Forever: The DC Quartet Series
But why read THEY'RE GONE by E.A. Barres as soon as you can (because you should read this page-turning thriller as soon as you can!)?
It's the story of two women from vastly different backgrounds -- Deb Thomas from wealthy Northern Virginia and Cessy Castillo from inner city Baltimore -- who both learn that their husbands are murdered -- and murdered with secrets that they didn't quite take to their grave. There are other particulars of their background that makes them real, complex characters. For example, Deb Thomas is a Vietnamese-American -- she was adopted as a child and feels very much an outsider in her well-to-do circles.
Both these women have choices that must be made -- and violence or the threat of it-- is always near. The killer -- unnamed, a mystery within a thriller-- circles them both in short, tightly written chapters -- always unnamed, but lurking.
However, the FBI is on the case, and soon their lives are intertwined. But I don't want to give any spoilers away.
The dialogue is sharp and smart. The descriptions spot on: "This was how the men reacted. An odd mix of wanting to be helpful and, underneath that surface, naked curiosity Like violence was a fire to which they were drawn."
I was drawn to this novel too! A perfect guilty pleasure 'escape the pandemic' read!!
--Caroline
November 11, 2020
Two women’s husbands are shot in the same way on the same night. The deaths must be connected. Both are from vastly different backgrounds, but they find themselves working together to discover their husband’s secrets. If they can’t find out why the husbands were killed, they might be next.
I blew through this book. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. The story is fast paced with some great twists. I love a thriller that has shocking twists that don’t feel totally outlandish. This book felt believable to me.
I loved the women in this book. They’re all strong in different ways, and most of them are wonderfully sarcastic. We know I love a sarcastic MC. I cannot tell you the number of times their banter made me laugh out loud.
The cast of characters in this book are also diverse. We love to see it 👏🏻👏🏻. I enjoyed the mental wanderings of our main character Deb as she reflected on race and otherness in connection with how and where she grew up.
Disclaimer: this book deals a lot with sex workers and their abuse. They are referred to as prostitutes, which is not my favorite thing. I certainly don’t have all the facts, but word choice is important.
I really enjoyed this book. If you’re looking for a fast paced, gritty thriller with strong female MCs, definitely check out They’re Gone. It’s out now 🎉.
I blew through this book. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. The story is fast paced with some great twists. I love a thriller that has shocking twists that don’t feel totally outlandish. This book felt believable to me.
I loved the women in this book. They’re all strong in different ways, and most of them are wonderfully sarcastic. We know I love a sarcastic MC. I cannot tell you the number of times their banter made me laugh out loud.
The cast of characters in this book are also diverse. We love to see it 👏🏻👏🏻. I enjoyed the mental wanderings of our main character Deb as she reflected on race and otherness in connection with how and where she grew up.
Disclaimer: this book deals a lot with sex workers and their abuse. They are referred to as prostitutes, which is not my favorite thing. I certainly don’t have all the facts, but word choice is important.
I really enjoyed this book. If you’re looking for a fast paced, gritty thriller with strong female MCs, definitely check out They’re Gone. It’s out now 🎉.
January 15, 2021
This book was an amazing nail biter of a book. The action, once started, does not stop until done. It was a wonderful book.
Two women's husbands are murdered on the same night in the same way--and their investigation uncovers a terrifying connection.
Two men from vastly different backgrounds are murdered one after another on the same night, in the same fashion with two bullet wounds: one in the head, another in the heart. The two slayings sends their wives on a desperate search for answers--and a desperate attempt to save their families' lives.
Grief takes a heavy toll on northern Virginia freelance editor Deb Linh Thomas when she learns of her husband's murder. And utter dismay sets in when, just a week after the funeral, she discovers that he had been the subject of an FBI investigation after withdrawing a large sum of money from their shared accounts.
Elsewhere, Baltimore bartender Cessy Castillo is less bereft when her abusive husband, ex-cop Hector Ramirez, is killed. But it turns out that he was deep in hock--and now Cessy's expected to pay up.
Deb and the FBI agent assigned to her case start digging into her husband's murder and learn that he had been the target of criminals. As Deb and Cessy join forces to learn the truth, their investigation reveals an ever-darker web of clues, but if they're not careful, they may just end up like their husbands.
Two women's husbands are murdered on the same night in the same way--and their investigation uncovers a terrifying connection.
Two men from vastly different backgrounds are murdered one after another on the same night, in the same fashion with two bullet wounds: one in the head, another in the heart. The two slayings sends their wives on a desperate search for answers--and a desperate attempt to save their families' lives.
Grief takes a heavy toll on northern Virginia freelance editor Deb Linh Thomas when she learns of her husband's murder. And utter dismay sets in when, just a week after the funeral, she discovers that he had been the subject of an FBI investigation after withdrawing a large sum of money from their shared accounts.
Elsewhere, Baltimore bartender Cessy Castillo is less bereft when her abusive husband, ex-cop Hector Ramirez, is killed. But it turns out that he was deep in hock--and now Cessy's expected to pay up.
Deb and the FBI agent assigned to her case start digging into her husband's murder and learn that he had been the target of criminals. As Deb and Cessy join forces to learn the truth, their investigation reveals an ever-darker web of clues, but if they're not careful, they may just end up like their husbands.
November 9, 2020
Two seemingly opposite women become forced into the same bloody fight when both of their husband’s are murdered on the same night.
Deb is a suburban wife, still reeling from the unexpected murder of her strait-laced husband. Cessy, a bartender working to make ends meet, is relieved by the murder of her abusive husband. Yet, these women have something very important in common. Rotating between Deb and Cessy, readers are thrust into the minds of two diversely different women.
As a reader, I always find it curious when male writers attempt to take on women’s issues. Author, E.A. Barre, successfully pulls off this feat, not only capturing the thoughts of women but adequately portraying their unique fears and insecurities as he ensnares the female mind in his creation of complex, layered women of color.
While the storyline seemed far fetched at times, They’re Gone wrapped smoothly, albeit disturbingly, as Deb and Cessy race against time to secure their safety and security from the decisions made by their husbands. Set in the MD/VA/DC triangle, They’re Gone is a captivating read, full of lies, deceit and murder.
*Disclaimer: a review copy was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Deb is a suburban wife, still reeling from the unexpected murder of her strait-laced husband. Cessy, a bartender working to make ends meet, is relieved by the murder of her abusive husband. Yet, these women have something very important in common. Rotating between Deb and Cessy, readers are thrust into the minds of two diversely different women.
As a reader, I always find it curious when male writers attempt to take on women’s issues. Author, E.A. Barre, successfully pulls off this feat, not only capturing the thoughts of women but adequately portraying their unique fears and insecurities as he ensnares the female mind in his creation of complex, layered women of color.
While the storyline seemed far fetched at times, They’re Gone wrapped smoothly, albeit disturbingly, as Deb and Cessy race against time to secure their safety and security from the decisions made by their husbands. Set in the MD/VA/DC triangle, They’re Gone is a captivating read, full of lies, deceit and murder.
*Disclaimer: a review copy was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
April 17, 2021
Fun and twisty thriller. I like that the main characters are Vietnamese-American and Hispanic women. I half-expected the twist, but the reveal about how powerful the big bad was surprised me. The ending felt kinda anticlimactic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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