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Gone in the Night
A twisty and compelling thriller perfect for fans of C L Taylor, K L Slater and B A Paris. Some secrets are deadly...
When the victim of a car crash begs journalist Alex Devlin for help before disappearing without trace, Alex finds herself caught up in a mystery that won't let her go.
Determined to find the missing man, she is soon investigating a conspiracy that threatens some of the most vulnerable members of society.
But will Alex be prepared to put her own life on the line to help those who can't help themselves?
When the victim of a car crash begs journalist Alex Devlin for help before disappearing without trace, Alex finds herself caught up in a mystery that won't let her go.
Determined to find the missing man, she is soon investigating a conspiracy that threatens some of the most vulnerable members of society.
But will Alex be prepared to put her own life on the line to help those who can't help themselves?
322 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2019
21 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Mary-Jane Riley
7 books45 followersMary-Jane wrote her first story on her newly acquired blue Petite typewriter. She was eight. It was about a gang of children who had adventures on mysterious islands, but she soon realised Enid Blyton had cornered that particular market. So she wrote about the Wild West instead. When she grew up she had to earn a living, and became a BBC radio talk show presenter and journalist. She has covered many life-affirming stories, but also some of the darkest events of the past two decades.
Then, in true journalistic style, she decided not to let the facts get in the way of a good story and got creative. She wrote for women’s magazines and small presses. She formed WriteOutLoud with two writer friends to help charities get their message across using their life stories. Now she is writing psychological suspense, drawing on her experiences in journalism. She has three grown-up children and lives in Suffolk with a golden retriever and her television journalist husband.
Then, in true journalistic style, she decided not to let the facts get in the way of a good story and got creative. She wrote for women’s magazines and small presses. She formed WriteOutLoud with two writer friends to help charities get their message across using their life stories. Now she is writing psychological suspense, drawing on her experiences in journalism. She has three grown-up children and lives in Suffolk with a golden retriever and her television journalist husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 20, 2023
This is the fourth novel in a series featuring investigative reporter Alex Devlin, although the first I’ve read. I found it easy to warm to the conscientious yet impulsive Alex. A chance encounter with an injured man when she is walking home from a party sets her on the trail of discovering what is happening to homeless people in Norwich who keep disappearing.
I often get special pleasure from reading novels set in my home region of East Anglia. Most of the action here alternates between Norwich and the fictional coastal town of Gisford (loosely based on Orford). Much of the farmland around here is owned by the distinctly unpleasant Rider family, including a small island off the coast which locals claim to be haunted. Alex begins to suspect the truth could be more prosaic, yet equally horrifying.
This is a well structured and plotted novel which was easy and pleasurable to read. The twists and turns and shocking revelations come thick and fast in the final chapters. I certainly wouldn’t mind reading Alex’s other adventures.
I often get special pleasure from reading novels set in my home region of East Anglia. Most of the action here alternates between Norwich and the fictional coastal town of Gisford (loosely based on Orford). Much of the farmland around here is owned by the distinctly unpleasant Rider family, including a small island off the coast which locals claim to be haunted. Alex begins to suspect the truth could be more prosaic, yet equally horrifying.
This is a well structured and plotted novel which was easy and pleasurable to read. The twists and turns and shocking revelations come thick and fast in the final chapters. I certainly wouldn’t mind reading Alex’s other adventures.
May 3, 2019
Gone in the Night is a superb slow-burn of a thriller with an interesting, absorbing plot. It's a well-plotted story, and although this is the fourth in the series each can be picked individually without issue. Something about the way Riley writes has a certain allure which draws you in and refuses to let you go. Many thought-provoking questions arise throughout and hang in the air until they are addressed and answered in the conclusion. On the journey towards the climax, the tension was palpable and the suspense ratcheted up until I was feverishly turning the pages to find out what happened.
The characters deepen over the course of the novel and are likeable and believable people. This is an entertaining page-turner, and I was surprised by the amount of genuinely raw emotion the author added. The various different perspectives, each attributed to a single character, help you to see the bigger picture as well as having a deeper understanding of what made them tick. This is one of those books that has you skeptical about every single character and you never knew who to trust. The ending is satisfying but maybe a little contrived and convenient. Nevertheless, this is a thriller worth picking up. Many thanks to Killer Reads for an ARC.
The characters deepen over the course of the novel and are likeable and believable people. This is an entertaining page-turner, and I was surprised by the amount of genuinely raw emotion the author added. The various different perspectives, each attributed to a single character, help you to see the bigger picture as well as having a deeper understanding of what made them tick. This is one of those books that has you skeptical about every single character and you never knew who to trust. The ending is satisfying but maybe a little contrived and convenient. Nevertheless, this is a thriller worth picking up. Many thanks to Killer Reads for an ARC.
May 29, 2019
With thanks to Netgalley and Killer Reads for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
Journalist Alex Devlin was walking home from a charity party when she came across a car accident on a country road. A Land Rover had crashed into a tree and inside was a severely injured man. Alex dialled for an ambulance, and the man gave her the telephone number for Cora his sister. Shortly afterwards two men drove by and said they would give drive him to hospital.
Worried Alex rang all her local hospitals and told no crash victims had been admitted. Alex rang her friend DI Sam Slater to check for the crashed vehicle but it had disappeared. Sensing a story Alex rang Cora, Cora explained that her brother Rick had gone missing weeks earlier and she was trying to find him. Rick had been deployed to Afghanistan where he suffered PTSD after a bomb. When he returned to the UK he became homeless after breaking up with his wife.
Alex found out that a number of homeless people had gone missing from Norwich in recent months. She visited a charity called Fight for the Homeless who ran a drop in centre. The owner David claimed not to know where Rick had gone but he was lying.
Can Alex fight police corruption and the establishment to find Rick?
This is 2nd book I have read in the Alex Devlin series. Although this is book 4 it was quite easy to catch up with the characters again.
The plot was interesting, with short chapters to entice me to read just one more.
I liked Alex who stood by her sister when she was unwell. Alex is a good friend and cares about the people she writes about. However she is not above putting herself in danger to get to the truth.
Rick`s story in Afghanistan as a soldier was sad. A lot of ex soldiers come back to the UK suffering from PTSD. The scenes where Rick was running across country to escape his captors, was so vivid it actually left me exhausted.
Gone in the Night was a fairly decent read. I will make sure I will read Dark Waters to find out what happened in Alex`s last job.
May 1, 2019
When I started this book I was confused. The first three chapters focused on each introducing a different situation. And I wondered what these three characters had to do with one other and if I could easily follow what was going on.
Around chapter five I found the storylines converging and then it made so much more sense to me. So, don’t give up on reading this one if you get confused in the beginning. The main character started to pull forward and we followed Alex most of the time through the trials of the book only occasionally waffling toward Cora and her missing homeless brother, Rick.
I am not sure any normal person would have gone to such an extent to find Rick after he went missing, Even his sister didn’t go to such lengths. I found it a little unbelievable that there were so many bad guys in this one town. I mean, really? It really felt like a hopeless situation.
This book really made me feel all the feels. And the dramatic ending is just one OMG moment after another. I may have started out unsure of this book but it gave it all to me by the end. It is a great book. Psychological thriller, suspense and mystery all combined in a great tale.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
Around chapter five I found the storylines converging and then it made so much more sense to me. So, don’t give up on reading this one if you get confused in the beginning. The main character started to pull forward and we followed Alex most of the time through the trials of the book only occasionally waffling toward Cora and her missing homeless brother, Rick.
I am not sure any normal person would have gone to such an extent to find Rick after he went missing, Even his sister didn’t go to such lengths. I found it a little unbelievable that there were so many bad guys in this one town. I mean, really? It really felt like a hopeless situation.
This book really made me feel all the feels. And the dramatic ending is just one OMG moment after another. I may have started out unsure of this book but it gave it all to me by the end. It is a great book. Psychological thriller, suspense and mystery all combined in a great tale.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
October 22, 2019
Gone in the Night - Mary -Jane Riley 📖 An intriguing read from start to finish as journalist, Alex Devlin investigates the disappearance of homeless people. It was very easy reading with a suspenseful and intense build up to the end with a few plot plot twists that I didn’t see coming. The characters were likeable and pulled on my emotions and kept me turning the pages. I look forward to reading more of Mary-Jane Riley’s work. It is available from May 3rd.
May 13, 2019
A fast-paced mystery with likeable viewpoint characters. It deals with the issue of homelessness in a thought-provoking and sympathetic way. The setting of Norfolk and Suffolk in winter is so well depicted, you can feel the east wind blowing off every page.
Although it's the fourth Alex Devlin story, it can be read as a standalone.
Although it's the fourth Alex Devlin story, it can be read as a standalone.
May 21, 2019
I have been a fan of Mary-Jane Riley since the moment I picked up the first book to feature Alex Devlin called ‘The Bad Things’. It was released in 2015. Since then Mary-Jane Riley has gone on to release another three books in the series, the latest of which is called ‘Gone In The Night’ and it was released on 3rd May 2019. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Well ladies and gents, I did get my hands on a copy and I can confirm that it really is a fantastic read. I loved it but more about that in a bit.
What can I say about Alex Devlin? For starters, she is a journalist who has a knack for solving complicated mysteries. She gets the answers that others can only dream of getting. She is smart, tenacious, stubborn, nosy, determined and she is like a dog with a bone in the sense that once she has decided on a course of action then she won’t be dissuaded. She will not hesitate to investigate an incident or mystery until she has found the answer or until her curiosity has been satisfied. On occasion she has become far too involved in cases and she often finds herself in some sort of danger. I couldn’t help but take to Alex from the start but then I have liked her all the way through the series. In fact by the time I got through a couple of chapters of the book, I began to think of her as a very good friend and naturally I felt very defensive and protective of her. If I could have jumped inside the pages of the book to sort out whoever was upsetting her or to just help her with her latest investigation, then I would have done.
Oh my goodness, ‘Gone In The Night’ has to be my favourite book of the series so far. The Alex Devlin series just gets better and better. I became addicted to reading this book by the time I got to the bottom of the first page. I was constantly like an addict in need of my next fix. If I had to put the book down for any length of time, then I would immediately look forward to the moment I could pick the book back up again. In fact I found every excuse in the book to avoid having to put the book down, which didn’t go down well with my two Labradors who had the nerve to want a walk or for me to play with them! Whilst I was reading ‘Gone In The Night’, I noticed neither the speed with which the time was passing nor the speed with which the pages were turning. In fact the world could have ended and I wouldn’t have known anything about it.
As with Mary-Jane’s other books, ‘Gone In The Night’ is brilliantly written. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and she dangles enough bait to encourage you to read on and on. Mary-Jane Riley uses such realistic and powerful descriptions that I really felt as though I was part of the story myself and that the characters were just as real as you or I. I became far too involved in this book and I even began to interact with it in the sense that I would randomly talk out loud to the book as if I thought the characters could hear me.
Reading ‘Gone In The Night’ was much like being on a tense, dramatic, scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I smugly thought that I had worked out who was doing what and why only to be thrown a curveball and I was sent down another path entirely.
In short, Mary-Jane Riley has done it again and she has written a book that is sure to soar in the bestsellers chart. The series featuring Alex Devlin goes from strength to strength. I can’t wait to read what Mary-Jane Riley comes up with next. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. I definitely recommend that you pick up one of her books as I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
What can I say about Alex Devlin? For starters, she is a journalist who has a knack for solving complicated mysteries. She gets the answers that others can only dream of getting. She is smart, tenacious, stubborn, nosy, determined and she is like a dog with a bone in the sense that once she has decided on a course of action then she won’t be dissuaded. She will not hesitate to investigate an incident or mystery until she has found the answer or until her curiosity has been satisfied. On occasion she has become far too involved in cases and she often finds herself in some sort of danger. I couldn’t help but take to Alex from the start but then I have liked her all the way through the series. In fact by the time I got through a couple of chapters of the book, I began to think of her as a very good friend and naturally I felt very defensive and protective of her. If I could have jumped inside the pages of the book to sort out whoever was upsetting her or to just help her with her latest investigation, then I would have done.
Oh my goodness, ‘Gone In The Night’ has to be my favourite book of the series so far. The Alex Devlin series just gets better and better. I became addicted to reading this book by the time I got to the bottom of the first page. I was constantly like an addict in need of my next fix. If I had to put the book down for any length of time, then I would immediately look forward to the moment I could pick the book back up again. In fact I found every excuse in the book to avoid having to put the book down, which didn’t go down well with my two Labradors who had the nerve to want a walk or for me to play with them! Whilst I was reading ‘Gone In The Night’, I noticed neither the speed with which the time was passing nor the speed with which the pages were turning. In fact the world could have ended and I wouldn’t have known anything about it.
As with Mary-Jane’s other books, ‘Gone In The Night’ is brilliantly written. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and she dangles enough bait to encourage you to read on and on. Mary-Jane Riley uses such realistic and powerful descriptions that I really felt as though I was part of the story myself and that the characters were just as real as you or I. I became far too involved in this book and I even began to interact with it in the sense that I would randomly talk out loud to the book as if I thought the characters could hear me.
Reading ‘Gone In The Night’ was much like being on a tense, dramatic, scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I smugly thought that I had worked out who was doing what and why only to be thrown a curveball and I was sent down another path entirely.
In short, Mary-Jane Riley has done it again and she has written a book that is sure to soar in the bestsellers chart. The series featuring Alex Devlin goes from strength to strength. I can’t wait to read what Mary-Jane Riley comes up with next. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. I definitely recommend that you pick up one of her books as I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
May 18, 2019
I received a Netgalley copy of this book. Opinions shared are mine.
I struggled to get through the first third of this book. It was confusing to switch characters, as well as days/times. Not having read the previous 3 books, I wasn't invested in the Alex Devlin character for most of the story. I considered giving up on the book, but pushed through, and I"m glad because this was a decent suspense novel. Though it was pretty easy to figure out what was going on by the 50% mark, it was interesting to see how the author tied together the various strands of the mystery.
I think this would make a great TV series. The story reminded me a little of the Fiona Barton novels involving journalist Kate Waters. This book had a lot more profanity, which I didn't like, and the subject matter was quite dark.
Though this can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading them in order so that the minor details of the story make sense. I liked Gone in the Night enough to read books #1-3 in the series at some point.
I struggled to get through the first third of this book. It was confusing to switch characters, as well as days/times. Not having read the previous 3 books, I wasn't invested in the Alex Devlin character for most of the story. I considered giving up on the book, but pushed through, and I"m glad because this was a decent suspense novel. Though it was pretty easy to figure out what was going on by the 50% mark, it was interesting to see how the author tied together the various strands of the mystery.
I think this would make a great TV series. The story reminded me a little of the Fiona Barton novels involving journalist Kate Waters. This book had a lot more profanity, which I didn't like, and the subject matter was quite dark.
Though this can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading them in order so that the minor details of the story make sense. I liked Gone in the Night enough to read books #1-3 in the series at some point.
February 3, 2020
Accidentally read this as the first book in the series when my kindle kindly mixed these two up - not sure how, but that’s for another time.
The 4th in the Alex Devlin series, focuses on Alex discovering a number of homeless people have gone missing, and no one seems to care, except Alex and the sister of one of the kissing, Cora.
It’s predictable enough, with not enough explained (why did Alex actually confide in the people she did), but it was a good, fast paced story
The 4th in the Alex Devlin series, focuses on Alex discovering a number of homeless people have gone missing, and no one seems to care, except Alex and the sister of one of the kissing, Cora.
It’s predictable enough, with not enough explained (why did Alex actually confide in the people she did), but it was a good, fast paced story
May 8, 2019
#4 In The Alex Devin series but can easily be read as a stand-alone.
Set in Norwich and Cora is searching for her brother, Rick…..he lives on the streets, but he’s missing and no-one has seen him since he talked to two men about a job….
There are also other missing homeless people, but the police believe they have just moved on…
Alex Devlin, a journalist, is at an event hosted by the Rider family, when after a ‘disagreement ‘ with her companion, David, decides to walk home….
She comes across a car accident and the wounded victim passes her a pieces of paper, as another car pulls up and the two men say they will take him to hospital….!
Alex tries to find the injured man, but no hospital has any record of him, so she calls the person on the piece of paper…..Cora !
Told in chapters day by day from each of the characters perspectives, which give the reader a great way to get all sides of the same story…it also shows how the homeless are invisible to society and the lack of support for those that need it….tragic and emotive.
Alex is certainly driven, she has a need for the truth and will not just let it lie….a great character, a strong, independent woman….I found myself totally gripped by this twisty, immersive thriller…..just what was the job Rick had been given? Why did he have to escape? Why don’t the police link the disappearances to the bodies being found ?
I can thoroughly recommend this for lovers of a psychological thriller with an emotional heart…
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Set in Norwich and Cora is searching for her brother, Rick…..he lives on the streets, but he’s missing and no-one has seen him since he talked to two men about a job….
There are also other missing homeless people, but the police believe they have just moved on…
Alex Devlin, a journalist, is at an event hosted by the Rider family, when after a ‘disagreement ‘ with her companion, David, decides to walk home….
She comes across a car accident and the wounded victim passes her a pieces of paper, as another car pulls up and the two men say they will take him to hospital….!
Alex tries to find the injured man, but no hospital has any record of him, so she calls the person on the piece of paper…..Cora !
Told in chapters day by day from each of the characters perspectives, which give the reader a great way to get all sides of the same story…it also shows how the homeless are invisible to society and the lack of support for those that need it….tragic and emotive.
Alex is certainly driven, she has a need for the truth and will not just let it lie….a great character, a strong, independent woman….I found myself totally gripped by this twisty, immersive thriller…..just what was the job Rick had been given? Why did he have to escape? Why don’t the police link the disappearances to the bodies being found ?
I can thoroughly recommend this for lovers of a psychological thriller with an emotional heart…
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
May 10, 2019
I read the first two of the Alex Devlin books a couple of years ago and throughly enjoyed them (I really must go back and read Dark Waters). So I was thrilled to be heading back to East Anglia and being re-immersed into Alex’s world.
Alex has got herself into a right pickle (again) looking for a missing man. Is he a man who wants to be found or is he a man who others want to disappear? Her friendly police detective Sam Slater desperately wants to help but the obvious right constraints of the stretched police force prevents his full help.
As Jamie Rider states, Alex is tenacious. Once something is on her radar, she won’t let go until shes satisfied it’s sorted. This invariably gets her in the firing line. I love her as a character and it’s a refreshing change to have what is a kind of police procedural crime thriller headed up by someone who is not really connected to the police force.
Mary-Jane Riley picks social topics as her backdrop and easily interweaves them into her stories. In this book, she introduces the plight of discharged armed forces personnel particularly the struggle to reinsert themselves into society but with a twist.
Gone In The Night, despite being part of a series, can be read as a stand alone story; saying that I would recommend reading The Bad Things, the first Alex Devlin book to get a full appreciation of some of the background. I really enjoyed following Alex on her latest crusade and hope to be returning to her part of East Anglia before long!
Alex has got herself into a right pickle (again) looking for a missing man. Is he a man who wants to be found or is he a man who others want to disappear? Her friendly police detective Sam Slater desperately wants to help but the obvious right constraints of the stretched police force prevents his full help.
As Jamie Rider states, Alex is tenacious. Once something is on her radar, she won’t let go until shes satisfied it’s sorted. This invariably gets her in the firing line. I love her as a character and it’s a refreshing change to have what is a kind of police procedural crime thriller headed up by someone who is not really connected to the police force.
Mary-Jane Riley picks social topics as her backdrop and easily interweaves them into her stories. In this book, she introduces the plight of discharged armed forces personnel particularly the struggle to reinsert themselves into society but with a twist.
Gone In The Night, despite being part of a series, can be read as a stand alone story; saying that I would recommend reading The Bad Things, the first Alex Devlin book to get a full appreciation of some of the background. I really enjoyed following Alex on her latest crusade and hope to be returning to her part of East Anglia before long!
May 21, 2019
A well written and captivating psychological thriller just the way I like them.
The kind you want to keep reading to find out more.
Fast paced, keeps you turning the pages until the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The kind you want to keep reading to find out more.
Fast paced, keeps you turning the pages until the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 1, 2019
From the publisher: "When the victim of a car crash begs journalist Alex Devlin for help before disappearing without trace, Alex finds herself caught up in a mystery that won’t let her go.
Determined to find the missing man, she is soon investigating a conspiracy that threatens some of the most vulnerable members of society.
But will Alex be prepared to put her own life on the line to help those who can’t help themselves?"
This was a fast-paced thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed. Once again, I chose to read a series out of order. This was my first in the Alex Devlin series, and my first by this author, but I am pretty sure it will not be my last.
The story begins with several story lines, setting the stage for our main characters' convergence. Throughout the novel, we see the story through the eyes of several characters. The author succeeds in making each voice unique and I did not question whose story I was hearing at any given time. Most of the chapters were short, but they stayed focused on one character at a time which made the story accessible and kept this reader wanting more.
The mystery was present, but I found the thriller aspects were much better well done. I did not particularly find there to be a lot of suspects, but hunting down the killer or killers and stopping them sooner rather than later felt urgent. Another reviewer mentioned the cat-and-mouse game in this book, and I wholeheartedly agree with that characterization.
I am not good at geography in general. I do recognize this book took place in the UK somewhere, but not in London. I did not find the exact location to be required knowledge to enjoy the story. There was some vocabulary in the book with which I was unfamiliar and I do believe it is English slang which has not yet made it over the pond (at least not yet to me). I also kept in mind that the word f*ck is not viewed as offensive in the UK as it can be here in the US, so I overlooked the liberal use of the word. Not that it was out of place, the characters generally used it in appropriate places and ways for their situations.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-copy of this book.
Determined to find the missing man, she is soon investigating a conspiracy that threatens some of the most vulnerable members of society.
But will Alex be prepared to put her own life on the line to help those who can’t help themselves?"
This was a fast-paced thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed. Once again, I chose to read a series out of order. This was my first in the Alex Devlin series, and my first by this author, but I am pretty sure it will not be my last.
The story begins with several story lines, setting the stage for our main characters' convergence. Throughout the novel, we see the story through the eyes of several characters. The author succeeds in making each voice unique and I did not question whose story I was hearing at any given time. Most of the chapters were short, but they stayed focused on one character at a time which made the story accessible and kept this reader wanting more.
The mystery was present, but I found the thriller aspects were much better well done. I did not particularly find there to be a lot of suspects, but hunting down the killer or killers and stopping them sooner rather than later felt urgent. Another reviewer mentioned the cat-and-mouse game in this book, and I wholeheartedly agree with that characterization.
I am not good at geography in general. I do recognize this book took place in the UK somewhere, but not in London. I did not find the exact location to be required knowledge to enjoy the story. There was some vocabulary in the book with which I was unfamiliar and I do believe it is English slang which has not yet made it over the pond (at least not yet to me). I also kept in mind that the word f*ck is not viewed as offensive in the UK as it can be here in the US, so I overlooked the liberal use of the word. Not that it was out of place, the characters generally used it in appropriate places and ways for their situations.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-copy of this book.
May 5, 2019
Despite being book four in a series I read Gone in the Night as a Stand alone and it works perfectly well. I assume the advantage of reading them in order is how much you learn about the main character of Alex Devlin.
Although Alex is the main protagonist, I felt this book gave equal time to Cora, a young woman searching for her homeless brother who seems to have disappeared, along with other homeless people. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about two strong, main female characters working together. This book really raised some thoughts for me around homelessness. Specifically around how do we keep the most vulnerable members of our society safe if we don't know where they are and who they are?
The story itself was told from three main perspectives although we do get an occasional other view e.g. the police officer. In the beginning, each person and their stories seemed disconnected but as the novel went on, each person and their narrative became woven together, building from a slow burner opening to a fast paced ending. Each chapter draws you further in until you become totally invested in the stories of Ricky, Cora and Alex. Alex's story provided the investigative, logical mind. Cora's was the heart and soul of the story, a determined sister who wouldn't give up the search despite the risks and Ricky's chapters provided the heart stopping suspense and the missing pieces. Ms Riley has written all three characters with such strong qualities that you become totally involved.
A brilliant and thought provoking crime thriller.
Although Alex is the main protagonist, I felt this book gave equal time to Cora, a young woman searching for her homeless brother who seems to have disappeared, along with other homeless people. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about two strong, main female characters working together. This book really raised some thoughts for me around homelessness. Specifically around how do we keep the most vulnerable members of our society safe if we don't know where they are and who they are?
The story itself was told from three main perspectives although we do get an occasional other view e.g. the police officer. In the beginning, each person and their stories seemed disconnected but as the novel went on, each person and their narrative became woven together, building from a slow burner opening to a fast paced ending. Each chapter draws you further in until you become totally invested in the stories of Ricky, Cora and Alex. Alex's story provided the investigative, logical mind. Cora's was the heart and soul of the story, a determined sister who wouldn't give up the search despite the risks and Ricky's chapters provided the heart stopping suspense and the missing pieces. Ms Riley has written all three characters with such strong qualities that you become totally involved.
A brilliant and thought provoking crime thriller.
April 28, 2019
A very enjoyable read with a few good twists. This is part of a series of books about journalist Alex Devlin, in this book she finds herself stumbling into what she believes will be a touching story about homelessness but it soon turns out to be so much more! Alex is a very likeable character who is extremely determined to get to the truth. I look forward to reading Mary-Jane Riley’s previous books. Publication date 3rd May.
May 9, 2019
Although the 4th in the series, I read this comfortably as a standalone. I enjoyed the structure of the novel which followed different characters and gives us what they are doing concurrently, with parallel chapters. There are some serious issues beneath the plot. You see how easy it is for people to disappear when they are homeless and jobless. They become invisible to society. As an ex-serviceman, Rick has struggled to adjust to life back home after a traumatic experience.
There are some ruthless characters portrayed and you really admire Alex's tenacity and her courage in investigating just what is going on. This is a well-paced novel which leads you at just the right speed through the story and which keeps you turning those pages. Rick, Cora and Alex all contrast each other and there is a great variety in their respective chapters as you see their different motivations. This is a very accessible read, with great characters and some surprises along the way.
In short: Suspense is threaded throughout this well structured read.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.
There are some ruthless characters portrayed and you really admire Alex's tenacity and her courage in investigating just what is going on. This is a well-paced novel which leads you at just the right speed through the story and which keeps you turning those pages. Rick, Cora and Alex all contrast each other and there is a great variety in their respective chapters as you see their different motivations. This is a very accessible read, with great characters and some surprises along the way.
In short: Suspense is threaded throughout this well structured read.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.
April 22, 2019
In this thriller we find a homeless man has gone missing and his sister and a journalist go looking for him. Along the way Alex, the journalist, finds herself caught up in the web of a wealthy, influential family with secrets they wish to keep hidden. Cora, the sister, grew up on the wealthy families farm and has a history of her own she's dealing with. After learning the missing brother has been spotted but is being chased by two men the hunt intensifies. Who will get to him first, the two ladies trying to help him or the goons hell-bent on capturing him before he can talk about the things he knows.
I enjoyed this fast paced thriller and although it's the fourth book in the series I found it does well as a stand alone story. A credit to the author for fleshing out the characters with her easy, descriptive style. I highly recommend this crafty cat and mouse novel.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC to enjoy and review.
I enjoyed this fast paced thriller and although it's the fourth book in the series I found it does well as a stand alone story. A credit to the author for fleshing out the characters with her easy, descriptive style. I highly recommend this crafty cat and mouse novel.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC to enjoy and review.
June 12, 2019
To start with, this book really confused me. I found myself a little lost while trying to follow the start of the story. I wondered if it was to do with the fact that I haven't read any of the other books in the series - but it all started to come together around chapter 5 - so if you find yourself a little lost, don't give up! Once you power through and get a little further in it starts to make a bit more sense.
In fact, I found I didn't really need to have read the other 3 books in the series in order to understand what was going on, although I will admit I think it would be worth tackling them first in order to fully understand the main character.
This book is a great mix of mystery, thriller and suspense, with the ending hitting again and again and again in such dramatic ways.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in this review are all my own.
In fact, I found I didn't really need to have read the other 3 books in the series in order to understand what was going on, although I will admit I think it would be worth tackling them first in order to fully understand the main character.
This book is a great mix of mystery, thriller and suspense, with the ending hitting again and again and again in such dramatic ways.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in this review are all my own.
April 26, 2019
I'll admit that the first 5% of the book I wasn't sure it was for me and then it all changed so suddenly, I got super sucked in to the story and loved every moment. The book is set over the course of a week and the chapters switch between a couple of characters perspective which I really enjoyed.
It's the sort of book that makes you suspicious of all of the characters but keeps you on your toes because it's so well written and has so many twists that I bet you won't get it right with your first guess or your tenth. Despite having numerous twist and turns and little plot lines going on, it ties up all the loose ends so well too, I can't think of anything that the author left unanswered which is brilliant.
I'll definitely be on the look out for all other books Mary-Jane Riley has written!
It's the sort of book that makes you suspicious of all of the characters but keeps you on your toes because it's so well written and has so many twists that I bet you won't get it right with your first guess or your tenth. Despite having numerous twist and turns and little plot lines going on, it ties up all the loose ends so well too, I can't think of anything that the author left unanswered which is brilliant.
I'll definitely be on the look out for all other books Mary-Jane Riley has written!
June 11, 2019
"Gone in the Night" is book four in the 'Alex Devlin' series but not having read books 1-3, I read this as a stand-alone without feeling that I was missing anything.
Set in Norwich, this super thriller was told in chapters, day by day, from each of the characters' perspectives. I loved this as it gave me the opportunity to see all sides of the same story.
The author, Mary-Jane Riley, had drawn an excellent character in Alex who I found to be very driven, focused and independent. I was totally gripped by this twisty, immersive and tragic thriller.
I can thoroughly recommend this those who are fond of a highly emotive psychological thriller.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Harper Impulse Killer Reads via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Set in Norwich, this super thriller was told in chapters, day by day, from each of the characters' perspectives. I loved this as it gave me the opportunity to see all sides of the same story.
The author, Mary-Jane Riley, had drawn an excellent character in Alex who I found to be very driven, focused and independent. I was totally gripped by this twisty, immersive and tragic thriller.
I can thoroughly recommend this those who are fond of a highly emotive psychological thriller.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Harper Impulse Killer Reads via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
August 13, 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟
How have I never read this Annalisa Vega series before? This is the fifth book, but I was able to jump in right away.
Annalisa helped put her brother in prison but then asks her help in solving an old case. Love the twists and turns and Annalisa is a very likable character.
I definitely will be going back to read the first four stories. I can’t wait for the sixth book! Many thanks to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#GoneInTheNight #JoannaSchaffhausen #StMartinsPress #Thriller #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #MinotaurBools
How have I never read this Annalisa Vega series before? This is the fifth book, but I was able to jump in right away.
Annalisa helped put her brother in prison but then asks her help in solving an old case. Love the twists and turns and Annalisa is a very likable character.
I definitely will be going back to read the first four stories. I can’t wait for the sixth book! Many thanks to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#GoneInTheNight #JoannaSchaffhausen #StMartinsPress #Thriller #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #MinotaurBools
April 30, 2019
This is the first time I have read a book by Mary-Jane Riley. The author uses different view points from different characters in the story. Readers will not be trusting any of the characters even Ale as the story moves forward. Page after page will have readers questioning who is who. The author uses twist and turns to confusing readers. Readers will end the story having it all tied up in a nice little bow.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Killer Reads for the advance copy of Mary Jane Riley Gone in the Night.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Killer Reads for the advance copy of Mary Jane Riley Gone in the Night.
July 24, 2019
My first book by the author and although is #4 in the series I could easily read it in a few hours and understand where everyone's coming from.
A fast-paced, suspenseful read that kept me wanting more and not stopping because I found the story very entrailing as there are so many issues that our society is still dealing with nowadays as it is PTSD and what happens with the retired soldiers.
The characters were reliable and the writing was very good as well.
i will make time to read the previous books as well for sure.
A fast-paced, suspenseful read that kept me wanting more and not stopping because I found the story very entrailing as there are so many issues that our society is still dealing with nowadays as it is PTSD and what happens with the retired soldiers.
The characters were reliable and the writing was very good as well.
i will make time to read the previous books as well for sure.
April 26, 2019
Nifty little thriller that I read and enjoyed as a standalone. Alex Devlin, a journalist, has a special knack for searching for missing people and this time she's looking for a homeless man when she discovers he's not the only one who has disappeared. There's a family with secrets, some bad guys, and good twists. What's best, though, is Alex, who is the epitome of intrepid. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This is a fast, entertaining read.
September 3, 2019
Wow!
This book captured me from the first page. I had never read a Mary Jane Riley book before but now have all of her Alex Devlin books in my TBR list.
Alex Devlin is a very believable character. She's not perfect and does make mistakes and I love that. It makes her human.
The story didn't have many twists as such but the mystery surrounding the story is kept completely hidden until the end, when it suddenly all makes sense.
A great story for readers into this genre.
This book captured me from the first page. I had never read a Mary Jane Riley book before but now have all of her Alex Devlin books in my TBR list.
Alex Devlin is a very believable character. She's not perfect and does make mistakes and I love that. It makes her human.
The story didn't have many twists as such but the mystery surrounding the story is kept completely hidden until the end, when it suddenly all makes sense.
A great story for readers into this genre.
May 12, 2019
I took advantage of a few days off work to relax and immerse myself in some great stories and one of them was GONE IN THE NIGHT, the fourth novel in the Alex Devlin series created by Mary-Jane Riley.
Although I had heard of this series and the character of Alex Devlin before, I never had the pleasure to read any of the novels, but I am definetely going to catch up now because I loved the characters who I found well-developed and realistic, I liked the suspenseful atmosphere, and I was captivated by the author’s beautiful writing style and her carefully-plotted story that keeps the reader completely glued to the page.
Alex Devlin is a journalist. Following the publication of her book, she is looking for her next big story, so she finds herself mixed-up with a powerful and wealthy family who is clearly hiding something and with a nurse looking for her missing brother. While Alex chases clues, she interviews people, and she tries not to get herself killed, we also get a glimpse into her personal life, with a son away at college who she barely sees and a sister with a troubled past.
Mary-Jane Riley writes in a way that makes the readers feel like they are inside the story. I could imagine most of the scenes and the settings she describes in detail and I could feel the tension rise page after page as Alex digs deeper and deeper into the case of the disappearance of homeless people. The dark atmosphere, the different perspectives, a thought-provoking and gripping plot, likable characters, and a dramatic and twisty ending are the elements that make GONE IN THE NIGHT an absolute page-turner!
Although I had heard of this series and the character of Alex Devlin before, I never had the pleasure to read any of the novels, but I am definetely going to catch up now because I loved the characters who I found well-developed and realistic, I liked the suspenseful atmosphere, and I was captivated by the author’s beautiful writing style and her carefully-plotted story that keeps the reader completely glued to the page.
Alex Devlin is a journalist. Following the publication of her book, she is looking for her next big story, so she finds herself mixed-up with a powerful and wealthy family who is clearly hiding something and with a nurse looking for her missing brother. While Alex chases clues, she interviews people, and she tries not to get herself killed, we also get a glimpse into her personal life, with a son away at college who she barely sees and a sister with a troubled past.
Mary-Jane Riley writes in a way that makes the readers feel like they are inside the story. I could imagine most of the scenes and the settings she describes in detail and I could feel the tension rise page after page as Alex digs deeper and deeper into the case of the disappearance of homeless people. The dark atmosphere, the different perspectives, a thought-provoking and gripping plot, likable characters, and a dramatic and twisty ending are the elements that make GONE IN THE NIGHT an absolute page-turner!
April 17, 2019
This is an interesting mystery thriller.
The plot involves a search for a missing person but it also tackles thought provoking issues.
This was an engrossing well developed read.
Thanks Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a chance to read this book.
The plot involves a search for a missing person but it also tackles thought provoking issues.
This was an engrossing well developed read.
Thanks Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a chance to read this book.
June 2, 2019
A fantastic read and I loved all the little twists that this story held. Definitely a page-turner and very fast paced. You won't realise you have read the end of the book until you turn that last page.
July 17, 2019
Page Turner
Another great page turner from Mary Jane Riley. A thriller packed with modern day themes - homelessness, drugs, crime and modern slavery. It twists and turns skilfully. Couldn’t put it down.
Another great page turner from Mary Jane Riley. A thriller packed with modern day themes - homelessness, drugs, crime and modern slavery. It twists and turns skilfully. Couldn’t put it down.
August 15, 2019
This is a mystery where the storytelling and descriptions are plentiful. Unfortunately, the plot isn't that good, and the book is rather boring.
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