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Wish You Were Gone
Emma Walsh has finally worked up the courage to confront her husband James about his drinking—his alcoholic rages, his blackouts, and the fear his behavior has created for her and their two kids. But James never shows up to meet her as planned, and all her righteous words go unsaid. And unsaid they remain, because the next time Emma sees James, his body lies crumpled amidst the wreckage of his flashy car, which has been smashed to its final resting place halfway through the back wall of their suburban house’s roomy garage.
In the aftermath of the fatal crash, Emma and her teenage children begin to embrace life without James’s looming, volcanic presence. Buoyed by the support of her two closest friends, she struggles to deal with her grief, complicated by the knowledge that her husband’s legacy as an upstanding business owner and family man shines only because so many people, for so long, were so willing to keep his secrets—secrets that twist into new and unexpected shapes as the mysterious details of his last day of life begin to come to light.
In the aftermath of the fatal crash, Emma and her teenage children begin to embrace life without James’s looming, volcanic presence. Buoyed by the support of her two closest friends, she struggles to deal with her grief, complicated by the knowledge that her husband’s legacy as an upstanding business owner and family man shines only because so many people, for so long, were so willing to keep his secrets—secrets that twist into new and unexpected shapes as the mysterious details of his last day of life begin to come to light.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published February 22, 2022
368 people are currently reading
28684 people want to read
About the author
Kieran Scott
43 books1,616 followersKieran Scott is the author of domestic suspense and mystery novels including WISH YOU WERE GONE, REGRETS ONLY and PEOPLE WILL TALK. She has also written several young adult novels, both under her own name and for Alloy Entertainment under the pseudonym Kate Brian. These include the New York Times best-selling PRIVATE and PRIVILEGE series, as well as MEGAN MEADE'S GUIDE TO THE MCGOWAN BOYS and many others. She grew up in Bergen County, New Jersey, attended Rutgers University, and now lives in New Jersey with her husband, two sons and one goofy dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 596 reviews
April 30, 2022
Wish You Were Gone by Kieran Scott
Emma Walsh's marriage to James Walsh seems to be perfect. A wealthy husband, huge home, best private school for the kids, fancy parties, she wants for nothing, it would seem. But the reality is that James is a monster and Emma and their kids wonder when he is going to finally kill them. They live their lives walking on egg shells, knowing that nothing they do will please James. So when James drives home drunk, smashes into the back of the garage, and ends up dead, that's a good thing, isn't it?
Emma, daughter Kelsey, and son Hunter, struggle with their grief, anger, shock, and secrets. The entire family needs counseling but no one wants to open up and talk about what James did to them or how they are feeling now. Isn't it enough that he is dead? Thankfully Emma has her two best friends (who can stand each other) to support her through this difficult time. Actually, they are also going to help Emma find out what James might have been doing to end up dead. What are best friends for otherwise?
The chapters are short, with multiple narrators, and the story flowed so well that I stayed up way too late doing the "just one more chapter" thing. Everyone has secrets, I found some of the characters more likeable than others, but overall, I could feel for each person except for the vile James. There was no way I could guess what really happened with James although the way things really played out didn't surprise me. I enjoyed the journey to the end of the story, a slow burn of grief, relief, suspicion, and secrets.
Pub: February 22nd 2022
Thank you to Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster for this print ARC.
Emma Walsh's marriage to James Walsh seems to be perfect. A wealthy husband, huge home, best private school for the kids, fancy parties, she wants for nothing, it would seem. But the reality is that James is a monster and Emma and their kids wonder when he is going to finally kill them. They live their lives walking on egg shells, knowing that nothing they do will please James. So when James drives home drunk, smashes into the back of the garage, and ends up dead, that's a good thing, isn't it?
Emma, daughter Kelsey, and son Hunter, struggle with their grief, anger, shock, and secrets. The entire family needs counseling but no one wants to open up and talk about what James did to them or how they are feeling now. Isn't it enough that he is dead? Thankfully Emma has her two best friends (who can stand each other) to support her through this difficult time. Actually, they are also going to help Emma find out what James might have been doing to end up dead. What are best friends for otherwise?
The chapters are short, with multiple narrators, and the story flowed so well that I stayed up way too late doing the "just one more chapter" thing. Everyone has secrets, I found some of the characters more likeable than others, but overall, I could feel for each person except for the vile James. There was no way I could guess what really happened with James although the way things really played out didn't surprise me. I enjoyed the journey to the end of the story, a slow burn of grief, relief, suspicion, and secrets.
Pub: February 22nd 2022
Thank you to Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster for this print ARC.
February 22, 2022
Whoa! This book is well constructed puzzle: psychological thriller + mystery meets domestic thriller with multi POVed narration style, making you drawn into family drama and you got hooked from the beginning, absorbing slow burn but extremely interesting high tension progression of the story.
When Emma sees her husband’s dead body crumpled against the wreckage of his flashy car, smashed to their suburban house’s roomy garage, she got speechless! Should she call her friends and start the party? Should she celebrate because the alcoholic/ abusive/ liar/ cheater bastard finally got what he deserved! Is this the way how divine justice works!
Emma wished to see her husband dead because he was not only making miserable her life, he was also torturing his own kids with his anger issues, physical and verbal abusive acts. He screamed his daughter’s face and shoved his son to the ground just the day before the die!
Her daughter Kelsey hated her and she also relieved he died. Because she couldn’t stand to live with the man who turned her life into hell! Her son Hunter had complex feelings because he still remembers the good times he spent with his dad. Once upon a time they had great father and son connection. But his father’s addiction to alcohol took away his entire good traits and turned him into a monster.
It seems like not only his family relieved after James Walsh’s sudden suspicious accident/ suicide/ self destruction kind of death!
Or could it be murder? Because there are so many missing pieces of the puzzle and so many strange incidents prove this cannot be a simple accident. Unfortunately there are too many people have motives to get rid of him including his own family!
Emma’s two close friends Gray and Lizzie also acts like they’re keeping secrets from her. Those two women never got along and Gray always finds Lizzie’s intentions for Emma are not sincere. Lizzie finds Gray intimidating and controlling.
Gray married with Darrell who was also the partner of James. But it seems like before the night James died they had a big fight. What was the reason behind their quarrel? Why Darrell doesn’t act like himself after the incident? What is he keeping himself?
And why Lizzie is so obsessed with Emma? Why her daughter Willow spends more time in Emma’s household than her own house?
Kelsey deals with terrible panic attacks and Lizzie’s daughter Willow threats her about spilling beans. What those girls get into themselves?
Impressive, detailed characterization, intriguing, riveting pace, well constructed twists: I loved my reading journey a lot! And I highly recommend you to experience it at first hand!
Especially each member of Walsh family: Emma, Kelsey, Hunter and their traumatic, sad, dysfunctional family story affected me so deeply and earned my twisty, suspicious, puzzle pieces, well written four stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
When Emma sees her husband’s dead body crumpled against the wreckage of his flashy car, smashed to their suburban house’s roomy garage, she got speechless! Should she call her friends and start the party? Should she celebrate because the alcoholic/ abusive/ liar/ cheater bastard finally got what he deserved! Is this the way how divine justice works!
Emma wished to see her husband dead because he was not only making miserable her life, he was also torturing his own kids with his anger issues, physical and verbal abusive acts. He screamed his daughter’s face and shoved his son to the ground just the day before the die!
Her daughter Kelsey hated her and she also relieved he died. Because she couldn’t stand to live with the man who turned her life into hell! Her son Hunter had complex feelings because he still remembers the good times he spent with his dad. Once upon a time they had great father and son connection. But his father’s addiction to alcohol took away his entire good traits and turned him into a monster.
It seems like not only his family relieved after James Walsh’s sudden suspicious accident/ suicide/ self destruction kind of death!
Or could it be murder? Because there are so many missing pieces of the puzzle and so many strange incidents prove this cannot be a simple accident. Unfortunately there are too many people have motives to get rid of him including his own family!
Emma’s two close friends Gray and Lizzie also acts like they’re keeping secrets from her. Those two women never got along and Gray always finds Lizzie’s intentions for Emma are not sincere. Lizzie finds Gray intimidating and controlling.
Gray married with Darrell who was also the partner of James. But it seems like before the night James died they had a big fight. What was the reason behind their quarrel? Why Darrell doesn’t act like himself after the incident? What is he keeping himself?
And why Lizzie is so obsessed with Emma? Why her daughter Willow spends more time in Emma’s household than her own house?
Kelsey deals with terrible panic attacks and Lizzie’s daughter Willow threats her about spilling beans. What those girls get into themselves?
Impressive, detailed characterization, intriguing, riveting pace, well constructed twists: I loved my reading journey a lot! And I highly recommend you to experience it at first hand!
Especially each member of Walsh family: Emma, Kelsey, Hunter and their traumatic, sad, dysfunctional family story affected me so deeply and earned my twisty, suspicious, puzzle pieces, well written four stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
February 22, 2022
***HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY***
DO YOU LIKE PUZZLES??? IS IT SATISFYING TO FINALLY PUT THAT LAST PIECE INTO PLACE AND SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE?? THEN YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
I may have named this book “Secrets and Lies” because there is no end to the amount of secrets that this cast of characters was keeping from each other.
Emma Walsh once loved her husband James, but that was BEFORE -- Before he became addicted to alcohol. His alcoholic rages threw the family into lockdown mode. Teenagers Hunter and Kelsey have felt the wrath of their father many times, including the night before he died!!
Emma admits that she often wanted James gone from their life. She has finally made a decision and is about to confront James the next day.
Then she is awakened by a loud crash and bang in the middle of the night, the entire house shakes. She comes down to see James has crashed his beautiful new car into the back of the garage and he is dead, very, very dead!!
The police are convinced that he was drunk and this was a horrible accident. Some things don’t add up for Emma and she is determined to find out all of the truths about her husband. SHE WAS NOT PREPARED FOR WHAT SHE FINDS!!
Emma’s two best friends seem to quarrel over who is the better friend. Gray is married to Darrell, James’s business partner. She likes to take control of things, including how to help Emma.
Lizzie has been friends with Emma since their daughters were in grade school. Her daughter Willow has been acting OFF lately, but she tells her mom she is fine!!
All of these characters are hiding secrets, it’s a very tangled web and it will take your detective’s hat to figure this one out.
I enjoyed this novel, the pace was easy and quick!! The characters were engaging but I can’t say they were memorable.
All in all if you are looking for a quick, fun, puzzle of a novel, you will enjoy this. I would definitely call this a family/drama mystery and not a thriller.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, Gallery Books, through Edelweiss.
DO YOU LIKE PUZZLES??? IS IT SATISFYING TO FINALLY PUT THAT LAST PIECE INTO PLACE AND SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE?? THEN YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
I may have named this book “Secrets and Lies” because there is no end to the amount of secrets that this cast of characters was keeping from each other.
Emma Walsh once loved her husband James, but that was BEFORE -- Before he became addicted to alcohol. His alcoholic rages threw the family into lockdown mode. Teenagers Hunter and Kelsey have felt the wrath of their father many times, including the night before he died!!
Emma admits that she often wanted James gone from their life. She has finally made a decision and is about to confront James the next day.
Then she is awakened by a loud crash and bang in the middle of the night, the entire house shakes. She comes down to see James has crashed his beautiful new car into the back of the garage and he is dead, very, very dead!!
The police are convinced that he was drunk and this was a horrible accident. Some things don’t add up for Emma and she is determined to find out all of the truths about her husband. SHE WAS NOT PREPARED FOR WHAT SHE FINDS!!
Emma’s two best friends seem to quarrel over who is the better friend. Gray is married to Darrell, James’s business partner. She likes to take control of things, including how to help Emma.
Lizzie has been friends with Emma since their daughters were in grade school. Her daughter Willow has been acting OFF lately, but she tells her mom she is fine!!
All of these characters are hiding secrets, it’s a very tangled web and it will take your detective’s hat to figure this one out.
I enjoyed this novel, the pace was easy and quick!! The characters were engaging but I can’t say they were memorable.
All in all if you are looking for a quick, fun, puzzle of a novel, you will enjoy this. I would definitely call this a family/drama mystery and not a thriller.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, Gallery Books, through Edelweiss.
November 2, 2021
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Emma Walsh is over her husband and his antics. James is hardcore alcoholic who becomes emotionally abusive, gets into fits of rage that scare Emma and their two teenaged children, and is generally not a nice person. After a major incident, Emma is ready to serve him with divorce papers.
Only now, she doesn’t have to do that as she finds his body in his car, in the garage and halfway through the back wall.
Reeling from the shock, Emma and her children try to come to terms with James’s death...which is hard to do when his secrets are coming to light.
Kieran Scott writes an engaging domestic drama/suspense story that easily kept me hooked through multiple POVs and dual timelines. There are plenty of revelations sprinkled throughout. Some of them, I fully suspected. Others, I did not. Despite not really liking any of the characters, I was compelled to find out what secrets they were keeping and how that would play into the story. And, pretty much everyone had a secret.
Overall, this is a compelling tale that moves at a steady pace. I just wouldn’t go into it expecting a full-throttle thriller.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Gallery Books and Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on: 11/2/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Emma Walsh is over her husband and his antics. James is hardcore alcoholic who becomes emotionally abusive, gets into fits of rage that scare Emma and their two teenaged children, and is generally not a nice person. After a major incident, Emma is ready to serve him with divorce papers.
Only now, she doesn’t have to do that as she finds his body in his car, in the garage and halfway through the back wall.
Reeling from the shock, Emma and her children try to come to terms with James’s death...which is hard to do when his secrets are coming to light.
Kieran Scott writes an engaging domestic drama/suspense story that easily kept me hooked through multiple POVs and dual timelines. There are plenty of revelations sprinkled throughout. Some of them, I fully suspected. Others, I did not. Despite not really liking any of the characters, I was compelled to find out what secrets they were keeping and how that would play into the story. And, pretty much everyone had a secret.
Overall, this is a compelling tale that moves at a steady pace. I just wouldn’t go into it expecting a full-throttle thriller.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Gallery Books and Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on: 11/2/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
February 22, 2022
I have met a lot of people who have a public persona which says “fun” and “charming” but behind closed doors, they are anything but.
This story takes this idea and digs a little deeper.
What if the death of a husband and father, isn’t devastating to the wife and children who had to live with him, behind closed doors?!
But, they still have to pretend that it was…
James arrives home after drinking, again, but this time, he plows right through their garage, his body crumpled in the wreckage of his flashy car. He is pronounced dead at the scene.
Is there any chance that it wasn’t the accident it appeared to be?
This becomes a greater possibility as everyone’s secrets began to spill out, and the short chapters and alternating viewpoints had me flipping the pages to find out WHO was involved.
The pace was taut, and I was never bored.
I haven’t seen the Netflix show “Dead to Me” or read any of author Kieran Scott’s YA novels, but if she is going to stay in this lane, Domestic Suspense for adults, count me in as a new fan who will be requesting future work!
Thank You to Gallery Books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
This story takes this idea and digs a little deeper.
What if the death of a husband and father, isn’t devastating to the wife and children who had to live with him, behind closed doors?!
But, they still have to pretend that it was…
James arrives home after drinking, again, but this time, he plows right through their garage, his body crumpled in the wreckage of his flashy car. He is pronounced dead at the scene.
Is there any chance that it wasn’t the accident it appeared to be?
This becomes a greater possibility as everyone’s secrets began to spill out, and the short chapters and alternating viewpoints had me flipping the pages to find out WHO was involved.
The pace was taut, and I was never bored.
I haven’t seen the Netflix show “Dead to Me” or read any of author Kieran Scott’s YA novels, but if she is going to stay in this lane, Domestic Suspense for adults, count me in as a new fan who will be requesting future work!
Thank You to Gallery Books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
January 3, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up
Emma and James appear to have the perfect marriage. They've been together forever, have money, two wonderful children, and a gorgeous home. Yet behind this perfection is the reality--James is an alcoholic with violent tendencies. In the middle of the night, Emma hears a loud noise, which turns out to be James, dead after drunkenly crashing his car into the back of the garage . As information begins to come out, it turns out that there were many things wrong with this "perfect" marriage. As Emma spends time with her best friends Lizzie and Gray, shocking secrets are revealed on the way to determining what exactly happened to James that fateful night.
This novel is told from the points of view of multiple narrators, which keeps things interesting because there are SO many secrets. Some of the twists were easy to figure out in advance, but there were a few that I didn't, so that made the book all the better for the surprises. It's a fairly quick read because the chapters are so short and it's easy to fit one in here and there throughout the day (and can keep you up late into the night!)
There are a few things that kept me from rating this a little higher. One is the relationship between the friends, Gray was constantly (and I mean constantly) comparing herself to Lizzie to make sure that she was Emma's favorite, that she was the best best friend. Lizzie and Gray were totally snarky with each other, almost like squabbling siblings and it got a little old that they were acting so juvenile. Also I wasn't completely sold on the conclusion, especially the epilogue. In general I found the entire scenario surrounding James' death to be a bit beyond believability as there was NO investigation at all which could have easily uncovered some suspicious things.
If you can suspend a bit of disbelief though, this is a good psychological thriller with loads of surprises that will keep you guessing until the end.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Emma and James appear to have the perfect marriage. They've been together forever, have money, two wonderful children, and a gorgeous home. Yet behind this perfection is the reality--James is an alcoholic with violent tendencies. In the middle of the night, Emma hears a loud noise, which turns out to be James, dead after drunkenly crashing his car into the back of the garage . As information begins to come out, it turns out that there were many things wrong with this "perfect" marriage. As Emma spends time with her best friends Lizzie and Gray, shocking secrets are revealed on the way to determining what exactly happened to James that fateful night.
This novel is told from the points of view of multiple narrators, which keeps things interesting because there are SO many secrets. Some of the twists were easy to figure out in advance, but there were a few that I didn't, so that made the book all the better for the surprises. It's a fairly quick read because the chapters are so short and it's easy to fit one in here and there throughout the day (and can keep you up late into the night!)
There are a few things that kept me from rating this a little higher. One is the relationship between the friends, Gray was constantly (and I mean constantly) comparing herself to Lizzie to make sure that she was Emma's favorite, that she was the best best friend. Lizzie and Gray were totally snarky with each other, almost like squabbling siblings and it got a little old that they were acting so juvenile. Also I wasn't completely sold on the conclusion, especially the epilogue. In general I found the entire scenario surrounding James' death to be a bit beyond believability as there was NO investigation at all which could have easily uncovered some suspicious things.
If you can suspend a bit of disbelief though, this is a good psychological thriller with loads of surprises that will keep you guessing until the end.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
October 10, 2021
3.5 STARS
This one started off with a bang, a crash and a dead husband in the garage. He wasn't a good guy though, he terrorized his own family with his drunken behavior.
Will they be sad that he is gone?
There were quite a few character perspectives to keep up with, it took me awhile to sort out who was who. I had to remind myself who the wife was, who the friends were, the kids, husbands, etc. as the chapters alternate frequently.
Overall, it was an engaging domestic story with moments of suspense. I never really connected or became invested in the characters though, they weren't very unlikeable, I should have felt sympathy for them, but I didn't.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my early review copy! OUT December 1, 2021
This one started off with a bang, a crash and a dead husband in the garage. He wasn't a good guy though, he terrorized his own family with his drunken behavior.
Will they be sad that he is gone?
There were quite a few character perspectives to keep up with, it took me awhile to sort out who was who. I had to remind myself who the wife was, who the friends were, the kids, husbands, etc. as the chapters alternate frequently.
Overall, it was an engaging domestic story with moments of suspense. I never really connected or became invested in the characters though, they weren't very unlikeable, I should have felt sympathy for them, but I didn't.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my early review copy! OUT December 1, 2021
March 23, 2022
3.5*
This book starts off with a BANG! Literally! As James fatally crashes his car into the family garage.
Now Emma and her 2 kids are left to pick up the pieces and move on. Though honestly, she’d had her fill of James’ shenanigans in the first place!🙄 Not that she wanted him dead mind you!😉
But with the help of her two closest friends, there’s hope of starting over again.
As time goes by, Emma is uncovering disturbing information about her late husband that has her questioning everything about him and their marriage.
I toggled back and forth between the written and audio versions. The cast of narrators for the audio powerfully give this story a real boost. If you have the option I would definitely go with the audio!
This was a fun domestic thriller, and while I was left with some unanswered questions, I still enjoyed! Hope you will too!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
A buddy read/audio with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books as well as Simon and Schuster Audio.
This book starts off with a BANG! Literally! As James fatally crashes his car into the family garage.
Now Emma and her 2 kids are left to pick up the pieces and move on. Though honestly, she’d had her fill of James’ shenanigans in the first place!🙄 Not that she wanted him dead mind you!😉
But with the help of her two closest friends, there’s hope of starting over again.
As time goes by, Emma is uncovering disturbing information about her late husband that has her questioning everything about him and their marriage.
I toggled back and forth between the written and audio versions. The cast of narrators for the audio powerfully give this story a real boost. If you have the option I would definitely go with the audio!
This was a fun domestic thriller, and while I was left with some unanswered questions, I still enjoyed! Hope you will too!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
A buddy read/audio with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books as well as Simon and Schuster Audio.
March 31, 2022
Pssst… Can You Keep a Secret?
The people in this book sure can!
The story begins after a particularly vile husband crashes his car into the garage and dies.
There are multiple points of view and every person has major issues they’re keeping under wraps. The numerous reveals are parceled out evenly throughout the book, keeping my interest.
I love domestic suspense and I would describe this as character driven. Without being too wordy, the writing style was easy and I was very curious as to what each person was hiding.
Thank you to a friend for sending me her copy. I don't know if I would have pursued this otherwise, but am happy I did.
The people in this book sure can!
The story begins after a particularly vile husband crashes his car into the garage and dies.
There are multiple points of view and every person has major issues they’re keeping under wraps. The numerous reveals are parceled out evenly throughout the book, keeping my interest.
I love domestic suspense and I would describe this as character driven. Without being too wordy, the writing style was easy and I was very curious as to what each person was hiding.
Thank you to a friend for sending me her copy. I don't know if I would have pursued this otherwise, but am happy I did.
October 13, 2021
Wish You Were Gone starts out with a bang. Well really more of a crash I suppose. James Walsh drunkenly drives his car into the back of his garage killing himself in what appears to be a tragic accident. But is it really so tragic? James and his family were living the dream, at least as it appeared to those on the outside. Behind closed doors however, things were anything but idyllic. The home was full of violence and deceit, and no one close to James is all too upset he’s gone. Perhaps the more pressing question however is not whether or not it was tragic, but whether it was actually an accident…
The first few chapters pulled me in right away and I was really excited to pick this back up to continue it. Unfortunately soon my enthusiasm waned. There was a large cast of characters (by the end, there were chapters from 8 different perspectives) and I found myself distracted from the story as I was constantly trying to remember who was who. Once I got my bearings however, I did begin to enjoy it again, and I was excited to find out what happened. In a rarity for me, I did actually enjoy the way things came together in the end. The pieces all fit well, and I appreciated the author putting work into making a puzzle that came together bit by bit, and that wasn’t crazy or outlandish. The epilogue however wasn’t my favorite, and I’ll be very curious to hear what others have to say about it after this comes out!
I also simply did not understand the relationship, or lack thereof, between the widow Emma’s two best friends. The two were constantly sniping at each other and battling to be the “best” friend as if this was middle school. Certainly in friend groups, even as adults, not everyone gets along. But there was no underlying reason or explanation given for why these two women disliked each other so much, other than simply wanting Emma for themselves. So much time was spent on this and I just cannot understand why. Everything else was so well plotted; I expected there at least to be some kind of plot payoff from having to read about this terribly annoying rivalry, but really nothing came of it. I’m baffled, I tell you. Baffled.
3.5 rounded up. Expected publication date: December 1, 2021.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy of this title for review.
The first few chapters pulled me in right away and I was really excited to pick this back up to continue it. Unfortunately soon my enthusiasm waned. There was a large cast of characters (by the end, there were chapters from 8 different perspectives) and I found myself distracted from the story as I was constantly trying to remember who was who. Once I got my bearings however, I did begin to enjoy it again, and I was excited to find out what happened. In a rarity for me, I did actually enjoy the way things came together in the end. The pieces all fit well, and I appreciated the author putting work into making a puzzle that came together bit by bit, and that wasn’t crazy or outlandish. The epilogue however wasn’t my favorite, and I’ll be very curious to hear what others have to say about it after this comes out!
I also simply did not understand the relationship, or lack thereof, between the widow Emma’s two best friends. The two were constantly sniping at each other and battling to be the “best” friend as if this was middle school. Certainly in friend groups, even as adults, not everyone gets along. But there was no underlying reason or explanation given for why these two women disliked each other so much, other than simply wanting Emma for themselves. So much time was spent on this and I just cannot understand why. Everything else was so well plotted; I expected there at least to be some kind of plot payoff from having to read about this terribly annoying rivalry, but really nothing came of it. I’m baffled, I tell you. Baffled.
3.5 rounded up. Expected publication date: December 1, 2021.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy of this title for review.
October 26, 2021
I love it when I can say “that was bonkers.” It was bonkers but, in the overcrowded genre of domestic suspense, this book stood out as one of the better ones.
It starts with the rather spectacular death of James Walsh as his flash vehicle careens into the garage and punches a hole in back wall of it. He is very clearly dead and sort of half out of the car. His family (wife Emma, 18 year old son Hunter and 17 year old daughter Kelsey) are shocked but also secretly relieved as James was a heavy drinker and quite a bully when drunk. It was getting worse and his children, particularly Kelsey were afraid of him.
Emma’s two best friends - Lizzie the flamboyant hippie style gift shop owner and Gray Garrison the control freak lawyer and wife of James’ business partner - rallied around her but questions started to niggle at Emma. Where was James that night? He was supposed to meeting her in the evening before heading to some business party but he never showed. While reading I asked myself what is Lizzie so afraid of now that James is dead? What is Gray hiding? What are Willow (Lizzie’s daughter) and Kelsey hiding? Has Willow done something bad? And what is the “code of silence” that Willow and Hunter are in cahoots about?
So many questions. So many unreliable narrators and so many secrets. And under the secrets, more secrets. Layers of secrets! Emma convinces herself that someone else was involved in his death. And where is phone and laptop? When she rings his number the phone is eventually answered by a timid female voice. Was a James having an affair?
The answers to all my questions do come eventually but most of them are not what you are expecting. These characters had much depth and, well, secrets. The twists were many. I guessed a few of them but not the big one. I thought it got a little messy and overly dramatic towards the end but I did enjoy the author’s style and would happily read another of her books. Thanks to Edelweiss for the much appreciated ARC which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly. 3.5. stars rounded up.
It starts with the rather spectacular death of James Walsh as his flash vehicle careens into the garage and punches a hole in back wall of it. He is very clearly dead and sort of half out of the car. His family (wife Emma, 18 year old son Hunter and 17 year old daughter Kelsey) are shocked but also secretly relieved as James was a heavy drinker and quite a bully when drunk. It was getting worse and his children, particularly Kelsey were afraid of him.
Emma’s two best friends - Lizzie the flamboyant hippie style gift shop owner and Gray Garrison the control freak lawyer and wife of James’ business partner - rallied around her but questions started to niggle at Emma. Where was James that night? He was supposed to meeting her in the evening before heading to some business party but he never showed. While reading I asked myself what is Lizzie so afraid of now that James is dead? What is Gray hiding? What are Willow (Lizzie’s daughter) and Kelsey hiding? Has Willow done something bad? And what is the “code of silence” that Willow and Hunter are in cahoots about?
So many questions. So many unreliable narrators and so many secrets. And under the secrets, more secrets. Layers of secrets! Emma convinces herself that someone else was involved in his death. And where is phone and laptop? When she rings his number the phone is eventually answered by a timid female voice. Was a James having an affair?
The answers to all my questions do come eventually but most of them are not what you are expecting. These characters had much depth and, well, secrets. The twists were many. I guessed a few of them but not the big one. I thought it got a little messy and overly dramatic towards the end but I did enjoy the author’s style and would happily read another of her books. Thanks to Edelweiss for the much appreciated ARC which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly. 3.5. stars rounded up.
July 25, 2021
Wish You Were Gone by Kieran Scott delivers a suspenseful web of secrets & lies between friends and family. With so many hidden motives and complex people, you will be captivated by these suburban lives. A lot of band-aids are ripped off…some by fate and others by choice.
Emma, with a huge, naive heart, endures her violent egotistical husband, James’s affair with alcohol and a lot of secrets. Her character portrays a lovable mom who wants more for her 2 teenagers when his abuse affects them too. Her plans to deliver divorce papers to her husband at dinner are disintegrated when he never shows up.
Emma’s friends are well-characterized and believable. Gray, the protector and friend hides the pain and deceptions at times but can deliver a punch that Emma feels is condescending at times. Gray’s husband is James’s partner in business, who delivers proactive favors and mixed messages.
Then there is Lizzie, supposedly Emma’s best friend….her intentions and obsession are hidden….she appears nosey and instigating.
When James runs his car through the garage, killing him on impact, Emma is left with unanswered questions. Her sleuthing leads to an array of surprises and twist~turns connecting a revelation of relationships unforeseen. Her grief and anger is heartfelt.
The dramatic relationships are intertwined and counterproductive by fate….🙃 A very enjoyable suspenseful read that Kieran Scott is notorious for. Now I need to see Netflix’s Dead to Me…
Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Emma, with a huge, naive heart, endures her violent egotistical husband, James’s affair with alcohol and a lot of secrets. Her character portrays a lovable mom who wants more for her 2 teenagers when his abuse affects them too. Her plans to deliver divorce papers to her husband at dinner are disintegrated when he never shows up.
Emma’s friends are well-characterized and believable. Gray, the protector and friend hides the pain and deceptions at times but can deliver a punch that Emma feels is condescending at times. Gray’s husband is James’s partner in business, who delivers proactive favors and mixed messages.
Then there is Lizzie, supposedly Emma’s best friend….her intentions and obsession are hidden….she appears nosey and instigating.
When James runs his car through the garage, killing him on impact, Emma is left with unanswered questions. Her sleuthing leads to an array of surprises and twist~turns connecting a revelation of relationships unforeseen. Her grief and anger is heartfelt.
The dramatic relationships are intertwined and counterproductive by fate….🙃 A very enjoyable suspenseful read that Kieran Scott is notorious for. Now I need to see Netflix’s Dead to Me…
Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 3, 2022
Emma Walsh has finally had enough and is ready to confront her emotionally abusive husband James and serve him divorce papers. She’s ready to walk away from his excessive drinking and cruelty to her and their children. But he never shows up the night they agreed to meet for dinner before his company’s party. Later that evening, James comes home, accidentally accelerates into the back of the garage and gets crushed to death when the roof collapses on the car. The next few weeks are a revelation as Emma discovers that she didn’t know the half of her husband’s duplicity.
This story had quite a few layers, taking me down several different paths, especially as the points of view of Emma’s two best friends, Gray and Lizzie, were offered. Things got even more complex when Emma’s daughter Kelsey also added to this brew. The drama was real but not at all predictable, creating a morass of tangents that took a long time to untangle. In the middle of it all was the naive Emma who everyone seemed to want to be connected to and/or protect. Her doggedness to unravel the mysteries created by her late husband came as a surprise to everyone as they sought to find cover or delay things as long as they could. Confounding it all was the competition between Gray and Lizzie to be her first bestie.
I listened to the story and was thrilled that there were multiple narrators used for all the characters with a point of view. That helped provide clarity even though each chapter was preceded by their names. All did a commendable job of defining their characters, telling the story and moving things along. I enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on with the teens and Emma’s friends. My one criticism is how most everything was revealed near the end of the book. It would have been less frustrating if more had been served up gradually, though there were a couple of twists that deserved their place at the end. I loved the combination of family drama and psychological mysteries, which kept me hanging onto this story. I’m still a bit perplexed, though, about that epilogue. It would be a great topic for a book club discussion. What a ride!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
This story had quite a few layers, taking me down several different paths, especially as the points of view of Emma’s two best friends, Gray and Lizzie, were offered. Things got even more complex when Emma’s daughter Kelsey also added to this brew. The drama was real but not at all predictable, creating a morass of tangents that took a long time to untangle. In the middle of it all was the naive Emma who everyone seemed to want to be connected to and/or protect. Her doggedness to unravel the mysteries created by her late husband came as a surprise to everyone as they sought to find cover or delay things as long as they could. Confounding it all was the competition between Gray and Lizzie to be her first bestie.
I listened to the story and was thrilled that there were multiple narrators used for all the characters with a point of view. That helped provide clarity even though each chapter was preceded by their names. All did a commendable job of defining their characters, telling the story and moving things along. I enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on with the teens and Emma’s friends. My one criticism is how most everything was revealed near the end of the book. It would have been less frustrating if more had been served up gradually, though there were a couple of twists that deserved their place at the end. I loved the combination of family drama and psychological mysteries, which kept me hanging onto this story. I’m still a bit perplexed, though, about that epilogue. It would be a great topic for a book club discussion. What a ride!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
February 22, 2022
4 twisty stars (now available)
Emma’s two best friends don’t really like each other, and Emma’s husband is a piece of work. She’s had enough, she will confront him at drinks tonight before the company party. James is a no show though and soon an accident at home changes their lives forever.
James drank to excess, threated his children, and kept secrets. Did everyone wish him gone? Now he’s dead and all those secrets are spilling out. Emma and her kids limp through a memorial and figure out what life looks like without James’ menacing presence.
Weird details in his work and personal life start cropping up and Emma pursues some loose ends. Was James’ death an accident or was he murdered?
Everyone seemed to have secrets in this one and I liked the shorter chapters with alternating narrators. This one kept me guessing and turning the pages. I enjoyed this domestic thriller and would read the next one from this author.
My thanks to Gallery Books for the opportunity to read and review this one.
Emma’s two best friends don’t really like each other, and Emma’s husband is a piece of work. She’s had enough, she will confront him at drinks tonight before the company party. James is a no show though and soon an accident at home changes their lives forever.
James drank to excess, threated his children, and kept secrets. Did everyone wish him gone? Now he’s dead and all those secrets are spilling out. Emma and her kids limp through a memorial and figure out what life looks like without James’ menacing presence.
Weird details in his work and personal life start cropping up and Emma pursues some loose ends. Was James’ death an accident or was he murdered?
Everyone seemed to have secrets in this one and I liked the shorter chapters with alternating narrators. This one kept me guessing and turning the pages. I enjoyed this domestic thriller and would read the next one from this author.
My thanks to Gallery Books for the opportunity to read and review this one.
March 13, 2025
Very dull in my opinion
July 19, 2021
I absolutely loved this book! It was not exactly what I was expecting, but it was just what I needed to keep me entranced for a few hours. I had just finished another family drama/thriller, and I wasn't sure I was up for another one, but this one hooked me from page one. I literally stayed up until 1:00 A.M. this morning to finish it!
Emma Walsh is tired of living in fear and walking on eggshells that she will upset her increasingly-violent, alcoholic husband, James. For the sake of her two teenage children, she finally works up the courage to divorce him; but before she can tell him, he stands her up at the restaurant, and the next time she sees him is dead in the garage, after he drove his car through the garage wall in a drunken state. But things aren't adding up - his phone and laptop are missing, and his tie is found in the bushes outside the garage. Emma immediately sees that there are many missing pieces of the puzzle and strange incidents, but everyone dismisses her suspicions. James was a well-loved professional sports agent, and business partner of the husband of one of Emma's best friends, Gray. But it becomes apparent that more people than not are relieved he is dead. Emma's children have complex feelings for their father; his business partner was on the brink of ending their partnership; Emma's two best friends are keeping secrets about James from her; and everyone, including Emma, seemingly has a motive to want James dead.
I connected with every slightly dysfunctional character in this one! Emma is a saint, and every woman needs a Gray on her team. She is the woman of the meme - "best friends help you move the body and never speak of it again." lol I also loved that every character has secrets, but they aren’t over-the-top crazy or trashy. I thought Scott did an amazing job at relating the complex feelings and motivations of all the characters in a way that felt authentic and believable.
In the end, I couldn't wait to find out "whodunnit" and what secrets were worth killing for, but it was much more than that. It was also a deep delve into addiction, family, and friendships that was both moving and powerful. All the stars for this one!
Emma Walsh is tired of living in fear and walking on eggshells that she will upset her increasingly-violent, alcoholic husband, James. For the sake of her two teenage children, she finally works up the courage to divorce him; but before she can tell him, he stands her up at the restaurant, and the next time she sees him is dead in the garage, after he drove his car through the garage wall in a drunken state. But things aren't adding up - his phone and laptop are missing, and his tie is found in the bushes outside the garage. Emma immediately sees that there are many missing pieces of the puzzle and strange incidents, but everyone dismisses her suspicions. James was a well-loved professional sports agent, and business partner of the husband of one of Emma's best friends, Gray. But it becomes apparent that more people than not are relieved he is dead. Emma's children have complex feelings for their father; his business partner was on the brink of ending their partnership; Emma's two best friends are keeping secrets about James from her; and everyone, including Emma, seemingly has a motive to want James dead.
I connected with every slightly dysfunctional character in this one! Emma is a saint, and every woman needs a Gray on her team. She is the woman of the meme - "best friends help you move the body and never speak of it again." lol I also loved that every character has secrets, but they aren’t over-the-top crazy or trashy. I thought Scott did an amazing job at relating the complex feelings and motivations of all the characters in a way that felt authentic and believable.
In the end, I couldn't wait to find out "whodunnit" and what secrets were worth killing for, but it was much more than that. It was also a deep delve into addiction, family, and friendships that was both moving and powerful. All the stars for this one!
September 28, 2021
Wish You Were Gone by Kieran Scott is a thriller novel. This one is told by changing the point of view between multiple characters, I believe eight of them. It’s also a novel that is told in different times starting at the accident then having chapters going back to the events leading up to it.
Emma Walsh is one of those people that from the outside it looks like she has everything. A wonderful husband, great kids, nice home. But of course things are not always what you see from the outside. You see Emma is ready to tell her husband that she wants a divorce, that she is tired of his abuse and drunken antics, not only abuse of her but the children too. Just as Emma is about to break the news though her husband doesn’t show up for the meeting and later that night comes home drunk and kills himself running his car into the back of their garage. Is it wrong to feel relief?
Now the first thing I will say about Wish You Were Gone by Kieran Scott is that I know my description on the style of this one may sounds as if it might be confusing but it really wasn’t. Everything in the story is clearly marked and it didn’t take long at all to fall right into the story with each character standing out on their own. I picked this one up with it’s comparison to Dead to Me loving that show and I can see that comparison but the story definitely had it’s own flavor which kept the pages turning the entire time I read. If this one sounds good to you I’d definitely say give it a shot.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Emma Walsh is one of those people that from the outside it looks like she has everything. A wonderful husband, great kids, nice home. But of course things are not always what you see from the outside. You see Emma is ready to tell her husband that she wants a divorce, that she is tired of his abuse and drunken antics, not only abuse of her but the children too. Just as Emma is about to break the news though her husband doesn’t show up for the meeting and later that night comes home drunk and kills himself running his car into the back of their garage. Is it wrong to feel relief?
Now the first thing I will say about Wish You Were Gone by Kieran Scott is that I know my description on the style of this one may sounds as if it might be confusing but it really wasn’t. Everything in the story is clearly marked and it didn’t take long at all to fall right into the story with each character standing out on their own. I picked this one up with it’s comparison to Dead to Me loving that show and I can see that comparison but the story definitely had it’s own flavor which kept the pages turning the entire time I read. If this one sounds good to you I’d definitely say give it a shot.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
May 20, 2022
Wish You Were Gone is the story of Emma and her family, who are woken up in the middle of the night by a disturbance. Her husband James crashed his new car into their garage after another night of heavy drinking and dies there at the scene.
Emma’s grief is complicated as she was planning to leave James due to his alcohol-filled rages and fear he instilled in their two teenage children. She must also contend with his public image, which was a respectable businessman and family man, opposite of the truth. Emma has the support of her 2 best friends, Gray and Lizzie, to help her and her kids pull through. Gray and Lizzie have opposite personalities and while they are frequently clashing with each other, they both care about Emma.
As Wish You Were Gone progresses, with various alternating POVs, secrets are revealed from many characters. I correctly predicted some elements and didn’t guess others. The short chapters made this domestic suspense story an easy read — 3.5 stars
Emma’s grief is complicated as she was planning to leave James due to his alcohol-filled rages and fear he instilled in their two teenage children. She must also contend with his public image, which was a respectable businessman and family man, opposite of the truth. Emma has the support of her 2 best friends, Gray and Lizzie, to help her and her kids pull through. Gray and Lizzie have opposite personalities and while they are frequently clashing with each other, they both care about Emma.
As Wish You Were Gone progresses, with various alternating POVs, secrets are revealed from many characters. I correctly predicted some elements and didn’t guess others. The short chapters made this domestic suspense story an easy read — 3.5 stars
September 6, 2021
This is a juicy page-turner about a family with a bunch of secrets, many of which are uncovered when the family patriarch James dies in a horrible and strange accident. But was it an accident?
The book is told from a large number of perspectives, from wife to daughter to wife’s friends, which sometimes got a little confusing, but the narration and plotting was always interesting. At times, the storylines and narration involving the children border on a YA feel, but then the author jumps back in to restore order with some narration from one of the adults.
The twists are great, and the pages practically turn themselves. The book ends with the scandalousness and shock I was hoping for as the suspense and tension built throughout.. A solid effort that makes me interested to read more by Kieran Scott. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
The book is told from a large number of perspectives, from wife to daughter to wife’s friends, which sometimes got a little confusing, but the narration and plotting was always interesting. At times, the storylines and narration involving the children border on a YA feel, but then the author jumps back in to restore order with some narration from one of the adults.
The twists are great, and the pages practically turn themselves. The book ends with the scandalousness and shock I was hoping for as the suspense and tension built throughout.. A solid effort that makes me interested to read more by Kieran Scott. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
March 31, 2022
Review posted to blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
The day Emma decides to confront her husband James and ask for a divorce is the day he doesn’t come home. Little does she know he crashed his car into the garage and his body lay in a heap.
As Emma and her kids, Hunter & Kelsey deal with the aftermath of James’ death, so do their closest friends. Life behind closed doors was not as it seemed. Then again, no one’s life is.
When the secrets come tumbling out, no one is left unscathed.
A melodramatic domestic drama that left much to be desired. For me, I simply felt as though way too much was going on in everyone’s lives and it made my eyes roll. What I thought at the end of this was that my friends and I just don’t have that much going on.
This was a buddy read/listen with Kaceey.
Thanks to Gallery Books for the arc via NetGalley.
Published on Goodreads and Twitter.
The day Emma decides to confront her husband James and ask for a divorce is the day he doesn’t come home. Little does she know he crashed his car into the garage and his body lay in a heap.
As Emma and her kids, Hunter & Kelsey deal with the aftermath of James’ death, so do their closest friends. Life behind closed doors was not as it seemed. Then again, no one’s life is.
When the secrets come tumbling out, no one is left unscathed.
A melodramatic domestic drama that left much to be desired. For me, I simply felt as though way too much was going on in everyone’s lives and it made my eyes roll. What I thought at the end of this was that my friends and I just don’t have that much going on.
This was a buddy read/listen with Kaceey.
Thanks to Gallery Books for the arc via NetGalley.
Published on Goodreads and Twitter.
February 28, 2024
This one started off rather excitedly, especially when a dead husband is found in the garage.
But, is it all that it seems?
Is everyone sad that he is gone?
This book came with four and five stars reviews, but for me, well, I never really connected or became invested in the characters.
I should have felt sympathy, maybe even empathy, but…instead I just didn’t feel anything but…
When will this story end?
Still, you may want to read those 4 and 5 star reviews.
But, is it all that it seems?
Is everyone sad that he is gone?
This book came with four and five stars reviews, but for me, well, I never really connected or became invested in the characters.
I should have felt sympathy, maybe even empathy, but…instead I just didn’t feel anything but…
When will this story end?
Still, you may want to read those 4 and 5 star reviews.
March 10, 2022
What are you looking for in a good mystery?
Murder mystery check 5 Stars
Suspenseful check 3.5 Stars
Thriller nah but intriguing 3 Stars
Twisty Yes! 5 stars
Red Herrings Yep, plenty of 'em 4 Stars
Unreliable Narrator vibe present 3 Stars
Cringey Character(s) absolutely 4 Stars
Police Involvement/Suspicious not needed
Enjoyable Read definitely 4 Stars
BTW, the columns matched up cleanly in the review - what's up with that GR?
Kieran Scott is a well published author in the children and teens category. This is her first adult novel and it was a fun, quick read. There are multiple narrators (six) but we mainly hear from three primarily. She's good at misdirecting the reader but despite this I did figure out one key factor critical to the plot a good 60 pages before it is "disclosed". There were other plot threads I did not catch, so that gave me satisfaction that I wasn't "that good" in detecting all the key connecting dots. That said, you don't walk away with shock or awe at what she pulls off, more like "Well done, Miss Scott. Thank you for providing me with a twisty tale."
There were some scary flashback scenes as the dead man (James), though the toast of the town in the world of sports, isn't the "star" player at home. His alcoholic rages were on full display, well portrayed and occasionally frightening. This may be a trigger to some readers. Other violent scenes are sprinkled throughout the story but not gratitious. At the center of the story is how James life unraveled to the point of death and how the secrets he kept, are now discovered after it.
This is a middle of the road type thriller. I rounded up from 3.5 overall since I was highly entertained and I was eager to see how things ended. However, it had a soap opera feel to it and something you might see on Lifetime channel (is that still around?).
This was thoroughly enjoyable and I would pick up another book by Scott.
Murder mystery check 5 Stars
Suspenseful check 3.5 Stars
Thriller nah but intriguing 3 Stars
Twisty Yes! 5 stars
Red Herrings Yep, plenty of 'em 4 Stars
Unreliable Narrator vibe present 3 Stars
Cringey Character(s) absolutely 4 Stars
Police Involvement/Suspicious not needed
Enjoyable Read definitely 4 Stars
BTW, the columns matched up cleanly in the review - what's up with that GR?
Kieran Scott is a well published author in the children and teens category. This is her first adult novel and it was a fun, quick read. There are multiple narrators (six) but we mainly hear from three primarily. She's good at misdirecting the reader but despite this I did figure out one key factor critical to the plot a good 60 pages before it is "disclosed". There were other plot threads I did not catch, so that gave me satisfaction that I wasn't "that good" in detecting all the key connecting dots. That said, you don't walk away with shock or awe at what she pulls off, more like "Well done, Miss Scott. Thank you for providing me with a twisty tale."
There were some scary flashback scenes as the dead man (James), though the toast of the town in the world of sports, isn't the "star" player at home. His alcoholic rages were on full display, well portrayed and occasionally frightening. This may be a trigger to some readers. Other violent scenes are sprinkled throughout the story but not gratitious. At the center of the story is how James life unraveled to the point of death and how the secrets he kept, are now discovered after it.
This is a middle of the road type thriller. I rounded up from 3.5 overall since I was highly entertained and I was eager to see how things ended. However, it had a soap opera feel to it and something you might see on Lifetime channel (is that still around?).
This was thoroughly enjoyable and I would pick up another book by Scott.
February 22, 2022
I love books told with multiple POVs and across various timelines and this has both! It kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
Emma’s world turns upside down when her husband drives home drunk and ends up crashing his car through the garage. In the wake of his death, she starts learning that her husband wasn’t just an alcoholic and his death may not have been an accident. With secrets galore, there were lots of surprises in this novel and it kept me guessing.
I loved how many different narrators this book had. It gave us such a bigger picture of everything going on and it made the story so much more than just about Emma’s husband’s death. There were twists I didn’t see coming until I was right on top of them and it made the book really fun.
This was a pretty fast read that held my interest the entire time. If you’re into mysteries and like your novels to have some twists and turns, this is definitely for you.
Thank you to Gallery and NetGalley for a copy of this novel.
Emma’s world turns upside down when her husband drives home drunk and ends up crashing his car through the garage. In the wake of his death, she starts learning that her husband wasn’t just an alcoholic and his death may not have been an accident. With secrets galore, there were lots of surprises in this novel and it kept me guessing.
I loved how many different narrators this book had. It gave us such a bigger picture of everything going on and it made the story so much more than just about Emma’s husband’s death. There were twists I didn’t see coming until I was right on top of them and it made the book really fun.
This was a pretty fast read that held my interest the entire time. If you’re into mysteries and like your novels to have some twists and turns, this is definitely for you.
Thank you to Gallery and NetGalley for a copy of this novel.
July 23, 2022
From the outside, Emma Walsh, her husband James and two teenage children, Kelsey and Hunter look to be the perfect happy family. The children are smart, they are well-off thanks to the success of the elite PR firm James and his partner Darnell started years ago. Emma is content taking care of the family, but…
What is not known and is hidden from their friends is they all live in fear of James. He drinks and he’s abusive. The more he drinks, the more he escalates. Fear is the underlying emotion in the house when James comes home, never knowing just what will set him off.
As she sees her children’s lives deteriorate from his constant mistreatment, Emma decides she has to divorce him. She sets up a meeting with him at a restaurant before a company party to tell him. But James never shows up. Irate, Emma skips the party and goes home seething.
Hours later, Emma is woken up by her son. There was a loud crash and James is dead in the car which somehow smashed into their garage. Shocked and horrified, Emma can’t help to feel like this was bound to happen at some point. James was always a reckless drinker and driver, let alone abusive.
With the help of her two close friends, Lizzie and Grey, she attempts to rebuild her family’s life, somewhat embarrassed and guilty by the peace and relief she feels with James’s death. But there are a few things about the accident that just don’t seem to make sense. Primarily he did not have his work computer or phone on him when he died. She and both her friends debate what could have happened. And then Emma decides to call his phone thinking perhaps it’s in the house. A woman answers. Is it possible James was having an affair?
As Emma’s damaged world completely begins to fall apart, she realizes there have been many who have tried to keep secrets from her. And as the story whose timeline goes back to hours leading up to the accident, and then present day, we begin to see no one is without hidden agendas on that tragic day.
What Emma does not realize that in figuring out what happened that day could destroy friendships, dreams and lives. One thing she does know for sure. She was married to a monster.
Wish You Were Gone is a rollercoaster ride of mystery and secrets. Beginning with the realization that the best part of the story is the death!
Thank you #Goodreads #GalleryBooks #KiernanScott #WishYouWereGone for the copy of the book.
What is not known and is hidden from their friends is they all live in fear of James. He drinks and he’s abusive. The more he drinks, the more he escalates. Fear is the underlying emotion in the house when James comes home, never knowing just what will set him off.
As she sees her children’s lives deteriorate from his constant mistreatment, Emma decides she has to divorce him. She sets up a meeting with him at a restaurant before a company party to tell him. But James never shows up. Irate, Emma skips the party and goes home seething.
Hours later, Emma is woken up by her son. There was a loud crash and James is dead in the car which somehow smashed into their garage. Shocked and horrified, Emma can’t help to feel like this was bound to happen at some point. James was always a reckless drinker and driver, let alone abusive.
With the help of her two close friends, Lizzie and Grey, she attempts to rebuild her family’s life, somewhat embarrassed and guilty by the peace and relief she feels with James’s death. But there are a few things about the accident that just don’t seem to make sense. Primarily he did not have his work computer or phone on him when he died. She and both her friends debate what could have happened. And then Emma decides to call his phone thinking perhaps it’s in the house. A woman answers. Is it possible James was having an affair?
As Emma’s damaged world completely begins to fall apart, she realizes there have been many who have tried to keep secrets from her. And as the story whose timeline goes back to hours leading up to the accident, and then present day, we begin to see no one is without hidden agendas on that tragic day.
What Emma does not realize that in figuring out what happened that day could destroy friendships, dreams and lives. One thing she does know for sure. She was married to a monster.
Wish You Were Gone is a rollercoaster ride of mystery and secrets. Beginning with the realization that the best part of the story is the death!
Thank you #Goodreads #GalleryBooks #KiernanScott #WishYouWereGone for the copy of the book.
April 3, 2022
James Walsh is dead – an alcoholic who drove his car into the garage of his family home, leaving his wife and two children to grieve and shattering their perfect family image. But there’s more to this even than meets the eye – and Kieran Scott has woven a complex and gripping story from the aftermath of one tragic night.
Told in alternating viewpoints from a wide cast of the friends and family of the deceased, Wish You Were Gone is a domestic thriller that deservedly stands out from its genre. Too many of these books are a race to find out what happened, but I enjoyed the journey of this novel at least as much as I wanted to find out the destination of the reveal. I did lose track of which character I was following in a chapter once or twice, but overall, I appreciated having more viewpoints into such a twisty story – the different perspectives gave the storyline a depth that allowed the author to explore the situation with more nuanced and layering than a lot of thrillers achieve.
That was something else that really stood Wish You Were Gone apart from the herd, to me – alcoholics can be hard on their families, but are frequently very much still loved by them. This father and husband was one who caused his family pain and suffering, and yet knew how to light up a room when he was ‘on’. The mix of grief, relief, and guilt that they felt on his death was presented realistically without bogging down the thriller side of the story, and with a hopeful note; I thought it struck a really delicate balance perfectly.
So, in short, Kieran Scott has written a book that’s intriguing, entertaining, and a real joy to read, despite the heavy topics it deals with. Thriller lovers who appreciate a captivating mystery with plenty of depth will find themselves very happy indeed.
This review originally appeared at mysteryandsuspense.com.
Told in alternating viewpoints from a wide cast of the friends and family of the deceased, Wish You Were Gone is a domestic thriller that deservedly stands out from its genre. Too many of these books are a race to find out what happened, but I enjoyed the journey of this novel at least as much as I wanted to find out the destination of the reveal. I did lose track of which character I was following in a chapter once or twice, but overall, I appreciated having more viewpoints into such a twisty story – the different perspectives gave the storyline a depth that allowed the author to explore the situation with more nuanced and layering than a lot of thrillers achieve.
That was something else that really stood Wish You Were Gone apart from the herd, to me – alcoholics can be hard on their families, but are frequently very much still loved by them. This father and husband was one who caused his family pain and suffering, and yet knew how to light up a room when he was ‘on’. The mix of grief, relief, and guilt that they felt on his death was presented realistically without bogging down the thriller side of the story, and with a hopeful note; I thought it struck a really delicate balance perfectly.
So, in short, Kieran Scott has written a book that’s intriguing, entertaining, and a real joy to read, despite the heavy topics it deals with. Thriller lovers who appreciate a captivating mystery with plenty of depth will find themselves very happy indeed.
This review originally appeared at mysteryandsuspense.com.
March 16, 2022
Thank you so much to Gallery Books and Kieran Scott for my copy of Wish You Were Gone. Emma and James seem like the perfect couple. They have money, amazing children, and a beautiful home. But they are not all that they seem. James is a violent alcoholic and his blackouts create a scary environment for the family. Then James gets into a car crash and Emma and her children start to heal. But Jame's secrets start to come out, and things are not what his family thought they were.
Thoughts: I enjoyed the multiple points of view in this story. There were tons of secrets and drama which made the book fun. The book had good content but the story was slow and there was too much packed into it that didn't need to be there. I found Emma's friends to be so irritating and annoying which was too bad.
This book was rather basic and seemed like a YA book to me. Though there were lots of secrets, it was juvenile and not too surprising. It was a bit too predictable for me and not really my style. There were too many "what ifs" without anything really happening. 2.5 stars.
Thoughts: I enjoyed the multiple points of view in this story. There were tons of secrets and drama which made the book fun. The book had good content but the story was slow and there was too much packed into it that didn't need to be there. I found Emma's friends to be so irritating and annoying which was too bad.
This book was rather basic and seemed like a YA book to me. Though there were lots of secrets, it was juvenile and not too surprising. It was a bit too predictable for me and not really my style. There were too many "what ifs" without anything really happening. 2.5 stars.
February 6, 2022
James Walsh has become a terrible husband. He is an alcoholic and verbally, borderline physically, abusive to his wife and children. Emma has had it and is preparing to serve him with divorce papers when he returns home one night, crashes his car through the garage wall and dies. Something doesn’t sit right with Emma about the accident. As she investigates James’ life, she learns more and more secrets and shares her concerns with her two best friends who, despite their love for Emma, openly dislike each other.
The story was riveting…..I couldn’t put it down. Although told from different POVs and different timelines, it was never confusing. Although the resolution strained credulity a bit, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book.
The story was riveting…..I couldn’t put it down. Although told from different POVs and different timelines, it was never confusing. Although the resolution strained credulity a bit, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book.
February 27, 2022
Domestic drama full of the biggest collection of hideous people ever.
Emma's husband is dead. The drunken fool just rammed his expensive car into the back wall of their garage. As she reels in shock, Emma and her teenage children, Hunter and Kelsey, are comforted and helped by her friends Gray and Lizzie. But everyone has secrets and now that James is gone from their lives, it's all about to come out.
All I can say is that if I had friends and family like that I would be quite sorry. This was all quite predictable and some of the interaction between the main characters was a bit unbelievable in terms of how the women I know behave and treat each other. I was not able to feel anything but disgust for all of them in this novel. So perhaps this was just not something I should have picked up to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.
Emma's husband is dead. The drunken fool just rammed his expensive car into the back wall of their garage. As she reels in shock, Emma and her teenage children, Hunter and Kelsey, are comforted and helped by her friends Gray and Lizzie. But everyone has secrets and now that James is gone from their lives, it's all about to come out.
All I can say is that if I had friends and family like that I would be quite sorry. This was all quite predictable and some of the interaction between the main characters was a bit unbelievable in terms of how the women I know behave and treat each other. I was not able to feel anything but disgust for all of them in this novel. So perhaps this was just not something I should have picked up to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.
January 1, 2023
This is a thriller with multiple 3rd person POVs. It is part murder mystery and part mystery thriller.
This book has multiple POVs. There is Emma (James' wife) and their teen kids Hunter and Kelsey. There is her good friend Lizzie and her daughter Willow. And Emma's other best friend Gray.
This was an interesting mystery. However there were a lot of narrators. So it was difficult to feel invested in any of them.
There were a lot of secrets. And I did enjoy the story as I was reading it. However I'm not sure that I found the ending completely satisfying.
Thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for allowing me to read this book. I apologize for the delay in posting this review.
This book has multiple POVs. There is Emma (James' wife) and their teen kids Hunter and Kelsey. There is her good friend Lizzie and her daughter Willow. And Emma's other best friend Gray.
This was an interesting mystery. However there were a lot of narrators. So it was difficult to feel invested in any of them.
There were a lot of secrets. And I did enjoy the story as I was reading it. However I'm not sure that I found the ending completely satisfying.
Thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for allowing me to read this book. I apologize for the delay in posting this review.
June 16, 2023
I want to say that I went back through all of my reading updates and theories, and I called it from the very beginning at less than 50 pages in.
However, that did not make it any less enjoyable.
There are so many things going on and many clues leading to many different ends. It was fun to speculate.
All of these characters are messed up in their own selfish ways.
One remaining loose end didn't feel wrapped entirely up, which bothered me.
Overall a fun mystery to solve, solid 4 stars.
However, that did not make it any less enjoyable.
There are so many things going on and many clues leading to many different ends. It was fun to speculate.
All of these characters are messed up in their own selfish ways.
One remaining loose end didn't feel wrapped entirely up, which bothered me.
Overall a fun mystery to solve, solid 4 stars.
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