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Ford Family Mysteries #1
The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon
In a family like that, you won’t need enemies.
In the waning days of the Catskills hotel era, Stanley and Rachel Roth, the owners of The Cuttman Hotel, were practically dynasty—third generation proprietors of a sprawling resort with a grand reputation. The glamorous and gregarious matriarch, Rachel. The cunning and successful businessman, Stan. Four beautiful children. A perfect family deserving of respect and loyalty. Or so it seemed.
Fast forward forty years. The Roths have lost their clout. When skeletal remains are found on the side of the road, the disappearance of Trudy Solomon, a coffee shop waitress at the Cuttman in 1978, is reopened. Each member of the Roth family holds a clue to the case, but getting them to admit what they know will force Detective Susan Ford to face a family she’d hoped never to see again.
In the waning days of the Catskills hotel era, Stanley and Rachel Roth, the owners of The Cuttman Hotel, were practically dynasty—third generation proprietors of a sprawling resort with a grand reputation. The glamorous and gregarious matriarch, Rachel. The cunning and successful businessman, Stan. Four beautiful children. A perfect family deserving of respect and loyalty. Or so it seemed.
Fast forward forty years. The Roths have lost their clout. When skeletal remains are found on the side of the road, the disappearance of Trudy Solomon, a coffee shop waitress at the Cuttman in 1978, is reopened. Each member of the Roth family holds a clue to the case, but getting them to admit what they know will force Detective Susan Ford to face a family she’d hoped never to see again.
356 pages, Hardcover
First published September 7, 2021
85 people are currently reading
9680 people want to read
About the author
Marcy McCreary
9 books328 followersMarcy McCreary is the author of The Ford Family Mystery series: The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon, a Silver Falchion finalist for Best Investigator Mystery, The Murder of Madison Garcia, a Society of Voice Arts and Sciences winner for Best Audiobook—Mystery, and The Summer of Love and Death, which was released in August 2024. Her essays about crime fiction have appeared in CrimeReads, Criminal Element, Mystery & Suspense, and Mystery Readers Journal. She graduated from The George Washington University with a B.A. in American literature and political science and pursued a career in marketing and communications. She lives in Hull, MA with her husband Lew.
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October 24, 2022
The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon
(A Ford Family Mystery Book 1)
by Marcy McCreary, narrated by Rachel Fulginiti
Forty years ago Stanley and Rachel Roth seemed to have it all. They owned the old Catskills resort, The Cuttman Hotel, and it had been in Rachel's family for generations. Rachel was the gorgeous wife of successful Stanley, and they had four beautiful and popular children. Susan Ford, friend of the Roth daughter, Lori, could only dream of a family like theirs. Around the time that Lori dumped Susan when they were thirteen, Susan's family was breaking up and her mom was deep into alcohol.
In the present day, Susan is in hot water for shooting a drug dealer who shot her. After recovery from her gunshot would, she has two months to work a cold case from forty years ago. She'll be working it with the help of her retired detective father, a man who lives in a retirement center but who still has all his faculties and an itch to do more than play billiards and shuffleboard.
The audiobook narration is very good and it helped me to hang in there when I was totally confused by all the characters, twists, and turns. The three crime white boards existing in my head got so mixed up with names, places, times, and imaginary strings running here and there that it became one big black blob and never did resolve into something I could understand. Too many people, too many red herrings, just too much information for me to finish the story really understanding what happened way back then and in the decades afterward. But still, I did enjoy Susan's relationships with her father and her partner, Ray. There is even the extremely fractured relationship with her mother that held my interest. Since this is the first book in the series I'm hoping the next book is less confusing because I enjoyed spending time with Susan and her father as they sleuthed their way through this cold crime.
Published September 7th 2021
Thank you to CamCat Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
(A Ford Family Mystery Book 1)
by Marcy McCreary, narrated by Rachel Fulginiti
Forty years ago Stanley and Rachel Roth seemed to have it all. They owned the old Catskills resort, The Cuttman Hotel, and it had been in Rachel's family for generations. Rachel was the gorgeous wife of successful Stanley, and they had four beautiful and popular children. Susan Ford, friend of the Roth daughter, Lori, could only dream of a family like theirs. Around the time that Lori dumped Susan when they were thirteen, Susan's family was breaking up and her mom was deep into alcohol.
In the present day, Susan is in hot water for shooting a drug dealer who shot her. After recovery from her gunshot would, she has two months to work a cold case from forty years ago. She'll be working it with the help of her retired detective father, a man who lives in a retirement center but who still has all his faculties and an itch to do more than play billiards and shuffleboard.
The audiobook narration is very good and it helped me to hang in there when I was totally confused by all the characters, twists, and turns. The three crime white boards existing in my head got so mixed up with names, places, times, and imaginary strings running here and there that it became one big black blob and never did resolve into something I could understand. Too many people, too many red herrings, just too much information for me to finish the story really understanding what happened way back then and in the decades afterward. But still, I did enjoy Susan's relationships with her father and her partner, Ray. There is even the extremely fractured relationship with her mother that held my interest. Since this is the first book in the series I'm hoping the next book is less confusing because I enjoyed spending time with Susan and her father as they sleuthed their way through this cold crime.
Published September 7th 2021
Thank you to CamCat Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
July 31, 2021
The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon follows
the daughter of a cop as she tries to crack a forty-year-old cold case that everyone thinks has already been solved. In 1978, Detective Susan Ford’s father investigated the disappearance of Trudy Solomon. In present day, the woman has finally been found. Trudy Solomon is safe and living in a retirement home. But she has severe dementia. She's unable to share with the world where she’s been for almost half a century.
The main point of view comes from Susan as she investigates Trudy’s disappearance alongside her father, who is retired, but compelled to solve this one last case. We also get the occasional point of view scene from Trudy herself. These scenes are present day, but because of Trudy’s dementia, time for her is not quite so linear. Her POV snippets give the reader hints at what really happened, the nature of her relationships forty years ago, and where she went, all through the lens of a woman who doesn’t know who she is anymore. These excerpts are quite fascinating and add another dimension to the book.
Susan is a compelling protagonist. She was barely a teenager when Trudy first went missing, and her memories have been dulled by the passage of time. Susan has a wry sense of humour, which shines through in her observations of the world and the people in it. There’s one point where she compares the vagueness of a suspect’s answers to shaking a magic eight ball. “Reply hazy, try again.” She has a nice, grounding relationship with a fellow cop who she lives with, and those scenes add a sweet, almost “cozy” element to this mystery.
This novel is rich in detail, with plenty of in-depth backstory for characters and three-dimensional descriptions of setting. While this did slow down the plot, it felt like I was burrowing between the pages of the book (figuratively speaking, my advanced reader copy was electronic).
The mystery itself is quite complex and is very heavy in police procedure. The investigation takes Susan and her father in some interesting and unpredictable directions. This forty-year-old cold case is far from simple.
All in all, this is an intriguing story for lovers of mysteries with intricate detail and immersive language.
*Thank you to the publisher, Edelweiss, and the author for the ebook to review*
This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/
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My 2021 Reading Challenge
September 20, 2021
4.5 stars
Forty years ago, Trudy Soloman disappeared. Today she is found alive, and mostly well, but has dementia and is not able to shed any light about her disappearance.
Susan Ford, a detective, decides to investigate what happened to Trudy, and brings along her dad, a retired detective who was at the center of the investigation 40 years ago.
This is a multi layered mystery with many characters. At times I had a hard time keeping everyone straight, so this book does require your focus, but it's so worth it. (I always have trouble with too many characters)
I love mysteries and although this doesn't qualify as a cozy mystery, it has some similar themes and isn't as intense as some in the thriller genre.
I really enjoyed this one and it's great for fall, when I love to read as many mysteries and thrillers as possible. Some spooky some not so much. This sits nicely in the "not spooky" category.
Forty years ago, Trudy Soloman disappeared. Today she is found alive, and mostly well, but has dementia and is not able to shed any light about her disappearance.
Susan Ford, a detective, decides to investigate what happened to Trudy, and brings along her dad, a retired detective who was at the center of the investigation 40 years ago.
This is a multi layered mystery with many characters. At times I had a hard time keeping everyone straight, so this book does require your focus, but it's so worth it. (I always have trouble with too many characters)
I love mysteries and although this doesn't qualify as a cozy mystery, it has some similar themes and isn't as intense as some in the thriller genre.
I really enjoyed this one and it's great for fall, when I love to read as many mysteries and thrillers as possible. Some spooky some not so much. This sits nicely in the "not spooky" category.
February 20, 2024
Having been offered an ARC for the latest Marcy McCreary novel, I wanted to get get a handle on things from the start of the series. This debut is bit of mystery and historical police work mixed together, in which McCreary presents an enticing story that is sure to keep the reader’s attention. When a woman thought dead four decades ago emerges, the case is reopened and Detective Susan Ford will have to rely on her instincts and an established police officer to solve this case, which has been collecting dust for many years. McCreary does well building tension and exciting twists throughout.
Tucked away in the Catskills, a hotel stands, full of patrons. Stanley and Rachel Roth own The Cuttman Hotel and live a dynastic life. The own the place to be with a massive resort and a reputation second to none. Stan was a wonderful businessman and Rachel had everything she could have wanted. They had four children whose interested varied. It was a family that everyone envied, an for good reason. At least what’s what it seemed.
When of the The Cuttman’s waitresses went missing in 1978, everyone began to whisper about Trudy Solomon. Detective Will Fo4d took up the case, but with few leads and no body, the case soon went cold and Ford was stuck wondering what happened and hw the case slipped through his fingers.
Forty years later, the Roths are no longer at the top of the mountain, as the hotel industry has taken a significant dive. The skeletal remains on the side of the road near where The Cuttman Hotel stood breathe an eeriness into the area once more. While many wonder if this might be Trudy Solomon, things are even more troubling when a quick Social Security search locates her in an Alzheimer’s facility in Massachusetts. The case is reopened and new wonders emerge, as Trudy has no idea how she got to her current residence and the forms are not shedding any light on things. Retired Detective Will Ford is curious, though it is his daughter, Susan Ford, who has taken up the torch and will now lead the investigation.
Detective Ford is able to pull a few pieces out of Trudy, however, with a frail mind and evidence that is four decades old, solving the case will be much harder. Who could have wanted Trudy to go missing and for what reasons? As Susan begins the investigation, she pairs up with her father to solve the case that turned out to be his White Whale. They try to re-run the evidence and make new attempts to handle the case, in hopes of using technology and simmering memories to bring needed closure.
As Susan and Will try to re-connect with the Roths, they seek answers that might help shed light on things. What happened in that hotel? Who might have been around that could have posed a potential motive to want Trudy Solomon gone? All this while Susan is thrust into trying to rekindle an old friendship with one of the Roth children, her best friend up to that summer of 1978. Now, with secrets emerging and others found dead, Susan will have to make sense of the story and try to see who might be behind the disappearance of Trudy Solomon and how she found herself in a hospital after all these years? A great story that flows well, showing that Marcy McCreary has all the elements for a great novel.
I quite enjoyed the approach that Marcy McCreary took with this piece. Working backwards from an apparent murder and morphing it into a missing person’s case with a historical set of facts, the story flows well and McCreary uses a great case to provide the reader with some strong foundational ideas, building from there. The narrative moves, at times dabbling in both 1978 and 2018, giving characters the chance to fill in gaps as they try to recount what was going on during both time periods. McCreary pulls it all together in a police procedural of sorts as the story begins to take shape. Characters emerge and make their mark throughout the story, keeping the reader hooked until the final pages, where surprise and cliffhangers fuel a desire to see what;s next for Susan Ford. I am happy to have the second novel, as it will allow me to put some of the pieces together quickly.
Strong plot points keep the story moving and unpredictable. Susan Ford has seen a lot and as things are told through her eyes, the reader can see her surprise as she tries to make sense of what she knew and now can see in a fresh light. The reader finds themselves in the middle of all the twists that leave the story raw and exciting, not coming together under the final reveal, which proves to be just what a lover of mysteries will enjoy. Ready with the ARC, I will forge onwards to see what;s to come and how the Fords will recover from all they have been though in this debut thriller.
Kudos, Madam McCreary, for writing something well worth my time.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Tucked away in the Catskills, a hotel stands, full of patrons. Stanley and Rachel Roth own The Cuttman Hotel and live a dynastic life. The own the place to be with a massive resort and a reputation second to none. Stan was a wonderful businessman and Rachel had everything she could have wanted. They had four children whose interested varied. It was a family that everyone envied, an for good reason. At least what’s what it seemed.
When of the The Cuttman’s waitresses went missing in 1978, everyone began to whisper about Trudy Solomon. Detective Will Fo4d took up the case, but with few leads and no body, the case soon went cold and Ford was stuck wondering what happened and hw the case slipped through his fingers.
Forty years later, the Roths are no longer at the top of the mountain, as the hotel industry has taken a significant dive. The skeletal remains on the side of the road near where The Cuttman Hotel stood breathe an eeriness into the area once more. While many wonder if this might be Trudy Solomon, things are even more troubling when a quick Social Security search locates her in an Alzheimer’s facility in Massachusetts. The case is reopened and new wonders emerge, as Trudy has no idea how she got to her current residence and the forms are not shedding any light on things. Retired Detective Will Ford is curious, though it is his daughter, Susan Ford, who has taken up the torch and will now lead the investigation.
Detective Ford is able to pull a few pieces out of Trudy, however, with a frail mind and evidence that is four decades old, solving the case will be much harder. Who could have wanted Trudy to go missing and for what reasons? As Susan begins the investigation, she pairs up with her father to solve the case that turned out to be his White Whale. They try to re-run the evidence and make new attempts to handle the case, in hopes of using technology and simmering memories to bring needed closure.
As Susan and Will try to re-connect with the Roths, they seek answers that might help shed light on things. What happened in that hotel? Who might have been around that could have posed a potential motive to want Trudy Solomon gone? All this while Susan is thrust into trying to rekindle an old friendship with one of the Roth children, her best friend up to that summer of 1978. Now, with secrets emerging and others found dead, Susan will have to make sense of the story and try to see who might be behind the disappearance of Trudy Solomon and how she found herself in a hospital after all these years? A great story that flows well, showing that Marcy McCreary has all the elements for a great novel.
I quite enjoyed the approach that Marcy McCreary took with this piece. Working backwards from an apparent murder and morphing it into a missing person’s case with a historical set of facts, the story flows well and McCreary uses a great case to provide the reader with some strong foundational ideas, building from there. The narrative moves, at times dabbling in both 1978 and 2018, giving characters the chance to fill in gaps as they try to recount what was going on during both time periods. McCreary pulls it all together in a police procedural of sorts as the story begins to take shape. Characters emerge and make their mark throughout the story, keeping the reader hooked until the final pages, where surprise and cliffhangers fuel a desire to see what;s next for Susan Ford. I am happy to have the second novel, as it will allow me to put some of the pieces together quickly.
Strong plot points keep the story moving and unpredictable. Susan Ford has seen a lot and as things are told through her eyes, the reader can see her surprise as she tries to make sense of what she knew and now can see in a fresh light. The reader finds themselves in the middle of all the twists that leave the story raw and exciting, not coming together under the final reveal, which proves to be just what a lover of mysteries will enjoy. Ready with the ARC, I will forge onwards to see what;s to come and how the Fords will recover from all they have been though in this debut thriller.
Kudos, Madam McCreary, for writing something well worth my time.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
September 4, 2021
In 1978, Trudy Solomon disappeared. The unsolved case became the obsession of now ex-Detective William Ford of the city of Monticello, New York Police Department. In present day, his daughter, Detective Susan Ford is now on the case. When skeletal remains of a gunshot victim are discovered, the police believe Trudy has finally been found. Susan teams up with her retired father to find out what happened to Trudy all those years ago. It is a welcome opportunity as Susan is in the middle of a possible civil suit against her for shooting an unarmed teen, an allegation she denies.
For those who are familiar with upstate New York and the Catskills region, you know that it was once heavily populated by family-owned resorts (think Dirty Dancing.) The former grand hotel, the Cuttman, becomes the focal point of the investigation as Trudy had been a waitress in its coffee shop. Many of the clues keep leading Susan and William back to its former employees and the Roth family, especially Stanley and Rachel Roth, the third generation, and then owners of the resort. Most of the people are either hiding important information or outright lying. And more than a possible murder is uncovered.
The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon is an engaging, old-style mystery. There is a large cast of characters so you need to keep track of everyone. It all makes for a very entertaining read. Author Marcy McCreary, in her sophomore effort, proves she’s the real deal. Could this evolve into a series? I hope so.
Many thanks to CamCat Books, Edelweiss+ and the author for the opportunity to read The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon in advance of its September 7, 2021 publication.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
For those who are familiar with upstate New York and the Catskills region, you know that it was once heavily populated by family-owned resorts (think Dirty Dancing.) The former grand hotel, the Cuttman, becomes the focal point of the investigation as Trudy had been a waitress in its coffee shop. Many of the clues keep leading Susan and William back to its former employees and the Roth family, especially Stanley and Rachel Roth, the third generation, and then owners of the resort. Most of the people are either hiding important information or outright lying. And more than a possible murder is uncovered.
The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon is an engaging, old-style mystery. There is a large cast of characters so you need to keep track of everyone. It all makes for a very entertaining read. Author Marcy McCreary, in her sophomore effort, proves she’s the real deal. Could this evolve into a series? I hope so.
Many thanks to CamCat Books, Edelweiss+ and the author for the opportunity to read The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon in advance of its September 7, 2021 publication.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
October 15, 2021
This was an interesting read, Be sure you are prepared to focus on this one read it slowly, There are a lot of characters to keep up with. I found the over all story very interesting.
Grab this 4 star read. I love a great mystery.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
Grab this 4 star read. I love a great mystery.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
October 20, 2021
The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon is an engaging mystery with a large cast of characters that makes for an enjoyable read perfect for this season. Once I started, I was immediately gripped and engrossed. Do give this mystery a read, you will not be disappointed.
November 6, 2022
I enjoyed as an audiobook over 2 long drives. It kept me engaged in the twisty mystery of it all. I loved the detective daughter and dad duo working together to solve a mystery that haunted the father. I also loved the little side story that was rounding out each new clue they uncovered. I did find the investigation in to the daughter and her job a bit distracting but it was another piece that I enjoyed when it was wrapped up and we had a conclusion.
The narrator did a great job of keeping the story engaging, the plot kept me hooked and the twists kept me racing through the pages. I enjoyed this one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
The narrator did a great job of keeping the story engaging, the plot kept me hooked and the twists kept me racing through the pages. I enjoyed this one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
October 11, 2021
Detective Susan Ford teams up with her father, Will, when the remains of a woman are found, which stirs up the forty-year cold case of Trudy Solomon.
Will Ford had been the detective on the case when Trudy Solomon, a cocktail waitress at the popular Cuttman Hotel, went missing in 1978. Although the dead woman is not Trudy Solomon, Will wants closure on this case, but Susan knows it will bring up a lot of past ghosts. She was close friends with the Roth children, whose parents owned the Cuttman Hotel, but their friendship had fizzled out, and the Cuttman’s are now scattered.
As Susan and her dad start poking around, they find more than they bargained for. With every person they interview from the hotel at the time of Trudy’s disappearance to hunting down the Roth family, they just keep unraveling one big tangled web of lies, deceptions, and crimes.
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳.
The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon is an intriguing mystery, packed with investigative work and heavy on drama. There is a subplot running throughout as Susan is under investigation for shooting an unarmed, Black teenager. It certainly adds tension to the story, but I felt the mystery of Trudy’s disappearance had enough chaos and shady characters to stand on its own.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @marcymccreadyauthor for an invite to the tour and a gifted copy.
Will Ford had been the detective on the case when Trudy Solomon, a cocktail waitress at the popular Cuttman Hotel, went missing in 1978. Although the dead woman is not Trudy Solomon, Will wants closure on this case, but Susan knows it will bring up a lot of past ghosts. She was close friends with the Roth children, whose parents owned the Cuttman Hotel, but their friendship had fizzled out, and the Cuttman’s are now scattered.
As Susan and her dad start poking around, they find more than they bargained for. With every person they interview from the hotel at the time of Trudy’s disappearance to hunting down the Roth family, they just keep unraveling one big tangled web of lies, deceptions, and crimes.
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳.
The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon is an intriguing mystery, packed with investigative work and heavy on drama. There is a subplot running throughout as Susan is under investigation for shooting an unarmed, Black teenager. It certainly adds tension to the story, but I felt the mystery of Trudy’s disappearance had enough chaos and shady characters to stand on its own.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @marcymccreadyauthor for an invite to the tour and a gifted copy.
October 26, 2021
I loved this book. A lot of turns in this mystery book. I highly recommend this book. You like mystery and a lot of what happened this is your book.
October 15, 2021
The Disappearance Of Trudy Solomon was a uniquely chiseled story and one I enjoyed reading. I was instantly captured by the writing style of Marcy McCreary. I was pulled into the heart of the mystery and taken on one heck of a roller coaster ride.
I loved the “who-dun-it” old school feel to this page turning detective novel. From the discovery of a skeletal remains to the secrets that surround it, this book kept me on the edge of my seat through out. Every up, every down, every twist, every turn had me up long into the night!
McCreary is a fantastic author and really made a fan out of me. This book is going on my recommendations list when people ask me for a good mystery. It’s well written with unforgettable characters. Definitely a 4 star read!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Author/Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
I loved the “who-dun-it” old school feel to this page turning detective novel. From the discovery of a skeletal remains to the secrets that surround it, this book kept me on the edge of my seat through out. Every up, every down, every twist, every turn had me up long into the night!
McCreary is a fantastic author and really made a fan out of me. This book is going on my recommendations list when people ask me for a good mystery. It’s well written with unforgettable characters. Definitely a 4 star read!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Author/Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
November 3, 2022
A cogent procedural set in the crumbling world of Catskills resorts.
The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon is a cold case procedural where a woman’s disappearance (and re-discovery) causes one cold case to spawn into a whole host of crimes, all of which end up under the purview of a police officer currently sidelined by an officer-involved shooting and her father, a retired detective.
The bones of the story are good and the mystery itself is fine, if a touch convoluted and difficult to follow at times. I was interested in this one primarily for the setting, which was disappointingly not much of a factor in the story.
I liked the characters and the dialogue, and the officer-involved shooting side plot was handled well. The actual plot was less compelling, though competently done and fine if you’re just looking for a standard procedural.
Audiobook readers: This format mostly works well for the story, though it may have made some of the more cluttered aspects of the narrative harder to follow. The narrator’s impression of a thick New York accent is pretty cringe, but otherwise she does a fine job.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon is a cold case procedural where a woman’s disappearance (and re-discovery) causes one cold case to spawn into a whole host of crimes, all of which end up under the purview of a police officer currently sidelined by an officer-involved shooting and her father, a retired detective.
The bones of the story are good and the mystery itself is fine, if a touch convoluted and difficult to follow at times. I was interested in this one primarily for the setting, which was disappointingly not much of a factor in the story.
I liked the characters and the dialogue, and the officer-involved shooting side plot was handled well. The actual plot was less compelling, though competently done and fine if you’re just looking for a standard procedural.
Audiobook readers: This format mostly works well for the story, though it may have made some of the more cluttered aspects of the narrative harder to follow. The narrator’s impression of a thick New York accent is pretty cringe, but otherwise she does a fine job.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
November 10, 2021
Book: The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon by Marcy McCreary
Published: September 7, 2021 - AVAILABLE NOW
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book was such a fun mystery and the absolute perfect fall read. It’s a great book for readers who enjoy crime books and mysteries without all of the dark, gritty, and violent details.
Synopsis ⤵️
In a family like that, you won’t need enemies.
In the waning days of the Catskills hotel era, Stanley and Rachel Roth, the owners of The Cuttman Hotel, were practically dynasty—third generation proprietors of a sprawling resort with a grand reputation. The glamorous and gregarious matriarch, Rachel. The cunning and successful businessman, Stan. Four beautiful children. A perfect family deserving of respect and loyalty. Or so it seemed.
Fast forward forty years. The Roths have lost their clout. When skeletal remains are found on the side of the road, the disappearance of Trudy Solomon, a coffee shop waitress at the Cuttman in 1978, is reopened. Each member of the Roth family holds a clue to the case, but getting them to admit what they know will force Detective Susan Ford to face a family she’d hoped never to see again.
My thoughts 💭
There is a LOT to unpack in this book—there’s the main mystery that focuses on the disappearance of Trudy, the discovery of two other murders, as well as another thread involving Susan’s fate as a detective. It’s fun to see how all of the different threads come together to create an engaging and intriguing story. There’s a slew of interesting characters (grab a notepad—it will come in handy!), but my absolute favourites are the father-daughter detective duo of Will and Susan—their relationship is so genuine. This book is well written, has a good plot, and is so full of twists that you won’t see coming. And I LOVED how everything was all tied together in the end. I definitely recommend this one!
Thank you to Marcy McCreary, Camcat Book, and Let's Talk Books Promo for the complimentary copy of The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon and for letting me take part in the book tour.
Published: September 7, 2021 - AVAILABLE NOW
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book was such a fun mystery and the absolute perfect fall read. It’s a great book for readers who enjoy crime books and mysteries without all of the dark, gritty, and violent details.
Synopsis ⤵️
In a family like that, you won’t need enemies.
In the waning days of the Catskills hotel era, Stanley and Rachel Roth, the owners of The Cuttman Hotel, were practically dynasty—third generation proprietors of a sprawling resort with a grand reputation. The glamorous and gregarious matriarch, Rachel. The cunning and successful businessman, Stan. Four beautiful children. A perfect family deserving of respect and loyalty. Or so it seemed.
Fast forward forty years. The Roths have lost their clout. When skeletal remains are found on the side of the road, the disappearance of Trudy Solomon, a coffee shop waitress at the Cuttman in 1978, is reopened. Each member of the Roth family holds a clue to the case, but getting them to admit what they know will force Detective Susan Ford to face a family she’d hoped never to see again.
My thoughts 💭
There is a LOT to unpack in this book—there’s the main mystery that focuses on the disappearance of Trudy, the discovery of two other murders, as well as another thread involving Susan’s fate as a detective. It’s fun to see how all of the different threads come together to create an engaging and intriguing story. There’s a slew of interesting characters (grab a notepad—it will come in handy!), but my absolute favourites are the father-daughter detective duo of Will and Susan—their relationship is so genuine. This book is well written, has a good plot, and is so full of twists that you won’t see coming. And I LOVED how everything was all tied together in the end. I definitely recommend this one!
Thank you to Marcy McCreary, Camcat Book, and Let's Talk Books Promo for the complimentary copy of The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon and for letting me take part in the book tour.
October 19, 2021
This book was a lot longer and convoluted (this could just be me...I found it hard to follow. Tons of info thrown at you to sort through) than it should have been.
There were aspects I liked. I love the relationship that the MC, Susan, has with her dad. I liked that he got to help her with the investigation. I really like Thomas though he's not a big part...I just thought he was good for Susan's mom in his helping her.
I thought the big mystery was going to be about Trudy (after all, that's the title name). But her "disappearance" was wrapped up pretty quickly. She did know some things of the other mystery (of the Roth family) but as she was institutionalized, she couldn't help.
There were aspects I liked. I love the relationship that the MC, Susan, has with her dad. I liked that he got to help her with the investigation. I really like Thomas though he's not a big part...I just thought he was good for Susan's mom in his helping her.
I thought the big mystery was going to be about Trudy (after all, that's the title name). But her "disappearance" was wrapped up pretty quickly. She did know some things of the other mystery (of the Roth family) but as she was institutionalized, she couldn't help.
October 16, 2022
Many thanks to NetGalley and CamCat Books for gifting me an audio ARC of this book by Marcy McCreary and narrated wonderfully by Rachel Fulginiti - the first in a series starring Detective Susan Ford - 4.5 stars!
Forty years ago, The Cutmann Hotel, located in the Catskills, was a glamorous resort, owned and operated by the even more glamorous and perfect Roth family. At least, that's what Susan thought as she grew up nearby and was friends with one of the Roth daughters. But now, Susan is back home and working as a detective in the same department that her father retired from. A cold case from then haunts him still - the disappearance of Trudy Solomon. When skeletal remains are found, Susan and her dad start investigating only to find that Trudy is alive and living in a care home with dementia. But all roads somehow lead back to the Roth's.
This was a listen now on NetGalley and I was in the need of an audiobook, so took a chance on it with not very high expectations. But I really enjoyed this book - I loved the snippets of conversation from Trudy, giving hints as to what happened to her so long ago; I loved the relationship between Susan and her dad; and the police procedural and mystery were spot on. I can't wait to read more from this author and am thrilled that this is the start of a series.
Forty years ago, The Cutmann Hotel, located in the Catskills, was a glamorous resort, owned and operated by the even more glamorous and perfect Roth family. At least, that's what Susan thought as she grew up nearby and was friends with one of the Roth daughters. But now, Susan is back home and working as a detective in the same department that her father retired from. A cold case from then haunts him still - the disappearance of Trudy Solomon. When skeletal remains are found, Susan and her dad start investigating only to find that Trudy is alive and living in a care home with dementia. But all roads somehow lead back to the Roth's.
This was a listen now on NetGalley and I was in the need of an audiobook, so took a chance on it with not very high expectations. But I really enjoyed this book - I loved the snippets of conversation from Trudy, giving hints as to what happened to her so long ago; I loved the relationship between Susan and her dad; and the police procedural and mystery were spot on. I can't wait to read more from this author and am thrilled that this is the start of a series.
November 8, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and CamCat Books (Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks) for accepting my request to audibly read and review The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon.
Author: Marcy McCreary
Published: 09/07/21
Narrator: Rachel Fulginiti
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) -- Mystery & Thrillers
Narrator Rachel Fukginiti worked well for me with this story.
The story has a daughter and a father working to solve the mystery. They each have their own contacts and with a generation gap in work experience, they work differently. I wasn't impressed.
There are a lot of characters, and I imagine the flow chart taking on the life of a map with convoluted lines. This is made worse by it being a cold case, and at times felt like a community-based conspiracy was happening.
This just didn't work for me. I was annoyed, would put it aside, read something else, and finally just finished it. I would have DNF'd this by 30%, but I committed to NetGalley for a review. While I have DNFd books on NetGalley, boredom has never been the reason.
To make matters worse, there is planned profanity.
Author: Marcy McCreary
Published: 09/07/21
Narrator: Rachel Fulginiti
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) -- Mystery & Thrillers
Narrator Rachel Fukginiti worked well for me with this story.
The story has a daughter and a father working to solve the mystery. They each have their own contacts and with a generation gap in work experience, they work differently. I wasn't impressed.
There are a lot of characters, and I imagine the flow chart taking on the life of a map with convoluted lines. This is made worse by it being a cold case, and at times felt like a community-based conspiracy was happening.
This just didn't work for me. I was annoyed, would put it aside, read something else, and finally just finished it. I would have DNF'd this by 30%, but I committed to NetGalley for a review. While I have DNFd books on NetGalley, boredom has never been the reason.
To make matters worse, there is planned profanity.
September 24, 2021
Rounding it up to 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Suzy Approved Book reviews and the author.
What a tangled web we weave. Three plots going on at once. Murder, deception, family dysfunction and a whole bunch of characters that were easy to keep straight thankfully. I liked how it all tied together at the end and it was easy to understand mostly how it did.
It was an interesting read to say the least. Susan is a detective, like her father and she was involved in this reopening of a case 40+ years ago that her retired father worked on and he got re-involved in it. Her boyfriend also was a detective and had a hand in it but not as much. For some reason, and I can't put my finger on it, I didn't like him. LOL.
Then there's the Cuttman family who owned a resort in the Catskills that Susan was friends with one of the daughters growing up. They were the dysfunctional family and played a big role in the murder and other things that came up.
The author did a great job with this book. Can't wait for her next one.
Thanks to Suzy Approved Book reviews and the author.
What a tangled web we weave. Three plots going on at once. Murder, deception, family dysfunction and a whole bunch of characters that were easy to keep straight thankfully. I liked how it all tied together at the end and it was easy to understand mostly how it did.
It was an interesting read to say the least. Susan is a detective, like her father and she was involved in this reopening of a case 40+ years ago that her retired father worked on and he got re-involved in it. Her boyfriend also was a detective and had a hand in it but not as much. For some reason, and I can't put my finger on it, I didn't like him. LOL.
Then there's the Cuttman family who owned a resort in the Catskills that Susan was friends with one of the daughters growing up. They were the dysfunctional family and played a big role in the murder and other things that came up.
The author did a great job with this book. Can't wait for her next one.
November 9, 2022
Book Title: The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon
Author: Marcy McCreary
Audiobook Narrator: Rachel Fulginti
Publisher: CamCal Books (Independent Book Publisher Association (IBPA)Members-Audiobook
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: September 7, 2021
My Rating: 3.3 Stars
Trudy Solomon disappeared in 1978. Detective William Ford, a well respective police officer in Monticello, New York Police Department was obsessed in trying solving this case. Now 2018 - forty years later, Detective Susan Ford is on the case. She is the daughter of Detective Ford who is living in a retirement home and Susan is out to crack this case for her father and find out what happened to Trudy all those years ago.
I was curious. I love good mystery thriller but not a fan of detective stories ~ does that even make sense?
In most case, I find their nasty language annoying – however, I am sure if your job is with nasty criminals one would talk like them!
Story had me curious so I hung in there.
Want to thank NetGalley and CamCal Audiobooks for this eGalley.
Publishing Release Date was September 7, 2021
Author: Marcy McCreary
Audiobook Narrator: Rachel Fulginti
Publisher: CamCal Books (Independent Book Publisher Association (IBPA)Members-Audiobook
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: September 7, 2021
My Rating: 3.3 Stars
Trudy Solomon disappeared in 1978. Detective William Ford, a well respective police officer in Monticello, New York Police Department was obsessed in trying solving this case. Now 2018 - forty years later, Detective Susan Ford is on the case. She is the daughter of Detective Ford who is living in a retirement home and Susan is out to crack this case for her father and find out what happened to Trudy all those years ago.
I was curious. I love good mystery thriller but not a fan of detective stories ~ does that even make sense?
In most case, I find their nasty language annoying – however, I am sure if your job is with nasty criminals one would talk like them!
Story had me curious so I hung in there.
Want to thank NetGalley and CamCal Audiobooks for this eGalley.
Publishing Release Date was September 7, 2021
October 20, 2022
The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon
By: Marcy McCreary
4
The Catskills are known for their hotels, and families taking summer vacations. At one time Stanley and Rachel Roth, owners of The Cuttman hotel were successful, have four children and were very well loved and people were loyal to them. Not everything is at it seems.
Forty years later, remains are found on the property. Trudy Solomon was a coffee shop waitress in 1978. She has been missing for years, and as skeletal remains are found her case is reopened. What do the Roth know?
Detective Susan Ford is on the case and as the clues come to light the unthinkable happens. Susan’s dad whose is retired helps Susan investigate.
This novel goes between Susan and some snippets of Trudy’s POV. This was my first by this author, and I would love to read more, as this is #1 in a Series.
Thank you @NetGalley, @CamCatbooks and author @MarcyMcCreary for this audio book.
By: Marcy McCreary
4
The Catskills are known for their hotels, and families taking summer vacations. At one time Stanley and Rachel Roth, owners of The Cuttman hotel were successful, have four children and were very well loved and people were loyal to them. Not everything is at it seems.
Forty years later, remains are found on the property. Trudy Solomon was a coffee shop waitress in 1978. She has been missing for years, and as skeletal remains are found her case is reopened. What do the Roth know?
Detective Susan Ford is on the case and as the clues come to light the unthinkable happens. Susan’s dad whose is retired helps Susan investigate.
This novel goes between Susan and some snippets of Trudy’s POV. This was my first by this author, and I would love to read more, as this is #1 in a Series.
Thank you @NetGalley, @CamCatbooks and author @MarcyMcCreary for this audio book.
April 9, 2024
I love mysteries, so I was super excited to read this book! And it didn’t disappoint. Susan was such a great protagonist. She’s funny and her relationship with her father was particularly compelling. Their father-daughter detective duo was a fun spin on other mysteries that I’ve read. It felt reminiscent of The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter.
The novel itself was well written with descriptive settings that easily suck you in. If you’re not paying attention, you may get confused, so if you’re anything like me, you might want to read a physical version rather than listen to the audio book. I could guess most of the ending, but there were still some twists so it didn’t feel stale or boring!
The novel itself was well written with descriptive settings that easily suck you in. If you’re not paying attention, you may get confused, so if you’re anything like me, you might want to read a physical version rather than listen to the audio book. I could guess most of the ending, but there were still some twists so it didn’t feel stale or boring!
November 4, 2024
In Karin Slaughter-esque style, Marcy McCreary's first book of the Ford Family mystery series gives us a compelling cold case investigated by Susan Ford and her father, the original detective in Trudy Solomon's disappearance decades ago.
At first, this seems like a straightforward crime novel with the Fords tying up loose ends in the Trudy Solomon disappearance. But when remains are discovered at the side of a road, readers are soon engulfed in the formerly revered Roth family's fall from grace, and all the lies, corruption, and dysfunction that go with it.
McCreary's characters are all well-drawn, especially Susan and her parents. A special bonus was that the backdrop made me feel like I was in Dirty Dancing. I binged this book in a few days on audio, and Rachel Fulginiti does an excellent job bringing this twisty tale to life.
I can't wait to dive into McCreary's next two this series, The Murder of Madison Garcia and The Summer of Love and Death. To miss this book would be cruel shoes...so grab yourself a copy right away!
At first, this seems like a straightforward crime novel with the Fords tying up loose ends in the Trudy Solomon disappearance. But when remains are discovered at the side of a road, readers are soon engulfed in the formerly revered Roth family's fall from grace, and all the lies, corruption, and dysfunction that go with it.
McCreary's characters are all well-drawn, especially Susan and her parents. A special bonus was that the backdrop made me feel like I was in Dirty Dancing. I binged this book in a few days on audio, and Rachel Fulginiti does an excellent job bringing this twisty tale to life.
I can't wait to dive into McCreary's next two this series, The Murder of Madison Garcia and The Summer of Love and Death. To miss this book would be cruel shoes...so grab yourself a copy right away!
March 6, 2022
Interesting
This was a decent story enough to keep me interested to the end. The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon is the fictionalization of actual events over 4+ decades. Plenty of family dysfunction, lies and corruption. It was worth the read and I would pick up another book by this Author but the pace for me was slow. It took me much longer to read them it should have so for me the emotional investment wasn't there. I did want to know how it ended though.
This was a decent story enough to keep me interested to the end. The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon is the fictionalization of actual events over 4+ decades. Plenty of family dysfunction, lies and corruption. It was worth the read and I would pick up another book by this Author but the pace for me was slow. It took me much longer to read them it should have so for me the emotional investment wasn't there. I did want to know how it ended though.
November 12, 2022
This was an enjoyable audiobook. The mystery was compelling and the dad-daughter duo was a nice change from the standard potential-love-interests combo we usually see. There were parts about the daughter's job that felt distracting but those loose ends do get wrapped in by the conclusion. Did this one stand out as a particularly compelling book? Not really, but it was enjoyable and well-narrated.
Thank you to NetGalley and CamCat Books for this ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and CamCat Books for this ARC!
November 4, 2022
In Marcy McCreary's 'The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon', Detective Susan Ford seeks to solve a 40 year old mystery - with a little help from her retired father. There is a lot going on in this book but it all comes together nicely in the end. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook, narrated by Rachel Fulginiti.
August 24, 2021
A classic detective mystery with a splash of true crime. Great twists, a strong female protagonist, and a strong unreliable POV from Trudy. Will definitely be buying the next book in the series!
July 2, 2024
An impressive debut that is both well-plotted and well-constructed. At times there might have been a bit too much information, but it all makes sense.
November 10, 2022
3.75 stars rounded up
I enjoyed the first book in the Detective Susan Ford book. The disappearance of a women in the Catskills when Susan was barely a teen has so many unanswered questions, especially now that the woman has been found - alive. Susan in on leave after being shot in the leg, and also after shooting a suspect that appeared to be unarmed. As a young teen, she wanted to help solve the mystery, partly because her dad was assigned to the case. Her retired father and her team up to try and solve the case. The suspects are many and there are a lot of false leads. TBH, I found it a little difficult to follow but that may be because I was listening the audiobook. Great narrator, btw, but I’ll likely want the hard copy for the sequels. I like the dynamic between Susan and her dad, and find the complicated relationship between Susan and her mother entirely believable. In the end, I was engaged in this mystery and look forward to reading more with these characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and CamCat Books for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
#netgalley #thedisappearanceoftrudysolomon
I enjoyed the first book in the Detective Susan Ford book. The disappearance of a women in the Catskills when Susan was barely a teen has so many unanswered questions, especially now that the woman has been found - alive. Susan in on leave after being shot in the leg, and also after shooting a suspect that appeared to be unarmed. As a young teen, she wanted to help solve the mystery, partly because her dad was assigned to the case. Her retired father and her team up to try and solve the case. The suspects are many and there are a lot of false leads. TBH, I found it a little difficult to follow but that may be because I was listening the audiobook. Great narrator, btw, but I’ll likely want the hard copy for the sequels. I like the dynamic between Susan and her dad, and find the complicated relationship between Susan and her mother entirely believable. In the end, I was engaged in this mystery and look forward to reading more with these characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and CamCat Books for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
#netgalley #thedisappearanceoftrudysolomon
February 21, 2024
Who did what, where, when and why?...
Trudy went missing forty years ago from Monticello, New York. Back in 1978 detective Susan Ford's dad was the detective on the case. After Susan's boyfriend, Ray discovers Trudy's social security had been used and soon find that Trudy is indeed alive and in a Alzheimer's institution. So who is the woman whose body was just found? Susan is currently on desk duty after shooting and killing a black kid who it was said was unarmed. When the Trudy case was reopened, Susan knew her dad would want to be a part of the investigation as to what happened those forty years ago and why. In the middle of it all is the Roth family who owned the Hotel where Trudy was a waitress when she went missing. With dogged determination and cunning investigational skills, Susan and her dad are hell-bent on solving these mysteries.
This well written novel had me hooked from the opening chapter and kept my attention right through to the end. In another author's hands the multiple plot lines and the many characters would have been jumbled and confusing but not this one. It was in fact easy to follow and easy to keep the characters from getting mixed up. I enjoyed how the clues were doled out that made me feel like I was part of the investigations. And just when you think it's all solved, there's one final twist that pulls it all together. Kudos to the author for doing a wonderful job with this thoughtful mystery. I recommend this one to all my sleuthing friends and followers.
.
Thank you to the author, CamCat Publishing and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
Trudy went missing forty years ago from Monticello, New York. Back in 1978 detective Susan Ford's dad was the detective on the case. After Susan's boyfriend, Ray discovers Trudy's social security had been used and soon find that Trudy is indeed alive and in a Alzheimer's institution. So who is the woman whose body was just found? Susan is currently on desk duty after shooting and killing a black kid who it was said was unarmed. When the Trudy case was reopened, Susan knew her dad would want to be a part of the investigation as to what happened those forty years ago and why. In the middle of it all is the Roth family who owned the Hotel where Trudy was a waitress when she went missing. With dogged determination and cunning investigational skills, Susan and her dad are hell-bent on solving these mysteries.
This well written novel had me hooked from the opening chapter and kept my attention right through to the end. In another author's hands the multiple plot lines and the many characters would have been jumbled and confusing but not this one. It was in fact easy to follow and easy to keep the characters from getting mixed up. I enjoyed how the clues were doled out that made me feel like I was part of the investigations. And just when you think it's all solved, there's one final twist that pulls it all together. Kudos to the author for doing a wonderful job with this thoughtful mystery. I recommend this one to all my sleuthing friends and followers.
.
Thank you to the author, CamCat Publishing and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
September 20, 2021
It’s 1978 and Trudy Solomon has disappeared. The case goes unsolved , and Detective William Ford of the city of Monticello, New York Police Department cannot let it go it’s the case that haunts him.
Present day Detective Fords daughter Detective Susan Ford is now working on the force and she’s handed the case by her boss when skeletal remains are found. With high hopes they hope they will finally be able to close the case of Trudy Solomon . Susan is on desk duty for the shooting of an unarmed black man Calvin Barnes who wasn’t holding the gun that shot her. So it’s a perfect time to to investigate the case that she remembers from her childhood.
Susan’s Susan teams up with her father, and they begin the investigate. Trudy Solomon was a waitress who worked for a wealthy family The Roth’s and Trudys father always felt The Roth’s were hiding what really happened that night.
I truly enjoyed this father daughter duo and the whole mystery of digging into a past case! Four stars!
Present day Detective Fords daughter Detective Susan Ford is now working on the force and she’s handed the case by her boss when skeletal remains are found. With high hopes they hope they will finally be able to close the case of Trudy Solomon . Susan is on desk duty for the shooting of an unarmed black man Calvin Barnes who wasn’t holding the gun that shot her. So it’s a perfect time to to investigate the case that she remembers from her childhood.
Susan’s Susan teams up with her father, and they begin the investigate. Trudy Solomon was a waitress who worked for a wealthy family The Roth’s and Trudys father always felt The Roth’s were hiding what really happened that night.
I truly enjoyed this father daughter duo and the whole mystery of digging into a past case! Four stars!
February 13, 2024
A taut tale of a missing woman; a daughter/father detective team; a Borscht Belt hotel, and everything in between! An amazingly complex set of mysteries that will keep the reader on it's toes. I thoroughly enjoyed being with Susan as she and her dad discovered the clues that kept leading to more and more mysteries, as well as trying to keep all of the facts and people straight-brilliantly putting the reader in the protagonist's shoes. Great read!
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